Category: Obedience

Remember Him

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

DATE POSTED
Sunday, October 26, 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 Ecclesiastes 12 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

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.

I was struck today by the message I believe God wanted to impress on my heart as I read Scripture. I’m praying that He helps me remember His goodness—and that, as I share this with you, my faithful followers, you too will hear a word from the Lord.

When God repeats something in His Word, it’s for a reason. Repetition draws our attention to what He’s calling us to see and understand. In today’s passage, Solomon sums it up perfectly in verse 13. I love how the Amplified Bible puts it:

“Fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.”

God wants us to grasp this truth early in life: the sooner we surrender our minds and hearts to Him, the more He shapes us to live as He intended—for His glory.

Think of a child who listens, respects, and follows their father’s teachings. Imagine the pride of that father as he sees his child succeed and reflect the very values he taught. But it all begins with the child’s willingness to surrender—to trust their father’s wisdom over their own desires. Without that, the child is easily shaped by TV, peers, or the world’s shifting beliefs.

For those of us who believe in God and seek to read, listen to, and obey His Word, we know this truth stands firm: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The message He gave our ancestors still echoes today—“Remember Me.”

Notice how often those two words appear in this short chapter. God is urging us to remember, to think of Him in everything, and to live out His guidance daily.

This reminder matters even more when we see the confusion in the lives of those who don’t know Him—people chasing empty desires, careless about what pleases God or blesses others. That’s why it’s vital for us, especially as adults and mentors, to take our influence seriously. As Solomon notes in verse 11, our words and actions are like cattle prods—tools meant to guide the younger ones God has placed under our care.

My prayer is that God helps me remember Him and represent Him in all I do—and that you will do the same.
May God be glorified in and through us all.

PRAYER
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your creation, Your unconditional love, and Your daily guidance. You have placed people in our path and within our circle of influence to learn from our example and hear our counsel as we strive to represent You here on earth.

Lord, may those who cross our path see and experience You through us. Bless us to reflect You faithfully in all we say and do. Stir our hearts to pray daily for our family—especially the younger ones—because we long to see them come to know You and live for You.

Come, Lord Jesus, and receive Your church—Your ready children who eagerly await eternity with You and the Father. 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!

Experiencing God’s Guidance Through Obedience

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

DATE POSTED
Thursday, July 31, 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 Jeremiah 35:18-19 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Good News Translation (GNT).

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.

I believe I had the best parents, but as I read this chapter today, I couldn’t help but compare the way my parents disciplined vs the way God handled it in our key verses today. What an awesome, patient and just God we serve! Consider God’s unexpected strategy: He used Jeremiah to arrange a hospitality-filled meeting with the Rechabite clan. Their unwavering obedience to their ancestor became a profound object lesson for Judah and Jerusalem.

Imagine the world’s reaction to believers today if God’s directives were followed with such radical obedience, even when it defies human logic!  There is no evidence that Jeremiah questioned God about why such a meeting was necessary or how he should conduct the meeting, he just did it. The methods Jeremiah used as a gracious host seem very comparable to our meetings today, for we strive to make our guests comfortable with an adequate supply of food and drink. But at the conclusion of this meeting, can’t you imagine Jeremiah scratching his head and wondering ‘what just happened?’, or ‘was that a productive meeting?’. In similar cases, we may question whether we misunderstood God’s instructions.

But fast forward to the message God gave to Jeremiah to share with the people in vs 12 and following. It was at this point that Jeremiah would have seen the purpose in his meeting with the Rechabite clan, for this encounter formed the basis for Jeremiah to explain how his people should respond to God in similar fashion to the practice of the Rechabite family.

Friends, if we trust God to orchestrate our lives, then full obedience to His calling is essential. But how do we do this? We don’t hear God giving us our direction for the day while we’re eating breakfast! Let me remind you that when one accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside of us to be our Guide, Encourager, and our Protector from the evil one. For the believer who is in daily communion with God, reading and meditating on His Word, and communicating with God in prayer and devotion, God will achieve His purpose in our lives. When we recognize God, and fully depend on Him, He will make Himself known to us in ways we could never imagine. Can we explain and understand this fully? No, but if we sincerely believe that the Bible is true, then we know we can trust what it says. If God said it, we must believe that He is in control of what is going on and that He will direct our path to enable dedicated, committed representatives of the most high God here on earth. I have a personal experience I could give you of how God used an unexpected move by our family to save the lives of two other relatives in the years that followed. Let me encourage you to stop the busyness of life and reflect on your Christian walk. Use your experiences as confident assurance to encourage you on your journey knowing that Jesus is your Lord and the One who directs your path. Let it be an example to others in search of a trusted Father who loves His children and will guide their steps also, if they truly place their faith, trust and devotion in Him.

PRAYER
Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all that You have created, orchestrated, sacrificed, loved, guided and protected, who am I to be worthy of such a Savior, such a Lord and Almighty God? You knew what Jeremiah needed in order to reenforce his confidence to tell Your people of their sin, and of the God who is awesome in power and strength for their every need. This reminds me, and I believe it will reenforce Your goodness to Your people today as well. You know what we need, yet You are patient in our weakness and You wait to hear us in our humility come to the foot of the cross to bare ourselves of our guilt and shame due to our sin, guilt and unworthiness. Please Lord, do it again. Remind us daily of Your awesome power and that You have Your eye on us, just as You do the smallest sparrow. Please give us boldness to share Your touch on our lives so that others might want to know and experience our Lord, for we are reminded that there will come a day when the saved on earth will gather at Your feet for all eternity! Oh what a glorious day that will be. Thank You Jesus, for Your cleansing blood that washes all our sins away! 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!

Honoring God through Obedience to Authority

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

DATE POSTED
Monday, May 26, 2025, 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
Read Ecclesiastes 8:2-8 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
Almost 40 years ago my wife and I migrated to the United States and some years later we were accepted as as citizens with full rights in the USA. We pledged to agree and honor many laws, regulations and authorities in order to be a part of this country. Almost 50 years ago I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord and I pledged to honor Him and all that He stood for, as relayed in His Holy Word. These two pledges were linked, as I promised God that I would honor His Word, part of which deals with His ruling over the nations and in the election of their rulers. I was reminded of this as I meditated on Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes today. And because these wise words of Solomon are inspired by the Holy Spirit, I am confident that I will be blessed if I honor and obey God’s teachings, for He is my ultimate King who will rule and reign long after our earthly presidents, kings, prime ministers, and other leaders have graduated from their earthly rules. In my working career, I once worked as an auditor who looked over the shoulders of employees and made sure they followed company rules and regulations. If we felt that an employee violated a regulation, we would write them up and quote the rule or regulation they broke. As believers, we too must learn to focus so much on the Book containing God’s instructions (the Bible) and ensure that we are obeying our Father. In Romans 13:1-2 we are instructed to obey our governing authorities for they are appointed by God, and if we find it in ourselves to disobey the authorities, we are therefore disobeying God Himself. In 1 Peter 2:13-17 we are ordered to obey government institutions, for they are provided by God to punish us when we do wrong, and honor those who do good. Dear friends, know that our Scripture today was not just a ‘wild hair’ thought up by Solomon, for he was merely honoring the word he received from our Father on high. There are several other Scriptures that support what the Holy Spirit whispered to Solomon on our behalf – several in addition to the above ones I added. See also Proverbs 24:21-22; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9-11 and I’m sure that your study will also reveal more. I was tickled by the latter part of verse 5 where Solomon spoke of finding time to do right. In our busy, busy, lives today we probably hear these words way too often: ‘I just didn’t have time’. At one stage of my Christian Walk, I was challenged to use the more challenging words: ‘that was just not a priority for me”. Let me encourage you to use this terminology friends, for it more accurately puts the blame on you, rather than finding excuses in saying you didn’t have time! Some may be tempted to disobey the authorities because they didn’t elect them, but in a free land where democracy thrives, authorities elected by the majority becomes the authority of us all. God tells us in His Word that He has placed them there for a time such as this. So, enough with the excuses, let’s all be mindful of the wishes of our King and always obey our earthly kings and authorities. In everything that we do, let us be awesome examples of the One we represent, Jesus Christ our Lord.

PRAYER
Thank You Lord Jesus for creating us, and this earth, for us to enjoy Your every blessing. Often, we may feel like our government authorities may be working against us, as their rules and regulations seem onerous and overpowering at times. But thank You Father for Your reminder today that You have placed them here for our good. And because You have placed them here for Your will and purpose, believers are obligated to obey, and pay allegiance to, our ultimate King! You are above all, and greater than all, so there is no question about what Your will is for us in this environment. Please remind us to stay committed to You in all walks of life and obedient to the commands You left for us in Your Word. I believe that for You to be glorified and lifted up through us, we must be operating within Your instruction and design for us. I pray that You will find us faithful, Oh Lord, my God. 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!

The Blessings of Obedience vs. The Consequences of Disobedience

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, Obedience1 Comment

DATE POSTED
Monday, January 27, 2025, 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
Read it in your Bible, or click Jeremiah 11:1-8 to read it in the New English Translation (NET)

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
We are taught from a very early age that they are good things in store for our obedience, and sometimes displeasure, disappointment or even consequences that might result from our disobedience. If this was not the case, we would never learn the value of rewards, nor the importance of rules, promises/covenants, or laws. Just as God listens to our cry for forgiveness and salvation today, He also heard the cry for mercy from His people captured in Egypt. For us, God promised that anyone who believes on Jesus, the Son of God, we will be saved from the wrath of Hell and receive Eternal Life in heaven. But for all who reject His free gift, they would spend eternity in the depths of Hell with Satan and his cohorts. For the Israelites, God promised those who believed His covenant promise and lived in full obedience to His commands, they and their ancestors would transition from the heated fire of distress and mistreatment by the Egyptians to a fruitful, beautiful land that kings and queens could only long to live in or benefit from. However, this place of milk and honey was not intended for those who rejected the Word of God and disobeyed His commands. In fact, God told Jeremiah to warn the people that He would bring curses on the disobedient. Now, unless we casually think for a moment that we are reading a story about the history of our forefathers, I believe that we should consider how God provided His precious Word to trigger a celebration of praise when we are reminded of the many ways in which He blessed those before us, and how He promised to also bless those who accept Him as Lord today. But we must also realize that God would never leave the alternative open for discussion or second guessing. His complete Word is given to us, His obedient children, so that we could understand that since He is still the same today that He has always been, we too can expect the fertile ground that He promised the Israelites who obeyed His covenant with their forefathers. Likewise, I believe that God would also have us know that anytime we take things into our own hands and do life as we see fit, and not according to His commands or covenant with our forefathers, we too can expect His curse. You see, God didn’t want this unpleasant warning to go unnoticed or to never have an impact on His children today. We need the same reminder that God demanded His servant Jeremiah to share with the Israelites. When we obey God, we receive His blessings. When we ignore His promises and His precious gift of His Son Jesus, then we receive His curse and wind up getting our wish of being subjected to Satan’s unpleasant and horrific actions and domain. Based on your decisions to date, my friends, what have you done about Jesus? Is He your Lord and Savior? Or in rejecting His promises, are you satisfied in what Satan has to offer? Those are the only two options, my friends, and only you can make the decision or choice for your eternity.

PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, You have taught us the value of obedience, and You have warned us of the dangers and misfortunes of disobedience. Thank You for putting this into perspective through today’s Scripture and thank You for allowing Your servant Jeremiah the opportunity to warn Your people, instead of bringing down Hell and damnation on them without notice. Through this, I feel like You have also encouraged me and warned my contemporaries who have not heeded Your commands. Oh, that this may be a day of decision for many as this message is brought to light again, and may Your obedient children find reason to glorify You multiple times over. Be glorified through the truth of Your Word and in it being extended to the world through this devotional. 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!

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!

Embrace Humility: God’s Promise to the Humble

On By Ed AlgreenIn Blinded by Sin, Contrite, Humble, Obedience, Promise, Rewards, Righteous, SinLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, November 16, 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 New Living Translation (NLT) and found in Isaiah 66:2-3

THE SCRIPTURE READS
2 My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
3 But those who choose their own ways – delighting in their detestable sins – will not have their offerings accepted…..

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
In our family homes we not only learn what is acceptable behavior to parents, but if they are godly parents, you will also learn what is acceptable to God. Now, over the years I have learned that even the best parents bring along traditions and beliefs from their respective families as well, so I have found that there is no substitute for us to individually build a personal relationship with God so that we could listen to His instructions directly as we meditate on His Word each day. In our Scripture today we can see that God clearly promised the Israelites a reward for their obedience, but a warning to those who chose to ignore His instruction. Let’s look at God’s specific instruction to each of the following positions:
a). Those who have humble and contrite hearts, and tremble at His Word – An individual with a humble heart, will come to the Master empty of any self importance or knowledge, knowing that God is totally supreme, all knowing, and loving. This makes one hungry for what God will instruct them, knowing that it is something they can trust, and that it will be for their own good. One with a contrite heart offers no excuses, and shifts no blame. Remember an old excuse used in our court system by criminals on trial ‘the devil made me do it’! Friends, don’t look around when you approach the throne of God, but rather quickly recognize that you are personally standing before the Creator of all mankind, the earth, and everything in it. This is a time that you want God to see you for who you truly are, not who you wish you could be, or for who you are at work, in your social club, or in this world. Remember, God goes straight for the heart, not for the fluff that everyone else might see or appreciate about you. In my family home, we loved and respected mom, but when dad walked in, we realized that he was the leader of our home and my siblings and I wanted to make sure that he found no fault with our behavior or actions that day. We didn’t literally ‘tremble’ when dad entered, but I believe it is just as God intended in this Scripture: learn to respect, understand, obey and honor the Word of our living God that He made available to us, for knowledge, understanding and guidance all the days of our lives. Many of our national laws were created and implemented, based on the teachings of the Bible, can’t you see the importance of us individually doing the same? THE REWARD: God promised that He would bless Israel if they did the above, and I honestly believe that He will bless us also as we adopt this principles into our lives. Let us strive towards holiness dear friends, and this is fed and achieved through obedience to God and His commands.
b). Those who choose their own ways and delight in their detestable sins – In short, I believe that God is saying that if the Israelites chose to do their own thing and disregard their Creator, then they obviously would see nothing wrong with the sins they had committed, or would commit, and would gloat over their actions before those they governed or came into contact with. There are many we will come into contact with who live out the same lifestyle that God is warning against here. We hear the results of this – ‘if you don’t like my attitude or my ways then move to a different part of town, or to a different job, or even a different church’. They are satisfied with who they have become and they don’t want you, or God, telling them otherwise. BUT, God said that He would not accept their offerings. In the Old Testament this may very well have applied to the many sacrifices/offerings made at the temple for various reasons or sins. Our sacrifices today tend to be the time we sacrifice to attend church occasionally, or the money that we write off against our taxes for giving to a non-profit organization, or even the money that we have our secretary send that big church in town every other month. However, when we do these things with a heart that doesn’t meet the standards mentioned in (a) above, God said that He would not accept them. Ever give someone a gift, and later found that they left it on their desk for anyone to pickup and assume, or they threw it in the trash can? If so, you may have just caught a glimpse of how God feels when we throw material things at Him instead of our heart, mind and soul.
I pray that you will conclude from the above what it is that God is looking for and expecting from you, then ask Him to help you overcome the constraints of the Evil one so that He could pour out His blessings on you. I offer good avenues for help in my below Footnote, should you require help in achieving my suggestion and plea.

PRAYER
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for creating us in Your own image. Although You created us with a specific purpose in mind, yet we have strayed to our own liking and subjected ourselves to the Evil one and his wicked and perverse ways, and they are contrary to Your ways. When our kids do this, we quickly conclude that they must have a ‘devil’ in them, yet it is almost impossible for us to discern the distance we have allowed ourselves to stray from the design and likeness of You, our Maker. Please forgive us Lord and constantly challenge us with our weaknesses so that we may search out the One in whom we can place our faith and trust for strength and power in overcoming our sin and disregard each and every day. You reminded the Israelites of what You require of them, and I’m sure that many will look at that and conclude how awful it was for those evil people to ignore the plea of God, without ever performing a self-examination and seeing our own many faults. I acknowledge that I have strayed from You in many ways on many occasions, so I ask that You begin a new work in me to help me identify those things that separate us and bring contention between us. My readers are much the same, I believe, so I ask that you complete a great work in the lives of ever nationality group reading this devotional, just as You did with the Israelites. Draw us close dear Lord, so that we may present ourselves daily with a humble and contrite heart as we read, respect, acknowledge and obey Your Word. Also, may we, every day, analyze our relationship and renew a right relationship with us, as necessary, so You may be glorified in every way through us. 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!

Only What’s Done For Jesus Will Last

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Wednesday, December 27, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Kyle, Texas when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 17:9-11

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Their largest cities will be as deserted as the distant wooded hills and mountaintops and become like the abandoned cities of the Amorites, deserted when the Israelites approached (so long ago). Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you—the Rock who can hide you; therefore, even though you plant a wonderful, rare crop of greatest value, and though it grows so well that it will blossom on the very morning that you plant it, yet you will never harvest it—your only harvest will be a pile of grief and incurable pain.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Isn’t it interesting that we tend to put God aside when we think that we have everything under control and life is going our way? But I was awakened to the fact that we serve a just, fair, and honest God who will do what He told us He would do. Nothing has really changed, for today we still act like since we are smart enough to do what’s needed in our lives, so why bother God with those types of decisions. Unfortunately this goes on when we are faced with decisions every day, so we get into the trap of doing ‘life’ under our own power and without the guidance and power of Almighty God. Friends, I am convinced that God loved the Israelites with all His heart, just like He loves His children today. But it is clear that God gave the Israelites free rein to use the information and help at their disposal to guide them into right decisions. But then they allowed worldly desires, and tried to win worldly approval to influence their decisions which, in turn, told God ‘No thanks, we can do this alone’. But one thing they didn’t factor into their decisions were the consequences God warned them about, if they disobeyed Him. Friends, we also have been warned of God. Yes, He is a God of love and mercy. But that means that if we confess our sin, and acknowledge that we want to do life God’s way, instead of our own earthly desires, then in His perfect love, He will show mercy and grace by wiping our slate clean, forgiving our sin – in full, and welcome us into His Kingdom as a righteous child of God. The Bible tells us that God will do the same today as He did with the Israelites – remember the rich man who awoke in Hell and cried out to God for mercy? Just like the case of the Israelites, it was too late for the rich man. God has warned us that we too are destined for Hell, just like the rich man in the Bible, if we refuse to believe on the name of Jesus and surrender lordship of our lives to Him. God never changes my friends. Because He said it, we could ‘go to the bank with that’. So we find ourselves in much the same state at the Israelites. We have a loving Savior who sacrificed His very own Son for the redemption of our sin. Why settle for anything less than the glories of heaven with an eternity of praise and worship to our Creator, Master and King? God has already completed His side of that covenant agreement with mankind. It’s up to us now to say ‘no’ to the world, and accept His gift – His endless love, protection, mercy and grace.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, You are so good to us! You created us in Your image, perfect in every way. You gave us the satisfaction of making our own decisions, and I’m sure You must be saddened by the decisions we make and especially how we try to neglect You in our lives. I realize that this is no different to the Israelites, even though we have the option of learning from their mistakes, and we are reminded of your firmness in responding to us in exactly the way that You promised. Lord, we may live to enjoy a new year, so we humbly ask that You renew a right spirit within us and help us to stay committed to You in every way. May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable to you, precious Lord. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If 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. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. 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 growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Discover ‘Life’ – Obey God’s Law

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, July 27, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Orlando, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Nehemiah 9:29-31

THE BIBLE TEXT IS:  “You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: I believe it will be important to explain ‘Life’, for those who read or listen to this devotional will all be alive and wonder what might the Bible be referring to. Many might go to church, so they may wonder what else they need to obey, as instructed in our Scripture today. This Scripture is taken from an extended prayer by Nehemiah for his people, and I pray that this may encourage us into dedicated prayer for our respective nation and people.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Think about the last time you prayed longer than a few seconds. Now before you get insulted by that, try timing your prayer tomorrow! Ever tried praying deliberately for 5 minutes? It feels like an eternity, doesn’t it? Well Nehemiah got with the leaders and after standing on their feet for a 3 hour sermon, they entered into a time of prayer for another 3 hours. Although you may quickly retort that you can say things a whole lot quicker than this group did, I believe it might help you if you read this chapter and see what all they prayed about. It seems natural for us to sit and ridicule our government leaders for the decisions they make, but for the child of God who believes the Word and what Jesus said about Him being responsible for placing leaders in their place, wouldn’t it seem natural that we converse with God about things we may not fully understand that may be happening at the time? Why is He allowing that thing and what should you know in order to be a part of His will surrounding those decisions? Notice that Nehemiah was not questioning God about what He may have permitted in the life of the Israelites, but in reflecting on their past, Nehemiah was able to see the handiwork of God evident through the attacks of the enemy and in God revealing His mighty power through saving the Israelites. As earthly beings, we are excellent at referring back to the ‘good old days’! Wouldn’t that be an excellent time to also reflect on, and give thanks for, all that God did in the lives of your ancestors and previous national leaders? Without this type of reflection and thanksgiving, don’t you suppose that our children might be looking at us and wondering if we will be as much of a failure as our ancestors were? Friends, there is always a positive and negative outlook on life experiences. For those of us that love God, have surrendered to His lordship, and communicate with Him about all of life’s decisions, then we will be mindful of all that He has done, and faith to believe all that He will do. Let’s not give Satan the pleasure of sucking us into the evil and wicked plans that he has in store for his people. We’re a child of the King, and it’s to Him that we owe our allegiance. When we said ‘yes’ to Jesus, we said ‘no’ to Satan, so we follow God’s commands, seeing that we owe nothing to our old master. Many may think that because the church teaches that if we walk the isle on Sunday morning and accept Jesus as Lord, then we are a changed person. But you must place every effort and determination to implement that change in your life. When decisions arise, remember that your King/Lord/Savior must always win! The way to keep in tuned with His decisions, is to make it a daily habit to read what He says – read the Bible. As you practice this, you will find yourself searching for God’s response to make sure that you never decide in a conflicting way. According to Scripture, when you live like this, you are assured of ‘life’ – that’s life eternally in heaven with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: God took care of the Israelites, especially in getting them out of Egypt and into the land He had prepared for them. Filled with doubt, fear and disbelief, they wavered in many ways, but God was faithful to His chosen people. To those who follow Christ, I am convinced that God is still faithful, if only we will obey His commands, as confirmed by God Himself in His Word!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: I believe we can safely say like Nehemiah, in spite of who I’ve been, and who I am, yet You have been faithful, full of grace and merciful dear Lord! Thank You for Your goodness towards me. Please teach us to stay strong in our faith, dedicated to You and obedient to Your Word. Please help us to always insure that our Master wins in every decision, for it is much too easy for us to fail on our own. Lord, we want others to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and not be misled by us in any way, so help us to insure that You are in charge and we are obedient to You. Please draw us to the cross and help us to be faithful in all walks of life and in all that we say. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If 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. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home near by your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

How To Live a Long and Satisfying Life

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, 2023-04-27
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 3:1-6
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 1-2 My son, never forget the things I’ve taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. 3 Never tire of loyalty and kindness. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. 4-5 If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

OBSERVATION: Do you suppose that we would have a better world today if every father took his child aside before leaving his home and shared such wisdom with them as Solomon did with his son, as detailed in our Scripture today? I bet we would have a much better world! Therefore, let us meditate on a few of the things that Solomon shared, as they are very similar to what God teaches throughout His Book for us to follow.

APPLICATION: I have found that it was not until certain circumstances started occurring in my adult life that I heard the teachings and advice given to me by my dad during my days of training and working by his side. Perhaps that’s how God intended it! However, these lessons by Solomon, to his son, were so important in the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit, that God permitted it to be included in His Word. Let’s delve into the lessons as we ask God to embed His Word into our minds, for our good, and for His glory:

  • Never Forget – As time goes on, don’t we tend to brush aside old habits and lessons, thinking that we should live more in line with the times? But Solomon saw fit to make this one of his very first instructions in this lesson today. Just as these instructions of Solomon are reinforced by God himself, we too are also called to never forget the instructions taught to us by important people God placed in our life – our parents.
  • Hold fast to the Virtues taught – The dictionary shows the meaning of ‘Virtues’ as: ‘behavior showing high moral standards‘. God wanted us to know that these virtues given by Solomon will go a long way for us today also. From a very young age, our parents try to embed awesome virtues into their children. Often, we might think they are pre-historic and only suited for the very early stages of creation when they were born! But let’s hold tight to what God is telling us in His Word. These are things we must take seriously.
  • Closely follow his instruction – I sometime wonder whether God will hold us accountable for knowing His Word, yet adding our own little twist on what we assume He must have meant. We do the same with man’s laws. The speed limit may clearly show 45 mph, yet we become upset with the Highway Patrolman who tickets us for doing 48 mph, because we stayed under the assumed limit suggested by our friends! I had a relative who changed recipe ingredients to suit her liking, but she complained when the finished product didn’t taste like the first one she tasted! No doubt Solomon knew that his son would try to make his own adjustments, but if he expected to achieve the end result of knowing that God would bless him with a long and satisfying life, then he had to following his dad’s instructions closely, and so should we learn to do the same with God’s instructions.
  • Loyalty & Kindness – I love one translation that reads that his son was to never tire of living a life of integrity. To live a life of kindness, is to meet the needs of people who cross your path, instead of making every effort to avoid them. The world will turn their heads to avoid a person with needs, but since God met our greatest need by sending His one and only Son so that we could live eternally with Him, then as His imitator we must be willing to do the same.
  • Trust God completely – Our minds, our thoughts and our actions are often marred by the world in which we live. It is critical that we avoid our own distorted minds, will and thoughts, and trust God completely. He created us, He sent His Son so that we might live eternally with Him, so He has our best interest at heart and will direct our path in a way that would enhance His kingdom through His children.

Perhaps God is trying to let you know what you must do to have eternal life, and also how to live a long and satisfying life. His Word is of super importance, as it contains His instructions for life. Listen carefully and commit yourself to follow His instructions, and you will surely be blessed with a long and satisfying life.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our Father gave us His full instruction for life, just as Solomon did for his son. Praise God we, who have accepted Him as Lord, can live a long and satisfying life knowing that our eternal home will be even greater than any joy we might have here on earth!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I’m sure You are well aware of the struggles we face every day and the challenges that meet us in every walk of life. Praise God we serve such an awesome Lord! In spite of our sin, You sent Your Son to die on a cross at Calvary, so that we could choose to accept Him for the forgiveness of our sin and enjoy the surety of our eternity. Please open our eyes and our understanding to Your instructions and give us boldness to follow with integrity the instruction and example of Your Son. Please give us purpose in living this life and the determination to follow Your instructions faithfully. AMEN!

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

God’s Desire – All Saved and Know the Truth

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, 2023-04-22
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. 2 Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy— 3 all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior 4 who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth.

OBSERVATION: I wonder if our churches will look differently, and there will be fewer splits or closures, if we placed our focus on Paul’s instruction to Timothy. If our focus was on ‘Desiring that everyone be saved and know the truth’, don’t you see where many things would be changed in our current-day churches? I believe we can all agree that our churches exist for the same reason Paul gave in these instructions to Timothy, but have we succeeded in following the teaching God ordained through Paul in our Scripture today? Let’s examine this in more detail.

APPLICATION: The church of Jesus Christ thinks big today, as they try to reach a much larger area of the world population than just those in our local communities. I realize this is good when trying to be obedient to Matthew 29:19 where Jesus taught us to go and preach the Gospel to all nations. But after being reminded today in our Scripture of the things that God is passionate about, it may be best if we filter all our personal plans, and insist that the goals of our respective churches will also be tested through the lens of what God desires for His church. For example, there may be a proposal from a prominent couple of your church to have a get together at their home once monthly in the name of the church. The church leaders should analyze whether this (and all plans) will lead the unsaved to the Lord, or will the activity be an avenue for believers to learn more about the love of Jesus. That may seem a very trivial example, but dear friends, many times you will find things going on at church, or in the name of the church, that’s nothing more than an avenue to share gossip between groups of similarly minded people who try to hide under the disguise of the church. Unfortunately, for most churches, I believe that their priority has become maximizing the size of their congregation in order to see their debt paid off. Altar calls, visitation, phone calls and just genuine follow-up has become a past event that has outlived its usefulness in current day churches. Yes, filling our churches with people will expose more people to the preaching of the Word, but how do you suppose your church does in challenging attendees to make a 180 degree turn in the way they act and speak to others throughout the rest of the week, or challenge each one to strive for a heart like Jesus and desire, above all else, to see every family member and everyone in your circle of friends saved? Are you committed to daily Bible Study and strive to attend a group Bible Study so that you would be challenged in, and well-versed in the Word of God? Please decide to never invite a friend to Bible Study if you are not committed to being there whenever that person arrives. Unfortunately, the world is out to soften and even defraud the name and teachings of Jesus Christ, so in an effort to help those closest to you to know the truth of the Gospel and its main character – Jesus Christ, it will be necessary for you to show how important this is to you, through your example. Also, I implore you to take note of the very first thing that Paul taught on in the chapter – prayer. With less than 5% of church congregations finding it unimportant to take time out for daily prayer with their Father in heaven, or attend corporate prayer meetings, is there any wonder why Paul found it necessary to encourage those to whom he preached, to give priority to intercessory prayer with their Master? But in spite of Paul, Timothy, and our own pastor’s preaching and teaching, yet this remains a weak point in our churches today. Why? Is prayer important enough to be a priority to you? Without this important practice in your life, can you truly say that either of Jesus’ other two practices – a). A desire to see friends and loved ones saved; and b). A desire to see them learn more of the things God demands of them; are important to you?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I love when we are not just given instruction in God’s Word, but how we also learn why His teaching is important. Notice in today’s Scripture where we are told: ‘so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy‘! Imagine how our families and our cities will improve if God’s people led in these characteristics!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I pray that we will learn to live in full obedience to Your Word, Your teachings, Your example and Your desire for us. May the world be a better place because of You, and Your precious love for Your children who will follow Your teachings and Your example. May each reader and/or listener commit to a deeper personal relationship with you, so that the world will see Jesus in us and not our mistakes and failures that make us no better than they are. Please give reason for others to see enough of Jesus in us, that they will desire a real and personal relationship with 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!