spiritualsnippets.com

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

Don’t Lose Hope

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Psalm 31:24-“ Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Many of us may know someone who has been a victim of recent floods, tornadoes or fires.

The devastating effects of these catastrophic events are unfathomable to the rest of us. 

We ask ourselves what we would do, if we were in the same situation?

God tell us what he wants us to do—to put our faith and hope in Him. He may not remove us from situations, but he promises us that he will be with us in the midst of life’s storms.

If you’re going through something that is overwhelming—or know someone who is, ask God for his presence, direction and comfort.

Pray for our world that is in chaos. 

Put your hope in Him!

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A Cord of Three Strands

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Ecclesiastes 4:12- “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

In elementary school, I had two best friends. We did everything together. We defended and protected one another. We were a living example of a cord of three strands.

I have two sisters. We have always been close. When my parents passed away, we were able to support and comfort one another. Another example of a cord of three strands.

I am married to a good Christian man. We take care of, encourage, comfort, and uphold one another. Together, we are a cord of two strands. However, because we share a common faith, God forms the third cord in our relationship. 

When hard times come, when sorrow invades our lives, when physical ailments might otherwise tear us apart, the strong bond of three strands preserves us because…

A CORD OF THREE STRANDS IS NOT EASILY BROKEN.

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My Refuge

Deuteronomy 33:27- “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Walking past a playground the other day, I saw a crying child run toward a man, calling “DaDa. DaDa. Me is hurt!” His father scooped him up in his arms, cradling him and speaking words of comfort.

I thought of my father who went to be with the Lord last year. I long to hear his voice and feel the safety of his arms as he used to hold me as a child.

Of course, that won’t be possible until I see him again in Heaven. However, as I wait for that day here on earth, the Bible reminds me that my heavenly father upholds me with his everlasting arms!

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You Can Be Confident

2 Corinthians 5:8- “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

A good friend of ours went home to be with the Lord last night. We know her absence here, means she is now present in heaven with God.

Her family reported that the last words she spoke on this earth were: “I love Jesus.”

I can only guess that those were also her first words in heaven.

It should comfort every Christian facing loss of a loved one that if the person being mourned knew Jesus as Savior, then they are no longer suffering and are rejoicing in heaven.

The assurance of our eternal home, the forgiveness of sins, and a relationship between God and each believer throughout this life are all a direct result of God’s redeeming grace.

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A Sympathy Card

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.”

Mia stood before the rack of greeting cards, shaking her head. She read card after card, unable to find a Sympathy card which accurately conveyed just what she wanted to say to her friend, Danielle, whose father had passed away over the weekend.

The cards reminded her of those she’d received when her own father died two years earlier—and of the comments friends and family had made at the funeral.

“He’s in a better place.”

“He was such a great guy.”

“He’d lived a nice, long life.”

“He’s no longer in pain.”

She knew they were meant to console and bring comfort, but instead they only emphasized the fact that her father didn’t know the Lord.

She walked over to the Christian/religious section. These were the kind of cards believers sent to each other. They brought real peace from the scriptures, each one telling of the hope of eternal life in Christ and the assurance that their loved one was in Heaven.

Mia took a moment right then and there to pray for her mother and oldest brother. She wanted them to know Jesus as their Savior and the Peace of God that passes all human understanding.

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Reach Out

Acts: 17: 27: “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”

“Why did God let this happen?”

This is a common question asked by those suffering from illness and loss. Isn’t it? Perhaps you have even said those words, yourself.

In Acts, we find that God wants to comfort those who are suffering. He hopes they will seek him “and find him.”

Over the years, I have heard stories about people who have come to know the Lord in the midst of difficult circumstances involving family members, friends, and even themselves.

These words remind me of the picture my parents had hanging in their house of Jesus knocking on the door of someone’s heart. 

Whether it is someone with a “scientific” mind who has doubts, or a person who has spent a lifetime running in the other direction, or a variety of other reasons, He is closer than you can imagine.

And He’s waiting for you to reach out for Him.

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He’s Got This

2 Corinthians 4:16-18- “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We are living in times of unrest, frustration, and discontent.

It is all too easy for us to look around and see the consequences of evil as they play out before our eyes each day on television and in our streets.

However, God comforts us by reminding us not to lose heart… not to be disillusioned because “he’s got this.”  

On the eternal timeline, our present troubles are only a blip on the screen. One day we will see how all of human history fit together according to His plan.

Remember: “…our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

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Are There Weeds in Your Garden?

 

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Isaiah 41:10- “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 

 

 

I always admire my beautiful Lantana plant at the corner of my yard when I pull out of the driveway.

However, this morning I noticed a huge weed growing out of the middle of it. When had that happened?

I had to dig it out before it took over the entire plant.

What about you?

Are there any weeds growing in your garden?

Weeds like discontent, deception, depression? Bad habits? Unforgiveness?

I am sure you have heard stories of people who have let disappointments or crises of various kinds ruin their lives. 

But, it doesn’t have to be that way.

God’s desire is that we would rely on Him for healing… for comfort… for restoration. 

He is a loving Heavenly Father who doesn’t want to see the weeds in our lives grow huge and choke out our happiness and productivity. 

Our world is going through some challenging times right now. But, instead of letting the circumstances we face overcome us, He wants us to go to Him in prayer.

To lay our troubles at His feet and trust Him to see us through.

 

 

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In The Midst of Devastating Loss

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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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Have You Heard God’s Audible Voice?

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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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