spiritualsnippets.com

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

Jul 23

A Familiar Face

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 8:11-”Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

We relocated to Nevada in January. Although we love it here, now, it was quite an adjustment for us to start over and build new friendships. We only knew our son, daughter-in-law, and little grandson. 

It was a strange experience to go to the grocery store or out to the mall and not see anyone we knew.

We started to attend a Bible study on Wednesday evenings. As I opened the door one night, my eyes immediately connected with a familiar face. How could this be? I asked myself. What were the chances of me knowing anyone in this state? 

“I know you somehow, don’t I?” she asked.

“You look familiar, too,” I answered.

Within five minutes we realized we had taught at the same school in Arizona some thirty-five years ago! We hadn’t really been friends at the time; just acquaintances that said hello in the hallway or school office.

With this realization, we shouted and hugged. We were thrilled to see each other again. I vowed that since God had brought her back into my life, I would get to know her better this time around!

Later, as I drove home, I couldn’t help but fast-forward to a future day when I will reunite with relatives and friends who have already gone to heaven. 

Gathered from around the globe, there will be a lot of hugging and rejoicing going on!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 16

Sunshine and Rain

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 5:45b- “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

This week, I had an “ah-ha” moment—a  sudden understanding of something I thought I knew about, but actually didn’t have a complete understanding. 

The subject was Grace.

My experience has been that Grace means “God giving us something that we don’t deserve.” Hence, forgiveness of sins and life everlasting with Him. This grace is given to believers.

But there is another kind of grace at work in the world that God gives to believers and unbelievers alike.

It is called common grace. 

It doesn’t get a person to heaven. But God takes pleasure in His creation and exercises the grace that makes the sun come up and sends rain on the just and unjust alike.

God tells us to pray for and bless our enemies. For me, common grace is His supreme example of this principle at work.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 9

You Can Be Confident

by Brenda Poulos

2 Corinthians 5:8- “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

A good friend of ours went home to be with the Lord last night. We know her absence here, means she is now present in heaven with God.

Her family reported that the last words she spoke on this earth were: “I love Jesus.”

I can only guess that those were also her first words in heaven.

It should comfort every Christian facing loss of a loved one that if the person being mourned knew Jesus as Savior, then they are no longer suffering and are rejoicing in heaven.

The assurance of our eternal home, the forgiveness of sins, and a relationship between God and each believer throughout this life are all a direct result of God’s redeeming grace.

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Jul 2

This Really Humbled Me

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 1:1–Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.

Looking for a book to read last week, I thought about one of my favorite authors. She hadn’t published anything for a long time, so I Googled her to find out why.

What I saw astounded—and humbled—me.

She has quit writing because God called her to prayer. Full-time prayer. 

This was a big-time author who had earned lucrative royalties. 

But she gave it all up when God spoke to her heart.

How often have we said to one another that we admired people who have gone to the mission field, but hoped God didn’t call us?

Away from family and friends, cozy homes, fulfilling careers…

Paul knew what it was like to be called and beaten and jailed for the cause of Christ.

He longed to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” from the Savior one day.

My author friend was obedient to God’s calling, too. And I consider this morning whether I will be obedient to the command He has given each one of us.

For we have all been set aside to spread the Gospel.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 25

Welcome Home

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 91:1- “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

My husband and I are in the process of pre-planning at our local mortuary. Recently experiencing the deaths of my parents, whose foresight in this area made it easier on our family, we want to do the same for our children when our time comes.

Decades ago, professing faith in Christ gave us the assurance of our eternal home in heaven. Living in His shelter and experiencing his peace and strength daily is just a “preview” of things to come.

I love the wording of Psalm 91:1. It depicts a caring and loving God who not only watches over us now, but one who is preparing a place for His children. He has planned our lives from the beginning to the end. 

And He will welcome us home in the fullness of time. 

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 18

Our Heavenly Father

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 21:6,7,8- “He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

When I taught third grade, I had my students make Father’s Day cards for their dads.

One year, when astronauts, rockets, and space were dominating the news, I gave them this writing prompt for their message:     “My dad is the best dad in the world because…”

You can imagine some of the things these youngsters came up with, praising their fathers for many different reasons.

Today as we think about our heavenly father, there are many reasons to thank Him for being our Creator, Savior, Provider, Protector, and Sustainer.

But the verse in Revelation, tells us that He will also be our Avenger. He will right every wrong and rid the world of sin and death once and for all!

Today—and everyday—He is worthy of our praise… worship… and adoration.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 11

This Could Happen Because of You

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 10:14- “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? “

Our pastor asked this question in church this morning: “Is there someone who will go to heaven because of you?”

I immediately thought of the verse above. A person must hear the message of the gospel in order to be saved.

And they cannot hear it unless someone tells them.

Are you that someone? 

Am I?

Are we going to follow Jesus’ commandment or are we going to rely on our pastors and preachers?

Later, our pastor asked: Is there someone who is going to go to hell because of you…because you and I didn’t tell them?

Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to convict us. And the love of Christ to embolden us.

And, then let our feet take us—next door, down the street, across town—with the message of eternal life through faith in Jesus.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 28

Focus on the Eternal

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 6: 20, 21.  “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Two icons in the world of music died this week. Their passing puts life and death in perspective, doesn’t it?

You can literally “have it all” on earth, but still one day that is taken from you.

I don’t know anything about these ladies’ spiritual lives. And my purpose is not to comment on that.

My point is that one day we will all be faced with eternity and those things which we once thought were so important will be left behind. 

God wants us to be happy in this life, but he reminds us to focus our time and attention on what is of eternal importance.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 21

Even in the Little Things

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 12:12- “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Here we sit. Our kitchen remodel still not completed.

We have been waiting since January for cabinets, countertops, and appliances. We make our calls to vendors every week, hear many creative excuses, but still nothing gets done.

We either go out for dinner, eat frozen dinners (we do have a microwave), or eat with our son and his family (which we actually love doing).

I have heard, “Just be patient a little while longer” a thousand too many times.

Maybe God is trying to teach us something.

Over the years, one of the most common prayer requests I’ve received has been for patience. It really is a virtue, I think. And, it is a common problem for many people, including Christians.

I decided to see what the Bible has to say on the subject.

I quickly turned to Romans and found the verse above to offer us encouragement.

The Lord says to be joyful as we hope, patient when hard times come, and faithful to pray. 

We have found all three of these references to be key in helping us “endure” our situation.

Many times we have heard that God cares—even about the little things?

If we believe that, why do we hesitate to pray for them boldly? And without ceasing?

No matter how small a matter may seem to be, take it to the Lord’s throne in prayer.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 14

Mom’s Creativity

by Brenda Poulos

Deuteronomy 5:16a– “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you…”

This is the second year without my mother to celebrate with on Mother’s Day. Even though I still think about her every day, this special day to honor mothers seems to be especially hard for me.

When I was teaching, I used to ask my students to tell me what they loved most about their mothers or to tell about something their mothers had done for them.

I can honestly say that my mother went “all out” to do anything to help me succeed in school. And there was no end to her creativity.

For example, when she realized I was struggling to do a forward roll to pass our P.E. unit on gymnastics, I came home from school one afternoon to find my mattress in the middle of the living room floor. With her mantra being practice makes perfect, Mom spent hours with me the entire weekend to make sure I’d pass gymnastics.

I am most thankful that I was raised in a Christian home and came to know the Lord at an early age. Now that Mom is in Heaven, it gives me the assurance I will see her again and have the opportunity to thank her (again) in person.

Do you have a special memory of your mother you’d like to share? Please write in and tell us your story.

And, by the way, if you’re a mom yourself, Happy Mother’s Day!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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