Month: July 2014

Reasons To Praise God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, God Cares For Us, Our Help comes from God, Praise, WorshipLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….

Psalm 30:11-12 (NCV)

11 You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness. 12 I will sing to you and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise you forever.

My Thoughts…..

I find it amazing how easy it is to pray in times of need or difficulty, for we can quickly drop to our knees pleading our case. However, I have to frequently remind myself to return to my prayer and say thank You, as I receive answers to my prayers. I am also amazed by the beauty of God’s creation, yet we gloat over it like it was something we had anything to do with, or that God had to provide it for us. Friends, I’m sure that you are like me in that we feel good inside when we hear our children say how thankful they are for something we may have done for them, or provided for them. Well, David has shown us in the Psalms that there are so many things that we can be thankful for, and that we should praise God for. Imagine for a moment being in a hospital bed in lots of pain, with a badly broken leg. What then can you praise God for, especially when you see everyone around you walking around on two healthy legs? Perhaps seeing a man pass by without any legs might open your eyes to some praise opportunities? I believe when we truly say like David that God has clothed us in happiness, and that we WILL praise Him forever – without any restrictions, then friend, I believe we will look for ways to praise God and worship Him!

 

Challenge……

Instead of being a needy people, let’s aim to be a praising people. Yes, we will always be a needy people, because we know that God can and will provide our needs, but please join me in always making ‘praise’ our priority. To take this one step further, let’s be a people of ‘praise’ even when our world around us seem to be collapsing upon us. Let’s commit ourselves to always praise God for the things that we know exists only because of His love and His power, and never feel forced into giving credit to ‘mother nature’ or the ‘man upstairs’. Remember, these are terms used by folk not wanting to ruffle the feathers of those that don’t believe in God. We believe in God, so let’s give credit where it belongs and let the chips fall where they may. God designed and made us; He controls the weather; He blesses us with jobs; He’s the One who blessed us with knowledge, so learn to praise Him, praise Him, and praise Him even more!

Prayer……

Lord Jesus, I’m sorry if I appear ungrateful at times, because I may not have found reason enough to praise You. I am so aware that it is You who made me and You who provide the ability for me to arise and enjoy each beautiful day. When You find reason to give us rain, who am I question or complain? When things seem so out of hand here on this earth, please help me to always look to You as the creator and designer of it all, therefore very capable of handling all that mere man may attempt to interfere in, or try to destroy. Lord, I praise You for just being my divine Savior and Lord, for being my God, my resurrected King and my Deliverer. I pray like David, that I will always find reasons to praise You forever! Please remind folk that may meditate on this devotional today the importance of praising You, even in their storms of life! I praise You and yet ask all this in Your most praise-worthy name, Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

Action…..

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP

Peace With God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Fruit of the Spirit, God Cares For Us, Holy Spirit, Love, Peace, Pleasing to GodLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….

Romans 5:1-5 (GNT)

Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory! 3We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4endurance brings God’s approval, and his approval creates hope. 5This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.

My Thoughts…..

These verses are so packed with good stuff, that it would take a long discourse to celebrate it all. For just a short devotional, I wanted to share a few words with you that I highlighted: a). “Put Right” – please notice that it didn’t say earned, or resulted from any good deed we did. We are put right because of our faith in God. I would highly recommend that we each examine ourselves and recall the day and place that we surrendered our heart to Jesus and placed our faith in Him alone. This is the ONLY WAY friend to be put right with God. b). “Peace” – when we have been ‘put right’ with God there will be an unexplained peace in our lives – peace in, and with God! c). “God’s grace” – can you even imagine that a sinner, filled with enmity towards God, could ever be allowed into His Grace. Friend, this is through ultimate, unselfish, immeasurable love of the Father for His children. I pray that you are experiencing that ‘Grace’ today! d). “The Hope” – as children of God we can boast of that ‘Hope’ that is ours to one day be with Jesus in glory at the right hand of the Father! Praise the name of Jesus! e). “Endurance” – it is so easy to praise the Lord when everything is going good for us, but often we struggle with this characteristic, especially when it seems like the world is against us. I was excited to note that this type of ‘endurance’ or ‘patience’ actually brings “God’s Approval” and this alone is worth the struggles and challenges we endure here on this earth. f). “His love” and “His Gift” – Think about this real good friend: because of our sin God had to send His Son to redeem us. Yet, when we accept Him as Lord, He pours out His love through the precious gift of His Holy Spirit. Wow, who has ever known such a love as that?

Challenge……

Don’t know about you friend, but there is much to celebrate in these verses today! My greatest caution to you is that you not fall into the temptation of wanting to do good, thinking that because you are not an evil person, then you must be a Christian. Friend, to enjoy the peace of God, you must be one of His children. To become a child of His involves a deliberate step by you. For you must humble yourself before Jesus and ask His forgiveness of your sin, and to accept you as His dearly beloved son/daughter. The life that follows is one of peace with God – everlasting peace! Jesus loves you a lot friend! Won’t you consider accepting Him as your Lord and Savior today? Please feel free to drop me a note by email if there is anything I can pray with you about. Jesus loves you, and so do I, friend!

Prayer……

Lord Jesus, thank You for providing the ultimate for us – the ways and means for us to know You as our Lord and Savior, and the promise of eternal life with You in heaven! You are awesome dear God! As I celebrate this today, I am concerned for several of my family members who do not reflect evidence of having accepted You as Lord. Father, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will convict them today, and that they would make a decision for You. I pray asking all this in Your wonderful and majestic name, Jesus my Lord, AMEN!

Action…..

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.

Confidence in Our Faith

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Encourage, Evangelism, FaithLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….

Romans 4:22-25 (NCV)

22 So, “God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.” 23 Those words (“God accepted Abraham’s faith”) were written not only for Abraham 24 but also for us. God will accept us also because we believe in the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 Jesus was given to die for our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.

My Thoughts…..

I believe that there must be folk who are struggling with confidence in their faith, because God got my attention when I read through this scripture, and even after evaluation and talking to God over the whole text written for me today, I was still directed back to these verses. Friends, I believe it is evident that verse 24 simply states that faith like Abraham had is simply us believing in God – the One who raised Jesus from the dead. Now, I also believe that if you ask most sensible folk on the street if they believe in God, they will say, but of course – that’s the only explanation for all that we see around us. So what is the difference between that kind of faith, and the kind referred to by Paul? This might explain – there was a gentleman who had confidence that he could easily walk a tight rope across the Niagara Falls, but one day he said that he would push a wheelbarrow across on the tight rope – with a person inside of it. There were a lot more people than normal who showed up to watch this new feat. A reporter walked around asking folk, who had seen him do similar feats in the past, if they believed the man was capable of this particular feat. Most of them reply positively, but when asked if they would volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow, there were a lot fewer who would agree! So did they really have faith that the man could successfully accomplish his challenge? To a degree perhaps, but they weren’t willing to put their life on the line for it! We have so much in our favor to support our faith in God, for there are so many examples in the Bible on the evidence of faith and all that it produced. Read the story of Abraham and how as a childless father, yet he became the father of many nations because of his ‘faith’. Moses stood at the edge of the Red Sea with thousands of followers behind him and when, through faith, he followed God’s instructions, he and his people saw a way paved for them where there was no other way. There are many more examples of faith in action friends. There is no need to doubt, just listen to God and ‘BELIEVE’!

Challenge……

Friends, I believe that you are living an unfulfilled life without faith. Let me explain – if you are doubting in your faith in God, how could you possibly show others the true wisdom, love and faith of the God that you serve? You must be firm in your faith in order to convince others that your faith, or your God, is real. Having this kind of faith is not just happen-chance. You must draw close to God and allow Him to draw close to you, friend. Meditate on His Word, and speak with Him regularly. Build and maintain a relationship with God so that you may know Him and trust Him in a personal way. When witnessing to a friend, your testimony is more valuable than gold. They may doubt what you share with them from the Old Testament, but when you tell them about what God has done in your life, how could they possibly question or doubt? So let me encourage you to meditate on those times where you have seen God at work in your life, then use them as memorials that you can reflect back on any time Satan comes knocking with his evil and deceptive ways. Also use these memorials when you speak with a friend about accepting the Lord, for these are personal, and although as real as the results we see in the Bible, they are spoken from a personal experience. This will strengthen your faith friend, and it will serve to strengthen the faith of your friends as you witness to them. As always, please ask God to miraculously work in and through you as you go out to be His witness.

Prayer……

Lord Jesus, there is so much evidence of Your existence, and Your handiwork, and Your mighty power, yet we doubt. Please forgive us for our lack of faith. I believe that it is impossible to win others to the kingdom, if we have trouble believing, or having little faith, in the One whom we are promoting. So Father, I come before You not telling You anything that is new to You, but simply asking that You might fill me with the confidence of Your mighty hand, Your powerful love and Your miraculous works. I pray that You may work on my most inner being to help me gain the faith that I need to be a better witness for You, especially to those in my circles who are dying and going to Hell because they may not have seen real evidence of a ‘real Christian’. Please help me to turn this around in my life, and as my friends meditate on this devotional today, I pray that You may invoke Your Holy Spirit to be very active in their minds so that they too may speak to You about the needs in their lives. Please bear with, and help, us to overcome the weaknesses in our lives, is my humble and heartfelt prayer that I ask in Your precious name, Lord Jesus, AMEN!

Action……

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.

Ready Your Heart for Worship!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Allegiance to the Lamb, Bible Believing, Born Again, Celebrate God, Christian, Follow Jesus, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, Love God, WorshipLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….

Psalm 24:3-6 (NCV)

3 Who may go up on the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy Temple? 4 Only those with clean hands and pure hearts, who have not worshiped idols, who have not made promises in the name of a false god. 5 They will receive a blessing from the Lord; the God who saves them will declare them right. 6 They try to follow God; they look to the God of Jacob for help.

My Thoughts…..

Praise God, His Word is filled with little ‘Nuggets’ that will bless our souls each time that we meditate on it. It is our source document for everything in this life. As we read it, there are certain things that God allows to just stand off the pages and ‘light us up’! Here’s what I got from this ‘Nugget’ referenced above: The question is being asked about who may approach God in His holy place – in His temple. The answer to this is no mystery. Our God is holy, long-suffering, loving and merciful. So who are we to approach Him in any other manner? Think about our worship services. The idea is that God’s people gather to praise Him for all that He has done for us during the past week; petition Him for needs that exist in our lives that, we feel, needs His powerful touch; and to learn from His Word in order that we may portray Him better and to gain strength and direction for the week ahead of us. The verses highlighted today explains how some people walk away from a church service just as empty as they walked in, and yet why some leave overwhelmed with God’s blessing in and through that service. Friends, it’s a matter of where our hearts are. In verse 6, we are told that the blessings were received because they ‘tried to follow God’!

Challenge……

Friends, in our marriages, in our homes, in our work and in our friendships, what we get back is often impacted by what we put into these things. The Psalmist helped me to see that I will be blessed when I ‘Try to follow God’. A doctor or an attorney who wants to be the best at their jobs will find themselves constantly in their books trying to keep up with latest laws or the latest developments in medical science. If we are truly trying to follow God, would it not appear that we should be students of THE Book in order to discern the heart and will of God? Would it not appear that we need to do more than just show up for a worship service, if we truly want to follow God and His teachings? I would dare say friend that we should be doing more than just showing up waiting for a bucket of blessings to be poured on us. I believe God would easily discern those of us that show up with: the Spirit of God very fresh in our spiritual lives; with thankful hearts ready to explode in worship and thanksgiving to God; and like a baby bird waiting for the return of the mother bird with food, God would also discern those of us that show up with a deep hunger to learn more of, and get a better understanding of, His precious Word. Perhaps then, we might approach His holy throne somewhat worthily and ready to worship Him and receive His blessing. Where’s your heart friend? Do you have a heart yearning for more of Jesus, so that you may become more like Him? Do you put effort into following God?

Prayer……

Heavenly Father, You made us to worship You and to be little ‘Christ’s’ so that we may win the world through our love and expression of faith in, and forgiveness by, Your Son Jesus. Lord, we take so much for granted and, many times many of us will just flippantly show up for a worship service assuming that the worship band might stir up a feeling in us, or the preacher might say something magnificent that might stir up something in us. Please forgive me for the times that I have been guilty of this. Unfortunately I received everything from that service that I put into it – nothing. Please give me an urgency and a desire to follow You, and to worship You, and to want to be in Your presence. To portray You in my life, I must be filled with Your Holy Spirit, please guide me in the way of Truth and give me a deeper desire to follow You in every walk of my life. I strongly feel like my friends will need something similar to this today also, please tender their hearts to Your Word so that It may do a powerful work in their lives and better prepare them for Your work. For I ask all this in the name of, and in respect and admiration of You, Oh Lord, my Rock and my redeemer, AMEN!

Action…..

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.

Jesus is All I Need!

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….
Psalm 23:1-3 (NCV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water. 3 He gives me new strength. He leads me on paths that are right for the good of his name.

My Thoughts…..
I found it amazing how God put together chapter 22 and 23 for me to meditate on the same day. Chapter 22 was devoted to David feeling abandoned and forsaken and like he did not have a friend in the world. This chapter, however, is pure satisfaction that God is all that he needed. Praise the Lord! God really got my attention on this though, because in a time when we just can’t seem to make enough money, find enough friends, buy everything we want and live like the ‘Jones’, yet the Psalmist reminds us that our true Shepherd, our Lord, Our Savior and our King is all we really need. In fact, He gives us peace and calm as we rest in His luscious and unswerving love and His selfless care for us. He gives us strength for each day and, through His Word and His messengers He leads us along paths that please Him. I also love the ending of verse 3, because it tells me that although I can gloat in my blessings, it is all for God’s pleasure and His good, and not for the purpose of anyone praising me or recognizing me as anybody any more special than any other child of the King. It’s all about You God, and I glory in that thought today!

Challenge……
Let me challenge you Brother and Sister to take time out today to find peace and comfort in knowing God more fully. Amidst all the storms of life, take time to really find Him and know that He is God. Allow Him to love on you and give you a warm calmness that can only come from Him. Then, as you recognize His greatness and the difference He makes in your life, just worship Him and give Him glory. Find peace in your Heavenly Father today friend! He loves you and wants to give you that peace and comfort in knowing Him.

Prayer……
Heavenly Father, thank You for the loving Father that You have become to me. Thank for using Your Word to yet again speak to my heart and give me the calm that I need today. Please help me each day to stop and glorify in You and all that You offer to me as Your child. I love You Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You, oh my Lord! I am blessed beyond measure and don’t really deserve a bit of it, but You bless me anyway. I feel like a King’s son, because I am blessed like royalty! Praise the name of the Lord! Please touch my friends today that struggle under the weight of all this world’s challenges. Please show them the calmness that You offer as their Savior and Lord. I ask all this in Your precious and Holy Name, AMEN!

Action…..
In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.

One Way!

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….

Romans 3:22-24, 28 (NCV)

22 God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: 23 Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, 24 and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ…… 28 A person is made right with God through faith, not through obeying the law.

My Thoughts…..

Today, a visitor to our country can follow all of its rules, but that will not make them a citizen of our country. That visitor must look into the laws of this country and determine what it takes to apply for citizenship. This is very similar to the requirements for getting into Heaven. God has laid out in His Word (the Bible) the simple requirements for becoming a Christian (a believer and follower of Jesus Christ – which comes with citizenship into Heaven). Following the laws that Old Testament Jews followed will not get you there. Following the laws of the New Testament disciples will not get you there. These verses highlighted today actually holds the key/secret/combination for one to gain access to Heaven. You see, God very quickly recognized that following the law and all the rituals passed on from generation to generation would only work for some folk, and since He clarified in John 3:16 that ANYONE who believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) His Son will receive eternal life in Heaven, He wanted Paul to clarify to the church that it is simply a matter of total surrender of self to God through faith in His Son – that’s the key to Heaven. No other way.

Challenge……

Having clarified the only way into Heaven and eternal life with Jesus, I must challenge each reader to answer a simple question to themselves, but with honesty before God: Have you personally asked Jesus for forgiveness of your sin and invited Him to be resident ruler and Lord of your life? Have you had the faith to do that, and the ongoing faith to believe that Jesus lives in, rules and directs your life? Please don’t base your decision on anything else, other than firsthand knowledge of a decision you personally made between you and Jesus. There is only One Way friend. Be confident that you can point to that one decisive point in your life when you made that vitally important decision. It will be helpful in your defense against Satan and his legions as they continue to attack and question your faith! Friends, you’ll not make a more important decision than this today, I assure you!

Prayer……

Lord Jesus, thank You for being considerate of ALL mankind when You established The Way into Heaven. Praise God that it does not involve anything that we can be, or do or own here on this earth. Thank You Father for loving us enough to sacrifice Your precious Son, even while we were yet sinners, to make The Way possible, The Way, for us to be one with You. I pray that today You might tender the hearts of my family and friends so that they might accept Your simple, yet powerful and awesome gift of eternal life – through faith in You as their Lord and Savior. Lord Jesus, I ask all this in Your worthy and powerful name. AMEN!

Action…..

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.

The Comfort and Security of Our God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

God’s Word Says….

Psalm 16:5-8 (GNT)

5You, Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. 6 How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are! 7 I praise the Lord, because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. 8 I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me.

My Thoughts…..

There are verses that speak to me in such a way that I print and post them on my PC screen, because I feel like they will uplift me and bless me on and on throughout the day as I reflect on them. This becomes extra special to me when I start to feel discouraged or disheartened in any way, because I then turn to those verses! These verses penned by David are ones that can have this effect on us. They can calm our restless and impatient minds, as we are reminded that our future is in God’s hands. They make us appreciative for what we have, and perhaps not so envious of what others have, because they teach us to thank God for the wonderful gifts He showers upon us. When we reach, what appears to be, roadblocks in our lives, these verses teach us to praise the Lord for guiding us and giving us a conscience to warn us. Finally, having a sense of God’s omnipresence gives us so much confidence that nothing could shake us. Friends, there is no god like our God!

Challenge……

Friends, the only way that these verses would mean anything to you, is if you are enjoying a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. You see, it is hard for you to believe anything I just said above, unless you have built a trust relationship with the same Savior of which I spoke. The good news is, that you can accept this Savior of mine right now! God created us in His image and for the purpose of glorifying Himself. There is nothing He would like more than to welcome you into His fold, and to love on you and care for you more than your earthly father could ever do. Please contact me if I can possibly pray with you about this very vital decision, and point you in the way to life everlasting with the Master of our universe. I would love to pray with you and for you! For those of you that know Jesus as your Savior, meditate on these words today and let’s worship Him for all that He blesses us with! He is an awesome God!

Prayer…

Thank You for Your Word dear Lord! Thank You for saints like David who shared his challenges, and the high points of his relationship with You. What a blessing! Please speak to the hearts of my readers that need a touch from You today, especially the touch of salvation. Please tender their hearts yet again, and lead them into a decision for You. Please encourage and bless Your saints as we daily seek to draw closer to You and best align our lives and our character with Yours. May others see Jesus in our walk and in our talk, all for Your ultimate glory! For I ask all this in the precious and holy name of Jesus, my Lord. AMEN!

Action……

In response to God leading You through this devotional today, please get with a Bible teaching Pastor you may know and allow him to guide you. Otherwise feel free to reply to my post online, or you may email me directly at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I will gladly add you to my prayer list, and/or respond to your request(s) ASAP.