Category: Praise

From The Abundance of The Heart

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

Monday, 2019-07-08

Bible Reference: Luke 6:44-45
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 44 Every tree will be revealed by the quality of fruit that it produces. Figs or grapes will never be picked off thorn trees. 45 People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. But out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.

OBSERVATION: I believe that in our Scripture today, Jesus was teaching us the importance of filling our hearts with the right things. Remember, God created the trees that Jesus used in His comparison, and He created us in His image, so better than any counselor we might speak with, God knows about everything expressed in this chapter. He knows how our hearts react to certain circumstances and the conditions that trigger our expressions of goodwill and/or fear, hatred and greed. Since this impacts our very character, and could impact the world for Jesus Christ, I feel like it deserves our time to meditate and consider.

APPLICATION: In our world of computers and programming, a clause often used is: ‘garbage in, garbage out’! Some find that challenging to believe, since computers are so smart and powerful! However, they are mechanical and can only work with the data that was input by humans at some point. Well, just like the computer engineers who put the ‘X’s’ and ‘O’s’ together to make the first computer language, God our Creator put together an even more complex piece of machinery, that we call the human body. So when He likened us to fruit bearing trees, He knew what He was talking about. Friends, with God’s help, we are responsible for the input into our bodies, our hearts and our minds. If we fill our bodies with junk food, we know that sooner than later we will find ourselves sitting in doctors’ offices, and possibly occupying hospital rooms, as we look for medical help to correct those things that we have brought on ourselves. But what about our minds and our hearts? Ever noticed how many things that we once were taught was immoral, or not permitted on the Lord’s Day, has now been okayed by society? Ever noticed how quickly we become bored with sitting around socializing with neighbors and friends, when we suddenly think about our favorite show that’s on television, or perhaps about our device that we left at home, Lord forbid? Friends, God is reminding us that in much the same way that we pick our best fruit from a tree that has been loved and cared for, so it is with our personal lives. Others will be impacted by lives that are rich in good values; that are rich in relationships – especially a relationship with the Almighty God, and that shows evidence of His characteristics. Television, nor nightly trips to the local bar will give you those attributes. However, a right relationship with God, and frequent study of His Word, will help keep you on track. I honestly believe that more so than ever before, our friends and family are looking for examples of a life that is strengthened and led by God. You can personally benefit from this, and so can those who stand to experience time with you. Please consider a firsthand experience with our Creator, and a daily walk in His Word. It will change your life, and impact those who come into relationship with You. Read my Footnote for more information in cementing a relationship with my Savior, Jesus – God’s only Son.

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for making a way for us to know You and experience Your love in such a real and meaningful way. Lord, unless we are filled with You and Your qualities, our world will go deeper and deeper into the evil and misgivings of the ruler of this world, Satan. Please oh God, touch the hearts of all those that will read this devotional today. Fill each of us with Your love, and help us to recommit to serving you more faithfully and taking in more of Your Word than ever before, so that our hearts might overflow with the character and mind of Christ. Oh that You may be glorified through all that is accomplished today. AMEN!

All Will Go Well For You

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

Saturday, 2019-07-06

Bible Reference: Deuteronomy 5:27; 29
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text: 27  ….. You go and listen to all that God says, then come and tell us, and we will listen and obey.’ ….. 29 Oh, that they would always have such a heart for me, wanting to obey my commandments. Then all would go well with them in the future, and with their children throughout all generations!

OBSERVATION: What would we be willing to do in order to hear God say that all will be well with us and our family for evermore? But look at what God said in verse 29! One translation reads: Oh what I wouldn’t do to see the people listen and obey my commands. Pretty much the same thing, isn’t it? So let us meditate on what helped both God and man feel this way.

APPLICATION: When troubles come, and trials seem to hit us hard on every side, don’t you often wish that God would take control and give us comfort and wisdom on how to handle every little detail of life in a way that is pleasing to, and blessed by Him? To an even greater degree, when you are feeling helpless to do anything about the struggles that your child(ren) are going through, wouldn’t it be awesome to know that God is totally in charge, and that all things work together for good to those who love, adore, and worship the Lord their God? Friends, it is obvious from the words shared with Moses, by our Master, that He is more than willing to bless us and our future generations, if only we would acknowledge Him and obey His commands. The people begged of Moses to go and speak with God and, in verse 27, they promised that they would listen and obey. Notice how God had gotten used to the idea of people making vain promises when they are in trouble, or in dire need. For He said in verse 29: If only they would do what they say. Or, what I wouldn’t do to hear them say that, commit, and obediently follow through with their promise. THEN I will bless them and all their future generations. That’s our awesome God, folks! Let us rest assured that this is not just a nice story that we could read about our ancestors, but rather, this is a story about our all-powerful Creator; our wonderful God! This reminds us that the same God who ‘did’, is the same God who ‘can do now‘. He’s still alive; He’s still all-powerful; and I am convinced that He is still waiting to bless us and our future generations, if only we will listen and obey. So how badly do you want to be blessed precious friends? Enough to listen and obey all that the Master has outlined for us in His Word? Trust and obey, for there’s no other way!

PRAYER: When we walk with You Lord. In the light of Your Word. What a glory You shine on our way. When we do Your great will, You abide with us still, and for all who will trust and obey! Thank You precious Lord for placing these words in the mind of that great old inspired song writer. But most of all, thank You for still being available to those of us today who are ready and willing to place our faith and trust in You and obey Your Word. You promised You would bless, and we stand in great anticipation of Your everyday blessings. For all those who will meditate on this blog today, please bless them oh Lord, and speak words of wisdom to them that will draw them unto Yourself. Perhaps for a closer walk with You, or perhaps for the very first time. May they find peace in knowing You as their personal Savior and Lord. AMEN!

Our Compassionate God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Biblical Decisions, Decisions, Jesus led decisions, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

Friday, 2019-07-05

Bible Reference: Deuteronomy 4:29-30
Translation: The Message (MSG)

Bible Text: 29-30 But even there, if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God.

OBSERVATION: Moses was preparing the Israelites for their freedom – their entry into the Promised Land. Not only would there be separation, and independence that would require making their own decisions, but Moses would not make the last leg of this journey with them. So God worked with Moses to prepare the people, so that they could be best prepared to deal with their new life. Perhaps you will meditate on how this applies to us today, but I wanted to share a few thoughts with you…

APPLICATION: We are nearing a time on our calendars where many teenage children will be leaving home for the first time, living on their own for the first time, or living with other teenagers in a dorm for the first time, as they begin college. Just like the Israelites, some teenagers are firm in their convictions, and they are not followers of the popular kid on the block, so they may not be influenced into all the partying that one might generally hear of in college dorms. However, based on the many events that took place during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, God knew that some of the Israelites might really be challenged when faced with the freedom that would soon be theirs, so God prepared His children (through His servant Moses) for the inevitable. I believe this might be a good verse for each of us to be reminded of, but especially for parents, pastors or church leaders to meditate on, as they play a critical role in the lives of our young people who are about to gain their long awaited freedom from the dictates of their home life. I included church leaders, because often young adults will listen to advice from others much quicker than they would to their parents. Additionally, each of these adults normally play a key role in the life of a young Christian adult. So to our young adults who are soon to embark on ‘life’, as you may look upon it, may I share with you, based on the Word of God? You are about to enter the ‘real’ world, where mom and dad will not be around to make decisions for you. Please know that God said that He would be with you at all times and, while this sounds very accommodating, especially for those times that you may get in a bind and not know which way to turn next, it also means that He is with you no matter where you go. So this leaves an important responsibility on you. Remember, He is holy, He is righteous, He always was and always will be, so He deserves our reverence and our respect. This means that it is entirely up to you to avoid unholy situations and places. Surely you would not take your mom or dad into some places, and around certain party scenarios, so imagine how much more you should not take God’s Holy Spirit there. Now for those who have been there, done that, and wondering how on earth would you reconcile with, or return to God. Notice that the Scripture reminds us that our God is a compassionate God. May I suggest that you reconnect with God, ask for forgiveness of your sin, and ask for a new direction for you to follow. In His compassion, I am convinced that He will accept you back and redirect your life to one filled with righteousness. One that will once again represent Him in a meaningful way. Don’t throw your hands up and give up on the possibility of reuniting with God, for I believe that He never gives up on us. His love is deeper than anything we could humanly understand.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for saving my soul, thank You Lord for making me whole, thank You Lord for giving to me, thy great salvation, so rich and free. So Lord, it is with that very gift that I come to You asking for forgiveness of sin, for Lord, my Brothers and Sisters together with myself have often strayed and fallen short of a consistent, righteous and holy relationship with You. Thank You for the reminder today about Your compassion. We want to be consistently like You oh Lord, so we need Your strength and guidance more today than yesterday. Please, especially speak truth into our young people as they leave home to begin the journey of college-life, all by themselves. Guide them to make good decisions, and to always be loyal to the One who loves them more than anyone, or anything else in this whole wide world. Please bless them with success in their studies, and may they have every opportunity and success in sharing Your goodness with another college kid that stands in need of a Savior. AMEN!

Eyes Fixed On Jesus – Our Saving Grace

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

Thursday, 2019-07-04

Bible Reference: Psalm 42:5
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: So then, my soul, why would you be depressed? Why would you sink into despair?
Just keep hoping and waiting on God, your Savior. For no matter what, I will still sing with praise, for living before his face is my saving grace!

OBSERVATION: I wonder what Jesus would say in response to our whining and complaining. Would we feel guilty of complaining to the Creator about things He created? Would fixing our eyes on the very Son of God be enough for us to forget about the trivial things that bother us and cause us to become disheartened? Let us stop to ponder….

APPLICATION: My mom was one who would prepare a meal each evening for her family, as we were growing up. As we moved out of our home, she continued this tradition for she and my dad, for he was still working on His farm. At one point in the years that ensued, my dad would sit to the table and find fault with the meals that my mom labored over in the heat of her kitchen. My mom could take it no longer, so she stopped preparing meals! It didn’t take very long for my dad to realize that a precious gift had dried up! So how much does it sadden the heart of our God, when we start our complaining about how we look, or how fat we are, or slow to learn, or our hair is not the right color or texture? How dare us complain to our Creator about the things that He created? What if we started praising God for the very things that we have always become disheartened, disillusioned, or depressed about? Do you suppose that if we did that, God might start pulling back on our blessings? Or would He convince us of how special we are, just the way He made us? Do you suppose that our minds would be calmed when we’re in the presence of friends and family, because we know that God approves of what He has made? Being calm, will help us become satisfied, less stressed, and less apt to complain or worry about things over which we have no control. I believe that the Psalmist is saying right at the end of our verse, that he is content in knowing that God loves him just the way he is, and in the contentment brought on by that assurance, he has an amazing peace with his life and the circumstances in which he finds himself. We are no different than the Psalmist dear friends, but I believe that God has given us the Scriptures so that we might learn from it, and therefore grow from it, into a right relationship with God, and with one another. We need that peace, and it is only through the grace of God that we can find that peace. Let us therefore ask God for His continued blessings.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, Creator of heaven, earth, and all living things, thank You for loving us. For in love, You blessed us with good health, family, and friends. You have directed our lives to be exactly what we are today, and there is really no room for us to do anything but to praise and thank You. Please forgive us when we do otherwise. We are a needy people, but as reminded in today’s Scripture verse, God’s grace is sufficient! May we praise You all the days of our life for Your gracious hand upon our lives, and may others praise You for having been touched by Your servant. To God be the glory for the things You have done! AMEN!

Recognizing Jesus

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

Monday, 2019-07-01

Bible Reference: Luke 5:5; 8-9;
Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: 5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will.” 
8-9 The fishermen were all amazed at the many fish they caught. When Simon Peter saw this, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!”10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed too. (James and John worked together with Simon.) Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on your work will be to bring in people, not fish!”

OBSERVATION: Simon Peter, James and John were all great fishermen, so to have a man walk along the shoreline and suggest that they go and toss their nets into the lake again, must have really come as a shock to them. But there must have been a mutual respect between them and Jesus, seeing that He was there to invite them to be disciples, and that they trusted Him enough to repeat an action they had already tried in vain all night. I wonder how we would recognize our Lord?

APPLICATION: For those of us that have grown up in church, I’m sure that this is a very familiar story to us. However, what I hope that each of my readers and I would gain from meditating on the Word of God, is that our Lord might become alive to us in a fresh new way today, for I believe what we learn through the power of the Holy Spirit, is intended for our edification today, and for a fresh application today. No I have no idea what you have planned today, nor what God has planned for you, but I believe the Word of God is alive today, and I know that our God has a plan for your life today, just as He did when He greeted Peter, James and John on that Galilean shoreline in our story. You see, we should be reminded that there was no accident in Jesus meeting Peter, James and John that day, for I’m sure that He already knew who His disciples would be. He just needed to convince these men that they were to drop what they were doing and follow Him as He ministered in their neighborhood. I believe that although the Holy Spirit had already been working in the hearts of these fishermen, Jesus wanted this to be a voluntary thing on their behalf. So this led to the miracle relayed in our Scripture today. It was something they related to, and something they knew could only result from a miracle of God. So thousands of years later, I want us to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to show us why this story was included in God’s Word, and how it might be applied to our situation today. I believe that God has much more to do on this earth, and when we look around us at the number of people who have chosen to ignore the Gospel, I believe we might quickly assume that I am referring to the work that we wish God would do in our particular realm of influence. While I know that God has the power, and that He will continue to deal in the hearts of our family and friends, I believe that He would just as soon use His earthly servants, you and I, to influence the lost and encourage those that we rub shoulders with every day. But are we willing to seek His face, recognize Him, and to drop everything to follow Him in obedience? Are we moldable, or are we too set in our own ways? Can we look beyond our own prejudices, and outside the box of our own abilities, to humbly let God do His miraculous work in every circumstance of life? Are you alert to the needs and circumstances of life around you, that You would recognize Jesus when He instructs you to make a move in His direction?

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for reminding us of the value You saw in Peter, James and John. Thank You for their obedience, and for their willingness to drop everything to follow You. Lord, I believe that You can, and will do this again – call the undeserved, the weak, the insignificant (in the eyes of this world), and that You will use even us, to reach the lost of our communities and those in our circle of influence. Please begin that work in me Lord, and for all readers who will commit, please also touch their lives and use them powerfully. AMEN!

Surrendering Our Whole Life in Prayer

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Power of Prayer, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, Reconciliation, Relationship, WorshipLeave a comment

Saturday, 2019-06-29

Bible Reference: Psalm 41:4
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: So in my sickness I say to you,
“Lord, be my kind healer.
Heal my body and soul; heal me, God!
For I have confessed my sins to you.”

OBSERVATION: How often do we stop to consider in praying to God, that He knows all about our whole body, our soul and our everyday life? As we meditate today, let us think about how it must sound to God when we (albeit unintentionally) come before Him pleading for a specific need, but ignoring the other aspects of our relationship with Him. Are we trying to sweep those other things under the rug, hoping that God will overlook them and just meet the need that concerns us at that very moment?

APPLICATION: David, a man after God’s own heart, wanted to make sure that God healed him from the inside out, not just the illness that was at hand – the urgent need. Perhaps we are so used to speaking with our doctors and giving them just the information we feel they need to know, because we know they are often in a rush to listen quickly, diagnose, prescribe, and exit the room! Do you suppose that we go to God with that same mentality? I would be willing to suggest that we have gotten ourselves into trouble from self-diagnosing our own medical issues, and from sharing with our doctors only what we feel they need to know. But I don’t believe this differs a lot from what we do in communion with our Savior. He knows all about our ugly attitudes at work, about our missed opportunities to share Christ with a coworker, and the evil things that we pondered that day, yet we go before Him each evening, thanking Him for a good day, and asking for a safe, good night’s rest. Also, there are times that we may have had a very similar day of temptation and trials, yet we snap into a prayer to God and ask for relief from our painful back, but never think to ask Him for a purified mind in which we might allow the Holy Spirit to have the liberty of miraculously moving us towards a friend who needs the Lord. Friends, I pray that we might take note of the prayer from David and develop a similar practice of conversing/praying about the whole person – our entire life’s challenges, and not just our aches and pains. I believe God wants to use us for His awesome kingdom work, but I also believe that He wants us pure, holy, available and willing to represent Him under His terms and not for our own selfish gain. God will reveal His purpose to us, when He sees that we are serious in our relationship with Him.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for accepting us as Your children and for using even us to be a witness for You. Please deal in our hearts so that we may be so much like You that others will feel the love of Christ, see the works of Your hand, and witness what it means to be forgiven by the Maker of heaven and earth, our almighty God. Oh that You may be glorified in all things because of our willingness to allow You to work in our whole life. Please speak to those who will read this devotional but have not allowed You full reign of their lives. May this be a day of reconciliation for them, I pray. AMEN!

Only God Can

On By Ed AlgreenIn All-powerful, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God's Power, Important, Miracles, Miraculous, Needs, Power of God, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

Friday, 2019-06-28

Bible Reference: Isaiah 40:31; 41:10,13
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: 40:30      But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run—never winded, never weary. They will walk—never tired, never faint.
41:10     So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.
41:13     After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God, who has hold of your right hand, Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.”

OBSERVATION: Three separate verses, but each pointing to the source of our help, the source of our strength, and the source of our protection. In our troubled world, most of us face the fear of increasing crime and subsequent harm to ourselves or our loved ones. Meditate on the words, and reassurance given in these three verses today, and be comforted that our God is able to adequately care for His children!

APPLICATION: Often troubled times will face us and, we will automatically respond in certain ways, based on past experiences. However, all too often there will be a certain twist to our current dilemma that was never a part of our past experience. It seems to me that we respond, or react, based on information that we have fed to our brain over the years. I wish for you, my friend, what I would desire for myself, that there would be so much of God fed into my lives through the Scriptures, such as the verses we are meditating on today, that we would respond to life’s circumstances in a way that is pleasing to God, and very dependent on His all powerful hand. It is so easy for us to assume the position of knowing it all, and that we only need God for those decisions that we are stumped on, but over the years we have developed a faith in God; a trust in His powerful and all-knowing capabilities; and we have read verses like the ones we have today where God has promised to care for us, protect us and direct us along the right path. Let us therefore be encouraged to consult with our God, and be willing to obey what He leads us to. If it’s from Scripture we already know, then I believe He will quickly bring it back to active memory. If it’s a new revelation, then I believe He will direct. Let me encourage you to read over the above verses again, and allow God to saturate your minds with the assurance of His love, His wisdom and His direction for your life. He’s got this! All we need to do is to tap into His goodness and allow Him to be our Master and our God.

PRAYER: Praise God that we serve a God that can do the things that are impossible in man’s eyes! Not only am I convinced of the truth of Your Word in the above verses Lord, but I was also reminded of this in my New Testament reading today where You healed the sick, cast out demons and quieted their mouths. Praise God, You truly are a God who can do miraculous things, even those things that we think might seem impossible to us. Lord, with that confidence, please allow me to ask for You to touch the hearts of the unsaved in my community. Please open their hearts and minds to the message of Your Word, convince them of their sin, and create a desire within them to know You personally. Please convict the hearts of the saved. May we never be ashamed of the Gospel, and may we always be such examples of our Savior that the unsaved will see You and want to accept and serve You. Oh that You may be glorified through Your children today, and may the power of our awesome God be evident in all that we do and say. AMEN!

Tempted and Tried

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

Wednesday, 2019-06-26

Bible Reference: Luke 4:1-3
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 1–2 From the moment of his baptism, Jesus was overflowing with the Holy Spirit. He was taken by the Spirit from the Jordan into the lonely wilderness of Judea to experience the ordeal of testing by the accuser for forty days. He ate no food during this time and ended his forty-day fast very hungry. 3 It was then the devil said to him, “If you are really the Son of God, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread for you.”

OBSERVATION: Being led by the Holy Spirit, we know that the timing of everything done by Jesus was perfectly ordained. No doubt, a very high point in the ministry of Jesus Christ, and in the relationship between He and His Father, was His baptism. Imagine being told audibly by God Himself, that He (Jesus) was His (God’s) beloved Son in whom He is well pleased! Wow, I’m sure that kind of encouragement would give you a boost in spirit for the rest of your life! Let’s see what encouragement lies ahead in this for us!

APPLICATION: I’ve heard friends talk about the kind of challenging day they had avoided the Word of God at the beginning of their day. I’ve also heard just the opposite – about the peace one may have had after an intimate time with God in prayer and in the Word. However, I believe the message in this Scripture for us today, will remind us of a few things:
1). Jesus was so pumped up after experiencing God in baptism in the Jordan river, that He willingly and obediently went into the wilderness, knowing that the same God who reassured Him of His love, would also be with Him through the most challenging times of life, and especially in the wilderness;
2). There are no respecter of persons in Satan’s world. If anything, Satan will make it a point to go after God’s chosen children, because the others are already his! But we are reminded in Scripture that ‘greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world’. Our part is to stay in fellowship with the One that we choose to follow, so that there is no doubt in our minds, or question of confidence in the power and willingness of our Master.
Friends, I’m here to tell you and/or remind you, that there is no other god like my God, for He is the One that came down in the form of a dove, blessed and encouraged His Son, then strengthened, directed and protected Him in the wilderness, so that you and I might be reminded of the love and awesome protection our God has for all of His children, including us. The other lesson I see in this Scripture for our meditation is that temptation came upon Jesus when He was ready in His spirit, His mind, and in the current circumstances of His life. What about us? How prepared are we for the temptations of Satan when we depend on a relationship with God that has not been infused by your input or deliberate effort since last Easter when you attended church in order to satisfy a nagging mom? When you really can’t find your Bible, because you haven’t seen it since you walked back in the house from that same Easter service? When you’ve estranged yourself from the commitment you made before God to your spouse, and you have separated yourself from them and your children, because you couldn’t stand the demands they had on your life? When your only friends are those that you meet up with at the local bar for a drink. Ones that have warned you not to call them outside of that place? How spiritually and mentally prepared are you for the temptations and challenges of your day? Do you have a support team standing besides and behind you, that includes a friend like our awesome and powerful Savior? If not, why not? May I encourage you to read my Footnote and the associated links included, to see if God might have some additional decisions for you to make today? We know from Scripture that our God is able, will you test that today by surrendering your life to Him? I implore you do do that today, my friend!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, it is evident that Satan is still very much alive today, just as he was in the Wilderness when he tempted and tried You. We carefully read from Your Word how You overcame the temptations of Satan, and we have reminded ourselves how this is still a BIG problem for us today. Having been given the answer to this dilemma, I pray that we will humble ourselves before You, seek your face, and surrender our lives before You. Please Lord, touch the hearts of my readers whose hearts are hardened to the things of Christ. Help them to understand that the answer to all of life’s challenges lie at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. May we surrender our all to you today, is my humble plea. AMEN!

What Do You Do With What You’ve Been Given?

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

Tuesday, 2019-06-25

Bible Reference: Psalm 40:1-3
Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: I called to the Lord, and he heard me.
    He heard my cries.
2 He lifted me out of the grave.
    He lifted me from that muddy place.
He picked me up, put me on solid ground,
    and kept my feet from slipping.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see what he did and worship him.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.

OBSERVATION: The Psalmist asked the Lord…. no he cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord heard his cries. The Lord made a new man out of the Psalmist and caused him to be an example to others in search of a Savior. Perhaps that’s what God wants to do with us today in order to use us in touching someone in need of a Savior. Let’s pray for God’s guidance today as we meditate on His Word.

APPLICATION: Around us there is so much in automation. We press a button on a microwave and out food is cooked, or heated up in just minutes. We are able to text a reminder to a friend that may be hundreds of miles away, and immediately the phone will ring with them thanking us. So what do you suppose happens in our relationship with God? Do we comprehend the need to develop and maintain a relationship with our Creator? Knowing that God has the power to instantly heal, powerfully bring the dead back to life and any other miraculous act that He chooses, how many of us truly take the time, or see the need, to earnestly bow on our knees before our Master and cry out in deep reverence and concern, knowing that there is only One who has the power to heal our spouse; protect our child on the roads that are filled with careless and distracted drivers? Friends, this Scripture reminds us that in response to the deep concern, and sincere pleas of the Psalmist, God answered His prayers; lifted him up from his depressed state; encouraged him to look up in hope, instead of despair and failure. In fact, God placed a new song in his heart that demonstrated the new spirit of a revived man! Notice that this ‘new life’ – a reflection of God in the life of the believer, leads others who might be looking in, to our Savior, the giver of life and all good things. I was so encouraged to be reminded of the concern my Savior has for my well being, and how He has time for the concerns of folk like you and I. We don’t generally find anyone here on earth that has time to listen to our concerns, because they have so many of their own. But when we live in total surrender to our Maker, we are assured that He loves us unconditionally; He cares for us – His children; and that He already has a place prepared for us where we will live eternally in His presence. Oh what a love our Savior has for us! Do you know Him personally my friend? If not, please take time to read my Footnote and take the necessary action to accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior! There is no greater joy!

PRAYER: From the ugliness of our sin; from the depth of despair; and from the hopelessness of Hell, praise God I can claim Jesus, my Lord and Savior, for all eternity. Lord, I pray that there will be some who will read this devotional, that for the very first time they would see the need for a Savior. Oh that today might be that day of Salvation for them. You came to this world to bring hope and everlasting joy. May that become evident to ones you have chosen to hear You message of hope today. AMEN!

Authentic Fruit

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

Saturday, 2019-06-22

Bible Reference: Luke 3:7-9
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: John the Baptist: You bunch of venomous snakes! Who told you that you could escape God’s coming wrath? 8 Don’t just talk of turning to God; you’d better bear the authentic fruit of a changed life. Don’t take pride in your religious heritage, saying, “We have Abraham for our father!” Listen—God could turn these rocks into children of Abraham! 9 God wants you to bear fruit! If you don’t produce good fruit, then you’ll be chopped down like a fruitless tree and made into firewood. God’s ax is taking aim and ready to swing!

OBSERVATION: John the Baptist addressed the crowds that came to be baptized by him. However, when he saw the religious leaders and the onlookers, he realized that they may have had ulterior motives. So in a plea to help them understand that he was not promoting a ‘spectator sport’, but rather a lifestyle change, he told them what their lives should demonstrate after accepting Jesus. This is still very applicable today, so let us meditate on this for a few moments.

APPLICATION: Have you ever been in a store, or at work, or at the mall, and found yourself near enough to overhear an individual tearing an employee apart verbally? Then, as you drew near enough to the heated conversation, you saw that it was someone from your church? I know, church attendees could also become agitated, frustrated, unhappy and upset over certain circumstances just like everyone else, right? So why then do you suppose that John addressed this problem, and why would God have instilled this in the heart of Dr. Luke to present this as part of the Gospel? I believe it all goes back to a phrase that became very popular some years ago ‘what would Jesus do’ (WWJD). For circumstances will present itself as a test to what we are made of. In this teaching today, we could see that Luke used a similar tactic to that of Jesus, where he demonstrated a truth to the religious leaders through a parable. He likened their lives to that of a tree that bears fruit. For a farmer will cut down a tree that bears no fruit, so that the fruit bearing trees might flourish. But how would this apply to people, you might ask. I believe that you would be upset if a child that you paid years and years of tuition fees to gain their medical degree, finished school and did nothing more than hang around the house without a desire to work in his/her profession. They may have a medical degree, but if they refuse to work in that profession and keep up with their trade, are they really a doctor? The same example holds true when looking at a married person who refuses to sleep at home, take care of their spouse, and continue to flirt with everyone walking into a nightclub. So what about one who felt a nudge from the Master, and surrenders their life to the lordship of Jesus Christ? The Bible says that the Holy Spirit then resides in that individual and leads them in a life dedicated to God’s will, and His direction for their life. When all of this is in place and the individual decides to ignore the Holy Spirit’s leadership and do his/her own thing, how do you think God must feel? Don’t you think that John was probably spot on with his accusation of them being a brood of vipers? Friends, I believe that our take away today is that we must be true to what we claim as our life’s influencer. If this is Jesus Christ, then others will see (fruit) from our actions, our priorities, our words of encouragement, our prayers, the books we read, and the results of all these things will be evident in our outlook on life and the love we show towards others. These are all (fruit) that we see anytime that we read about our Lord in Scripture, therefore we should imitate Him! When this happens, the world will know that we are authentic in our Christianity. Seek God’s help my friend, and He will be your guide and your help through every circumstance of this life!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please touch Your children today and help us to never take for granted all that You did so that we might have life everlasting. Oh that we may take our commitment seriously to give you FULL control of our lives, and that we may be obedient in every way to Your Word – Your Book of Instructions for the Christian. As we follow You, I believe that our lives will reflect the very image of Jesus – fruit (evidence) that the world know and appreciate to whom we belong. We need You to do this oh Lord, for in and of ourselves we are helpless in overcoming the evil that’s all around us. I know You can, and I believe You will, so I thank You in advance dear Jesus. AMEN!