Always Be Open To Share

On 2016-06-182016-06-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Obedience, Obedient, Share, Share God’s Word, WitnessLeave 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: Acts 8:27–31
Today’s Bible Text: ²⁷ …… The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” ³⁰ Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: Isn’t it interesting how we can usually place enough reasons in our mind to not do something we feel prompted to do? We may need to call someone, but we fill our heads with excuses on why we should delay, or perhaps not call at all. The same for visitation – we can quickly fill our heads with excuses of why this may not be an opportune time to visit, or why the person may not appreciate you coming by at all. Phillip had every reason to doubt the Holy Spirit’s instructions to him. The eunuch was from the Queen’s palace – and surely he will want nothing to do with just a local Christian fellow wanting to teach the gospel or be a witness, right? Think also about the fact that the eunuch was just returning from Jerusalem where he went to worship. Now surely the Holy Spirit would not want you to go and be a witness to a church goer! After all he’s probably a Christian already, seeing that he went out of his way to go such a distance just to worship! Then, of course, there is probably the usual excuses of being afraid that you may be asked a question you can’t answer, or you will probably stammer over your words in nervousness. But isn’t it interesting that Philip did exactly what he was instructed, without finding all of the usual excuses, and of course, the story reveals that it was a very timely visit, that ultimately led to the conversion of the eunuch. I wonder how many opportunities we miss because of our many excuses that we tend to place in the way of God’s urging, and nudging for us to be a witness. God had this whole encounter with Philip and the Eunuch ordained for His purpose. I believe there are similar encounters He has in store for us as well. May I encourage you to be obedient to what He may ask you to do?

Prayer: Lord God, You know all things and You have everything under Your perfect control. Please help us to just be obedient and follow Your direction to us and Your assignments for us. Like Philip, we could easily be part of a great big plan that You have in store to actually change the heart and eternal direction of someone we know. Use us dear Lord to be involved in anything that we could do to facilitate Your destiny for our friends and family. May Your perfect will be accomplished, even through imperfect messengers like us. For I ask all this in the precious and all powerful name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, 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

Whom Then Shall I Fear?

On 2016-06-172016-06-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Bold Confidence, Boldness, Fear, Overcomer, VictoryLeave a comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Acts 7:54–56
Today’s Bible Text: ⁵⁴ The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ⁵⁶ And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: God’s Word is holy, so it will highlight sin, and it will make sin very obvious. Some preachers will speak in parables to you, where they will use the Word of God but speak in current day, and or very gentle terms to say the same thing that God declares. However, there are some preachers who will simple tell it like it is and let ‘the chips fall where they may’. There are some who witness in this manner also, for some will live their Christian life with hopes that others will see and believe, while others will boldly be in your face with the truth of the gospel and wondering why aren’t you getting the point. I admire Stephen for his boldness, but more than that, I want to draw your attention to the fact that regardless of any fear he may have felt, when he looked towards heaven and fixed his eyes on the Father and the Son – his eternal destination, there was absolute peace, and absolutely no more fear. In fact, he just blurted out what he saw, and that was truly adding ‘fuel to the fire’ in what the Jewish leaders were already feeling towards him. Friends, let’s stop and think for a moment. If we only find freedom to speak when we’re in the safe company of other believers, how shall we impact the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ? If we stumble, mumble and fall when faced with the opposition, will we ever convince them that we truly have access to the power of the God of this universe? If God is with us inside the four walls of our churches, shouldn’t we have every confidence to believe that He is with us when facing the enemy (Satan)? If there is any doubt, I would dare say that we are overcome with fear that he that is in the world is greater than He that overcame death and the grave so that we may have hope and assurance of salvation. Where do you stand friend? Who are you fearing, or who stops you from sharing the saving grace of Jesus with those that you come into contact with? Are you prepared to share, even if it may lead you to death (stoning and ridicule like Stephen encountered)? If God is for us, whom then shall we fear?

Prayer: Dear God, we believe in You, please help us in our unbelief and lack of confidence that You are who You truly claim to be. May we be filled with the same boldness that Your servant Stephen was filled with, so that others will see and believe. May our lives be so filled, and so opened to expressing Your love for us, that the walls of unbelief and doubt that Satan erects before this world, will be torn down. May blinded eyes be opened so that the world might catch a glimpse of the salvation that comes from You alone. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, the Christ – my Savior, AMEN!

2016

Everyone Has A Chance

On 2016-06-162016-06-16 By Ed AlgreenIn Disasters, Evangelize, Good News, Hope, Light1 Comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Joel 2:31–32
Today’s Bible Text: ³¹ The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. ³² But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, …..
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: I believe there are situations that occur here in this world where we get so caught up with the media in evaluating every little aspect of it, that we may often miss the heart of God and the ability to dig deep into the desires of our heart to touch the world for Jesus Christ. I know, emotions can easily take over, but with a heart like that of our God, will we truly be looking for a place to lay the blame or think about the mind of the person who caused the event? Friends, I would suggest that when you click on the scripture passage above, that you would expand it to read the whole chapter. It’s just a total of 32 verses to read! Very little is known about Joel, but he was obviously very concerned about a disaster that impacted the lives of his family, his town and even his region, as a plague of locusts had destroyed everything. Especially back then, a total destruction of crops, which also led to a shortage of food for livestock, soon led to a time of panic by residents. However, notice that Joel looked beyond the normal eye of the news reporter, and instead considered what God might benefit from this whole event. Can’t you imagine that before this disaster, there may have been evangelistic meetings reaching out to the same people that were now impacted with this disaster? However, instead of Joel using the disaster to ridicule, or place blame, or accuse the sin nature of the people, he continued a consistent, loving, caring message to his people, that regardless of the happenings evident around them, please know that God’s salvation plan is still available to those who call upon Him. Regardless of the number who may direct blame towards God in the type of disaster Joel found himself in, or even in the disasters we face, our message should be the same: Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED! Please don’t get sucked into the ploy of the media to find the worst in everything. We have GREAT NEWS that will only be exposed, if God’s people, who are called by His name, will humble themselves and pray, and be willing to continue spreading the gospel – even in the midst of what might appear to be disastrous situations.

Prayer: Father, it’s not our place to question, but to obey and continue spreading the joy of our salvation and the the hope for tomorrow given to the believer in Jesus Christ. May our minds be so fixed on You that, although we may fret in times of disaster, our hope in the God of our salvation will excel to a point that we will see the hearts of those who need You as Savior and Lord. There are many who need hope at this time as they mourn the loss of loved ones, or as they sit by hospital beds with loved ones struggling to survive. Please comfort each one, and please dear Lord, draw them to Yourself. May they find hope in calling on your name. Please calm the hearts of those caught up in the media hype, and refocus their energy into drawing closer to You. I ask these things in faith, and because of Your love for all mankind – Your creation, and the ones You particularly died for. AMEN!

2016

Remember God

On 2016-06-152016-06-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Consistent, Faith, TrustLeave a comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Hosea 13:4-6
Today’s Bible Text: ⁴“I alone am God, your Lord, and have been ever since I brought you out from Egypt. You have no God but me, for there is no other Savior. ⁵I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. ⁶But when you had eaten and were satisfied, then you became proud and forgot me.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: Some may have overlooked the devotional today because they may have thought that the title was extremely elementary. Friends, just as God took the Israelites back in their minds to their days of slavery in Egypt, and back to the days they were totally dependent on Him in the wilderness, I believe that He is also desiring of us to reflect on the times that we felt closest to Him, and the times that we felt ‘on top of the world’, because we were convinced of the powerful hand of God working very intimately in our lives. Although thousands of years after this message by Hosea, I would dare say that we have not changed a whole lot. Just look around at all that we have allowed to take priority in our lives. After 9-11 our churches were filled, because we needed the Lord to love on us, comfort us, protect us from further disaster and give us peace that we could go on living. This happens ever week as families deal with cancer, or a death in the family, or a financial disaster, or a lot of other things where we may feel out of control, lost and very inadequate. At times like this we shift our priorities to attending church, prayer meetings and many other things that we feel will bring us into God’s favor. But friends, don’t we become very much like the Israelites, where we need reminding from time to time, that the same God that saw us through our rough times, is the same God available to us today, and will help us through the minute challenges of our day? We need not wait for the BIG events to turn to God, for He is our Savior and Lord, and would very much like to be a part of our day and our decisions – yes, even at work, or at play. As we remember God in these everyday events, we build our confidence in knowing that He is also the One we can turn to when life seems so out of control and situations seem so impossible to us. Friends, He is our God – period! Let’s trust Him with everything in our lives – always!

Prayer: Lord, I believe that each of us can reflect on times in our lives that we were desperate for Your wisdom, healing, love and awesome power. Please help us to not only worship You for who You are today, but for all that You have done for us in the past. May we learn to never look at ‘no’ answers to our prayers as unanswered prayer. We ask because we need Your direction, so please help us to humbly accept ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ answers and may we always recognize Your voice as You speak to us. Yes, You are our God and our Redeemer, may we not only reflect on this daily, but may our lives show evidence of having been with You each day. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, the Living, Loving, All-powerful, All-knowing Savior of this world, AMEN!

2016

How To Transform Worry Into Praise

On 2016-06-142016-06-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Praise, Prayer, Surrender, Worry, Worry no moreLeave a comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Philippians 4:6-7
Today’s Bible Text: ^6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: I believe there is one thing that we do extremely well, and that is ‘worry’. For we worry about what was said to us, or perhaps what wasn’t said to us. We worry about the look someone gave us, and even worse if they don’t look at us at all! We worry about what we should say, but we worry even more if we say too much. When our minds are so busy worrying about every little thing in life, we tend to start building our own case about why the world hates us and wants nothing to do with us. I hope that as you meditate on this scripture with me today you will catch a glimpse, or be reminded of the awesome God that we serve. You see, I am convinced that our God loves us enough that He will patiently wait for us to unload all of our concerns (worries) on Him in prayer. But what I am even more convinced of, is that God loves us enough that He sacrificed His one and only Son to die a cruel death, so that He could provide the answer for our forgiveness of sin and our means of entering the gates of heaven to spend eternity with Him. Friends, there are so many things that we are so blessed with, that we should learn to fix our minds on those things, rather than the worries of all that this world will burden us down with. So how do we move from where we are at to where we should be? We are taught in these verses that it’s a matter of prayer and praise. Let’s make it our aim to take our concerns to the Lord in prayer, and let’s look for ways to praise Him for all that we see Him doing in our lives. In doing these things, I believe we will find relief for those times that we would otherwise take on the concern ourselves and just worry, worry, worry. God loves us way too much to see us succumb to the sickness caused by worry.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your endless blessings on us. Thank You for the provisions You made for us and the future that is ours, who have placed our faith and trust in You. It’s a daily thing for us to overlook the temptations Satan will send our way to pull us down emotionally, and make us worry about things that we have no control over. Thank You for the direction You have given to us today in Your Word. Oh that we may be found faithful and true to You dear Lord. Oh that we may learn to worship You and praise You for who You are, even when our personal circumstances seem bleak. We’re Yours dear Lord. Please continue to teach us the right path to truth, hope, love and encouragement, so that we may savor in Your presence all of our days. I ask these things in and through the name of Jesus, my Savior, AMEN!

2016

Under Whose Power?

On 2016-06-132016-06-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Boldness, Strength, Take a stand, WitnessLeave a comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Acts 4:7–12
Today’s Bible Text: ⁷ They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?” ^8–12With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: I want you to consider for a moment that you visited a sick person recently and you prayed with them while visiting, and you heard over recent visits that the person was miraculously healed! I want you to consider that a lame person came to your church yesterday and from all accounts, after prayer over them, the person walked out of the building on their own, without even a limp. I want you to also consider that the friend you visited in prison last week, and prayed with about his release, is now back in town living and worshipping with his family. I’m sure you will agree that these things will ‘light up’ any church service, as it will open the doors to much celebration. However, today being Monday, as it is, you walk into your place of employment and notice the smile on your coworkers faces, as they ask you to explain how your weekend went, and did anything exciting happen for you over the past few days. Do you feel like you are ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’, and would use the opportunity to share the precious intervention of Jesus Christ in the areas of your life touched by the above incidents? Will you be bold enough to attribute every success of these things to God, and not to mere circumstances, or a new drug that one of the sick individuals possibly switched to? It is very evident that Peter ‘jumped all over this opportunity mentioned in today’s scripture’ and used this wide-opened opportunity to share not only the source of the healing power of Jesus Christ, but went on to tell the leaders how they might know that Jesus of whom he spoke! Is there anything in the scripture that gives you the impression that Peter got nervous about his exhortation? Do you have preconceived ideas about what would hinder you from sharing with your non-Christian coworkers? What would really come under question by your coworkers, is the ‘religion’ that you have been claiming to them all along. Is it for real? Is it real enough that you would speak up under intimidation? Friends, this may seem like a very simple and possibly unrealistic scenarios that I have given to you, yet we face similar situations every day. Friends, if it’s really in you, there should be a freedom and boldness that will enable you to freely express yourself to anyone that asks. If not, may I encourage you to seek power from on high that would enable these open doors for you? After all, would there be any regrets sitting at the friend’s funeral knowing that you failed on an opportunity to share Christ with that person? Let’s learn to not live with regrets!

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your awesome power, and for Your willingness to work in the lives of individuals that we touch daily. Thank You for allowing us to be a witness to these miracles, and thank You for the opportunities that will arise today that will challenge the sincerity of relationships with You. Please embolden us to be Your witness in spite of the challenges we might face with our pride. Lord, as we bear Your banner and lift You up in our churches, may we also use that same boldness to share with our unsaved loved ones and friends as they question. May You be Lord in every aspect of our lives, not just in those comfortable and convenient places, and may You receive glory for every word or action that may come from us today. I ask these things in the STRONG name of Jesus, AMEN!

2016

Biblical Qualities of a Growing Church

On 2016-06-112016-06-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Church growth, The Church2 Comments

Today’s Bible Reference: Acts 2:42-47
Today’s Bible Text: 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper*), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity*—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: Without giving the appearance of being too repetitive, I wanted to highlight some of the things that made the very early church a very successful one. This is in hopes that we may see something that might help us to do the same today. Friends, let me say at the very outset that I am not referring to the BIG church down the road who seems to be flourishing already, or the small to medium church that seems to be catching the BIG church up pretty quickly. I’m talking about the church of our Almighty God, for I believe that it should always be our objective to see His church added to daily (evidence of the unsaved world being reached with the gospel). So here are some things worth taking note of:

Those that were saved, devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings. What beautiful choice of words! Being ‘devoted to my wife’ means that I will do everything to be with her, listen to her, try to please her and will go with her even when a good football game is on or the fish are biting good! Therefore attending church, or Bible teaching, would have similar priorities to those things just mentioned, or as mentioned in Acts 2. There would be nothing with greater priority;
Fellowship – I believe that when these Acts 2 believers spent tIme together under the teaching of God’s Word, they learned some things that helped them really get along with each other, so they enjoyed times of fellowship together. I bet they learned to overlook one another’s faults, and also their individual peculiarities!!
Sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) – The mention of ‘food’ will normally bring folk out to church, but what a challenge to get those same folk to join you for a Bible Study that follows, or the Lord’s Supper that may only occur once per month or quarter. Knowing that God sees the heart, I wonder what He must see as the ‘devotion’ of these folk?
Prayer – Similar to the last item, this is probably one of the least attended services at a church. Analyzing this from a human perspective, means that folk either struggle with talking to their Father, fellowshipping with other believers while they talk with their Father, or simply sees no importance in publicly talking with their Father with hopes that others might be encouraged or blessed to hear of your answered prayer. I wonder which!
Shared everything they had with those in need – In other scripture, God shows where the church was designed to handle this through tithes and gift giving, or through handing out food and clothing to those in need. Oh that we would be done with the excuses of assuming that the church abuses this privilege, therefore we will not give to the church as God directs. These folk sold everything they had so that others might be blessed. May I suggest that the giver was probably more blessed than the receiver?

You may be asking why God would have all this included in His Word for us. I believe that it was very intentional in mentioning that the church grew daily. Again, this refers to God’s church – regardless of what denomination tag may have been placed on it on earth. Friends, our churches are dying rapidly today, so may I encourage you to not worry about inviting the church growth division of your state to discuss and help you analyze your church problems, but rather look inside your own heart and see how well you are doing in the above items? God will add to His church when he sees people who are serious about Him. Let’s take care of these things personally, and I believe that God will take care of the rest!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in appreciation for all that You have blessed us with, we want to recommit ourselves to the proven qualities of this early church. I believe that You placed things like this in Your Word so that we might be best equipped to help grow Your kingdom in and through the many churches that we are involved in. Please help us to cut through the church politics, and the conclusions we tend to jump to about how our churches are run, and just do our part, knowing that You will add to Your church daily when Your children follow Your prescription for church growth. Thank You oh Lord for loving us enough to point us in the right direction. May we now be obedient, so that Your work might be accomplished before it’s a day too late. For I ask these things in the precious 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 http://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 Gospel Message

On 2016-06-102016-06-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Boldness, Gospel, Hope, Preaching1 Comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Acts 2:38-41
Today’s Bible Text: ³⁸Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰Peter warned them with many other words; he begged them, “Save yourselves from the evil of the people who live now!” ⁴¹Then those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. On that day about 3000 people were added to the group of believers.
The Bible Translation: Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

My Take Away: These verses form the whole jest of the gospel, or the purpose for churches today. The gospel is preached, or shared with individuals, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, their hearts are stirred, and they accept Jesus as their Lord. I know that this sounds extremely simple friend, but in and of our sinful selves, we want nothing to do with Jesus, or anyone else that will challenge us or the way we live. Conversely then, whenever we hear the Word of God taught or preached, and it prompts us to question or to want to change our way of life, it is at that point that we need to listen to Peter’s response in verse 38, for it is God speaking to us. I believe that the church today is just as relevant as it was in Peter’s day. I believe that people need the Lord today as much, or more than, anyone ever needed the Lord before. I believe it is more critical than ever before that Christians, and church leaders, be sincere and persistent about preaching the Word of God in its simplest form, so that the world will know without a doubt who Jesus is. I can assure you friend, that Jesus really loves you, and so do I! I’ll be praying for all who might read this devotional today that God would be active in your decision making, for only He can change the heart of a sinner. Praise God He did it for me, so I know for sure!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for making a way for us to one day see You and spend eternity with You in heaven! Thank You for those, like Peter, and our current-day pastors who diligently deliver the message of Truth from Your Word. I pray that more of us, as recipients of that message, will share our faith with others, for the same gospel message that impacted our lives can be enjoyed by many others that we come into contact with, if we will be bold enough to share. Bless us this day with Your grace the boldness and power to share that which we have been blessed with. Please touch our pastors this weekend with power from on high, so that the world might hear and believe. In deepest appreciation for Your love and Your message of hope, I ask these things today, AMEN!

2016

Be Sure To Elect The One The Lord Chooses

On 2016-06-092016-06-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Biblical Decisions, Jesus led decisions, VotingLeave a comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Acts 1:23-26
Today’s Bible Text: ²³They put two men before the group. One was Joseph Barsabbas. He was also called Justus. The other man was Matthias. ^24-25They prayed, “Lord, you know the minds of all people. Show us which one of these two men you choose to do this work. Judas turned away from it and went where he belongs. Lord, show us which man should take his place as an apostle!” ²⁶Then they used lots to choose one of the two men. The lots showed that Matthias was the one the Lord wanted. So he became an apostle with the other eleven.
The Bible Translation: Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

My Take Away: What if men chose church leaders like this today? What if Christians presented nominated officials for government offices in this way? In this example, the disciples had more than one man that they thought could fill the seat left empty by Judas, but they didn’t want to choose the man most favored by the apostles, nor did they want to choose the man who wanted the position most or the man who spoke the best in his bid for the position, but rather, they wanted to get their minds into the hearts of the men, and there was only one way possible to achieve this. They pleaded with God, who knows the hearts of all men, and who knows what that position would be faced with throughout its tenure, and therefore the best man to hold that office, with all things considered. Friends, may I remind you that this is still the case with our God today? He still knows who will be best suited for offices this year, and who will best lead His children into the times that He knows we must face. I would highly suggest that you read Romans 13 any time that you feel like the people may have messed up in electing our ruling officials. I believe that these verses serve to show us how important it is that we depend on God, the One who knows the hearts of those we will be asked to vote for. And while He may not choose to cleanse every heart of those nominated, I know that He will point us to the ‘Matthias’ that we must elect to serve God’s purpose in serving us over the next few years. Let us plead for clear minds to ask God; clear hearts to hear His will and direction; and sincerity and honesty to obey His perfect will in every election we have the privilege to vote in.

Prayer: Lord, we tend to vote for nominations purely on the premise of our personal views and desires, instead of seeking Your face and Your decision on who should be elected for such a time as this – whether it be in our churches, our city, our state or even our country. If we are to truly take part in electing the servants You desire for our churches or our cities, states or country, then we MUST learn to follow the example of the disciples in today’s scripture, and humbly put our selfish desires aside, and seek Your face. Thank You Father for being such an awesome and powerful God that can direct Your children beyond what appears to be the obvious in our minds, towards Your heart’s decision for our churches, cities, states and country. I believe that we will only succeed in electing Your chosen leaders as we seek Your face and know Your heart. We need You precious Savior. Please speak to Your children as we nominate and as we vote, for it’s in the name of Jesus that I ask, AMEN!

2016

Our God Is Awesome!

On 2016-06-082016-06-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Awesome God, Beyond Description, Miraculous, Praise-worthy1 Comment

Today’s Bible Reference: Isaiah 40:25-26
Today’s Bible Text: ^25-26“So – who is like me? Who holds a candle to me?” says The Holy. Look at the night skies: Who do you think made all this? Who marches this army of stars out each night, counts them off, calls each by name – so magnificent! so powerful! – and never overlooks a single one?
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: If I was able to post a photo with my blog this morning, I would open our minds to the beauty of the heavens at night. It would not show a photo of a dark sky void of any color, or one filled with white spots, but rather a sky spotted with clouds, yet filled with stars twinkling in the night sky that are precisely placed – some even in specific groupings to form certain shapes so that we might easily identify the ‘Big Dipper’ or others. In fact, this beauty will draw us to God with such significance that we would look in amazement and quickly conclude that only God can do this! Friends, it’s just one more reminder of how awesome our God is! When we take our largest problem before Him today, one that may seem so very impossible to us, can I encourage you to stop and reflect on the picture I’ve just painted and just praise God first for the few million stars that you can see from your viewpoint? Would you praise Him for making those beauties individually, and for placing them just right in that part of the sky? Wait just one minute, did I just say placing them in the sky? How do they stay up there? I do believe that its yet one more miracle that you can add to your list of praises, for it causes us to look heavenward where all of earths hidden treasures were created. Oh, and don’t forget to praise God for His awesome creativeness in making that otherwise pitch-black sky to not only illuminate, but to give direction and light to that mariner who sails the dark seas at night. Friends, there is no one like our God, no matter how science might try to reason Him out of the equation. Won’t you take time to praise Him today for yet another reminder of His existence, His creation; His miraculous touch to the beauty of this earth that we are blessed to be a part of? Won’t you stop and consider how very capable He is of handling even our largest issue today? Won’t you just take a moment to praise Him for who He truly is? ‘Awesome’ is just one of the many words I chose to title this blog with today. I’m sure you can find a thousand other adjectives to describe our supernatural God today! In this song Phil Wickham described Him as ‘Amazing – this King of Glory’, click listen as you continue to meditate on this thought today!

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your amazing love, Your amazing grace, Your miraculous touch to our world! This truly is Your amazing grace! Please forgive us for running to You with such minor things in this life, but Lord, thank You for understanding our helpless state and for the small glimpse of what we gather of Your awesome power and grace to help us. Lord, as we worship You today and draw close to You, may we be reminded of Your love and availability to us. May we learn to savor in Your grace and Your awesomeness more. We need You Lord, please show us more of Your power and grace today, I pray in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, AMEN!

2016

Nuggets From God's Word

Month: June 2016

Whom Then Shall I Fear?

Everyone Has A Chance

Remember God

How To Transform Worry Into Praise

Under Whose Power?

The Gospel Message

Be Sure To Elect The One The Lord Chooses

Our God Is Awesome!