Month: September 2021

Doubting It’s Really Jesus?

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

Monday, 2021-09-20

Bible Reference: Luke 24:36-41
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text: 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them, and greeted them. 37 But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why do you doubt that it is really I? 39 Look at my hands! Look at my feet! You can see that it is I, myself! Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost! For ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!” 40 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see the marks of the nails, and showed them the wounds in his feet.
41 Still they stood there undecided, filled with joy and doubt.

APPLICATION: In light of the challenge that the disciples faced, the Holy Spirit prompted me to look inward and see what I would do if Jesus appeared at my church, or Bible Study, etc. Whoa, that brought a whole new perspective on this. You see, I believe that often we will read these Scriptures and, if we’re not careful, we start to examine the hearts and lives of the individuals, like the disciples, to see what on earth might have distorted or blocked their faith at such a sensitive time. But what about us? I often attend a Easter Sunrise service each year, where we highlight, celebrate and try to envision with the rising sun, what it must have been like to see the rising Son. What if Jesus became our guest speaker at one of those services one year? Wouldn’t that truly break the routine what we might expect from those services each year? I can’t imagine the impact that would have on the believers present, or at least those who don’t die from shock! Often we will pray that Jesus might come down and heal our bodies, our church and our land. What if He came in person one night and just chatted with us about His Kingdom and perhaps His intentions for our respective ministries? Would our feeble hearts be capable of handling that? Friends, our Savior is no longer in the grave, for He arose! So as we reflect on this wonderful experience of the disciples, let’s be sure to prepare our hearts for seeing Jesus again some day. Whether it’s here on earth, or when we get to heaven, I am convinced that it will be a glorious time for us to kneel at His feet and worship Him endlessly! Until that time, let me encourage you to seek the face of Jesus daily, and prepare yourself for the most magnificent visit with Him. There’s a song ‘Oh that will be Glory for me, Glory for me, Glory for me, When by His grace I shall look on His Face….’. Not sure about you my friend, but I become overwhelmed with joy at just the thought of seeing my Savior. May you be ready to see Him, whether it’s today, or whether He waits for your arrival to allow your physical presence! Oh Lord Jesus, come!

PRAYER: The disciples experienced it first! Meeting Him in person after His Resurrection, had them in awe! And I can’t even imagine how such a miracle would impact us today. Lord, You gave it all for my friends and I, and we’ve read and understood from Scriptures that You are very much alive and awaiting our arrival in Heaven! Thank You Lord Jesus for making the way possible for us to overcome the evil of this wicked world and to make the transition to heaven one day where we might worship You throughout the rest of eternity. Please help us to live as children of the King, and may every selfish desire disappear as we work on convincing our unsaved loved ones and friends about the need for our Savior. Please soften hearts even today as we go about our way and make contact with various ones who have not yet accepted You. Please give us boldness and wisdom to share the joy of our salvation with everyone we come into contact with today. AMEN!

You Are The Messiah!

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

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-09-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 17:12-16
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT:  12 …. ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. 13 They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?”
14 When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.”
They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. 15 One of them, a Samaritan, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. 16 When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.”

APPLICATION: Often after we have exhausted every manmade remedy to heal our diseases, or empower our weaknesses, we will call on the pastor of our church, or perhaps an Elder or Deacon, as we suddenly become convinced that if all else fails, surely Jesus can heal us, or at least ease the pain we are encountering. Notice in the story that these men were not all Jews, so because of their disease and their nationality, they were probably outcasts. I believe that this was evident to the crowd that accompanied Jesus, but I know for certain that Jesus knew exactly who they were. With such a disease as leproacy, they definitely practiced social distancing, because the story tells us that they stood at a distance! Interesting that the lepers had faith to believe that Jesus didn’t have to touch them in order to heal them! Also interesting that the lepers obeyed the command of Jesus to go and show themselves to the local priests, even though they saw no outward sign of their healing. How many of us would start packing up our clothes in preparation for leaving the hospital, if we heard such a command from Jesus? Friends, the faith of these men became evident when they heard that Jesus was coming to town, and that He could probably heal them. It continued and became more evident when they made their first step towards moving near the path that Jesus would travel. They put their lives on the line by shouting above the noise of the crowd watching Jesus come through their town. They demonstrated their faith by asking Jesus to heal them at a distance, and then following His command to go to the priest. But the highlight of their faith was when they turned to go, even though they saw no evidence of their sickly skin being healed – yet. It is evident that at least one of the men was a person of good upbringing, because immediately upon seeing that his skin was healed, he aborted their mission and returned to say thanks, again. In fact, he suddenly realized that this was no ordinary man who healed him, but instead it was the Messiah whose presence they had encountered, and He thought enough of even Samaritans to heal their dreaded diseases. Friends, I believe that God is telling us through His Word that He is still God, and that He is Lord over all the earth – regardless of our religious persuasion, nationality, skin color, or anything else. If we have faith to call on His Son, Jesus, He will bring salvation to our soul. If we have faith to call on Jesus for healing, He still has the power to heal us from our diseases, yes even those for which mankind is still exploring resolution. I wish that as we meet for worship services this week, you will be asked to celebrate all that God has done for you this week. Yes, the worship music is always exciting and we each have perfect worship teams that share the music with us, but it’s the God who healed us, the God who is all-powerful, the God who created us – He’s the one that we want to recognize and worship from the depths of our heart. Please be reminded that Jesus is still Messiah, and He is anxiously awaiting our return to thank Him and worship Him for who He is and all that He has done for us.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Praise God for sending His Son, the Messiah, so that we might have new life – salvation in and thru Him, and that we may call on Him for all of life’s concerns!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for healing the 10 lepers, in spite of their nationality, but merely because of their faith and the condition of their heart. I have no reason to believe You have changed, so I also have faith to believe that You are still our great Healer. Please Lord, help us not to wait for the music to start at church, or depend on the tempo of the music to stir our hearts into worship to our awesome God, but to freely celebrate the awesome and miraculous work of our God among even us. Thank You Lord for being our awesome Messiah! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

Mere Servants

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Children, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Servants of God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-09-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 17:9-10
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 Does the servant expect to be thanked for doing what is required of him? 10 So learn this lesson: After doing all that is commanded of you, simply say, ‘We are mere servants, undeserving of special praise, for we are just doing what is expected of us and fulfilling our duties.’

APPLICATION: Ever felt like a ‘flunky’? I haven’t heard this term in recent years, but I remember hearing this a lot as I grew up, and it was often used in lieu of the word ‘servant’, but in a more derogatory manner. I wonder if that might be the reason for most adults avoiding the term ‘servant’? But I found it interesting that Jesus chose to teach His disciples about servanthood as part of His response to the disciples request for more ‘faith’. Jesus Himself said that He came to serve, and so should His disciples, if we expect to live in His likeness. But the reason I believe that Jesus brought this into His teaching, is that anytime we don’t have the answer for something, or if we need to depend on others to make something happen that we are praying about, or if we don’t have a clue about how or if something is possible, then we must have faith in that person in whom we are depending on to accomplish the work. Because we can’t physically see Jesus, we must have faith to believe in Him and His unlimited abilities. As a servant, we are always dependent on the master to treat us right and meet our needs. Jesus wanted His disciples to get used to the idea of servanthood, for He would always be their Master. He taught that although we might be a servant here on earth, we are valued as sons and daughters in His kingdom. The opposite of servant is master, and in the kingdom of heaven there is only one Master – Jesus/God. By us being a servant, we acknowledge that the one Master is over all things. No matter how hard we work, or how many churches we’re in charge of, we are still servant to the Most High God. As a servant, we are often very needy of the master, and that’s exactly our position in the Kingdom, we are dependent on God for everything. So where are you at today? Are you truly displaying a servant’s heart and waiting for the Master to give you your next orders? Let’s try very hard not to try and change the order of who we are. We are children of the Almighty God and as such, we are His servants here on earth. Let’s try to excel in obedience, respect, honor and praise so that our Master might be lifted high above all His servants. We must always be just mere servants, undeserving of any praise, for we are just doing the Master’s work.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In being servants of the Most High God, it becomes evident that we are His children doing His work until He returns to take us with Him to glory!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, thank You for being my Master and Lord. May I always seek to be servant, never desirous of any praise, but always seeking to honor You in all that I do. Please humble the hearts of my readers and listeners so that we all might understand Your way – as described in today’s Scripture. You said that the field is ripe for the harvest, but more servants are needed, not masters. We are all on the same playing field and equal at the foot of the cross. May we all learn to follow You while always praising You for who You are and for what You would have us do as Your servant. Lord, be glorified through Your servants, each of us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

God Makes A Way When There Seems To Be No Way

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

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-09-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 7:11-15
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 11 Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.”
So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp. 12 The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count! 13 Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”
14 His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”
15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord…..

APPLICATION: Earlier in the chapter we could see where Gideon was no different to most of us, in that he was complaining about where might the miraculous working God be who protected his ancestors and provided everything needed by them as they journeyed through the wilderness. We hear similar stories about our forefathers and how God cared so much for them, and we might wonder ‘well, where is He now?’. But God appeared to Gideon and told him that he should take care of the enemies who were approaching his people in large numbers. Gideon asked for, and received proof that it was God. He gathered up a large army and headed out to do what God told him to do. Although proud of the great army Gideon had assembled, God wanted to prove that it was Him doing the work and not a feeble army presented by Gideon. So he reduced the 32,000 men to 300. As Gideon looked over the opposing army and saw the unlimited number of soldiers and animals that they had, he asked for more proof from God. Now before you ridicule Gideon, I believe that you will agree that he had every reason to tremble in his boots. But Almighty God gave him proof as he slipped in near enough to the enemy’s tents and overheard a conversation that aligned exactly with what God had told him. Friends, our God is all powerful and not only knows what we need, but He also knows how to win our battles and give us victory. Sure we may be going through horrible diseases that are impacting the whole world, and that no one truly seems to have a handle on, but I would encourage you to place your faith and trust in the One who could win this battle for us. Did God show us enough faith yet, that would give us the confidence in believing that He has the answer, and the ability to make things right for us? I would suggest that you think about the battle won in our story today; I would further suggest that you remember what God did for the Israelites during their 40-year journey from slavery, to the new Promised Land; I would suggest that you remind yourself of the miracles performed in the New Testament; and I would suggest that you always remember that God made the ultimate sacrifice in sending His Son, Jesus, so that we might be with them in glory when we pass from this world to the next. You see, regardless of what happens, or no matter what God decides to do about our earthly dilemmas, we must always remember that our eternal home awaits our arrival! Many family and friends have lost the battle to Covid, and only One knows whether we will live through this, but for the child of God, we have a hope, we have a joy, we have a promise, and we have a home awaiting us that far exceeds anything we could ask or imagine! So like Paul said: to live is Christ, but to die is gain! So be Christ in the flesh while here on earth, but joy comes in the morning as we gain our heavenly wings and meet with our Father and His Son! A much better way than anything we could enjoy here on earth!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Gideon had gathered a very large army, but God showed him, and us, that He could fight our battles for us with His power alone! Praise God He can still do that!

PRAYER: Lord, there is so much going on in this old world, that it seems to be totally out of control. No matter who each country elects to rule them, we acknowledge that we are powerless without You. We have been given many examples of how You overcame great obstacles in order to protect Your people and show Your love for all of us. Oh that we will be reminded of this through today’s Scripture and renew a right spirit with You right in the middle of our mind’s impossibilities. Have Your way dear Lord. We know that we are safe in the arms of Jesus, no matter what happens here on earth. Please keep us near the cross, for there’s a precious fountain of love, purity and eternal bliss that resides there. For us, there seems to be no way. But with You Lord, we know that all things are possible! Praise Your holy name! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

How To ‘Look Good’ In God’s Eyes

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

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-09-16
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 16:14-15
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 14 Now, the Jewish religious leaders listening to Jesus were lovers of money. They laughed at what he said and mocked his teachings, 15 so Jesus addressed them directly. “You always want to look spiritual in the eyes of others, but you have forgotten the eyes of God, which see what is inside you. The very things that you approve of and applaud are the things God despises. 

APPLICATION: Don’t you sometimes wonder if there is anything that a person won’t do in their fight for MORE money? The Pharisees were known as the religious leaders of the Jews, but they loved money. They therefore became very upset when they heard Jesus teaching His disciples about the danger in loving money, while also trying to love their Lord. We all know the importance of having enough money to purchase the necessities of life, but we are also reminded about the times when we are on a mission and can think of nothing else other than making another dollar, or seeking ways to increase our income. So why did this bother Jesus enough to teach this to His disciples? I believe there may have been a few reasons:
-—> Jesus knew the Pharisees were near enough to hear His teaching and He really wanted them to do better at living the lifestyle they were teaching. Elsewhere in the Bible we are taught that money is the root of all evil. In other words, when evil shows its ugly head, seek to find if money is at the root of the problem. Yes, even in churches!
-—> The disciples came from various backgrounds, but most were innocent fishermen who worked hard for enough money to survive. Jesus didn’t want them to become greedy for money and spoil their innocence. So He taught them that this was an area that required moderation and less of their attention, if they were to truly serve the Lord.
So how does this apply to us today? I believe that we still have folk like the Pharisees today. They are greedy for money, but they also want to be looked upon as honest and upright in their community, so they attach themselves to a church. We also have new Christians in our churches who need discipling. Is it wrong for them to seek after money? I believe that church leaders have a responsibility to teach the Word of God, and how, if they are not careful, their heart for more money could distract them from their heart for more of the Lord. I believe that God loves a hard worker, but when one becomes so engrossed in their work because of their drive for more money, they will generally stop at nothing to get it, even if it sometimes include questionable decisions. I remember when Jesus sent the disciples out to preach the gospel. He told them not to take money or clothing, as there would be churches who would take care of their basic needs. A normal job will be moderated with only so many hours on the job, therefore giving enough time for one to balance family and community time into their agenda. Does that sound like your agenda each day/week? When your mind is at peace with God, you will make time in your agenda for God, family, church and work – in that order. Are you living a balanced life, or one filled with greed for one of the areas mentioned? You were on God’s mind when His Son hung on the cross at Calvary. I pray that God is on your mind throughout your day!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We should aim to love the things that Jesus loves. He gave His life for us, and He wants us to totally surrender our lives to Him. The greed of money will distract from that allegiance.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I know that there are times when the stresses of this life separate us from You because we become so caught up in trying to resolve our issues. But I am also reminded from Your Word today that there are times when we are just too distracted in trying to get ahead financially, that we fail to devote ourselves to growing in our faith and drawing closer to You. Praise God, You provide everything we need or could ever need. Please help us to stay focused on the cross and maintain a thankful attitude that longs to grow more like You in every way. May you be prominent in our lives and may others see nothing but Jesus in our lives and in our actions, and may they be drawn to You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

You Can Do This!

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

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-09-15
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 6:14-16
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 14 Then the Lord ordered him, “Go with all your great strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I myself am sending you.”
15 Gideon replied, “But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.”
16 The Lord answered, “You can do it because I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man.”

APPLICATION: I am just humble enough to believe that God is magnified in and through us when we realize that we cannot perform a job without His wisdom, power and direction. I have a few examples that I could mention, because after seeking God’s direction, I have accepted jobs in ministry for which I had not been trained, and I believe that God used my presence to accomplish His blessing and His mission to His people. Perhaps some of my readers/listeners may think of similar circumstances in your life. Let’s always remember to celebrate this awesome privilege afforded to simple old us, by the Creator of the universe. I wish you would take a few extra minutes to click on the Scripture reference above, as that will present you with the context of these verses that we are looking at. But in a nutshell, Gideon saw that things were not going the way he thought God intended, because of all that He promised to his ancestors. For there was promise of a happy and successful life in countries they would take possession of and own west of the Jordan River. Instead Gideon saw disobedience; worshipping idols; envy and crimes that were not becoming of a happy or a godly nation. In fact, Gideon was questioning whether the God who parted the waters for his ancestors and provided food and water for them while out in the desert, had not forgotten their successors and was still alive and well. Gideon was just not seeing God at work among his people. However, in the middle of all this doubt, and all the accusations, and to his terrifying surprise, God called on Gideon to be the leader in restoring his country back to a right relationship with the same God who provided for their ancestors. Just like you or I might have the same doubt about accepting such a challenge from God, Gideon was also beyond the scope of believing that God would possibly call on an insignificant person from a family, who was part of the smallest clan in the Manasseh tribe. Think about your excuses you would have for God! Perhaps your family lives out in the country and quite often both your parents ever make it out to church at the same time; perhaps you are one of the only boys who never went to college; compared to some very influencing young men you met in your church who could easily handle a challenge from God. Isn’t it interesting how God tends to choose people like this? Moses couldn’t speak clearly, yet God chose him to lead millions of people, very difficult people, across a desert without sufficient supplies to house and feed them for 40 years. Shouldn’t Gideon, and shouldn’t we think about quickly conceding to God’s demand on us to do His work, knowing that He will be at the helm and He will command the results, so that His people might make the right decisions for His glory? Friends, God is looking for our availability, not at our abilities, for it is He who will accomplish the work. Have you asked Him yet what He would like to do through you if you made yourself available to your church leadership? Are you tired of complaining to him about the difficult and unsaved people at your workplace and stand ready to let Him have His way in and through you on the job? I implore you to make yourself available to God, and be willing to do the work that He may call you to do. His kingdom may become richer as a result of all that God can do through humble folk like Gideon, you and I.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God looks for our availability, not our abilities. For it is He who will complete His work through us!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for saving my soul, and thank You for all that You have accomplished because of me making myself available to You. Lord, there is still much to be accomplished and I have faith to believe that You have not given up on Your church nor Your people. Please continue to work miracles among our families, our friends, our churches, and in the lives of all that You know who need a touch from You. Oh that this may be the day of salvation for many today! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

Make It Right With God

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

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-09-14
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 51:10-12
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 10 God, create a pure heart in me, and make my spirit strong again.
11 Don’t push me away or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Your help made me so happy. Give me that joy again. Make my spirit strong and ready to obey you.

APPLICATION: God knows all about our sin, but Solomon showed us that it is important that when we approach God for forgiveness, that we acknowledge that we are all too aware of our wickedness and that we are coming to the only perfect One who is able to restore our relationship with Him. We must also seek forgiveness from the One whose Holy Spirit resides in the heart of a Christian. It is obvious that this sin committed by Solomon really wreaked havoc on his very spirit, for he asked God to strengthen his spirit again. I believe that there are times when we are so aware of our sin, and so ashamed of our weakness, than we find it tough to go on – especially in a way where we might once again feel innocent enough to share Christ with our circle of friends. You see, others must see Jesus in us and the impact that He is having on us, for them to really believe in whatever we are trying to evangelize. We can only ask like Solomon did, that God might restore a right spirit within us, and help us relive what we felt at the time we accepted Jesus as Lord. Solomon had committed serious sin, and just as he sought out his Master, I’m sure there are times that we feel much like him, as we tend to feel ashamed of ourselves and unworthy to again proclaim the Savior that we represent. I pray that today we might truly reflect on the actions that Solomon took, and take our concerns before the only one that could help us overcome the effects of sin on our life. Let’s be sure to ask God for an opportunity to start all over afresh, and restore the joy of our salvation.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I believe that God does much like the father of the Prodical son, I believe that He stands with open arms waiting for us to ask His forgiveness and seek a renewed spirit.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for giving us stories like this one about Solomon, for these examples help us to know that there is hope for all who will call on the name of Jesus, and ask for His forgiveness. Oh how we desire a right spirit within us, especially when we’ve messed up. Lord Jesus, please humble the hearts of Your children to let go of the sins that so easily beset us. We know the answer – it’s Jesus! Please help us to breakdown our pride and acknowledge our sin before You as we seek Your forgiveness and help to overcome the pain from our sin. We are truly hoping as we are renewed, You will once again place us in situations, and before the right folk that need to know more about You and accept Your leadership in their life. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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 Things We Long For

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-09-13
WRITTEN AT: Naples FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 2:25-28
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 25 That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. 26 For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King. 27 The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, 28 Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God.

APPLICATION: I believe that our longings will have a lot to do with the content of our heart. For most teenage girls, they probably long to find a good husband. For middle-age men they probably long for evidence of their successful godly leadership in their home. For the casual church attender, I believe they endure the service and probably long for it’s conclusion! But for the child of God who has their heart truly set on the things of God, what might we tend to long for? Speaking from a personal perspective, I find that the more I study and meditate on the Word of God, the more excited I become about being in the presence of our Lord and Savior, while looking back on the heartaches and stress of this old world. Friends, I believe that we could easily become caught up in two ways that pull us towards God and being in His presence. The more we watch the news channels, we become so disgusted with this world and all the sin that mankind has either introduced, or is currently working towards, and we soon realize that we are longing for the day that God takes us out of this mess. Secondly, the more that we read God’s Word; talk with Him; and have fellowship with Him as we truly worship Him, we find ourselves longing for the day that we will be in His presence for all eternity. As we look at the story of Simeon, we should note that he had such a close relationship with God, that: he was given a prophecy about the Messiah that would come; and he was led by the Holy Spirit to visit the temple on the very day that Mary and Joseph took Jesus there to be dedicated. I believe that we should realize that a close walk with God is necessary to hear His voice and to enjoy time with Him every day. In doing this we begin to realize that He is the answer to our world’s many issues and the violence and hatred that is dividing our world and creating such havoc. We will also begin longing to be with Jesus, for He is love and He is the best answer to world peace. There is no diseases where Jesus is, so our anxious thoughts about Covid and any other disease that may stump the medical experts of this world, will all be left behind when we go to be with Jesus. Friends, I have only given you enough to whet your appetite and help you conclude that better is one day with God, than a lifetime here on this earth. You will be inclined to worship, love, adore and appreciate the things that you long for. I pray that you will be encouraged to accept and long for the things of Christ every day, versus anything this world could possibly offer you.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The Holy Spirit impelled Simeon to visit the temple so that he could encounter the child Jesus – the One he had been longing to come and save his people! I pray that God will impel us to do those things that please Him each and every day so that He may be lifted up and honored!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have been so gracious to us and given us so much to look forward to here on earth, and especially when we join with You and the Father in heaven. May we become so overjoyed about our homecoming that others might be tempted to learn about and understand our anxious minds. I pray that they might become curious enough to want to know the Savior that my readers and I adore. Please Lord, continue to melt the hearts of those we love so that they might lose sight of the things of this world as they look heavenward. Thank You for providing the way for us to see You one day soon. We long for that day! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

Son, You’re Home Now!

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

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-09-12
WRITTEN AT: Naples FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 15:20-21
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 “So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home. The father raced out to meet him, swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love.
21 “Then the son said, ‘Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be—’ “The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’

APPLICATION: This is probably one of the most well known parables, and perhaps one that is most used in sermons. However, as I read this yet again today, I was reminded of all that Jesus may have been demonstrating to the Pharisees, and wanting us to understand. There are a few points that God spoke to my heart on:
– -> When he was at his lowest point, the Prodical son came to his senses. He realized that life could be so improved if only he would accept the love of his father and all that he had to offer. The grass, that seemed to be so much greener on the other side of the fence, is not always as pleasing as we anticipate. But most importantly the son remembered the love of his father that he left at home. Now, as we think about our decisions today, let’s remember that we also have the choice of accepting Jesus as our Savior and enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that our Heavenly Father – the creator of all things, has a place prepared for us that cannot compare to anything we know today. Unfortunately each of us have family and friends who have followed in the footsteps of the Prodical Son. They are enthused by all that the world has to offer, and they would rather wait until they no longer can enjoy planet earth before conceding to the love and concern that the Father has for His children. It hurts my soul dear friends, does it not have an impact on you?
-—> The love of the father in this story reminds me so much of our Heavenly Father. Remember how the angels rejoice in heaven whenever a lost one is found? Don’t you know that our precious Father also stands with opened arms to welcome all of His kids that have found their way to the foot of the cross? God showed His love for us, even while we were sinners, by sending and sacrificing His very own Son, so that we would have a clear avenue to heaven where He could love on us and care for us eternally.
Friends, the Prodical Son is a parable that should help us identify how we run away from those that love us; how we feel like something better is just around the corner for us, especially if we could separate from those who cling to and love us; How the Father is standing with opened arms to welcome us home, if only we will come to our senses and accept His love. I just love the welcoming words of the Prodical’s earthly father ‘Son you’re home’! Can’t you hear the excitement in his voice as he probably crumbles in total joy and happiness while welcoming his son back home? Can you even imagine the face of our Father in Heaven as He welcomes us home? Can you hear the angels singing as He declares ‘You’re home son!’

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I can think of no better words I would rather hear, than my Father in Heaven saying “Welcome home my son, you’re home now”. And no better sound than to hear the angel chorus singing Alleluias as I’m welcomed home!

PRAYER: Thank You Father for the assurance of knowing that my eternal home is awaiting my welcome by God the Father and His precious Son Jesus! Alleluia to the King of kings and Lord of lords! But Lord, I have so many that I am unsure about their final destination. Please humble the heart of my loved ones, and please give me strength and boldness to invite them to join me. Lord, I believe that You will return soon to take Your bride home to glory. I will glory in the empty cross as I wait for Your return, and I will never stop praying for the lost as long as You see fit to leave me here below. May You be glorified today as the unsaved surrender their hearts to You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!

Your Brother’s Keeper

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Imitate Jesus, Imitator of Christ, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-09-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 2:1-3
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT:  1 …. “I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I promised to your ancestors, and I said that I would never break my covenant with you, 2 if you, on your part, would make no peace treaties with the people living in this land; I told you to destroy their heathen altars. Why have you not obeyed? 3 And now since you have broken the contract, it is no longer in effect, and I no longer promise to destroy the nations living in your land; rather, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”

APPLICATION: Very early in the Bible, Cain was asked about his brother, Abel’s whereabouts. In Genesis 4:9 we can read where Cain responded to the Lord ‘Am I my brother’s keeper’? Of course we know the full story, for Cain was not ready to acknowledge to the Lord that he had killed his brother. This phrase is repeated still today when one is not wanting to be held accountable for a brother. But let’s look closely into our Scripture today. When your brother, neighbor, friend, or someone you know, does something that will impact your life, shouldn’t you be concerned about what they do? God made a covenant agreement with the Israelites very early on. This meant that he promised to do something for them, if they promised to do what he told them. Friends, unlike covenant agreements made at wedding ceremonies, that are often broken, God stands firmly by His covenant agreements. He promised that He would see that they and/or their successors will make it into a land flowing with milk and honey. Much different to the country of Egypt where they were enslaved and where they did exactly as they were ordered to do. At this point in our Scripture reading, God had brought the nation of Israel into this promised land, however it was very obvious that the Israelites had no intention of holding up their covenant agreement with God, for they did not totally destroy the idols and everyone in the new land they were about to occupy. So they were all about to receive God’s hand of judgment. Do you suppose that every individual was guilty of the sin God saw in them? Now look around you and think about the bad things that others see happening in your church, or in your school. Because you are a part of those entities, you are also determined guilty of the sin your neighbors think about when you tell them that you attend church there, or you went to school there. Friends, I believe that God showed me today that although He expects me to keep myself holy and in tuned with my maker, that I should also do all within my power to impact the lives of those around me. God was upset with the Israelites for not destroying the idols they found, because He knew they would soon turn and worship them. While we are tasked with the responsibility of witnessing to our neighbors, we must strive to win them over, otherwise their sinful acts might start to influence us. Be concerned about your neighbors my friend, if they are not for the Lord, then they stand a chance of distracting us from our course as we strive for righteousness through the power of the Almighty God. There’s no way of being classified as anything different to what the world sees in the majority of folk around us. Yes, God knows our individual hearts, and I thank Him for that. But let’s pray that the world will see our church as an extension of God’s grace and power. May they see our cities as filled with children of God waiting for the return or our Lord and Savior. May they become weak in their sin, so that their hearts may be attracted to the love and grace of our Father in heaven. Be concerned about your neighbor, may they know Jesus just like you do!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God is holy, and He is looking for a holy people to occupy heaven with He, His Son, and His angels. May we look at our neighbors and be concerned about their lifestyle, if it does not imitate that of Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, we may have been deprogrammed to turn our heads away from our neighbor’s business. But I believe that You are much more concerned about their heart than us interfering in their personal business. May we make it our business to know that they are a child of the King and that they are determined to live out their time on earth imitating Your walk among us and responding to Your desire to know them personally. May we, as a church, as a city, as a country, be known as followers of Jesus because of the way we live, love and act. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog 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 this devotional, please click on 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. Words underlined in my blog might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. 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!