Do It Again Lord!

On 2022-05-302022-06-01 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-05-30
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Pslam 85:4-7
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁴Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
    Put aside your anger against us once more.
⁵Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
⁶Won’t you revive us again,
    so your people can rejoice in you?
⁷Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

APPLICATION: It is unfortunate, but way too often we tend to feel like our one vote won’t matter in a general election, or our ability to participate in the evangelistic work of our church won’t matter much in reaching the masses who have chosen to reject Jesus. But as we look at the desperate plea of Korah’s clan in this Psalm today, we will recognize that they had heard about the actions of their ancestors as they traveled through the Wilderness rejecting God and His wondrous works in spite of Him providing for them as they traveled through desert land. No doubt, they saw the love of God in still keeping up with His covenant agreement with His people by safely delivering them to the Promised Land. But, in true form to what we tend to do today, the Israelites soon forgot their many blessings and returned to their sinful ways when they felt like God’s help was no longer needed. Friends, we are living in such a time that we seem to believe that WE have everything under control, for excuses abound why we needn’t attend church; we are way too busy to find time for enhancing our relationship with God; despite what others face with health issues, we have been unaffected; despite skyrocketing inflation, we have managed to keep bread on our table and clothes on our backs, so ‘we’ve got this’. How sad for us to be so narrow-minded. When previous troubles came, we had a God that we could run to, and we were comforted, provided for, and encouraged to go on. Should this not form an indelible impact on our minds and lives that would invoke praise and adoration each and every day – even when things appear to be going well? Perhaps our daily prayer should be likened to that of Korah’s clan – ‘Please Lord, restore to me, my family, my church, and my workplace, the joy of remembering all that You have done for us. Remind us often of Your power and Your might. Forgive us when we fail to glorify You each day. Restore in us the memory of our very first day under Your wing. Refresh our desire to know You more, and to serve You better, by becoming involved in all the ways that You point us towards here on earth. Do it again Lord – PLEASE?’

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Whenever we ask God to do it again, we are remembering that He had blessed us beyond measure at least once already! He does this every day, so may we celebrate His blessings every day, and seek to share that blessing with others.

PRAYER: It’s amazing how easily we put You on ‘the back-burner’ Lord. You have made such a difference in our lives, and we can never forget Your love, forgiveness, and unending goodness towards us. When we accepted You as Lord and Savior, we became one with You and therefore represent all that You stand for. Please Lord, help us to act in a way pleasing to You and representative of You and Your goodness. Please ‘do it again’ – revive a right spirit within me, within Your church and in every one of Your kids, so that the world might see Your mighty works and Your loving and forgiving spirit. There are many around us that need to know You. Please impact their lives, and do it through us, if it pleases 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!

Obedience Leads To Victory

On 2022-05-282022-05-28 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, Surrender, Victory, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-05-28
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 7:9-11; 13; 15;
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹That night, the Lord said to Gideon. “Get up! Attack the Midianite camp. I am going to let you defeat them, ¹⁰but if you’re still afraid, you and your servant Purah should sneak down to their camp. ¹¹When you hear what the Midianites are saying, you’ll be brave enough to attack.”….
¹³Gideon overheard one enemy guard telling another, “I had a dream about a flat loaf of barley bread that came tumbling into our camp. It hit the headquarters tent, and the tent flipped over and fell to the ground.”
¹⁵As soon as Gideon heard about the dream and what it meant, he bowed down to praise God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Let’s go! The Lord is going to let us defeat the Midianite army.”

APPLICATION: As a parent, we are used to the idea of running to help our kids overcome simple obstacles in life. As adults, we tend to continue that parental instinct to help coworkers and friends win a battle they might be struggling with. However, as long as we remain here on earth, we will always face challenging times when either we don’t have the authority to throw in our ‘two cents’ or the ability to do anything constructive in certain circumstances. Gideon must have had a good relationship with God! Because God knew that with enough convincing Gideon would eventually follow-through with His instructions. Gathering a fair sized army may have been the easy part, but Gideon saw God eliminate 10,000 of his good men. In spite of the increasing, and perhaps impossible, task that Gideon was beginning to realize, he saw God further reduce his army to 300, even while Gideon kept his eyes fixed on the very large army that settled in below the mountain where he was located. I’m sure that Gideon must have been shaking in his boots even after God convinced him of His presence and His power, but Gideon reluctantly stayed committed to the battle God led him into. Just as God knows how badly we need convincing at every step when we face our battles here on earth, He was also well aware that Gideon needed one more opportunity to be convinced that God knew what He was doing. Notice that God spoke through the enemy in a dream so that Gideon could be convinced that he was hearing instructions from the Almighty God. Doesn’t that sound so much like us? We are fine to sit in the confines of the four walls of our church surrounded by like-minded Christians, but don’t we tend to question God when we feel like He is challenging us to do things like: helping with prison ministry, street evangelism, teaching a Bible Study; sharing our testimony with an unsaved coworker or friend, or visiting His kids living out their final hours in a Hospice bed? We go on endlessly with the ‘what-if’ scenarios, to try and find the best excuse we could offer to God. Gideon had many excuses he could have used, but God convinced him to the point of bringing him to his knees in praise to the wondrous acts of his loving Father. All doubt was removed and he was confident that if God said it, he could afford to go with the plan, knowing that God was fully in control. I still get very nervous when doing any of the things I mentioned above, but I truly believe that God placed that sense in us so that we will stop and be reminded that it’s by God’s power that the sick are healed; His power that comforts the family and a loved one with only hours remaining on earth; His power that nudges us to the left or to the right as we are redirected on the right path to victory! Let us always remember that God don’t need any help from us, He just wants to see that we are convinced of His power, His love, His wisdom and His protection as He allows us to participate in His victory over life’s situations. Join me as we make every effort to let go, and let God – just as Gideon did!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In spite of the many battles we face, God in His infinite wisdom and power has all the answers, and He is willing to fight those battles – for His glory. Through our obedience to God’s perfect commands, may we trust Him more and celebrate in the victory!

PRAYER: Lord You are good, and Your mercies endure for all times! Who is man, that you should be mindful of, care about, and consider resolving our battles? You alone are worthy of our praise Lord! You alone are God, and without You mankind is doomed for a treacherous eternity in Hell. Thank You for Your continued protection over our ancestors, even through Gideon, who needed a lot of reassuring. We are convinced of Your power, and also that our battles are in good hands when we surrender them to You. Just as You were patient with Gideon, I have no doubt that extra patience is needed when You deal with us and our possessive attitudes. Oh Lord, have Your perfect way in our lives and teach us to always surrender our whole selves to You so that we may rest in the peace of knowing You, and all that You can accomplish in our lives. May others see Your works and be convinced of their need for the Savior of this world. AMEN!

Warnings Apply Right Up To The End of Time

On 2022-05-262022-05-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, End Times, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Warning, Warning Signs, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-05-26
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Corinthians 10:6-11
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁶Now, all of this is an example for us, to warn us not to desire evil things, as they did, ⁷nor to worship idols, as some of them did. As the scripture says, “The people sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex.” ⁸We must not be guilty of sexual immorality, as some of them were—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them fell dead. ⁹We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did—and they were killed by snakes. ¹⁰We must not complain, as some of them did—and they were destroyed by the Angel of Death.
¹¹All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come.

APPLICATION: I pray that today your eyes will be opened to a few things:
1. That the Bible is so alive and applicable to us, even in these current days;
2. That we should try to apply the truth of the Bible in every aspect of our current-day life;
3. Learn to thank God for His warnings, and not just feel sorry for what our ancestors went through;
4. Know that the God who dealt with the Israelites, is the same God we pray to today; the same God who provides for us today; and the same God who is still capable of disciplining or punishing us today for our stubbornness and disobedience;
5. That the same God who provided a ’Promised Land’ for the Israelites, is the same God who has promised us a new world also – Heaven!
In acknowledging that the Bible is alive and how It speak to us, let me share with you that I have read the Bible in it’s entirety a few times, and yet today as I read this Scripture, it was anew and spoke very pointedly to me as if for the very first time I was reading it. In reading the Old Testament, we could easily get the impression that it’s a storybook and, after reading the New Testament and seeing all that God did for us through His Son Jesus, we may tend to feel like there is no way that God would deal with us like He did with the Israelites. But then today’s Scripture comes into view, and we see where God wants us to know that He is still God, and that He will not tolerate sin any better in our day than He did with the Israelites. Now before you share how you feel like we don’t do the sort of things like the Israelites did, such as making idols, let me remind you that an idol is ‘an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship’, or ‘a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered’. Friends, many churches are dying and some have even closed their doors, because too many of their members have found other objects to worship, and their admiration of persons or things have taken priority in their lives. It seems to me that Covid came along to test the sincerity of the hearts of our people. It worked, in that people had an excuse not to attend church. While out of touch with God (because so many use their church service as their only time to learn about God), our people have substituted that time with other personal ‘idols’ and therefore cannot get back into the habit of attending church, at least until another tragedy or scare hits them. I know, you have probably decided by now that I am way too opinionated, but let me be the first to say that my simple purpose is to point my readers and listeners to Christ through reminding them of His Word. If you discern anything other than that, then I would ask that you forgive me if I have misled you, and I would instead suggest that you personally dig into the Word of God and seek the will of God for your life. We are reminded right at the very end of today’s Scripture that the end is near. This is a reminder that you can only seek God and His righteousness while you’re alive. God said that there will come a time when He will end the world, as we know it today. The warnings for what we must do now, is evident in God’s Word. Please let me implore you to accept these warnings and redirect your life to live as Jesus desires of you through His written instructions. For the one who does this will enjoy eternity in heaven with God and His Son, Jesus. The one who chooses not to bother with this, will unfortunately endure the punishment of Hell and its Chief – Satan, for all eternity. I believe the choice is clear, but you must decide for yourself. Now it’s up to you dear friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God rescued His people, the Israelites, and gave them freedom to live in a new place He had in store for them. God has offered to do the exact thing for us, if we permit Him to. Praise God for His offer of salvation!

PRAYER: Thank You Father for ministering to us today through Your servant Paul. What a true awakening and what an opportunity for us today. Lord, may each reader and/or listener make the right decision today and reaffirm their relationship with You, or come to know You as Lord for the very first time. In knowing You, may we all decide wholeheartedly to obey You and give You full control of our lives until You call us home to enjoy our long-term benefits – the likes of heaven with You for all eternity! Touch hearts today precious Lord, I pray that You will have no need for another warning directed at us. AMEN!

We Are Equals At The Feet of Jesus

On 2022-05-252022-05-25 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Healing, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-05-25
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 5:22-23; 27-28;
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ²²One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up; and seeing Him, fell at His feet ²³and begged anxiously with Him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; [please] come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
²⁷She had heard [reports] about Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His outer robe. ²⁸For she thought, “If I just touch His clothing, I will get well.”

APPLICATION: Some will say that most individuals will not look up to Jesus, until they are flat on their back without any other choice but to look up. I’ve heard of many who have traveled hundreds of miles to get the best possible doctor for their loved one, while many have also traveled equally as far to be prayed over by a purported evangelical ‘healer’. In our Scripture today, we have an official of the local synagogue with a need. Surely he had seen many walk through the doors of the synagogue in search of healing, or in need of a touch from God, much like believers today do when they have run out of earthly solutions. However, the petition of Jairus before Jesus was a little different. For you see, this was not just a matter of tradition or routine, like we tend to do on church days, but instead, Jairus had a desperate need that He was convinced in his heart could only be resolved by the Great Healer, Jesus Christ. There was no need for fanfare, or flowery prayers, or recognition for what he did in the synagogue, Jairus was there because he had a desperate need, and he was convinced in his heart about the only one who could satisfy that need. Unlike some current-day evangelists, Jairus didn’t demand that Jesus heal his daughter, but instead he took a position of humility as he pleaded with Jesus to please heal his daughter. Notice also that Jairus was persistent in his request of Jesus. Despite the news that came to him that his daughter had died, he did not turn away and run home as a defeated warrior. Jesus encouraged him to maintain his faith, because he alone held the keys to his daughter’s life. I wonder, how many of us would have hung around if we received such discouraging news from home while you are still out seeking answers? I believe that because Jesus said He would go with Jairus and heal his daughter, nothing – absolutely nothing would cause Jesus to go back on His word to this hurting father.
Notice in the second story, the lady held no religious position, but she too had a need that she was convinced could only be resolved by the King of kings. She had tried earthly experts and they sucked her dry of every penny she had. She too had heard of the Great Healer and she was convinced that even if she couldn’t earn His attention to speak with her, if only she could touch any part of Him or His clothing, healing would be imparted to her. How much faith did you say you have dear friend? Anywhere near as much as this lady displayed? Notice that her suspicions were correct, for it took just a touch of the Master’s clothing! But Jesus made sure that she didn’t go unnoticed, for there were many people there who could benefit from the awesome faith of this woman. I believe that many who will meditate on this devotional today may also benefit from this reminder that there is only one Creator, one Lord, one Healer, one Savior and one King who will return one day soon to take His children on to glory to spend eternity with He and His Father. Today, I believe that Jesus wants us to be reminded of His awesome power to heal, and also to check our state of readiness for His eminent return. I am looking forward to His return, and I want to check around and see each reader or listener right along side me as we are taken to our final home! What a day that will be!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus was mindful of the needs brought to Him by the two individuals in our Scripture. Because of additional Scripture, I am convinced that Jesus also cares about us, and about our eternal destination. I am ready and anxious to go and be with He and the Father in heaven, and I hope that each reader/listener feels the same way!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for this awesome reminder today. Healing comes from You alone, and You are never too busy to attend to our needs. Lord, I believe that there are many friends known to each reader and listener today who are unprepared to meet You, and even worse, they lack the faith to approach you about their needs. You created us; You lived and died for us; and You have a wonderful place prepared for us when life here on earth is over. Thank You Lord for loving us so much in so many wonderful ways. Please continue to impress upon the hearts of our unsaved loved ones the need for a Savior, and may we always glorify You for all Your wondrous works each day. AMEN!

Your Words and Actions Reflect What’s In Your Heart

On 2022-05-242022-05-24 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Hope, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-05-24
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 7:1-3
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹My son, live according to what I am telling you;
guard my instructions as you would a treasure deep within you.
²Stay true to my directives, and they will serve you well;
make my teachings the lens through which you see life.
³Bind cords around your fingers to remind you of them;
meditate on them, and you’ll engrave them upon your heart.

APPLICATION: The last time I saw my grandmother alive, she assured me that even though she could no longer see to read her Bible, she was able to recite Scripture daily and meditate on the Word of God. Our Scripture today encourages us to write the Word upon our heart. Could it be for times such as my grandmother experienced when her sight left her? Perhaps! And I could only praise the Lord for her ability to remember, for it seems like a struggle for me to do the same! But friends, I believe this is also important at other times in our lives, especially when we are forced to evaluate a situation and decide the course we will take in responding. Will our words and/or our actions reflect the God of this universe, or will it be obvious that Satan still has control? What tends to spurt forth from your mouth when we are caught off guard, or frightened by someone? What comes forth when you are told shocking news? What words do you share with someone when you know its the last time you might see them here on this earth? Let’s be reminded that “from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. Also remember, if it’s in you, it will come out of you! So dear one, let us be busy about the Master’s work. Let us daily commit to take in more of the Lord, by reading His precious Word. Not only will it give us direction for the day, but it gives us a path that is pleasing to our God. This is the opportunity for us to speak and act through the lens of everything God has placed in our heart. Let’s be intentional in always displaying the rich love of God, so that our life and our words will show evidence of that in everything we say or do. Fortunately, we live in a world that is dominated by the evil one. May our representation of Christ by the light that will brighten their day, and lead them to the source of life eternal! This, my friend, is Hope to a hopeless world.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The Light of the world, and the Hope that points us to the cross, is something we can share with those who live in world darkened by sin, and filled with hopelessness. Let’s share the Good News dear friends!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, take my hand today and lead me on. May the Words that I’ve read today be a rich source of inspiration, and a witness, to someone without any hope. May they desire to know You personally and be willing to seek the source of all hope that results in eternity with You in heaven. Please touch the hearts of all who might read this devotional today, and impact their hearts also with the everlasting joy of knowing You! AMEN!

Some Are Crying Out To God

On 2022-05-232022-05-24 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Forgiveness, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-05-22
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 3:7-9
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. ⁸Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
⁹But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz.

APPLICATION: A child will test their parents while trying to evaluate how far they could go in disobedience before being disciplined. But isn’t that what we continue to do as adults also? While driving our highways in the US, we strongly believe that State Troopers will not bother with us if we exceed the speed limit by no more than 5mph. So we look at the established speed limit, let’s say 55mph, and then we set our cruise control at 60mph. Are we breaking the law? Absolutely, for we are exceeding the established speed limit. At work we tend to consider it ‘OK’ to snitch a few paper clips or rubber bands, without considering it to be a sin. Or, perhaps, we may never feel it to be inappropriate to clock in and wander around chatting with our friends for a half hour before seriously getting down to work. But isn’t that ‘stealing’ from our employer? I find it so interesting that God thought to document His laws and His commands in His Book – the Bible. It was not enough for us to be taught His teachings at home, in Sunday School, or while around family members. So we can also read His Word and be reminded of every command issued by God, for our good! As we consider these things today, let us not be so quick to judge the Israelites, for we are very much like them. But what do we do about this? Well, God wound up punishing the Israelites for their disobedience, and he brought a 8-year sentence on them, under the rule of a foreign king. How do you suppose God has chosen to punish us? Is it Covid? Is it the threat of a nuclear war? Is it the ‘out of control’ desire and abuse of guns in every-day fights and squabbles? Some of the most outrageous crimes are being committed today – in total disobedience to God’s commands. From killing of babies, to selling humans into slavery, to killing other humans to reap their organs for sale on the open market. Our world has truly gotten out of hand, and because of the sin that abounds, it is extremely challenging for us to live in peace anymore. But the Israelites found peace when they pleaded with God for deliverance from their sin. This same God is still available to us today, if only we will turn from our sin, humble ourselves, and pray. He can also rescue us from the miseries of this old sinful world, and deliver us to complete peace and harmony through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you are reading this devotional and have not met Jesus and accepted Him as your personal Savior, let me encourage you to read my Footnote carefully. There’s a link to a page (To Know Jesus) that I would encourage you to visit and learn more about this.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Although God was very angry with the Israelites for their sin and disregard of His orders, yet He was quick to forgive and provide a Rescuer when they asked for help! What a forgiving, loving and awesome God that we serve!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for being such an understanding Father, and forgiving us when we bow before You. In spite of the sins of the Israelites, yet You quickly provided them a way of escape and a means to live in peace. Praise God, You are still the same today as You’ve always been, so our minds are at peace in knowing to whom we belong! Please continue to bless us and provide peace to us through the ‘storms’ of life here on earth. May we always fix our eyes on You, the author and finisher of our faith! AMEN!

Overwhelmed By The Thought Of Heaven!

On 2022-05-212022-05-21 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-05-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Job 19:25-27
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 25“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

APPLICATION: At the beginning of the book of Job, God said of His servant Job that he was a true man of God who stood tall among all other men, and he was firm in his commitment to God, in spite of everything that came his way. Friends, we saw in the first 18 chapters of Job where Satan unleashed his power on this man of God and, yes it became very challenging and discouraging for Job. At one point, Job even wished he was never born. But praise to the God of heaven and the Savior of all mankind, Job never lost his allegiance to God. He knew that God was right there, and that it was he (Job) that needed to lift his eyes above the troubles and look towards the day when he would see God’s wonderful and loving face. I believe that when he wished that these words were written in stone for others to see and be encouraged by, he not only thought of us, but he also wished that he could be encouraged by his own words when additional discouraging times came. Job realized and acknowledged where his struggles came from, but he also firmly acknowledged where his strength came from. Satan is very powerful friends, but our God is head and shoulders above him! He created this universe and He is very capable of ruling and reigning over Satan and all of his deceptions, lies and devious acts that he could possibly unleash upon us while living in this old world. What a lesson this is for us! If we (believers) would take time to analyze the cause of our sin, our frustration, our weakness and our failings, perhaps we will be prompted, much like Job, to stand firm in our faith and the awesome power of our God, even when trials come our way. I believe that our application here is that we must make God so much a part of our daily lives that we will run to God with our challenges, frustrations, inadequacies and failures, knowing that He alone holds the key to helping us overcome temptations and the battle from the evil one. Perhaps then God might say, as He did about Job, that we endured because of Christ. Friends, let us pray like Job did, that our faith will be evident to our God, and to those around us, so that they might also draw close to God. Others hear of Jesus but they are constantly looking for proof of His existence in the lives of His children here on earth. Will they identify whose we are, and in whom we gain our strength and guidance? Although we may live each day in the fear of the evil one, may others see evidence of our faith in the great and mighty God of this universe! Job is commonly known for his faith in spite of his earthly battles and attacks from Satan. What might the world think of us as they look on, and expect to see in us? I love the last few words of Job in our Scripture! He gained strength in knowing that no matter what came his way here on earth, he knew that one day he would sit at the feet of Jesus worshipping and praising He and the Father forevermore. What a glorious hope that is for the child of God! Let us stand strong in our faith! Our God’s not dead, for He is very much alive in us each and every day!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are my hope and my strength in all that I contend with in this old world. My joy comes from You alone, and it causes me to reflect on heaven where I will spend eternity with my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank You for loving me enough to make such provisions for me. Thank You for always being there for me! Please continue to give me strength to look above and beyond my troubles, and look towards the heavens and remember all the joys that are mine as a child of the King! Lord, more than we could ever imagine, You are fully aware of our challenges here on earth, and You know full well everything that my friends and I face on a daily basis. Please keep us focused on You, so that our challenging times down here will seem miniscule compared to the overwhelming joy that is ours when we join You in heaven. Thank You for watching over Job, yet allowing his true strength and joy to be revealed to us in the scriptures. May the light of Your Word always be the path that we follow all the days of our lives! AMEN!

The Secret To A Long, Good Life

On 2022-05-202022-05-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Peace, Praise, Recognize God, Victorious Life, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-05-20
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 34:12-14
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ^12–13Do you want to live a long, good life, enjoying the beauty that fills each day? Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words to come from your mouth.
¹⁴Keep turning your back on every sin, and make “peace” your life motto. Practice being at peace with everyone.

APPLICATION: God created us, and placed us here on this earth so that we might be a blessing to Him, and in turn bless each other. Unfortunately Satan wiggled his way into this world, and found how he could upset the applecart prepared for us by God, as he knew that we would then strive to destroy the lives of families, friends, coworkers, churches and communities, so that they would never again be happy. However, for the child of God who vowed to please God; honor and obey His Word; follow in God’s example, and live according to His teachings, we are reminded that God encouraged us with the words: ‘greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world’! Additional Scripture reminds us to practice being at peace with everyone. This tells me that we must put effort into it, and be intentional about turning our back on sin, and look out for the peace and happiness of those that we encounter each day. Friends, I believe that if the love of God is truly inside of us, we can’t help but seeing it exude from us in every act, in every word, and in every deliberate step that we take. So how do we get there? Please allow me to remind you that Satan is much bigger than we are, and he is much more powerful than we are, so may we quickly be reminded that there is only One more powerful – God Himself. Let us therefore surrender our all before God, and let us seek His guidance, His power and His peace. Let’s allow Him to guide us into a life that is so filled with Jesus and His love, that His character and His peace will overflow into every action we take and every word that we speak. We live in a very troubled world, and we should do everything possible to be a light to the rest of the world, and not add to the darkness that already exists. Let us therefore seek the fullness of God and seek to always be His humble representatives while afforded the opportunity to remain here on earth. May we be so filled with love and compassion for one another, and may the wonderful character of Jesus be so evident in our lives that it will be easy for others to notice and accept. I believe it was with this intent that God said through David that we would then be blessed with a long, happy life!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I come humbly before You today seeking Your power and Your grace. I would sincerely ask that You touch my life, and the lives of those who will read or listen to this devotional, so that we, in turn, may bless others. Please fill us with Your love, give us the power to overcome, and give us the peace that surpasses all human understanding, so that we might practice being at peace with everyone. AMEN!

Passionately Pursue The Lord

On 2022-05-192022-05-19 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-05-19
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 34:9-10
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy! For all who fear him will feast with plenty.
¹⁰Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry,
but those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing.

APPLICATION: I’m sure that many could dissect each little word in these verses and offer their opinion on what David meant to say, or what they feel like he meant, or perhaps theorize how these words should be applied to our lives in this modern world. However, I am innocent enough to believe, and based on my knowledge of my Lord, the sincerity of His love for me, and all those who claim Him as Lord and Savior, that these verses meant nothing less than what His servant David said. You see, we need not be talked out of the blessing that God has in store for His chosen children – those who honestly and humbly seek to honor and obey Him, and follow His commands and His teachings. In other words, like the Scripture says in this translation – this applies to ‘those who passionately pursue Him’. So where do you stand with your relationship with God, my friend? If you know my Lord, then I’m hoping that you passionately seek after Him, and aim to honor, obey and please Your Master and King with every fiber of your being. Do you seek ways to learn more about Him and/or develop the relationship that you have with Him? Yes, even years and years after accepting Him as Lord, I believe it is still vital on your part, to: pursue the Lord and want to know Him even better; want to serve Him even more; want to act like Him even more; find multiple ways each day to showcase Him to the world so that they may see and believe! Are you downright passionate about being His ambassador here on earth, and until you are humbly at His feet in Heaven. So you may wonder why is this so important to you/us. My friend, I hope that you are once again reminded of the love that the King of this universe has for even you! I hope that your goal in life will be to always be more like Jesus every day, and that the words of David only serves to remind you that your relationship with Jesus, serves to remind you each day that greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world! He laid down His life for you – how much more should you dedicate every effort, every word and your whole self to pleasing Him through obedience and total dedication to Him. Let us press on towards the mark with our greatest passion and unyielding desire, with Jesus as our helper and guide. Great things are in store for us friends, there’s no reason to ever turn back!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for saving my soul, thank You Lord for making me whole, thank You Lord for giving to me – thy great salvation so rich, and free! What a blessing to know that You have so much in store for us while we are here on this earth, and especially after we join You in glory! Please continue to guide us and bless us as we deal with the challenges of this world each day, and until the day You call us home to glory. Oh that You may be glorified in everything we do and say, precious Lord, so that others may see, hear and believe. AMEN!

Promises vs Threats – Both From God

On 2022-05-162022-05-16 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Discipline, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-05-16
WRITTEN AT: Jupiter, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 23:14-16
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁴“…… Every one of you knows in his heart and soul that the Lord your God has given you all the good things that he promised. Every promise he made has been kept; not one has failed. ¹⁵But just as he kept every promise that he made to you, so he will carry out every threat. ¹⁶If you do not keep the covenant which the Lord your God commanded you to keep and if you serve and worship other gods, then in his anger he will punish you, and soon none of you will be left in this good land that he has given you.”

APPLICATION: Those who tend to be rebellious really struggle in this life, because there are laws and rules in every aspect of life. Many are challenged by God’s Word because they are opposed to the laws, commands and rules set by God. But aren’t we always ready to celebrate and worship the Lord when we are blessed by the mercies of God and His undeserving, amazing goodness towards us? So if it was left up to us, what would you do for those who go their own stubborn way? Would you give them more rope to hang themselves, or would you strive in your efforts to correct them and try to turn them towards the teachings of the Master? I believe that we all know what should be done, even though in today’s world we tend to think of ‘doing it our way’, as that old song is titled! For a moment, think about the huge investment of time and self sacrifice that Joshua had with the Israelites. Think about His commitment to the Almighty God? I believe that when he spoke to the tribes in our Scripture today, he spoke from the heart of a father. Yes, he had a sincere commitment to God and he wanted to make sure that everything was done according to God’s perfect plan, but because he had invested so much of his life into a much brighter future for His fellow Israelites, everything he did or said came from a heart just like the heart of God. Wouldn’t it be awesome to reflect on a sermon, teaching, or advice from your pastor and just stand in awe at what he shared from God that’s all for your very best interest, even though some of it really ‘stepped on your toes’? My friends, let’s be reminded that when discipline is necessary, or when God has correction in store for us, it will be uncomfortable because it’s aim is to get us on the right track to do the things that are pleasing to God. Only one is perfect, Jesus our Lord. So when the Word of God is preached or taught, it will probably work at the rough edges in our lives – those scars caused by disobedience and/or our kicking against the principles of God. Because Joshua loved his people so much, he didn’t want to see them have to face the correction/discipline of God, so he warned them right at the very beginning of their new life in their new land. Our pastors are much the same way. As messengers of God, and with deep love for their parishioners, they stand in front of us each week and warn us about the consequences of disobedience to the Word and will of God. Some refuse to attend church for this very reason, for they would prefer a ‘pat on the back’ and only hear about the blessings of God. However, I believe that we all must remember one thing about God’s Word, it is designed to steer us in the direction that God has chosen for us. To redirect us at times, God may need to create a bump in our road to steer us to the right, or to the left. Without that, we will continue straight – along the wrong path. So let me encourage you to not just be thankful for the wise words of Joshua, but also for the Word of God as you read it, and for pastor and teachers as they merely help us to understand what God is saying to us. God has promised us a lot – right down to a heavenly home where we will spend eternity. However, He has threatened to discipline us when we allow our stubborn actions to overrule His perfect will for us. I want to enjoy the many promises of God in every aspect of my life! I pray that every reader/listener is very much aligned with my desire – God being our helper!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Every promise God has made, has been kept!

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, for the blessings and the good times we enjoy, we say thank You. For correction and discipline, we also say thank You, because You love us way too much to see us floundering along the wrong path, or doing those things that You disapprove of. Thank You for all You did for the Israelites, and we celebrate with them the rich mercies and gifts that You bestowed on them. Thank You for the challenging times mentioned by Joshua and about the disciplines You may found necessary to impose on our ancestors to get them back on track. We are well aware of our weaknesses and the many temptations that come to distract us from our persistent walk with You. Thank God that out of sincere love, You have decided to even use discipline to keep us straight as we walk towards You in a sinful and destructive world. May we always be gracious in accepting our discipline, and always loving and respectful of the God who loves us. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Month: May 2022