spiritualsnippets.com

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

Jan 7

Are You Strong Enough?

by Brenda Poulos

 

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2 Chronicles 16:9- “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

 

I thought the small concrete bench in the middle of our backyard would look better in the far corner, next to my favorite bush.

It really is a small bench. It even can be moved in three separate pieces.

However, as much as I struggled to lift the top off, I just couldn’t do it. I had to ask my husband for help.

Do you often find that doing things in your own strength is futile? Is it hard to take care of an elderly parent…deal with a wayward child…make your money stretch to the end of the month?

Is your own strength just not enough to bring you to victory in the daily battle?

Had you ever thought about what is really going on there? Who is trying to steal your joy…your peace?

Look closely: While Satan is roaming the earth, “seeking whom he may devour,” our wonderful God is looking for those of us who are fully committed to him so He can strengthen us.

He is ready, willing, and more than able to give us strength—to see us through—to lead us on—to help us live

the victorious Christian life.

 

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Dec 31

House of Bread

by Brenda Poulos

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My sister and brother-in-law joined us for dinner, last night, at an Italian restaurant.

For me, the highlight of any dinner is always the bread—and this restaurant definitely didn’t disappoint. The breadsticks were plentiful. They were soft and warm…buttery and covered with parmesan and garlic.

I ended up gorging myself on them and taking half of my spaghetti and meatballs home in a styrofoam to-go box.

Beggars, I am told, often ask for a crust of bread because it is filling…nutritious…a staple.

I don’t think it was by accident that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a city whose name means “house of bread.”

I also think that when Jesus talked about bread in the scriptures, he was making a great connection for us…telling us that we need HIM to fill us…make us complete.

Jesus satisfies every longing. He will never turn us away hungry because He is THE BREAD OF LIFE!

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Dec 25

The Single, Most Important Gift

by Brenda Poulos

 

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“…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you… Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”                                                                                                Luke 6:27-31; 36-37

 

I love giving gifts—especially surprising someone with something they have been wanting or something they’d never buy for themselves (but would really like, of course).

One year, it was buying my parents new towels and matching shower curtain. They loved the gift—something they would not have thought of purchasing for themselves.

By the way, there is a gift that would be appreciated by almost anyone. A gift you can give any time of the year.

Whether it is a family member, a friend, or just a “crazy driver” on the road, the gift of forgiveness—even though difficult—is always appropriate.

God forgives us of our sins in order to restore a right relationship with Him. Forgiveness will do the same for us and those we love and care about. It clears the air. It says, “I care about you. I want to reconnect with you. I want you to be a part of my life.”

Forgiveness is as much about the one doing the forgiving as it is about the one receiving the forgiveness.

For the one being forgiven, it is like getting a gift you don’t deserve—a gift called grace.

But, for the one giving the gift of forgiveness it means the opportunity to restore the relationship.

Is there someone in your life who needs to be forgiven?

It could be the single most-important gift you give this season—bringing joy, peace, and restoration—a gift of grace.

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Dec 18

The Unopened Gift

by Brenda Poulos

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If someone told you that they have a Christmas present that they refrain from opening, and that year after year it remains wrapped underneath their tree, you would probably stare at them in disbelief and ask

“Why?”

Good question.

But, wait, do you have a gift you haven’t opened?

I think you know the one I’m talking about.

God gave us a gift when he sent his son, Jesus, to earth. But, have you put off opening your gift? Unsure of what to do with Him…how your life might change if you accepted God’s gift?

What if I told you that there’s not a gift—at any price—that could ever compare to God’s gift?

After all, could there be any better gift than forgiveness of sins…eternal life… unconditional love of Almighty God?

Amazing, huh?

This is a gift so special that you won’t want to exchange it, get a refund, or leave it unopened.

God is reaching out to you with a precious gift.

All you have to do is accept it.

Don’t think you’re worthy?

You’re right.

Not one person that has ever accepted God’s gift has been worthy of it.

Not one person has been able to earn it, either…because it’s a gift.

Right now, I’m asking God to give you the strength to lay your fears aside and reach underneath the tree—that place where you’ve left God’s gift unopened—and give you the courage to accept Jesus, His son, and the salvation that He brings to each of us who BELIEVE.

 

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Dec 3

Healing Hearts

by Brenda Poulos

Luke 5:25-“ And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.”

 

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My aunt had heart surgery a few days ago. The stent she received increased blood flow instantaneously. Within seconds her pallor changed from grayish-white to healthy pink. Energy level increased as cells were filled with oxygen.

What a difference change on the inside makes on the outward appearance.

That’s the way it is when we meet Jesus.

Over the years, I’ve watched faces change— faces once etched by years of disappointment and pain. Faces of those who have lived their whole lives without hope…without true meaning or purpose…carrying the burden of sin on their own shoulders.

Once that weight is lifted, these individuals experience true freedom. A smiling face and a spring in their step are outward evidence of internal change, just like the paralyzed man whose story of healing is recorded in Luke.

This is “spiritual surgery”—hearts and lives healed by the power of grace.

Praise God!

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Nov 20

In All Circumstances

by Brenda Poulos

 

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1 Thessalonians 5:18- “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Look close.

Just what does this verse say God’s will is for us?

His will is that we give thanks in the midst of life’s circumstances.

Give thanks that we are saved by His grace.

Give thanks that He loves us and we will be in heaven with Him one day.

Give thanks for our many blessings.

When we face difficult circumstances, we may not feel thankful, but He knows our future and He knows where today and its circumstances will take us.

God wants us to be able to rejoice in His grace—even when we aren’t feeling well.

He wants us to pray for others, even when we have needs, ourselves.

He wants us to be thankful for our many blessings.

God knows what is best for us because He alone knows the future.

In the midst of it all, He is with us. He will not leave us or forsake us.

He will see us through.

And, because of all of that, we can be thankful in all circumstances.

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Nov 12

The Master of “Fake” News

by Brenda Poulos

 

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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Every time I turn on the television, I am bombarded with what we have come to call “fake news”: The President did this or that, a famous person died, someone was secretly married, and so on. Often, we find out the story was totally fabricated.

Some of the lies are fairly easy to spot, but others are more difficult to discern.

Satan is the master of lies, the Bible tells us. And, the lies he wants us to believe are those that affect our eternal lives.

Here are just two examples of his lies that mean the difference between life and death:

The first lie is that there are many ways to get to Heaven.

Oh, it sounds good to some people who want to believe that no one religion or group has all the answers. It may sound plausible to them that as long as we are sincere and do our best, it will turn out well for us in the end.

But, the Bible says that Jesus is the only way to salvation.

Secondly, Satan wants you to think that as long as you believe in something, it’s okay. 

But, God’s word says in Acts 4:12- “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” And, in 1 Timothy 2:5. it says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The Bible is not fake news, a scam or a lie.

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD AND ONE WAY TO GET TO HIM. It is THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ALONE. 

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Nov 5

GRATEFUL HEARTS GIVE PRAISE

by Brenda Poulos

 

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Hebrews 13:15- “ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

 

Recent accounts of terrorist attacks tell of people who stepped into the line of fire to save loved ones.

Parents often sacrifice things they want in order to clothe and feed their families.

In the Old Testament, people sacrificed animals to cover their sins.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on an altar on Mt. Moriah.

God sacrificed his son as atonement for our sins.

Sacrifice: “An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.”

Many give of their time and resources to further the gospel.

Some believers may even lose their lives in defense of it.

For most of us, this won’t happen, of course.

But, we can offer a “sacrifice of praise” from truly grateful hearts.—ones that openly profess his name.

 

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Oct 29

No More Night

by Brenda Poulos

 

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Revelation 22:5– “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

 

 

When I was a youngster, we often played outside with the other kids in our neighborhood. We’d stay out until it started getting dark and our parents would call us inside for supper.

Yes, when the light started to fade, we knew our play time was nearing an end.

The most enjoyable times in life go by much too quickly, don’t they?

But the Bible tells us that an eternal place is being prepared for each of his children who know him as Savior. In heaven we will have unimaginably wonderful experiences that will never end.

No pain or suffering. No boredom. No hunger. No pain.

We will have friendships and laughter.

We won’t need to go to church, because we will live constantly and consciously in God’s presence.

Luke 6:23 says we will “Rejoice…and leap for joy, because great (will be our) reward in heaven.”

And although many of us will know the happiness of having our parents there with us, they won’t be calling us in when it gets dark…

for Jesus, the Light of the World, will be there.

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Oct 22

What Will It Cost?

by Brenda Poulos

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Luke 14:28- ““Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

 

Nothing is ever simple when my husband and I begin a new home renovation, but things go a lot smoother when we can keep “surprises” to a minimum.

That begins with a construction budget. If we leave something out of the original “to-do” list, it can cause sleepless nights later on.

“Counting the cost” in most basic terms is simply good planning. But, I’ve found this concept is applicable to other aspects of our lives, too.

The cost of a lie could be a lost friendship or job. Maybe it leads to contempt of court and jail time.

See the point?

The “cost” of certain actions may be loss of trust or imposed financial penalties. The cost of eating that extra brownie will be measured in pounds and inches.

I’m contemplating actions right now that need to be considered carefully. The affects are sure to be far reaching. The scripture above cautions me to take it slow, count the cost in terms of family dynamics and financial responsibilities, and take it to the Lord in prayer.

Have you a weighty decision to make? Have you counted the cost?

 

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