spiritualsnippets.com

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

Sep 11

What is it About Pets?

by Brenda Poulos

1 John 4:19- “We love because he first loved us.”

Angie had a hard time healing emotionally after her Springer Spaniel, Rex, died. She had been shy growing up, and a bit of a “late bloomer” as her mother put it. But once she connected with Rex, her confidence grew by leaps and bounds.

He loved her no matter what and she thrived beyond all her parents could hope for.

Most people will tell you that the dog’s ability to give its owner unconditional love that is the reason they are so drawn to their pets.

The Bible tells us that we love Jesus because he first loved us—while we were sinners. He loves us unconditionally and we are drawn to Him with cords of love and grace.

Do you need someone in your life who will love you no matter what? Turn to Jesus and acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord. Experience His peace and unconditional love.

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Jul 24

Life Is Too Short

by Brenda Poulos

James 4:14- “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Life’s Too Short. Eat Dessert First.

Remember hearing that and laughing?

Life’s too Short. Live every day as if it was going to be your last. (Harry Morant)

Or, today is the first day of the rest of your life. (Unknown)

These quotes give pause, don’t they?  

Most of the time, we go throughout life without giving a thought that today might be our last.

Until…

We’re asked what’s on our bucket list.

Until…

We’re given a dreaded diagnosis.

And what is our reaction?

I would guess that Christians react somewhat differently than the rest of the world. Because we know the rest of our story.

We are all eternal beings. 

The difference between those who know Jesus as their Savior— and those who don’t—will determine where they will spend rest of eternity.

I don’t just write this blog for Christians, I write for those who haven’t yet accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

If that applies to YOU, please ask a Christian friend to explain the way to salvation to you; contact the pastor of a Christian church; attend a church service; talk with your parents (if they are Christians, they have been praying for you). 

Learn what it means to be assured of a life—after this one—where you can spend eternity in Heaven.

I invite you to read my bestseller, The Choice by Brenda C. Poulos. (Available in audio, paperback, hardcover, and e-book on Amazon/Books.)

Because the alternative is too alarming.

And this life is too short.

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Dec 19

Xmas vs. Christmas

by Brenda Poulos

Do you celebrate Christmas or Xmas?

Oh, yes, they are two very different things.

Xmas, although beautiful and memorable, is a social experience. It’s a gift-giving, cookie-baking, photo-taking season repeated year after year because of its feel-good/traditional/income-generating value.

Don’t believe me?

Look at Christmas. The added elements are the worship of the baby in the manger (who grows up to become the Savior of world); reflections on visits to him by angels, wise men, and shepherds; the revelation (and significance of) the virgin birth; candlelight church services, including the singing of hymns and reading of Holy Scriptures.

I invite you to experience the blessings that celebrating Christmas in its fullness will bring this year!

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Nov 14

The Eternals

by Brenda Poulos

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

I watched the television previews for a new series this week. Called The Eternals, it is about a fictional group of super-powered beings whose job it is to preserve and safeguard the planet. The basic premise is that they have—and will—live forever. (At least that is what I conclude from the trailer.)

Humans have always been fascinated with the prospect of living forever. We’ve all heard about billionaires that die and have their bodies preserved for awakening at a predetermined time in the future.

Death, however, is seldom longed for—except, perhaps by those who are in intense physical pain, those emotionally disturbed, or the elderly.

But did you know that you can have the assurance of eternal life?

The Bible includes many verses referring to the promise of eternal life, given to believers by Jesus Christ. He is not a fictional character, like The Eternals. He is God’s Son who gave his life–shed his blood–to pay the penalty for our sin.

The gift of Eternal life is available to all who put their faith in him.

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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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Dec 13

BEHOLD!

by Brenda Poulos

Ephesians 1:18-  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

It’s that time of year when we think of the Christmas Story. 

“BEHOLD” the angels sing.

It means more than just “look at, or observe.”

A deeper meaning is “to look intently at…”

Letting the eyes of our hearts be enlightened and focused on Jesus—who He IS and what He has DONE for us.

Scripture tells us we were made to BEHOLD Him.

The more we come to know Him through scripture, prayer and worship, the more we can truly do that.

As we decorate our tree, BEHOLD HIM.

As we wrap our gifts, BEHOLD HIM.

As we light our candles, BEHOLD HIM.

As we sing our carols, BEHOLD HIM.

As we eat our Christmas dinner, BEHOLD HIM.

As we read the Christmas story, BEHOLD HIM.

As we wash the dishes, box up the decorations for another year of storage, as we dispose of the tree and pack away the box of Christmas C.D.’s… Each and every day all year long,

LET US BEHOLD HIM!

As our King, our Creator, our Savior, our Provider and

OUR GOD.

I

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Dec 22

The Gift God Sent

by Brenda Poulos

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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.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend recently gave me this, author unknown. You may have seen, or heard, it before. I hope it blesses you, yet again…

                                                           GOD SENT US A SAVIOR

                                           If our greatest need had been information,

God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,

God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need would have been been money,

God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,

God would have sent us an entertainer.

But, our greatest need was forgiveness,

So God sent us a Savior.

Merry Christmas to you and thanks be to God who meets our greatest need.

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Oct 27

Hungry?

by Brenda Poulos

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John 6:35– “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

 

I pull up to a stoplight, my eyes scanning the intersection as I wait for it to turn green.

I notice a man on the corner holding a cardboard sign with one word: HUNGRY.

I roll down the window, motioning for him to approach my car and take the bill from my outstretched hand. To it I have clipped one word: JESUS and a Bible verse written in calligraphy.

John 6:35. 

Even though money may have met his immediate need, the verse says that with Jesus acknowledged as Savior and Lord, he need never experience spiritual hunger again.

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Sep 15

EXPUNGED

by Brenda Poulos

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Romans 6:6-  “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with…”

 

I recently received the good news that a person we’d been praying for for many years has accepted Jesus as his Savior—in a prison cell. 

I praise God for his new life in Christ—a life filled with new friends, interests, purpose.

Sam Adeyemi, Nigerian pastor and motivational speaker, has said,“Real and sustainable change in a person’s life begins with a change in their sense of identity.”    

There will be many changes ahead for our friend, but one of the greatest will be the realization that he is a child of God. That he is loved and forgiven.

The man he was before no longer exists. He is no longer defined by his mistakes… the laws he has broken… the people he has disappointed.

Those things are now a part of the past—a past that has been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus.

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Jan 21

Comfort–Even in the Shadows

by Brenda Poulos

 

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Psalm 23:4 – “ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”

 

My local church sends out a daily email. In it, members receive prayer needs within the “body,” praises, and other pertinent information.

At times, I am astounded as to the number of people who are ill, recuperating from surgeries, or have concerns for family members.

Sometimes the news is heart-wrenching—the passing of someone dear to all of us.

Are you walking thru the valley of the shadow of death?

Even though the support of friends and family is encouraging—and we are told in scripture that we need to uphold our brothers and sisters in prayer—isn’t it incredible to know that our Creator, Healer, and Savior is there for us when the shadow of death crosses our path or the path of someone we love?

God is there, walking the road with us. He knows the depths of pain and sorrow we are going through. He wants us to cling to Him, as He is ready, able, and willing to bring us peace, even in the face of otherwise overwhelming circumstances.

King David, who wrote Psalm 23, paints a beautiful word picture of what Christians can experience when we lean on the God of all comfort.

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