Allow God To Lead

On 2021-11-262021-11-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Lead me, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-11-24
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 5:22-25
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²²But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. ²³And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.²⁴When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” ²⁵So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

APPLICATION: Think about David’s former encounter with the Philistine (giant). He was not afraid of the giant, even though the whole Israelite army stood back in fright over the dare given to then by this giant-of-a-man. But look at what happened in this mature state of David’s life. David didn’t go to battle based on his previous success, but he wanted to ensure that he was basing every decision in life on the the awesome God that he served. He knew from all of life’s experiences that God had always been faithful; always successful in whatever He approves and/or commands; and that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that God can’t do. As a son stands before his Father to seek His direction, David knew that God would not approve something that would cause him hardship or harm. With God’s stamp of approval, David knew that he could move forward into battle knowing that he served the God who will always be true to His word and will only lead His children into challenging times to show His strength, His power, and His divine purpose. Friends, for those of you that have experienced life and seen the ups and downs of life, you will be quick to recognize that God’s direction has not always been aligned with your way of doing things, but you soon recognized that His way was always perfect in every way. As you move forward in life: remember how He rescued you; remember how He saved you in circumstances where you didn’t have a clue which way to turn; and always take note how He also directed men of old in the Bible, and that we still serve the same God who has always been evident across the ages of time. He proved His love for us, and He has proven Himself in many circumstances for many of His children. Take note of this, and remember that God can still do it again for you in whatever circumstance of life that you may find yourself in. Don’t question God, but instead trust in Him knowing that He’s in control and that He will do what’s best for His children, just like we try to do for our earthly children. God will lead the way for us in our battles! I believe He is patiently looking for us to follow His lead. Trust Him today precious friend, for He is faithful right to the very end of time!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God not only directs us in our battles of life, but He leads the way for us, and welcomes us to follow His lead, knowing that His way is always best/perfect!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, there are so many dilemmas and questions we have in life that we often scratch our heads and at times, wonder which way we should turn next. How refreshing it is to read how You led the way for David and his men in battle against the Philistines. I am convinced that it only serves as a reminder that You are still able and willing to do the same thing for us as we face our daily battles. At times, our battles feel much bigger than the tallest Philistine, at least in our eyes. But praise be to God, You are bigger than all our troubles and very capable of handling our battles each and every day. Help us to listen to the rustling as You proceed ahead of us and motion for us to follow behind. Your love is beyond anything that we can comprehend, but I praise You Father for loving even me – especially me and my readers and listeners. Lord You are good, and Your faithfulness endures through all generations! May we always life up our eyes in praise and thanksgiving, knowing that what You do is well done and always in line with Your perfect will, with us ultimately on Your mind. 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 Condition Of Your Heart When Praying

On 2021-11-232021-11-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Clean Heart, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-11-23
WRITTEN AT: Sebring, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 66:17-20
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ^17-18I cried out to him for help, and I praised him.
If I had been hiding sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me.
¹⁹But God did listen to me; he heard my prayer.
²⁰Praise God! He did not turn away from me—he listened to my prayer.
He continues to show his love to me!

APPLICATION: Not in our wildest imagination would we think of approaching those in highest authority over our country without first seeking advice on what to wear and how to deal with the expected protocols of the office held. We wouldn’t dream of attending in our farm working clothes, or a pair of sandals, nor with a company cap on. We would want to be prepared to greet, and respond with utmost respect, and we would appreciate knowing when we are to keep quiet and whether to only speak when asked to, etc. So what about our approach with God? We must always remember that there is no one higher, none as holy, and we are oh so unworthy of His love and acceptance of us, mere sinners saved by grace. Why presidents, kings and queens must all bow to Him, and they must approach the throne of grace for salvation just like the poorest man on earth. So if we see the need for respect and honor of our country’s leaders, shouldn’t we all the more freely give honor, glory, and our foremost respect to our Lord – the One who created us and our leaders, the One who loves us all unconditionally, and the One who placed our leaders in authority over us? Notice that all these qualities I just mentioned have nothing to do with the dress code of our church nor the worship songs they choose to lead us in. Instead, it is a matter of what’s in our heart. Led by the Holy Spirit, David shared how he felt his prayers would not have been answered if he approached God with sin in his heart. Perhaps this is something we should look at deeply when we seek God in prayer, especially if it appears like He may be refusing to hear our cry for help. Friends, we may stand a chance fooling some of the people around us some of the time, but we could never fool God and get away with it. The Bible says that God not only hears every word we speak and sees every move we make, but He is well aware of even our deepest thoughts. So let me encourage you precious friends, make your heart right with God and stay so closely connected to Him, that the Holy Spirit will prompt you to seek forgiveness of sin that develops in your heart. God is righteous, and He expects us to communicate with Him from a righteous heart. I believe that, like David, God will hear the cries of His righteous children and He will encourage us to ask for what we need and He will grant it!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God answers the prayers of those who approach His throne with a clean and contrite heart.

PRAYER: Living in this old sinful world, we are often stained with the sin that surrounds us. Lord, we beg You to forgive us of our sin and unrighteousness, for it is only with a clean heart free from sin that we could expect You to answer our prayers. Thank You for answering the cry of our ancestor, David, and for His words of wisdom to help us as we approach You. Those that we come into contact with will see us in our sin and it will hinder them from seeing the One that we are supposed to represent. Lord, please make us suitable for Your kingdom, and usable as Your representatives here on earth. AMEN!

Look To God For Your Needs

On 2021-11-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-11-22
WRITTEN AT: Sebring, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 3:3-5
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³Solomon loved the Lord and followed his father David’s instructions, but Solomon also offered sacrifices and burned incense at the shrines. ⁴The most important shrine was in Gibeon, and Solomon had offered more than a thousand sacrifices on that altar.
⁵One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the Lord God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”

APPLICATION: So often we bow the head to pray, and the words are automatic. We’ve heard the pastor, Sunday School teacher and friends pray, and always wished that we could pray that good, so we adopt certain points from their prayers so we might ‘sound legitimate’ in the ears of our peers. But wait a minute, who are we praying to? What are we praying for? Do we have faith in the one to whom we are praying? Do we have a personal relationship with the one to whom we are praying, and have confidence that our deepest thoughts, expressions and requests will be safe in His hands? Do we know that He could accomplish everything that may be bearing on my heart? Friends, I believe that when the God of all creation reaches down in love and shares His interest in us and simply asks us to share openly our needs with the only One who could do anything about them, suddenly our minds will turn away from memorized, written, or repetitious prayers, and the words from our heavy heart, or our joyous heart, or our pleading heart, will bubble forth from a heart longing for someone to understand us, and our needs. Suddenly we realize that we are in the presence of the One who created us, the One who loved us even when we were so unlovable, the One who raised Lazarus from the dead, made the blind man see again and the crippled man walk for the first time – the only One who has the compassion to put up with our worry, heal our loved ones, encourage the broken heart, get the attention of the lost, and fulfill His promise of welcoming us home to glory when that day comes! Praise the Lord, Without the fear of retribution, we could freely, openly, and in all honesty tell our Father exactly what we need and what we want. He is in control, and He knows before we do, what the best course of action is for our lives! Solomon was blessed with much more than he asked for, even though he was in Gibeon to offer sacrifices to a false god. There is no telling what God has in store for us – His precious children! Oh that we will recognize Him the next time that we bow our heads in prayer, and may we always be prepared to answer Him when He asks the same question of us that He did of Solomon.

PRAYER: Lord my prayer today is that others might see Jesus, and that they may hear the whisper of their Creator when He tells them ‘Ask for whatever you want, and I will give it to you’. What we possibly have done to deserve this oh Lord? Oh that Jesus will always be our greatest desire. AMEN!

Shall They Follow The God Evident In Your Life?

On 2021-11-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Example of Christ, Genuine example of Jesus, Godly example, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-11-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Daniel 6:26-27
TRANSLATION: The Voice Translation (Voice)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁶I decree that all people everywhere who live under my sovereign rule ought to tremble before and fear the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never be overthrown; His reign will know no end. ²⁷He saves and rescues those who fear Him, performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; For He has rescued His servant Daniel from the power of the lions.

APPLICATION: Isn’t it interesting how we look at the characteristics and mannerisms of a family member and we commit to never repeat much of what we see? As young teenagers, we tend to be especially critical of our parents and the things they do that embarrass us! ‘Never will we do that’ is what we say about their mannerisms, for we clearly see the flaws!! But isn’t it interesting to look back in our maturing age and see how we are so much like our parents?!! In our Scripture today we see an example of a hardened king whose heart was changed because of the faithfulness of a true, earnest and faithful son of the Almighty. Like many of us, the king was accustomed to telling his subjects what they ~~should~~ must do, and if they disobeyed, or took too long getting it done, their life was abruptly ended. However, when Daniel was brought into the picture, King Darius noticed something different about him, much like I would hope that others notice with true followers of Christ today. For Daniel came with his life already under the command of one King, and he was so faithful to that King that he was not about to be redirected against those principles, even to the point, and threat, of death, when commanded by an earthly king. Friends, this man’s faith caused a hardened king to not only recognize the power of the King of all kings to whom Daniel answered, but he went as far as using that experience to command his kingdom to also respect and honor the King/God of Daniel. This stopped me in my tracks, and caused me to question what someone might say at the end of a day that they may have spent around me. What about you friend? Would there be some traits that your friend(s) might consider adopting? Do you suppose that they saw Jesus at all that day? Would they be drawn towards the God you serve, or would they try with all their power to go in the opposite direction? To each one reading this devotional, may I suggest that you consider this today in the things that you say and in the things you do? Seek God as you start your day and ask Him to give you opportunities to let your light so shine, that others might catch a glimpse of your Master. It’s all about Him, my faithful friend! Let others see Jesus in everything you do, say or think. People still need the Lord! May their hardened hearts be turned towards your God because they saw evidence of Him in you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Others are watching you, not for any good qualities of your own, but hoping to see the influence Jesus made in you!

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, may Your light so shine through my readers and I today, that those to whom we come into contact with, will react much like King Darius did in observing Daniel. May others desire a relationship with our King and want to adopt Your commands and characteristics. I believe that as they do, and prove You faithful, they will feel compelled to draw close to You and give You full reign in their lives. May You be recognized and glorified through us today dear Lord, AMEN!

You Must Ask For It

On 2021-11-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-11-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 14:12-14
TRANSLATION: The Voice Translation (Voice)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹²I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. ¹³Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. ¹⁴Let Me say it again: if you ask for anything in My name, I will do it.

APPLICATION: Ever noticed that a young son may go and ask his friend of equal age to do something with him that he and his dad had been discussing, but because the friend was not involved in the discussion, he shows little to no interest. However, when the son adds that his dad ordered him to proceed with, and complete the project at his very earliest, the friend yields out of respect to the father. Jesus had just introduced the Comforter to His disciples as He (Jesus) prepared Himself to go and be with the Father. Jesus assured His disciples, as He still assures us today, that He will be sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, and that He will receive glory from the Father as His children carries on His work here on earth with the help of the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit. Notice that great emphasis is directed to the fact that not only will we have power to do the things that Jesus did, but Jesus insisted that we will do even greater things than He (Jesus) did while here on earth. Fellow believers, we must never lose sight of who we are representing, and whose power resides within us, enabling us to do mighty works because of Jesus! Remember that in Acts 19:13-16 there were some who went around trying to cast out demons in Jesus’ name, but even the demons recognized that they were not of Jesus and not speaking on His behalf. Friends, it is safe to say, based on the Word of God, that if any miraculous work is to be done, it will be the power, and the work of Jesus Christ portrayed through us to do the work, with the results being totally for His glory. I believe that there are two important things to remember about being blessed with the power of Jesus as He works miraculously through us: (1) Doing the work of the Lord, demonstrates our love for Him, and nothing that we may be able to brag about, or benefit from personally; and (2) Miracles are performed in order to bring people to a full knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not for any gain of ourselves, and not for the purpose of relieving our friends from some earthly burden, but that they might know Jesus as their Lord and personal Savior. Please note that there is nothing mentioned about the obedient servant who God uses to stand in His stead and allow His miracles to be transmitted through. But I can assure you that for those who will do this, we will be blessed beyond anything words can describe. To God be the glory for all the great things He can do through even us who believe in Him, and are willing to be used by Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe it is easy for us to recognize our powerlessness and know that we can do nothing miraculous by ourselves. However, I also believe that there are times that our ego steps in and we want so badly to see our friends overcome obstacles that we tend to jump in there and pray peace and/or healing over them so they could return to a sense of normalcy. I was recently reminded by a pastor when He said that we could very easily step in the way of You actually disciplining someone, by trying to humanly help them correct or overcome their situation. This scripture has once again opened my eyes to the fact that we must be so driven by the Spirit of God that the things we say and the things we do, would be perfectly aligned with His will and His purpose. I also believe that if the Holy Spirit leads us to a miraculous scenario with our friends, it will only serve to demonstrate the perfect love of God for them, and bring them to a full knowledge of Jesus Christ! We must, in total obedience, always seek the leadership of our Lord each day so that through us, He may have His perfect will among our unsaved loved ones. Lord, I am concerned that there are so many in each of our circle of friends that don’t know You as their Lord and personal Savior. If it takes a miracle to convince them of Your love and power today, I pray that Your will may be done. Please speak clearly to Your children so that we may, in full obedience do Your perfect will. AMEN!

Look For LIGHT in A Dark World

On 2021-11-162021-11-16 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Light, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship3 Comments

Tuesday, 2021-11-16

Bible Reference: John 12:35-36
Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

Bible Text: ³⁵Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. ³⁶Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

APPLICATION: In John 1:5 we are told that the same light referred to in our focal verses today, is actually ‘Jesus‘. God saw how far His precious children had gone off course, and away from the ideals He had first established for us to follow, so He sent His precious Son as a ‘LIGHT’ to remind us of the joy, refreshment, peace and hope that belongs to those of us looking for a way out of the darkness. For this darkness really tends to overwhelm us everywhere we turn here on earth. Yesterday I glanced at my Facebook account, and there was one plea after another for prayer and encouragement. In one case a dad and his relatives were mourning the sudden death of a 30+ year old son who was killed in a tragic accident; in another case close to home, a husband lost His precious wife who was his primary caregiver and support; in multiple cases crime had hit close to home for many families; and if I would have read on, I bet there would have been more friends feeling the results of the ‘darkness’ of this world. I found this Scripture very uplifting, because Jesus knew before time that these times of evil would come, and that mankind would need a very bright Light that stands for hope, even in our darkest times. I believe that many of us identify with the ‘darkness’ that has all but overcome us. Isn’t it rewarding that our God knew well in advance that we would need encouragement in knowing that there is more to this world than darkness? I was reminded that we were created in the image of God so that we might return praise back to Him. So what have we gotten ourselves into that hinders that praise back to our Father? Do we have an open and honest relationship with His Son, and experience the freedom of chatting with Him about all these worldly things that tend to stress us out? Are we able to praise Him, even in the storms of life that come our way? Don’t you think that the child of God that praises Him in all circumstances of life, will truly be able to approach Him with every decision that must be made, and every challenge that we foresee with just our human heart and eyes? Oh dear friend, let us together learn to speak with our Lord every day of the week, and not just when called upon to do so while at church. Remember, our relationship is with Jesus, and while our church family will definitely encourage us and support us, there is no one like Jesus! Our verses today reminds us that this Light (Jesus) is available to us. I would boldly suggest that we all have had enough of the ‘darkness’. It is high time that children of the Light, look to the Light for His huge hand of protection; healing; mercy and encouragement each and every day, so that He might wipe out the effects of the darkness and all the misfortunes that it burdens us with. Learn to praise Him even in the storms of life, and recognize Him for the all-powerful, almighty God that He is. Hard to imagine that He loves even us – wimps and weaklings – but He does. We are His creation that He put His life on the line for!

PRAYER: To the Light of the world, Jesus my Savior, I am honored and humbled to stand in Your presence and not only recognize You as my Lord and Savior, but as the Light that will extinguish all darkness, and especially the impacts of the ills and misfortunes of this wicked world. These bad things impact us all every day dear Lord, but I ask that You help us to stay focused on You and keep our eyes fixed on the awesome God that You are. Please guide us daily out of the darkness and into the light, so that our hearts will be freed and ready to worship and praise You in every aspect of life. You alone are God. Please help us to respect Your position in our lives, and to always be reminded of our need for You – in all things. 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!

Seek God For A Daily Washing

On 2021-11-152021-11-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Humble, Humbleness, Humility, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

Monday, 2021-11-15

Bible Reference: John 13:6-8
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text:
Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): ⁶Lord, are You going to wash my feet?
Jesus: ⁷Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later.
Peter: ⁸You will not wash my feet, now or ever!
Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me.

APPLICATION: My spiritual curiosity was peaked when I read verse 8, so I studied the meaning of these words deeper. I loved the way this is explained in the Matthew Henry Commentary and wanted to share it: All those, and those only who are spiritually washed by Christ, have a part in Christ. All whom Christ owns and saves, he justifies and sanctifies. Peter more than submits; he begs to be washed by Christ. Those who truly desire to be sanctified, desire to be sanctified throughout, to have the whole man, with all its parts and powers, made pure. The true believer is thoroughly washed when he receives Christ for his salvation. See then what ought to be the daily care of those who, through grace, are in a justified state, and that is, to wash their feet; to cleanse themselves from daily guilt; and to watch against everything defiling. This should make us the more cautious. From yesterday’s pardon, we should be strengthened against this day’s temptation. Within pain and filth, there is an opportunity to extend God’s kingdom through an expression of love, humility, and service. This simple act of washing feet is a metaphor for how the world looks through the lens of Jesus’ grace. He sees the people—the world He created—which He loves. He also sees the filthy corruption in the world that torments everyone. His mission is to cleanse those whom He loves from those horrors. This is His redemptive work with feet, families, disease, famine, and hearts. When Jesus sees disease, He sees the opportunity to heal. When He sees sin, He sees a chance to forgive and redeem. When He sees dirty feet, He sees a chance to wash them. Oh for wonderful grace of our Savior to cleanse ourselves daily. With sin in our lives, we are like Peter, guilty and embarrassed for Jesus to look inside and see our filth. With a regular cleansing from Jesus, we would feel honored and proud to be in the presence of our holy God, because we are happy to be living a holy life before Him. Christianity is not like some men say about their marriage – I told her at the altar that I loved her, and unless something changes, that word remains true without the need to repeat myself daily!! That is not true love, and it definitely does not define a true relationship with Jesus. He deserves our commitment to honor Him every day and to commune with Him daily to keep our relationship in good, fresh order. Dear friend, if you have not been to Jesus for cleansing yet today, may I encourage you to keep your priority items first on your to-do list? He deserves our first, and our best!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, living in a world filled with the filth of Satan and his demons, it becomes increasingly challenging to allow my light to shine as a beacon for all that represents my loving Savior. Like Peter, I acknowledge that there is a strong need for me to be washed by You on a regular basis. You washed my sin away, when I asked you to, back on 1976. But Lord there is a daily influx of evil that fills my eyes, my mind and tempts me with evil thoughts. Please wash me Lord, so that my mind will remain fixed on You and that I may remain immersed in Your precious love, forgiveness and mercy. Lord, I plead also for my readers that they too may receive a word from You today, and that they may be drawn to You more closely than yesterday. Our wicked world needs You, dear Lord, and I believe it would really help if they could see You in every action by Your representatives her on earth. Use us Lord as Your loyal, honest and dedicated representatives before our family and friends who desperately need You. AMEN!

Today May Be YOUR Day

On 2021-11-142021-11-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Healing, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-11-14
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 5:2-6
TRANSLATION: GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

BIBLE TEXT: ²Near Sheep Gate in Jerusalem was a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew. It had five porches. ³Under these porches a large number of sick people—people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed—used to lie. ⁵One man, who had been sick for 38 years, was lying there. ⁶Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, “Would you like to get well?”

APPLICATION: In our Scripture today, I was once again reminded how Jesus deals with us individually, and how He deals with our infirmities. There was another incident where a lame man sat along the road that Jesus was expected to travel. The lame man shouted so loudly to get the attention of Jesus, that he was told by Jesus’ disciples to be quiet. But among all the people that lined the street that day, Jesus chose to stop and pay particular attention to the lame man. He didn’t immediately heal him, but just as in the case of the man that sat on the porch at the pool of Bethsaida, Jesus asked them to verbalize their need. Seems very obvious, doesn’t it? But it seems like not only did Jesus want the lame men to identify their needs, but He wanted them to see it was their day! At the pool, the Bible says that many sat around waiting for the moving of the waters. Along the roadside, the lame man was one of many who not only wanted to see Jesus, but I’m sure that based on the many stories they had heard about the awesome power of Jesus, they were hoping that He would possibly have mercy on them that day. We are not told if there was anything special that drew Jesus to either of the men reference above, but one thing for sure is that this was ’their day’, and Jesus chose to heal them based of their need. How will you know if Jesus has planned to heal your body today or tomorrow? In the case of these lame men, there was absolutely no one who could tell them to be present, shout real loud, look a certain way, or anything. For it was Jesus who saw them and chose to heal them that day. No doubt He knew their need from a very young age. No doubt they had been at events where Jesus showed up before, and no doubt they screamed for His attention at those times also. I believe the message in this Scripture today is that we must never grow weary in praising God, nor petitioning His throne for our needs and desires. One day it will be our turn for Jesus to look on us, and out of the goodness of His heart, He will meet our desperate needs. Perhaps today you are standing before the throne in desperation, praying that God will meet a certain need for yourself or a loved one. God knows you intimately my friend, so keep on pressing Him for your needs. One day your time will come, and you will encounter the Great I Am, and be healed, enriched, encouraged, of just lifted up. It will be your time for a close encounter with the Master! So never give up, and be ready to give an account of the burning need that is impacting your life!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Although the lame men did nothing different, yet Jesus saw them where they were at, and chose to make their day! Among all the others that were looking to Him that day, yet Jesus saw these lame men and chose to give them the desire of their hearts. We must never give up on petitioning our God, for one day He will choose to grant us our heart’s desire, or meet our greatest need.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for not only creating us, but also hearing our most urgent and intimate cry. It is evident that You keep a very close and constant eye on our needs and hear the desires of our heart. Thank You for showing us through Your Word that You need no rhyme or reason to heal us, but just as Your eye is on the sparrow and You meet their every need, You are also watching over us and waiting to do the same for us. May we always be about our Master’s work, and may we be constant in asking, knowing that one day You will make our day and heal our diseases also. Your love is amazing and beyond comprehension for humble men to understand, but praise God we know that there is nothing You can’t do! Like the lame men, we’ll keep pleading our case and waiting for Your power to be unveiled and unleashed in us! AMEN!

Because Of Your Witness

On 2021-11-132021-11-12 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evangelism, Evangelize, Needs, Personal Witness, Praise, Recognize God, Witness, Witnessing, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-11-13
WRITTEN AT: Ormond Beach, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 4:39-42
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁹Now numerous Samaritans from that town believed in and trusted in Him because of what the woman said when she declared andtestified, He told me everything that I ever did.
⁴⁰So when the Samaritans arrived, they asked Him to remain with them, and He did stay there two days.
⁴¹Then many more believed in and adhered to and relied on Him because of His personal message [what He Himself said].
⁴²And they told the woman, Now we no longer believe (trust, have faith) just because of what you said; for we have heard Him ourselves [personally], and we know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ.

APPLICATION: Having worked in the public eye before, it was challenging to remember that interacting with my customers could have impacted them as much as I am reminded of today. I’ve heard stories of widows or widowers visiting their bank every day so they could associate with friendly employees. I’ve seen very angry people who tend to bury themselves in self-pity. But as a Christian, even though I’ve always heard about the importance of sharing Christ with others, I don’t believe I was ever impacted as much, as what God dealt with me on in meditating on this Scripture today. I remember journaling on this story before, but it suddenly hit me today that the Samaritan woman had a choice to make, based on several things about the message today: 1). She could have returned home quiet and subdued, perhaps embarrassed because she realized that the Master of this universe knew all about her marriages and about her current living conditions; 2). She could have gone about her business as usual without arising suspicion among the town about her sanity in thinking that a Jew would have anything to do with a Samaritan, much less a woman; 3). She could have adopted the new catch phrase that tends to pop up in today’s culture ‘Just asking for a friend’, and she could have pretended that she overheard someone speaking with a friend at the well whom she believed could have been Jesus; or 4). No restraints, just let go and share what you know happened to you at the well. Today, your friends could choose to believe you, or not. Friends, when something exciting or miraculous happens in our day, we want to share that with whomever will stop and listen. This is the option that this woman at the well chose to do, and praise God she did, because look at the immense impact it had on her townspeople! So as we meditate on our God today, I believe that it behooves us to evaluate whether we are diligent in sharing our encounters with God with those that we come into contact with. In today’s society, it seems like we are hesitant to mention the name of Jesus in our conversation anymore, because we don’t want to impose our religion on those we come into contact with. Notice how Jesus not only spoke to this woman at the well, but He asked for her assistance. He wanted communion with her. I am reminded that God knows us intimately. He knows our hurts; our worries; our friends; our sins; our weaknesses; and everything in between. I am convinced that when He blesses us, it could be for many more reasons that to just make us feel special or important. He could have touched our heart in last week’s church service because He wanted to fire us up to tell others about our awesome God and our encounter with Him. The very one(s) that we choose to share that with, could very easily be the one questioning if anyone cares about them, or perhaps wondering if God really does exist. Notice that in spite of the woman’s reputation, the townspeople believed what she shared with them, and they were convinced enough that they wanted a personal encounter with Jesus. The main thing that excited me about this story is that when the people had their personal, one-on-one encounter with Jesus, they thanked the woman for drawing them to this mighty man, but they were exuberant about claiming Jesus as their own personal Savior! Friends, that’s a precise example of what happens when we share Christ with our family and friends, and they finally decide to attend church with us. For it is there that many look at more than our story, but instead they look full into the face of Jesus and experience an intimate, personal relationship with Him. Join me in being challenged to just open up and share what Jesus has done for us. Seminary is not required, just share your personal experience with Jesus! It could make a life-changing difference for others, for all eternity!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as God miraculously reaches in and touches our life, we might help in encouraging others to also seek our God. He could change their eternal destiny, as they find Him and trust Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are more precious than silver or anything else in this world, because You saw us in our sin and mire, and You accepted our plea for salvation anyway. We are concerned for family and friends who show evidence of not knowing You personally, please embolden us and direct us to these individuals with the right words to share with them. Lord, I believe Your return is imminent and that it will happen soon! We don’t want to see any left behind, but we need You to do the work and use us if it will help. The Samaritan woman did this, and I believe You can also help us to be a better witness. Use us in Your service Lord, for Your kingdom’s sake. AMEN!

What Is It That Satisfies Your Hunger?

On 2021-11-122021-11-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evangelism, Evangelize, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Satisfaction, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-11-12
WRITTEN AT: Ormond Beach, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 4:34-34
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁴To clarify, Jesus spoke up and said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and bring it to completion.”
³⁵As the crowds emerged from the village, Jesus said to his disciples, “Why would you say, ‘The harvest is another four months away’? Look at all the people coming—now is harvest time! Their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain—ready for a harvest. ³⁶Everyone who reaps these souls for eternal life will receive a reward. Both those who plant spiritual seeds and those who reap the spiritual harvest will celebrate together with great joy! ³⁷And this confirms the saying, ‘One sows the seed and another reaps the harvest.’ ³⁸I have sent you out to harvest a field that you haven’t planted, where many others have labored long and hard before you. And now you are privileged to profit from their labors and reap the harvest.”

APPLICATION: I believe that over time we can see where humans tend to focus most on the things and people they have developed a drive to grow/expand/enrich. Take for example a mom’s favorite child who seems destined for ‘big’ things in life. That mom will give up her choice meat for that child; she will spend her last dollar to dress that child in the most current and stylish attire; she will challenge teachers who may appear to pick on that child in class; and she might even fight with a referee calling a game her child in playing in! Why is that? I believe it’s because that mom has developed a hunger for the success of that child and she only feels satisfied when that child is winning, smiling, happy, or at the top of their game – whether it’s scholastically or competitively in sports. In our Scripture, Jesus shared that He had a deep hunger for what He felt compelled to do for His Father – God. Just as we are driven to eat when we’re famished, Jesus showed us that He was driven to ensure that none of His children should perish, because there was so much more that the Father has in store for us. Imagine at the reading of our earthly father’s will we find out that he had banked thousands of dollars, hoping that long after his passing his kids would still be financially fit. Wouldn’t that be a sigh of relief for us, especially as we acknowledge how tough it is to survive these days? Well guess what, Jesus knew that His Father is a lot more generous than we could begin to imagine. Why in John 3:16 we are reminded that God made some very special arrangements for us, to make sure that His provisions were easily accessible to us. He sent His very own Son (Jesus) into the world, so that those who would welcome and accept Him, He would gladly open the gates of heaven for us to go in. Jesus not only personally felt the cruelty of mankind at Calvary, but He was motivated by His Father to make sure that we not miss the opportunity to receive all that God has provided for us to enjoy for all eternity. Jesus was ’hungry’ to get on with the work of His Father and to please Him unconditionally. For those of us that have accepted God’s special gift – Jesus Christ, we should have a hunger similar to that of God’s Son, for there are many in our circle of friends that still have not accepted God’s gift. I pray that every reader and/or listener will be as ‘hungry’ as Jesus was, to share the Good News of God’s special gift, for the gates of heaven are still being opened today for those who accept Jesus as Lord! Check your drive, your motivation, your desires and your will to advance the Kingdom of God! Make sure your heart is in the right place!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus is still hungry for the souls of His children that He sacrificed His own life for. Heaven is still available to those who believe – personally believe, in the name of Jesus Christ!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, in greatest humility, let me ask that You please make us ‘hungry’ for the same things that motivated You to save the world from sin and destruction. There are still many who refuse to listen, obey and accept the invitation `You offered in John 3:16, and that You specifically went to the cross for. Lord, I pray that we will not be able to cope in life until our desire is satisfied to see our loved ones saved from their destructive and unthoughtful resolution to just die without a Savior or the assurance of their heavenly destiny. Thank You for the assurance that You will still save souls, now if we could be about our Father’s work, perhaps our cravings will be satisfied and the angels in heaven will rejoice with us over one more soul who surrenders to the lordship of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Month: November 2021