Tips To Help You Avoid Trouble in Your Lives

On 2020-08-24 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2020-08-24
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹¹Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. ¹²We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. ¹³As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

OBSERVATION: It is often said that when we find instructions repeated in the Bible, that we should pay close attention to the instructions. In Galatians 6:9 Paul warned that fellow Christians should not tire of doing good. As you can see in verse 13 above, he repeated these instructions for the Thessalonian church. Let’s carefully examine what prompted Paul to give the above instructions, and try to understand why God would have us apply these instructions today.

APPLICATION: I’m not sure how many of you walk into your churches and assume that everything is ‘honkey dorey’ (I hope that others use that terminology at times also!!!), meaning that trouble may exist in the church down the road, but you are very sure that everyone adores your pastor and leadership, and they love their brothers and sisters in your church just as if you were already in heaven! Friends, I would encourage you to pray hard that you are correct in your wishful thinking, and I would suggest that you warn your friends to stay away, because you surely don’t want anyone else coming there to disrupt that love and good order! Unfortunately I have seen disharmony in my family at times; among my friends frequently; backbiting against the pastor and also his leadership team; and members walking away from the church because of being hurt by another member. No, I have not looked for such churches, but this occurs in most places where people, like you and I, work, worship, socialize, or just hang out. And this is not new, for these verses we are studying is just a clip of the letter Paul wrote to his membership who were dealing with trouble in their midst. It is very unfortunate that after all these years we have still not learned from these things that Paul taught under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for churches are still splitting, arguing over trivial things, and even dying because of internal challenges. Paul and his missionary teams always sought to support themselves financially while working with the churches he helped to start and maintain. So his first piece of advice in these verses is that brothers and sisters should keep themselves busy in supporting themselves, as this will give them a reason to arise each morning and keep their minds busy, instead of finding it their job to meddle in the affairs of others. I believe this also goes a long ways in helping to prevent them from criticizing others for their efforts, as they will see for themselves that they can’t do the same job as well as the incumbent, so there’s no need to criticize them. I’ve heard others say repeatedly ‘I don’t envy that person for the job they are trying to do, because I’ve been there and tried to do it myself’. Furthermore, Jesus Christ demonstrated love for us even while we were unlovable and full of sin, because He was crucified so that we might seek forgiveness of our sin and live eternally in heaven. If Jesus Christ has such love for us, why don’t we, as His representatives here on earth, seek to love others and pray for the job they are trying to do for the Kingdom? I believe they will improve their on-the-job performance knowing that God is pouring out His blessings because of our prayers! But as we look at ‘doing good’ – let us pray for one another; love one another, even if the other person is unlovable; lift up one another; volunteer to help each other, for that shows your love in tangible ways. As Paul said ‘NEVER TIRE OF DOING GOOD’ my Brother and Sister in the Lord, for this will help eliminate a ton of trouble in your lives, and help you demonstrate what it is like to be a child of the King!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for ‘setting the bar’ in doing good for each of your children here on earth, in spite of whether we deserved it or not. Our aim while here is to be more like You, and to represent You well among fellow Christians, and especially when trying to show unbelievers that we care, and love them. May we always be busy about Your work, and may our lives be influenced in every way by all that You taught us personally, and through your servant, Paul. May we allow You to help us build the mindset of helping and loving others, and never tire of doing good, so that You may be glorified through Your precious children! 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!

Enjoying Evil vs Believing Truth?

On 2020-08-23 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evil, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Truth, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2020-08-22
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. ¹⁰He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. ¹¹So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. ¹²Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

OBSERVATION: Tell me who would say no to a good party? Is that not a common theme when one is planning a party? Of course it is, because we all love to have fun – both Christians and non-Christians. So we must be careful how we interpret what Paul is telling the Thessalonian church today through our above Scripture. Please examine Paul’s words closely, because we can’t afford to miss the point. I believe that today we must have more ‘evil’ going on than anytime in past history. Stick with me as we consider God’s Word for the hour!

APPLICATION: I could bore you with examples of what I consider ‘evil’, but I believe the best place for you to see first hand what Paul might be referencing, is to Sit and listen to the evening news. Like me, I’m sure that you will stop and wonder ‘what could possibly be next’, for it is sad to hear of the evil occurring in each reader’s country that you would never have thought possible. Now, let’s hone in closer to what Paul was dealing with, for your see, he wrote this letter to the church. Yes, God’s people – those who are called by His name. I am convinced that God wanted this included in His Word for the church of today, because He was sure that this same type of behavior would still be prevalent in your church and mine. I know you might be shocked, but please recognize that everyone that walks through our church doors are not Truth followers. Therefore, their minds are not fixed on Jesus and their hearts are not filled with the Word of God. However, I believe that instead of pointing fingers, it would be best that we devote our time to recognizing our own strengths and weaknesses, and to acknowledge if we might be considered by God as loving His Word, accepting His Word, and obedient to His Word. If we are unable to affirm a definite ‘yes’ to each of these things, then I would dare say that we are probably easily swayed by the things of this world, and therefore respond to challenges based on what we have learned from the world. Paul referred to these folk as: being fooled into the way of destruction (the way of Hell); easily deceived; believe lies and will be condemned, because they are ignoring the Truth/the Word/the Bible. It is easy to see dear friends, that God gave us His Book of Instruction to be our guide through life. It teaches us the wonderful laws of life that He has set out just for us, so that we might be like Him and show Him off to a lost world. If we ignore that Book, then we are saying ‘yes’ to Satan and following his evil practices. Also, without the Truth embedded deep into our souls, we will listen to, and be swayed by, any false teachers that find their way into our churches. And friends, this is where church struggles really take root. Let’s do our part child of God! If you know Jesus Christ as Lord, then follow Him, obey His Word, and practice the Truth, as taught to us through the Scriptures. This will allow Jesus to shine through us, and keep evil practices out.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we could find lots of excuses why we sin, why we are disobedient, why we don’t prioritize Your Word in our lives, and why we do like everyone else around us in following the evil one. But You know us better than we know ourselves. You gave us the same number of hours as everyone else, so we allocate those hours for the desires of our heart. Dear Lord, please teach us, Your children who are called by Your name, to prioritize our time with You, so that our hearts might become like Your heart, so that our lives might look more like Your life demonstrated in so many ways while here on earth. Please draw us close to You, Lord. We want to see You, and we want our lives to be so filled with You that we will immediately identify false teachers, and those who try to win us over to the world. May we live to be more like You in every aspect of our lives, and may there be no other priority like the one we establish, with Your help, to live holy and righteous lives that look just like You, and that prepares us to fight off the evil one when he comes knocking. People need You, Lord, so may they not be distracted by anything in our lives that may create doubt, fear or unbelief in their minds. Oh that Your power, Your love and Your peace be at work in our hearts and in our minds every minute of every day! AMEN!

Be Thankful

On 2020-08-21 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Give thanks, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Thanksgiving, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2020-08-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ³Dear brothers, giving thanks to God for you is not only the right thing to do, but it is our duty to God because of the really wonderful way your faith has grown and because of your growing love for each other. ⁴We are happy to tell other churches about your patience and complete faith in God, in spite of all the crushing troubles and hardships you are going through.

OBSERVATION: It seems unfortunate that we tend to bash someone and find fault with everything they do, rather than concentrating on their good points and positive results. I like the way that Paul shares in these verses that it is our ‘duty’ to God. As we meditate today, let us examine where Paul may have been coming from in this statement of thanksgiving.

APPLICATION: Ever heard someone say that they may as well do a certain evil, because that’s all that friends ever notice anyway? That’s a sad statement, because it paints a picture of who we truly have become. But why exactly did Paul see such importance in this point of thanksgiving? First of all, if Paul and his co-laborers were praying for God to move in the lives of the church, and cause them to have more faith in Him, so that they may show more love towards one another, don’t you suppose that they would be overjoyed to see the results of their prayers? I believe their hearts would be overjoyed and therefore very thankful. So this makes me question whether we take time to pray for those fellow Christians who always seem to lead the pack in causing trouble in the church. Are they such trouble makers that we tend to think they are beyond God’s help? Or is it that we find a certain amount of joy in putting others down? I trust that it is not the latter. Secondly, wouldn’t it be good practice to always give thanks when we see God at work in our midst? Whether He answers our prayer and convicts the sinner, or simply reenergize the hope that lies inside of the Christian, it is always a joy to see our God at work in our midst! Thirdly, when we know that a people is down and out, burdened by something that has happened to them, we tend to know what to expect – crying; discouragement; bitterness; hopelessness; etc. However, when we recognize just the opposite in attitudes and reactions to life, we should be energized to give thanks for what must be the miracle working God at work in their midst. You see, it is very easy for us to celebrate God when everything is going better than we deserve, but it’s an even greater joy to give thanks when we see Christians celebrating in the midst of their storm, for they are proving to us the One in whom they have placed their faith, their strength and their hope, is far greater than he that is in the world. So friends, please help me as we all try to do like Paul, in giving thanks for our respective churches, no matter what they are struggling with at this time. Let’s be willing to see the hand of God at work, even if it is in unexpected ways and quite different to anything we would ever do. Praise God, He knows our heart and He blesses and provides a way for those who truly love and obey Him, regardless of what we might see wrong with the picture.

PRAYER: You saw enough good in us that You sacrificed Your one and only Son on the cross at Calvary, dear Lord, so that we might have a chance at eternal life with You in Glory. It wasn’t something we deserved, or something we achieved in order to be forgiven, but solely because of Your love for us. Thank You, thank You, thank You dear Lord for looking down on us in mercy and through Your grace. Seeing that our desire is to be just like You, I pray that You will help us to evaluate and correct our ways, especially when it comes to relationships with others. Please help us to put aside our critical spirit, and instead look at others in love. Help us to automatically love others, just like You first loved us. Oh that we may share our hearts with them in love, so that You may be glorified. AMEN!

God’s Perfect Plan for You

On 2020-08-19 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, The Plan, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2020-08-19
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁶Let joy be your continual feast.^[j] ¹⁷Make your life a prayer. ¹⁸And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.^[k]

OBSERVATION: In marriage, or really in any close relationship, it is always best to find out what the other person likes, and then do your very best to do those things to please them and enrich your relationship. That’s very much like being a child of God. We should be constantly searching for His will and for those things that ultimately please Him. We have three short verses to meditate on today that are packed with tips for us to know and follows God’s perfect plan for our lives!

APPLICATION: In almost any relationship, I’m sure there are ‘Ooops’ as we readjust our speech or our actions in order to please the other person. Marriage is always a great example of this, for you see where two people of the opposite sex are coming together, often from different cultures, sometimes from different faiths, and almost always from a different family upbringing. It’s always a challenge when one states that a certain issue was not resolved that way in their home! However, we soon learn that the things I learned, plus the things my wife learned in her upbringing, now constitutes the basis for us to decide which way we will handle things in our new life together. As Christians, we will also bring into the equation, what God’s Word says about the situation under discussion. However, God gave Paul these words to share with the church at Thessalonica, and to be of value to the church at large, until Jesus returns. So let’s pay close attention to what truly pleases God:
~ Joy – As a kid growing up in Sunday School, I learned a song: ‘I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart….’ Do you suppose this meant that I was one who went around giggling all the time after singing that song? Of course not! It meant that the believer in Christ, is filled with everything that make them happy here on earth, and gives them outstanding expectations of what they could expect in heaven. As this translation indicates, let this ‘Joy’ be your continued/ongoing feast, in your life. Let it drive who you are and what drives you through life. Being filled with, and enjoying life to the fullest, knowing whose you are, will make you one happy person whose happiness will overflow onto others every time you come into contact with them!
~ Prayer – Paul taught over and over how important prayer was to him. So from a life impacted by prayer, he is being led to direct us towards this greatest communication tool with the Father. When you’re happy – pray in thanksgiving to the One who fills you with the happiest moments imaginable. When you’re sad – pray to the only One who has all of the answers, and therefore knows why something is occurring that makes you sad. Knowing that God understands why you are uneasy, unhappy, confused, disappointed, sad, etc. means all the world to us, because we know that regardless of what we are feeling, God is in control, and He will help us through to a successful ending – life eternally with He and His Son, Jesus. That long term result helps us put perspective on the temporary things that seem so huge to us now. May we be so constant in prayer that we may be looked on as this translation puts it ‘that our lives will be a prayer’!
~ Give Thanks – Not just at Thanksgiving, and not just when everything is going according to our plan, but let us be a people who will give thanks in ALL things at ALL times. It makes a huge difference when we remind ourselves that ‘God’s got this!’ For then we could relax and give thanks for whatever the outcome might be. If it pleases God, surely it will please us!
Friends, no doubt you will conclude that only children of the most holy God will benefit from the above, through a close relationship with God. That’s true, however, if you have not yet made a decision to follow Christ, there is still time for you to change that. But don’t delay making that decision, as this very moment is the only time promised to you by God. Without Christ, you will not only endure hardships and trials here on earth, but your destiny in Hell will only worsen your thought of eternity. Meet my Jesus today dear friend, and know that peace, joy and happiness that passes all understanding today and forevermore.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, there is nothing I desire more, than to serve You faithfully the rest of my days here on earth, to impact the lives of those who have not accepted You as Lord, and to live eternally in Heaven worshiping You endlessly. Please touch the lives of those who have chosen to ignore You and Your call on their lives. Oh that they may surrender totally to the God of this universe, and the God we will face in eternity. Please touch all who will read this devotional, and may Your Holy Spirit work miraculously, so that they will surrender their all to You even today. May You be glorified in all aspects of this ministry. AMEN!

Comfort and Encourage Each Other With This

On 2020-08-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Death, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2020-08-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a mighty shout and with the soul-stirring cry of the archangel and the great trumpet-call of God. And the believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. ¹⁷Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. ¹⁸So comfort and encourage each other with this news.

OBSERVATION: While some might consider this a morbid subject, I can assure you that each of us will travel this road some day! Having just lost a friend, and seeing the awesome strength in his wife, I thought it is perfect timing that God would have this Scripture come up as part of my daily Bible reading plan, because I want us all to be as prepared for the inevitable – death of a loved one, as this dear wife has been. Prepare your hearts for the Word of God and meditate with me, dear friends.

APPLICATION: Many folk struggle to survive the loss of a loved one, especially where there was a great relationship enjoyed. In fact, we often hear of surviving spouses following in death very soon after losing their mate. But why is this? Often we live in such a manner that it may sometimes appear to a loved one that you could care less if they were there or not. But, there are many, many relationships where one partner could easily speak for the other, because they are so closely knit and their minds are so intertwined after happily living together. For the Christian, I firmly believe that the awesome God we serve, knows all about our relationships, and He knows what an awful time we will go through when we lose that favorite person in our lives. At times He prepares us for that, by providing a new baby, or grand baby as a distraction. My wife witnessed this when she lost her mom just a few short years after we got our first and only child. At other times, God might bless us with rich moments together, where the memories of that loved one will last a lifetime. He might also bless us with such assurance about what might be a very short separation, or about the relief from medical issues for the one about to leave us. Whatever the circumstances, please know that we serve a God who knows all things, both past and present. He knows what we will need to go on without a parent, friend or spouse that we have been attached to at the hips. Notice in our Scripture that God wanted Paul to encourage his church at Thessalonica, and He wanted these words penned so that we who are alive today could also benefit from them. So pay close attention to how this will all play out friends. Although we are forced to bid farewell to our loved ones here on earth, there will come a day that Jesus will return for us, and God has outlined in granular form how this will all happen. When He appears, those in the graves, who died knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior, will rise first and meet with Jesus in the heavens! Then those of us who are still alive, and have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior will then rise to meet Jesus and our loved ones who went on before us, and we will remain with the Lord forever! So God wants us to encourage each other with these words, so that sorrow will not overcome us when a loved one goes on before us, for we know that one day we will see them again, and together meet our Savior and Lord! To my readers that will happen across this blog and you have not met this Jesus of whom I have spoken, please carefully notice that you will not be in that collective meeting with Jesus – for that is reserved for those who have already said ‘YES’ to Jesus. However, as long as there is breath in your lungs, and the Master has not yet returned, you still have an open option. May I introduce you to my Lord and Savior? I went into detail in my Footnote so that you might see from Scripture how to do this. Please take time to understand the Word of God and accept Jesus as Your Lord today. Without Him, you will not hear the voice of God on that day when Jesus returns. Please, please, please, accept Jesus today!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for the reminder today that our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and sacrifice. Thank You that we can know today that should I go first, or should I remain, one day soon we will all be together around Your throne singing Your praises and glorifying You for ever and for ever! As related by the surviving spouse of my friend, What a Day that Will Be, When my Jesus I shall See, When I look Upon His Face, the One who saved me by His grace….. Come Lord Jesus, come, for Your servant awaits Your call! AMEN!

How To Live An Honorable Life

On 2020-08-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God-honoring, Honor, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2020-08-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹¹Aspire^[e] to lead a calm and peaceful life as you mind your own business^[f] and earn your living, just as we’ve taught you. ¹²By doing this you will live an honorable life, influencing others and commanding respect of even the unbelievers. Then you’ll be in need of nothing and not dependent upon others.^[g]

OBSERVATION: Probably one of the most wanted characteristics that we might want to be known for, is that we were an honorable person. Think about the opposite – disrespectful; dishonest; etc. Surely no one really wants to be remembered as the latter. Even atheists know what dishonorable looks like in the life of a believer, for they know what to expect from a Christ-like person. This is a good reminder for us today to make sure that we live an honorable life before God.

APPLICATION: Paul was very aware of the issues that prevented the Thessalonians church from excelling in its ministry to the community. Unfortunately, we also must look inward when we notice that the ministry to the unbelieving community has slowed, or has been fractured. Using the godly advice given by Paul, here are some things we should look at also as children of the King. We should individually aspire to:
~ Be calm – I know, you are not a naturally calm person, right? You may often be accused of having ADHD, or bouncing off the walls! But what generally happens in the case of the latter? Aren’t they more apt to speak before they think; Rush into action without thinking about the consequences? Versus being calm might give the impression that you have nothing to worry about because you know that God is in control. This type attitude might also show that you have no reason to jump ahead of God, for He is in control of your life and very much in charge of His church;
~ Live a peaceful life – This may have some of the above characteristics, but for the person living a peaceful life, they avoid causing trouble in the community – whether neighbors or even in the church community. Again, one can especially accomplish this when they have resigned themselves to the fact that God is in control! Often, one can only gain peace in their heart, soul and mind when they know that the God of this universe, is also the God of their lives and there’s nothing to be personally worried about;
~ Mind your own business – Trouble starts when we dip into other people’s business and try to tell them what to do. I’m not talking about good advice dear friend, but instead, referring to the times that we ignore our own issues and try to correct others. Perhaps if we spent more time minding what we do, or not do, then we might get better at it and be better off for it! Being a ‘Nosey parker’, giving unwanted advice, and pretending to be a ‘know-it-all’ will cause strife between neighbors and/or friends. We might become known as a trouble maker;
~ Earn your own living – Work for what you need or want. Others will respect a hardworking man or woman, but despise a lazy individual who waits for others to fill the gap for what they are lacking. Please don’t read into this more than it says. There are some who are disabled or otherwise handicapped, and they need government assistance. This is not the individual that Paul, or I, referred to in this point.
The rewards for doing the above is that the diligent servant will be recognized as ‘honorable’; they will influence others; and they will gain respect from everyone – even unbelievers. When this happens, unbelievers will then be open to listening to our message, for they will want to know where our strength, wisdom and help comes from. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be granted unto you. Please consider reading my Footnote and the link behind ‘To Know Jesus’, I believe it will direct you to seek Jesus and His Kingdom! Please contact me with any questions, or if I might pray with you about a need.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I want to be recognized as an honorable man who achieved such recognition because of You – the One in whom I believed, and Your Holy Spirit that resided in my life. It’s You that I want my family and friends to know of oh God, and I would ask that You always draw my attention to anything that might interfere or hinder a positive witness. Please touch the hearts of my readers who might stop long enough to consider Your Word today, and the importance of living an honorable life that represents you best. Oh Lord, be glorified in and through me today so that You might be lifted up and glorified. AMEN!

Don’t Worry, Trust God

On 2020-08-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Trust, Worry, Worry no more, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2020-08-14
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Jeremiah 17:7-8
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷“But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed.
    They know that the Lord will do what he says.
⁸They will be strong like trees planted near a stream
    that send out roots to the water.
They have nothing to fear when the days get hot.
    Their leaves are always green.
They never worry, even in a year that has no rain.
    They always produce fruit.

OBSERVATION: Upon being reminded and reassured by Scripture that those who trust in Jesus, know that He can and will do what He has promised, I believe we should perhaps ponder ‘then why do Christians worry?’. Let’s examine the awesome power of our God and then the condition of our own heart to see where the gap is that causes us not to trust Him in every circumstance of life.

APPLICATION: The story is told of a daring acrobat that walked across a tight cable that stretched across the Niagara Falls. After successfully walking across, he overheard some of his audience speaking of his abilities, especially after he announced that he would be pushing a wheelbarrow across next. This encouraged him to ask one of those bragging from the audience to voluntarily jump into the wheelbarrow that he would push across. But this was met with rejection as they became very frightened to put their life on the line. Is this what happens to Christians who brag on the power of God, and they boast on their faith in this awesome God, but are unwilling to trust wholeheartedly in God at critical times in their life? Friends, if we truly believe and trust in God, then I believe that we should trust in Him to: 1). Save us from our sin; 2). Deliver us from the evils of this world; 3). Protect us from harm by the evil one; 4). Guide us into all truth, according to His Word, every day; 5) Keep us strong, even when the world seems to be crashing in around us; 6) Calm our every fear to know that the King of all kings and Lord of all lords is in charge of every little, and big, thing around us; and 7) Give us a confident assurance that He is with us and guiding us through every situation, every day. Friends, I know this sounds like a long list, but I also know that it is not exhaustive. The bottom line is that we have every reason to trust God with every aspect of our lives, and to rest assured that He will be our ‘comfort and stay’ through this life and the next! Make a comparison to the trees mentioned in our Scripture today. You will be assured that when you plant your faith and trust deeply in the God that you adore, your strength will come from Him when life seems to be throwing more at you than you feel you could handle. Your peace will come from Him as you reassure yourself that no matter what the world around you is dealing with, you have a God who created the whole world and everything in it, so you know without a doubt that He could calm the stormy seas and the rioting and the hatred that seems rampant in our world. Your strength and reassurance will come from the Source to your roots, so there is no need to worry about who will be president of the U.S. after November, and who will be impacted by this pandemic, for you know who holds tomorrow and you know who holds your hand. Friends, we serve an awesome, all-powerful God. Just as Jeremiah demonstrated with the tree roots, we have no need to worry, for we shall reign victoriously here in earth, or better still, in heaven with Jesus as we bow and worship Him throughout eternity. For the unbeliever who will come across this devotional and may not feel adequate peace, like I’ve just described, please know that you too could have that same assurance. Surrender your life thru the forgiveness of sin offered by my Lord Jesus. The angels in heaven rejoice in heaven when a sinner is saved, and so will I. For help on this big decision, please read through my Footnote, and especially read the Scripture behind the link ‘To Know Jesus’. Feel free to contact me if I could be of help to you. God loves you my friend, and so do I!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, these are days that we need You more than ever before. A worldwide pandemic for which there has been no manmade cure yet, but oh how we rejoice that Christians worship and adore a God who can do all things, including healing of the afflicted. A critical election of world leaders awaits, such as the president of the United States. But in Your wisdom, You have assured Your children that only leaders approved by You who will lead so that Your will is accomplished, only those will be elected. So we have no reason to worry, and no reason to be caught up in the ugliness of politics, You are in control! Thank You for the reassurance You gave to Jeremiah to share with us – we need not worry, for You will accomplish Your will, for Your purpose, and to invoke praise and glory from Your people. We therefore rest in that assurance and thank You in advance for all that You will do in living up to Your Word! AMEN!

To Be Called By HIS Name

On 2020-08-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-08-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Jeremiah 14:7, 9b
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷“We know that this is our fault.
    We are now suffering because of our sins.
    Lord, do something to help us for the good of your name.
We admit that we have left you many times.
    We have sinned against you.
⁹….. Lord, you are with us.
    We are called by your name, so don’t leave us without help!”

OBSERVATION: I wonder, would it make a difference in our behavior if we were called something like Christian Ed, or Christ Child Ed, rather than hiding behind a simple ‘worldly’ name like Ed? Would such a change cause us to reflect more often on whose we are, and make us more determined to accurately reflect the One in whom we have placed our faith and trust? Jeremiah felt like his people had failed at this, and therefore prayed that God would heal his land for His own name sake, even though His people were so unworthy. Are we in similar form yet again today? How would you refer to ‘your land’ before a holy and righteous God?

APPLICATION: Given the fact that in our current times we have benefited from the Bible, and all the direction given in it through God’s commands and His Son’s example while here on earth, wouldn’t one tend to think that we would do a superior job at representing Jesus Christ than any of our ancestors managed to do? Does it frustrate you when you see Christians acting and speaking contrary to the Word of God? What if you, like Jeremiah, had been crying and praying for your family; your church; and your friends to simply live out what they were taught through the Bible and through sermons at church? Would you become extremely frustrated and reach a stage where you are about to throw in the towel when you witness their total disregard? Jeremiah was really burdened for his people who was delivered safely into the Promised Land by God, yet they continued their worship of false gods and ignored the God who rescued them from Egypt, delivered them through the Wilderness into a beautiful land filled with milk and honey. He mourned over their condition, because instead of endless worship to the God who saves, they ran from Him and instead chose to build and worship idols. Jeremiah was so troubled that he often cried over the situation. Oh that we would be burdened for our lost world as Jeremiah was. But I believe that while we may be heavily burdened over the concern for our world, and our people, our souls are refreshed when we read the words of Jeremiah in verse 9, where he reminds God that while he and his people had messed up, yet he pleaded for God to intervene for a people who were called by His name. In our current environment, whenever we hear of a preacher, pastor, priest, elder, deacon or any church official, falling into condemnation because of sin, it not only looks bad on them and their associated church, but many lose hope in the God with whom these leaders claimed that they served. Jeremiah pleaded for God to intervene for a people who were called by His name, so that His name may remain reputable and known as Truth, Hope and Love to a lost world. You see, whether we succeed in our reputation to represent God, or whether we fail miserably, God is still above all, and He never fails. That’s why it is so important that we lift up the name of Jesus in all aspects of our ministry, and allow self to diminish behind the scenes. For although we may fail at one time or another, we. Can rest assured that our God never fails to do all that He has promised. Precious ones, live to look like, and sound like, the One that you represent. Allow the world to see how great God is, not how badly you tend to fail in meeting their expectations.

PRAYER: Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all Your hands have made and all that You stand for, who am I that I should even be called by Your name? It’s all about You God, so please humble me to simply teach Your Word and live a life that exemplifies You in every way. The world needs You, and they need to see You active in the lives of those who represent You. I pray that my readers and I will never be a stumbling block in the path of one looking for the Savior. I pray instead that we may be awesome examples of You to a lost world, so that they may witness the God we love, in action in every aspect of Our lives. Be glorified today among Your people oh God, and even through those who represent You, for this is my humble plea, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. AMEN!

Seek God’s Wisdom to Live Like He Desires

On 2020-08-12 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Wisdom, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Wednesday, 2020-08-12
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Colossians 4:5-6
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers,^[b] and make it your duty^[c] to make him known. ⁶Let every word you speak be drenched with grace^[d] and tempered with truth and clarity.^[e] For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.

OBSERVATION: Often we tend to look with regret at something we said or did, but wouldn’t it be awesome to recognize the error of our ways before it comes out of our mouth? Unfortunately we tend to speak, or act, based on the content of our heart. But as we meditate today, let us pay careful attention to the Word of God on how we should walk and talk in order to reflect Christ.

APPLICATION: Don’t you tire of hearing some people apologize over and over, often for the same mistakes, hurts and cruel words that caused a rift between you in a previous encounter? Ever stopped to think about what causes such careless and hurtful things coming from the same mouth that is ready to sing God’s praises on Sunday morning? Friends, let me start by saying that I sincerely believe that we speak and act from the bounty of what our heart is filled with. If we fill our hearts with the Word of God, and we allow it to penetrate our hearts so that our hearts will be impacted by God Himself, then I believe that our lips will be filled with the grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and wisdom of the One in whom we believe, and aspire to imitate in our lives. I know, you go to church at least once per week, so having completed your religious obligation, you should be in good shape, right? Well, since a lot of people will tend to think that way, let me present you with a comparison so you could honestly answer that question for yourself: God has blessed us with 168 hours each week. Allowing for an average of 8 hours per night sleep, you are left with 112 hours. If you minus off the 1-2 hours you spend at church, that leaves you with 110 hours each week that you fill your hearts and minds with TV; Family time; Work time; Meal times; etc. When you react to a tense situation, or someone cursing at you, is it any wonder why you will respond based on something you gained during the 110 hours? If your marriage were to survive from a 1-hour per week encounter, will you have enough going your way to avoid divorce? I don’t believe these examples are any different for us than Paul knew of in his church back at Colossae, and that led him to seek God’s heart for these words. Our lesson for today is that we diligently seek God’s face, and ask for wisdom to live each day totally in line with His example, His teachings, His commands and His will. As we do this, it seems obvious that we will talk about the One with whom we are meditating on each day. In fact, I believe we will be so overfilled with God’s presence, and that His Holy Spirit would be granted such authority in our lives, that we will want the world to know about our Savior! Oh that our words will be drenched with grace – God’s wonderful grace; and may each word be tempered with God’s truth and clarity. Perhaps then, others will want to hear of the answers we might give to their many questions about our God! For the reader who will question what this is all about, and the importance of what Paul taught in our verses today, please allow me to guide you towards the One who died so that you might live eternally in heaven. Knowing Christ will cause you to draw closer to Him so that you would reflect Him in every aspect of life!

PRAYER: Thank You for Your Word Lord, and thank You for Your servant who shared His heart even from behind the bars of jail. I pray that each believer who reads this blog today will gain the same desire as Paul, to desire a church and friends that should be attracted to You enough to live like You and then to share that with everyone they come into contact with, especially unbelievers who are searching for truth, and for ’real’ Christians who live like their Master. As Your children, Lord may we always seek to look like You in every aspect of our lives, so that others will desire to know You, and that You will be glorified here on earth. AMEN!

Enough Is Enough

On 2020-08-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Sincere, Sincerity, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Monday, 2020-08-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Jeremiah 11:14-15
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁴Therefore, Jeremiah, pray no longer for this people, neither weep nor plead for them; for I will not listen to them when they are finally desperate enough to beg me for help. ¹⁵What right do my beloved people have to come anymore to my Temple? For you have been unfaithful and worshiped other gods. Can promises and sacrifices now avert your doom and give you life and joy again?

OBSERVATION: In my early years of life, I remember when my mom got tired of all the whining, she would say to us kids ‘Enough is enough, and too much is good for nothing at all’! That phrase may not make it into the smartest English professors’ new book, but I though of it this morning as I meditated on our focal verses from Jeremiah! I see a lot of parallels in what God shared with Jeremiah, compared with what all is going on around us today and I wonder how much more God will take before taking similar action to what He did with the Israelites. Meditate with me as we look deeper into this.

APPLICATION: It is unfortunate, but there is an old saying that reminds us that many people don’t look up to God until they are flat on their backs in a serious form of illness and have no other choice but to look up. You may have the same sort of friends that I have, and also like the ones that surrounded Jeremiah in his time. You know, the ones that want absolutely nothing to do with God, or His people, until there is a need in their lives. But let’s put aside our personal feelings about these friends, who still ask us to pray for them in their time of trouble. Let’s think about how God must have felt about the Israelites and how He must feel in our situations today. You see, the God who created us, saw how badly mankind was wandering away from His commands and His commandments, so He miraculously brought His Son into the world to provide a means for us to seek forgiveness of our sin; to cleanse us of our unrighteousness; and to help us see the portals of Heaven. Don’t you see that the thing that God wants most, is that His children would set aside the desires of this world and seek a close relationship with our Master more than anything else in this world? Unfortunately, we are very much like the people of Jeremiah’s day, for we ignore the wonderful grace of Jesus, and the love of our Savior who sacrificed His life for us. However, when troubles come, or unbearable pain, loss, or desperation of life is imposed, the vilest offender – the one who absolutely refused to recognize God in all aspects of life, they suddenly crave to communicate with Him and seek His help. This is why we hear so much about death-bed confessions. While God hears the prayers of forgiveness, and requests for salvation from a sinner, I believe that very much like in the case of the Israelites, He is opposed to the wheeling and dealing we may try to do when we look Him up on an as-needed basis. Because we then tend to continue our life of sin and separation. It is obvious that God was totally opposed to this with the Israelites, and I have no reason to doubt that He is just as upset with sinners today who feel like they could manipulate God. You see, God sent His Son to be our everlasting Savior throughout all of eternity. I believe God expects nothing less from us when we say with our lips that we confess our sins to Him, yet we go on living like the world. He wants us to live up to our commitment throughout eternity. Please let it really sink in: (1) He told Jeremiah not to pray for the wicked people of his time – and this is something that no person alive would want to hear, no matter what they believe, or don’t, for we all want others to pray with us about our troubles and our pain; and (2) In verse 23 of this same chapter God declared that those same wicked people would be destroyed. We have always been taught and encouraged that as long as there is life, there is hope. So we absolutely can’t imagine that while we feel like we could ask God’s people to pray for us, God might be declaring our demise – because of our stubbornness, unbelief, selfishness and determination to live life under our own terms. Friends, we serve a very strong and loving God who is full of grace and mercy, but He is also a JUST God and will do what He says. I believe His desire is that you would accept Him and know Him intimately for as long as He allows you time here on earth. Rejecting Him will lead to destruction, for He will eventually declare that ‘Enough is Enough’. May you make a well informed, choice today, that is pleasing to our God and that will last throughout eternity, for this is my sincere prayer for you.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, it is challenging for us to comprehend the love that You showed on Calvary for us, because here on earth we tend to be so selfish and we desire only things that will benefit us or our loved ones. But Lord, I pray today that You would use Your Word to speak truth into the lives of my friends and I that will impact us for eternity. Please help us to draw so close to You that Your love will flow through us, especially to those who have yet to recognize You as King. May this be a day that many will come to know You personally, and without any side distractions or urgencies that may hinder them from looking for a ‘higher being’ – a God who loves them sincerely. You are God, and besides You there is no other. Oh that we may have a personal, real and intimate relationship with You here on earth so that You may accomplish Your work even through us. Lord, we want to see You! Please bless us and use us for Your glory, while we wait for Your call to join You in Heaven! AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Bible Fellowship Church