Month: August 2020

I Can Do All Things – With The Help of Christ

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2020-08-04
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Philippians 4:11-13
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT:  11 …. I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. 12 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; 13 for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. 

OBSERVATION: It may be unfair to meditate on this Scripture today if you have never been in want. Knowing that this blog is read around the world, there may be a reader who will meditate on this without ever having everything they needed in every circumstance of life, and this may be challenging for you also. It is strange that God placed this before me this morning, because for the first time in many of our lives we have seen unemployment affect us, and in some cases, some readers may have been in need for the very first time in their lives. Let’s stay focused on our awesome God as we study this passage today, God being our helper.

APPLICATION: I was honored to serve citizens of another country some years ago as part of a missions team from my church. In preparation for serving in another culture, where there were known drastic socioeconomic differences, it was important that we showed the love of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives, for we wanted them to know and love our Jesus, more than any other reason we could think of. We didn’t want them to reject us because we couldn’t, or wouldn’t, try to identify and accept their economic status, that caused them to live differently than we do, and eat differently as well. We wanted so badly to meld into their lives, as if we were together around the foot of the cross. A previous team member came and coached us in the months preceding our trip. She told us not to act as if we were rich, or they were poor, for although they may be poorer than anyone on our team, they didn’t know that. I believe that advice stuck with me the whole trip, for I saw kids playing kickball with emptier water bottles, instead of a fancy ball that our parents bought for us. But they were having more fun than we could imagine! In the playground of the orphanage Where we stayed, we saw older kids caring for younger kids and helping them achieve what they wanted. There were no arguments because one kid had on very expensive tennis shoes while the other was barefoot. They accepted each other for who they were. They took pride in caring for their dorm rooms and their bunk beds were clean and fresh. I realized then that if only I could stop spending on credit and accept what I already have, and if I would only share with my neighbor so that we both would have similar clothes, shoes and toys or as in the case of adults – tools, then perhaps we would stop looking down on each other and instead accept them as any other child of the most high God! You see, its challenging to identify with the Scriptures where Jesus said ‘Suffer the little children to come to me’, and know that He really meant ‘just as you are’, and not that He wanted one to amassing more toys, better clothes or more steaks in the freezer In order to be more acceptable to Christ! Friends, many have gone through joblessness this year and this has impacted their food pantry, their car payments and their rent or mortgage payments. However, I am convinced that our supreme God still looks in at the heart of mankind and sometimes sees a child of the King waiting for His return, but there are others who still has a heart where they have chosen to ignore God, and therefore curse Him instead because of the unfortunate circumstances they have found themselves in. Paul shared with us that he has learned to be content in everything that God has asked him to do, through Christ – the same Jesus who, although royalty in every sense of the word, yet He was beaten and crucified just to enable the forgiveness of sin, so that we may approach the Father washed in the blood of the Lamb. Let’s try to not get too caught up in the things we want and the places we want to go. Let’s instead take every opportunity we have to seek the face of Jesus and worship Him in everything, and in all circumstances. He’s the One who died for us, and He’s the One standing with outstretched hands ready to accept us into heaven to be with He and His Father.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe that You will provide all that we need so that we could accomplish all that You have planned for us here on this old earth. Oh that we might say like the apostle Paul, ‘through the power, strength and ability of our awesome Lord and Savior, we could accomplish everything that God has prepared for us to do here on earth’. Lord, it seems more and more evident that Your return will be soon, for our world leaders are about to surrender in their own strength, for they know not what to do next. Thank You for caring for us and loving us so unconditionally. We need You every hour, stay close to our side and guide us through the remainder of our time here on earth. Oh that You might be glorified in everything that we have been a part of. May others be impacted and make decisions to also join hands with You, our soon coming King. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

The Peace of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Peace, Praise, Recognize God, Trust, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2020-08-03
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Philippians 4:4-7
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 4 Most of all, friends, always rejoice in the Lord! I never tire of saying it: Rejoice! 5 Keep your gentle nature so that all people will know what it looks like to walk in His footsteps. The Lord is ever present with us. 6 Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. 7 And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.

OBSERVATION: When flying in an airplane, I am at peace when I see the pilot and flight attendants at peace. No matter how rough the water might become when traveling on a boat, there is hardly a need to panic if the captain is calm, cool and collective. When you tell friends not to worry, because you are praying for them, you might lose their confidence in the One in whom you are praying, if you lose total control at every little announcement by your doctor or nurse. I believe that there are good reminders in our Scripture today that reminds us that our Lord is always with us, so we have no reason for alarm. His peace is there for us, and in us!

APPLICATION: As I read today’s Scripture I was reminded of all the stress that people are going through these days, and perhaps you are as well. It could be financial stress, since most employers had to close their doors during the height of COVED 19; you may also be stressed over loved ones that may have encountered this dreaded virus; or you may be living in fear of a hurricane or weather condition threatening to impact your area. Whatever it is, I believe that you may be desperately hoping for peace in some form, to help calm your nerves, and be of help to others who are live in fear. If you are anything like me, you probably have times where you want the television off, as the added stress from all that is being reported in the news, feels like it could easily take us over the edge! But Paul was not talking about stress to his parishioners. He was teaching them to be gentle with everyone, and I don’t believe for a minute that Paul meant that we should allow others to run over us if they have no one else to take advantage of them. Instead, I believe that love causes us to act with others just as we would with mom, dad, siblings or a spouse. We give in for, and overlook, their weaknesses, instead of taking offense and lashing out at them. Because we have the love of Jesus living inside of us, His Holy Spirit strengthens us and gives us grace to love others in spite of their selfish attitudes and ungodly attacks on others for no reason. This means that we are willing, and will try in every way, to love others because Jesus loved us even when we were unlovable and deep in sin. Further, Paul asked that we seek God’s face in prayer when we struggle with something or someone. Remember, He’s our Rock and our Provider. He knows all things and loves everyone, so if we are struggling with any of this, we should look to the One who controls it all. I believe that our greatest takeaway today is that the ‘peace of God’ is with us, but because this comes at the end of Paul’s instructions, I believe it means that we could calm our fears and know that God’s peace is with us as we depend on Him and allow Him to be the God over all our anxieties and stress. Friends, for as long as we try to ‘hold the wheel’ and take control over our problems, God will probably allow us to mess up. Won’t you join me today in committing ourselves fully to God, our awesome, all-powerful God, so that He could ‘have the wheel’ and lead us gently on through this challenging life? You see, I believe that as long as we keep trying to take over, we are showing that we do not trust God and we feel like we could do it better. If we say that we trust in God and depend on Him, yet we do not show that the power of God controls us and gives us confidence to trust in Him, then others will soon conclude that they want something a whole lot more stable and/or confident. Friends, I need peace and I believe that you need peace amongst our storms of life. And unless we trust fully in the God of peace, this world will eventually suck us into it’s awful grip. As children of God, we must seek His face to help us overcome!

PRAYER: As I pray dear Lord, I am humming that song ‘The Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and give you grace. Amen, Amen, Amen’. Lord, I know You are very capable, please work on my friends and I to surrender our stubborn lives over to You and allow Your peace to envelope us. Not only do we owe this to You Lord, but also to our family and friends who needs this from us also. If we are filled with You and Your grace, and Your peace, then Your gentleness, Your peace, Your love and Your power will exude from us, and the world will know for sure that You’re alive and well. Please keep us in Your grace, and please help us to be accountable to all those we come into contact with, who tests everything we say or do. You are alive and well, may they see evidence of it in every aspect of our life. May our lost and dying world be drawn to You oh Lord, and may we be an influence for that, not a stumbling block. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

My Determined Purpose Is….

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Purpose, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2020-08-01
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Philippians 3:10
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

BIBLE TEXT: 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

OBSERVATION: What a thought to ponder today! For the non-believer, I’m sure we would hear quite a variety of things that they are determined to accomplish during the time they expect to be here with us. But for the believer in Jesus Christ, how would you respond? Not to me, but to God! I believe that Paul spoke from what was bearing on his heart at the time. Stop and think about what your automatic response might be if you were asked this question while you are out and about today!

APPLICATION: We often become sidetracked with the things of life that just pop up unannounced and unplanned, but our Scripture today shows that Paul was a very committed and determined man, so it is important that we meditate closer on this to see what Paul had to say. He was not content in just telling the church at Philippi what they needed to do, for he said in other Scripture that we could safely follow him, as he follows Christ. In this case he wanted the church to know how serious he was about his intimacy with Christ, and what his determined purpose in life was. I believe that we tend to feel more apt to listen to someone who is practicing what they preach! In the bracketed commentary we see where Paul wanted to become increasingly more intimate in his relationship with God. He wanted to grasp the depth of God’s heart – the One who loves men and women, even though they may have totally disregarded Him. Yes. You see, God was willing to sacrifice His precious and only Son to save dirty, unloving, uncaring, sinners such as you and I, my friend. I believe that Paul went to this depth not only as a man who wanted a closer relationship with the Savior of the world, but also because of all that was displayed by the Master on the cross. For those who need reminding, out of total obedience to the Father, Jesus endured beatings by the authorities, shame and mistreatment as He was marched through the streets of Jerusalem with a heavy cross on His beaten and bruised back. In spite of His power to call a legion of angels to His defense, He suffered through having His hands nailed to a cross and His side pierced with a sword. He hung and died on that cross between two criminals, while His mother looked on painfully. Jesus did this out of mere love for all those He created, who would ever seek redemption of their sin and desire a life dedicated to God. This was no ordinary man, dear friends, and Paul desired nothing more than to know Jesus – yes, to know Him so intimately that he would live the rest of his life imitating the Savior who demonstrated His love in this way. But friend, this is the same Savior who showed such love for you and I also. Are we committed enough to sacrifice our time, our talent, our money and our desires to spend time in His Word getting to know Him better; open up ourselves to Him as we go before Him in prayer; and share our story with all that we come into contact with? If He was the president of your country, I believe you would tell the world of your experiences together. Jesus is the King of the world, won’t you also consider telling everyone about His miraculous touch on your life? Paul wanted to grow into the type person that would love like Jesus did while on the cross. What is your determined purpose in life?

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, You gave the ultimate for us – life itself, even through the cruelty of the cross. Our ancestor, Paul, shared that he wanted nothing more than to be like You – especially like You demonstrated at Calvary. This leaves us to consider: what are we willing to commit to in appreciation for all that You did out of love for us? Oh God, may there never be any doubt as to whose we are, and as a demonstration of our love and commitment to You, may our actions and our commitment be such that the world will know, and may be encouraged to know, the One in whom we believe, and the One that we serve faithfully every day. Often we are challenged to get into Your Word, or pray, or even attend church, and yes, we could attribute that to lack of time. But Lord, I believe that we find time for the things of our heart. Oh that You may be so prominent in our hearts, that my readers and I will be totally committed to serving You and reflecting Your character and teachings all the days of our life. We need You precious Lord. Please embolden us, and above all, help us to make You a priority in our lives every day. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!