spiritualsnippets.com

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

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. 
 

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Jun 30

A Chariot of Fire

by Brenda Poulos

2 Kings 2:11- “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”

My husband and I went to our community pool a few days ago. As we were drying off, a strong wind came out of “nowhere.” 

John grabbed onto a nearby table to steady himself, but the wind literally picked me up and slammed me down onto the cool deck.

I am fine except for a bruised elbow, cut finger, sore hip, and goose egg on the back of my head (which is responsible for a lingering headache).

Thinking about my experience as my husband drove us home, I remembered the story of Elijah and the strong whirlwind that took him up to heaven, an event witnessed by Elisha.

Elijah’s name means, “The Lord is my God.” We speculate that due to the miracles God worked through him, Elijah was spared physical death.

I reread the amazing story of Elijah’s “home going” this morning. He was a man who was faithful and obedient to God. He is also mentioned in several commentaries as perhaps being one of the two future end-time witnesses in the book of Revelation.

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Mar 3

Do You Feel Powerless? Hopeless?

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 68:35b- “The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.”

Due to a powerful storm, our electricity was “off” most of the day. Not only did it make our vision difficult, without heat we were COLD. We could not cook, but luckily my husband is a snacker. That night we filled our stomachs with not-so-nutritious things to eat.

In church we had been talking about our all-powerful God, so the subject was already on my mind. What would my life be like if I no longer had His power to tap into?

Many times throughout the week, I experience His power in my life. Often, it is in response to prayer. Without knowing He would be there for me in difficult circumstances, without the assurance of Him being “in charge” of what is happening in the world, I would have no hope.

Is that how unbelievers must feel at times? Powerless. Hopeless?

Just knowing that, makes me want to share His Good News even more. How about you?

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Feb 18

Perfect Love

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 8:38, 39- “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Since this is Valentine’s week, I can think of no truer love to talk about than the love that God sent to us in the form of his son. No truer love than that which sent Jesus to the cross to die for our sins.

The Bible tells us that God IS love. He is the very essence of love.

As human beings, our minds and actions are motivated—at times—by so many emotions: sadness, jealousy, hate, kindness, empathy, anger, and so on. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to have love be our only motivation.

Many people spend much of their time serving others, volunteering, donating money, and so on. These unselfish acts of human kindness are hard for some of us to fathom. Even more so, would be the giving of one’s life for another. 

I remember the awe I experienced as a youngster when I heard of Jesus’s love for me. I still am filled with wonder and amazement when I contemplate the depth of His love—his perfect love for all of us.

Let’s send God a valentine today. A prayer of gratefulness for His perfect and undying love!

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Feb 4

“Come, Follow Me”

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 19-20: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”

I thought of my grandson when I read this verse. He graduated mid-year from high school and was struggling to know what to pursue in his life. (As you know, some kids follow their dreams from grade school on up. Others don’t have a clear idea of what they’d like to do until they are in college!)

When talking to his coach, he was encouraged to pray about a direction for his life. In addition, he gave my grandson some pamphlets about Christian colleges, and so on.

One of them caught his eye. It was WYAM and The University of Nations. Within less than a month, he’d signed up and flown to a training base in Kona. Now, he is preparing his heart, mind, and soul for service to others.

Our grandson is becoming a modern day “fisher of men.” 

His communications with us tell of learning from scripture and drawing close to the Lord. His joy is overflowing and we couldn’t be happier that he is following God’s leading for his life.

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Jan 21

Worth the Wait

by Brenda Poulos

Hebrews 6:15- “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”

Have you ever prayed fervently for something and—as yet—not have it come to pass?

Jen prayed that the “right” man would come along. For years, she prayed. But nothing happened.

Fast forward twenty-five years.

Jen connected with a nice man at her high school class reunion. They dated for awhile, but he ended up marrying someone else.

Ten more years went by.

Now retired, Jen became a volunteer at the county library where she met Hank. A nice guy. Funny and caring. Everything she’d hoped for—and more.

They married January 4, 2024.

When asked if he was worth waiting for, she answered an enthusiastic, yes!

God had answered both of their prayers—as he had been praying, too!!!

Like Abraham, Joseph, David, and Simeon, we find that waiting on God’s answers to prayer requires patience and faith. These men of the Bible persevered and trusted in God’s perfect timing even though they didn’t understand the wait.

The Lord’s plans for our lives are good. Patient waiting refines our character and glorifies God.

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Nov 5

Strength and Joy

by Brenda Poulos

1 Chronicles 16:27- “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.”

The death of another beloved actor has saddened many people this week. He, like many of the rich and famous, pursue happiness.

Few of them find it.

Why?

Because unless we come to the point where we believe that God himself—and a relationship with HIM—is most desirable, we can never find true joy.

Only God’s power can break the power of sin’s promise of happiness in all that glitters and is tantalizing to the eye.

Pastor John Piper said that gratitude for what God has done for us in the past and what He has promised yet to do for us in the future should be “…the driving force in authentic Christian Living.” 

And only then will we experience true joy in Christ.

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Oct 15

Righteous Anger

by Brenda Poulos

James 1:20- “Man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

For over a week, all of our news channels have shown videos of destruction and carnage. Friday morning’s news show displayed a headline from the Middle East, calling for a “Global Day of Anger.” 

To put out a call for people to feel—and act on—anger is unbelievable.

What does Christ have to say about anger and its effects on us and our world?

James tells us that being angry is not the life God wants for us. Anger leads to guilt and shame.

But, is there a place in our world for what is called “Righteous Anger”? Righteous anger arises when we witness “an offense against God or His Word.”

It is different than what we commonly think of as anger in that it comes from a heart that cares for others.

Righteous anger hopes to make the world a better place … and to bring people to salvation in Christ. It is not destructive,  downgrading, or hurtful.

It speaks of the Truth of God’s Word.

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Aug 13

Look for Opportunities

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 21:27- “Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

I met a lady recently who asked me a few questions about being an author. She confessed that she’d been thinking about writing a memoir because it would be a thrill for her to see her name on the cover of her very own book.

What an opportunity God gave me to talk to her about seeing her name in The Book of Life!

It seems more and more God is providing situations for me to talk to others about grace, forgiveness, and salvation.

These are exciting days leading up to Christ’s return. So many reasons to share the gospel!

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Jul 30

Exciting News

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 21:27- “Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

I met a lady recently that asked me a few questions about being an author. A few minutes later, she confessed that she’d been thinking about writing a book because it would be a thrill for her to see her name in print on the cover of her very own book.

What an opportunity God gave me to talk to her about having her name in The Book of Life!

It seems more and more God is providing situations for me to talk to others about grace, forgiveness, and salvation.

These are exciting days leading up to Christ’s return. So many reasons to share the gospel!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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