spiritualsnippets.com

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

Jul 10

Have You Felt His Nudge?

by Brenda Poulos

Jeremiah 17:10- “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

My week had gone by quickly, filled with lots of activity. Doctors’ appointments, lunch with girlfriends, grocery shopping, a visit with Dad.

I told myself that I couldn’t have squeezed anything else in. But that didn’t make me feel any better about not doing the one thing I’d placed at the top of my list: visiting a sick friend.

Yes, I’d sent a card. I’d even called. But I’d been a Christian long enough to know what it felt like to be “nudged” by the Holy Spirit to do more.

And now I was experiencing what it felt like to disappoint Him—again.

You see, it wasn’t the first time I’d put what I wanted to do in front of what I knew He was calling me to do. Like yesterday, when I hadn’t spoken to the homeless woman sitting in front of Walmart. And all the other days when I could have shared the Good News of Christ, but didn’t.

My Sunday school teacher used to quote a Bible verse, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Even before reaching adulthood, I had occasions to experience the meaning of those words. 

For as long as I can remember, I have quoted the verse to myself about hearing God tell me I had been a good and faithful servant. The desired to hear God say those words to me encouraged me many times to reach beyond myself and serve God in my community.

But now I was disappointed to find I was putting self first. I knew that didn’t please Him—and it didn’t make me happy either.

I confessed my pride in self and my accomplishments. I asked for forgiveness and for Him to send the Holy Spirit to minister to my heart and lead me in the path he has for me. I’ve prayed for Him to infuse my soul with a love for the scriptures so that I might walk that path with strength and passion.

How are you doing on your journey of putting God first and serving Him with zeal?

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 3

Pray Away the Darkness

by Brenda Poulos

1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

I met with a group of other writers at a church coffee shop this past week. And as we sat discussing our current work, we were jarred by the sound of the door opening and banging against the wall.

A young woman stumbled in, wailing one of the most awful sounds I have ever heard, and threw herself onto the concrete floor about six feet from our table. Her shirt wet with tears, she lay prostrate on the floor and yelled, “No one can help me.”

Our small group went over and began to pray. The woman continued to cry out that she’d done something so bad that she felt even God would not choose to help her.

The coffee shop manager called the pastor of the church, asking him to come and talk with the young woman. When he arrived and introduced himself, she willingly went with him to his office.

Praise God that this  woman—even though she thought herself unworthy of forgiveness—came the the “right place” where she would hear of God’s love and mercy.

When our meeting ended, the door to the pastor’s office still remained closed. We prayed again for this person to accept God’s forgiveness and begin a victorious life in Christ.

The verse I chose to highlight today is likely one that the pastor quoted to her. 

Pray for someone you may know who needs to hear they can experience forgiveness, too.

May the love of God shine into the dark places of their souls.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 26

The Fourth Man

by Brenda Poulos

Daniel 3:25- “Look!” He answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

One of my favorite Bible stories is about Daniel and his friends, who defied the authorities and refused to bow down to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar set up. They were thrown into the fiery furnace, God protected them and they were let go, unharmed.

As a child, I somehow missed the part about the fourth man in the furnace that day. However, as an adult, I see it as a clear depiction of the fact that when we are going through trials and tribulations, Jesus is right beside us. 

He has never promised to solve all of our problems for us or heal all of our aches and pains. But he has said he will never leave or forsake us. He reminds us that he is there with us. He is a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 19

Happy Father’s Day!

by Brenda Poulos

Proverbs 13:1- “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction…”

Today we honor dads everywhere.

Hopefully, we recognize their uniqueness and special place in our lives everyday.

My father was a true family man. After God, he put our family first. And it wasn’t easy for a man with a minimal education.

With a family of four children to provide for, he often worked two jobs in the early years. He taught himself the complicated math skills necessary to advance in the aerospace industry. Often times, he’d work all day, come home for dinner, and then go back out and dig ditches for several more hours each night.

Being the only driver, I remember him sometimes falling asleep as he sat in a chair near the checkout waiting for us kids to get what we needed at Sears or JC Penny.

Dad always had time for things that were important. Church was one of those things. He would spread out a newspaper on the counter on Saturday nights and polish four pairs of shoes and on Sunday morning, we’d find our “offering” for church lined up on the countertop beside them.

Dad woke us each Sunday morning by pulling on our toes and announcing, “Rise and Shine.” We might have been grumpy those mornings, but Dad wasn’t. He had a huge smile on his face as he walked us to our Sunday school rooms. 

He showed unconditional love to each of us. And lest you get the impression that it was all sweetness and roses at our house, I must admit to getting in trouble and dreading the “switch.” 

Yes, Dad punished us for getting out of line. And those were the only times we saw tears in our father’s eyes.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. Ninety-six years old and still setting the example of what it’s like to follow our Heavenly Father’s leading here on earth.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 12

A Sympathy Card

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 shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Mia stood before the rack of greeting cards, shaking her head. She read card after card, unable to find a Sympathy card which accurately conveyed just what she wanted to say to her friend, Danielle, whose father had passed away over the weekend.

The cards reminded her of those she’d received when her own father died two years earlier—and of the comments friends and family had made at the funeral.

“He’s in a better place.”

“He was such a great guy.”

“He’d lived a nice, long life.”

“He’s no longer in pain.”

She knew they were meant to console and bring comfort, but instead they only emphasized the fact that her father didn’t know the Lord.

She walked over to the Christian/religious section. These were the kind of cards believers sent to each other. They brought real peace from the scriptures, each one telling of the hope of eternal life in Christ and the assurance that their loved one was in Heaven.

Mia took a moment right then and there to pray for her mother and oldest brother. She wanted them to know Jesus as their Savior and the Peace of God that passes all human understanding.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 5

The Forgiveness of an Eleven-year-old

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 13:38- “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Pauline arrived home from school one afternoon in April of 1965 to find her mother murdered in her bedroom.

This horrific incident could have caused the ten-year-old to run from God, but thankfully, she did quite the opposite. 

She ran to Him for comfort and peace. And when she did, she found purpose for her life. 

At the age of twenty-one, Pauline graduated from college, and began a prison ministry that taught forgiveness as its core.

Some forty years after her mother’s death, her killer was apprehended (a cold case file) and convicted. Through her ministry, Pauline was able to lead her mother’s murderer to the Lord. 

She declined the invitation to witness his execution, stating that he had been forgiven by her and her God.

Like him, we need to face the consequences of our actions. We are required to pay for our wrongdoings on earth.

But also, like him, when we confess our sins we can know the forgiveness and grace of Christ who died to pay the price for all who will believe.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 29

To Judge or Not to Judge

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 7:1-5. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Writers will tell you that although it is sometimes difficult to find mistakes in one’s own writing, it is much easier to detect them in someone else’s.

Spelling, punctuation, grammar, plot, characterization, just to name a few.

Admittedly, writers often pick up on other writer’s mistakes, making it difficult for them to enjoy reading for pleasure. 

Is it like that for you in your relationships?

Do you find it’s easier to focus on the mistakes or idiosyncrasies of family and friends than it is to find your own faults?

And do you find it hard not to point them out and give advice on how to change?

God knows all about that. And He even tells us what to do.

He warns us against hypocrisy. He wants us to work on our own faults first. Focus on ourselves. 

He reminds us that only those who are “fault free” are we able to see clearly and help others.

(Author’s note: As my birthday gift to YOU, please go to Amazon books on Wednesday, JUNE 1, for a free e-copy of my best-selling book, The Choice. www.amazon.com/Books-Brenda-Poulos     If you have trouble with this link, please just go directly to Amazon/books. Once there, type in Brenda C. Poulos or The Choice. And, while you’re online, visit my new website at http://www.brendapoulosauthor.com)

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 22

He’s Got This

by Brenda Poulos

Job 22:21- “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”

I don’t look forward to the two roundabouts I must maneuver every day on my way home. Even for those of us driving on them frequently, they can be tricky.

Each roadway leading into and out of the roundabout, posts a large YIELD sign. And, guess what? Frequent accidents are the norm.

The human animal doesn’t like to YIELD to others.

So consumed with “self,” we want to “go first.”

We Christians understand we are to YIELD to God, but are often stubborn and take things into our own hands. 

We forget that He already knows the outcome of every situation! There is no one more worthy of our trust.

When we YIELD to God, we will be at peace with Him and we will prosper.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 15

Reach Out

by Brenda Poulos

Acts: 17: 27: “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”

“Why did God let this happen?”

This is a common question asked by those suffering from illness and loss. Isn’t it? Perhaps you have even said those words, yourself.

In Acts, we find that God wants to comfort those who are suffering. He hopes they will seek him “and find him.”

Over the years, I have heard stories about people who have come to know the Lord in the midst of difficult circumstances involving family members, friends, and even themselves.

These words remind me of the picture my parents had hanging in their house of Jesus knocking on the door of someone’s heart. 

Whether it is someone with a “scientific” mind who has doubts, or a person who has spent a lifetime running in the other direction, or a variety of other reasons, He is closer than you can imagine.

And He’s waiting for you to reach out for Him.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 8

Mom Taught Me How to Blow Bubbles

by Brenda Poulos

1 John 2:25- “And this is what he promised us—eternal life.”

My mother wasn’t perfect; but she was the perfect one for me.

She taught me how to embroider, to ride a bike, and blow giant bubbles with Bazooka Bubble Gum.

In my eyes, she was beautiful.

I miss her soft hands, the twinkle in her eyes, her encouragement, her unconditional love. 

I still listen for her voice, the shuffle of her feet, her laugh.

The sweet way she said my name.

If you’ve lost your mother recently, as I have, my prayer for you today is that you can rejoice in the small things you remember about her and in in knowing that this is but a brief time apart.

One day you will reunite.

And spend eternity together.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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