Category: Praise

To Become A Holy People Dedicated To The Lord

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

Saturday, 2019-07-27

Bible Reference: Deuteronomy 28:9-10
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text: 9 He will change you into a holy people dedicated to himself; this he has promised to do if you will only obey him and walk in his ways. 10 All the nations in the world shall see that you belong to the Lord, and they will stand in awe.

OBSERVATION: Listening to the evening news, I believe we will all conclude that Satan has overpowered the world and has taken control of the minds of our people. However, in reading our Bible, God reminds us of what He promised the Israelite people as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Because God wanted this printed in His Word, I believe He is saying to each one whose country is represented by my readers, that He could do it again! What a glorious thought for us to meditate on today!

APPLICATION: Don’t you feel like our world can’t get much worse in terms of the evil that we hear about through a multitude of criminal activities; the hatred displayed and lived out by many; the prejudices portrayed against people of different races, countries and economic statuses; and the overall disrespect for life itself? I would highly recommend that each reader take time to read the entire chapter linked in the above Scripture, for we can see clearly how God responds to His people when they are obedient to His Word, and to the contrary, when they choose to do their own thing and ignore the instructions of God. Friends, it is clear that God honors His people when they love Him, honor Him, and obey His commands. It is also clear that since He brought us into this world, He could very easily take us out, at His command. In addition to this eye-opening Scripture, I would also refer you to 2 Chronicles 7:14 where we are taught by God that if we humble ourselves, pray, and honor Him, He will heal our land of it’s sin-sickness and set us on a good path. I am so convinced that it is time for Christians to wake up and honor God’s Word, so that He may hear our sincere cry and heal our land. Lord, begin this great work in me – PLEASE, and may this become the prayer of many reading this blog today.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for you many blessings on me! I’m sure that most of your children will easily echo that praise today, for You are so good to us precious Lord! With the eye-opening reminder from Your Word on the reason for our setbacks and our struggles, I pray that You will help us to seek You personally and commit personally to beg for Your work to begin in us. Yes, we can look at all those around us who fail, but let Your work begin in us. For one by one, under the influence of Your power and love, we can become more than conquerors as You heal our land and draw us unto Yourself. AMEN!

To Live Forever In Heaven

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

Friday, 2019-07-26

Bible Reference: Luke 10:25-28
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 25 Just then a religious scholar stood before Jesus in order to test his doctrines. He posed this question: “Teacher, what requirement must I fulfill if I want to live forever in heaven?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does Moses teach us? What do you read in the Law?”
27 The religious scholar answered, “It states, ‘You must love the Lord God with all your heart, all your passion, all your energy, and your every thought. And you must love your neighbor as well as you love yourself.’”
28 Jesus said, “That is correct. Now go and do exactly that and you will live.”

OBSERVATION: Some people will try to copy what successful people have done, because they hope that they could also become successful. The religious scholar in our story today knew what the Bible said about what one must do to gain eternal life, but hoping to entrap Jesus he asked Him the question anyway. I wonder if others gain a fair assessment of how they might get to heaven, by following in our footsteps?

APPLICATION: Don’t you find it fascinating to watch a child’s actions, and especially how they tend to imitate an adult that they tend to admire? I believe that each of us have a deep desire for success, and that depends on whether we are looking to improve our stance here on earth, or if we think about what happens after our struggles here on earth. Many believe in God, especially in times of personal crisis, but many tend to not surrender to Him in the prime of life, because they feel there might be something better here on earth. I believe that although this Jewish scholar initially started out to try and trap Jesus, he may have felt like he was challenging Jesus with the question in verse 25, with hopes of reassuring himself that he knew everything possible about securing his eternity. Fortunately, the scholar chose the right person to question, for Jesus not only knew the answers to his questions, but He also knew the details of this man’s life, and what in particular needed attention from God’s point of view. I believe that there are some today who might ask Jesus the same question that the scholar asked, because they want to make sure that they are doing, at minimal, everything to gain favor with God, in case they ever need Him during their earthly travail. Please re-read the above verses again, and notice that Jesus was emphatic about the relationship that the Scholar had with His Lord – Jesus Christ, and with his fellow man. Friends, you may hear about our Lord and Savior, and you may appreciate all the miraculous things He did for mankind when He was bodily upon this earth. Knowing that the Bible also teaches that You can only achieve heaven through Jesus Christ, you may be looking for a set of standards – rules that you can follow, to make sure that you never wind up in Hell after life on earth is over. Notice how God made it as simple as ABC: Accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior – this means that you surrender your self-will and stubborn determination to the simple act of trusting Jesus with every aspect of your life; Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ – that He died (was crucified) and He was buried, yet He arose from the dead so that we might have eternal life in heaven around the throne of God for ever and for ever; and Confess your sins before Him, knowing that He knows everything about you, then acknowledge your sin to Him and ask His forgiveness of your sin. If you are concerned about whether Jesus would ever accept such a sinner as yourself, please read John 3:16, for Jesus assures us that whosoever comes to Him will be saved. He loves us that much dear friends!

PRAYER: Thank You Heavenly Father for loving me enough to accept me, just as I was, and for cleansing me and making me as white as snow in the eyes of our Father. Only a God like You could do such an awesome work in love for even the worst of sinners. Lord Jesus, I beg You today to reach into the hearts of all those that might surrender their heart to You today in response to the Scripture presented, and the humble expression of simple faith shared by the writer. Lord, I lift Your name on high today. Please draw mankind unto Yourself as You promised in Your Word! AMEN!

Amazed By The Healing and Power of God!

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

Tuesday, 2019-07-23

Bible Reference: Luke 9:43
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 43 The crowd began cheering and discussing this amazing healing and the power of God….

OBSERVATION: Jesus had just healed the demonic filled son. at the request of his dad. All the people around Jesus that saw this shouted cheers of joy and amazement as they marveled over the power of God. Does that sound like the ending of your church service each Sunday morning? I believe that the excitement of seeing Jesus at work in the lives of our fellow worshipers will cause us to leave our services rejoicing and filled with hope that we could be next! Let’s meditate on why this may not happen often enough for us!

APPLICATION: I once had a discouraged pastor share with me about a parishioner who got on to him because he was allowing too much sharing time by members at our weekly prayer meeting. For the accuser felt like the pastor was being paid to teach and preach at the Wednesday night service, so in his opinion, he should do so. Unfortunately we may hear very complaints if we allowed something similar at our Sunday services. I wonder if we have become so used to the idea of being entertained at home, at the movies, and almost anywhere else we go, that it actually creates animosity when we are not entertained in the same way at church. Think with me for a moment about attending church each weekend and you are entertained by good singing and preaching, but back at home you sit back and wonder: was anyone in the congregation touched by God? Think about the fact that you were really hoping that you would have been encouraged in some way about the possibility of knowing that God was at work in at least a few fellow worshipers. Imagine how exciting it would be to end a church service in a time of celebration of how God miraculously healed a friend right next to you, and how a church member felt relieved from the burden they were carrying when they entered the service. Do you suppose that you would be more led to believe that our God is alive and well, and that there is great hope in knowing that He could also touch your life, heal your diseases, lead, direct and uphold you through every walk of life? Friends, our God has not changed. He’s still God and He is able to still do all that He promised in His Word. Won’t you consider drawing nigh to Him and allow Him to draw nigh to you? He loves you beyond anything you could imagine!

PRAYER: Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all thy hands have made… and all You have done for me, I can’t help but worship You and adore You for who You are. Thank You for the reminder in today’s Scripture that You are still in the healing business and Your wondrous works are beyond my comprehension. But more than anything, I know that You have not changed, and the same power I read about in Your Word is still available to us who believe today. Oh that we may worship You and honor Your holy name Oh Lord. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, for thine is the kingdom and the glory, for ever and forever. AMEN!

Your Rescuer

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

Saturday, 2019-07-20

Bible Reference: Deuteronomy 20:1
Translation: Good News Translation (GNT)

Bible Text: “When you go out to fight against your enemies and you see chariots and horses and an army that outnumbers yours, do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who rescued you from Egypt, will be with you.

OBSERVATION: The words in our focal verse today were spoken to the Israelites. However I don’t believe for a minute that God placed these words in His Book just for us to read an interesting story about our ancestors. No, I believe that God intended for us to have our eyes opened, and our minds re-energized to remember these words when we face our giants, our overwhelming circumstances, and to not be afraid when we appear as the underdogs in situations that appear much larger than anything we could tackle alone.

APPLICATION: If you are old enough to be reading this devotional, then I’m sure that you have encountered situations where you may have looked up and said to God ‘Where do I go from here?’, for you may have exhausted all of your efforts, all of your finances, your whole wishing well, and you had no idea where to turn to next in dealing with some situation that burdened your heart. If you have not been burdened in that way, I’m sure that you must have family or friends that you felt very sorry for, because they faced those challenges. Our country faces military challenges on a regular bases, much like the Israelites faced, but our personal battles might be quite different. A family losing a young daughter to cancer, and we can’t find the words to encourage that family, or advice for the doctors who have exhausted all efforts and knowledge that they have studied many years for. A husband, whose wife went to work yesterday to help soften the financial burden on their family, but she never returned home because some young man decided to use his gun on this fine lady and her coworkers. Then there’s plane crashes, murder, robbery, theft, automobile accidents and so much more, for which we might easily feel like the Israelites – helpless, especially in circumstances that seem monumental compared to anything we have dealt with previously. So what do we do? We may have heard that God can do all things, or that nothing is impossible with God, or that He has the whole world in His hands, but how might I apply that to the impossible situations at hand? Friends, it is always reassuring to read God’s Word and to be reminded that the same God that fought the many battles for the Israelites getting away from Pharaoh; who provided water, food and protection for a crowd of over 2 million Israelites as they walked through the wilderness; who raised Lazarus from the dead; who fed over 5,000 hungry people with just 5 loaves and 2 fishes; who walked on water; who arose from the grave and lives as Lord and Savior for all who have accepted Him – this is the One that we can look to with our small and big issues of life, Praise The Lord! Yes He did all of these things just mentioned, and a whole lot more, and I’m here to remind us that He could do it again – plus a whole lot more! So be assured of the One who stands ready to adopt you into His kingdom. In knowing Him, you will quickly learn to lean on Him and allow our awesome God to direct your path and provide for you in accordance with His perfect will. That my friend, is so reassuring and filled with hope, that our challenges become opportunities for us to place our needs before God knowing that He could do all things!

PRAYER: Lord, You created this world, and all mankind that were placed on this earth. Having been reminded of what You did for the Israelites, we have been reassured of what You could also do for us. So many things seem so impossible to us, for which we need Your touch and comfort today. We need our faith to be re-energized so that we might learn to trust on You for all things. Thank You Father for being patient with us while we learn to trust You more. AMEN!

Here’s What It Takes

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Near to God, Needs, Needs of others, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

Friday, 2019-07-19

Bible Reference: Luke 9:23
Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: 23 Jesus continued to say to all of them, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you every day for following me.

OBSERVATION: I have heard that to become a good military officer, you must be willing to give up everything, for military leaders consider you their subject while under their leadership. From the outside looking in, think about how you identify military guys and gals when they enter your town and a restaurant where you are having a meal. I believe that God wants us to walk into a business and recognize His followers in much the same way. Let us be reminded of what God requires of us.

APPLICATION: I’m not sure what the initiation stages of the military is in each of your respective countries, but I’m sure that the orientation is probably very similar. For young men and women are having to be taught the differences between selfish desires, wants and wishes, to one that is dictated by the leadership of their country. To do this you will find very regimented military leaders who will impress upon you the differences between the two wills. So compare that to what God is commanding in our focal verses today. If you say with your mouth that you are a follower of Christ, but you continue to do your own thing, whenever you want, and wherever you feel like doing it, will that display God’s leadership in your life, or will that truly convey that you are still fighting to be your own boss, making the same mistakes and committing the same old sin? We are considered a very privileged people, when we try to imagine that a pure and holy God would adopt us into His family, if we seek His face and commit ourselves to His Lordship. Do we become perfect at that stage? Not while we are here on this earth, beaten on every side by Satan and his evil followers. However, in His Word, God promises that one day we will unite with Him in glory, where we will bow at His feet and worship our perfect King, in a holy and righteous place called heaven, forever and forever! So with that in mind, can we commit, or perhaps recommit today that we will serve only our God, regardless of the distractions of Satan, so that it will become very obvious to anyone around us, that we are Christ’s followers? For those who are already followers of Christ, please stay true to your Leader, and indoctrinate yourself with His Word, so that you may follow His ways, obey His commands, and become more like Him in every way, every day!

PRAYER: Lord, You are, more precious than silver…… and nothing I desire compares with You! So Lord please shower Your blessings on my readers and I today so that we may become more like You in every way. People need the Lord, and unless they see Jesus in every fiber of our beings, they may always doubt if anything good could ever come to us. You are good oh Lord, and I would ask that our circle of influence will see You and Your goodness in everything that we do or say. It’s You oh Lord that the world needs today, please use us in Your service to help others find You and accept You as Lord. AMEN!

Faith – Even In The Eyes of Impossibility

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

Wednesday, 2019-07-17

Bible Reference: Luke 8:49-54
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 49 While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, someone came from Jairus’ house and told him, “There’s no need to bother the Master any further. Your daughter has passed away. She’s gone.” 50 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Jairus, don’t yield to your fear. Have faith in me and she will live again.” 51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus allowed only Peter, John, and Jacob—along with the child’s parents—to go inside. 52 Jesus told those left outside, who were sobbing and wailing with grief, “Stop crying. She is not dead; she’s just asleep and must be awakened.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing for certain that she had died. 54 Jesus approached the body, took the girl by her hand, and called out with a loud voice, “My sleeping child, awake! Rise up!”

OBSERVATION: Faith seems like a real possibility when doctors have reached the end of their knowledge, while the heart of the patient is still beating. But when a relative still hangs on to their faith after the eyes of a loved one have been closed in death, others might pull him away to help him save his sanity. However, in our Scripture today, Jesus insisted that Jairus hang on to his faith in spite of the evidence seen with human eyes. This takes us to a different level in our faith. Stand by as we look into this some more.

APPLICATION: Without sounding too morbid, or deliberately try to cause you to cry, have you ever pulled someone away from a graveside when it seemed like they just didn’t want to commit the body of their loved one to the grave? Our story today sounds similar, for it sounds like instead of the undertaker entering the home to remove the dead body of Jairus’ daughter, the family instead entertained a few more ‘holy’ men to visit. You would probably wonder if the family is just struggling to let go of their loved one. But let’s stop for a moment and put ourselves in the minds of the family members. Jairus had heard about Jesus and his healing power. In fact, he was at the scene when the woman that had an issue of blood was healed from just touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. So please try to convince Jairus that there was no help for his daughter. However, let’s consider the circumstances and pressure that Jairus was under. He had just received news that his daughter was dead, yet in the presence of all these learned people, Jesus instructed Jairus to hang tight and wait for them to arrive at his home. What do you suppose must have gone through the minds of the onlookers as they waited for a reaction or response from Jairus? Can you imagine the challenging choice that Jairus had to make at that moment? Can you imagine what you would have done? Additionally, Jairus arrives at the home scene with Jesus and His entourage, and in spite of all his family and friends hanging around his home crying, Jesus wants to move in to see the dead girl. Imagine the shock and amazement on the faces of the relatives as they make room for Jairus, Jesus and His followers to walk through to the house. Imagine the mind of Jairus as he feels what others must be thinking of him at this time. But in knowing the ending of this miraculous story, I want to challenge us to consider how strong our faith is. On a meter of 0 to 10, how would you rate your level of faith? Even in a scenario of desperation, could you follow through with all that Jairus did? Think about it, you’ve heard the Bible stories of all that Jesus did. You’ve heard the stories from your pastor of how Jesus healed a good old saint. But have you developed the kind of relationship with the Master that you are willing to walk to Him on water? Or to take your boat back out again and cast your net one more time – just because you heard Him give the order? Are you bold enough to cut a hole in a roof and lower a handicapped man in front of Jesus, because you are convinced of His ability and willingness to heal? I believe that our faith is truly tested when we are asked to act, even when friends are around that might mock us, or the circumstance seem impossible to mankind. I don’t believe that any of us could respond in faith, without knowing the author of faith personally. Under desperate situations we may ask others to pray, but without faith you are merely wishing for a good thing to happen. Having faith gives the confidence to believe that God will do what He said He would do for us. Know Him today my friend, and be confident of the miracles that are possible through Jesus Christ alone!

PRAYER: To have the faith of a minuscule mustard seed, we could move a mountain – according to You oh Lord. Thank You precious Lord for offering the hope of eternity, and the possibility of healing from the Creator of life itself! Oh Lord, You are my God and I praise You for all things available to me through faith in Your Son. Please speak to Your children today as we meditate on Your Word. May our faith grow by leaps and bounds because of this reminder from Your Word. We need You precious Lord, every hour of every day. AMEN!

What To Do When Tested

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

Tuesday, 2019-07-16

Bible Reference: Deuteronomy 13:3-4
Translation: GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Bible Text: 3 The Lord your God is testing you to find out if you really love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Worship the Lord your God, fear him, obey his commands, listen to what he says, serve him, and be loyal to him.

OBSERVATION: The Israelites were about to branch off into a ‘new world’, at least to them, where they would have to decide who they would serve, who they would honor, and who they would allow to guide their heart. Moses, through the help and direction of God, gave the Israelites instructions, and God saw fit to have these included in His Word, because He knew that you and I would face the same challenges that the Israelites were about to deal with. Let’s concentrate on the advice given so that we might be best prepared for what our day might hold in store for us.

APPLICATION: In my younger days, I worked for a company that relocated me every few years to manage their business on several Bahamian islands. At each island, my wife and I had to face the challenge of ‘going with the flow’, or maintaining our faith, in spite of vast variances in culture. In reading today’s Scripture, I now wonder if we were presented with challenges by God to see if we truly loved Him and were willing to serve Him, even under very diverse situations that we may had found ourselves in? There are also other situations that we often find ourselves in. While chatting with friends, someone invariably will turn to bad-mouth a close neighborhood friend of yours. Do you stop them in their tracks, or could that have been a time where God was testing your loyalty to that neighborhood friend? Perhaps God wanted to see how much you would tolerate in hearing your friend belittled or destroyed verbally, before standing up for them? So what does this testing do to those of us involved? Surely it is a test of our loyalty and friendship. But what about the child of God that once heeded to His voice and surrendered their life to His Lordship. What happens when that person faces a challenge in life and is hurt by someone at church? How do you help that person overcome the fear of rejection, and bitterness against the whole Christian faith? Unfortunately this is so prevalent that I believe that each of us have at least one friend or family member who refuses to enter a church door again, because of past hurts. Don’t you know dear friends, that God saw this coming as His precious children entered a land where its people knew every god but the holy God of heaven? Don’t you know that it would have become the inhabitants’ main object to see what these newcomers were made of, and to convert them into thinking the way they did? God certainly saw this coming, so He had Moses sit down and prepare the Israelites for what’s ahead. Unfortunately not a whole lot has changed, for whenever Christians walk outside of their church doors, they are bombarded by a world filled with sin, false gods, hatred, enemies of God, people who have been hurt by someone called by the same name as us – Christian. How well prepared are you to face the opposition? Perhaps it’s your turn to be tested on your love for Jesus – the One who sacrificed His very life so that you might receive forgiveness of sin and face eternal life with He and the Father – God. I believe verse 4 details how we are to stay true to our Lord and Savior – Worship the Lord your God, fear him, obey his commands, listen to what he says, serve him, and be loyal to him.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we have been placed on this earth as ‘light’ into a dark world of sin, hatred and unbelief. It is often challenging – much like the Israelites were about to face as they entered into the Promised Land, where the inhabitants served every other god except You. But Lord, You gave Moses encouraging words for the Israelites as well as our current generation – worship You, fear You, obey Your commands, listen to what You have to say to us, and to serve You in sincerity and loyalty. Please help us to stay on track with what You ordered through Your servant, so that we may never become distracted with the evil things of this world and its leader. You are our King oh Lord, may it be evident in everything we do to avoid the distractions that Satan sends our way. AMEN!

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

When Not Fully Informed

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

Friday, 2019-07-12

Bible Reference: Luke 7:44-47
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 44 …“Don’t you see this woman kneeling here? She is doing for me what you didn’t bother to do. When I entered your home as your guest, you didn’t think about offering me water to wash the dust off my feet. Yet she came into your home and washed my feet with her many tears and then dried my feet with her hair. 45 You didn’t even welcome me into your home with the customary kiss of greeting, but from the moment I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t take the time to anoint my head with fragrant oil, but she anointed my head and feet with the finest perfume. 47 She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love. But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love me very little.”

OBSERVATION: Way too often we take on the role of Simon, where we look down our noses and wonder why God, or anyone else, is giving an unsuspecting visitor a second chance. Simon stood by in amazement that Jesus would allow the woman from this story to even touch Him. After all, she was well known for her lifestyle, and the sinful acts that she committed. Let us meditate carefully on the way that Jesus handled this situation, and hopefully we can learn from it.

APPLICATION: To get the picture here, I would like for you to assume that you are having the pastor over for dinner. Shortly after he enters your home, and much to your embarrassment, a young lady, a distant relative, pops in for a very infrequent visit. After being introduced to your pastor, you are hoping that she would quickly leave, especially considering her tainted character, and her history of never wanting you to talk to her about the Lord. Much to your surprise, the young lady moves to the front room and makes her self comfortable on the ottoman near the pastor. Can you imagine the embarrassment, especially when you notice that the relative is asking to massage the feet of your pastor….. Can you start to get the picture of how Simon felt? But what if the pastor suddenly turns to your relative and starts speaking to her about the condition of her soul? I feel like there are stories in the Bible, such as this one, that are designed by Jesus to draw us in, and hopefully be reminded that the Gospel is for everyone – especially for those unsuspecting ones that we might otherwise brush aside and consider hopeless and perhaps helpless. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, it is stories like this one that I believe Jesus placed on the heart of His writers, to get through to Christians who tend to give up on folk that seem helpless to us. In other words, way too often we lose hope on our family and friends who have chosen to live lifestyles differently to ours, and visit places we choose to avoid, or hang out with friends that we can’t identify with. Fortunately for each person on this planet, I believe that God has such a laser beam of love focused on our heart, that for a time He is able to look straight through our sin – our bad intentions; our sinful acts; our dirty words; our depressing attitudes, our determination to avoid the things of God, etc. and He looks on us as His very own; the one for whom He allowed His precious Son to be beaten, crucified, and hang shamelessly on a cross in view of the world. Friends, let’s never forget that there are some who are axe murders; some who have robbed banks; some who hate others enough that they would terrorize them to the point of death; some who attended church all of their lives, but have never surrendered their lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ; yet God looks at them in their sin and with outstretched arms, will accept their cry for forgiveness just as He did in the case of the harlot who sat at His feet in Simon’s house. As His forgiven children aiming to live just like Jesus Christ, why then should we do any differently? It’s not up to us to judge or consider anyone unworthy of Jesus Christ, for only He knows the heart of the individual and the value of his/her soul. Let’s learn to love others, like He first loved us – even while we were yet sinners.

PRAYER: You went to the cross knowing that You had never sinned, yet You were obedient to the will of the Father and gave up Your life for us – even though we were sinners. And although we may tend to look at sinful acts as something that is much worse than we ever thought of, yet we stand in disobedience to You and Your commands each and every day. Thank You Jesus for the sacrifice You made for the forgiveness of my sin, and to provide an open path to eternity with You and the Father. Oh though so unworthy, yet I’m a child of the King! This is so amazing in the eyes of mere mankind! As we strive to live our life like Your sacrificial life here on earth, please help us to extend love to those that the world may frown on as unlovable and unworthy of You. For all who believe on the Son of God, to them gave He the power of life everlasting. Praise God that He sees a perfect heart cleansed by the blood of Jesus! AMEN!

Why Discipline?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Give thanks, Giving, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Thanksgiving, WorshipLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2019-07-10

Bible Reference: Deuteronomy 8:2-3
Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: 2 And you must remember the entire trip that the Lord your God has led you through these 40 years in the desert. He was testing you. He wanted to make you humble. He wanted to know what is in your heart. He wanted to know if you would obey his commands. 3 He humbled you and let you be hungry. Then he fed you with manna—something you did not know about before. It was something your ancestors had never seen. Why did the Lord do this? Because he wanted you to know that it is not just bread that keeps people alive. People’s lives depend on what the Lord says.

OBSERVATION: I’m sure that the Israelites must have thought, and no doubt complained about the necessity for discipline by God, if He (supposedly) loved them so much. Isn’t it interesting that we still hear that happening today? let’s meditate on this today and consider the qualities we have gained because of discipline.

APPLICATION: Surely you’re no different to me, in that you hated to hear your mom and/or dad say how it pained them to discipline you! For we always thought ‘then why do it?’!! As adults we now know that to discipline shows love, caring and concern for the individual you are disciplining. The easy thing to do, is to ignore the issue and hope that things will get better. But to care enough about the individual to correct them and possibly discipline them, shows that you love them enough to want them to succeed in life, and to be the best individual they could possibly be. When disciplined at home, it becomes easier for our children to respect and understand the need for discipline by an employer. None of us like to be disciplined, but let’s look at why God thought it was necessary for the Israelites. As His chosen people, God couldn’t stand it that they were being mistreated in Egypt, so in cooperation with their leaders, God decided to get them out of there and into a very chosen place that He had prepared for them. Because of their ungratefulness and disrespect during their journey, God disciplined His children in a few serious ways – food, water, obstacles in the path they traveled, etc. And time and time again, God showed love and deliverance for His people. In our verses today, the Israelites are being reminded of what they should have gained from those challenging times of discipline. And I believe that God wants to use these words to remind us of the same thing today. Like the Israelites, we are a spoiled and rotten people. We want, we want, and we want, but oh how seldom do we ever stop to recognize all that God has provided, and how He has taught us along this path called ‘life’. Do we have time to visit the sick or help the poor, or are we too busy tending shop? In other words, are we so caught up in the many material things of life, that we have no time, love, or respect for God, to seek out the needs of others? God disciplined the Israelites because He wanted them to know that there were more important things in life than their stomachs, their material things, and their selfish desires. He wanted them to see, and I believe that He wants us to also learn, that it is the very words of God that teaches us about LIFE, and not at all about what we have, what we see, or what we want. So what’s important in this life to you my friend? Would it require a good dose of discipline by the Almighty God to help us refocus on the really important things in this life? Why not stop, listen and obey today, for there’s no other way, but to trust in our Lord, and obey His commands!

PRAYER: Thank You precious Lord for the many gifts that You shower on us each and every day. Thank You for those times that You stop us in our tracks and, through loving discipline, You redirect us to the things of Christ. May we have that same kind of love for our brethren, for there are so many in need all around us today. We are often so caught up in protecting all that we have gained, that often we lose track of praise, honor and glory that is so deserving of the One who has blessed us. Thank You dear Lord. Please touch our hearts today. Draw us close to You and help us to use all that You have blessed us with, to bless others in return.. AMEN!

Worthy Of An Audience With The King

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

Tuesday, 2019-07-09

Bible Reference: Luke 7:6-7
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 6–7 Jesus started off with them, but on his way there, he was stopped by friends of the captain, who gave this message: “Master, don’t bother to come to me in person, for I am not good enough for you to enter my home. I’m not worthy enough to even come out to meet one like you. But if you would just release the manifestation of healing right where you are, I know that my young servant will be healed.

OBSERVATION: It’s amazing how we could feel on ‘top of the world’ at times, yet at other times we feel intimidated and unworthy of even being in the presence of certain people that we have placed on pedestals – at least in our minds. In our focal verses today we read about a leading citizen who, in spite of his monetary worth and prominence, felt unworthy to have Jesus come to his home. Let’s consider our thoughts on this today…

APPLICATION: Some reading this devotional today may be in charge of large corporations, while some may be simple gardeners who enjoy being away from a crowd. Is it possible that both types of individuals may feel intimidated by certain individuals? After reading today’s scripture, I believe that the answer to the above question is clearly ‘yes’! For both types of individuals could be humbled by the thought of meeting with certain individuals. I believe that the primary lesson for us to learn here today is that we should never position ourselves to a place of honor. Yes, we might be considered elevated among the poor, if we are wealthy. We might feel elevated above the homeless, if we live in a very nice home, or above the unemployed if we supervise lots of people in a very important job. But have you ever felt great respect for an individual who was at the very bottom financially, but yet spoke great words of wisdom about life in general? I pray that we will never place ourselves on a pedestal where we are unreachable by God and/or man. In our story, this Captain had built the local temple, so I believe that he was rich in finances, and rich in generosity – wanting to share his wealth. He knew that healing came from Jesus alone, so he sent the religious (Jewish) leaders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. It sounds like the closer Jesus got to his home, the more worried he became about having God’s Son visit with him. Notice that the emphasis changed from the urgent need of the servant, to the overwhelming inadequacy of the master. I believe it was evident that the captain started examining himself and realized that he was unworthy of having Jesus see him in that condition, so he sent word asking Jesus to heal his servant from a distance. Is that how we feel at times when we know that the fear or suspicions of others will be confirmed if they popped in on us for a visit? Are we afraid of the many eyebrows that will be raised if we walk into that popular church downtown, because they already know what we’re like in our business life? Friends, I believe a real lesson that we all need from this story today, is that in this world we are all on a level paying field without Jesus in our hearts. For we are not known as CEO, or President, of Chairman of the Board, or Garbage Truck helper, but collectively we are known as sinners in need of a Savior. Alternately, when we surrender lordship of our lives to Jesus, we are not known to God as Priest, or Pastor, or Elder, or church Janitor, for we are all sinners saved by His awesome grace – or children of the Almighty God! So can we tear down those walls today and align ourselves with the King of all kings, and allow Him who created us, to lead us each and every day? Just as we (Christians) were beggars looking for the rich food of heaven, let us then redirect our energies towards helping other beggars looking for the same ‘food’ that we found in knowing Jesus Christ. On that great Judgment Day, it will not matter what sort of CEO we were, for that CEO will be judged by the same Lord that the Captain’s servant stands accountable to. For it is by grace that we are saved, and not because of any good works or monetary gifts that we may share with others. In Christ alone, we stand humbled before the Father, knowing that it was only because of His grace that we are saved!

PRAYER: Thank You heavenly Father for sending Your precious, only Son, as a sacrifice for our sin, so that through grace alone, we might enjoy eternal life with You in glory! There is no greater joy! Please humble Your children today, so that we may not only enjoy our rich heritage, but that we may be humbled into helping others find the richness of a relationship with You. Oh that You may be lifted up today dear Lord, so that You may complete what You have promised in Your Word, that You will draw all men unto Yourself. AMEN!