spiritualsnippets.com

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

Nov 28

Compassion vs. Complacency

by Brenda Poulos

Mark 8:2-9- “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘My heart is moved with pity for the crowd…’ He took seven loaves and a few small fish, blessed them and distributed them. About 4,000 people ate their full.”

Samuel F. Pugh wrote the following Thanksgiving Prayer. I am challenging myself to read it often. To keep me humble. To help me focus on what is important to God.

I am sure you have read it before. Maybe it deserves another reading during this season of giving.

Oh, God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry; When I have work, help me to remember the jobless; When I have a warm home, help me to remember the homeless; When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer; And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency and bestir my compassion. Make me concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Nov 22

Additions to “Thankful” List

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 12:10- “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. As a child, do you remember your classroom teacher or Sunday school teacher asking you what you were thankful for?

I always answered, “Mom and Dad.”

My parents are 94 and 95 years old. If you asked me the same question today, I would answer the same—but with an addition.

Mom and Dad just tested positive for Covid-19. They live in an assisted living facility where all of a sudden others are testing positive, too. Some have symptoms. Some do not. But, none of them will be able to be with their families/friends on Thanksgiving Day again this year.

I continue to thank God for them and for those who faithfully care for them when I cannot. To put the health and safety of others before oneself is acting from a Biblical perspective.

This ties in with “It is more blessed to give than to receive” of Acts 20:25. It may go against our human instinct to put others first, but it truly means walking according to Jesus’s command to be his hands and feet here on earth.

Of course, it is the Lord Jesus who should get our ultimate praise for the salvation He brought to each of us. As Christians, we are also thankful for his peace, his healing, and his provision.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

Leave a comment »
Nov 14

The Eternals

by Brenda Poulos

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

I watched the television previews for a new series this week. Called The Eternals, it is about a fictional group of super-powered beings whose job it is to preserve and safeguard the planet. The basic premise is that they have—and will—live forever. (At least that is what I conclude from the trailer.)

Humans have always been fascinated with the prospect of living forever. We’ve all heard about billionaires that die and have their bodies preserved for awakening at a predetermined time in the future.

Death, however, is seldom longed for—except, perhaps by those who are in intense physical pain, those emotionally disturbed, or the elderly.

But did you know that you can have the assurance of eternal life?

The Bible includes many verses referring to the promise of eternal life, given to believers by Jesus Christ. He is not a fictional character, like The Eternals. He is God’s Son who gave his life–shed his blood–to pay the penalty for our sin.

The gift of Eternal life is available to all who put their faith in him.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

Leave a comment »
Nov 7

Warning Signs

by Brenda Poulos

I Corinthians 10:11 – “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.”

Ready to change lanes on the freeway last week, my car’s warning system notified me that there was a vehicle in my blind spot. 

This allowed me to avoid what would have been a horrific accident.

There are a lot of early warning devices nowadays and although some may be irritating (like the one on the thermostat of our home’s heating/cooling system) they are meant to help consumers avoid catastrophes.

There are many warnings in the Bible, too.

The Apostle Paul’s name always comes to mind when I think about those who were sent to warn others. I would like to tell you his words were always heeded, but that was not the case. 

Some of the saddest and most tragic stories in the scriptures are those about men and women who failed to heed God’s warnings—and the consequences they experienced.

Thank God for His Word and for those, like Paul, who were obedient to His commands. It is their stories that make us aware of the results of certain actions/decisions.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

Leave a comment »
Blog at WordPress.com.