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Never Changing

by Brenda Poulos

Hebrews 13:8– “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

My good friend, Jana, in the fourth grade often came to school crying. Her dad drank a lot, and when he did, his patience and demeanor changed. From day to day, she never knew “which dad he would be,” so she and her mother lived in constant fear.

Flowers, animals, and people grow. At certain times the changes can be breathtaking and wondrous. Others may not be positive changes at all! (Think about the stages teenagers go through!)

However, isn’t it good to know that our God remains the same, even though the world and everything in it changes?

His constancy means we can always rely on Him. His truths are not subject to whims or favoritism.

We can count on Him to always be there for us, to tell the truth (for He IS Truth), to guide us according to His plan for our lives.

He will always show us His unconditional love, for that is His very nature.

My prayer today is that He will continue to change me to be more and more like Him!

What Does the Cross Mean to You?

by Brenda Poulos

Isaiah 53:10- “It was the Lord’s will to crush Him.”

I have a “coffee table” book that I keep out and enjoy all year long, even though written with the “Easter Season” in mind.

Entitled, The Cross, author Max Lucado has done a phenomenal job with both the written and the pictorial presentation of the cross through the ages.

I agree with his statement that “No other image (in all of history) evokes such emotion.”

Compiled and published in 1998, it stirs my heart each and every time I read it.

On the cross, our creator and savior sacrificed himself for His creation. It was no accident. It was God’s plan… His choice… His will.

It was intentional and voluntary. An act of Grace. His plan of redemption.

John the Baptist called Jesus “The Lamb of God.” I call Him my Savior.

What does The Cross mean to you?

***Note, I will be taking the next 2-3 weeks to work on a home renovation. I will return to the keyboard the first of April. Easter Blessings, everyone!

Exploring the Question of “Works”

by Brenda Poulos

James 2:26- “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

In my mid-thirties, my local church began a series of sermons on different religions of the world. I learned what their teachings were, countries where each religion was most prevalent, and so on.

I was astounded by the number of religions who taught that “works” (doing good things) was the way to heaven. Yet, I’d always been taught that it was faith in Jesus Christ—and him alone—that was required for salvation.

I was confused and went to the Bible for answers. The book of James offered a clear explanation. Faith in Jesus must come first; then works are done as a result of the working of our faith within us.

A living, active faith is shown outwardly in works. So, there was the truth: We are not saved by works. We are saved for works.

James is a short book packed full of practical applications for living the victorious Christian life.

If you are struggling with the questions of salvation in your own life, may I recommend that you open your Bible to the book of James and let God lead you to His answer for you?

He Hears

by Brenda Poulos

I John 5:14- “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

From time to time, I like to read historical fiction.

The main character in a book I read recently wrote faithfully each month to her fiancé during the war—even though she never got confirmation that he’d received her letters.

I thought of how comforting it is that Christians are assured of God hearing our prayers. He is concerned with our day-to-day lives, providing for our needs and guiding our steps.

We don’t have to worry about Him hearing us. His Word is truth and it assures us this is so.

God Knows the Future

by Brenda Poulos

James 1:5- “ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

I heard that an acquaintance of mine had become immersed in the practice of Numerology. Until today, I knew nothing more about it than it was somehow linked to the Occult.

Concerned for her spiritual well-being, I looked for information about this practice and consulted scripture for guidance in talking to her about it.

Here is a little of what I found. I include it here because the Bible warns us about such things. Please don’t get involved in this.

Numerology is defined as the use of numbers to interpret a person’s character or to divine the future (fortune telling).

There are different kinds of numerology:

Gemantria assigns numbers to each letter in the Hebrew alphabet in order to reveal a deeper or hidden meaning in words.

Other systems assign numerical value to the letters in one’s name, birthplace, etc. The totals are believed to have special symbolic interpretations.

Modern numerology was developed by Cheiro, a fortune teller who developed a system of “fadic” numbers by adding together certain numbers to produce a “number of destiny.”

The Bible tells us to reject all forms of fortunetelling, horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, and so on.

“…Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11: 14, 15.

You can read in Acts 16 about a fortune teller who was able to predict the future until the apostle Paul rebuked a demon out of her.

Practices like numerology and horoscopes may appear innocent at first, but soon people can get addicted to psychics and unwittingly allow Satan to control and destroy their lives.

Peter proclaimed in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Study the scriptures and God will reveal the Truth.

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The Torn Veil

by Brenda Poulos

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

With movie theaters closed, many of us are watching movies at home on our televisions. Some are new releases. Some are old classics.

One such well-known movie is The Godfather.

The screenwriter used a number of ways to build the character’s (Vito Corleone, the crime boss and head of the “family”) importance.

One of them was to show that Vito was inaccessible but to only a few select people. Those who wanted to talk with him, had to go through an enforcer, first—each and every time.

I thought about this as I read my morning devotional and spent time in prayer with God.

Amazing as it is, The God of the universe is totally accessible to Christians.

There is no title we must have. No secret knock. No certain time of day that He is to be approached.

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn. Access to the Holy of Holies was given to believers.

We don’t need to go through an intercessor, or enforcer. We can talk with Him anytime we’d like.

Because once we come to the Father through Jesus Christ, His forgiveness of our sins makes a relationship with Him possible.

The Master of “Fake” News

by Brenda Poulos

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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Every time I turn on the television, I am bombarded with what we have come to call “fake news”: The President did this or that, a famous person died, someone was secretly married, and so on. Often, we find out the story was totally fabricated.

Some of the lies are fairly easy to spot, but others are more difficult to discern.

Satan is the master of lies, the Bible tells us. And, the lies he wants us to believe are those that affect our eternal lives.

Here are just two examples of his lies that mean the difference between life and death:

The first lie is that there are many ways to get to Heaven.

Oh, it sounds good to some people who want to believe that no one religion or group has all the answers. It may sound plausible to them that as long as we are sincere and do our best, it will turn out well for us in the end.

But, the Bible says that Jesus is the only way to salvation.

Secondly, Satan wants you to think that as long as you believe in something, it’s okay.

But, God’s word says in Acts 4:12- “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” And, in 1 Timothy 2:5. it says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The Bible is not fake news, a scam or a lie.

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD AND ONE WAY TO GET TO HIM. It is THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ALONE.

THE WARNING SIGNS

by Brenda Poulos

3715551997_0da0e44447 Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

In many states, over the past couple of years, there has been an overwhelming number of wrong way drivers.

Serious accidents and many deaths have been attributed to failure to heed the warning signs.

Some of these drivers were impaired by drugs, alcohol, or lack of adequate sleep, but many say they really thought that they were entering the freeway, correctly.

Signs were posted. They just didn’t read them.

As a result, some died.

There are many books about what the authors believe is TRUTH about the future and eternity. Most of them aren’t trying to lead others astray. The vast majority feel what they are writing is true. In fact, they are zealous in their efforts to impart their knowledge to others.

However, only the Bible is the authentic Word of God. If you want direction, you need look no further.

Heed the signs…the warnings within its pages.

Nothing can be more important than the future of your eternal soul.

I’ve heard people say they wish life came with a set of instructions.

It does.

It’s called THE BIBLE.

BELIEVE

by Brenda Poulos

Mark 11:23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain,’Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but Believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.

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Believe.

I see this word on bumper stickers, jewelry, greeting cards, wall decor, and T-shirts.

It seems society has embraced it.

But, what does it really mean?

Believe in who?

Believe in what?

Believe in oneself?

Believe in the power within?

Believe in God?

I have a picture hanging in my home office, with simply “Believe” written in script.

It tells me that I can do it…achieve it…

But, I realize it is not me alone that makes anything happen in my personal life or my career.

It is God who leads me.

It is God who empowers me.

It is God who gives me the skills necessary to achieve.

But, it means still more.

To me, it is a reminder that I believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that I have eternal life through Him.

John 20:31 but these are written, that you may Believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing

you may have life in his name.

It IS important to have confidence in oneself…if that confidence comes from God.

It IS important to have a “can do” attitude…if one realizes that their giftedness comes from our Creator.

It IS important to have faith…if it is in God.

We can have every confidence in Him.

For it is in Him WHO IS TRUTH that we have the power to BELIEVE.