Month: October 2022

The Cause and Cost Of Disobedience

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-10-31
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 13:7; 15;
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 Then the king said to the prophet, “Come to the palace with me and rest awhile and have some food; and I’ll give you a reward because you healed my arm.”
15 Then the old man said to the prophet, “Come home with me and eat.”

APPLICATION: We are looking at two different encounters with the same prophet who was given instructions by God on how to respond to such questions. In the first instance, the prophet followed God’s instructions completely, even though it was the king who invited him to his palace. The prophet was promised a good meal and a reward, but the prophet stayed true to the instructions given to him by God. Very admirable. However, word got around quickly what transpired at the palace, so an old ‘prophet’ in Bethel thought that he would try his persuasive powers to see if he could get the young prophet to follow him, instead of the strict instructions given to him by God. So, as the young prophet walked away from the king and started his journey back home, the old prophet started his conniving actions. No doubt the young prophet was hungrier by now, so the old prophet caught up with him, convinced him that he was also a prophet of God with instructions for him and offered him to come and dine with him, the young prophet gave in. So, what do you suppose caused the young prophet to disobey God? Based on my personal experience, I believe that it would have been extremely challenging for me to disbelieve an older gentleman, and even more challenging to disagree with a man representing himself as a prophet of God. So, I really don’t know if I would have acted any differently, had I been in the young prophet’s situation. For much of my working career, I was told that I only see black and white and am almost blinded to any grey areas and decisions. Perhaps this means that I would have stuck to my guns and stayed true to the word of the Lord. But based on hindsight in knowing the end of the story, we know that the prophet’s disobedience led to his death. Friends, each and every day we are faced with decisions like the one the young prophet had to make. We know what the Word of God says, yet we cave in to the pressures of those around us, or to the attraction of more advantages offered to us. I had an old preacher friend say that he had to stay at our church until God told him to move on. For it was God who sent him there, and he couldn’t move until God released him from that obligation. I believe that principle may have worked well for the young prophet, for he was given instructions and he was expected to follow those instructions unless told otherwise by God. In trusting the old ‘prophet’, it appears like the young prophet may have felt like God sent him with different instructions for him. But Satan comes at us in various forms. He will give us every excuse on why we shouldn’t follow the will of God. And we are left with deciding in whom we will place our faith and trust. Perhaps today you feel tossed around in many areas of your life. Please allow me to suggest that you seek God and be willing to follow His commands exclusive of all other options that may come your way. How will you know it’s God? Know that His Word is always aligned with His will. There is no coincidence in you coming across Scripture on a day you are looking for confirmation from God on a decision. If this is also confirmed by a true saint of God in some form or the other, then you are looking at multiple confirmations to the instructions you received from God. Learn from our Scripture today that when you are tasked with carrying out a mission, do it without allowing any interference by one just posing as a fellow Christian or even a ‘Christian’ leader. Satan can choose the most unsuspecting person to misdirect us into his path.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God will always guide us aright. His ways are not our ways, so His will might be way more than we could ever expect to see, but we are to trust God and watch Him work miraculously in us, through us, and all around us.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You have given us the right path to follow and You have opened the doors of heaven to bless us way more than we deserve. Please Lord, strengthen and embolden us to be obedient servants, even when others try to distract us in ways that may even seem like they were sent by You. Help us to discern the way that is right and directed by You. I believe that when we follow You in obedience, You place us in the path of those who need Your help and Your guidance. Satan is very busy roaming around in search of all that he could devour. Lord, we want to be just like You and help to fulfill Your mission here on earth while we are able to. Please open the doors of heaven and bless us with all we need to represent You in perfect form so that those who are in need of the Savior will see you evident in our lives. Bless as only You can, heal as only you are capable and save as only You have the power to do so, In Jesus’ 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!

Strive To Please The One Blessing You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Glorify, Needs, Obedience, Pleasing to God, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-10-30
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Ephesians 4:29-32
TRANSLATION: GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

BIBLE TEXT: 29 Don’t say anything that would hurt ⌞another person⌟. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. 30 Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free ⌞from the world of sin⌟. 31 Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. 32 Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.

APPLICATION: In growing up, I’m not sure at what stage children’s eyes are opened to the sacrifices made by parents so that they might thrive. For example, how many meals did mom and/or dad have just vegetables so that the kids might enjoy an extra piece of meat? How many Christmases did moms and dads forego giving each other a gift, so that they could bless their kids with an extra gift to open on Christmas morning? God is even more giving to His children, for He sent His only Son, knowing that we needed so much help in seeking forgiveness of our sin. Yet Paul saw that the Ephesian church members were still acting like the world (unsaved rebels living like there was no God). Because God saw fit to have this as part of His final instructions to Christians, I believe He desperately wanted us to catch the heart of Paul in this teaching, as it clearly explains the heart of God for His children. I feel like the key phrase in these verses is ‘Don’t give the Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you’. Other translations say, “don’t cause the Holy Spirit to grieve over you”. Such words are used when a close family member dies, for the remaining family ‘grieves’ over losing their loved one. In the examples given in my introduction, we can easily see the expression of pride and happiness on our parent’s face when they see us achieving greatness or successful in our endeavors, but what if we stood near them as they prayed, and we heard them grieving before the Father over their disappointment in what they are seeing in us? That would tear us up and cause us much pain. I believe that’s the idea that Paul is portraying about our Savior, for He gave His very life for us, and it must hurt beyond all measure when He see us still acting like the world – like a sinner who has never even heard about grace or forgiveness. I believe we should be encouraged by this challenge given by Paul, for he not only encouraged us to put aside the evil practices of our old life, but since we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, with every intent to turn away from our sin and heartache, and follow the King of all kings, so too ought we to do the same in our habits and practices that once identified us as an unsaved sinner. In Christ, and with the special power afforded to us by the Holy Spirit residing inside of us, WE CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens and guides us towards holiness and righteousness, just like Jesus did. As you live each day, think about the words you would like to hear from Jesus when He calls you home to glory. My goal is to hear my Savior say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. I pray that you have once again been encouraged to follow Jesus Christ in total commitment and to spend your life being just like Him, even while allowed to remain here below. Jesus paid the price for my sin, and He left me a ton of instructions to help guide me into all righteousness under the inspiration, and with the help of the Holy Spirit. I know we can do this fellow Christians, let’s just commit to it and do it – with God’s help.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God forgave us by separating our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. Now if we could only learn to forgive like our Father in heaven taught us to and exampled for us!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for loving us enough to sacrifice Your very own Son for the redemption of our sin. Please Lord, embolden us to be different and to live in love, like you did; forgiving others, like You did; loving even the unlovable, just as You did; and sacrificing for even them just as You did for us. Please help us to make a difference in this world, just as You made a difference in our lives. May we live in a way that pleases our Maker, our Savior and our Friend. To God be the glory for the things You have done in and through each of your children. Now, be glorified in us and through us Lord Jesus. 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!

What Should We Do?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Doers of the Word, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-10-26
WRITTEN AT: Leesburg, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 3:10-14
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 10 The crowds asked John, “What should we do?” 11 John told them, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn’t have any. If you have food, share it with someone else.”
12  When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 John told them, “Don’t make people pay more than they owe.”
14 Some soldiers asked him, “And what about us? What do we have to do?” John told them, “Don’t force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay.”

APPLICATION: Sometimes it’s the small insignificant things that catches our attention and causes us to look inward and try to see what God and/or others are seeing in us. However, I believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in us to cause us to think this way, because naturally we tend to think that we are on top of the world and hoping that everyone else will watch us to see how life is really done well! The individuals that the apostle John dealt with in the questions bolded, had come to hear what this strange fellow from the wilderness had to say. John was not complimentary at all, for he called them a bunch of venomous snakes. So the people didn’t flock to hear this man preach and expecting to be lifted up or have their ears tickled. But still, the Holy Spirit dealt with them in such a way that it seems they all wanted to make major changes in their lives. In my working career, whenever I was rated less than the highest score on an area of my work, I always asked my supervisor to give me direction on improving my score. It seems like the Holy Spirit may have caused such a desire in the hearts of John’s hearers, for many asked how they might best portray the God that they accepted, with the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of them. Friends, it is a known fact that we much prefer praise than correction. But it is also a known fact that only God is perfect, no matter how hard we try personally. So for us to attain perfection, we must look to the One who is perfect. Let’s try to do like those hearers of John and ask God “What must we do”, or “What change must we make”, or “please show us what to do that will make us more like You, Lord”. I believe that the demands that God made through His servant John are still applicable to us today, for we tend to often drift into the world’s way of assimilating more than we could ever make use of personally, while still turning a blind eye to the needs of others. We tend to always want more and more profit on items or services we sell, thinking that it’s no one else’s business but ours. And although we may never blackmail people, we want their allegiance to us and/or our business and will incentivize to gain that allegiance. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John gave great advice to his hearers, and I believe his advice is still on target for us today, dear readers and listeners.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: From a life that is uncontrolled or guided by any good principle, to a life guided by the only Perfect One, there is change that will occur. Praise God, He is all powerful and all wise – willing to teach us and show us the path that we must follow in our efforts to be like Him!

PRAYER: Lord, please teach us Your ways so that we may best represent You here on earth, in every phase of our lives, for people still need the Lord. May our light so shine that our Father in heaven will shine through, be lifted up, and accepted as the King of all kings by the lowliest and the richest of persons that we will make contact with. Be glorified in and through us Lord. You know the work that must be done to properly mold us into Your likeness, so I pray that You will continually work in us for Your kingdom’s sake. 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!

Away With The Old, In With The New

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

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-10-25
WRITTEN AT: Leesburg, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Ephesians 4:17; 20-24;
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 17 And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd.
20-24 But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

APPLICATION: It is so easy to go along with the crowd, and to try and please those who seem to be popular and/or seem to know what they want in life. But I’m sure that you have run into the same realization as I have, in recognizing after a very short time, that many of those who seem popular and have their act together, has much to be be desired. Friends, when one gives their heart to the lordship of Jesus Christ, it mirrors a person going down a road of destruction without a firm grip on what they want in life, and as the moment of salvation comes when they accept Jesus. Suddenly, Jesus gives new life and miraculous meaning to our life, and we make a complete 180 degree turn to follow Him. You see, Paul is helping us to understand that unless we make that 180-degree turn, we will show Jesus that we want to find and experience Him among the crowd of crazy friends that have misled us all along. Jesus said, follow me and I will show you life eternal in a place that is ‘out of this world’. A place that is unlike any experience here on earth, no matter how much we may have spent to experience it. For the one who is stuck in a rut and following the ways of the same old crowd, or what appears to be the popular crowd, and have not discovered the ultimate Leader yet, let me assure you that it was no accident or mistake that you happened across this devotional today, for God doesn’t operate by mistake or happenchance, He specializes in divine appointments with His children at just the right time, with just the right words, for He cares so much for you that He sacrificed His very own, precious Son, so that you can find the means of forgiveness through Him. There is only one way to heaven my friend, it has nothing to do with the friends you keep, the money you have, or the places you visit, even though they all sound very appealing to a child of this world. Jesus is the answer to all of your questions, dilemmas, bad friends, and appalling practices that you have developed from the family and friends you have hung out with over the years. Make that turn today dear friend. Leave the ‘old’ way of life behind you, and follow the life of Jesus today, for it leads to eternal peace and security in the arms of Jesus and eternity in heaven with He and the Father. No worries about leaving the fun and the good times behind, the best is yet to come! Imagine, you will then be leading those who follow you, on the right path that will impact their lives for all eternity!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Regardless of the challenges we experience in life today, there are better times ahead! Awesome times of peace with the Father and in experiencing His love intimately and personally, as we will be bowing at His feet and experiencing His love and adoration for His children!

PRAYER: Why me Lord, what have I ever done, to deserve God’s own Son? For I was walking down a bad road just like I described above, before You miraculously accepted my plea for forgiveness, and You gave me strength to turn around and instead follow a path that leads to eternal life in heaven with You. Lord, I pray that this will be a day that goes down on the list of most memorable for many today as You tug on their heart’s door and convince them of their sin and their need for a Savior. Please use this devotional as a tool to encourage the most stubborn person and draw men and women unto Yourself today, for this is my humble plea and greatest desire. 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 ‘Must Do’ List

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Focused, Focused on the Goal, goal, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-10-22
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 2:48-49; Luke 4:43; Luke 9:21-22;
TRANSLATION: New King James Version (NKJV)

BIBLE TEXT: Luke 2:48 …. “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Luke 4:43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Luke 9:21 … He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

APPLICATION: Those who go about life without a specific purpose in mind, will be tossed about by every wild idea that fills the mind of those we come into contact with. For example, if you hang around a fisherman, it is very lightly that you will be convinced that there is no greater sport that fishing. Soon you will be purchasing a fishing rod to test out your friend’s theory! Some pastors prefer to keep their occupation a secret, so that you won’t have time to raise your defenses and build up a desire to fight with them about their beliefs. Instead, you will see them as just another human being going about life, just like you. Normally it won’t be very long before you start seeing them act and talk differently than the usual drunk on the corner, or the hopeless person you sometimes encounter. Each of us will discover that there are lots of options for us to choose from each day, and I don’t believe it was much different for Jesus. However, it seems very evident that Jesus had goals, or principles that he tried diligently to keep His activities and interactions in line with. Over time, we should also develop goals and principles for our life, for there are some things that cause us grief; some get us into trouble with the law, or our spouse, or our employer; some bring us genuine happiness; and often some will help us to grow, based on the value we find in the results of seeing those things work themselves out. In the three Scriptures quoted above, there were at least three things that Jesus felt compelled to do: 1). Promote, enhance and work at His Father’s business; 2). Preach the Gospel to a hungry and desperate world. It doesn’t take long for us to see the needs of people that we make contact with each day. If the love of God is in us, and the Word of God embedded into our choices for conversation and acts of service, then it won’t be long before others will see the value in becoming a child of the King! and 3). Jesus knew beforehand what was ahead for Him at Calvary, and He had no intention of trying to circumvent that suffering. Instead, He wanted that to also be meaningful to the Father, and to those who would be impacted by it. There are things that you are destined to face. You can either default to the bitterness that many fellow humans tend to experience, or you can opt to accept your destiny and ask God to use it for His glory.
I hope that, like me, your eyes have been opened to the wonderful life that God gave to His Son – including His crucifixion, and you will commit to do like Jesus did – accept with ‘a grain of salt’, the good, the bad and the ugly that others might see in life, and realize that God placed you here for a purpose just like He did with Jesus, His Son. The world was forever impacted by Jesus, and your world – your family, friends, coworkers, etc, could also be impacted by your life, if you allow Jesus to take control, lead you, and give you strength to endure every circumstance of life. Do life His way dear friend, and do not allow the sway of every friend or circumstance of life to control your reactions and commitment to your lifegoals. Jesus first, and all these things will be given to you, God being your Guide and unwavering Helper.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We must all decide in our own hearts whether we are willing to allow the wind and waves of life to shift us around, or with God’s help, accept and strive towards a life patterned after the Lord Jesus Christ. Our goals in life will determine our words and our actions.

PRAYER: Your ‘Must-Do’ list is quite the example for us Lord. Too often we tend to just do what comes our way, and our words seem to be an unfiltered expression of whatever is on our mind. Please help us to be intentional about allowing You to fill us and use us for Your glory. Give us the strength, wisdom and determination to center our hearts on the One in whom we committed our allegiance to, and surrendered lordship of our life to. As we determine our ‘Must Do’ list, with Your help and under Your direction, I am convinced that it will be Your pleasure to embolden us, direct our speech and our path, so that others will see and experience our Lord. To God be the glory for the awesome things You will accomplish through Your children today and every day that we determine to make Your Kingdom our ultimate goal. 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!

Are You Deserving of God’s Promise?

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

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-10-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 11:38
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT:  If you listen to what I tell you and live the way I show you and do what pleases me, following directions and obeying orders as my servant David did, I’ll stick with you no matter what.

APPLICATION: Having done a little in programming, I became educated on the purpose and use of conditional statements, so this promise to Jeroboam immediately caught my attention. We must also remember that God is always right, and He is always on time, all the time. We are the created, so we have no room to question the Creator when it looks like He went back on His word. I believe that we too are blessed by the mercies of God and that it is only through the grace of God that He sent us His Son so that we might seek forgiveness of our sin. We seem to follow very much in line with David and his son Solomon, for we are on fire for the Lord while in church, but hardly identifiable as a Christian during the week. We make promises, like marriage, before God and man, but then when the novelty wears off, many are back to their lifestyles before marriage. A preacher who’s on fire for the Lord, might preach a sermon where God, through His Holy Spirit, will nudge us to put away our evil ways and instead, stay true to the One who gave His life for us. But unless we stay connected, we will soon give way to the temptations of the world that bombard us endlessly. Friends, there are many who have chosen to play Russian-roulette with the promise of God that He will come again to take His church home to glory where He and the Son rules for ever and forever. Many will play recklessly with trying to second-guess when the day of Christ’s return will be, for they want to play Satan’s games until the hour before Christ returns. I believe that the promise made to us is very similar to what God made to David, Solomon and Jeroboam. If we accept the gift of salvation – Jesus Christ, and we live like we are His child, by obeying His commands and applying His teachings to our lives, then I believe that God’s promise to us is no different to that given to the aforementioned kings. For Jesus told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us, where we will live eternally with the Father and the Son. Please allow me to recommend that you recognize the King of all kings, the Great I Am, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and that you accept His precious Son Jesus as Lord of your life. Once you have done this, commit to acting like the Holy Saint of God that you are, and commit daily time to spend time with Jesus as you seek reminders from His Word and speak with Him as your Father. You then owe nothing to the advisory, for you are a child of the King. Show the world what your Father looks like through the way that you speak and live. Jesus promised never to leave you alone, when you live like His child!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: But for the grace of God, we would all be traveling the same path followed by David and Solomon. I want to follow a close and dedicated walk with my Master each and every day, God being my everlasting Helper, Guide and Deliverer.

PRAYER: Having created us in Your likeness, I can’t imagine the disappointment You must feel when you see us disregard the greatest gift ever given to mankind and still cave-in to the wickedness of the enemy, Satan. I have no doubt that You foreknew how we would suck at staying true to our decisions and our commitments, but I can’t imagine You ever thinking it would be this bad. Lord, please touch Your people once again. For those who have always turned a deaf ear to Your Word, and a blind eye to the goodness of God, I pray that You will soften their heart today and once again invite them to surrender their sin and the evil desires within them to the all-powerful Son of God, Jesus Christ. For those who once surrendered their life to Jesus, but then fell back into their sin, please Lord, re-invigorate their innermost desires and lead them wholeheartedly towards the Kingdom each and every day. May others see You and want to know 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!

Gifts – The Reason They Are Given

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

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-10-20
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Ephesians 4:11-13; 16;
TRANSLATION: GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

BIBLE TEXT: 11 He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⌞to his church⌟. 12 Their purpose is to prepare God’s people to serve and to build up the body of Christ. 13 This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. 
16 He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

APPLICATION: I believe that many people look at ‘gifts’ based on their own life-experiences and their expectations in life. Often people seem to recognize and appreciate those gifts that have an unexpected financial benefit to them and/or their family. But what about God’s children, what do we consider to be an unexpected, or undeserved gift from God? Let’s break for a minute to reflect on the greatest gift given by God to the world – His Son. Is this something anyone of that day ever expected? I don’t think so, but I do know that God saw how impossible it was for mankind to become, and stay, righteous like His is. So, we are introduced to ‘grace’ through this gift – for it was something we needed, but totally didn’t deserve. In today’s Scripture we recognize additional ‘gifts’ that God gave to us, but even for those who attend church, you not have ever looked at church officials as ‘gifts from God’? Many look down on pastors, because Satan plants it in your mind that they are only doing the job because they could find nothing else to do, or they are unqualified for anything else, or they are in the ministry for the money that Christians give in the offering plate each time the church doors are opened. But friends, even though opinions are many, and they are varied, yet we find in the Scriptures today that God told us through His servant Paul, that Pastors, Apostles, Prophets, Missionaries, and Teachers are ‘gifts’ to the church for very specific reasons, and I believe these reasons are still very valid today for our churches. Here are the reasons mentioned:
-*- To prepare God’s people to serve – attending church is not a spectator sport, it’s a time we come together for corporate worship to the one true God. Each member of God’s army must be trained to share what God has shared with them. Respect, promote and faithfully attend training sessions by your church leaders, for it’s their job to prepare you for serving!
-*- To build up the church – Throughout the week we go to work, and often interact with many people of the world. I believe God wants us to see how different He is than anything we could encounter in the world, so as we enter His house and commune with Him, I believe that we refill our heart, spirit and mind with the spiritual food necessary to go on.
-*- To be persistent in their work until certain guidelines are met– I can’t imagine this, but God’s ways are different to our ways, and the Scripture says our church leaders are required to continue their work until there is unity in the faith. There are hundreds of denominations and more churches than we can imagine. This happened because of differences of opinion and preference in leadership. I believe that one day God will tear down those walls and see His children come together as one people – His Children! Oh that we could see that here on earth, long before we get to the one heaven with the one God that we know and love.
Friends, God’s promises are true, and He said that these gifts will continue until His church is united in love and fellowship, and able to get along as THE body of Christ. This will not only result in unity of the body, but also facilitate each part of the body working together. From where I’m standing, this could take a very long time, and it will take the powerful hand of our awesome God to help us put aside our difference as men and women, so that we might prove to the world that we are indeed ‘Children of the one true God’. So let me encourage you to use this reminder to help you look much differently on your church leaders and be responsible as individuals to thank God every day for His ‘gifts’ that He poured out to His church.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I can’t imagine, but anxiously await, the unification of God’s people, and that they be lifted up in love. Perhaps then the unsaved will see Jesus at work and want a part of that unity!

PRAYER: Lord, it seems like what we see here on earth is so different to what You want for us, Your people, as declared in Your Word. Faith is all that matters, for we are reminded in Your Word that: You can do all things; Your ways and thoughts are different to ours; You will honor Your promises to Your faithful children; and You want us to be perfect and holy, just as You are perfect and holy. Lord, there are so many that need a Savior, and so many that refuse to hear Your Word. Please impress upon Your workers the importance of respecting and obeying those who You have sent as ‘gifts’ to us. Draw us close each and every day, for we want to be just like You, Lord. Please bless Your church, Your workers and Your children today so that we might be a blessing to others as we serve. 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!

Live A Life Worthy Of God’s Child

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

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-10-19
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Ephesians 4:1-3
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

APPLICATION: We live in a world where we often feel a tug-of-war battling in our minds and in our decision making. If we don’t recognize this, then we had best draw close to God so that our minds might be influenced by Him and His teachings. If we recognize the tug-of-war, then I believe that we must quickly discern the voice of God and follow His commands. Paul gave a similar reminder to the church he started in Ephesus, and the Holy Spirit spoke very vividly to me on this today. Think about this example: what sense does it make to those we come into contact with, if we say that we are married, yet they find us at a party or a dance or a club by ourselves, and we are hot on the trail of the opposite sex? We are acting more like a single person than someone who vowed at the altar to dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to our spouse. When we soak in the intent of Paul’s plea to his church members, it is plain to see that he had very similar concerns. When we remove the cobwebs of our worldly influences, we could also plainly see that our churches today face very similar challenges and could use someone like ‘Paul’ to be open and honest with them about their actual condition, versus their taught principles. Here are some characteristics that Paul pleaded with his church members about, and that I believe will help open our eyes to our current condition, while steering us towards Christlikeness:
-*- Be Humble ~ Let’s remember that it’s not all about us. It’s God that we serve and aim to uplift, promote and serve.
-*- Be Gentle ~ Jesus was so gentle that He was thought to be dumb, since He chose to not speak while under fire by the authorities. We don’t need to have the last say on everything.
-*- Be Patient ~ Fellow church members may not get the message as quickly as we do, and even if they do, they may not act on it as quickly as we do. There are times that we must learn to be patient and let God’s word penetrate the hearts of His people.
-*- Stay United ~ I see this as an end goal. If we concentrate on this while fulfilling the work of the Master, we will always hear His commands, see His love and goodwill fulfilled and we will always endeavor to walk in His footsteps.
Paul taught that as we strive for the above, we will improve our efforts to live a life worthy of the calling of our Master and Lord. Oh that He would find moldable saints that He could work with and use for His glory!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In verse 3, ‘Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit’. Lord, in as much as it depends on me, may I always live to reflect the love, hope and peace of Jesus in everything that I believe, do and speak.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for allowing Your word to speak wisdom into our minds and hearts, and for directing us to live like a child of the King that we belong to. Paul dealt with this back in the Ephesian church, and yet today it seems like this principle is still very much needed in our churches today. It’s not that we are uneducated or dumb, but rather it’s the voice of Satan that works on us to disrupt any good work that we might do in Your name and for Your sake. Thankfully You are still dealing in the lives of Your children today, so Lord, I pray that it would be evident to the world who sits, looking in on Your saints, that You are very much alive and especially active in the life of Your church. Please tear down every act of Satan to disrupt Your work among us. May our lives be so much like that of Jesus, that the unsaved will reach out and accept Him as Lord and Savior before it is eternally too late. Bless Your people once again Lord and accomplish Your work through Your church. 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!

Why Is The Lord Blessing you?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Blessing, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-10-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 10:6-7; 9
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 She exclaimed to him, “Everything I heard in my own country about your wisdom and about the wonderful things going on here is all true. 7 I didn’t believe it until I came, but now I have seen it for myself! And really! The half had not been told me! Your wisdom and prosperity are far greater than anything I’ve ever heard of! 
9 Blessed be the Lord your God who chose you and set you on the throne of Israel. How the Lord must love Israel—for he gave you to them as their king! And you give your people a just, good government!”

APPLICATION: Queen Sheba heard of all the good things happening to King Solomon and how successful his reign was. However, she didn’t look for ways to seek to harm him or pull him down so that she might look greater than he was. Instead, she chose to go a see for herself, perhaps hoping that Solomon could give her a few words of good advice. But the main thing I appreciated about her visit, can be found in our focal verses. Notice that the queen probably didn’t find the king gloating in his riches, or too busy trying to hoard additional riches, but instead her eyes were opened to the fact that God didn’t just bless the king to be the richest king in all the world, as he was, but that God wanted His chosen people, who Solomon reigned over, to have the best. That made me think about life today. We visit a church today and we immediately think of the rich folk that must attend church there, because it is evident that the leadership spared no expense in erecting the best building and filling it with nothing but the best in fixtures and material goods. If visiting from a small, average income community, we may feel intimidated by all the lush furnishings, the lavish outfitting of all rooms, etc. But what if we did like Sheba and met with the leadership of that church, do you suppose that we may find out that perhaps God does have a purpose in providing the very best for that community? Friends, I believe that when unbelievers are used to going to the lavish stores, restaurants, and theaters in their community, and we invite them to come and worship with us in a dilapidated building where we meet for church, might they not resort to picturing God as one who does nothing to help His people who meet in His name to worship Him? I visited a Christian-based theme park once, and I was almost thrown off by the lavish gold, or gold-plated bathroom fixtures, the outstanding costumes worn by the actors and the buildings erected. But then, it was like God spoke to me and asked, ‘why not?’. If we visited a worldly king, like Sheba did, and found old, outdated buildings and fixtures, we would think that country must be in bad shape financially and about to fold. So, as we think of a place that we meet with the King of all kings, the God of this whole universe, shouldn’t we expect to meet His royalty in a place fit for a King? Surely, we don’t want to be embarrassed if an earthly king entered our sanctuary. How much more should we want to be proud of opening the doors for our heavenly King? Queen Sheba was convinced that God was blessing King Solomon because of His love for the people that he served, protected and judged. Should we expect anything less today? We must get our sights off self and everything we could do, and instead set our sights on meeting the needs of our community as we introduce them to the Great I Am. Construction is super expensive today, so let me encourage you to give from the very bottom of your heart as you seek to do your part, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to minister to your respective communities. They need the Lord, perhaps worse than anyone sitting in your church on a regular basis.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We will often look inward for reasons why God should bless or has been blessing our efforts. But I was reminded that God has a much bigger picture in mind when He blesses His church. There’s a community of unchurched people out there that are in desperate need of a Savior.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I was reminded that Your ways are much greater than our ways, and that Your purpose is always to win the heart of Your people – even those who we may feel are not worth our time. We may boast of our multimillion-dollar church buildings, but Lord, I pray that You would open our eyes so that we may catch a glimpse of the souls that will be touched in our community through the services from these church buildings. Please help us to realize very early in life many of the things that we claim as ours, are actually designed for Your glory and to benefit Your Kingdom. Teach us Lord to not claim ownership of anything that we dedicate to You. Solomon spent many years building the temple, but in the end, He surrendered it all for your service only. May we learn to do the same Lord, for only what’s don’t for Jesus will last and have eternal benefit. Be glorified Lord in everything that we do, and in anything that we take part in, so that others may see Jesus and be filled with Your glory for all eternity. 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!

Be Filled With The Nature of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God's Nature, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, The Mind of Christ, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-10-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Ephesians 3:16-19
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 16 I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, 17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, 18 so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love. 19 Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.

APPLICATION: I was deeply moved by Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church. What do you suppose would happen if our pastors today had such a deep commitment to their churches, that they would pray that each member or attendee might be filled with the nature of God. Can you imagine the impact this would have on a community, to encounter family, neighbors, friends, and coworkers that not only say they are Christian, but whose nature reflects the Christ that they claim to belong to? At a previous church that I attended, there was a group study that I missed because of work obligations. It was entitled ‘The Mind of Christ’. If we were impacted by Paul’s prayer, or if we tried to imitate the life and teachings of our Lord, can you imagine the difference we would find in our homes, workplaces, local stores, the customer support associates that we deal with over the phone, and yes, even our fellow church members? Friends let’s remember that it’s not just Paul, or our pastors that should pray for such acts of God among His people, it’s folk like you and I that should pray for a move of God first and foremost in our own lives, then in the hearts and lives of those we know. Additionally, if we are committed to be more like our Master and Lord, then we would make it a priority each day to study His Book of Instruction – His Holy Word. For that is where the Holy Spirit inspires us to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that all these things will be given to us. Let me encourage you to make it your personal goal to be filled with the nature of God, and aim at having the mind of Christ in all that you think, do and say. Set the example for others to follow. Let them see Jesus in you, so that they too may desire a walk that exemplifies Jesus Christ. Unbelievers often need to see this practiced before they could believe something preached to them, or that they may even read for themselves. Let them see and experience Jesus when they meet you, my friend.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Trees and plants thrive and are productive when their roots are embedded in soil that is rich in nutrients. I believe that our lives will become much more productive for the Kingdom, when our lives are completely filled with the nature and mind of Jesus Christ!

PRAYER: Lord, please have Your perfect will and way in the lives of Your children today. For I believe that if we stop interfering with your work, perhaps more family and friends will see You at work in us and want a personal relationship with You also. You placed us here on earth to facilitate Your work, not to obstruct its effectiveness to the unsaved. Lord, for those who have surrendered our hearts to You, please give us a burning desire to be just like You while allowed to remain on earth. Please fill us with Your precious nature and Your heart, so that we might represent You in ways that others will desire in order to know and accept You as Lord. 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!