spiritualsnippets.com

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

Oct 9

Up Close and Personal

by Brenda Poulos

Luke 19:1-4  “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”

 

In the late 1950’s, President Dwight Eisenhower made a stop in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dad loaded our family of six into the car and drove for more than an hour to the airport. There, we joined other folk at the chainlink fence separating the runway from a stretch of desert.  30032881542_2be5c5e44e

The air crackled with excitement as we kept watching the late afternoon sky for a sign of his arrival. When his plane landed, he walked over to the fence and shook hands with those fortunate enough to be in the front row. He even kissed a couple of babies, as I recall.

The crowd was quite large for those times and most were adults, so Dad gave each of us a turn to sit on his shoulders so we could see the beloved “IKE.”

We had quite a tale to tell at school the next day. Not only had we laid eyes on the President, we had also been allowed to stay up past our bedtime!

Yes, it was quite an experience—one I have never forgotten.

A Bible story I have never forgotten, either, is that of Zacchaeus, who wanted to see Jesus so badly that he climbed a tree to get a better view.

Many years later, I learned that the sycamore tree is not a tall and sturdy tree. But, I guess it gave him just enough of a boost that he achieved his goal.

Not only did he see Jesus, but Jesus noticed him. He even invited himself over to Zacchaeus’s house that very evening!

As much as I enjoyed seeing our nation’s thirty-fourth president up close, I know nothing will compare to experiencing a personal greeting from Jesus in Heaven.

If you are a Christian, you won’t need to sit on anyone’s shoulders or climb a tree to see Him.

There won’t be a chainlink fence between you and your Savior.

We will see Him face-to-face.

And, word has it, He’s invited you to dinner.

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Oct 3

Imposter or “The Real Deal”?

by Brenda Poulos

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I Timothy 3:16b– “He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artificial turf.

Carpet made from recycled tires.

Cauliflower. Mashed, it tastes like mashed potatoes.

Designer-look perfumes and purses.

False eyelashes.

Floor tile that looks like woodgrain.

Ritz crackers, baked with spices tastes like apple pie.

Silk plants/flowers.

Simulated stones.

Vinyl that looks and feels like leather.

 

FAKES.  IMPOSTERS.

The world is full of them.

 

The world is also home to false gods. They may be horoscopes, statues, planets, money…anything or anyone that people put their trust in is technically a “god” to them.

 

Sadly, they lead to disappointment…many with tragic consequences.

How can one tell a fake—an imposter—from the real thing?

The verse in First Timothy says Jesus was verified in six ways:

1.He appeared on earth in the flesh.

2.He was vindicated by the Holy Spirit.

3.He was seen by angels (and, if I might add, by many people)

4.He was preached about (by the disciples).

5.He was believed on by many people (…and the number is growing).

6.He was taken up (ascended) into heaven.

In today’s world, we use the word endorsement, to mean declaring approval, when we refer to lending credibility to a person, product, or claim.

In Matthew 3:17 God said of Jesus, “…This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

So, he has been verified and endorsed—by God the Father.

Jesus is not a fake. Not an imposter.

He’s the real deal.

He is the Son of God.

Our Savior. Our Redeemer.  Our risen Lord.

 

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Sep 18

Pink Grass. Really?

by Brenda Poulos

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Matthew 7:13– “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

I read about a band of burglars that used little children to facilitate their break-ins of vacation homes. They directed them to enter through small “doggie-doors” and then unlock the doors to the homes so the adults could gain entry.

“If only it were that easy to get into Heaven,” you exclaim.

The Bible says Heaven’s gate is indeed narrow…and that not everyone is willing to listen to God’s instructions and follow Jesus.

Too many take the easy way…hoping to enter through the broad gate…

the way of the world

the way they think is best

the way of non-commitment

the way of denial.

But, the broad gate leads to destruction—an eternity without God!

One of my teachers used to illustrate the freedom of choice like this: a universal truth is  that a certain color is green. Let’s say someone comes along and calls it “pink.” They are welcome say that, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is green.

One can say that good works lead to Heaven, or that just being a nice person will earn them a place there, but that is just like calling the grass “pink.”

God’s Word says that JESUS is THE WAY

to the Father

to salvation

to Heaven.

The Bible says JESUS is the TRUTH

and the LIFE.

Here and now.

Forever and for all eternity.

Choose LIFE.

Choose JESUS.

Enter through the narrow gate.

 

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Aug 1

He Touched Me!!

by Brenda Poulos

Matthew 9:21– She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

I’m not a football fan. However, when I was in junior high and high school, my friends and I “watched” the Arizona State Sun Devils play from our seats in the End Zone. We were affectionately called “THE KNOT HOLE GANG.”

Although I wasn’t crazy about the game, I sure did like the players.

Back in those days, fans were allowed to form a line on each side of the entrance where the players came onto the field. We were close enough that we could reach out and touch an arm or the sleeve of a uniform. We got goosebumps every time.

I also loved movies. On a trip to Hollywood as a young adult, I remember swooning when Clint Eastwood shook my hand.

A young man puts his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulders—a loving touch.

A mother hold’s her sobbing child—a caring touch.

A concert pianist poises his hands above the black and white keys. The audience waits for—the touch of the master.

Two young men shake hands after an argument—the touch of friendship.

As incredible as each of these is, I can’t help but ask myself, “What would it be like to be touched by Jesus?”

In the book of Matthew, a woman declared that she knew she’d be healed just by touching the hem Jesus’s garment!

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She wasn’t a groupie or a young child idolizing a sports star. This was a serious situation.

She needed healing.

She knew she needed Jesus.

What about you?

Will you open your heart to be touched by Jesus? Allow his healing touch to make you whole again?

But, you say, Jesus doesn’t always choose to heal…

True.

Physical healing may not be in His plan for your life…or your loved ones’ lives.

But, He does want to heal your brokenness. He wants to use the disappointments and tragedies of our earthly lives to bring us to a place of dependance on Him. He wants to carry us through the troubled times, supporting us  with His strength.

He wants us to grow in our faith in Him. The kind of faith that believes He knows what is best for us and we trust Him to see us through…and to work out the difficulties we face for “the good of those who love Him and are called according to His good purpose.”

I have faith in a chair to hold me.

I have faith in my car to start each morning.

I have faith in my phone to keep me in touch with my family and friends.

But, I exercise my faith when I sit in the chair, turn the key in the ignition, and dial the phone.

Come to Him…in faith…believing.

Release control to Him…and experience His promises at work in your life.

Touch the hem of His garment.

 

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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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