spiritualsnippets.com

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

May 23

Do You Know What Will Happen Tomorrow?

by Brenda Poulos

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James 4:14- “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

A friend of ours passed out while driving last week. His car hit a transformer and went up in flames. He was pulled out of the vehicle just in time. Praise God, he didn’t have a scratch on him!

As I thought about this miracle, the verse above came to mind. Even though we may say, “See you tomorrow” to our friends and family, none of us knows if that will be true or if a tragedy might claim our life.

That’s why it is so important that each of us is prepared to meet God. One day, we will either stand before Him, forgiven by the blood of Jesus, or guilty and without excuse.

Now is the time to get right with God.

Choose Jesus. We “…do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”

Choose Eternal Life in Heaven. We “…are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

Choose the miracle of forgiveness.

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Apr 24

The Gate

by Brenda Poulos

John 14:6- “I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I rummage around in the console of my car for the remote control. One push of the button and the gate slowly opens, admitting me to the neighborhood.  Whether operating by a gate code, a special sticker on the car’s front window, or a “clicker”, I’m sure those of you living in gated communities understand if I confess that I still sigh with relief when the gate “recognizes” me and swings wide, granting access to my home.

I am speaking about my earthly home, of course.

But, what about my heavenly home? 25529773694_403d73b5bd

Is it true that some will be admitted to heaven, while others will be turned away?

According to this verse from the book of John, the only access to God and heaven comes through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christians find peace for their souls and reassurance of eternal life in heaven as they trust Jesus as Savior.

My heart aches for those who have not put their trust in Christ—those who will be turned away at the gate.

Don’t read this and think, “I’m a good person. Surely, God isn’t speaking about me.”

The Bible says that God is not a “respecter of persons.”  His laws apply to everyone, no matter their age, nationality, or earthly notoriety.

You may be beautiful in the eyes of the world. You may be smart, generous, and kind to others. You may be a hard worker, a good son or daughter, but if God cannot look at you and see his Son, then you will be left standing alone outside the gate.

YOU are the very reason I write this blog each week.

I pray that you will consider John 14:6 and that, in Christ, you will find the way to your eternal home.

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Apr 11

Frustration or Blessing?

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 22:17-21

17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

 

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Taxes.

Hard to believe it is almost time to file.

After an appointment with our accountant, we learned that we owe—again.

How can that be?

Every year?

Seriously?

My husband relates that his coworkers get refunds…repeatedly… tax season after tax season.

Do they know something we don’t?

“Make quarterly payments,” our accountant replies.

It’s not like we don’t have mortgage and charitable deductions.

It’s not like we rely on our own expertise in filing.

Even in Jesus’s time, questions regarding taxes were front and foremost.

This year, instead of shaking our heads in disbelief or giving into the frustrations associated with taxes, we have chosen to count our blessings and be thankful for the abundance with which God has blessed us…

April 15…

A day to count our blessings.

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Apr 3

There’s Got to be a Word…

by Brenda Poulos

I John 4:9- “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

 

When I was a young girl growing up, Saturday mornings at our house were designated for cleaning. My favorite chore was dusting. I was able to close my bedroom door and put my favorite 45’s on the record player while tidying up.

One of my favorite songs was “There’s Got To Be A Word” (that means more than “love”). This was a romantic tune that tugged at the heart of every teenage girl in the 60’s. But, as I reminisce of days gone by, I wonder if there might really be a word that does mean more than love, or deepens its meaning, shows love in action…

Babe in a Manger  (oops, more than one)

Cross

Immanuel

Nails

Messiah

Resurrection

Savior

Forgiveness

Adoption as Sons (sometimes just one word won’t do)

Mercy

Grace

Jesus

 

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Feb 28

The Perfection of the Number Seven

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 3:23–“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

 

The number seven has been my favorite number for a long time. I taught elementary school in Room 7 for quite a number of years. It had a string of beautiful overhead windows that were situated just right so the sunlight came through them, prism-like, every morning just prior to recess. It was also at the end of the hall, so it was always nice and quiet, making it easier on those who might find themselves distracted by outside noise. It also had an extra set of open-shelved cupboards in the corner. Yes, Room 7 was my favorite.

I have long known that the number 7 was used many times in the Bible, but did you know that it was used over 700 times?

Here are just a few significant uses of the number seven: 7 days of creation; Joshua marched around Jericho for 7 days; in Revelation, it speaks of the 7 angels, 7 trumpets, 7 seals, 7 bowls of wrath, 7 years of end time events, 7 as the number of completion and perfection. There are multiples of seven, such as Jesus told Peter to forgive “seventy times seven” and the Seventy Weeks of prophecy in Daniel.

777 is referred to as the perfect number of God, whereas 666 is a number representing the beast in Revelation 13:18 and 6 the number of man.

If God’s number is 7 and man’s is 6, then man always falls short, doesn’t he? No matter what he does, man cannot ever be a 7.

But, maybe man wasn’t ever created to be a 7 in the first place. (We’ve all heard the saying that man was created with a hole in his heart that only Jesus can fill). Maybe, just maybe, man was created needing a savior…someone who would stand with man, to complete man, when he stands before God.

We all fall short. We are all sinners.

But Christians have no fear of standing before the judgement seat of God because Jesus stands there with us.

The perfect 7.

 

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Feb 22

Do You Have a Life Coach?

by Brenda Poulos

John 15:15b: “I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

 

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There was a time when the term “coach” was limited to sports. Usually, that meant a person who provided athletic training and instruction to a specific team by initiating practice sessions, evaluating performance, and giving feedback.

A business coach would be someone helping to settle disputes, suggest business strategies, etc.

A singing coach performs similar functions for vocalists; a writing coach teaches technique/style to would-be authors, and an exercise coach (trainer) encourages people to develop and adhere to exercise/diet routines.

Becoming popular, recently, is the life coach.  These instructors  are there to help people in school or social situations.  Two main areas are:

1) Academic coaching: Motivates, aids in developing resumes, and provides expertise in the area of employment.

2) Relationship coaching: Helps in dating etiquette, uncovering anxieties, decision making and so on. Think of this as expanded counseling. They serve as a sounding board, a confidant, or provide common sense advice—much like a good friend would.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is our friend…that he sticks closer than a brother…that he hears our prayers and is there to guide us along the road of life.

At any given time, it may be possible for us to benefit from any of the coaches, above. But, when we are downhearted, when we face problems that seem insurmountable, when we think there is no hope or no one who understands, the perfect life coach is the creator of life itself. 

His word tells us that He saw our unformed bodies in our mother’s womb and that he knew the number of our days before even one of them came to be.

He knows us. He knows what’s best for us.

The Bible says that we may make our plans, but it is He who directs our steps.

The almighty God wants to be our friend, wants us to come before Him with our requests. And, when we do, He promises to hear our prayers and provide guidance.

Who could be a better life coach than the One who knows you best of all?

 

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Feb 8

God Sent You a Valentine!

by Brenda Poulos

Romans 1:20- “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

In the very stars of heaven, God proclaims his great love for us.

God sent us a Valentine!!

His love knows no bounds. His message is written in His Word and in the heavenly bodies of the universe. That’s right!  They aren’t just beautiful creations of light hung there for our enjoyment. (Although that was certainly part of His intent).

They were, in fact, put there to tell God’s story of His love, and plan of redemption.

15651996037_80068decbe_mThis may be a new concept for you, but read on…

Quite some time ago, my mother-in-law gave me the most fascinating book by the late James Kennedy called, The Real Meaning of the Zodiac. It contains his well-documented research, as well as that of eight other well-known Bible scholars. It is an astounding account of God’s love.

The book was printed as a special TBN Edition in 1989 and one of their most requested publications ever. In it, Dr. Kennedy unfolds the timeless story of God’s love—His Gospel in the stars.

The Bible tells us that He called all of the stars “the host of heaven,” that He numbered them, ordered them, and set them in the firmament to be signs. (Although their original meaning has been corrupted into something counterfeit by astrologers.)

His marvelous masterpiece, the art gallery of God, depicts the message of redemption revealing to man the account of the coming, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

That’s right. The way of salvation is revealed beautifully for us in the heavens!

Dr. Kennedy begins the explanation of the true Zodiac with Virgo, or the Virgin and the birth of the incarnate Son of God. He continues the “great celestial preaching of the Gospel” with the other eleven signs, ending with Leo, The Lion, which depicts Christ’s victory over sin, the world, and Satan.

By citing specific scripture for each sign, Dr. Kennedy reminds us that God has done all of this so that we might know of God’s love…that we might know His son as our savior, and so that the glory of Jesus and his redemption might fill our hearts with wonder and praise.

He loves me. He loves you.

He has told us so in His Word, in the heavens, and by sending us the gift of salvation through his son, Jesus.

May you never look at the night sky in quite the same way again.

It is His Valentine to mankind.

 

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Oct 5

A Good Name

by Brenda Poulos

Proverbs 22:1–  “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”

As a child, I remember wishing my name were Debbie, Linda, or Karen.

Now that I’m nearing the publication of my first book, I find myself wishing for a name that would be more memorable. One that would sound “author-ish”.

I’ve thought of changes I could make to my name to make it more visually appealing….for example, not capitalizing it, like the famous poet, e.e.cummings.

brenda poulos

Or, dropping my last name and using my middle name as the last:

Brenda Carol

No? How about changing the spelling of my middle name?

Brenda Carolle

Perhaps using just my initials:

B. C. Poulos

I asked God to help me be content with my name just the way it is:

Brenda C. Poulos

He reminded me today that the name, Jesus—the sweetest, most wonderful name to Christians—was a very ordinary name in those days. Nothing particularly special about it…but it was the name God told Joseph and Mary to give the baby.

Matthew 1:21 says, “You shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” And it is the name praised by millions every day.

Of course, there are many other names that Jesus has in the Bible—names that reflect who He is, His role, His personality: Savior, Messiah, Adonai, The Good Shepherd, The Bright and Morning Star, The Rose of Sharon, The Lord, The Lamb of God, Light of the World, and on and on. Two hundred of them in all.

I told myself that maybe I would be more content with my own name if I knew what it meant. Somewhere, I had a bookmark with its meaning. I searched in a couple of drawers before I came up with it:

“BRENDA: Enthusiastic…fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”

Maybe it doesn’t sound like a name that will draw people to pick up a book, but maybe it is a good name, after all.

Maybe those reading the gospel message woven into the pages of Runaways: The Long Journey Home will be led to it by Jesus…our God with an ordinary name who would allow someone with a name like mine to be an instrument to point the way

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Sep 14

Tell Me a Story

by Brenda Poulos

Deuteronomy 6:7–  “Impress (God’s Word; commandments) on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

 

“Mommy, tell me the story about how I was born.”

My husband and I recently saw a movie featuring these words several times within an hour and a half film. It brought back memories of my own children asking me to repeat favorite stories to them—and of myself asking my own parents to relate a favorite one to me.

We all love a good story. And, we never get tired of hearing our favorites over and over again.

There are a lot of them in the Bible: David and Goliath, Ruth and Naomi, the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Kings and Wise Men afterward. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Sometimes the morning message in a church service contains a Bible Story that some of us have heard a dozen times. However, if you’re like me, I find that there is always something “new” when I hear it again.

I gain a new insight.  It touches my soul in a deeper place.

Like His Mercies, His Word Is New Every Morning.

It has the power to touch us, heal us, encourage us, speak to us.

His Word is Alive.

When I was a child, we sang a song in church that you may remember. The name of it was: Tell Me The Story of Jesus. It started like this:

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;

Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

It is an old story, isn’t it? But, it is one of which I never tire.

How about you?

Is there someone in your life that needs to hear that story, today?

 

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Aug 31

Character Arc

by Brenda Poulos

Acts 9:27– “(Barnabas)…brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”

Yesterday, at a writing workshop, we discussed the “character arc”. This simply means the change that happens within the character, over the course of a movie or book. In other words, the growth resulting from what they learn along their journey…the transformation.

Real life is like that, too, isn’t it? It’s a journey. Hopefully, we learn a lot along the way so that, by the end, we are not the same person we were when we started out.

We’ve changed.

Paul was someone with a HUGE character arc. He went from being a persecutor of Christians to being called of God on the road to Damascus.

What made the change?

It was the experience of meeting Jesus.

He was transformed from being a person filled with hate to a man so filled with compassion and love for others that he spent the rest of his life as a missionary, taking God’s message wherever he was led.

The change on the inside was manifested by a change on the outside—in his actions and behavior that everyone could see.

Because of this, he was beaten, thrown into jail, and eventually martyred.

This is character arc of the highest degree. A person so changed that he willingly gives his life for the cause.

There are brave people in our world right now who are being persecuted and killed for their belief in God. When asked if they are Christians, they bravely answer “yes”, giving their lives for the sake of the cross.

We may not ever face death for our beliefs, but let’s ask ourselves if we are willing to give our lives for our beliefs…an hour or two a week to help those in need…60-90 minutes to share the gospel?

If we know Jesus—if we have met Him and allowed Him to change us as we journey our own Damascus Road—then we will be willing to help bring His message to a lost and dying world.

One hour, one day, one compassionate act at a time.

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