spiritualsnippets.com

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

Feb 20

Seasons To Fill Our Hearts With Joy

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 14:17- “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Springtime in Arizona is gloriously beautiful, although both the morning and mid-afternoon sun make for brutal driving conditions. This year, we are also experiencing unprecedented winds.

Other parts of the country have met with heavy rains, flooding, and devastating snowstorms. 

Ah, nature.

Does the weather simply change from time to time, of its own accord? Or, is there a controlling force behind it all?

The Bible tells us in Matthew 8:27 that the forces of nature obey Christ’s voice; In the days of Noah, he brought about a great flood; and used the wind in Exodus to carry in locusts. And Acts 14 attributes the seasons to our wonderful and caring God.

The change of seasons is just another of the hundreds of ways that God reminds us that He is in control of things in heaven and on earth. And His beautiful rainbow after a rain magnificently displays His awesome power and His promises to His people.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Feb 13

The Biggest Super Bowl of All Time

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 19:6b-7a~ “Hallelujah! For our Lord God reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!”

Since the beginning of football season back in September, fans have been gearing up to watch the Super Bowl.                       

It’s finally here and millions of folks will be cheering for their favorite team. But at game’s end, only one will be declared the victor.

Just as it will be one day in the future.

Now, I’m not a football enthusiast. I’m also just a layman when it comes to scripture. So if the comparison I draw here is not exactly accurate, please forgive me.

I am thinking ahead to events in the book of Revelation. More precisely, to the battle between the forces of good and evil, Christ and Satan. 

We don’t know exactly when this will take place. But we do know who wins.

The Bible tells us that Satan will be destroyed, along with his dark angels, ridding the earth once and for all of sin and evil. 

It will be the Super Bowl of all Super Bowls.

The winner: Jesus Christ!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Feb 6

Clean Out Your Junk Drawer

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 130:4- “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Last week I had some friends over for a ladies tea. I had a wonderful time catching up on what was new with each one of them. 

When we were in my kitchen, I mentioned we were thinking of repainting. I decided to show them some paint samples I’d collected. Everyone crowded around as I looked in my “junk” drawer for them.

Out came tape, pencils/pens, a hammer, a screw driver, store coupons, and so on. I could feel the heat creep up my neck as the contents of my junk drawer were exposed. I finally found what I was looking for but vowed aloud to clean everything out—and soon. The others just laughed, confessing they had a junk drawer in their kitchen, too. 

Later that night, I thought about what had happened and how embarrassing it had been to have them look at all of the items stuffed inside my drawer—out of sight. I thought about the junk drawer of my soul. The sins kept there. Sins I wouldn’t want anyone to see: lies I’d told to make myself “look better;” things I should have done for others, but hadn’t.

I needed to clean out the junk drawer of my life. I knew the only way to do so was by asking forgiveness from my heavenly Father. Once I did, I felt the release of the weight I’d been carrying. I was lighter.

Ready to serve Him wholeheartedly again.

I thanked God for the forgiveness He promised to bring once I confessed my sins to Him, I got out my recipe folder and turned my oven to 350 degrees.

All of a sudden, I felt like making an apple cobbler.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 30

Do It For Him

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 25:40- “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Robert pulled to the side of the road, exited his truck, and it wasn’t long before he’d changed a flat front tire for the young mother inside. She thanked him for his kindness and he drove home, late for dinner by only a few minutes. 

After he told his wife the reason for his tardiness, she reminded him of the verse in Matthew 25. “What we do for others, we are actually doing for God.”

When you do something unselfish for someone, God is pleased with your actions. But, it’s more than that. He says you are actually doing it for Him. 

You are acting in his behalf. As a representative of the King—and the Kingdom—here on earth.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 23

Best Friends Forever

by Brenda Poulos

Deuteronomy 31:8- “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

After finishing her residency, Barbara returned to her hometown to set up her pediatric practice. Although they’d kept in touch by writing letters and calling regularly, it was exhilarating to see her best friend, Tricia, in person.

Everything about their friendship seemed to fall back in place and the girls resumed the friendship that had begun in grade school. Just like their friendship necklaces declared, they were still Best Friends Forever, BFF’s.

When Tricia was killed the following year in a car crash, Barbara was devastated.

She couldn’t find satisfaction in her medical practice or the fact that she was to be married the next spring. Life lost its meaning and she fell into a deep depression.

One day, her sister convinced her to attend church with her. The scripture above became Barbara’s lifeline and led her to give her heart to Jesus. He became her new best friend. 

She found release from her depression and experienced joy in knowing He would never leave or forsake her.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 16

A Match Made in Heaven

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 4:19– “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Someone asked how I keep thinking of Bible verses to use in my blog. Well, I said, “It’s easy. There are 31,101 of them!”

Another reader asked which I select first, the verse or the story/example? It happens both ways. For instance, yesterday, I was looking through some old photos. I came across one of my grandfather and myself holding up a nice-sized trout. How that man loved to fish!

My grandfather taught Sunday school. He was a living example of being a fisher of men. He preferred the boys in his Junior High class. “Catch them while they’re young and they’ll have a lifetime to live for Jesus,” he’d often say. 

He loved to tell stories. Boys loved hearing them. You could say it was a match made in Heaven.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 9

December Twenty-sixth

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

“Real” trees have been dropped off at designated locations; artificial ones are stored away in garages; yard decorations have been taken down for another year.

Tinsel and precious ornaments are nestled in protective papers; garland is put away in specially-labeled boxes; wreaths and outdoor lights are kept on high shelves until next winter.

Christmas is now past. 

In fact, the day after Christmas I was in our local drugstore where employees were already working on Valentine’s Day displays!

Really?

When the store manager overheard the comment I made to my husband, he interrupted our conversation. “That’s the way it is, folks. Nowadays all people do is live from one holiday to the next. Retailers never miss a beat. We just keep the season’s merchandise on the shelves.”

How sad, I thought later. Always looking ahead to the next celebration, never content with today.

I opened my Bible to a familiar verse. I’d read it—even quoted it—numerous times.

Now, it took on new meaning as I thanked God for December 26th. A “plain day” with no special label that I was aware of— another day the Lord made.

A day to make memories with family, serve in my community, even do house work. A day with endless possibilities.

Another day to rejoice and be glad!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 2

Wonderful

by Brenda Poulos

I Peter 3:22- “(Jesus) has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

Recently, as I was compiling information on heaven, I came across this quotation credited to John Newton: “When I get to heaven, I shall see three wonders there. The first will be to see many people whom I did not expect to see; the second will be to miss many who I did expect to see; the third and greatest of all will be to find myself there.”

Christians don’t have to wonder if we will go to heaven when we die. We have assurance of our future home because of our faith in Jesus Christ and his payment for our sin through his death and resurrection.

However, if we look at another definition of the word wonder, “a remarkable or amazing event,” I’m sure we all will agree that it will be beyond description. Seeing Jesus and being in his presence, being reunited with family and friends, being restored to wholeness in mind and body, experiencing the answers to age-old questions, and so much more.

Heaven will be full of wonder.

WONDERFUL.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Dec 26

Living the Spirit of Christmas All Year Long

by Brenda Poulos

 

Philippians 2:3b- “in humility value others above yourselves.”

In the season of Christmas, 

Have you noticed more people stopping for you to cross the street?

Have you experienced someone inviting you to go ahead of them in line?

Have you seen doors being held open for shoppers?

Have you been asked to donate money for the homeless?

Small gestures.

Human kindness.

Why can’t it be like this all year long?

The Bible tells us it can. When we put ourselves last. When we think of others first.

Researchers tell us that the happiest people on the planet are those who volunteer (serve others). These people have discovered the Biblical principle for themselves.

And they live the Spirit of Christmas all year long.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Dec 19

Xmas vs. Christmas

by Brenda Poulos

Do you celebrate Christmas or Xmas?

Oh, yes, they are two very different things.

Xmas, although beautiful and memorable, is a social experience. It’s a gift-giving, cookie-baking, photo-taking season repeated year after year because of its feel-good/traditional/income-generating value.

Don’t believe me?

Look at Christmas. The added elements are the worship of the baby in the manger (who grows up to become the Savior of world); reflections on visits to him by angels, wise men, and shepherds; the revelation (and significance of) the virgin birth; candlelight church services, including the singing of hymns and reading of Holy Scriptures.

I invite you to experience the blessings that celebrating Christmas in its fullness will bring this year!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
«Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Blog at WordPress.com.