spiritualsnippets.com

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

Feb 4

“Come, Follow Me”

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 19-20: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”

I thought of my grandson when I read this verse. He graduated mid-year from high school and was struggling to know what to pursue in his life. (As you know, some kids follow their dreams from grade school on up. Others don’t have a clear idea of what they’d like to do until they are in college!)

When talking to his coach, he was encouraged to pray about a direction for his life. In addition, he gave my grandson some pamphlets about Christian colleges, and so on.

One of them caught his eye. It was WYAM and The University of Nations. Within less than a month, he’d signed up and flown to a training base in Kona. Now, he is preparing his heart, mind, and soul for service to others.

Our grandson is becoming a modern day “fisher of men.” 

His communications with us tell of learning from scripture and drawing close to the Lord. His joy is overflowing and we couldn’t be happier that he is following God’s leading for his life.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 28

The Meanings of 666 and 777

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 13:16-18. “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

Recently, someone asked me the significance of the numbers 666 and 777.

If you’ve ever wondered about these, keep reading.

The number 666, commonly known as the Mark of the Beast, serves as a warning about the consequences of rejecting God and following a path of sin and rebellion.

It is a reference to the end times (and many Bible scholars believe we are now living in that period of time) and the coming of the Antichrist who will lead a rebellion against God before the final judgment. He will require all people to take his mark. Those who don’t will not be able to buy or sell goods, among other things. 

Remember, 666 is man-centered… God-denying. It means  “never God, never God, never God,” whereas 777 is the divine number of God.

Triple sevens in scripture show something that has been divinely ordained is being perfectly fulfilled.

The number 7 has been significant throughout the Bible: God rested on the 7th day; the apostle John describes seven churches and seven spirits before God’s throne in Revelation 1:4; 777 is the number of the perfect Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the number emphasizes the importance of God’s work being completed perfectly in our world.

The message? Refuse the mark and stand up for God. Heaven is your reward.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 21

Worth the Wait

by Brenda Poulos

Hebrews 6:15- “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”

Have you ever prayed fervently for something and—as yet—not have it come to pass?

Jen prayed that the “right” man would come along. For years, she prayed. But nothing happened.

Fast forward twenty-five years.

Jen connected with a nice man at her high school class reunion. They dated for awhile, but he ended up marrying someone else.

Ten more years went by.

Now retired, Jen became a volunteer at the county library where she met Hank. A nice guy. Funny and caring. Everything she’d hoped for—and more.

They married January 4, 2024.

When asked if he was worth waiting for, she answered an enthusiastic, yes!

God had answered both of their prayers—as he had been praying, too!!!

Like Abraham, Joseph, David, and Simeon, we find that waiting on God’s answers to prayer requires patience and faith. These men of the Bible persevered and trusted in God’s perfect timing even though they didn’t understand the wait.

The Lord’s plans for our lives are good. Patient waiting refines our character and glorifies God.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 14

The Most Excellent Way

by Brenda Poulos

John 8:12- “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When I get up in the middle of the night, I often trail my hands along the wall so I won’t wake up anyone by turning on the light. However, I have been known to stub my toe or bang my elbow because I cannot see clearly.

Light can refer to seeing with one’s eyes. However, light can also refer to understanding something or someone. 

Jesus promises us that He will be our light, leading us perfectly in every situation—if we will only follow Him. He will show us the “most excellent way.”

I remember a song I dearly loved to sing as a teenager, “The Light of the World is Jesus… come to the light, ’tis shining for thee… “

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Jan 7

Don’t Worry; Be Happy!

by Brenda Poulos

Luke 12:25- “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

There are lots of reasons to worry. I’m sure you could make a list of at least a dozen things in your life—or of your family’s or friends’ lives—that would be legitimate causes for worry. However, as Christians, we understand that worrying about something doesn’t solve the problem.

We also know that prayer changes things.

And, I also know that what we usually worry about is not real. It’s how we choose to see things.

We need to change how we see them (our attitudes) and turn those mountains into molehills (as my grandmother used to say).

Remember these sayings?

Let go; and let God.

Look on the bright side.

Walk on the sunny side of the street.

Let a smile be your umbrella.

Don’t worry; be happy!

Let’s put our worries at God’s feet in prayer. And, with praise and Thanksgiving for all He has given us, let’s allow His peace and power to work in our lives.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Dec 31

The Year of Preparation

by Brenda Poulos

1 Peter 3:15- “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”

NBC put together a tribute to fifty-three celebrities and public figures who died in 2023. Complete with music by famous singers and songwriters, the video lasted about five minutes.

There were hundreds who lost their lives in combat, car wrecks, shootings, accidents, and disease this year, also.

In 2023, suicides were the highest they’ve ever been.

A new television commercial came out just last week, asking viewers if they were sure they’d go to Heaven when they died. It offered a phone number to call if they’d like to talk to someone.

As Christians, we need to ask ourselves how we would answer that question if someone asked us why we have the assurance of going to Heaven when we die. Can we confidently lead someone to the Lord? Can we explain why we place our belief in God’s Holy Word? Can we help someone pray the Sinner’s Prayer? 

As the “End Times” loom closer on the horizon, I feel the urgency of leading others to Christ. The Bible tells us to be ready when the Lord returns. I believe part of that is helping ready our friends and neighbors.

Will you join me and make 2024 the year of preparation?

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Dec 17

Just What Did Mary Know?

by Brenda Poulos

Luke 1:28-35 “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

In 1984, Mark Lowry wrote the lyrics of one of my all-time favorite Christmas Songs, Mary Did You Know? In 1991, Buddy Greene put it to music. In the song, the writers asks Mary if she knew that her firstborn son, Jesus, would one day do such things as walking on water, give sight to the blind man, calm storms and die for the sins of all mankind (just to mention a few).

As I listened to the song last night, I wondered what the Bible has to say about “what Mary knew.” As I looked through God’s Word, I found this verse giving some insight about what this young teenage girl was told ahead of Jesus’s miraculous birth.

I went to Luke’s account, finding that although Mary was troubled at first, she believed what the angel told her, which was that 1) she was highly favored of the Lord; 2) she would become pregnant by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit; 3) she would give birth to a son, who would be named Jesus; 4) He would be known as the son of the Most High God; 5) He would be given the throne and reign over a kingdom that would never end.

This remarkable girl who believed God’s message and not only followed his instructions, she believed this was a blessing on her life.

The next portion of scripture is called, Mary’s Song. These are just the first several lines:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Dec 10

So Many Choices

by Brenda Poulos

John 1:14- “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

I know of someone who is a new Christian. Although she has been reading a Bible from a used bookstore that has all of the pages intact, I thought it would be nice to give her a new Bible with her name embossed on it for Christmas.

Shopping online, I found there are approximately 900 translations and a multitude of fabric covers. Additionally, the Bible is offered in DVD, CD, and Audible. You can even get an app so you can read it on your phone.                   

Covers come in leather, goatskin, buffalo leather, faux leather, cloth over board, bonded leather, genuine leather, top grain leather, and so on.

Color choices range from white, red, brown, black, forrest green, and blue. But, children’s Bibles also come in pastel colors and in camouflage. I saw one called the “Wooly Lamb Bible” and others named The Comic Book Bible, The Action Bible, The Ultimate Bible for Girls, The Adventure Bible, and many more.

There have never before been more choices for gift-giving. You can find almost anything if you just take the time to look for it.

Colors and popular features may entice recipients as they choose what they’d like. However, it is the unchanging word of God on the inside that is able to draw someone close to Him and change their lives forever.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Dec 3

A Blessed Event

by Brenda Poulos

Luke 4: 13,14- “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Instead of writing a “Christmas-themed” post for the week of Christmas, I am going to celebrate all month long!

Praising God and thanking Him on a daily basis actually means continually celebrating His goodness to us. (And He is greatly to be praised, isn’t He?)

Luke says the angels praised God at the birth of Jesus. They knew what a special event it was. They understood what His presence would mean for all mankind. 

I can only imagine what it was like to look into the sky that night and see it filled with angels… hear their trumpets and their hear their beautiful voices.

Emanuel. God with us.

God come to earth in bodily form.

A gift to sinners. 

Wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Truly, a blessed event!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

Leave a comment »
Nov 26

The Five P’s

by Brenda Poulos

John 6:63- “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Thanksgiving is a time when I look to the past and thank God for the many blessings he has given me.

This year, as I thanked Him for His Word, I thought back to one way I was taught to appreciate its truths.

PRAY over the Word of God. Ask God to teach you… to open your eyes to the truth of the Word. 

PONDER the Word of God. Study. Expect insights. Learn.

PRESERVE the Word of God. Memorize verses. Hide them in your heart.

PRACTICE the Word of God. Put what you’ve learned into action. Show it in your life.

PROCLAIM the Word of God. Tell others. Uplift and Uphold.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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