spiritualsnippets.com

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

Jun 15

Have You Thought About Your Own Mortality?

by Brenda Poulos
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John 17:23b- “…Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

As I described my aches and pains to my doctor this week, she answered me with the following statement: “You know, as we age, our bodies develop more physical problems, we have trouble sleeping well, difficulties with vision and hearing…”

On the way home, her comment got me thinking about my own mortality and the fact that one day I will not be here.

What will I wish I had done, seen, said, not-said?

Who should I have told how much I love them, admire them, enjoy their company?

From whom should I have asked forgiveness? Who should I have forgiven?

Who should I have shared the gospel—the message of God’s love, mercy, and grace?

One day, we will not be here. Our best opportunities to do and say the things we should are right now.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 1

Want to Rewrite Your Past?

by Brenda Poulos
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Isaiah 43:25- “I, I am He  who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

It’s the ten year anniversary of the publishing of my first book, Runaways: The Long Journey Home. Curious to see if I had improved as a writer over the last ten years—and eleven books later—I decided to begin rereading all of my books in the order in which I wrote them. 

I wondered if I would find so many mistakes that I would want to rewrite a couple of them. And that got me thinking…

As Christians, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be given the opportunity to “rewrite” our past? To make better choices… to lean on the strength and wisdom of the Lord?

But, we don’t need to do that, do we? Because of God’s wonderful gift of forgiveness of our sins.

God not only forgives, He blots them out. Gone forever is our past with all of its mistakes… sinful actions.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn life lessons from past failures. We just don’t have to live with the guilt.

Praise God for His Mercy and Grace!

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Apr 27

Worthless or Priceless?

by Brenda Poulos
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Psalm 51: 16,17- “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.”

I collect a pottery called Roseville. As part of the global world of antiques, it is sought  after—especially when it is in perfect condition.

However, if chipped or broken, it is nearly worthless on the resale market.

That’s the way it is with most antiques, however. Perfection is key.

What about human beings? 

The Bible tells us that no one is perfect.

But it also says that we are priceless to our God.

In fact, He wants us to come to Him with broken and contrite hearts, asking His forgiveness for our sins.

Then, because of His great love for us, He sees us as whole and perfect—because we are “covered” in the blood of His perfect son, JESUS!

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Jul 7

Mending Fences

by Brenda Poulos

My novella, Mending Fences, is now on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats. 
 I previously published this novella in a collection alongside three other authors. It is now available as a stand alone novella with special pricing.


After the death of his beloved grandfather, Mason finds himself torn between the needs of Rose, the aging grandmother who raised him, and the demands of Lee Ann, the mother who abandoned him as a baby.
 
Mason’s relationship with Lee Ann is turbulent and complicated. After marrying the wealthy Rex LeMasters, Lee Ann charged back into Mason’s life, reclaiming him and his older sister, Glory, and moving them from the family ranch in Boise, Idaho to Green River, Washington when Mason was fifteen. His mother has not spoken to Mason’s grandparents since that time.


When Gram takes a fall, Lee Ann at last returns to see her mother—a visit which dredges up memories of a secret buried since Lee Ann’s childhood. 

Will learning the truth about what caused the rift between them so many years ago help them move forward toward reconciliation? Will Lee Ann’s new perspective on the past serve as a catalyst to restore her relationship with her own children?

This novella will inspire you to face your own difficult circumstances, let go of bitterness resulting from past hurts and disappointments and offer forgiveness to the significant people in your life. 
 

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Oct 9

The Confession

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 13:38- “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Alan breathed a sigh of relief as he heard the not guilty verdict. Thirty months waiting for a trial, but finally he’d been acquitted of murder. He would have thought he’d be happier as he rode home in his attorney’s car, but the guilt he felt was even heavier than before. Just because he could afford a high-powered defense team, did that mean he should be able to get on with his life while the family of the guy he’d murdered struggled to make ends meet?

Within days, Alan fell into a deep depression. He was unable to look anyone in the eye lest they guess that he’d been guilty and didn’t deserve his freedom.

When his brother-in-law, Bill, tried to talk to Alan, he guessed the source of his extreme sadness. When he invited him to church, Alan refused to go. So Bill asked his pastor to pay Alan a visit at home. It was during one of his visits that Alan confessed his sin and accepted Jesus as Savior.

He immediately felt the freedom that he’d expected to feel when he was acquitted of the murder charges. God had forgiven him—paid the price for his sins—but Alan knew he needed to confess his crime.

Months later, in prison, Alan led his cellmate to the Lord. A week after that, another prisoner came to know forgiveness of his sins because of Alan’s testimony. Today, he is still serving his sentence—and still winning souls for Christ.

No matter who we are. 

No matter where we are.

We can be instruments of salvation to a hurting world. That world begins outside our doors. Someone on our street… in our very neighborhood… needs to hear of the forgiveness of Christ.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 3

Pray Away the Darkness

by Brenda Poulos

1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

I met with a group of other writers at a church coffee shop this past week. And as we sat discussing our current work, we were jarred by the sound of the door opening and banging against the wall.

A young woman stumbled in, wailing one of the most awful sounds I have ever heard, and threw herself onto the concrete floor about six feet from our table. Her shirt wet with tears, she lay prostrate on the floor and yelled, “No one can help me.”

Our small group went over and began to pray. The woman continued to cry out that she’d done something so bad that she felt even God would not choose to help her.

The coffee shop manager called the pastor of the church, asking him to come and talk with the young woman. When he arrived and introduced himself, she willingly went with him to his office.

Praise God that this  woman—even though she thought herself unworthy of forgiveness—came the the “right place” where she would hear of God’s love and mercy.

When our meeting ended, the door to the pastor’s office still remained closed. We prayed again for this person to accept God’s forgiveness and begin a victorious life in Christ.

The verse I chose to highlight today is likely one that the pastor quoted to her. 

Pray for someone you may know who needs to hear they can experience forgiveness, too.

May the love of God shine into the dark places of their souls.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 5

The Forgiveness of an Eleven-year-old

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 13:38- “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Pauline arrived home from school one afternoon in April of 1965 to find her mother murdered in her bedroom.

This horrific incident could have caused the ten-year-old to run from God, but thankfully, she did quite the opposite. 

She ran to Him for comfort and peace. And when she did, she found purpose for her life. 

At the age of twenty-one, Pauline graduated from college, and began a prison ministry that taught forgiveness as its core.

Some forty years after her mother’s death, her killer was apprehended (a cold case file) and convicted. Through her ministry, Pauline was able to lead her mother’s murderer to the Lord. 

She declined the invitation to witness his execution, stating that he had been forgiven by her and her God.

Like him, we need to face the consequences of our actions. We are required to pay for our wrongdoings on earth.

But also, like him, when we confess our sins we can know the forgiveness and grace of Christ who died to pay the price for all who will believe.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Feb 6

Clean Out Your Junk Drawer

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 130:4- “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Last week I had some friends over for a ladies tea. I had a wonderful time catching up on what was new with each one of them. 

When we were in my kitchen, I mentioned we were thinking of repainting. I decided to show them some paint samples I’d collected. Everyone crowded around as I looked in my “junk” drawer for them.

Out came tape, pencils/pens, a hammer, a screw driver, store coupons, and so on. I could feel the heat creep up my neck as the contents of my junk drawer were exposed. I finally found what I was looking for but vowed aloud to clean everything out—and soon. The others just laughed, confessing they had a junk drawer in their kitchen, too. 

Later that night, I thought about what had happened and how embarrassing it had been to have them look at all of the items stuffed inside my drawer—out of sight. I thought about the junk drawer of my soul. The sins kept there. Sins I wouldn’t want anyone to see: lies I’d told to make myself “look better;” things I should have done for others, but hadn’t.

I needed to clean out the junk drawer of my life. I knew the only way to do so was by asking forgiveness from my heavenly Father. Once I did, I felt the release of the weight I’d been carrying. I was lighter.

Ready to serve Him wholeheartedly again.

I thanked God for the forgiveness He promised to bring once I confessed my sins to Him, I got out my recipe folder and turned my oven to 350 degrees.

All of a sudden, I felt like making an apple cobbler.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jun 27

Will They Know?

by Brenda Poulos

2 Corinthians 3:2- “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.”

Many years ago, a fellow teacher at my school noticed the cross that I wear daily. She looked at me and said words I will never forget, “I didn’t know that you were a Christian!”

That was one of the saddest comments I had ever heard, but it changed my life, profoundly. I didn’t want people to only know that I was a Christian because of a piece of jewelry. I wanted them to see Christ in me!

I asked God to show me ways in which I needed to change so that others might know that I was His child. I wanted my life to be representative of a daily walk with my Savior… to show my commitment to Christ and be an outward sign of what He has done in my heart… to glorify Him through my life and actions.

Do I mess up? Of course I do! But because He forgives his children, He sends the Holy Spirit to help me move forward.

I still wear my cross necklace, but I trust it’s my actions that show the world who I am–in Christ!

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Apr 18

Spiritual Stents

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 8:22- “Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”  

Several years ago, my father went into the hospital for routine heart testing. 

Approximately a half-hour into the procedure, the doctor called the family into a conference room and showed us (via computer screen) Dad’s heart. He indicated areas of blockage and asked for permission to place two stents.

Watching on the screen, we saw the stents inserted and the rush of blood into the arteries that had been previously blocked. 

What a miracle to witness. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

Driving home, I thought about my how I needed a change of heart toward a close friend and an attitude adjustment toward a family member. Continuing to harbor resentment would only lead to further strain (block) those relationships.

I turned to the scriptures, asking God to show me what to do. I found guidance in His Word. Acts 8:22 said I needed to repent of my wrong attitude and ask forgiveness—first of God, and then of them.

It wasn’t easy, but I knew it was right. 

When I was obedient to God’s Word, a heavy weight was lifted. Today, our relationships are closer than ever!

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