spiritualsnippets.com

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

Nov 20

Anxiety or Peace?

by Brenda Poulos

Philippians 4:5-7- “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

A girls’ lunch get-together is usually filled with laughter and lots of chatter. However, a few months ago, it was anything but.

Claire, the hostess for that month, told the group of four that she was again facing cancer, having been in remission for almost three years.

Sally confided that her husband was having an affair with someone at work.

Beth’s daughter had experienced a miscarriage and Ellen had to put down Charlie, her faithful Cocker Spaniel.

So many sad stories. So many reasons to be downhearted and fearful of the future.

But instead, Sally pulled out a recent Bible Study and read the scripture from Philippians to the women at the table. Then, she led her friends in prayer. That was followed by an opportunity for each woman to share a reason to praise God.

By the time Claire served lunch, there was a smile on each face and hope in each heart.

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Oct 2

Today’s a Good Day

by Brenda Poulos

I Samuel 2: 1,2- “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord … No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.”

In these past months filled with illnesses and worldwide natural disasters, Christians everywhere have been praying fervently. Day after day, we offer our entreaties to the Lord.

But when the answer comes, do we remember to thank the Lord for his answer, his provision, his loving kindness? 

I Samuel tells the story of Hannah, who poured out her soul to the Lord. And when the answer came, she didn’t forget to thank and praise Him.

Not a day goes by without a reason to praise our wonderful God. It may not be the answer to your specific prayer, but it may be lifting up thanks for His provision, our homes, our families, our health. 

Today’s a good day to thank the Lord!!!

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Mar 20

Seven Opportunities

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 92:1-2. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.”

A Christian radio host in my area has, for several years, suggested people improve their attitudes and relationships by changing just one thing each day. Not arguing so much with a spouse, being kind and accepting of in-laws, making oneself aware of how they spend their money. The list encompasses almost anything that impacts family and friends.

This morning, I thought about one thing I could do to improve my relationship with God. (After all, Christians know that if the relationship is not what it should be, it is up to us to change. Not God. He is always there. Ever willing to listen, encourage, and forgive).

I thought of my prayer life, scripture reading, witnessing, service, giving, mentoring, and thankfulness/ praising God. 

Seven areas. 

Seven days in a week. 

Seven opportunities to draw closer to Him.

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Jan 31

Hands, Heart, and Soul

by Brenda Poulos

Psalm 134:2- “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.”

Were you were brought up in a conservative Christian home like I was?

Did you attend a conservative church like I did?

Then, for a moment, would you consider breaking out of your comfort zone?

What’s holding you back from worshipping God with your whole heart, soul and hands?

I took the challenge several years ago. I can only attest to my own experience. It was profound and continues to be to this day.

For me it wasn’t electrifying in a physical sense, but for the first time I felt a unique connection—a drawing of spirit to Spirit.

Some who have spent an extended period of time in prayer or meditation, or those who have fasted have told of similar experiences to mine—a “peaceful exhilaration” (my term).

And, more than that, I experience a bonding… a linking together with the one true God. He doesn’t just soak up my praise. He joins with me as we experience together his goodness, holiness, and majesty.

Your experience will perhaps be uniquely yours, but I encourage you to give your whole being over to the praise of our Creator, Savior, and Lord. 

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Dec 20

True Adoration

by Brenda Poulos

Luke 2:20- The shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.”

*Part 2, from last week’s “Behold!”

Come, let us adore our Christ.

What is meant by the term adore?

Worshipping Him (and the truth of who He is) and rejoicing in Him with great joy.

Exceeding great joy is at the heart of true adoration.

LOVE, HONOR, ESTEEM, WORSHIP, ADMIRE, GLORIFY, PRAISE, REVERE, RESPECT DEEPLY.

With Genuine Faith in Who Jesus Really Is: 

The Child born king of the Jews.

God’s Son, our Savior, who reigns on His throne at the right hand of The Father.

Let’s adore Him with every thought we have, every goal we set, each decision we make, the words we speak and the actions we take.

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Apr 5

Twenty Seconds Well Spent

by Brenda Poulos

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Psalm 55:17- “Evening and morning and at noon will I pray to the Lord, and cry aloud and he will hear my voice”

 

I am learning a lot as I spend an increased amount of “alone time” here at home.

The first thing I learned is that I’m not alone. I feel a deep and abiding joy as the Holy Spirit ministers to me.

The biggest thing I am learning is the importance of prayer in the life of believers. He is teaching me not just how to pray, but actually to pray more often and in every circumstance—for family, friends, and the people of the world.

Here’s an idea I’d like to pass along: as you spend your twenty seconds of hand washing time over the course of the day, send up a prayer and praise to the Heavenly Throne each and every time.

That’s it.

Nothing earth-shaking.

Or is it?

I can tell you, it’s rocking my world!

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Apr 22

The Cross Was No Accident

by Brenda Poulos

Night view of Antigua, Guatemala from "Cerro de la Cruz"

John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

The Cross.

For Christians, the symbol of hope.

The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation through the forgiveness of sins for all who believe.

The cross was no accident. 

His great love motivated the Creator to sacrifice His Son.

We have painted them, gold-plated them, encrusted them with jewels, decorated our walls with them, worn them around our necks…

What is it that draws our hearts to the cross?

The Bible says that we love Him because He first loved us.

I think we are drawn to the cross because it is there that He showed us the extent of His pure, unconditional, unending, indescribable love.

No, the cross of Christ wasn’t lovely. It was “rugged” as the old hymn describes it. Built with rough, splintered wood that was held together by crude nails.

Christ was nailed to it and died the death of a common criminal. How unbelievable He would do this for you and for me.

Yet, Jesus welcomed the cross. He had planned this moment from the beginning. It had all come down to this.

But the cross was no more the end for Jesus than it is for us. 

Coming to the cross with Thanksgiving for the love that put Him there, rejoicing at the open tomb announcing His resurrection, leaving our sin there and following Christ.

That’s just the beginning. 

Let’s celebrate it today. 

He is worthy of all praise. Crown Him with many crowns. Lord of Lords. King of Kings.

The precious  Lamb of God. 

 

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Jan 20

Now Is The Time for Praise

by Brenda Poulos

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2 Samuel 22:1-3 “David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” 

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

    my shield and the horn of my salvation.

He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—

    from violent people you save me.”

 

Did you ever wake up praising God?

Wow. What a feeling!!!

You’re on top of the world.

Maybe you’ve just received good news. Perhaps an answer to prayer. Or, you’ve been blessed in an unexplainable way and you look at a friend and say, “It has to be a God thing.”

I usually begin by shouting to the heavens, “Thank you, Lord.” This is followed by a more serious prayer and a chorus or two.

Praise isn’t just for today—or for us. A lot of people in the Bible had reason to give God a “shout-out,” too. 

Many Christians love to read the Psalms because of King David’s beautiful words. He sang 2 Samuel, as he did a great many of his Psalms. He also played stringed instruments. David knew how to express his love and gratitude.

Some of David’s psalms were written in the midst of battles—or as a result of deliverance from the hands of his enemies. He knew when—and how—to praise God. 

I recall, as a child, singing this chorus: “Do you know what time it is? Time to praise the Lord … anytime’s the right time to praise the Lord.”

Whether in the midst of disappointment or a spiritual battle, after you receive a blessing or an answer to a prayer, NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO PRAISE THE LORD.

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Jan 13

Giving Thanks for a Stroke

by Brenda Poulos

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Genesis 45:4-8a “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” 

 

We had just arrived at our New Year’s brunch destination when my sister called to inform us that our brother-in-law had a stroke and had been admitted to the hospital.

You may have received one of these drop-to-your-knees-and-pray phone calls at some point in your life, also. And, hopefully, it was followed a little later by another one saying that your loved one was doing fine—a full recovery expected.

However, in this case, after hearing that good news, further testing detected a serious heart problem.

We prayed, of course, about this new health-related difficulty, but we also had cause for praise and Thanksgiving for the stroke. Without it, the heart complication might not have been diagnosed—until it was too late.

So, the silver lining to the cloud is that now my brother-in-law can see a specialist and perhaps undergo life-saving surgery.

Genesis tells the story of Joseph’s brothers. They sold him into slavery, but he found favor in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the end his father and brothers were allowed to settle in Goshen and avoid the devastating effects of a severe famine. The brothers had evil intentions that guided their actions, but God used their actions to put Joseph in a position to save many lives.

Be encouraged today. The situation you now find yourself in—the health scare, the misunderstanding among friends, the financial setback—may be a blessing in disguise.

Our Heavenly Father, our Healer, our friend knows our present and future needs and is able to supply them in accordance with His will.

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Nov 5

GRATEFUL HEARTS GIVE PRAISE

by Brenda Poulos

 

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Hebrews 13:15- “ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

 

Recent accounts of terrorist attacks tell of people who stepped into the line of fire to save loved ones.

Parents often sacrifice things they want in order to clothe and feed their families.

In the Old Testament, people sacrificed animals to cover their sins.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on an altar on Mt. Moriah.

God sacrificed his son as atonement for our sins.

Sacrifice: “An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.”

Many give of their time and resources to further the gospel.

Some believers may even lose their lives in defense of it.

For most of us, this won’t happen, of course.

But, we can offer a “sacrifice of praise” from truly grateful hearts.—ones that openly profess his name.

 

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