Category: Faith

What Do You Want from Jesus? Discover Your Deepest Needs

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Compassion, Faith, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, HealingLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, August 6, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read John 5:1-9 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

At first glance, it may seem like I’m about to highlight a gospel of riches for believers. However, I’m always intrigued by the account of Jesus asking a lame man what he wants, even though it’s evident the man can’t walk. This man might also be poor, as his inability to walk likely prevented him from working. Yet, Jesus wanted to hear the man’s deepest needs and desires.

Consider this, dear friends: many of us attend church each week, but have we ever pondered why? If Jesus asked if we wanted salvation, healing, or a closer relationship with Him, would we have an answer? The blind man had been sick for 38 years and made his way to the healing pool daily. Why didn’t he ask someone to help him into the water? Similarly, we attend church hoping for salvation but never invite Jesus into our hearts.

The Bible tells us that Jesus poured out His grace on the Samaritan woman at the well, who then introduced her town to Jesus. When Jesus healed the lame man, he rejoiced and shared the good news. Jesus has so much more in store for us if we speak up and tell Him our desires. Our needs are unique, but God’s power is limitless. Don’t just attend worship; share your heart with Jesus. Worship Him with purity and boldness, and tell Him your needs. He cares for you and, at the right hand of the Father, He petitions for you daily. As we step out in faith, others will follow if they see our relationship with Jesus.

PRAYER
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your love and mercy. Despite my unworthiness, You endured the cross so that I might enjoy heaven. You healed a man burdened for 38 years, showing Your cared for him. Similarly, You see our needs and hear our cries for mercy. Teach us to look to You for every need and to trust in Your wisdom and Your power. I surrender all to You and wait for Your mercy. Bless those who read this devotional and also need Your help. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

The Purity of Faith: Trials and Triumphs for Believers

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Commitment, Faith, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Monday, June 30, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Westgate Vacation Villas, Kissimmee, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read 1 Peter 1:6-9 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
There may be multiple misconceptions out there about Christians and their safety, security, joy, and total exemption from the evils of this wicked world and its leader, Satan. However, after you read today’s Scripture verses, you might be confused, because under the inspiration of the holy Spirit, Peter is telling us that testing, and trials, will continue while we remain here on earth.
So, we should look at this, in hopes of better understanding why God would expose even His own children to such earthly heartaches and stress. After all, God is known as our Father of love, care, and protection. Our Father for all eternity. The Bible use gold as a comparison. Probably the most precious metal, yet it is placed through fire and pounded to prove its purity and genuine aspects. We must always remember, when we place our trust in Jesus Christ, we are saved for eternity. Our Heavenly Father watches out for His own and we could got to bed in peace knowing that we are His, and He is ours. We can awake each morning with great assuredness, knowing that our time in God’s Word will reaffirm the greatness of our Father, who will be leading us through every circumstance of life that day. Fellow believers, remember, our faith, protection and overlook are anchored in the powerful hands of the Creator of this universe today! While still here in this world, we are not exempt from trials and temptations. In fact, these may become more intense as the world places us in the fire to prove our commitment to our Lord. Some may very well pound on us to test God in protecting His dear children.
I sincerely believe that today’s Scripture encourages us to embrace true faith in Jesus Christ. Some turn to Him for the promise of Heaven, while others see Him as a backup for life’s toughest moments. However, those who fully surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ find peace in knowing that God equips them to live according to His guidance, through studying His Word, praying regularly, and entrusting every aspect of life to Him. Surrendering to Jesus means giving Him control over your decisions, direction, and worries. Holding onto even a small part of these means you haven’t fully surrendered. Each evening, reflect on your day and compare it to gold—just as gold is tested and proven genuine, can God see your life as genuine at the end of the day? In verse 9, Peter reassures us that enduring the trials of life leads to true salvation, showing the world who we belong to.

PRAYER
Lord, I thank You this morning for the reassurance of knowing You as my Lord and Savior! Life on earth often feels filled with endless trials and challenges, but through the Holy Spirit, I am reminded of who is in control of my life, watching over me and guiding my steps in every situation. You understand our doubts and how we falter under Satan’s attacks and influences. Lord, my fellow believers and I need You every moment. With empty hands, we come before You, asking to be filled with Your everlasting goodness. Reassure us constantly of Your wisdom, presence, and unending love. As You bless us, may we also share Your grace with others who are in need of a Savior today. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

Answering God’s Call: Overcoming Our Excuses

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Excuses, Faith, Faith in Action, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, Obedience, Personal testimony, Testimony, TrustLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Sunday, December 1, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from The Living Bible (TLB) and found in Jeremiah 1:4-8

THE SCRIPTURE READS
4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
6 “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!”
7 “Don’t say that,” he replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
From a very early age, we learn how to give excuses when we don’t want to do something. But what about when God calls us to His service? I am convinced that whenever we feel the tug of God’s call on our life, we can rest assured that He has the ‘how’, ‘what’, and ‘where’ all worked out. Furthermore, let’s never forget what Jesus said in Mark 9:23 to the dad who asked Jesus to heal his child: 23 Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Friends, it seems to me that our faith is truly tested when asked to do Kingdom work, and less you shrug this off as never being asked to do anything, let me remind you that it is important to listen closely as your pastor and church leaders ask for help in various ways when you meet together to worship. Some examples might be:
** Pray for a certain family who is struggling at this time – In James 5:16, the Bible says: 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Interesting that YOU would be healed as you pray for others!
** Give to this need, or that need – You may feel like you can hardly afford to meet your own budget needs, much less giving to the needs of others. But in Luke 6:38 Jesus said: 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”
** We could use your help in…. – For people who are already stretched to the limit with their time and energy in working hard and taking care of others, these words are normally ignored when church leaders plead their case. But read about how God implores us to labor with the right attitude until He returns. Colossians 3:23-24: 23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Let’s be careful about second guessing God. Often, God will test us with things that we could easily see others doing better than us, but what sort of blessing would we receive for that referral? Does God not see or understand who He wants to do the task He is asking us to do? At one point in my younger days, I led a choir and the congregational worship at my church. It was a God thing, as I had no musical training or talent. It was God using His instrument to lead His people into times of worship and singing praises to Him. Each of you are at the same level as I am on earth, and we all have the same access to our powerful God. Please open your heart, soul and mind for His work in and through you, so that others may be drawn close to Him while you are also being blessed beyond anything you can think or imagine. We serve an awesome and all-powerful God, dear friends. Submit to Him and be blown away by His miraculous works, even through you!

PRAYER
Jeremiah immediately found an excuse why he shouldn’t be challenged outside of his comfort zone. But God knew what Jeremiah needed, and He also knew that Jeremiah was the man he wanted to accomplish His work through. Lord God, You are still the same awesome and all-powerful God that we serve today, and I’m sure that the needs are probably even more acute and plentiful today than ever before. I am also sure that You are still using Your children who are called by Your name, and have humbled themselves before You, to stand in the middle of today’s storms and challenges and allow You to minister to unbelievers, and also believers needing a touch from their Master. Please Lord, impress upon us, just as You did to Isaiah, and recorded in Isaiah 6:8 – 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Faith – Protect It From The Adversary

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

DATE POSTED: Tuesday, 2023-02-14
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 14:29-33
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 29 “Come and join me,” Jesus replied. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. 30 But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out. 31 Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” 32 And the very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased. 33 Then all the disciples crouched down before him and worshiped Jesus. They said in adoration, “You are truly the Son of God!”

APPLICATION: There are so many things we could learn from this story of Peter. I believe that most of us will share the reflection that this story shows us the faith of a man as he attempted something that defies nature, and that he had never thought possible before. Of his own power, perhaps the disciples expected Peter to jump out of the boat in the middle of the sea, as he prepared himself for the intake of water through his nose and mouth, or if he could swim, perhaps he would quickly assume the swimming position! However, things were a bit different with Peter, for: a). He had already experienced the power of the Almighty, and he knew that it would be this same power that would help him do even the very thing that seemed impossible in the eyes of the world; b). He paid attention to what Jesus was doing, and knew that if Jesus could walk on the water, He had power and authority to empower him (Peter) to do the same; and c). Peter heard the command by Jesus, and in spite of the yelling he could hear from his fellow disciples, he was compelled to obey His Lord. So what happened? Why does Peter’s effort seemed to have failed? I am convinced that Jesus already knew how quickly Peter would become cocky about being given this privilege/miracle, so Jesus seemed to have made it a point to teach Peter, and us, that faith requires that we keep our eyes fixed on the source of all power, the author of our faith – Jesus our Lord. You see, we have no power over such things in the universe, only God does. We have nothing to brag about besides God. I had a friend dying of cancer, and she traveled hundreds of miles to be prayed over by a TV evangelist who showed on public television that he had powers to heal. It just doesn’t work that way. Friends, as demonstrated in this story with Peter, and as we already know about our healing powers – we are reminded that it is God, through His Son Jesus that spoke the word for Peter to walk on the water, and it was Jesus who rescued him as he began to sink; it is God alone who heals a body that He created from dust, and who has the power to restore it to perfect health – so that He may be glorified. Our responsibility is to look to God for all things and keep our eyes fixed on the author and creator of life itself, knowing that through His power, lives might be healed, souls might be restored to the Kingdom, and the unsaved may recognize the grace and power of our God. It’s all about ‘God’, my friend. We are just instruments of His love and servants of our majestic King. The Master deserves all the praise for all that He does, for nothing of our own is merited, or worthy of praise, but only what He has done. Please be careful of the distractions that Satan will place before us. For Peter, it was the wind, the rough waters and perhaps self-confidence, that caused him to take his eyes off the Master. For us, unfortunately we live in a world that is totally filled with distractions that Satan places before us. Remember, our distractions are often those forces that draw us away from God, who is our primary power source. Don’t let Satan win over you my friend. In verse 31 we are reminded to not let ‘doubt’ win in our battle to ‘believe’. Trust in God, and all of this, plus a whole lot more could be yours, child of God!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, You are my God! The same God that created this wonderful world, and also created all of creation. I acknowledge again today that there is nothing that You can’t do. Please forgive me for my doubt and my lack of faith. Thank You for the reminder in today’s Scripture that You had the power to walk on water to get over to Your disciples. I wonder what You must travel over, or through, at times to get to my readers and I, and the trouble we find ourselves in at times. But I am assured that just as we saw where the water didn’t stop You from getting to Your followers, we need not let anything hinder our requests today, for many things will appear to be impossible to us, but with renewed assurance today, we KNOW that we can come before the throne of God and plead our case before an all-knowing, all-powerful, forever-loving God who says that ALL things are possible with God! You are our King, and we adore You and worship You today oh Lord, not just for what You can do for us, but for who You are! 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!

Just Believe

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Believe, Evidence of Faith, Faith, Faith in Action, Know and Believe, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship3 Comments

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2023-01-26
WRITTEN AT: Live Oak, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 8:47-50
TRANSLATION: New Century Version (NCV)

BIBLE TEXT: 47 When the woman saw she could not hide, she came forward, shaking, and fell down before Jesus. While all the people listened, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue leader and said to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 When Jesus heard this, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe, and your daughter will be well.”

APPLICATION: I believe that too often we may tend to think that God only has time for the more serious issues of life. We may also tend to feel like we don’t need to bother Jesus, in His busyness with just the little concerns of life, so we try to resolve these things ourselves. Both miracles referenced in today’s Scripture were very serious. The woman who had an issue of bleeding for 7 years straight, is unbelievable for any child of God to think about. A child who lies on her bed with every indication that her sickness would lead to death – this is an atrocity for any parent to witness, and almost impossible to stand idly by and watch. Hearing that the ultimate Healer of all man’s diseases was passing through town, the sick woman mentioned above fought through the crowds knowing that she would probably never gain an audience with Jesus, but if she merely touched a piece of His (holy) clothing, she would be healed. This was a display of faith that is hardly ever heard of, but she believed in the power of the Great Healer and she had to get in His presence, for her own wellbeing. Her faith, or her belief in the power of the Almighty, led her to complete healing by Him. In the case of the synagogue leader, he sat helplessly at home watching his daughter fade away from this life. But having heard of this Healer sent by God, he knew that if he could get Jesus to swing by and just touch his daughter, that she would be healed. Notice how Jesus was in no hurry to drop what He was doing and run on over to the home of Jairus. Friends, this was in no way an indication of refusal, nor a lack of caring by Jesus, for He knew the situation with this child long before her dad ever set out to find Jesus. But the message is clear for us, just as it was for Jairus. Jesus will make all things new, in His time and for His purpose. He first of all told Jairus to not worry about the news he just received about his daughter’s death, for Jesus would still carry out His plan just as He promised prior to the arrival of the news. Let’s pay close attention to this, dear friends, we must not give up on Jesus, even when situations seem hopeless to us. If you believe, don’t allow anything sent your way by Satan to distract you in your walk with the Lord, or in your belief of Him. Now, I’m sure there are readers and/or listeners who will read this and retort ‘but you don’t know my situation, dear Brother, for God seems deaf to my cries for help’. Well guess what, there is no respecter of persons in God’s eyes when it comes to salvation, or forgiveness of your sin. And unless you have a relationship with God, you wouldn’t go to Him with your concerns anyway, right? After all, unless you have sought the face of Jesus, then in your sin, you are asking that He stay His distance from You so that You can live life as you please. Fortunately for many, Jesus is a perfect gentleman, and He will allow you to live life as you please. But for those who have joined with me in asking Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, not only do we have a sweet relationship with Him every day, but His hands are extended to help us in every circumstance of life, especially those concerns that seem to burden us down. When we reach for His hand, He is there. When we try to touch the hem of His garment, His healing is passed on to us and satisfies our every longing. When life hands us lemons, Jesus opens our eyes to the possibilities of lemonade, lemon meringue pie, etc. etc.! When our enemies try to discourage us and hurt us, Jesus helps us to feel His loving arms around us and He gives us a hand up, that brings us renewed hope. For Jairus, Jesus carried out His plan for his daughter, just as He promised when petitioned by Jairus. Jesus didn’t go back on His word because of changing circumstances, and I believe that He will do the same for us – if we trust in Him, if we have faith in Him, and if we allow Him to be God no matter our humanly circumstances.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Throughout the Bible we read about how faith is important to the child of God. It’s how we came to be a child of God. If only we can learn to develop our trust in Jesus – our faith, so that instead of becoming worry warts, we instead become heroes of the faith!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we came to You ‘By Faith’, now teach us to continue in our faith to worship and serve You each and every day. How can we encourage others to draw close to You in faith, if we struggle to surrender our all to You – in faith? In Your Word, You showed us that having just a little faith – an amount that may only be the size of a mustard seed, that we could move very large mountains. Our problems are small compared to the mountain You referred to, but I believe that we very easily allow the evil of this world to drag us down and cause us to doubt. As a child, my daughter had faith enough in her dad that she would jump from any height, knowing that I would do everything possible to catch her. May we have the faith of a child, so that we may feel secure in the arms of an Almighty and loving God. May our faith be so strong that it will be evident to the unsaved person who is seeking the faith to accept you as Lord and Savior. 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 Level of Faith

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2023-01-02
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 7:6-7; 9-10;
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 So Jesus accompanied them. When they approached the Centurion’s home, the Centurion sent out some friends to bring a message to Jesus.
Message of the Centurion: Lord, don’t go to the trouble of coming inside. I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7 That’s why I sent others with my request. Just say the word, and that will be enough to heal my servant.
9 Jesus was deeply impressed when He heard this. He turned to the crowd that followed Him.
Jesus: Listen, everyone. This outsider, this Roman, has more faith than I have found even among our own Jewish people.
10 The friends of the Centurion returned home, and they found the slave was completely healed.

APPLICATION: Unless we focus on the main lesson in today’s Scripture, we may drift off into wondering why the Centurion didn’t go to Jesus himself. Or why didn’t Jesus pronounce the healing as soon as He received word from the Centurion, for surely, He knew how dire the situation was. But let’s not forget to place ourselves in the shoes of the Centurion. Who are we that we would send friends to the highest religious order of our day and ask that he drop what he’s doing and rush on over to our house? What type of palace do we live in, that we would open the door and invite the Lord Jesus in? Inside our home, is everything in place to impress Jesus with our religious stand? Of all the people in the world who need help from Jesus, who are we that He would consider listening, or responding, to us? Friends, regardless of your answers to these questions, or even if this prompted more questions from you, notice that the Centurion still took action. Many will sit, waiting for their ship to come in, but if you didn’t send one out, why should you expect one to come in? Perhaps the Centurion felt unworthy, just as he said, but he may have also wanted to stay close to his servant, just in case the situation worsened. So many questions, and so many excuses we could conjure up to excuse our inaction, but the Centurion moved into action and asked his respected leaders to make the journey and ask Jesus, on his behalf. Of particular interest is the fact that even though Centurions were looked down on by the Jews, yet Jesus responded to the request of this Centurion when He first received the request, and again when the second message arrived asking Jesus to heal the servant remotely. My primary take-away in this story is that Jesus openly shared how amazed He was at the faith of this humble, caring man. In fact, He gave him the designation of being so filled with faith, that he put it into action for someone else. I believe that many of my readers and listeners are regular church attendees. Let me encourage you to meditate on this Scripture long enough to do a self-evaluation of your faith. Knowing that you can do nothing to impress Jesus, what do you suppose He would say about your level of faith? Do you suppose that your faith is strong enough that you would have attempted something like the Centurion did? If not, what do you suppose you need to help you grow in your faith? Jesus is not out of reach, dear friends. He loved you enough to hang on a cross and die for your sins. He loves you enough that He said that He has gone to be with the Father to prepare a place in Heaven for us, so that where He is, we may be also. Surely, He is more than ready to hear our cry for help, and also willing to heal – even from a distance, like He did for the Centurion’s servant. Trust Him, and call on Him, for He cares for you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The Jews looked down on the Centurions, but Jesus listened to the cry from His precious child and answered his request. Others may look down on us, but we are number one in the eyes of our Master and Lord!

PRAYER: Lord, we are amazed by Your respect for all Your children, and Your willingness to accept all of Your creation, even those we may turn our noses up at. Thank You for hearing my plea and accepting me as Your child. Just as the Centurion found peace in getting a message to You about His dire need, my readers, listeners and myself know that each and every day will bring new challenges that we will need to call on You for. None on earth are truly righteous, but Lord I pray that You will continue to teach us to call on You for each and every need, or concern of our lives. Some on earth may dismiss us because we are not rich enough, or the partying kind, or we go to church too much, but I truly believe that when You forgave our sin, and accepted us into Your kingdom, we became true sons and daughters of the Most High God. Forgive us Lord when we listen to Satan and cower in our corner. Please give us the confidence so deserving of Your child and the boldness to call on You for the little and impossible things of life. You are God, and besides You there is no other. We acknowledge that today and wait for the time when You will call us home to glory! 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!

Following In Your Footsteps

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Faith in Action, Follow Christ, Follower of Christ, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-11-05
WRITTEN AT: Ormond Beach, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 15:3-5
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 3 He committed the same sins as his father and was not completely loyal to the Lord his God, as his great-grandfather David had been. 4 But for David’s sake the Lord his God gave Abijah a son to rule after him in Jerusalem and to keep Jerusalem secure. 5 The Lord did this because David had done what pleased him and had never disobeyed any of his commands, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. 

APPLICATION: There are several ‘wow’ moments in this Scripture today:
1. God kept His promise that He made to David, even though his great-grandson, king Abijah, din’t live up to the commitment God saw in David. Often we will be compared to our parents, but isn’t it amazing how Abijah’s judgment, his actions and his character is being compared to his great-grandfather? I believe the same applies to our influence in the lives of generations that will follow is. Is there anything we need to work on now – before it’s too late? Guide us Lord, so that You might shine through us in every word and action.
2. Even in today’s Scripture, it acknowledged David was not perfect. But we know that David had a heart after God’s very own heart, and he was committed to following the ways of God. But God made a promise to David, and he was not about to renounce his promise. Long after David died, God was still keeping His promise. We may become downhearted about letting our guard down and messing up on something we may have promised God, but what a reminder that even long after we have left this life, yet God will still maintain His promise to us!
3. For each of David’s relatives who became king, notice that the Scripture always compares them to the standards set by David. Future history will show that our children, or their children may be compared to us. Those we taught in Sunday School may be reminded of something we said in a lesson we taught. Our coworkers may be questioned about their principles, even after being taught more justly by us. I wonder, will we hang our heads in shame, or will we proudly rejoice before the Father when He questions those with whom we interacted?
Friends, we are guided along in this life by whatever enters our heart, mind and soul. And we act out, and speak, according to that which we have taken in. If we fill ourselves with hatred and bad worldly ideas, then it becomes virtually impossible to act and speak in love. Conversely, if we fill ourselves with the teachings of Jesus and the love expressed by Jesus in all that He did, and if we will seek to imitate Jesus in every way possible, then God will fulfill a good work in those who come after us, or that we minister to. Perhaps each day as we stop to communicate with God, we should analyze whether our words and actions of that day may have helped others live like Jesus, or the Devil. I trust that you would join with me in desiring that we live more like Jesus every day, and when others interact with us, they would feel like they’ve been with Jesus, or at least one of His messengers. Our world needs this, and so do we. Let’s make sure that our lives are worthy of following and that our time on earth was worth our being here. May God’s Kingdom be richer because of our involvement on His behalf here on earth.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as our Father continued to fulfill His promise to David even into the second and third generations, I believe He will do the same for us! We serve an awesome God!

PRAYER: There is no God like our God, praise the wonderful name of Jesus! What a reminder in seeing You bless even an unfaithful servant like Abijah. But Lord, I believe that You will do the same for us as we pass along Your good works to all who follow us. Abijah certainly didn’t deserved Your blessing, or the gifts You gave to him, but because of Your faithful promise to David, You blessed him. Lord, please work on us so that we may be worthy of our children following in our footsteps. May they see Jesus evident in our talk and in our walk. I believe that many of the unsaved are also looking for evidence of the Great ‘I Am’, and Lord I pray that they will catch a glimpse as they interact with us. Fill us with Your love and blessings each and every day Lord, and may we do the same with those we come into contact with also, 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!

Live Out Your Faith Through Love

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evidence of Faith, Faith, Faithful, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-09-05
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Galatians 5:1-2; 5-6;
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past. 2 I, Paul, tell you: If you think there is benefit in circumcision and Jewish regulations, then you’re acting as though Christ is not enough.
5 But we have the true hope that comes from being made right with God, and by the Spirit we wait eagerly for this hope. 6 When you’re joined to the Anointed One, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that works and expresses itself through love.

APPLICATION: I believe that many Christians who, when they find Jesus and accept Him as Lord, are guided into the path of righteousness by church members to help them live according to the teachings and practice of Jesus. Hopefully these new Christians receive Biblical instruction on why these things are recommended and why the church adopted these practices as part of their teachings. Otherwise, new believers could wind up telling their friends that these additional practices are required in order to secure their position with Christ. One of the things in particular that Paul found in his church was that, through tradition, Jews still insisted on the need for circumcision. While that particular medical procedure is still practiced today, it is performed for medical, or hygiene purposes, but in most Christian churches it is not mentioned in their by-laws or beliefs as a requirement by the church. Paul warns us that we must be careful not to attach any church or theological practices that are man-made or man-designed, as something additional that is required for one to believe on the Lord Jesus. The grace of Jesus is enough – all-sufficient for saving mankind from sin. Please always remember that Jesus came, died, and rose again, so that in our believing on Him, we might demonstrate His death on the cross – by us dying to our sin. And rise again in newness of life in Jesus, just as He did in His resurrection! We could never do enough good or be good enough of on our own accord to enter the gates of heaven – it is through the grace (undeserved favor) of God that we simply call on Jesus and tell Him how we believe He is the Son of God who died for our sin. He is enough dear friends! He has done the work already! He said He would accept us and forgive us of our sin, and we could go to the bank with that. So, I believe that it behooves Christians to really be careful in what we tell others about their obtaining eternal life. Just as we could never be good enough, let’s be careful to not burden those that need Jesus with a list of prerequisites. They can’t clean up their lives first, because they don’t have a Savior who will help them clean up the mess. Your church may require baptism for membership, but it is not a prerequisite for salvation. There is nothing, or no one else in whom we can be saved – only through accepting the gift or eternal life from Jesus alone and all that He did at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sin. I love the way that Paul described life after accepting Jesus – it will be evident through our love for others that Jesus is Lord of our life, and that the Holy Spirit who lives within the believer, is promoting love at every opportunity! I wonder – does the world see a child of God when they look at us? May our output be obvious proof of the love we received when we invited Jesus into our life!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our input – the genuine acceptance of the love of Jesus as our Savior, will produce the output that God is looking for in His children- love for one another!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for this reminder today! I pray that each reader and listener will join me, as together we look into the eyes of Jesus and thank Him for the opportunities given to us every day where we have the choice to love one another. It is so easy to complain about the sin of others and their failures in life, but it’s only through the grace of God that we overcome that weakness each day. God’s grace is greater than all our sin, our actions and even our bad language. But Lord, as a child of the King, we have every confidence that You will be our shield and protector against the evil of this world, as You work through Your holy Spirit in guiding us to all truth, happiness and joy in the Lord. You are our Lord and we adore You, faithful Lord. May that be obvious to the world as we strive to imitate You each and every day. AMEN!

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

Unholiness Leads to Unfaithfulness

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

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-08-17
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 106:34-37; 39;
TRANSLATION: New Century Version (NCV)

BIBLE TEXT: 34 The people did not destroy the other nations as the Lord had told them to do. 35 Instead, they mixed with the other nations and learned their customs. 36 They worshiped other nations’ idols and were trapped by them. 37 They even killed their sons and daughters….
39 The people became unholy by their sins; they were unfaithful to God in what they did.

APPLICATION: Of course you are holy, faithful, and true to your Master, right? I believe that’s always the answer many, who claim Jesus as Lord, will give. But do you suppose you will continue with that answer if you had a few moments to consult with God and give Him the freedom to open the eyes of your soul? Most of us are probably just alike, in the way we despised our parents for not letting us hang out with the ‘cool’ bunch on Saturday night or staying out after midnight with the young guys who owned cars – fast, cool, cars! Then we became parents, and we had many of the same fears that our parents had. You see, we remembered our best friend who lost his girlfriend when his car flipped at 1:30am on a Sunday morning and she got killed. We couldn’t dare to think of hearing such news about our little girl. But, today we want to think more directly about how our Christian walk might survive if, and when, challenged. It seems like the most common challenge is when we disobey God in much the same way kids disobeyed the warnings or commands of their parents. Think about when a Christian young man marries an unbeliever, even after warnings from Bible teachings and from his Christian parents. Of course, the young man feels like he will marry her to be a good witness to her and win her to the Lord. After all, he is convinced that ‘love’ is all that matters in that very moment of affection! However, in a huge percentage of the cases, we see where the Bible and the parents were right all along, for that Christian young man succumbs to the stress of his wife, walks away from his faith, and then suddenly faces challenges in his marriage, and his life in general in general. Our God, who knows all things – past, present and future, has a reason for teaching us what He explains in His Word. It is imperative that we note that God didn’t have His instructions documented to make us miserable and unhappy, but instead He wanted us to be a successful follower, obedient to His plan for our lives, while spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through every thought, word and action. God designed us, so He knows how we tick, and He knows how we will react to circumstances that we face. That’s how it was with the Israelites. God meticulously brought them out of slavery in Egypt, through the harshness of the desert, while taking excellent, loving, care of over a million of them. This took over 40 years, so if you suspect that God didn’t know them before, let me assure you that He knew all about them after their desert journey, for He saw their reaction to the good times, the challenges and the successes. He saw them fail in recognizing the Hand that fed them, protected, cared for and loved on them. So God knew that they were not leaders, but instead needed an environment that helped them achieve success in living a life dedicated to the Lord. Meanwhile, God also knew about the Canaanites, and He knew that they would just add to the bad habits and misery of a people group already in a slump. In verse 39 it was obvious that the world witnessed the increasing unholiness of the Israelites who disobeys God. Their unholiness and unfaithfulness to Almighty God had reached an all-time, disappointing high. I know, friend, they’re only human – that’s what we tend to say when we fail. But the Israelites, and those of us who are committed to the lordship of Jesus Christ, are servants of the ‘Great I Am’, the Creator of this universe, the God who sees all things, knows all things and will bless us with all things that we need. We have so much to gain by listening to, and following in full obedience, to our awesome God! Will you commit to Him today? Please learn from the story of the Israelites and allow their failures to teach you the importance of not only accepting Jesus as Lord, but also following Him in obedience to His Word. Jesus loves you, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God has a plan for us that will not only be for our benefit, and for His glory, but also one that will prepare us for eternity in Heaven with Him. Glory to God in the highest!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for blessing the Israelites in so many wonderful ways and for guiding them on a path that would have led to their faithfulness and commitment to honor Your will for them. Thank God, You still do the same thing for us. I feel tremendously blessed in being led by You today! Please help my readers, listeners and I to stay in close communion with You, to listen and obey Your commands put in place so that we might be obedient and holy. You designed us, created us, direct our path, and You have a plan for our eternity. Thank You Lord for Your mercies on us. Thank You Lord for loving us enough to care about our past, present and future. Oh that we would remain faithful and true until the day You call us home. 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!