spiritualsnippets.com

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

Apr 28

Who Is Your First Love?

by Brenda Poulos

 

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Matthew 22:37, 38-Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

 

God’s Word says that He is to be our first love.

We hear it from the pulpit, Christian radio, conferences, missionaries. 

We hear it in Sunday school and from our parents.

I saw this somewhere on the internet awhile back. (It didn’t give credit to anyone, so I apologize that I cannot do so, here, either). It is a great way to remember this principle:

F – finances

I  – Interests

R – relationships

S – schedule

T – troubles

We are to give Him the pre-eminence above all others. 

First in our thoughts and hearts.

We are to elevate Him in our lives to the highest place…Make Him first in our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18

 

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Apr 22

The Cross Was No Accident

by Brenda Poulos

Night view of Antigua, Guatemala from "Cerro de la Cruz"

John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

The Cross.

For Christians, the symbol of hope.

The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation through the forgiveness of sins for all who believe.

The cross was no accident. 

His great love motivated the Creator to sacrifice His Son.

We have painted them, gold-plated them, encrusted them with jewels, decorated our walls with them, worn them around our necks…

What is it that draws our hearts to the cross?

The Bible says that we love Him because He first loved us.

I think we are drawn to the cross because it is there that He showed us the extent of His pure, unconditional, unending, indescribable love.

No, the cross of Christ wasn’t lovely. It was “rugged” as the old hymn describes it. Built with rough, splintered wood that was held together by crude nails.

Christ was nailed to it and died the death of a common criminal. How unbelievable He would do this for you and for me.

Yet, Jesus welcomed the cross. He had planned this moment from the beginning. It had all come down to this.

But the cross was no more the end for Jesus than it is for us. 

Coming to the cross with Thanksgiving for the love that put Him there, rejoicing at the open tomb announcing His resurrection, leaving our sin there and following Christ.

That’s just the beginning. 

Let’s celebrate it today. 

He is worthy of all praise. Crown Him with many crowns. Lord of Lords. King of Kings.

The precious  Lamb of God. 

 

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Apr 14

In The Midst of Devastating Loss

by Brenda Poulos

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2 Corinthians 1:3-4  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts using all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

It happened at a fourth of July barbecue. 

Gerald was holding his daughter while he visited with Tom. As he got engrossed in their conversation, he didn’t notice when little Tina wriggled from the safety of his arms.

Minutes later, she was face down in the swimming pool.

Gerald loved his daughter. He had been entrusted with the the child’s safety, but he had failed to keep her from harm.

Why did God allow this to happen?

This is one of those questions that both Christians and non-christians ask in the midst of devastating loss.

There is no easy answer. 

After all, we reason, what good could possibly come from the death of a youngster—a little one with all of life ahead of them?

While saying, “God took her home” or “It’s all in God’s timing,” may be true, family and friends still have to deal with untimely loss—and, often—anger toward God.

God understands our feelings. He wants us to voice them to Him. He has also provided in His Word, encouragement for us when we experience the worst of times.

Gerald found many verses in the Bible that comforted him and his wife during the days following Tina’s death, but the verse I share with you, today, is one that he read many months later when he was called on to comfort a co-worker that lost a child in a car accident.

When he read this verse, Gerald realized that because of his loss and the comfort God gave him, he was then able to comfort a friend and, eventually, lead the friend to Christ!

We may not know, specifically, why tragedies happen at the time they occur, but as children of God, we can demonstrate His comfort and enduring love for others.

 

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Apr 7

The Perfect Name

by Brenda Poulos

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A recent survey reveals that a high percentage of people regret what they named their child.

I can see why, can’t you?

Naming children after fruit, old movie titles, or using inventive spellings…

God’s son, Jesus, was given the name above all other names. A name at which one day every knee shall bow.

God won’t regret the name He chose because it is

The perfect name

For God’s perfect son.

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Mar 31

Have You Heard God’s Audible Voice?

by Brenda Poulos

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Ezekiel 43:2- “I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.” 

 

From time to time, I read stories in Guideposts or Chicken Soup for the Soul. One such story I found intriguing was about a man stranded on a mountain road. 

No gas, no food, no water.

As he prayed, an audible voice gave him directions and he was able to return home, safely.

Some Christians have heard God’s audible voice, although this is rare.

More commonly, He speaks to believers through impressions and/or through his Word, the Bible.

Direction… encouragement… solace… knowledge.

It’s all there at your fingertips. 

Whatever your need… whatever your circumstance… let God speak to you through His Word. 

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Mar 24

Lighten the Load

by Brenda Poulos

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James 5:16- “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

 

Ginger met Stacy at a monthly church gathering. They really hit it off. It seemed they had so much in common. But, Ginger was hesitant to pursue a friendship with her. After all, good friends would end up sharing things about their lives—and there was too much Ginger was unwilling to share. She was sure that Stacy wouldn’t want to be friends with her when she heard about the life Ginger led before becoming a Christian.

If you’ve ever felt like that, you’re not alone.

But, James tells us that when we have struggles or are facing difficulties, we need to ask our Christian friends to pray for us. It is then that we can benefit from their wise counsel, too.

Friends help remind us of specific scriptures and are committed to pray for us until the answer comes. 

When the burden seems almost too much to bear, we can lighten the load if we share our needs—including our weaknesses and wrong choices—with caring Christian friends.

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Mar 17

Listening–Not Scheduling

by Brenda Poulos

 

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Job 36: 3-5 “Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.”

 

“How is the diet going?” I asked my friend when we met for coffee.

“It’s easier than I expected. That T.V. doctor was right. If I just eat small portions when I am hungry, I can keep my weight under control.”

“So, no more breakfast at seven, lunch at twelve, and dinner at six?” I queried.

She smiled with a healthy glow. “No. My stomach let’s me know when to eat.”

Wow, I thought, as I drove home. I had been praying that God would give me a renewed hunger for His Word. Perhaps if I listened closely, He would guide me to the perfect scripture for each circumstance throughout the day…I wouldn’t give up my morning quiet time, but I would be more mindful of God’s leading at every opportunity all day long.

If you are yearning for a closer walk with Him, perhaps becoming a “grazer” is just what you need, too. Talking—and listening—to God all day can become a healthy habit…and draw us closer to Him.

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Mar 10

The Top Twenty

by Brenda Poulos

 

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1 John 3:16- “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

 

Recently, I was asked to list my TOP TWENTY—verses, that is. 

I am sure you have had a similar request in a Bible Study Group, Sunday School class, or even from a curious friend.

Before printing my list, I scrolled through it briefly, looking for typos.

I found one—sort of.

Instead of typing John 3:16, I had written 1 John 3:16, instead.

I started to make the correction, but I was curious. (I’m always looking for special messages from God. Was this one?) What did the verse in 1 John say? Was there a similarity in meaning to the often-quoted verse, John 3:16?

I turned to the reference and read the beautiful words about love. (Also, in John 3:16, so there was a connection, but there was more). 

The verse was an answer to prayer because I had been searching for the perfect verse to put in my almost-finished Christian Suspense Novel, Truth or Dare—a story about a wayward father called upon to donate a kidney to his child.

God heard my prayer for guidance and led me to the exact verse to use in my book. 

And, yes, 1 John 3:16 will forevermore be included in my Top Twenty.

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Mar 3

A Benediction for You

by Brenda Poulos

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Numbers 6:24-26  “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His face upon you, and give you peace.”

 

The pastor in the church I attended as a child always ended the Sunday service by proclaiming a benediction.

It was my favorite part of the worship hour. I would close my eyes and let the scripture wash over my soul. I felt so close to God!

There are many benedictions in the Bible. I’ve included two, here, that are especially meaningful to me.

If you have had a hard week…if you are facing difficulties…if you need encouragement, meditate on these words and let the peace of God flood into every corner of your life, bringing you the full knowledge of His love and grace.

Ephesians 3:20,21– “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

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Feb 24

The Blessings of Being a Lamb

by Brenda Poulos

40045948283_5fa5c00f20Hosea 4:16- “The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow?”

 

You can learn a lot about life when you are waiting your turn in the waiting room at the dental office.

In the midst of reading a magazine article a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a toddler scurry down from his mother’s lap and almost into the parking lot before she tackled him.

Back inside, she opened a container of Goldfish crackers and gave him a toy to play with. That worked for a few minutes, but before I’d even finished reading, she was calling out to the little boy who had once more wriggled out of her grasp.

Mom had met her match. The chase continued several more times before my name was finally called. And, by that time, the child’s mother was using a sterner voice and threatening stiffer “punishment.”

The children of Israel were guilty of the same type of behavior. And, so are we. We keep doing the very things we know we shouldn’t.

We often ignore God’s warnings because we want to do it our way. We want to be in charge.

Just like the little boy in the dental office, we do know better. Hosea 4 tells us that God wants to treat us like obedient lambs. Psalm 23 adds that He wants to give us rest, healing, guidance. His desire is to protect us, give us support and comfort. He wants to bless us with all good things, just as the mother in the dental office probably wanted for her little boy.

But, he was stubborn, so she had to treat him like a heifer. It won’t be until he becomes a loyal and obedient lamb, that he can enjoy all that she wants for him.

Jesus set the example as the “Lamb of God.” He was obedient and his father exalted him above every other. 

I used to read the scripture about the Lamb of God, thinking that meant Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins—which is very true. But, as God’s lamb, he is also a perfect picture of obedience.

And, obedience leads to a beautiful parent/child relationship in which God blesses those who keep His commandments. 

 

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