spiritualsnippets.com

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

Oct 30

Your Dream Home

by Brenda Poulos

John 14: 2, 3: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Being a fan of home renovation, I like to watch HGTV. A show I’ve gotten interested in lately is My Lottery Dream Home. Although most of the people on the show have won the lottery, there are also those who have inherited large amounts of money.

Such was the case of one couple featured in an episode I saw last week. At long last, these people could afford to live in the large, comfortable home they had always dreamed of.

As I saw the happiness radiating from their faces, I thought of the home in heaven that believers long to see when our earthly stay is over. It’s not just the streets of gold that we long to see—although that will be spectacular—but also the fact that we will be reunited with our Lord and loved ones.

Jesus told us that when he returned to heaven, he would be preparing a place for us, which I believe will be uniquely ours. It will be suited for us in every way, reflecting the way he cares for each of us here on earth by meeting our needs as individuals.

However, it will be beyond all we can think or imagine. It will be spectacular.

It will be our dream home.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words

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Oct 27

The Man in the Mirror

by Brenda Poulos

I Samuel 16:7b: “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

We recently purchased a home and are beginning a big remodeling project next week. New flooring, countertops, window coverings, faucets, appliances, painting, adding cabinetry, landscaping—even moving a wall—the list goes on and on.

Only one of these improvements has to do with functionality. The rest are 100% cosmetic.

We have renovated quite a few homes over the years. (We have moved so many times that our friends only pencil in our new addresses!) We love the physical changes we make and feel good, when we move on to our next project, having left a property “better than we found it.”

Like most people, we also make changes to our physical appearances: haircuts/highlighting, makeup, new eyeglass frames, exercises, dieting, updated clothing. Again, these are cosmetic changes, focusing on the outward appearance.

None of these are wrong. In fact, I’m grateful for every bit of help I can get! But, these things shouldn’t be the overriding focus of our attention.

The Bible says that God places His attention on what is in our hearts. So, it follows that this should also be our primary focus, too.

When we look at our hearts with God’s mirror, the Bible, what do we see? Someone that is filled with the Holy Spirit? Someone that is producing the fruits of the Spirit? (Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.)

If not, a remodeling project may be just what is needed. Starting with prayer and scripture, we can make our hearts available to The Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives. Not cosmetic work that has no substance and is of no true lasting value. But, instead, allowing His power to work within us to “…to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13b)

He is pleased when we walk according to His ways, when we think of others before ourselves, when we follow His will for our lives. He helps us put things into “eternal perspective” when we focus on what’s inside.

Brenda

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