Enough of the Stress – Confess Your Sins

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

Friday, 2021-04-23

Bible Reference: Psalm 32:1-5
Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: It is a great blessing when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done, when their sins are erased. It is a great blessing when the Lord says they are not guilty, when they don’t try to hide their sins. Lord, I prayed to you again and again, but I did not talk about my sins. So I only became weaker and more miserable. Every day you made life harder for me. I became like a dry land in the hot summertime. Selah But then I decided to confess my sins to the Lord. I stopped hiding my guilt and told you about my sins. And you forgave them all! Selah

OBSERVATION: There are so many things that stress us out, and everyone we talk to will have a solution on how we should deal with that stress. So from the Word of God, let us meditate today on what it teaches us about relieving ourselves of stresses in our life.

APPLICATION: I’m certainly not trained to deal professionally with how one should handle the stress in their lives (that’s my legal disclosure!!!!). However, from the Word of God we can see what David said about his weaknesses, his challenges, his sin; his forgiveness and how his confession led to his happiness. Today David is challenging us to consider how easy it is to try and cover up our sin and pretend it doesn’t exist. Also, how miserable we are when we go around pretending all is well. Friends, I believe that is the first inhibitor for stress – when we know something is going on in our lives, but we pretend to those around us that all is well. Unfortunately I believe that we unconsciously show our pretense to God also, for we follow our own desires, knowing that often these things are contrary to the Word of God, and to what He desires of us. We just go on about our day pretending that all is well. In my opinion, this is the source of stress, for we are covering up something that we know should be done or said differently. But praise be to God, dear friends, the Psalmist showed us that there was excellent results for him when he followed the normal pattern designed by God. You see, God set the pattern for His children so that they might be pleasing to Him in every way. However, in all of our wisdom, we somehow figured that we could go our own way and do our own thing, and God would be just as happy seeing us struggle along. But I believe that God placed an uneasiness in us, that some may call ‘stress’, because He wanted us to know when we were doing something that He isn’t happy about. Let me encourage you to re-read the last part of our focal verses today, and I believe that like me, you too might notice the loud sigh of relief by David as he concluded that God heard his burden for forgiveness and He forgave him. I pray that our goal today might be that we live as an open book before God – nothing to be worried about, holding nothing back, exposing everything to God that bothers us in the very least. God knows us friend, and He knows what we may be covering up. But I believe that He longs to see us reconcile our faults before Him, and seek His forgiveness, so that we may be one with Him. Consider making this the day that you relieve yourself of the stress in your life. Seek God while He may be found. Expose your heart to Him, so that He might cleanse it and make you whole. Be one with your Maker my friend, and allow your mind to be at rest in Him!

PRAYER: Precious Lord Jesus, we approach You as Your loving children that are broken and filled with stress over trying to do ‘life’ on our own. Please speak directly to our innermost person today and help us to acknowledge our shortcomings, and our inability to handle this complex world on our own while thinking that we could still please You. Without You we are broken, without any hope of repair. Please humble our hearts so that we might surrender our all to You and give You full reign in every aspect of our being, so that You may be honored and praised by all who may encounter us. 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!

Our Assignment

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Changed, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Share God’s Word, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2021-04-22
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 28:18-20
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 18 Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to me. 19 Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 20 And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”

OBSERVATION: Ever notice how popular Sunday morning church service is, compared to Sunday evening discipleship hour, or Wednesday evening prayer service, or perhaps men/women Bible Study? Based on this comparison, we might seriously ponder how much of the Gospel (or how little) we take with us in our work places, or our social events, etc. after Sunday is over. But we have a huge assignment form Jesus in today’s Scripture, so meditate with me on His commands.

APPLICATION: Jesus’ disciples had just encountered the risen Lord for the first time after His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. While they tried to celebrate the risen Lord, some were still in a state of shock and disbelief. Surprised, because you thought these were Jesus’ dedicated followers who learned first-hand from Him and saw His many miracles? I know, but don’t think for a moment that they were weaker than you and I, or filled with doubt any more than we are. Notice how Jesus didn’t nurse their feelings by trying to help them overcome their doubt and fear, but instead He immediately told them about their next, and ongoing assignment. Now I believe that this message was also for Jesus’ disciples of today also – my fellow believers and I. So I believe it is important that we understand the command, so that we too can be obedient servants:
-> Go – In other words, as you go, or everywhere you go, do what I am about to tell you. Since retiring, I have been privileged to travel a bit, and I find it extraordinarily rewarding how people are no different in cities considered below poverty level, or cities with the most wealthy. Many still need the Lord, but it is so, so comforting to fellowship with those who know the Savior as you do;
-> Make disciples – based on what I just said above, I am commissioned to not merely look the other way and expect pastors to evangelize those in their city who need the Lord, but I am also expected to make disciples there, or preach the Gospel there, or minister to the unsaved there, regardless of their national origin, color or gender;
-> Baptize the disciples – Don’t just see them accept Jesus as their Savior, but lead them to be baptized, as evidence to their family and friends that they have arisen in newness of life through the power of the triune God;
-> Teach them – Share with the new believers all that God has taught you through His Word. Teach them how to study the Word so that they may know what God expects of them. Oh, you’re not a teacher? No problem, just pretend that you are a beggar helping another beggar to find food. You are not expected to share what the preacher said in yesterday’s sermon, you are commissioned to tell your story of how Jesus saved you and watches over you every day until He returns to take you home to glory!
So it is very obvious that God never intended for us to soak and sour in His goodness, but to share His amazing goodness with everyone that we come into contact with. Friends, how will they know that change is necessary unless, through God’s grace, you share the love of Christ with them, and the assignment He has given to us? Be a faithful servant and obey the commands of our Lord.

PRAYER: Thank You Father for showing us Your love, teaching us Your Word and not just leaving us where we are, but showing us the importance of passing along what we have experienced and learned from You, so that the unsaved too might surrender to Your perfect will for their lives. Please touch the heart of every believer that reads this devotional, and use Your Word to speak miraculously into their lives. Please touch us with Your grace, Your power, Your wisdom, and Your encouragement to share every day what You have poured into our lives. May You be glorified today because of our obedience, followed only by the changed lives of those who accept You as Lord. AMEN!

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

May Our Actions Never Discredit Our King

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

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2021-04-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 25:11
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: 11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

OBSERVATION: Perhaps one of your parents may have told you at one time how they hoped you would never spoil their good name in the community or in the church. As children of the most high God, I wonder what might cross our minds as we meditate on His Word today? Perhaps there are things we say or do that may not promote the Kingdom, and I would be ashamed to see how that must hurt our Father. Allow the Word to wash over you today and complete It’s work in you.

APPLICATION: Ever recognize a couple as being the parents of that boy/girl who recently went to prison for a certain crime? Or have you ever said to a child that they have totally destroyed the respect of your name in the community? But of even greater concern, what if we stop and reflect on the heart of God, like David did, and feel convicted of how we have hurt Him with our actions or words? Yes, we serve a forgiving God who loves us unconditionally. But when we surrendered our lives to Him, we committed to live a life that would reflect the actions and life of Christ. We promised to honestly represent Him here on earth, hoping that family and friends will frequently mistake us for Jesus. Don’t you often stop to reflect on how you are doing in that respect? Do you feel like each end of day, God must review our life and celebrate how well we did? Yes, through the good times, through the great opportunities that presented themselves, through the arguments, through the nasty confrontations and through the lost tempers. Did we truly make our Master shine in the eyes of unbelievers? Did they get a better view of who Jesus truly is, by the way we responded? Can you see more clearly now why David sought forgiveness from the Lord? David was much like us and he knew that the matchless name of Jesus was marred because of his sins, and he wanted that rectified as soon as possible. Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters, join me in protecting the name of the One that we love, because of His unconditional love for us; the name of the One who suffered and died on a rugged old cross at Calvary, so that we might have life eternal in heaven; the name of the One who has power to heal our diseases, direct our paths and guide our decisions for His good! He’s the One we love and appreciate, let’s act like His children so that the world will know Him and desire a relationship with Him. Let’s aim to have the name of our Savior lifted high each and every day, instead of the negative connotations that the world tends to look for.

PRAYER: Lord, You are so good to Your children in so many marvelous ways, and Your love for us is beyond our comprehension. However, we can easily identify with David, because of our constant drive to please the world. Please forgive us for often straying away from Your commands and misrepresenting You before a lost world, in spite of the need to do just the opposite. Lord, we humbly ask for Your power to help us be more like You every day. People need the Lord, including those that we come into contact with, so please give us wisdom and boldness to share Your love with them, and may our character be representative of who You are. Please save the lost, and kindly use us in Your service as You see fit, so that Your name be lifted high – above all other names. AMEN!

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

Stop Giving

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

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-04-20
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Exodus 36:5-7
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 5 … “The people are bringing more than enough for doing this work that God has commanded us to do!”
6-7 So Moses sent out orders through the camp: “Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!”
The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings! There was plenty of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough.

OBSERVATION: Imagine receiving a letter from your pastor telling you to stop giving, as the church already has more than enough to adequately perform its ministry needs plus its building fund? Hopefully someone will be nearby to pick you up off the floor after you faint from the news, right?!! But Moses did exactly what I just described. What’s the difference? Let’s examine what God may be saying to us through His Word today about our free will offerings.

APPLICATION: Most growing churches looking to build a new sanctuary to meet their current, and projected future needs, will try to build a much larger building than they currently worship in. With today’s cost of living, and current building material costs, conservative estimates are in the millions of dollars to construct a nice church building with all the comfort and amenities congregations have come to demand. It’s just a fact of life in the 21st century! Many churches struggle to meet normal budget needs, so how should they possibly consider finding funds for a mega building? But let us consider what might be the difference between the Israelites Moses dealt with in his building plan, verses today’s church? The Israelites came from a life of slavery in Egypt, and followed a man led by God – Moses, towards an unknown land simply known as The Promised Land (a land promised by God). They were witness to miracle after miracle as God forced the Egyptian king to let the Israelites (slaves) go. Additionally, the Israelites saw additional miracles as God protected them, fed them, and lovingly cared for them during their journey through the Wilderness. God gave them everything they needed, so wouldn’t you assume that they too would give sacrificially now that they are given the opportunity of giving everything needed for the house of God? After all, He provided for their every need when they had no other choice, so wouldn’t He also now provide for their needs as they give sacrificially to His house of praise and worship? But friends, how is this different to what we face today? Can’t you see that the doubts that arise in our minds about committing to give for the work of God, and the excuses that we quickly come up with about giving even more than our tithe for a building fund, are simply Satan’s way of helping us change our priority in giving? After all, don’t we depend on God every day for our jobs, our health, our protection and our peace of mind about finding food for our families? So with that in mind, if we ask God to direct us in our giving towards the growth of His work in our community through our church, don’t you think that He will continue to be God and lead us through each day with all the provisions we need – even after committing to give more to His work? As a child, I remember working extra small jobs and helping my parents in filling our missionary offering box, for their annual Missionary fundraising. I could only imagine that the Israelites may have found innovative ways of raising extra money, such as growing one extra head of cattle, so the funds could go towards the construction of the sanctuary. Surely God could open our eyes to ways that we could also give more for His work/ministry that will ultimately help to reach more lost people in our communities. If we all do our part, perhaps our pastor might be able to do as Moses did, and let the congregants know that ‘we have enough, no need to continue giving the extra funds’! But friends, please continue giving until you receive that word from your church!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for giving so much to us! You have blessed us with life itself; with jobs; with food enough, even in excess; with good health; money enough to help others in need; and above all, You have offered us salvation – at the expense of Your One and only Son, Jesus. Thank You Lord for Your mercies on me. Please help my readers and I to be mindful of all that You bless us with each day, especially when we try to evaluate what we might give to bless others. Help us to remember the church growth You have blessed us with when we see the need for a larger sanctuary, so that we might also give sacrificially, just as You did for us. Be magnified oh God because of our willingness to give, sacrificially if necessary, for Your ongoing work. May our giving be from a thankful heart filled with love for our Master! AMEN!

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

Do It Again, Lord

On By Ed AlgreenIn encouragement, Faith, Repentance, Rewards, Surrender, TrustLeave a comment

Sunday, 2021-04-18

Bible Reference: Psalm 27:13-14
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: Yet I totally trust you to rescue me one more time, so that I can see once again how good you are while I’m still alive! Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!

OBSERVATION: David had witnessed the power of God in His life many times, yet he didn’t take that for granted. We see in this Scripture today, that David is asking God to intervene – one more time. The powerful thing about these verses is that David is not approaching God as a stranger, for he shares with us lessons that he had previously learned. Hopefully we can approach God with that same confidence today!

APPLICATION: Hopefully we all can remember a time that God was especially real to us. It may have been a time when we couldn’t figure out where to turn next, or who to turn to for help, when suddenly we sensed the power of God intervening in our life and giving us purpose to go on. At some point we may have learned that someone was praying especially hard and persistent for us, and that convinced us even more that it was the hand of God that touched us in our time of need. Friends, I believe that God especially gives us times of refreshment like that, so that we might have a memorial to refer back to and be encouraged by. For He saw our need and responded to our prayers when times were really challenging for us. The glorious truth is, that He could very easily ‘do it again’, if only we would seek Him and depend on Him. While I believe that these very special times might be refreshing times for us individually, I also believe that they sometimes serve as a tool that we may use to encourage others that may encounter similar challenges. Another real purpose that these special experiences might serve, is to encourage our own selves when challenges come our way. Have you ever experienced a time when you sat down and almost cried, because the burden seemed so heavy? The need for power, or for encouragement, or perhaps healing may have been overwhelming. You may not have known which way to turn next – until the Holy Spirit suddenly brought to remembrance a time where God clearly responded to a similar need in your life. It was times like this, that you regained purpose in your relationship with the Master, and you were able to return humbly before the Lord and seek His forgiveness as you acknowledged your need and your weakness before the Creator of this universe, the Master of the land, sea, and every living thing. Friends, it is unfortunate, but way too often we try to assume control over our circumstances for which we have no power. And it’s not until we humble ourselves and rededicate ourselves completely to the lordship of Jesus Christ in total surrender, that we make room for Him and His awesome power to move mightily in our lives. I believe that God is waiting for us to surrender, or re-surrender ourselves to His will, so that He might move in our lives personally, and corporately, one more time. I need that, friends. I hope and pray that you will also see the need to be totally surrendered to Jesus – yes, especially today!

PRAYER: In Your awesome expression of love, humility and power, You reached down and touched my life, and I thank You for loving even me that much. Oh that I may be reminded of whose I am, every time that Satan tries to discourage and pull me down. Lord, I believe that many who will read this devotional may have experienced similar times of discouragement, and may honestly desire a touch from You once again. May this reminder from David be something that may return peace and encouragement to many who allow Your Word to penetrate their hearts today. Oh that they may be reminded of the mighty work You have already accomplished in their life, and may they be encouraged to seek You yet again, even in their current circumstances, knowing that You could just as easily ‘do it all again’! May You be glorified because of our surrender today dear Lord! 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!

Offering, Rest and Worship

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

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-04-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Exodus 34:20-21; 23
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 …… “No one is to appear before me without an offering.
21 “You have six days in which to do your work, but do not work on the seventh day, not even during plowing time or harvest.
23 “Three times a year all of your men must come to worship me, the Lord, the God of Israel. 24 After I have driven out the nations before you and extended your territory, no one will try to conquer your country during the three festivals.

OBSERVATION: As we meditate on the Word today, let’s assume that we are talking to God about: (1) Our gifts to Him and (2) Our day/time of rest, and (3) Our attitude and quality of worship to Him. It might be an interesting conversation in light of what He demands in today’s Scripture!

APPLICATION: There are three major themes in today’s Scripture and I would like for us to meditate on each:
(1) Offering – Remember, when God told Moses that no one was to appear for worship without an offering, or gift, this was at a time when the Israelites were being led across the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land. But God had no doubt that everyone had something to give as an offering. In today’s church, there are many who use the excuse that they only make minimum wage, so they can’t afford to tithe. Others may think they make way too much to imagine giving a tithe for such a large amount to their local church. Although God is their Judge, I believe that a percentage is based on the total income of an individual. No one looks for an excuse to not have government taxes subtracted from their wages. If 10% is due to God out of your income, then I would suggest that you look at your net income as being less government taxes and your tithes. That may sound like a lot to some, and it may sound impossible to others, but I believe that God is teaching us to be appreciative enough about all that He has blessed us with, that we are willing to give back a portion for His ongoing work/ministry. Remember the example Jesus gave about the poor widow who gave everything she had, all two cents? Does God or His church need our money to survive? Probably not, but I believe God is teaching us to be a giving people, not unappreciative children of the One who gave even His very own Son for us;
(2) Rest – I had a friend who once challenged me on the amount of rest I was getting. He told me about two men chopping down trees in the forest. One stopped ever few hours to sharpen his axe, while the other had no time to stop and improve the efficiency of his tool. Which of these do you suppose chopped down the greatest number of trees? Similarly, if we obey God’s commands to rest for one day out of the seven that He blesses us with, we too will enjoy sharper minds, rested bodies and more energy to work harder during the other six days. Note also that God quickly added that this routine should occur in spite of everything else that’s going on – even planting and harvesting!
(3) Worship – Cheerleaders will encourage players with the chant ‘1, 2, 3, 4, who do we appreciate?’ Taking deliberate time to worship God each week is much like those cheerleaders. Taking time to praise God for His goodness and His endless supply of health and provisions, is something that all thankful people do, whether to their parents, spouse or employer. Could it be that God will bless us even more when we stop to be obedient to Him and show our appreciation to Him through our worship? Let’s be sure to never think that simply attending church satisfies God that we are thankful for His mercy. From a heart filled with thanksgiving, our mouths will sing forth personalized, sincere praise fit only for our King!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, You showed Your power in wonderful ways, blessing Moses and the Israelites as You led them out of slavery in Egypt, through the Wilderness and into the Promised Land. Yet it was necessary for You to coach them towards giving, rest and worship. But this is so timely for us also, for we often overlook our blessings and take Your precious gifts for granted. Please forgive us Lord, and help us to be good representatives of the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. You are worthy of our praise each and every day. Please help us to make time for rest, and may we be faithful in our giving from the resources that You richly bestow on us. AMEN!

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

The Power of The Word

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Impacted by the Word, Listen to the Word of God, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, The Word, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2021-04-16
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Proverbs 4:20:23
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 My son, pay attention to all the words I am telling you. Lean in closer so you may hear all I say.
21 Keep them before you; meditate on them; set them safely in your heart.
22 For those who discover them, they are life. They bring wholeness and healing to their bodies.
23 Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life.

OBSERVATION: God’s Word is so powerful and so applicable to us each time that we read It’s pages. We are reminded that God’s Word is of super importance to us, and as such, we must be diligent about meditating on them daily, and keeping them in our heart. We will discover they are life and health for us. As we ponder the Word today, let us question ourselves on whether we are supported in life by God’s Word, and how they may bring wholeness to our sick bodies.

APPLICATION: Ever talk to a very old person and hear about what they consider the source of their long life and good health? My grandmother was in her 90’s when I last visited her alive. She had never had surgery, and I don’t believe she had ever been hospitalized, even through her childbearing years that resulted in 16 children. She was blind when I saw her last, but she was happy and a joy to be around. She assured me that she still did her daily devotional and time with the Lord, because over the years she had memorized so much Scripture, that she was able to verbalize God’s Word back to Him as she meditated. Wow! Friends, I was reminded of my grandmother as I read this Scripture today, for verses 21 & 23 instruct us to keep the Word before us at all times, meditate on them and keep them safely hidden in our heart. Remember how I said she was such a joy to be around? From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. If your heart is filled with anger and revenge, then you will spew out words of anger and hatred. God is love, so of course as you meditate on His Word you will find where it reminds us of that unconditional love. Take note, and keep that characteristic of God foremost in your heart. As you ask Him to help you live in a way pleasing to Him, love will be a primary characteristic that will flow through your actions, and included in the words that you speak. Remember I mentioned about the good health my grandmother enjoyed? Could that be a result of verse 22? Only God knows, but I have seen and spoken with many older citizens who have been blessed with good health, and it just so happened that they were also in constant celebration of their personal relationship with God. Friends, I am thankful to God for the number of people He has placed Nuggets From God’s Word in your path. Please let me encourage you to read the Scripture and apply it first and foremost to your heart. Of course you will be reminded of tough times by family and friends and how the Scripture might speak to them, but please don’t overlook that God has a purpose in using His Word to speak truth into your life first and foremost. Watch your heart dear ones, fill it with God and His love for you. This will reward you by helping you love others, but loving God most!

PRAYER: Thank You dear Lord for Your unconditional love for us. Thank You that You cared enough for us to give us Your book of instruction. You’ve blessed us with wisdom and good understanding, so please touch our hearts and help us to be obedient to Your Word, and embed it deep within our hearts so that our mouths will sing forth Your praises, our hearts will grow to love even the unlovable and that our bodies will reflect evidence of Your healing touch. Lord, You are good to us and we would love to grow more and more in that goodness as we join hearts and lives together with others. AMEN!

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

How Will They Know You?

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

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-04-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 26:69-70; 72; 74
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 69 All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 In front of everybody there, he denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
72 Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: “I swear, I never laid eyes on the man.”
74 Then he got really nervous and swore. “I don’t know the man!”

OBSERVATION: Peter was recognized as a follower of Jesus, but he denied it – in fact he denied Jesus 3 times. Imagine the confusion that must have arisen among the people? They knew he was a follower of Christ, but Peter straight out denied ever knowing Him. But before we become too judgmental of Peter, what happens when friends or acquaintances see us Monday through Friday and question whether we are the same person they saw participating in last week’s church service?

APPLICATION: Unfortunately the same thing that happened to Peter will often happen when others recognize us as the son/daughter of our parents, that they know really well. Hopefully others will see certain actions in us that remind them of our parents. Disappointment will come when friends and loved ones see just the opposite of what they came to lovingly know our parents for. But the same is true in our relationships when at one point we say that we are a child of the King, but act like Satan himself. What makes it tough is that as long as we are assigned to live in this world, we will be led by the things of this world – unless we make a commitment to serve God faithfully and allow Him to rule and reign in our lives. When the latter occurs, we will be led by the Holy Spirit into living like Jesus did, showing love like Jesus did, treating people like Jesus did, and committed to following Him on the mountain tops and in the darkest valleys. Where the challenges arise, is when we do this half-heartedly. For it is then that we feel like we are proud to be His child, but we are easily led by every tug of Satan to act like normal children of the world and it’s master. Friends, as a married man, I am proud to be called the husband of my wonderful wife in her presence, in the mix of friends or coworkers where I often find myself, or even in the presence of other beautiful women. In my heart, I belong to my wife, and I will die for her if the need ever presented itself. I am also a child of the most high God, and I am determined to serve Him til Jesus returns to take me home to Glory. Will I be tempted like Peter was? I believe you can go ahead and bet on it, but with all the power that’s within me and with the help of Almighty God, I commit to serving Him unwaveringly for as long as He gives me breath. Could circumstances ever cause me to be challenged to decide between life eternally with Jesus vs eternal damnation with Satan in Hell? I know that they can, but I pray that each and every day that God will give me the strength to always stand firm in my commitment to Him. I will need extra strength to help me when the enemy forces himself on me, but dear friends, let’s always remember and stand firm on the promise that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. May God give us the strength and determination to say as Paul did: ‘For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain’.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for loving Peter so much that You looked beyond his weakness and still loved him. I know that You are still the same awesome God that You were for Peter, so I believe wholeheartedly that You love my readers and I who have committed our lives to You just as much. Each day we will face Satan and all of his attacks. Just like hackers, Satan is out to get us in very cunning ways. So Lord, we need Your power and Your wisdom to fight the enemy off each and every day. Make us wholly thine, and may we look like Your child not only in Your perfect presence, but also in the eyes of unbelievers who need to be convinced of Your presence even through simple human beings. Be glorified through us today Lord. Oh that they may see Jesus in us. AMEN!

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

My Shepherd

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

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2021-04-12
WRITTEN AT: Jupiter, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 23:1-3
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!
2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most.

OBSERVATION: I hope that you will find new insight and an even clearer view of what David may have felt when he wrote this Psalm. We know that David shared with us a lot of what he was thinking and feeling at the time that He wrote each Psalm, and it was like a conversation with his God – his Shepherd. Today I believe it will serve us well to consider where do we run to for peace, quiet, provision, protection and love – qualities David found in his Shepherd.

APPLICATION: Some turn to alcohol and drugs when life seems overwhelming and they are looking for help, or a way out of the stresses of life. For those who have a biblical understanding, or who have attended church services or even funerals, you have heard the words – God is our Shepherd, and We are the sheep of His pasture. I would humbly ask that you stop for a few minutes today and ponder the words ‘Shepherd’ and ‘Sheep’. Try opening the portals of your mind beyond the content of Psalm 23, and just think of the various meanings and characteristics of the two words. While I’m sure that you will find alternate words to these, I thought of: Shepherd – provider; protector; love for his sheep; risk taker for his sheep; looking for the best for his sheep; would place himself in danger to protect his sheep; guide; leader; etc. And for Sheep – humble; obedient; having a mind only to follow their shepherd; no questions asked; no griping or complaining; no ability to fight off the enemy; convinced that the shepherd knows what’s best for them; etc. As I indicated, I realize that this list is not all-inclusive, and that you would have derived a much longer list. However, I believe the process you went through in your mind may have given opportunity to see how David felt about the Great Shepherd, his Heavenly Father. In concluding that God is our Shepherd, and that we are His sheep, don’t you see that we quickly become overwhelmed by God’s love for us? Don’t you see that He was willing to place the life of His Son on the line for us, so that we might be saved from the vengeance of Hell, and instead look forward to the joys of Heaven where the Father and Son reside? But dear friends, I believe it is also easy to see that unless we are good imitators of sheep, we may choose a much worse route for our lives and our eternity. If you gain nothing else from this devotional, please remember that the Great Shepherd is our God who loves us (His children) way more than we could humanly comprehend. As His sheep, we must be willing to give God (our Shepherd) the reigns to our life, so that He may lead us into the best pastures; calm our anxious nerves besides the stillness of beautiful, calm waters; and into His glorious Kingdom; so that we may live forever with He and the Father for ever and ever. It is easy to see that God never intended for us to live a complex; anxious; nerve-wrecking; worrisome life. With Him as our Shepherd, and us as His sheep who would mindlessly obey His commands and His guidance, we could rejoice like David did about enjoying the calm and tranquility of life, as if sitting on the banks of a peaceful river, away from all city noise and stress. We have a faithful Shepherd, oh that we may learn to be like His sheep who will listen and follow His commands!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, our Great Jehovah, our only Shepherd, thank You for loving us enough to lay down Your life for us. Thank You for guiding us into all peace and tranquility. Please help us to bow in obedience and allow You to be our Great Shepherd. David found great peace in this and He shared how he felt in Psalm 23. May we write our song of praise today as we share our words of praise, adoration and thankfulness with You. May it be easy for the unsaved to look on in amazement at how great our God is, just by the way you tenderly care for us – Your sheep. Please draw the unsaved to Yourself today dear Lord, and use us as You see fit. AMEN!

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

Stay Alert and Pray

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

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-04-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Matthew 26:40-41
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”

OBSERVATION: The reasons why Jesus took only three disciples closer to the point where He would pray to the Father is a bit unknown, but being reminded that God does everything in His perfect will and for our purpose, is sufficient. Jesus was very burdened about the hour fast approaching where He would be arrested, beaten and crucified. If we were encountering due rest, we would want our most trusted prayer partners with us, yet the three disciples fell asleep, as if nothing was concerning them about the burden Jesus was bearing . Let’s try to understand why it was important for the disciples to stay alert, so that we might do the same.

APPLICATION: It may seem like we try hard to let our minds wander when troubles arise, because we really don’t want to deal with the drama, and in most cases, the sorrow or disappointment that result from critical times. We could see in verse 38 that Jesus instructed the 11 disciples to stay and pray, while He went on a bit further to also pray. Surely the disciples saw from the Master’s countenance that He was heavily burdened, or sad, about something. The three disciples chosen to go even further with Jesus must have surely felt entrusted by Jesus to be His closest ally in this time of deep concern, yet it seems like they may have taken that trust way too lightly. But why would Jesus warn them about temptation? As in every case of Jesus’ ministry, he chose just the right opportunity/moment, or the gathering, to apply His principles in a way that would open the eyes of His hearers. Jesus saw that the disciples had let their guard down and they lost track of what was actually going on in their Master’s mind and heart at the time. Temptation is most effective based on the condition in which it finds us. If we are weak and powerless, then there’s is a greater chance for temptation to have its way with us. We know from experience that temptation overcomes just about anyone, for it impacts us all with no respect for the person weakened by sin or laziness. That’s why presidents, pastors, priests, bosses, parents and children comes too mind as being impacted by temptation, and many have fallen because of that impact. Jesus knew that He had only asked the disciples to stand by Him – support Him mentally, prayerfully and through encouragement. Obviously their take on His trust meant little to them, because they all fell asleep. God has given us the opportunity and responsibility of being His faithful servants here on earth while we’re here. I wonder how He might rate us on our faithfulness to His tasks? Have we fallen asleep because of lack of concern and/or commitment? Will He praise us as He welcomes us into His kingdom when life on earth is over, or will He scold us as He did with the disciples? We serve a loving, forgiving Father, but while He blesses us to be His witness here on earth, let’s make every effort to not fall into temptation, but instead be diligent about His work and alert for His return.

PRAYER: We are always saddened when we remember how You suffered and died for our Salvation Lord Jesus, but we are forever thankful and grateful. Thank You for the reminder in Your Word today about the importance of staying alert and ready for Your return, and in doing so, build a solid defense against temptation. It is so unfortunate that Satan tempts Your children so much, and has caused a certain amount of disgrace to Your good name. Please Lord, fill us with Your grace each day and empower us to stand strong in our Christian walk so that others will see Jesus and nothing of the weakness that we are made of. In Christ we can do all things – for Your glory. Of our own power we are very prone to temptation and misrepresenting the name of Jesus. Oh that You may rule and reign in us Lord Jesus for Your glory alone. AMEN!

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