spiritualsnippets.com

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

Nov 23

Pardoned

by Brenda Poulos
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Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”

It’s Thanksgiving Week. We’re spending time considering all the blessings in our lives.

This morning, I’m thinking about the ceremonial pardoning of “The Turkey” by the president. 

Saved. He’s a free bird.

I know this is simplistic (and not meant to be funny)but Christians, think about this for a minute.

We have been set free. Pardoned by the blood of Jesus, our Savior, not ceremoniously, but in the very real sense.

We’re free to live a victorious life here on earth and assured of eternal life in heaven.

Giving thanks to Him for His continued presence in my life,

Brenda

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Sep 7

Will There Be A Tomorrow?

by Brenda Poulos
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Matthew 25:46~ ““Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

“See you tomorrow,” we said to our friends.

We just assume that there will be a tomorrow, don’t we?

We think about the future. We plan our vacations. 

But do we ready ourselves for eternity?

Do we even give eternity much thought?

Do we believe there is a great void at the end of life or is there an existence beyond here on earth?

Can we know?

Can we be sure?

I wrote The Choice: Will’s Last Testament to answer these questions. 

Based on the truth in scripture, you’ll find my fictional story of Will is much like that of the average person. The choices he is faced with are the same ones each of us must consider at some point.

Our souls are eternal. Like Will, we must decide to accept or reject God and His plan for “tomorrow.” 

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Apr 20

Why Did Jesus Come?

by Brenda Poulos
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John 18:37- ““So you are a king?” Pilate said. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.”

When asked why Jesus came to earth, most Christians would answer something like this:

To bring salvation to the world.

To offer forgiveness for our sins.

To give believers the gift of eternal life.

To fulfill the prophecies.

To bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free!

EACH OF THOSE IS TRUE.

However, there is something more fundamental.

JESUS CAME TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH.

So, just what is “truth”? How can we know the truth?

I have recently begun a Bible Study by Focus on the Family, called THE TRUTH PROJECT. 

Since I began watching the DVD’s, I have been so excited to know Jesus on a deeper level than ever.

If you ARE a Christian, I pray that this blog post will encourage you to make a commitment to learning more about our Lord. THE TRUTH PROJECT IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.

And, if you are not currently a believer, consider purchasing THE TRUTH PROJECT and its accompanying workbook so you can jot down Bible verses and truths you discover along the way.

The Truth Project is available on Amazon. 

It is 13 one-hour DVD’s that look deeply into our moral compass as revealed in scripture, explaining both the relevance and importance of living the Christian Worldview in our daily lives.

Happy Easter! He is Risen!!

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Apr 13

I Shook My Head

by Brenda Poulos
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Romans 6:23-“For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Last week, we received a flyer—an invitation to attend Easter services at a local church.

Curious, I read the accompanying literature. It said they would be commemorating the DEATH of Jesus.

That was it. Not one Bible verse in the tri-folded pamphlet.

Nothing about Jesus rising again on the third day. Nothing about salvation, the forgiveness of sins, nothing about the promise of eternal life through faith in Him.

I shook my head. Who would want to put their faith in someone who died? Death without resurrection????

But, the Jesus I know conquered sin and death on the cross. He alone offers forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

And, HE IS ALIVE!!!!

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Jun 11

This Could Happen Because of You

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 10:14- “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? “

Our pastor asked this question in church this morning: “Is there someone who will go to heaven because of you?”

I immediately thought of the verse above. A person must hear the message of the gospel in order to be saved.

And they cannot hear it unless someone tells them.

Are you that someone? 

Am I?

Are we going to follow Jesus’ commandment or are we going to rely on our pastors and preachers?

Later, our pastor asked: Is there someone who is going to go to hell because of you…because you and I didn’t tell them?

Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to convict us. And the love of Christ to embolden us.

And, then let our feet take us—next door, down the street, across town—with the message of eternal life through faith in Jesus.

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Mar 26

Enjoy the Gift!

by Brenda Poulos

Ephesians 2:8,9- “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Last week, I was surprised to hear a friend say that he’d done all he could do to assure himself a place in heaven. He elaborated to tell of his acts of kindness to others as his main focus in life. He also mentioned that he didn’t use profanity and was a good father who spent a good deal of time with his children.

If anyone was going to heaven, he was certain it would be him.

Knowing he’d been brought up in the same church I had, I reminded him that Jesus had paid the price for our sins and we are saved by his grace—not works.

If you have been held captive by a works-based system, like my friend, please hear the Good News of scripture. Salvation is the gift of God through his Son, Jesus. Faith in that very fact is what will assure you of a home in heaven once this life on earth ends.

No reason to worry. No reason to work. Just enjoy God’s gift of eternal life!

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Jun 12

A Sympathy Card

by Brenda Poulos

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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May 8

Mom Taught Me How to Blow Bubbles

by Brenda Poulos

1 John 2:25- “And this is what he promised us—eternal life.”

My mother wasn’t perfect; but she was the perfect one for me.

She taught me how to embroider, to ride a bike, and blow giant bubbles with Bazooka Bubble Gum.

In my eyes, she was beautiful.

I miss her soft hands, the twinkle in her eyes, her encouragement, her unconditional love. 

I still listen for her voice, the shuffle of her feet, her laugh.

The sweet way she said my name.

If you’ve lost your mother recently, as I have, my prayer for you today is that you can rejoice in the small things you remember about her and in in knowing that this is but a brief time apart.

One day you will reunite.

And spend eternity together.

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Dec 5

It’s Not the End of the Story

by Brenda Poulos

John 11:25, 26a:  “… I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die….”

Are you in the throes of watching a loved one experience the final days/hours of life on earth, as I am?

What comforts you?

Memories? Sure.

The presence of friends and family? Of course.

But I have found my biggest comfort in the words of scripture.

Yesterday, I read the words of Jesus in John 11. I cling to the promise that Christians need not mourn as the world mourns because we know through faith that this life is not the end. 

To be absent in body will mean eternal life in the presence of our Lord.

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Nov 14

The Eternals

by Brenda Poulos

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

I watched the television previews for a new series this week. Called The Eternals, it is about a fictional group of super-powered beings whose job it is to preserve and safeguard the planet. The basic premise is that they have—and will—live forever. (At least that is what I conclude from the trailer.)

Humans have always been fascinated with the prospect of living forever. We’ve all heard about billionaires that die and have their bodies preserved for awakening at a predetermined time in the future.

Death, however, is seldom longed for—except, perhaps by those who are in intense physical pain, those emotionally disturbed, or the elderly.

But did you know that you can have the assurance of eternal life?

The Bible includes many verses referring to the promise of eternal life, given to believers by Jesus Christ. He is not a fictional character, like The Eternals. He is God’s Son who gave his life–shed his blood–to pay the penalty for our sin.

The gift of Eternal life is available to all who put their faith in him.

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