spiritualsnippets.com

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

Jul 23

A Familiar Face

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 8:11-”Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

We relocated to Nevada in January. Although we love it here, now, it was quite an adjustment for us to start over and build new friendships. We only knew our son, daughter-in-law, and little grandson. 

It was a strange experience to go to the grocery store or out to the mall and not see anyone we knew.

We started to attend a Bible study on Wednesday evenings. As I opened the door one night, my eyes immediately connected with a familiar face. How could this be? I asked myself. What were the chances of me knowing anyone in this state? 

“I know you somehow, don’t I?” she asked.

“You look familiar, too,” I answered.

Within five minutes we realized we had taught at the same school in Arizona some thirty-five years ago! We hadn’t really been friends at the time; just acquaintances that said hello in the hallway or school office.

With this realization, we shouted and hugged. We were thrilled to see each other again. I vowed that since God had brought her back into my life, I would get to know her better this time around!

Later, as I drove home, I couldn’t help but fast-forward to a future day when I will reunite with relatives and friends who have already gone to heaven. 

Gathered from around the globe, there will be a lot of hugging and rejoicing going on!

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 16

Sunshine and Rain

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 5:45b- “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

This week, I had an “ah-ha” moment—a  sudden understanding of something I thought I knew about, but actually didn’t have a complete understanding. 

The subject was Grace.

My experience has been that Grace means “God giving us something that we don’t deserve.” Hence, forgiveness of sins and life everlasting with Him. This grace is given to believers.

But there is another kind of grace at work in the world that God gives to believers and unbelievers alike.

It is called common grace. 

It doesn’t get a person to heaven. But God takes pleasure in His creation and exercises the grace that makes the sun come up and sends rain on the just and unjust alike.

God tells us to pray for and bless our enemies. For me, common grace is His supreme example of this principle at work.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 9

You Can Be Confident

by Brenda Poulos

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.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Apr 16

He Never Changes

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 100:5- “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

I read an article this week about Old Faithful, the powerful geyser in Yellowstone National Park. It was named as such because it erupted with reliable regularity (every 91 minutes).

Scripture tells us that God is faithful. We can count on Him. Rely on Him to do what He says He will.

We don’t have to guess about what He considers important, just, right, or true.

Since He cannot lie, break His promises, or change His mind we can be assured He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Feb 12

Everyone. Everywhere.

by Brenda Poulos

Revelation 5:13- “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’”

You have seen huge crowds on television—or even been a part of one at an inauguration, a sporting event, or funeral of a well-known person. I recently watched part of a Billy Graham crusade, marveling as the camera panned over a throng of thousands. 

Yesterday, as I drove in rush hour traffic and sat through more than a few traffic light changes, I praised the Lord to worship songs on Christian radio. In my mind’s eye, I saw people bowing before Him. Then, the scene widened to include the whole earth. And, I could see people all around the globe each with bended knees.

We know the Bible says in the future that all will bow before the Lord, but what if the humbling before our God isn’t just one at a time as we come before Him? What if it will take place just as I imagined—all worshiping Him in unison?

And what if the crowd is made up of everyone who has ever lived? Past and present. All at the same time. All generations. All cultures and countries represented.

Can you even envision that? Mind boggling, isn’t it?

I’m not a pastor or even a seminary graduate. I’m just a layman who loves the Lord. I’m not saying that this is exactly “Biblical.” But I believe it is very close to how it will happen.

All those on earth, in heaven—and even all those “under the earth” will bow to Jesus.

To the Glory of the Father. 

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Feb 5

Look Inside

by Brenda Poulos

1 Samuel 16:7b- “…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

People stared at me in the grocery store, but I couldn’t figure out why. It couldn’t be because my face was so attractive or recognizable.

What gives?, I asked myself.

When I returned home, I took a good look in the mirror. Disheveled hair, dusty and stained clothing, holes in my grubby tennis shoes. 

My husband and I had been working all day on a home renovation project when I rushed out to get what we needed for dinner. I hadn’t given a thought to my appearance when I grabbed the keys and drove to the nearby supermarket.

In our new neighborhood, no one knew me or my background, intentions, or anything about me. They only had my appearance to base their opinions on.

However, it’s not that way with God. Outside appearances don’t concern Him. He knows us on the inside. 

And He still loves us.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Jul 17

Follow His Lead

by Brenda Poulos

Exodus 13:21– “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”

Feel the need for guidance?

Don’t know which way to turn?

Wonder if you’re on the right path?

There’s a lesson to be learned from the passage from Exodus. 

God watched over the Children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land, guiding them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. All they had to do was follow it when it moved and stop when it stopped.

Sound simple?

The Bible tells us that God will direct our paths if we keep our eyes on Him. Running ahead of Him (thinking we know what’s best) is what gets us into trouble. 

How can God lead, if we run ahead?

We need to follow the One that knows all the twists and turns in the trail just as the  Israelites did.

God has a path for each one of us. All we need to do is keep our eyes on Him.

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 26

The Fourth Man

by Brenda Poulos

Daniel 3:25- “Look!” He answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

One of my favorite Bible stories is about Daniel and his friends, who defied the authorities and refused to bow down to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar set up. They were thrown into the fiery furnace, God protected them and they were let go, unharmed.

As a child, I somehow missed the part about the fourth man in the furnace that day. However, as an adult, I see it as a clear depiction of the fact that when we are going through trials and tribulations, Jesus is right beside us. 

He has never promised to solve all of our problems for us or heal all of our aches and pains. But he has said he will never leave or forsake us. He reminds us that he is there with us. He is a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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May 15

Reach Out

by Brenda Poulos

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.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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