spiritualsnippets.com

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

Two Become One

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Matthew 19: 4-6 “. . . at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’,   so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

If my parents were alive, they would be celebrating their seventy-ninth anniversary today.

That’s not completely true because I never knew of them actually “celebrating” on September 20th.

They were just about as perfect together as any couple I’ve ever known. They took the scripture seriously. Every day, Dad would tell Mom, “Always remember, we are as one.”

When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and needed to live in an assisted living facility, it was only natural that Dad would sell the house, give up the life they had known, and move into the apartment along with her.

Mom passed first, then less than a year later, Dad reunited with her in heaven.

Their marriage lived out God’s intention for all of us “married folk” to live together “as one.”

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Even the Smallest of Creatures Has Purpose

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Genesis 1:21. “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems, and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

My husband and I love hummingbirds. We never tire of their visits to our patio. They usually stay next to our feeder or drink from our flowering plants. However, sometimes—like yesterday—they hover close by, as if to watchi us as intently as we watch them.

The Bible does not mention hummingbirds specifically, even though they remind us of God’s great love for all of His creatures. Even the very smallest of birds.

People everywhere are in awe of their beauty and grace. Along with butterflies, they are one of the most delicate of God’s winged creations. 

They remind us that even the smallest of creatures have purpose and reflect God’s love and handiwork.

Sunrises and sunsets, rainbows, gentle rain and cooling breezes, flowers with their myriad scents and colors are just some of God’s creations bringing human beings delight and much happiness.

Which reminds me of this verse in Matthew, telling us we are infinitely loved by our heavenly Father:

Matthew 6:26- “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

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What the Sabbath and Labor Day Have in Common

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Exodus 20:8-10Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God…”

The first Labor Day in 1887 was established to “celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. . . to recognize those contributions made to America’s strength and prosperity.

After Rosemary explained to her grandson what “Labor” meant, he asked her why we celebrate Labor Day with parades, picnics and trips to the lake. “Why don’t we do work on Labor Day?”

“I guess it’s a time to rest from our hard work and enjoy the day with family and friends,” she told him. 

After he’d gone home, she pulled out her Bible to see what God had to say about resting from our labors. She came across the passage above from Exodus in which God talked about the Sabbath as a Day of Rest. 

Rejuvenating our lives physically, mentally, and spiritually.

We should model ourselves after God, who rested on the seventh day of creation. We use the Sabbath as a day of rest from work and an opportunity to reconnect with God.

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A Good Father

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Psalm 139: 7-10        “Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

Things not going so well in your life? Feel like running away from God?

Scripture says you cannot hide from Him. His spirit is everywhere.

But, instead of running away, what about running to Him? 

As the Psalmist said, He is there to lead you and hold (comfort) you.

Some children get the impression that God is some kind of ogre—a disciplinarian  who carries the proverbial “big stick” and is out to get them.

But the Bible presents Him as the loving Father who looks out for the good of His children. 

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The Ten Virgins

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Matthew 25:13- “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

Christians have likely read the parable in Matthew about the Ten Virgins, symbolizing the return of Jesus Christ for His Church.

Five of the virgins in the parable were ready with oil for their lamps; five were not. 

The bridegroom represents Jesus; the virgins, the church; the oil symbolizes spiritual readiness.

The meaning? Believers are encouraged to live in a state of readiness characterized by faith, obedience, and actual service.

This parable is just one of several found in the Bible on this topic.

When something is found multiple times in the Bible, we should heed its importance.

In this case, we are encouraged to live as He has taught us in His Word, awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Believers have nothing to dread.

We have everything to look forward to—the most glorious of which is the return of our savior, Jesus Christ!

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Sorry I’m Late

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This is Monday afternoon and my Sunday blog is a tad late.

Our home renovation is officially in its last week and things are buzzing around here. Movers will arrive in a few days.

As I check things off of our “Punch List”, I am reminded of God’s Grand Plan for the world and mankind. My head spins when I think of all that must go into a plan like that.

But, then again, He IS God!

As for us, we have run into quite a few snags from ordering, to workmanship and everything in between.

And God? Since he has given human beings free choice, there have been twists and turns to His perfect plans. 

We agreed to a completion date with our general contractor, so we have a pretty good idea when our work here will be finished. We have a target date.

I don’t profess to know how God works, but I do know one thing because I have read it in the Bible—the date and time He has selected are known only to HIM.

In the case of my contractor and myself, not having a date “nailed down,” would have made both of us a little uneasy. 

In God’s case, being ready should make you and I a little concerned. We need to ask ourselves what it is that we need to do to get ready for God’s end time plan to unfold. 

There’s only one place to look. 

God’s Word. The Bible.

In the next few weeks (minus a couple I will take off for the “big move”, I will share scripture about the end times. 

I will NOT be able to ascertain a date, other than to say that it IS in the FUTURE. 

However, we should be able to find out just what God wants us to do to prepare ourselves.

And that’s why I’m writing this blog post.

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Clean Small-town Romance

My background as a school guidance counselor, and degrees in Special Education and Psychology help me tell compelling dramas about how we respond when our dreams are shattered.

Will we call on God for strength to forgive and find our way back?

If you love reading Christian fiction, women’s fiction, and stories about faith, forgiveness, and redemption, you will absolutely love Sunset Pointe: The Baby Between Us.

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Not Just Another Romance Novel


Readers who love Christian fiction, women’s fiction, and stories about faith, forgiveness, and redemption will love Sunset Pointe: The Baby Between Us. Not just another romance novel, it’s a compelling drama about how we respond when our dreams are shattered. Will we call on God for the strength to forgive and find our way back?

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God WANTS to Forgive You

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“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

I’ve met several people over my lifetime who have told me that they’ve done horrible, detestable, awful, unforgivable things.

Because they believed these to be sins God wouldn’t—even couldn’t— forgive, they stayed away from Christians, church services, even refused to read the Bible. 

If you are one of them, if you’re living a life without hope, there is good news for you.

God wants to forgive you. He’s willing to wipe the slate clean.

For those who are truly repentant and willing to turn away from a life of sin–even such as most of us cannot even fathom–your Creator will listen to your heartfelt prayer of confession.

If you desire a relationship with Him, He is willing.

There is hope.

There is a Savior.

His name is Jesus.

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Sunset Pointe: First Book in a New Series

It has been an exciting week. It always is for authors where their new book is launched. It is especially so for me since this is the launch of a new series. Sunset Pointe: The Baby Between Us is now available on Amazon books in both e-book and paperback. I think you’ll find the story nostalgic and encouraging even though I am tackling hard subjects families have been faced with through decades.

Here’s a snippet of my first review. To read it in depth, go to my author page on Amazon’s Author Central.

Jonathan and Karla are soulmates, having fallen in love in the third grade. However, the day before their Senior Prom, Karla learns that Jonathan has been unfaithful to her. As a result, he is now the father of her best friend, Missy’s, baby.

When both Jonathan’s and Missy’s parents try to force them to marry, Jonathan can’t see any way out. He takes off—leaving behind his responsibilities and his “one and only true love.”

The lives in Sunset Pointe are plagued with twists and turns, leaving Jonathan and Karla feeling lost without each other.

They have always shared a strong faith in God. Will they call on Him for the strength they need to forgive each other and find their way back to what they once had?

Brenda C. Poulos delivers an exciting modern story about an ageless subject. Fans and first-time readers will love Sunset Pointe: The Baby Between Us. 

Poulos’ talent for writing with passion and truth shines in this story. Her plot offers layers, complications, and twists. Readers keep turning the pages, eager to see what happens next, until the end of this 60,000-word tale. 

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