spiritualsnippets.com

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

Aug 21

The Crown of Life

by Brenda Poulos

James 1:12-“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Joyce reminisced about being crowned Miss Arizona several decades earlier, when she was just twenty years old. She smiled as she thought about the moment the crown was placed on her head. 

“It was one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had. To this day, I can still feel the weight of the crown and hear the cheers of the audience.”

I can only imagine what that must have felt like, having never won such a contest myself. However, the Bible tells us that each believer will receive the crown of life. 

What a joyous occasion that will be when Jesus places it on our heads!

We will cheer for each other, remembering that His promises are true and that He keeps each and every one of them!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Aug 14

If He Brings You To It…

by Brenda Poulos

Isaiah 41:14- ““For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’.”

With the assistance of his uncle, my two-year-old grandson swung at the plastic ball resting on the Tee. A moment later, the fly ball hit me smack in the forehead.

Except for a little tenderness the next morning, I was fine. But, it was not so with Goliath when David, the little shepherd boy, used a slingshot and a stone to bring him down.

How was David able to accomplish this? With God’s help, of course!

A common phrase going around the past few decades is, “If God brings us to it, He will see us through it.”

God’s word tells us He will prepare us for any task he asks of us. He will stand beside us; walk beside us. He won’t ask us to do a task he has not prepared us for– or one he is not teaching us to handle.

Just as God prepared David, Peter, Paul, Jonah, Moses and many others in the Bible, we can be assured that if he calls us to a task, he will prepare us to fulfill it. 

Never fear; He who is with us is greater than he who is in the world.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Aug 7

A High Wall, Cracked and Bulging

by Brenda Poulos

Isaiah 30:13- “This sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.”

The evening news is filled with videos of storms taking place in The United States. Homes destroyed.

Lives lost.

One day everything is fine. Then bad weather brings destruction.

The devastation reminds me of the verse from Isaiah. A word picture of sin’s devastating effects.

My friend felt like there was a wall between her and her husband, but she didn’t know what it was. Months later, she learned about her husband’s affair, and their marriage crumbled in an instant. 

When someone tries to keep sin a secret, or continues on the sinful path, it becomes a high wall keeping them from having a relationship with a spouse, family and friends. 

A cracking. A bulging. 

It also destroys our relationship God.

Note: I am not saying our current storms have anything to do with man’s sin. That is not the message here. Only God knows that. 

This blog post is simply a vivid picture of what sin can do in our lives.

The Bible tells us to confess our sin and experience forgiveness and restoration of relationships.—especially our relationship with Him.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 31

He Hears

by Brenda Poulos

I John 5:14- “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

From time to time, I like to read historical fiction. 

The main character in a book I read recently wrote faithfully each month to her fiancé during the war—even though she never got confirmation that he’d received her letters.

I thought of how comforting it is that Christians are assured of God hearing our prayers. He is concerned with our day-to-day lives, providing for our needs and guiding our steps.

We don’t have to worry about Him hearing us. His Word is truth and it assures us this is so.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 24

Life Is Too Short

by Brenda Poulos

James 4:14- “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Life’s Too Short. Eat Dessert First.

Remember hearing that and laughing?

Life’s too Short. Live every day as if it was going to be your last. (Harry Morant)

Or, today is the first day of the rest of your life. (Unknown)

These quotes give pause, don’t they?  

Most of the time, we go throughout life without giving a thought that today might be our last.

Until…

We’re asked what’s on our bucket list.

Until…

We’re given a dreaded diagnosis.

And what is our reaction?

I would guess that Christians react somewhat differently than the rest of the world. Because we know the rest of our story.

We are all eternal beings. 

The difference between those who know Jesus as their Savior— and those who don’t—will determine where they will spend rest of eternity.

I don’t just write this blog for Christians, I write for those who haven’t yet accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

If that applies to YOU, please ask a Christian friend to explain the way to salvation to you; contact the pastor of a Christian church; attend a church service; talk with your parents (if they are Christians, they have been praying for you). 

Learn what it means to be assured of a life—after this one—where you can spend eternity in Heaven.

I invite you to read my bestseller, The Choice by Brenda C. Poulos. (Available in audio, paperback, hardcover, and e-book on Amazon/Books.)

Because the alternative is too alarming.

And this life is too short.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 17

Follow His Lead

by Brenda Poulos

Exodus 13:21– “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”

Feel the need for guidance?

Don’t know which way to turn?

Wonder if you’re on the right path?

There’s a lesson to be learned from the passage from Exodus. 

God watched over the Children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land, guiding them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. All they had to do was follow it when it moved and stop when it stopped.

Sound simple?

The Bible tells us that God will direct our paths if we keep our eyes on Him. Running ahead of Him (thinking we know what’s best) is what gets us into trouble. 

How can God lead, if we run ahead?

We need to follow the One that knows all the twists and turns in the trail just as the  Israelites did.

God has a path for each one of us. All we need to do is keep our eyes on Him.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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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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