spiritualsnippets.com

Seeing life's events in the light of God's Word.

His Purpose for YOU

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Esther 4:14- “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.”

 

If you are like me, the time has come to set goals for the New Year. I like to think of it as getting myself on course.

I begin by reading Esther 4:14. Then, I read the Tale of Three Trees. Like many outstanding works, its original author is unknown, but Angela Hunt retold this beautiful folktale and published it in 1957.

To recap, three trees grew on a mountainside. Each dreamed of what it would be when it grew up. The first tree dreamed of being used to build a beautiful treasure chest; the second wanted to be used to build the strongest sailing ship in the world; the third’s aspirations were to remain on the mountain where he would grow to be the tallest tree in the world so that when people looked up at him, they would raise their eyes to heaven, and think of God.

Years later, the trees had grown to maturity. They were cut down. Each was disappointed. The first was made into a plain box for animal feed; the second was crafted into a simple fishing boat, and the third was cut into strong beams.

But, that’s not the end of the story… because God fulfilled His purpose for each of them. 

The first box was used as a manger for Baby Jesus; the second became a fishing boat for Jesus and his disciples; and the third was used to build the cross and every time people saw it, they thought of God.

Each tree became so much more than he could ever have dreamed—because in the hands of God they fulfilled His purpose.

As we stand on the brink of 2020, may we yield to our Maker, praying that He will guide our lives and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which He created us.

Keep Looking Upward.

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The Gift God Sent

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John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend recently gave me this, author unknown. You may have seen, or heard, it before. I hope it blesses you, yet again…

                                                           GOD SENT US A SAVIOR

                                           If our greatest need had been information,

God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,

God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need would have been been money,

God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,

God would have sent us an entertainer.

But, our greatest need was forgiveness,

So God sent us a Savior.

Merry Christmas to you and thanks be to God who meets our greatest need.

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Gift or Giver?

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Psalm 109:30- “With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.”

 

In this season, if you are anything like me, you are spending quite a bit of time focusing on the gifts you would like to give special people in your life.

I ask myself, what would they like? What would make them smile? What would let them know they are special to me?

Then, there is the wrapping…the sparkle…the glitz… (This is my favorite part.) Again, it just adds to the “specialness” of the whole gift-giving process.

Each year, when I feel I am getting too “caught up” in the whole process, I turn to my Bible and read the Christmas Story, reminding myself that I must not worship the gifts.

You and I were made with a purpose…

We were made by God to worship HIM.

We were made to worship the Giver.

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More Than Enough

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Ephesians 3:20- “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”

Sufficient

Ample

Plenty

Adequate

These words mean “just enough.”

Enough food to feed the family.

Enough money to pay the grocery bill.

Enough light to read by.

Enough gas in the tank.

And that’s fine for most things.

But, what if you could have an abundance?

Ephesians tells us that God isn’t the God of “just enough”—He is able to supply more than what we think we need… more than we ask for or imagine.

He’s the God of Abundance.

The God of Overflowing.

He’s the God of “more than enough.”

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Of Great Worth

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I Peter 3: 3,4– “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

 

Thinking ahead to Christmas, holiday get-togethers, luncheons and so on, I took a survey of my closet to see what I might need to buy to wear… or at least to add in the way of a sweater or new shoes to an existing outfit. 

The prospects seemed dismal as I settled into my reading chair and picked up my Bible.

Then, I read the verse from first Peter. Inner beauty, not a glittery new sweater, was what it said that pleases God. And, in the noise and hustle involved in holiday celebrations, He asked me to instead focus on developing a gentle, quiet spirit. 

I may not be sporting new clothes this holiday season, but you will find me wearing a big smile… because I will be concentrating on what is important to God.

It is my gift to Him this Christmas Season.

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