Month: January 2016

Don’t Miss God’s Goodness

On By Ed AlgreenIn God's Goodness, ThankfulLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Psalm 73:1-5
Today’s Bible Text: No doubt about it! God is good – good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
The Bible Translation: The Contemporary English Version (CEV)

My Take Away: I find life so interesting sometimes, for those who have – wish they had more, and they may even say that THEN they would be happier. For those who don’t have, they may look at those who seem to have material things as ones who are ‘blessed of God’. We have to be careful that we don’t get hung up on this friends, because when we do, we may very easily overlook what God has truly blessed us with. The Psalmist was caught in this trap, for he was looking at the blessings of others and feeling sorry for himself, like he was not blessed at all, just because he didn’t have what they had. It is truly amazing how spoiled we have become! If it rains, we have fewer people in church. Can you think about how blessed we are to have an automobile that can take us to church – dry from the outdoor weather! Can you imagine what our ancestors did who either walked or rode a horse to church, if they were blessed enough to have a horse? Think about us cancelling a church service because the air-conditioning may not be working! Would anyone show up if we planned a tent meeting? Friends, we must never place ourselves in the shoes of another man or woman, for we are rich in God’s blessings just as we are. Unless we center our thoughts on God, and recognize Him as the author of all things around us, we could very easily walk around in this world feeling deprived of God’s goodness – His blessings. Consider the air that you breathed in this morning, the ability to stand up and walk, the ability to see what you are doing, the love of family and friends that surround you, the comfort of your home – even if it is not as palatial as the mansion bragged about by a friend at work. Friends, without any worldly belongings, still we are blessed of God. Can we learn to praise Him for His awesome goodness to us, no matter what state we may find ourselves in? Let’s not overlook the goodness of God to us individually – in spite of what we see going on around us. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord of your life, then because He is King of all kings and Lord of all lords, that makes you an heir to His throne – you are a prince or princess – royalty! It just don’t get any better than that, and it all happens without even qualifying for a bank account!! Trust on the Lord friend, with all your heart, soul and mind, and prepare yourselves for the royal treatment! Read my ‘Footnote’ below if you have yet to surrender your life to Jesus. He is waiting and longing to hear from you!

Prayer: Lord, You are good and Your mercy endureth forever! How can we say thanks in enough ways to show our appreciation and gratitude to You for all that You do everyday for us? Please forgive those that You have created, those that You have blessed, those that You watch over and provide for everyday, for the times that we whine and complain because it may appear to us that a Brother or a Sister may show evidence of being blessed more than us. Wow, what an ungrateful bunch we are oh God. Please be patient with us while we come to our senses and recognize all of Your goodness towards us. May we seek and find reasons to praise You everyday for Your goodness oh Lord. May we truly recognize the Potter and how good You are to those You have molded in Your image. With a grateful heart, I give You thanks oh God. May You be praised today by a multitude of thankful people who recognize your goodness, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

A Prayer For Our Leader and People

On By Ed AlgreenIn King, Leader, Prayer, President, RighteousnessLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Psalm 72:1-5
Today’s Bible Text: Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God; share with him your own justice, so that he will rule over your people with justice and govern the oppressed with righteousness. May the land enjoy prosperity; may it experience righteousness. May the king judge the poor fairly; may he help the needy
and defeat their oppressors. May your people worship you as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon gives light, for ages to come.
The Bible Translation: The Good News Translation (GNT)

My Take Away: With this being a year of election for my country to elect a new president, I believe that while we must be diligent to vote for the one God directs us to as our next leader, we must also be diligent to read God’s Word about what is expected of us (Christians) before, during and after our elections. For interspersed throughout God’s Word we are cautioned in each of these areas. In this scripture today, King David is praying for the Israelites’ new king, his son Solomon. I believe that if we take note of David’s prayer, and acknowledge that God had very good intentions and reasons for placing this prayer as part of His Word, and endeavor to pray similarly for our leader, then perhaps our people will humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face. Watch how this prayer is all about our leader and us, being more like God and placing Him in His place over us. David prayed:

  • That the king would judge with ‘righteousness’;
  • That he would rule/govern with the same justice and ‘righteousness’ experienced from God, especially to the poor and oppressed;
  • That as a result of the above the people would enjoy prosperity and ‘righteousness’;
  • That the king would judge the poor fairly and be willing to stand up to the oppressors;
  • That the people would never fail to worship God today and all the days to come.

Friends, as children of God, I believe we are called to be living witnesses of what our God expects of us. I have just listed some ways that we are taught to pray for our leader and for our people. What do you suppose would happen to our country if Christians chose to pray like God expects of us, and to do it on a regular basis? Let’s remember this year that we are called to be Christ followers first. Let’s not get so carried away with worldly politics that the unsaved lose total recognition to whom we truly belong. The unsaved is looking for what God has done in our lives, not how little difference there is between us and the world. We are to be ‘light’ in this world of ‘darkness’. Please example, teach and preach the Word of God, even during a time when the world around us is so caught up in, what often turns out to be, the hatred and evil of politics. Please remember that God loves all of his children, not just us and our look-a-likes!

Prayer: Lord God, may Your people be Your faithful and true people even during a very passionate time of placing what we believe to be the right person in leadership over our country. May we be so faithful in prayer, trying to ensure that we hear your voice clearly, that we will not have time to step into the filth and ugliness of earthly politics. We are Your ambassadors looking to win as many to the kingdom as possible. May we not lose sight of that mission in things we say, write or portray, especially this year. You loved us in spite of our sin, may we in turn, show that same love to all Your children, by staying on mission for You, and not allowing the political views of the world around us to divide us from, or distract us in, our mission for You. I ask these things in love and because I want You to be foremost in our lives at all times, Lord Jesus, even during a year of elections. AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

You Can Do This!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Confidence, Guidance, Provider, StrengthLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Philippians 4:11-13
Today’s Bible Text: I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: I found it interesting to visit another country and see how people made the most out of circumstances that many of us may tend to moan and complain about. This was evident in:

  • The food we ate – simple, yet filling and nourishing. May not have been steaks or ribs, but none-the-less we never went to bed hungry;
  • The kids and their toys – they were just as happy kicking around a plastic bottle, as our kids are with the best football. In fact, they were probably happier than our kids because there was no jealousy about the nice ball brought by the rich kids, as they all were on the same ‘level playing field’;
  • No whining or complaining – we never heard them complain about their circumstances or their plight. They were happy, respectable, hard working and looked out for each other.

Unfortunately in today’s society, it is not until we have lost everything that we tend to look to accept help from a neighbor or receive help from them. It’s not until our world comes crashing down that we look to God. Our churches are normally full after a large scale disaster. We tend to look to God when we know that life is out of our control, instead of recognizing that He is always in control of our lives each and every day. Paul spoke these words as one who had been there and done that, for he had been beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, gone without food and more, yet he was able to add the tag that he could do everything that God asked him to do because of the power and strength that Christ blessed Him with at every turn in his life. Friends, this is the same awesome God that I know. The same outstanding God that is yours, if you have given Him permission to be your God. The same loving God that will be your God if only you will humble yourself and invite Jesus into your heart and your life. With God in control, we can do this thing called ‘life’, without ever looking at our circumstances, because we will realize and accept that all that He does for His loving children is done out of love and done to draw us closer to Him. You can do this friend! What are you waiting for? Read my ‘Footnote’ for a clearer understanding of how you might go about inviting Jesus to be the Lord of your life. He really loves you friend, and He really wants to be your God!

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for loving us so much that You gave, so that we might live eternally with You. Thank You for drawing me to Your throne of grace and mercy, and for accepting me as Your very own Son. I realize that when I complain about life’s circumstances I am really questioning Your handiwork. Please forgive me, and help me to always look at the love You offer to me every day and in so many ways. Please draw my unsaved family and friends to Yourself today. Please especially touch the lives of those who will read this devotional today, with Your love and Your power. Please cause them to make decisions today that will draw them to yourself. Please be a constant reminder to us that we can do all things You ask of us through Christ who is our strength, guide, protection and provider. I ask these things in the loving name of Jesus, and for His sake alone, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Fill Your Minds With……..

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bless Others, The Mind of ChristLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Philippians 4:8
The Bible Text: …. Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: When a cup is filled with water, it replaces the air that the cup was filled with. When leaving your child at college, and you’re pulling out to head back home, what are some the last minute things that you tell your child? Paul was about to leave his brothers and sisters at Philippi, and he didn’t want them to fall back into the condition that he had found them when he first visited with them, so he was coaching them on how they might stay strong in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine how the pastor who led you to the Lord would feel if he chose to leave your town and move elsewhere in the country? Don’t you know that he would have some wise words of wisdom for you? I believe that God got my attention in reading about Paul’s words to his people, because these are included in the Word of God for my benefit. God knows that I needed to hear this today, and I am sharing this with you, because I feel like God wants you to hear this. So friends, may I therefore encourage you to displace everything ungodly in your mind with these things:

  • Those things that are true;
  • Those things that are good;
  • Those things that are right;
  • Think about things that are pure, and lovely;
  • Dwell continually on the fine, and good things in others. Even in those that you have never been able to get along with;
  • Be diligent about looking for things you can praise God for; and
  • Be glad in all things because of the love of God for even you.

And the God of all grace will be with you dear friends, even until the end of time!

Prayer: Thank You Lord, for Your blessings on me! As I sing that song over and over in my mind Lord, I realize how blessed I am to be Your child and to be the recipient of Your boundless grace. These words of encouragement from Paul reminds me that the minds of Your chosen people should be filled with the bounties that You generously pour out on us. When this happens Lord, then our thoughts and our actions will follow our mindset and therefore cause us to be a blessing to others. In doing this, there will be no time or reason for saying or doing those things that tend to destroy and tear down the work that You need to do among Your people. Please soften our hearts and our minds so that we might seek Your face and not Your hand, as we always tend to do. I believe that Your work here on earth will be richer if we reflect Jesus in our lives. Please grant this today dear Lord, for I ask this in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Stay Focused On The Goal

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accountability, Focused on the GoalLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Philippians 3:12-14
The Bible Text: I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: Although our scripture quoted above are the words of Paul, I will seek my Master for strength to live out that same goal in my life! Will you commit to keep your eye on the goal of eternity with Jesus, friend, and will you go public with your goal? I know that some will think that we can’t do this, because it may come across as bragging, or proud, or better than most. Friends, may I encourage you to not listen to the excuses Satan will place in your mind about this. If you aim for nothing, that’s exactly what you will achieve. I would encourage you to go even one step further: instead of just sharing your goal with others, go on to use even more of Paul’s tactics. Later in this same chapter, Paul told his followers that they should follow him. Now before you criticize Paul, I want you to think of the impact of that statement. For he never wanted to hear or see his followers pointing fingers at him for preaching one thing, but doing another. This is called ‘accountability’. It reminds me of Christians who refuse to place a Christian based bumper sticker on their vehicle, because they don’t want the driver behind them to hold them accountable for their actions – speeding, passing on a solid line, pointing fingers at a driver that made a mistake, etc. Fellow Brothers and Sisters, it is time that the public recognizes from our actions who our Master, Provider, Deliverer, Director and Example is. God not only has the power to save us from our sins, promise us a mansion in His dwelling place (heaven), love us unconditionally, and much more, but He also grants us the desires of our heart, especially our desire to walk, talk and act like Him before an unsaved generation. However, our God is a perfect gentleman and He will not just dump all this on us without our permission. If you are tired of your life of sin, ask Him to forgive you and accept you into His kingdom. If you desire a closer walk with Him, talk to your Father and ask for His guidance. If you desire to ‘stay on track’ daily in your walk with the Lord, don’t think for a moment that it will be easy and that you could handle that on your own. Seek the face of Jesus, plead your case to Him and accept His outstretched hand that is filled with mercy, direction and power to lead, direct and guide you through every circumstance of life. He will help you reach your goal, if you have one, but you must ask Him and allow Him to help you. Paul was specially blessed of God, but so can we also be blessed friends, for we are children of the same God – the King of all kings!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for living out such an example of purity and obedience in Your life here on this earth. Thank You for the grace that You gave to Your servant, Paul. Just as You totally turned his life around, and just as You gave Him the power to live his life dedicated to You, I pray that You would also do that again in the lives of my readers and I who are focusing on the goal – our life with You and the Father in glory! Thank You for grace! Thank You for mercy! Thank You for the assurance of our future home with You! This is way too exciting to keep all bottled up inside, may we share our joy with others today and be accountable for the life we claim in You. These things I ask in the name of Jesus, and for His ultimate glory, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

The Value of Knowing Jesus

On By Ed AlgreenIn Know Jesus, SalvationLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Philippians 3:8-9
The Bible Text: Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: I love the illustration Paul used to show how much he valued the relationship he had with the God of this universe. A few months ago my family and  had the daunting task of moving out of our home of 27 years into a much smaller accommodation. We had to evaluate all of our earthly possessions to conclude that each item either: 1). Must go with us – meaning we had to find space for it in our smaller accommodation, or 2). We would hold on to the item in storage until we decide if we would ever need it, or are willing to dispose of it, or 3). We could no longer see a need to hang on to the item, and were willing to sell it or give it away. Think about that, together with the mindset of Paul, who was once a valuable resource to earthly kings and nobles, because of his readiness to destroy anything or anyone attributing its value to Jesus Christ. What Paul did could be likened to the example given above about my personal experience, dumping everything we once had, and starting from scratch. Paul did this in giving his total allegiance to Jesus Christ, without the possibility of any interference from anything he may have owned in his past. Paul said that he ‘dumped it all in the trash, so that he could fully embrace the unencumbered grace of Christ’. Friends, it was not until my family and I came to the place that we realized that our earthly belongings was merely ‘stuff’, and added no value to our eternal destination, that we were able to commit to our move. Paul is teaching us in this passage that it is not until we are willing to make Jesus the primary focus in our lives, that we would truly embrace Him and be embraced by Him. Jesus went to the cross with only the wrappings around His body, but He did it because of Him supernatural love for us, and to provide the means for the forgiveness of our sin. How much are you willing to sacrifice today to truly enhance your relationship with such a Savior as this?

Prayer: Jesus, You are my King – my soon coming King! Thank You for humbly following the Master’s will, to prove Your love for myself and all mankind who would choose You as the focus of our lives. You gave it all for us oh Lord. Please use this reminder by Paul to help us examine our motives and our intentions. Whether we choose to publicize our decision like Paul did, or whether we commit one-on-one with You, I pray that at the end of the day we will reflect back on the decision we made. Each day we make decisions, some are very deliberate and very firm, while others are simply made by doing nothing at all and being satisfied with status-quo. Touch Your children today oh God and cause them to deliberately make decisions that will draw them to Yourself and to a glorious promise of one day being with You in heaven. I love You Lord and I thank You for first loving me beyond my wildest imagination. These things I ask in the name of Jesus, the Christ, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Our God Reigns!

On By Ed AlgreenIn King, Ruler, SaviorLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: John 3:27-30
The Bible Text: John replied: No one can do anything unless God in heaven allows it. You surely remember how I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am only the one sent ahead of him. At a wedding the groom is the one  who gets married. The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom’s voice. That’s why I am so glad. Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.
The Bible Translation: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

My Take Away: John’s disciples were rather indignant that the crowds who once followed John, were now hot on the trail of Jesus. However, John quickly reminded his followers that he was only sent as the precursor, the one who would prepare the hearts of the people for the Messiah. And that whenever He came, that his ministry (John’s) would decrease as Jesus became known to the people. This made me think of ministry today, for we often attribute the success of the church to the pastor, or the music minister, or something other than God. I heard of a great preacher from our past who, while preaching, had a team of prayer warriors in the church basement praying for God to soften hardened hearts and impact lives while the gospel was being proclaimed. That church was especially successful in ministry, but I believe that we will hear Jesus say that it was more because of the people praying, than the preacher who tried hard to proclaim the Word of God in a form that would touch lives for the Creator. I believe that churches that succeed in ministry today, are those who lift up the name of Jesus, and who give Jesus full charge of their church. Logically speaking, I believe we can safely say that church attendees will only see Jesus when they hear the Sunday School teacher talk more about Jesus than anything else. When the Music Minister clearly gives control of the praise and worship time to Jesus and that the lyrics declare Jesus more than anything else. When the preacher concentrates on the Word of God and does his very best to apply Biblical principles to everything that members face, and struggle with today. When invitations are given to accept Jesus, more than to join the church. When giving is tied to Biblical principles more than the wants of the church leaders for bigger buildings or more comfortable pews. Friends, I believe by now you are probably getting the picture. This Christian life, and the ministry of the Christian church, is more about God than anything else. We must decrease – the church, its leaders, its members, its followers. Jesus must be promoted and/or increased. Then, perhaps there may be a breakthrough for unbelievers who are searching, and then perhaps, the eyes of church attendees looking for answers to life’s challenges might be opened. It’s not about us friend. It’s all about our Savior who sacrificed His life just for us, and for those we think that we can minister to. Let’s give the reins back to God friends.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for allowing Your humble servant to mix with others and proclaim Your praises in many different ways. Please touch my life that I will never promote self for any achievements of my own, but to give You full charge over all that I say and do. Lord may You be lifted up in everything that my readers and I attempt today. May it be obvious that our lives are all about You, and that it’s only because of Your grace that we can even claim You as Lord. Father, there are many in our circles that need to know You as Lord, may they be inspired by our actions and/or our words to reach out to the Savior that we know, and have surrendered to. We want You to rule and reign in our lives, our families, our churches and our workplaces so that You may touch lives of individuals that we touch. We love You Lord, we lift up our voices to You, we claim You as Lord, and we ask our deepest desires in the name of Jesus, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

How To Be Pure and Innocent Children of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Humble, Innocent, Obedient, PurityLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Philippians 2:13-16
The Bible Text: God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life.
The Bible Translation: The Contemporary English Version (CEV)

My Take Away: Friends, there’s some powerful stuff packed into these few verses that Paul is sharing with the church at Philippi, and that God has placed in His Word to get our attention today. Let us concentrate on a few of these things and be encouraged by them:

  • God is working inside of us to make us willing, and able to obey Him – This is so powerful, because we tend to often worry that we could never withstand the temptations of the evil one working through his earthly agents. Notice how very right we are in thinking that way? Paul reminds us that it is only God that can help us with that. It is God that we must look to for strength, direction and power to overcome the evil one. I believe that it is incumbent upon us to seek God’s face and surrender our will to His. Let Him do His work in us. That’s the only way that we will stand a chance in this old wicked and perverse world.
  • Do everything without grumbling and complaining – I am ashamed at how much I grumble and complain. Generally, I am a very positive person, but friends, you and I can do a whole lot better than we are doing, if only we will place our total faith and trust in God and consider it all joy when things are not necessarily going the way that pleases us. It’s not about us. It’s all about what pleases our God. Many times our wishes are very selfish, God’s ways will lead a person to the cross of Calvary where they may be saved. His ways will correct a person’s ways so that they might be better identified, or recognized as His child, so that the lost might see and believe. We grumble and complain because things are not being done to our liking or the way of our selfish will. Take note of the subject again, and remind yourself that we are to be pure and innocent children of God. It is for His glory and His honor, and it is God who will receive praise when His children obey Him.
  • Although living among evil and perverse people, we must stay away from things they think is wrong – This one really caught my eye, but then I suppose that if the world thinks something is wrong, imagine how wrong it must really be in God’s eyes! I realize this means that the world probably has us ‘in a box’ and that they are examining our every move. But friends, hopefully this means that they have a perfect image of God, and therefore they are looking for perfection in those of us who claim to represent Him.
  • Be a bright and shining light in a dark world – Unless the world sees something different about us, why would they follow us to the cross? They may as well follow their other friend that has no hope at all.

I believe that unless we depend on God, and personally strive to be obedient to His will for our lives, we will never be pure and innocent children before God, nor before the wicked world in which we live. If it’s to be, it’s up to you, friend.

Prayer: Just as we strive to see perfection in our children, Father I believe that Your desire is to see Your children aim towards perfection in following Your will and Your way before a lost and dying world. There’s so much to be done before this world will truly see, submit to, accept and follow the ways of our Master. However, with Your grace dear Father, and with Your help, I believe that the process can begin by us agreeing to be Your hands, Your feet, Your witness and Your innocent representatives. Please have Your will and way in our lives today Oh Lord, beginning with me. I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, and for Your sake Oh Lord, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

How To Avoid Obstacles to Prayer

On By Ed AlgreenIn Humility, Prayer, WorthinessLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Psalm 66:16-20
The Bible Text: All you people who worship God, come and I will tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him for help, and I praised him. If I had been hiding sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me. But God did listen to me; he heard my prayer. Praise God! He did not turn away from me—he listened to my prayer. He continues to show his love to me!
The Bible Translation: Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

My Take Away: I believe it is obvious from this Psalm that David is sharing with us the secrets to successful prayer and the obstacles that might prevent answers to prayer. Here’s a few things that I believe comes through in this passage today:

  • You must know, and have a relationship with the One you are praying to – If you don’t why do you suppose you would ‘cry out’ to someone you don’t even know? Why would you offer up praise to someone you don’t know? How would you know that they deserve your praise? Jesus said that His sheep knows Him and He knows them by name. That’s relationship, friend!
  • Clear any sin from your heart – Jesus said that we should take the plank out of our own eye before praying for the speck in your friend’s eye. David said in these verses that God would not even listen if you were trying to cover up sin that’s in your heart. Remember, God’s Holy Spirit will not reside where sin resides. He and sin cannot co-exist. We must seek forgiveness of sin, invite Jesus to reside in sin’s place, then we would have relationship with Him and be able to pray to Him.

Praise God for who He is, and His importance in your life – The world will show you all that could be better in your life – according to their principles. God says that when you acknowledge Him, worship Him, praise Him and seek His face, then He will hear from heaven, supply  your needs and heal your land! There is such power in knowing God and having a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus!

I believe it is safe to say, with confirmation from God’s Word, that anytime we feel like our prayers are not being attended to, we need to look for the ‘filter’ that is blocking our prayers from reaching the throne of grace. Let’s clear the cobwebs, the sin that separates us from God, so that we may hear from Him and receive His blessings.

Prayer: Lord, who are we that we could even come before Your throne of grace and seek Your face? You are so worthy, and we are so needy. Please help us to never get that order confused, so that we could always humble ourselves before You, worship You, seek Your face and praise You before we ever look for Your outstretched hand to meet our needs. Please forgive us for having approached your throne in an unworthy fashion. Please give us boldness and humbleness to always come before You as Your children and Your servants. You oh Lord are worthy. Please forgive us of our unworthiness so that we may bring our petitions before You oh Lord. I ask these things in greatest humility, and in the name of Jesus, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

The Reason I Live

On By Ed AlgreenIn Evangelize, Living with purpose, PurposeLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

The Bible Reference: Philippians 1:20-24
The Bible Text: 20 For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that will cause me to be ashamed of myself but that I will always be ready to speak out boldly for Christ while I am going through all these trials here, just as I have in the past; and that I will always be an honor to Christ, whether I live or whether I must die. 21 For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying—well, that’s better yet! 22 But if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better, to live or die! 23 Sometimes I want to live, and at other times I don’t, for I long to go and be with Christ. How much happier for me than being here! 24 But the fact is that I can be of more help to you by staying!
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: Of special note regarding this scripture: Paul is in prison at the time of this writing! So if Paul has the fortitude and determination to live so that He could do more of the Master’s work, even from within four prison walls, how much more those of us who are ‘free’ should be striving to do the Master’s work? Friends, we whine and we complain about so much, but do we should really have the heart of Jesus, or of Paul, in wanting to see as many won to the Lord as possible? In the above scripture, I bolded a few sentences that, I believe, is worthy of note:

  • Living means opportunities for Christ – it is only while we have breath in our bodies that we can be witnesses for the Lord, or care about sinners. Let’s not wait any longer friends, we’re on the winning side and it is our responsibility to share the Good News of our Savior and Lord;
  • Living will give more opportunities to win people to Christ – Often we will find that it’s the threat of impending death that gives us incentive to share the love of Christ that lives inside of us. Please allow me to awaken  you to the fact that we have no assurances about the next minute. The moment of opportunity is the present. Please share the love of Christ who lives inside of you with all that you care about and/or come into contact with today!
  • I can be of more help to you by staying – Only Jesus Christ has power beyond the grave. He is allowing us to remain here on earth so that we can glorify Him and spread the Good News about the Savior who loved us enough to die for us. In a nutshell friend, this is our mission!

Friends, we remain on this earth to be shining examples of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s not about politics, gossip, sports, the lotto or any other purpose, so make it known to everyone you know that the reason you live is to represent Jesus, and to evangelize the lost, before it is eternally too late.

Prayer: The reason that I live is …….. Lord, as we complete that sentence today in humility and prayer before You, I ask that You will take those completed sentences and correct any misgivings about our mission, compared to the one You have assigned to us. I am pretty convinced that our mission is similar in nature to what Paul shared with the Philippians, because throughout Your Word we are told the importance of surrendering our lives to You, so that we, in turn, may be a blessing to others and convince them of their need for our Savior. Please work on us today and guide us to do Your perfect will, is my sincere and humble plea. For it’s in Your beautiful and bountiful name that I ask all this, dear Jesus, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016