spiritualsnippets.com

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

Feb 23

When Temptation Strikes

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 26:41– “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

At one time, my husband and I lived in a house behind a grocery store. Our back fence separated our property from the store’s parking lot. Midmorning, every single day of the year except Christmas and New Year’s, unbelievably good smells from the store’s bakery and deli would waft right into our house!

Needless to say, we were constantly tempted to hop the fence and buy freshly baked bread or tasty rotisserie chicken. When the store did a special promotion, bringing their grills outside to cook hot dogs or brats, it was almost too much to bear!

I recall in the midst of dieting, we would resolve to not go grocery shopping without the other so that we could keep from buying foods from our “forbidden” list.  We also tried to spend time away from home, involved in activities where we might not be tempted to break ranks and give in to our churning stomachs.

Although food is a temptation for lots of us, there are also many things in this life that could potentially lure us into behaviors that are not good for us, such as spending too much time on the computer, gambling or gossiping over the back fence, to name a few.

We have good intentions. We mean to change, but these things seem to have such power over human beings.

Why? Because as the verse above tells us, our flesh is weak. It also tells us what to do about it: WATCH. Be aware of those things that tempt us and those times when we are most vulnerable. Then, try to keep ourselves out of those situations.

But that’s not enough. The most powerful thing we can do is PRAY. Seek God’s guidance and tap into His power of resistance against those things that tempt us. Ask Him to replace that temptation with a desire for something better. And He will because He is faithful, because He keeps His word, because He doesn’t want to see us succumb to temptation.

He want us to be free of those things that bind us. Free to live a victorious life— in Him!

Brenda

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Feb 16

What’s on God’s Agenda for Today?

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 121:4- (He who keeps you) will neither slumber nor sleep.

I answered the phone on the third ring. It was my son, calling me on his way to play a round of golf. He filled me in on what he had been up to the previous week and what he had planned for the next few days. I appreciated his call. I love to hear what is going on in his life.

I think back to that phone call as I wonder, what God is doing today? What’s on His agenda?

Well, I think He is doing pretty much what He does every day. I’ll list what comes to mind in no particular order because He does what he does, simultaneously. The Bible tells us He can be everywhere at once and do every thing at once. Here are some insights from His Word:

1) He is active in listening to, and answering, prayers. I Peter 3:12- “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”

2)  He literally holds this universe together. Hebrews 1:3a- “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…”

3)  He is creating. Not only did He create the heavens and the earth as we read in the book of Genesis, but John 14:6 quotes Jesus as saying “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” The who He is referring to is believers—those who put their faith in Jesus.

4) He is protecting. Isaiah 41:10- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

5) He is forgiving. Hebrews 7:25- Jesus “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

I am sure this is not an exhaustive list. Please comment by adding to the above others that you think of, including the scriptural reference.

Our God is always with us…always awake…always watching over us… He is the same today, tomorrow, and always!

Brenda

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Feb 9

The Ultimate Valentine

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 1:20- For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

We hadn’t used binoculars since we camped in northern Arizona. Now, I pulled them out of the closet and packed them into our suitcase. We were heading for a whale watching excursion in the Pacific Ocean as part of our vacation in San Clemente, California.

The binoculars would help us detect the large mammals from a distance, bringing them into focus even from far away. Without them, we might never know that these spectacular creatures were anywhere nearby.

The Bible says one day we will see God. We will “Behold Him” in all of His Glory. We won’t need binoculars—we’ll see Him face-to-face!

But what about now? Is there any way to see Him—to recognize Him in our daily lives here on earth?

His Word tells us we can see evidence of Him all around us— in the heavens and on the earth. That even in those places where the gospel hasn’t been preached, people can know of Him because all of nature testifies of Him!

This earth, this galaxy, didn’t come into existence because of some “Big Bang!” They were created for us to inhabit, for our enjoyment, in order to increase our awareness of our Heavenly Father. All of creation gives evidence of the great love of God for His children.

The rainbow…a waterfall…the hummingbird…sunrise and sunset…ocean waves…a summer breeze… a colorful butterfly…sunbeams streaming through a windowpane…stars, moon, planets, and puffy clouds… Take a second look at them, today. Think about the one who created them: our Heavenly Father.

He loved us so much that He made all of nature for our pleasure, but more than this, he made them to send us a message. A message that He exists, that He loves us, that He wants to connect with us. They tell of His divine nature and His great power.

God was in control as He created. Today, He IS still in control. Although things may not always seem to be going “right”, He IS near us. He will have the ultimate victory!

This world may be all about Valentines and lace and sparkly diamonds, but He is about a universe filled with reminders that His love is unfailing, unending. Love in its purest form, for by His very nature, HE IS LOVE.

Brenda

 

 

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Feb 2

Lip Sync?

by Brenda Poulos

Jeremiah 23:26– How long will there be lies in the hearts of those who speak false words in My name, who speak the lies of their own heart?

On the morning news I heard a story about a recent Lip Sync contest that took place on a late night television show. A video clip showed famous celebrities belting out the lyrics to popular contemporary songs and the audience cheering them on, as if they were hearing the actual artists themselves. In most cases, it was virtually impossible to tell they were not really singing the words themselves!

I think about the voice of God. Is it possible for us to know if it is really His voice we are listening to, or that of someone else? Someone who may say similar words, but twist them ever so slightly so that the meaning is distorted? The intent to misguide…

How can we know His true voice? How can we recognize the voice of impostors who really mean to lead us away from The Truth?

Television talk shows, social media, magazines—the list goes on and on. It won’t take much effort to find voices in every venue that purport to know and proclaim their own “truth.” If we are not careful, we may fall prey to their message. We may, in fact, be led away from the True and Living God we so earnestly seek.

There are hundreds of books to be read. There are opportunities to attend church or even watch worship services from your own living room. You can read online commentaries. The list is never ending.

So, I ask you, again: How will you know the message is from God? How will you know His true voice from that of the Lip Syncers of this world?

The Bible, as God’s Word, is His message to us. It is the only written word that is 100% endorsed by Him. So, when we read or hear other voices, the way to know if they voice His Truth is to simply check out the message they bring against what The Bible says. If their words align with the Bible, they can be believed as trusted sources. If they conflict, discard what they say and believe God’s Word every time.

If you do, you’ll never go wrong, never be led astray, never be caught wondering if it is really HIS Voice.

Brenda

 

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Jan 26

No More Chains

by Brenda Poulos

Lamentations 3: 22,23– “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NRSV)

When cleaning out a long-forgotten box filled with old books, I came across a copy of Ripley’s Believe it or Not from 1978. As I thumbed through it, I was captivated by a picture of “The Man of Chains” from Lahore, Pakistan.

In the photo, Mohammedan Sahib Allah Shah was dressed in over 670 pounds of chains which he reportedly wore for the last thirteen years of his life, as a penance for his sins. The article told of many similar acts of penance practiced by religious groups around the world.

The Bible tells us that, while we should hate sin and refrain from sinful acts, we can be assured of forgiveness because of the great love and mercy of our Lord. Jesus bore the punishment for our sins when He went to the Cross. Nothing beyond our acceptance of this precious gift from Him is necessary on our part in order to obtain salvation.

No more can the chains of sin bind you and keep you apart from the Father. No more can guilt burden your life. No more need for penance because God’s mercies are new every morning!

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Jan 19

A Simple Act of Faith

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 21:27 – Nothing impure will ever enter it (Heaven)… but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

I watch on television as a news report shows guests arriving at the entrance to a resort hotel for the wedding of two Hollywood celebrities. Each name is checked against an official guest list before they are admitted to the gala affair.

I guess wedding crashing is a common occurrence, as I see a beautifully-dressed couple denied entry. They are escorted off the property by two security guards . Their tears and protests get no sympathy. Their names are simply not on “the list.”

The Bible tells of the Book of Life which contains the names of all of us on earth that have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. If our names are written there, we will gain entrance to Heaven; if not, we will be turned away.

It is a simple act of faith on our part. It was a huge act of love on His part.

Jesus is the only perfect substitute for payment of our sin. As God’s sacrificial Lamb, He shed His blood on the cross for each of us. The Bible says that if we believe in our hearts that Jesus died on the cross for us and confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, we will be saved.

Be sure that your name is in the Book of Life. If you are unsure, start reading in the book of John…and keep going. Ask God to give you understanding of His Word so that you, too, will someday be able to profess your faith in Christ.

It’s a simple act of faith.

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Jan 12

Sing!

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 100:1-2   “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.”

Yesterday afternoon, Legacy Quartet performed at our church. They are a tremendous group of singers out of Colorado. They travel all over the world in their ministry of song. We are so blessed that they were able to come to our church for the second year and we’re already booking them for next January!

Like it is when you hear a tune you just can’t get out of your head, I “sang” myself to sleep last night. It probably won’t surprise you if I confess that I woke up this morning reliving their performance as I readied myself for church.

No, I don’t sing in the choir. I’m one of those people who limit myself to singing in the shower. Although one of my long time secret dreams has been to one day possess a voice worthy of the stage, that hasn’t happened—yet.

No, I wasn’t blessed with an outstanding singing voice, but I was blessed with other areas of giftedness. And so were you.

I have come to realize that the light-hearted, exuberant feeling associated with singing can be found in other ways, or styles, if you will. Some people “sing” as they push the book cart at a local nursing home. Others “sing” as they take a meal to a grieving family. It’s possible to “sing” as you pen a note to a friend, watch a neighbor’s child so they can have a couple of uninterrupted hours, or as you place a can of vegetables in the collection box at the local supermarket.

You see, for some of us, the stage will not be Carnegie Hall. For us, it may be a kitchen table, a writing desk, a one-to-one experience on a much smaller scale. Even though our area of giftedness may not be vocal, it is still just as important to share with others.

Because singing is an attitude of the heart.

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Jan 5

Shhhh

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 6: 1-4:  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven…do not sound a trumpet before thee…that (you) may have the glory of men…let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who sees in secret…shall reward thee openly.

My parents are in their late eighties and, as is typical for that age group, memory problems are becoming more and more prevalent. Case in point: New Year’s Eve.

For the past 23 years, my husband and I have joined my sister and her husband in spending New Year’s Eve playing board games with Mom and Dad. This year, as we were enjoying dessert, my sister asked my parents if they had enjoyed the pot of homemade soup that she had brought them the week before. I could see the hurt in my sister’s eyes when they had trouble recalling that she had even visited them the week prior!

As my family laughed and enjoyed being with one another that evening, my mind wandered back to an incident, in my own life, when I felt like I didn’t get “credit” for something I had done for someone. Like me, maybe you can relate to the frustration of not receiving the recognition you think you should get for achievements, good things done for others in the community, monetary contributions, kindnesses shown to strangers, and so on.

Although it is perhaps disappointing not to receive a simple “thank you”, the Bible tells us that it is God who will one day give each of us rewards for our actions. In fact, He says to do these things, secretly, and He will one day reward them openly.

I am humbled by the words of our Lord, today. I give Thanks to God for his Word and his promise that He sees every action. I seek His forgiveness for my wrong attitude—my selfish attempts, at times, to glorify myself—even in the small things of this life.

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Dec 28

Is All That Glitters Really Gold?

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 22:13 and 16b: “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last…I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

The young woman at the restaurant flashed her engagement ring to the five other young ladies seated at her table.

“It’s so HUGE! Is it real?” one girl asked.

“I didn’t know Dave had that much money,” another chimed in.

“I’d get it appraised, and then insured. In that order,” offered yet another guest.

In a world full of fake jewels, furs, purses—even flowers—conversations like this are not uncommon. The quest for what is real is an ongoing one. No one wants to be outwitted or fall for a counterfeit, a reproduction, a copy.

We all want the “real deal”, don’t we? We have an aversion to being duped.

So it is with people. We want to know that our friends are really our friends. That they don’t pretend to be our friends to our faces, and then talk about us behind our backs. We want to be able to depend on the fact that they are who they say they are.

The Bible tells us that we can be sure that Jesus is who He claims to be. That He cannot—and does not—ever lie. His Word assures us of who He is and that we can truly depend on Him to do what He says He will do. He keeps His promises. He never fails. He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

One day, believers will meet Him in Heaven. We will see Him “face-to-face.”

We are not waiting to see a phony. We are looking forward to seeing our God, our Savior, our Lord. The true and Living Word…in all His Glory…our Bright and Morning Star!

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Dec 21

King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

by Brenda Poulos

Philippians 2: 9-11  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

 

In the popular movie, “Titanic”, Leonardo DiCaprio stands on the bow of the ship and shouts with outstretched arms, “I’m the King of the World!” If you’ve seen the movie, you can picture the huge smile on his face and relive those moments with him.

Of course, Leo wasn’t really “King of the World” any more than my husband was when he and his friends used to play “King of the Hill” in their neighborhood. However, one can imagine what a wonderful “mountaintop” experience it would be!

Let’s remember, in this season, the one true “King of the World”—Jesus. He came as a lowly babe, son of a carpenter. Yet, this beloved of the Father was given a name above all names. All hail, King Jesus!

The Bible tells us that some day in the future, every knee will bow before Him. He will ultimately be recognized by all human beings as “King Above All Kings and Lord Above All Lords.”

Isn’t it a miracle—above all miracles— that Jesus has taken up His abode in us? That we don’t have to wait for that “someday” in future, but can experience His presence in our lives today?

Let’s bow before Him. Crown Him “King of Our Lives.” Give Him the recognition He deserves.

Relive with the angels that exhilarating experience in the skies over the stable in Bethlehem. Along with the heavenly host, proclaim the birth of “The King of Kings!”

Brenda

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