spiritualsnippets.com

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

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.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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