spiritualsnippets.com

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

Oct 6

Follow The Leader

by Brenda Poulos

Deuteronomy 13:4- “It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”

Enjoying a morning cup of coffee on my patio under the shadow of the Superstition Mountains, a sudden movement caught my eye. I blinked and looked, again. A family of quail, complete with seven baby chicks, was making its way across our driveway!

For all of the beauty of the desert (including those majestic mountains) the one thing I enjoy most is watching these sweet baby birds, all of two inches tall, following after their parents in the early mornings and late afternoons each spring. Innocent and helpless, the chicks need the guidance of their parents on their first outings across the desert floor. Predators, such as coyotes, snakes, and javelina make it necessary that they follow closely behind, in order to survive in this harsh environment.

As I watch them, I am reminded that I need to follow my Heavenly Father’s guidance, also. How should I react to the man who yells obscenities at me when I pull into the parking space that he had wanted? How will I be able to deal effectively with feelings of loneliness when my husband is working out of town? How can I tell a friend the hard truth, in a kind and loving manner?

God’s Word gives me assurance, direction, and peace. I have nothing to fear as I navigate through my day.

He knows the way.

All I have to do is follow.

Brenda

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Sep 29

Sweeter Than Honey

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 119:103– “How sweet are Your words to my taste; Sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Last week, the morning news showed long lines of people at our local shopping mall, as well as many others across the United States and around the world. Some had been waiting in line more than two weeks to purchase the new I Phone 6.  Some slept in tents, others relaxed in lounge chairs, still others rested on full size mattresses! No, this wasn’t a bargain sale. The cost was astronomical. Still thousands couldn’t contain their excitement as they waited for the Apple Store to open. I asked myself, as I watched dumbfounded, what could even compare to the record number of people who had turned out to be among the first to own the newest version of the I Phone? Would crowds have gathered in such numbers to buy, say, a copy of God’s Word, The Bible? It is the best-selling book of all time, no denying that. But, would it set off such a buying frenzy? Not in the United States. Not in any affluent country in which Bibles are plentiful.  Those of us who want one, are able to purchase one in a vast array of styles, covers, print options, sizes, and so on. In fact, I’m sure there are a lot of us that have several copies: thin, New Testament only, study Bibles. Some zip, others have handles, some children’s Bibles sparkle—variations abound. Because the Bible is so accessible, so plentiful, I am afraid that many of us take it for granted. But, there are some countries where seeing a copy of the Bible is a rarity. And whether that is because of poverty or lack of religious freedom, the Bible is revered as the precious Word of God that it truly is. Yes, if those people had an opportunity to see—to even touch—a Bible, I can imagine it would cause quite a stir. For a moment, imagine what it would be like to witness such a spectacular turn out to purchase a Bible. And then, glance in the direction of your bookshelf or bedside table and see the miracle displayed there in the form of a book inspired by the Holy Spirit. After a word of thanks, open it to Psalm 119 and turn to verse 103. Meditate, along with the psalmist, on the words written there. In the wonder of the moment, imagine the words to be as sweet on your own tongue, as they were to him when he penned them. Brenda

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Sep 22

Spread the Joy!

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 6:31– “Do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?”

A few years ago, we vacationed in Hawaii. We enjoyed the slower pace, the relaxed atmosphere. We also enjoyed the island music.

One popular song which played over and over the week we were there was “Don’t Worry; Be Happy.”  We couldn’t help but sing it throughout the day. It was a catchy tune with a positive message.

God’s Word reminds us that worrying about anything is useless and counter-productive. Instead, God says that real happiness is found, not in wishful thinking, but in obedience to His Word.

Our focus needs to be on others—not on ourselves. We will find that when we take steps to help a neighbor, donate our time at a local food bank, or visit a shut-in, we will forget about ourselves, leaving our worries up to our Lord. As acts of service and worship, when we act as the hands and feet of Jesus, we will find His provision for our own needs to be more than enough.

We will find that we are never depleted, but that He is continually refilling our reserves of energy and compassion toward those whom Jesus has called on us to serve. When we follow His example, we find that our joy (yes, not superficial happiness, but deep spiritual joy) overflows!

Don’t worry! Spread the joy!

Brenda

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Sep 15

Calling All Sheep!

by Brenda Poulos

John 10:14- “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.”

I grew up in an era when children played outside with their friends from the moment they got home from school until they were called for dinner. For most of the kids in our neighborhood, this was about 5:30 p.m.

Although there would sometimes be several parents calling their own brood home at the same time, each of us knew when it was our mother’s or father’s voice calling “dinnertime!”  And, when we heard it, we’d bid our friends good-bye and hustle toward home.

In today’s verse, God reminds us that He is our Good Shepherd. When He says that His sheep know His voice, he is referring to those of us who are “His.” This means those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

How do we hear Him? How do we distinguish His voice, from that of others?

Simple: If it is written in His Word, the Bible, then we can be certain it is truly His voice. The Bible also tells us that He will speak to us when we seek the wisdom of Christian friends, pastors and other church leaders. Many Christians tell of instances where they “hear” God’s voice in the form of an “impression” after a time of prayer, meditation, and/or fasting.

Just hearing His voice isn’t quite the intent of this verse, though, is it? What we do when we hear His voice is important, too. If I had heard my mother calling me to dinner, and had not heeded her call, I would have been pretty hungry by bedtime. In the same way, if we do not follow-up on God’s call with some kind of action on our part, we will likely find that we have missed more than a meal. We will have missed a banquet!

Christians, please don’t think that I am saying that you are going to miss the Marriage Supper. No, I am referring to missing out on the daily relationship with God and His blessings for those who respond to Him out of obedience.

If His voice is becoming indistinguishable in the midst of all of the others in the world vying for your attention, I encourage you to set aside time for daily prayer and get back into The Word. Become familiar, again, with the voice of The Good Shepherd.

Keep your ear tuned for His call!

Brenda

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Sep 8

Spiritual Stents

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 8:22- “Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”  

Several years ago, my father went into the hospital for what we thought would be routine heart testing. Approximately a half-hour into the procedure, the doctor called the family into a conference room and showed us (via computer screen) Dad’s heart. He indicated two areas of blockage and asked for permission to place two stents.

Watching on the screen, we were able to see the stents inserted and the resulting rush of blood into the arteries that had been previously blocked. What a miracle to witness. We were all spellbound. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

Driving home, I thought about my how I needed a change of heart toward a close friend and an attitude adjustment toward a family member. I knew that harboring resentment would only lead to strained (blocked) relationships.

My hurt was deep and my feelings were REAL. I wanted to change and I knew that until I did, those relationships would’t be restored. But, how could I achieve these changes on my own?

I turned to the scriptures, asking God to show me what to do. I found guidance in His Word. Acts 8:22 held the answer. I needed to repent of my wrong attitude and ask forgiveness—first to God, and then to them.

It wasn’t easy, but I knew it was right. When I was obedient to God’s Word, a heavy weight was lifted. Today, our relationships are closer than ever!

Brenda

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Sep 1

Bringing Things Into Focus

by Brenda Poulos

2 Corinthians 5:7- “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

 

For months my vision had become progressively worse until my world had taken on a hazy glow. Nothing was clear anymore. I consulted my ophthalmologist. Cataract surgery was in order.

I actually looked forward to it. The thought of a brighter world—maybe even a world free of the glasses I had worn since the sixth grade—was very appealing.

The process was streamlined, painless, and went off without complications. Within a few minutes, I was released from my foggy world. I was amazed—and thankful.

I think about the times when I fail to see clearly the actions I should take, the decisions I should make, when I wrestle with the “whys”. Those are the times I know that I must go to God’s Word. I need His healing for my “spiritual eyes”, bringing purpose and direction—a clear focus on what is important.

Some day, God has promised to reveal all things to us. But, in the present time, it is His Word that encourages and gives us insight into the future. Based on it, we can come before God with confidence in prayer, knowing that what we ask for aligns with His will as outlined in scripture.

So, go to His Word when you are having trouble seeing the path ahead, when you need someone to lead the way, when you are willing to surrender your own will to His, and just follow—when you’re willing to “…walk by faith, not by sight.”

Brenda

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Aug 26

Spiritual Direction

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 23:1-3  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake.”

My husband loves to drive. Me? I’d rather look at the scenery, read a good book, or recline my seat and take a little snooze.

John is usually good with directions, but now and again, he’ll ask me to get the map out of his satchel and look for a certain road, landmark, or whatever. I’m not quite sure why he asks me to do this because he rarely believes me. He just pulls over to the side of the road, takes the map, and interprets it for himself.

If we should happen to get lost (now really lost, you understand) and I suggest that we ask directions at the next gas station, he gives me “the look”. We’ve all seen it at some time or another, so no further explanation necessary, right?

Why is it people, in general, and men, specifically, are so against asking for directions? Think about how many hours could be saved and how many wrong turns could be avoided!

As Christians, we have an infallible source at our fingertips! God, who has always been in existence, knows the past, present, and future. With His Word as our “map” and His Holy Spirit as our Guide, we never have to face an uncertain future.

If we take a wrong turn, we can get back on the right path by heeding what scripture reveals to us as truth. We feel confident and encouraged. We are no longer “lost”, but with His help, we find our way.

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Aug 19

Hit “Delete”

by Brenda Poulos

Isaiah 1:18- “…though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow…”

My article for the school newspaper was due at the end of the week. I had been working on it for an hour, but my thoughts just weren’t coming together. It lacked a certain pizazz. I decided to take a break and come back to it later. Maybe it would make sense to me when I took a look at it with fresh eyes. Or, maybe it wouldn’t, and I’d scrap it and start all over. 

Have you ever wished you could start all over? Maybe erase something you said to a friend or spouse in anger? Perhaps go back to a point in time when you made a hasty choice resulting in an unplanned pregnancy or wished you hadn’t told your parent a lie to avoid punishment? Ever wanted a “redo”—an opportunity to do it all over again—and make a better choice the next time around? A chance to wipe the slate clean?

God does, in fact, offer us the opportunity to hit that DELETE key. Even though He knows everything we have done, He is willing to forgive us.

Why would He do this? Because He loves us UNCONDITIONALLY and because He wants a relationship with us which is only possible because His Son, Jesus, paid the price for our sin.

Brenda

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Aug 12

Promises, Promises

by Brenda Poulos

Numbers 23:19- “God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?”

“But you promised!” My daughter cried—and even stamped her tiny foot—as she yelled the words. Tears ran down her cheeks and onto her new silk blouse. Four years old and she already knew the meaning—and the heartbreak—of promises not kept!

Earlier in the week, she had asked me if she could have a friend over to swim on Saturday. I said that she could, not knowing that she’d have a terrible cold by Friday. I had to “break” my promise to her and, even though done with good reason, to a small child it became a “broken” promise.

She laid in bed all day, Saturday, coughing and sneezing, with a sore throat and a fever. She slept with the new bright orange and yellow beach towel I had bought her as a reminder of my new promise to ask her friend over, again, for a swim when she felt better.

There are times when, for one reason or another, we may not be able to keep our promises to those we love. However, I am reminded in scripture that God’s promises are  true and we can count on them with 100% certainty.

Brenda

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Aug 10

“Google It” Spiritual Style

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 119:105- “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

I was visiting with my parents when a question about plant fertilizers came up. Dad, of course, touted the benefits of steer manure. Mother brought up the effectiveness of a well-known national brand on indoor plants. My husband suggested that a mixture of certain ones might be optimum.

Having no opinion, but still wanting to be part of the conversation, I suggested that we “GOOGLE IT”. After all, just about everything we need to know, is right there at our fingertips. Isn’t it?

But, what about questions of a spiritual nature? For instance, how should we respond to those who hurt us? What should we do with feelings of inadequacy, sadness, betrayal?

Proverbs 14:12 says, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” We are told that it is God’s Word that provides the answers for all of our concerns and problems.

Christian bookstores are filled with enjoyable and uplifting books, both fiction and non-fiction. These can be helpful and offer directions on a myriad of subjects, but none of them is a substitute for the scriptures, the indisputable Word of God.

So, whether you see an answer to a Biblical truth or just need encouragement for your day, try “Googling It” spiritual style and turn to our ultimate source, The Bible.

Blessings,

Brenda

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