Category: Surrender

God Will Give Us What We Deserve

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Choices, SurrenderLeave a comment

Saturday, 2016-07-16

Scripture

Bible Reference: Revelation 2:23

Bible Text:  Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.

Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take

I would encourage you to click on the Scripture Reference and read the related verses to the one published. You will realize that there is good and bad that results from such a statement as the one I used as my title for this devotional. It’s the same as every other aspect of life, for when you are called to the principal’s office, or to the boss’s office, you could receive a pat on the back for the fine job you are doing, or you May have been called in to be disciplined for the bad you have done. What then shall we do? Some find it ‘fun’ to continue living in sin, in spite of knowing about the end result. For others, we acknowledge the love of our Father and His awesome goodness to us, so we surrendered all that the world offered for all that God offered through the sacrifice of His precious Son. The change that resulted when Jesus moved in, has caused us to gain the desire to love, live, talk and act like the Savior who took up residence in our lives. Because Jesus showed such love and concern for us, we too should have a strong desire to pray for and encourage our friends who have chosen to accept the mediocre life that this world has to offer them, as it leads to eternal punishment and separation from God. Friends, this should keep us on our knees for our lost ones. Yes, we have good news and bad news in this passage today. On which side of the ‘fence’ are you? This is not based on a lotto as to who will gain this precious life filled with God’s Holy Spirit. You have made your decision. Fortunately, as long as you are alive you still have the option of changing your decision to receive eternal damnation, for a life forgiven by God and alive in Him. May I encourage you to use your good judgment and make decisions today that will guarantee your eternity? Make it count friend, meet my Savior and surrender to Him. This is THE only way to guarantee your eternity in Heaven – according to the Bible. I’m looking forward to seeing each of you there!! Drop me a note using the below email link and let me know that you’re in! Let’s rejoice together today!

Prayer

Father, I know it must hurt You to know that You have sacrificed right down to Your very own Son so that we may have peace on earth and eternity with You, yet some are satisfied to go on living without accepting Your precious gift. Please touch hearts today. I really would like to see all reading this devotional today be sure in their own heart that they have surrendered to You and are living according to Your Word. May it be so, please dear Jesus? For I ask this in Your most worthy name, AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

God’s Purpose Fulfilled at Our Amazement

On By Ed AlgreenIn Clean Heart, Heart, Jesus, Know God's Heart, Surrender, What The Lord Wants1 Comment

Friday, 2016-06-24

Scripture

Bible Reference: Jonah 1:14–16

Bible Text:  14 Then they cried out to the LORD, Jonah’s God. “O LORD,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O LORD, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the LORD’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.

Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take

In much of what we hear about the story of Jonah, I believe that the part that really stands out revolves around how God got Jonah’s attention when he tried to run away from Him. However, let me share with you a little ‘nugget’ that I found in our referenced scripture this morning. I found where God was able to use this distraction to also speak to the hearts of a few sailors who may have otherwise continued in their blindness towards the living God. I’ve been on a ship before when it hit very rough waters, and I could see the panic in the eyes of the sailors when they realize that their ability to turn the situation around is virtually impossible, and way beyond their capability at that time. Therefore, I could only imagine how the sailors from the boat on which Jonah was riding, must have been in a very similar challenge – they must have panicked at the extreme waves and bad weather they were forced to deal with, while also being concerned about the safety of their passengers and themselves. I was impressed how the sailors tried everything possible before finally deciding to throw Jonah overboard. They asked the passengers, and Jonah, to pray to their gods for wisdom and safety. Then after hearing about Jonah’s God, the sailors chose to speak directly with God about the situation including, asking for their forgiveness should they have to pitch Jonah overboard. I found it interesting that they were fine with dealing with many gods in looking for a resolution, yet they settled for speaking directly to the God of Jonah. However, the most important find in this is in verse 16. The sailors were so amazed by the power of God Almighty, that they vowed to serve Him! Friends, I believe that this rough bunch of guys surrendered their lives to the awesome God that Jonah knew and worshiped! May I also remind you that this is the same God that I share with you every day through these devotionals? My prayer is that each of you will recognize God through these devotionals and, like the sailors, commit yourselves to my Savior and seek to serve Him the rest of your days. I implore you to consider this proposition friend. I stand as living proof that Jesus loves even me, and He especially loves you and wants your heart –  fully surrendered  to Him.

Prayer

Father, You are awesome in every way! Stubborn though we are, yet You have ways of getting our attention so that we might recognize Your greatness, and our need for a Savior. Father, thank You for using even us to reach the lost so that You may draw them to Yourself. Thank You for the story of Jonah and for opening our eyes to the similarities of how we also run from Your assignments and therefore miss opportunities to reach the world for You. Lord, may this be a day that we can be used as mere instruments in Your powerful hand to reach those that need visible evidence of Your grace and mercy. Merciful Savior, may You be lifted up in all things that we partake in today, is my humble plea and request. AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

How To Transform Worry Into Praise

On By Ed AlgreenIn Praise, Prayer, Surrender, Worry, Worry no moreLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Philippians 4:6-7
Today’s Bible Text: 6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: I believe there is one thing that we do extremely well, and that is ‘worry’. For we worry about what was said to us, or perhaps what wasn’t said to us. We worry about the look someone gave us, and even worse if they don’t look at us at all! We worry about what we should say, but we worry even more if we say too much. When our minds are so busy worrying about every little thing in life, we tend to start building our own case about why the world hates us and wants nothing to do with us. I hope that as you meditate on this scripture with me today you will catch a glimpse, or be reminded of the awesome God that we serve. You see, I am convinced that our God loves us enough that He will patiently wait for us to unload all of our concerns (worries) on Him in prayer. But what I am even more convinced of, is that God loves us enough that He sacrificed His one and only Son to die a cruel death, so that He could provide the answer for our forgiveness of sin and our means of entering the gates of heaven to spend eternity with Him. Friends, there are so many things that we are so blessed with, that we should learn to fix our minds on those things, rather than the worries of all that this world will burden us down with. So how do we move from where we are at to where we should be? We are taught in these verses that it’s a matter of prayer and praise. Let’s make it our aim to take our concerns to the Lord in prayer, and let’s look for ways to praise Him for all that we see Him doing in our lives. In doing these things, I believe we will find relief for those times that we would otherwise take on the concern ourselves and just worry, worry, worry. God loves us way too much to see us succumb to the sickness caused by worry.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your endless blessings on us. Thank You for the provisions You made for us and the future that is ours, who have placed our faith and trust in You. It’s a daily thing for us to overlook the temptations Satan will send our way to pull us down emotionally, and make us worry about things that we have no control over. Thank You for the direction You have given to us today in Your Word. Oh that we may be found faithful and true to You dear Lord. Oh that we may learn to worship You and praise You for who You are, even when our personal circumstances seem bleak. We’re Yours dear Lord. Please continue to teach us the right path to truth, hope, love and encouragement, so that we may savor in Your presence all of our days. I ask these things in and through the name of Jesus, my Savior, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

You Are Part Of A Much Bigger Picture

On By Ed AlgreenIn Connected, Honest, Loving God, Surrender, WitnessLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Romans 12:4-5
Today’s Bible Text: 4-5 Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: Friends, I believe that we can all agree that when a member of our family hurts, we all hurt. When there’s reason to celebrate by one member of our family, we all tend to celebrate with them. There is just that oneness that tends to penetrate our very soul. I believe that our scripture today reminds us that this ‘oneness’ is apparent in our Christianity also. For when our God looked at the enormous demands He had placed on us through sacrifices, and because He then found a better way, by sacrificing His only Son on Calvary’s cross, He showed His unexplainable love for us, and He showed us that He is an integral part of our lives. When we accepted Jesus as Lord, we committed to being united with Him. Because we are united with Christ, when others also become united with Him, we also have a unique oneness with them. Friends, don’t you see the picture? Just as you will do everything possible to make sure that you have healthy limbs, so that you could live without pain, you will want to do the same thing for those you are united with in Christ. There will be times that you will need them to help you through, and there will be times that they will need you. God created us to fit together in His perfect plan. Can we try all the harder to fit into His plan; to love one another; and to promote good health between each other so that we may all grow in Christ until the day He calls us home? I believe this will fulfill God’s desire for His church, and in doing so, we will be drawn closer to God and to each other. This kind of witness will speak volumes to the lost around us, for they need to see this ‘God-thing’ in action, for them to be convinced that it works! Are you ready to do your part, friend?

Prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for all that You have done to provide for our happiness here on earth and the contentment in knowing that we have a common thread that will unite Your children while here below. Thank You for the assurance of having everything aligned for our future with You also. What more can mere man ask for. Lord, I ask that You give us strength each day to fight off the attempts by Satan to destroy unity among Your children here on earth. As You have shown ultimate love for us, may we also love one another, and by that love, may the unsaved grow in desire to know You. This is my plea, Lord. May Your perfect will be accomplished in my life today and in the lives of my readers who are willing to surrender to Your will and way, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Committed – Through ALL Circumstances

On By Ed AlgreenIn Stuff, Surrender, WorshipLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Job 1:20–22
Today’s Bible Text: Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: Some Spoiled kids fall face to the ground and bang their heads on the ground while screaming, when things don’t go the way they want. I’ve seen where adults have left the church; hit a wall so hard that it broke their hand; Pouted all day when their angers flare up; and I’ve also seen where folk will go into total depression when they lose someone or something important to them. In this chapter of Job, I believe we can understand how Job could have responded in any of the above ways, based in the many disappointments and losses that he faced at one time, and we would have totally understood his actions. But friends, if you are not fully familiar with the story of Job, I must share briefly what caused him to tear his robe and shave his head. Various servants came in to Job one right after the other excitedly telling of certain disasters that had occurred with his Oxen; his sheep; his camels and his children. In each case, each of these had been killed together with the servants who watched over them. So I must ask you to consider: what would you have done if you were in Job’s place? In purple I highlighted the words of Job’s prayer to God. Could you have done that? Friends, I’m afraid that we place so much emphasis on the ‘stuff’ that we own and the precious gifts that God has blessed us with in family, that it becomes a thing of pride and boasting about what we did to achieve all that we have. When Jesus hung on the cross, about to die sacrificially for our sin, His only concern was that His mother be taken care of. There was no real estate or equipment or cattle for Jesus to worry about. Unless Jesus comes back first, we will all die; and based on decisions we made while alive, we will wind up just like Job, where we stand before the throne of God, just as we came into the world. This could happen this very day friend, so may I encourage you to emphasize on what’s really eternally important to you today. May I suggest that your relationship with the God of this universe, the One you will face after life here on earth, is the most important thing for you to concentrate on. Only then will you be able to separate yourself from the chaos of everyday earthly greed, and keep your eyes fixed on the one who truly holds tomorrow. Jesus loves you friend, and He wants your undivided attention. Job did it, and so can you and I.

Prayer: Father it seems almost farfetched how faithful Job was, especially as we get so attached to all that we are blessed with here on this earth. But Lord, our attachment to ‘stuff’ takes away from our total attachment to You. Please forgive us for all that we have allowed to distract us in our walk with You. Please teach us to place You first in all things, so that our priority in this life here on earth will be to worship, adore and serve you. May we stay focused on You so that earthly belongings and desires will become secondary in our lives. Fill us with so much of Yourself that it will become very evident whose we are, and may this serve only to promote You in all aspects of our character. Praise the name of the Lord! AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

A Christ-Like Life – It Can Be Done!

On By Ed AlgreenIn For His Glory, Submission, Surrender1 Comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Jesus set a perfect example to show us that we can live perfect lives here on earth, just as He did. See what adjustments you may need to make friend….

Today’s Bible Reference: 1 Peter 2:21-24
Today’s Bible Text: This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back.
He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.
He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: In the verses above you will be reminded of the type of life that Jesus exampled here on earth for us. In fact, you will see how He accomplished so much even through His suffering, so imagine how much more we should be able to accomplish in the general peace that we enjoy today. I believe the important takeaway for us today is that Jesus did these things in total obedience to His Father, and also for the glory of His Father. Imagine for a moment if today we stopped worrying about how embarrassed we would be if rejected by an unsaved person that we attempt to witness to, but instead see Jesus ultimately glorified by that person at some later point in their life, knowing that we planted seeds of Truth and godly advice! Imagine if we were to break down the barriers of prejudice, or political differences or denominationalism and instead boast on the name of the Lord and glory in His righteousness and grace. Do you suppose that the unsaved might start seeing Jesus, instead of them trying to look through our pretense and pride? Friends, it’s all about Jesus! We have nothing to gain here on earth to benefit our heavenly prize. We are to allow Jesus to work in and through us so that it would be obvious that He is the source and that He will receive the glory of His people. Let’s get off our earthy thrones and desires and work diligently on cleansing our temple where the Holy Spirit resides. With a clean heart and a right spirit, perhaps then Jesus can accomplish His work through us. He showed us in this scripture that it is possible, because He set the example for us to follow. We too can be more than conquerors with Jesus as our guide and source of inspiration. Let’s put self aside and invite Him to be Lord over all we do.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for setting such an awesome example for us, and thank You for setting the bar so high for us. We are such selfish and self-serving people, but as children of Yours, we want to follow Your example and be just like You. We know that You can do all things. Now please help us to follow Your will and allow You to govern our thoughts and our actions, so that You might receive honor and glory. As You are lifted up, You will call mankind unto Yourself. Lord that You might be glorified wholeheartedly today is my humble plea. May Your saints worship You in all that we do today, and may the lost be attracted to You because of Your call on them and because they are not distracted by our selfish actions. May they see a perfect Jesus in something that we might say or do today. To God be the glory, for the great things You will do today Lord Jesus, and if we can be used to help accomplish that work, we will glorify You forever, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

A Perfect Stone

On By Ed AlgreenIn Cornerstone, Misfit, Surrender, UnityLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Psalm 118:22–26
Today’s Bible Text: The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD…..
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: There are several stories in the Bible where folk felt rejected….. at least until God opened their eyes to His awesome power and purpose in their being where they were at for that specific period of time. I believe there are times that we tend to look inward, and may quickly conclude that we are just a ‘odd fit’, and that we really don’t blend in with the group, or the ministry area that we are involved in. Friends, may I encourage you to really seek God’s face at these times and ask Him to make you even more like Himself, and to truly use you for His glory? Learn to praise Him for exactly where you’re at, because if we are truly being led by His awesome Holy Spirit, then we are exactly placed where He wants us. Just ask Him to make you aware of His presence in your life and ministry and to continue using you for His glory. Ask for strength to stay focused on Him, and to shone the Evil One who is obviously trying to distract you by causing you to doubt. Jesus is the ultimate ‘Cornerstone’, for He’s the ‘Rock’, or the ‘glue’ that holds the whole ministry of Jesus Christ together. Followers of Christ are facilitators of the ministry of Christ. Jesus will not reign where sin abounds, so make it your aim friends, to stay pure, holy, righteous and obedient to the Master’s call and His will for your life. You will be comforted that you are perfectly placed where God wants you, and like the Psalmist, you also will rejoice and be glad in all that He is doing all around you! He’s just that kind of awesome God!

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for including even us as a part of Your perfect plan here on earth. It is often a challenge to believe that You would use folk like us: imperfect; fallen; incapable and often unlovable; to reach others in Your name, but Lord I pray that we would never question Your great design. Please help us to always stay focused on the fact that Your ways are perfect and that You are not the Creator of ‘junk’, so of course we are valuable instruments that can be used by You. Please help us to never give Satan a foothold by us doubting our value, and Your unique design. We are yours alone Lord Jesus, please use us for Your glory so that Your kingdom might be fulfilled here on this earth, as it is in heaven. I ask these things in full humility and with greatest faith, knowing that I serve an awesome God! Please encourage my readers today so that we may be great warriors for Your mission to all that we come into contact with. AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

Give It Up, Friend!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Evidence of Faith, Faith, Faith in Action, SurrenderLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: 1 John 3:16-18

Today’s Bible Text: We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

The Bible Translation: New Living Translation

My Take Away: I’m sure that I am slower than most, therefore the reason that I overlooked exactly the point that God was trying to get across to us in this passage today! So I wanted to share with you how I feel like God revealed Himself to me, and the instructions He made clear to me. The first part of verse 16 is a given, in that we have always been taught that what Jesus did on the cross was not a win for the king and his people that ordered the crucifixion of our Lord, but Jesus went to the cross in total obedience to His Father, in total love for us. John 3:16 is probably the best known verse in the Bible, because it explains the love of Jesus in dying for every sinner, and the everlasting hope offered as a result of that sacrifice. Now, back to verses 17 & 18 of our highlighted verses today, we (Christ’s followers) are challenged to do the same thing for our fellow man. Go to the cross for another, you might ask? No, although we may not be forced to give up our life, we certainly might be called on to volunteer our time to help someone who is incapable of helping themselves. OR, someone that might be hungry when we have more than enough to sacrifice our next meal to give it to them. OR, perhaps another nation is unable or unwilling to fully care for their orphans, and even though we may not be able to feed them all for a week, perhaps we could join or support a local missions group who will go and work around the orphanage so that monies given to the orphanage can be used to better feed or clothe the orphans. OR, if called on to give financially to those in need, perhaps we can give of our excess, or sacrifice the money we would ordinarily spend on items we could easily do without. Think about it friend, when we consider our ‘life’ we generally consider all those things that make it worthwhile for us to get up each morning, or to keep on slaving away at work each day. How much of that are you willing to give up for the sake of a person in need? I believe we had best be very careful to not find excuses when God asks us to be His hands and His feet, and to minister in His name. Let us always remember that He gave it all so that we might have life eternally in heaven. Anything we are challenged with should be in the light of that sacrifice, and done with the love of that sacrifice. Only then will an unbeliever truly understand the love of our Savior that we might tell them about.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and not on our circumstances. Please help us to give, because You first sacrificed everything as You gave it all for us. Please help us to stop thinking so selfishly about the benefits of our greed and finding so many excuses about all that we could give to others, if only we would deal with our selfishness and give up the wants of self gratification. Forgive us Lord for being inconsiderate of the needs of others, especially while we gloat in the excess blessings that You have showered on us. Please teach us to follow Your ways, even when it causes us to sacrifice. Your love oh Lord, reaches to the heavens. May Your love be evident in everything we do or say, so that You may be glorified here on earth. I ask these things in the precious, holy, sacrificial name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 http://www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Oh To Have Leaders or Men Like This…

On By Ed AlgreenIn Leadership of the Holy Spirit, Prayer, SurrenderLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: 2 Chronicles 31:20–21
Today’s Bible Text: In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God. In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation  (NLT)

My Take Away: I can hardly imagine what our families, our churches, our cities and our nation would be like if we had men following the example of King Hezekiah! We are told in verse 21 that this king was extremely successful because….. everything he did was in a spirit of complete loyalty and devotion to God! Wow! What if we were to elect leaders for our country who practice what Hezekiah did? Can you even imagine what a country of peace and success would look like? Can you imagine how much better our workplaces would be if we (Christians) went to work with a spirit of complete loyalty and devotion to God. Friends, I know that many jobs will not allow Christianity to be advertised or practiced within its walls, but what is inside of us cannot be taken away! We take Christ into our jobs through our actions, our stands on certain issues, through our sincere dedication to our work and our bosses. Friends, this may sound like ‘pie in the sky’ to some that read this devotional today, but may I remind you that our God is still in charge, and He still has the power to touch the very heart of man, for His ultimate honor and glory. I firmly believe that what is missing in this old world of ours, is the commitment of our leaders to the grand leader of all mankind. Now before you say a loud Amen, may I also add that the other missing piece is the absence of the saints of God in constant prayer for our leaders. We expect them to lead us aright, but only God knows what tomorrow will bring, so if our leaders are to lead with tomorrow in mind, they must have the wisdom and direction of the only One who knows about tomorrow. Lord, may Your army assume our rightful position – on our knees, and seek Your perfect will for our own lives on mission for You, and for our leaders so that they may be drawn to You – the answer to all of life’s circumstances and challenges.

 

Prayer: Father in heaven, forgive us for our determination to manage our lives, our churches, our cities, etc. using only the weak and helpless abilities of self. Each of us face impossible situations everyday, because most decisions we make are impacted by things that could happen tomorrow – an unknown factor to mankind. It was so great being reminded today that Christians have a resource available to them that has the mysteries of tomorrow covered. Jesus, I was reminded once again how desperately we need You in every aspect of our life, especially in our decision-making. Lord, may You be glorified because of our surrender to You and our commitment to allow You to be King and Ruler over all things. Please impact our critical decisions this year as we vote, and also as we lift up our leaders in prayer. I ask these things in the all powerful, all knowing, yet all loving name of Jesus, my Savior. AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016

A Crude Description Of Our Times

On By Ed AlgreenIn End Times, Example of Christ, Separated, SurrenderLeave a comment

May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: 2 Timothy 3:1–5
Today’s Bible Text: …. in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: From the header/subject, you were probably afraid to look deeper for fear that I may be quoting one of the presidential candidates, or perhaps one of the popular news carriers! I believe that’s because the description sounds so much like everything we hear about, and see today. Friends, I believe that Paul was warning Timothy to be aware of this type of behavior because it is so far off the path of what God intended for His children, that it is bound to cause God to call His saints out of the mix. It is unfortunate, but I can’t identify one behavior listed, that is not prevalent in our society today. So I’m sure that you must be asking how then shall we respond. Here’s what I feel would be scriptural for us:

  1. Stay away from people that fit the above description – and that’s because we tend to be classed with those we hang with. For us to hang with them, means that we are accepting of their behavior, therefore we might soon find ourselves allowing some of the same characteristics in our lives;
  2. Continue to witness – even to those acting like described above – They need Jesus, and how will they know about Him unless we proclaim the name of Jesus to them?
  3. Be careful to seek our character and behavior from God – not from friends who may act like described by Paul;
  4. Be ‘light’ in the midst of the darkness portrayed by friends – Jesus is the light that attracted us when our lives seemed so lost in the darkness of sin. We are called to be His followers, or His example. This will cause us to stand out, just as a small light that will brighten a large, very dark room.

Friends, we are called out – meaning that it was never God’s intention for His holy and righteous children to be inflicted with the sin and evil of this world. Why not diligently seek the face of Jesus, if you still feel bound, or attached to this old evil world in any way?

Prayer: Had it not been for the blood of Jesus. Had it not been for the love of our Savior. Had it not been for the promise of heaven at the end of our journey here on earth. Where would we have been, but smack in the middle of the descriptions given by Paul to Timothy. Thank You Heavenly Father for reaching into the heart of Your child and calling me to Yourself. Being reminded that all of the behaviors described by Paul are actually in place already, I can’t help but think that the day of Your return dear Lord, is nearer now than it has ever been before. Please show us the friends and family members that need our help in pointing them to You, for I believe that TODAY is the day of salvation, as tomorrow may be eternally too late. “I surrender all” is therefore my heart’s cry today Lord, as I wait before You for my instructions to minister in Your name today, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016