spiritualsnippets.com

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

Bringing Things Into Focus

2 Corinthians 5:7- “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

My vision became progressively worse until my world took on a hazy glow.

I consulted my ophthalmologist. Cataract surgery was in order.

I actually looked forward to it. The thought of a brighter world—maybe even a world free of the glasses I had worn since sixth grade—was very appealing.

Within a few minutes of surgery, I was released from my foggy world. 

I think about times when I fail to see clearly the actions I should take and the decisions I should make. When I wrestle with the “why’s” and “how’s.”

Those are the times I go to God’s Word. I need His healing for my “spiritual eyes” bringing purpose and direction—a clear focus on what is important.,

One day, God will reveal all things to us. But for now, it is His Word that encourages and gives us insight. We can come before God with confidence, knowing that what we ask for aligns with His will as outlined in scripture.

Are you having trouble seeing the path ahead? Do you need someone to lead the way?

Surrender your own will to His and just follow. 

Walk by faith, not by sight.

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Exemplifying Faith During the Pandemic

Philippians 2:4- “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Christians, here are some principles to keep you grounded in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic:

Do Not Live In Fear.

God promises to be with us. He will strengthen us and uphold us with “His righteous right hand.”

Be Compassionate.

Show the love of Jesus to those who are hurting.

Donate.

Be generous and give to families in need, your neighbors, and your church family. 

The apostle John said, “if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

Be The Hands and Feet of Jesus.

The greatest testimony of Christ’s love is for Christians to love the world the way Christ does.

Take Comfort in the Company of Fellow Believers.

Even if we cannot be with fellow believers, we can pray for them, call them, email them, send them a card. 

Pray.

For the sick.

For provision.

For wisdom for those in authority and unity with other believers. 

Trust in the Lord.

We serve a God who is bigger and stronger than any sickness, darkness, or weapon of the enemy. Our God is our healer and provider.

Trust in the Lord and shine the light and love of Jesus Christ in a fearful and shaken world.

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True Adoration

Luke 2:20- The shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.”

*Part 2, from last week’s “Behold!”

Come, let us adore our Christ.

What is meant by the term adore?

Worshipping Him (and the truth of who He is) and rejoicing in Him with great joy.

Exceeding great joy is at the heart of true adoration.

LOVE, HONOR, ESTEEM, WORSHIP, ADMIRE, GLORIFY, PRAISE, REVERE, RESPECT DEEPLY.

With Genuine Faith in Who Jesus Really Is: 

The Child born king of the Jews.

God’s Son, our Savior, who reigns on His throne at the right hand of The Father.

Let’s adore Him with every thought we have, every goal we set, each decision we make, the words we speak and the actions we take.

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Disappointed?

Nahum 1:7- “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”

Keep the faith.

Keep trusting God.

God is omniscient.

He knows everything. From beginning to end.

Be assured of His love for us.

God is omnipotent.

All powerful.

He can—and does—turn even what seems to us to be the worst of situations into good.

Even though we may be disappointed in current circumstances, we can choose to believe that

God is still able.

He is still God.

He loves us.

He will make a way for us.

He reigns!

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He Sees Your Heart

I Samuel 16:17b– “… The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

I nearly passed up a friend at the grocery store this week. Her mask kept me from recognizing her—until I heard her voice.

Covid-19. Social distancing and…masks.

It’s become a way of life in our world this year.

A son comes home from war, left to live with the horrors he has seen. Parents hardly recognize the young man he’s become.

A familiar scenario for far too many.

God tells us in I Samuel that God knows us. He knows our hearts.

Whether you are a lost sheep in need of a Shepherd or a believer in need of your Father’s encouragement, have faith and trust in the Lord.

He knows us. He sees beneath that “happy mask” we often wear for family and friends. 

He knows our needs. He’s here for us. He sees our hearts.

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Victory

Proverbs 21:31b- “…victory rests with the Lord.”

At the end of the day, do you feel beaten down and dejected?

Do politically-charged events cause you to be stressed out?

Have you decided to keep the television—especially news channels—turned off for awhile due to divisive commentaries?

This constant state of unease and disruptiveness is NOT what God wants for us.

Even though he wants us to vote and exercise our rights as citizens, He also wants us to rest in the knowledge that ultimately the victory will be His.

Take a deep breath. Go for a walk and enjoy the beautiful new day He has made for us. 

Trust Him for the outcome that will work out His plan for us as individuals and the world at large.

His Word says He is faithful. 

He will do it.

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Happy Birthday!

 

 

 

Isaiah 46:4- “Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he who will sustain you.”

This past week, my siblings and our spouses gathered at the Memory Care facility to celebrate our mother’s ninety-third birthday.

A woman of faith, God has sustained her since her profession of faith in middle school.

Through the years, our family faced problems common to all families. But, through it all, Mom’s faith has never wavered. 

And now, living with Alzheimer’s, her smile still lights up the room when she sings the words to favorite hymns or hears a familiar scripture verse.

The road ahead is uncharted, but my brother and sisters—along with our father—walk it with her. Our heavenly Father leads the way.

We’ll keep the faith.

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Suit Up!

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Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

 

Wanda Sue Maxey said: “There isn’t a mask big enough to protect us from everything going on in the world today. We need to suit up with the whole armor of God.”

Of course, we should follow the mask and social distancing mandates. But God has given us all we need to withstand the assaults of satan.

Why live in fear that we will touch something or be around someone who will put us in harm’s way?

God has called us to be bold, speak in truth and share His Word.

He has given us- 

THE BELT OF TRUTH: The truth about who we are in Christ. Jesus is the Truth that sets us free. We must let God’s Word guide our prayers. Memorize verses so we can recall them quickly when we need their encouragement and direction.

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:  Christ’s righteousness protects our hearts. Scriptural truths help us to walk in the Lord’s will. We should ask someone we trust to pray for us when we struggle with obedience.  

THE GOSPEL OF PEACE:  The gospel is the Good News, the forgiveness of sins and access to God through faith in Christ. Satan wants us to worry, but oneness with the Lord produces peace. It keeps our feet anchored and standing firm.

THE SHIELD OF FAITH: Roman soldiers dipped their shields covered with animal hide. into water so when fiery darts hit them, the wet hide would extinguish the darts. A Christian’s shield of faith needs to be regularly dipped in the water of God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” We must set our faith on God’s character, not on circumstances.

THE HELMET OF SALVATION: Salvation comes the moment we place our trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection as the payment for our sin. But salvation is also worked out through a lengthy process of sanctification when we allow Him to work in every part of our thoughts. The enemy fights for strongholds in our minds. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT:  “When we are tempted, the most effective weapon that God has given believers is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When the devil tempts us, we need to respond with the Truth of God’s Word. 

Let’s put on the Whole Armor of God and walk in the fullness of His Grace.

 

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Growing Our Faith

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Romans 10:17- “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

The subject of faith came up in our Bible Study Group this week.

How does one get faith? How does one grow faith?

The answer was surprisingly simple. 

Romans tells us that first we need to hear the word of God. (This plants the seed of faith in our hearts).

How?

There are two main ways: 1) We hear it preached from the pastor’s pulpit  and/or 2) We hear it as we read the Bible.

Then, we need to take care of that seed—help it grow.

Don’t overlook the word “hearing.”  

As a teacher, I know that when students memorize something, it is an immense help if it is repeated out loud. That way, it gets into their brains using both visual AND auditory senses.

Pray that God will increase your faith as you follow these two principles. 

Next week, we will talk about the value of memorizing scripture.

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Nature Obeys His Voice

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Luke 8:25– “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

 

The gulf coast is bracing for yet another hurricane.

Disturbances such as tornadoes, tsunamis, and tropical depressions are in weather reports every day.

Heavy rainfall, hailstorms, blizzards—each are experienced somewhere in our world every hour.

Meteorologists track them.

Newscasters report them.

Citizens try to prepare for them.

But, none of us can change the weather.

That’s why the stories of Jesus calming the storms in the Bible are so miraculous. All of nature, including catastrophic occurrences, recognize and obey, His voice.

Just as the disciples cried out to Jesus for help when they were on tempest-driven waves, we can ask Him to calm the physical seas and/or the “storms” in our lives. 

The verse in Luke reminds us that if we have faith, we can take concerns of every kind to Him in prayer and trust Him to answer in accordance with His sovereign will.

 

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