Tag: Bible

Your Vote in Your Church Business Meeting

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-08-23
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 15:9-12
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”

APPLICATION: Business meeting outcomes are usually judged by the amount of opposition received when motions are placed on the floor for a vote. It seems like Pilate’s motion presented to his people was met with very stirring results, and that the people wanted something totally opposite to what the king was hoping for. Very often, in today’s church environment, the people will also side with church leaders because they feel like they have been placed in authority to do full research and come up with best solutions for a successful and flourishing church, while following the course and trajectory that would please God. But I wonder how we would act when someone, or something is ‘rocking the boat’ of our normal, cozy, church that pleases one and all. You see, in our Scripture the Pharisees were the ‘spiritual’ leaders of their cities, and generally their wishes were carried through. Pilate was their king, but notice how he really wanted to stay in line with his people’s wish. In this world, you will quickly find that to remain popular among the people, you must stay within their good graces and do those things that please them. But that’s very similar to what God has asked of us – for He wants us to obey His commands and follow His example. So I believe the challenge for each of us today is: Who’s in charge of our lives? To whom do we feel that we owe our allegiance? Who are we accountable to for our actions and decisions? Friends, if you respond something like: I’m my own boss and therefore make my own decisions; or No one jerks my chain, I am an independent thinker; or I only call God in when I don’t know how to resolve an issue; or I usually go along with the crowd; then I would humbly suggest that you try seeking God each and every day. As You draw closer to Him, and as you read His Word, He will be your daily guide in all of life’s decisions. If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then Jesus wants you to look like Him; act like Him; make decisions that are representative of Him and bears His approval. If you have opted to live life without Christ, then you may wind up pleasing the crowd and, together, make decisions that are aligned with the evil, deceit, hatred, revenge and disgust of the world while disappointing the Creator of this world, our Lord. Pilate is asking – what will you do with the Jesus who loves you, cares for you and has prepared a wonderful place for you in heaven? What’s your response dear friend?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Blessings are in store for those who love Jesus Christ and will make decisions that promote His earthly power. Be ready today to respond to such questions as posed by Pilate to his people.

PRAYER: Lord, although we hardly ever hear the words ‘Crucify Him’ anymore, we are often asked to partake in making decisions that result in You being ‘crucified’, or excluded from spiritual decisions, or destroying the life of one who calls you ‘Lord’. Please teach us every day to love like You love us; to have a heart for the lost, like You had for us; and to always be unsettled and unhappy about having friends who are lost and headed to Hell. Lord, we want to be just like You, but we need Your daily grace, power and wisdom to do so. We must learn to seek You for all decisions that we make, so that You may be glorified through all decisions that we make. Please touch the lives of all those who need You today. May this be a day of decision for them. 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!

Your Monument

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

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-08-22
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 4:20-24
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. 21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

APPLICATION: While on business in Belize at one time, we needed to travel from Belize city to another town, but we learned that the roads were flooded. The work-around was that a flat barge had been put in place to take cars and passengers from one side of a river to the other, where they could continue on an alternate route to the other area of Belize. Fortunately, our taxi was able to drive to a point, drive onto the barge, and there were men that pulled the barge across the river along a tight cable. We were under no real pressure to make our trip, but imagine over a million Israelites arriving at the Red Sea with a strong, mean, large army approaching them from behind. They needed a miracle, and they needed it fast. So God mirculaously stopped the flow of water coming down the river, so His people could walk safely across on dry land. Once the pursuing army started their journey across the dry bed, God released the water so that His people would be free of the battle that was sure to ensue. Again at the Jordan River, Joshua faced the challenge of getting the Israelite across a body of water. While experience was on his side, I’m sure he was on the edge of his seat when he ordered the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to enter the water. However, sure to form, God brought them to this point, and He wasn’t about to let them down, so He immediately created a huge dam with just one word. For the water flow stopped, and the remaining water exited through its normal flow. Leaving a dry river bed. What would have been your immediate reaction after placing your feet on high ground on the other side of the river? You watched with your own eyes as God acted miraculously in order to accommodate your safety. What if your church saw this kind of miracle, what type service would they have next? I’m sure that Joshua considered many of the things you thought of, but I am touched by his desire to see an ongoing memorial of this awesome event. Can you hear one of the Israelites explaining that to their teenager 10 years later? In the following verses (chapter 5) we read where other nations as far always as the coast were shaking in their boots at the thought of this great army of God heading their way. They knew that if God did it before, He could do it again. For us, we should repeat that previous sentence several times each day, for our God is still alive and He could repeat the same powerful miracles for us! Lord knows we need it just as badly as the Israelites needed it! Let me suggest that we look for ways to establish a memorial at the point where God has particularly met us at our point of need, and miraculously blessed us. It would invoke questions by those who travel by that memorial, and it would certainly create conversation for you every time you pass that way with a relative or friend. Oh that the world may know our God, and believe!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God will move mountains to bless us and provide for us. Set yourself up for sharing those blessings with others. It may be the one thing that will draw them to the God who loves us and sent His Son to save us from our sin.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I stand amazed in the presence of my all-powerful, everlasting King. You died for me so that I could be accepted in Heaven one day with the Father. Thank You for reminding me of Your power and Your wisdom in guiding Your people, the Israelites, through 40 years of various obstacles and especially for providing a way for them when there seemed to be nothing but hopelessness ahead. Lord, still today we tend to feel like they did, for we face obstacles much bigger than anything we could accomplish, or have answers for. Oh that we will learn to lean on the history of all that You have done, all that You continue to do in our midst, and the unlimited power that You have to do even more. As we are encouraged today in Your Word, may we now go out and share that encouragement with others who need You. May Your kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven. 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!

Nothing Too Big For Our God

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

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-08-21
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 3:14-17
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 14-16 …. The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap—a long way off—at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.
17 And there they stood; those priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant stood firmly planted on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. Finally the whole nation was across the Jordan, and not one wet foot.

APPLICATION: Many stories come to mind as I am reminded of individuals who approached Jesus with situations that seemed ‘impossible’ to every one around them:
– -> A man crippled from birth – he wanted to walk like everyone else, but doctors, family and friends knew that there was no earthly way that could happen;
– -> A child whose sickness led to her death – her dad (Jairus) searched for Jesus when all earthly efforts proved empty;
– -> Over 1 million people faced a crossroads of either continuing to suffer in slavery, or listening to God’s messengers (Moses and Aaron) to follow them – through the Wilderness, with God as their provider of all necessary provisions;
– -> The Israelites stood at a further crossroads in life when Pharaoh’s army was right on their heels, and the Red Sea ahead of them. BUT God provided a miraculous way for them, even when there appeared to be no way; and
– -> In today’s testimony of our miraculous King, the Israelites followed the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant right up to the overflowing Red Sea, hoping that God would provide a way – another miracle?
These are exciting stories to read, but are they fairytales, or are we to think that this same God of Bible miracles is the same God that we serve today? For we awake each morning with increased challenges to our faith and wonder if Jesus will return today, or will He perform yet another miracle for our family/friends/loved ones? Some reading or listening to this devotional today may have awoken to news of yet another family member stricken by cancer, or Covid; Some may have loved ones in Haiti where increasing numbers are reported dead every day from the recent earthquake; Some may have loved ones trying to get out of Afghanistan, but from the scenes shown on the news each day, you just don’t know if they will survive the mobs fighting for their life. So like the Israelites, we also stand at a crossroads about what today may bring. Will God heal our loved ones? Is God in control, even in a distant land like Haiti or Afghanistan? Can God truly do what is impossible in the eyes of mankind? Friends, let me encourage you today to look at the faith, and the outcomes, of my above examples: God provided direction, food, water and protection for the Israelites; The crippled man took up his bed and walked, when commanded to do so by Jesus; In spite of the crowd jeering at Jesus when He said the child was just asleep, yet at the command of Jesus, the daughter of Jairus stood up and greeted her father; And, because of their faith and at the instruction of the Master, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground without any threat of drowning. But to apply this to our purpose today, let me ask you where is your faith? Have you recently petitioned the Father for anything that seems impossible to man? Through your eyes of faith, are you able to see beyond the realm of man’s knowledge and expertise, and instead look into the eyes of Jesus who specializes in things thought impossible by man? There is hope my friend! You may be looking at situations that seem impossible in every sense of man’s abilities, but God may be waiting for you to look through eyes of faith and ask Him to intervene on your behalf. If you haven’t done that yet, may I encourage you to never give up on the power, strength and abilities of our Father, for NOTHING is impossible with God!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our Father will create a path where they seems to be no way. He can respond to situations thought to be impossible to man. Have faith!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, if there ever was a time that we needed You, it’s now. Life itself seems out of control as we sit helpless as family members contract dreaded diseases for which there may not be a cure. In fact, there are so many uncertainties that we often stand in a quandary about what tomorrow will bring. I pray that all who read or listen to this devotional will take time to examine their own heart and, through a test of their faith, be willing to seek the face of the only One who has answers to, or can do anything about, current circumstances. Lord I thank You for reminding us of the awesome God that we serve. May our faith be strengthened and, as we are tested, learn to look into the eyes of the only One who can do what others feel is impossible. What an awesome God that we serve! Thank You Jesus for hearing our cry, seeing our desperation and be willing to extend Your power once again in our desperate moments. 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 Source of Our Joy

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-08-20
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:17; 20
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 17 When the seventy missionaries returned to Jesus, they were ecstatic with joy, telling him, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we commanded them in your name!”
20 …. your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.”

APPLICATION: Jesus called 70 missionaries to go and evangelize their community. Based on what they told Jesus brought them joy, I wonder what they must have shared with their audiences that they ministered to? The response given by Jesus to these missionaries on their return caused me to look inward and evaluate what truly blesses my heart when I share Christ. For you see, I believe that we all tend to look way too much at self-promotion, self-praise and self-gratification. Imagine visiting a sick church member in the hospital, and your biggest praise item, as a lay person, about the visit revolved around a family member asking if you were the pastor? Of course it caused your head to ‘swell’ and you stood in awe about how important you must have appeared to them, but imagine telling Jesus about your visit. Based on our Scripture today, might Jesus ask if we shared the story of His sacrificial love with the sick person and their relatives? Or perhaps He may ask if we were sure to share our personal testimony of how Jesus rescued us from the deep sin sickness of this world and gave us a brand new life to serve Him faithfully for as long as we remain on earth? Friends, I believe that as we persistently study God’s Word, we will discern how God is constantly seeking to draw us closer to Himself, so that we may serve Him and show forth His love in every aspect of our lives. When He rescued us from our sinful state, and brought us into the light of His glorious power and might, was it because of anything we deserved? So when we talk to others about the joy inside of us, should we share about anything we brought on? Or should we instead talk about the wondrous, sacrificial, limitless, unconditional love of Jesus, who saw us where we were, and brought us into His marvelous presence, so that others will see the purity of Christ, and not the failures of sinful man? Friends, we have nothing to personally brag about that would save a person from the pit of Hell, unless we brag about the Christ who died so that we might be saved from our sin and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. As Christians, we should be seeking our strength in Jesus, so that we might share the source of our strength with others who are weak. We should find our joy in the One who promised us life eternally in Heaven! We have something to share with those who are down and out, and without any joy. The unsaved may look at us as coequal, and so they should, but we can always share with them the source of our hope and the everlasting promise of heaven, because of Jesus. You see, it’s all about Jesus – not us.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We have a joy to share with unbelievers – it’s Jesus! He saved us, He helps us maintain a happy balance each day in the strength of our Master, and He has a home prepared for us when we say goodbye to this world!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for saving my soul. May the joy that I find in You, Lord, be very evident to unbelievers and may I always make it clear to them the Source of that joy. You are the Rock of every believer, may we freely share the eternal source of our strength with those who desperately want restitution from their troubled lives. You’re all we need precious Lord. Please direct us each and every day to the foot of the cross where we may surrender ourselves in return for life eternally in heaven with You. Please touch lives today oh 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!

Instructions For The Called

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

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-08-19
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:2-3
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 2 These were his instructions….: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.

APPLICATION: There are some specific instructions that Jesus gave to the 70 that He called to join Him in ministry. For those readers and listeners who accepted the call of Jesus on your life, I believe that He has also passed these instructions on to us. Think on these things and ask God’s guidance, strength and guidance on you as you seek to implement these:
– -> Accept the call – Jesus called approximately 70 additional disciples to go on mission with Him. They had to accept His call, and I pray that each reader/listener will do the same;
– -> Pray – I found it very interesting that one of the first things instructed by Jesus was that His newly called disciples would ‘pray’ for additional workers. I am reminded that Jesus knew the importance of communion with Him (prayer), because that’s where our strength comes from. Jesus also knew that although He would be sending out 6 times the number of disciples, the needs out in the world far exceeded what these additional men could cover. Today it seems like fewer and fewer are accepting the call to missions, or evangelism so of course we must begin to pray the moment that we are called into the Kingdom of heaven, for more workers;
– -> Go – It seems like Jesus sent these disciples both cautiously as well as fully prepared. Imagine being sent into a community of unsaved, evil, criminally-minded people without any warning? It seems like the evil ones try every trick in the book to devour those who come to their rescue, or trying to help them. But notice that Jesus warned the disciples to avoid being just like the evil folk that they would minister to. In fact He told them to be just the opposite – like lambs, even though their audience will be quick to show them how they favor devouring wolves;
In the very last instruction, you might question why believers/disciples may agree to ‘go’ even under such conditions as described by Jesus. I believe we will agree to go when we acknowledge love for our brothers and sisters – regardless of their beliefs, their criminal records, or their attitudes towards God. We will also be reminded of the real love that Jesus has for us, as we see Him preparing an army of evangelists to go out and bless the unsaved.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus loves all the children of the world! That’s not just a cute children’s chorus, but we are reminded that Jesus called 6 times the number of disciples to pray for more disciples to go out and reach the unsaved. I believe that still today Jesus will call an army to make sure that we are loved and cared for!

PRAYER: Thanks for the reminder that we were not saved to sit and sour, but called to join Your team of disciples who will pray for more disciples, while going on mission to reach the unsaved in our communities and throughout the world. Thank You Lord for that kind of love. Just as You spoke of faith to move mountains, I believe You are assuring us today that You stand ready to call an army of believers/disciples to reach the unsaved and reenergize the saved. I am reminded of Your great love for Your children dear Lord. Thank You! Now bless us as we go out in Your name and for Your kingdom. 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!

Be Calm and Pay Attention

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

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-08-18
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 46:10-11
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 10 Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth. 11 Here he stands! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! …

APPLICATION: Do you suppose that God created us in His image, loved us unconditionally, provided the means for us to move from this old sinful world into the glories of heaven, yet He places us here on earth to endure sorrow, hardships, loss of loved ones, and pain that often seems too hard to bear? What if you add into the mix of those thoughts, the idea that God gave us free will, or options/choices, that we could make on our own? I believe we could then see how we would might often divert from God’s ordeals, and meander down a path that becomes very slippery, muddy, or clouded with doubt, unbelief, selfishness, greed, etc. At some point we will look around and realize that we have taken ourselves down a road that led us into doubt, financial failure and hatred to our fellow man. Often we will then question why God allowed us to get like that, and we may even question whether God still truly loves us. But friends, I hope that we could today catch a glimpse of the loving and caring God that we serve. As we commit ourselves to Him, and as we allow Him to guide and direct us, we will see that He is indeed working all things out for our good. I believe that God is encouraging us today, through His Word, to keep our eyes fixed on Him. Not the circumstances around us, for He has everything under control! Satan is the master of confusion and responsible for distracting us from the path that leads to God. Satan knows that our minds are made to doubt and look at the worst possible outcome, so when we see young dads losing an unexpected bout to Covid, and we hear of relatives who are struggling for dear life as they fight off the pain and discomfort of this dreaded disease, we then begin to question if God is still there and allowing so much bad to come to His chosen children. But I believe that God is calming the waters around us and saying: ‘Just trust me dear child. I never promised you a set number of years. I endured heartache and hatred and was punished by children that I made and loved, so surely you will also face challenges while here on this old sinful earth as you follow in my footsteps. But stand still my child, for nothing is occurring that I am unaware of. I am still in control and will cause all things to work for good, to those who trust in Me. Yes, stand still, and just watch as things unfold before you. In the end, you will see what I was up to. In the meantime, be still and worship me anyways, knowing full well that I am God and I will always do those things that you expect of God’. My works and my message is signed in blood – the blood of my precious and perfect Son, Jesus.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Regardless of our anxious minds and our questions of all that occurs around us, we still serve a God of love, peace and joy. He has our best interest at heart, and He will be glorified through every work that He ordains.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is so natural to respond like the world expects – panicked, frustrated, hateful, revengeful, etc. Thank you for reminding my readers, listeners and I that You are still in control, even in a world that seems to be so out of control. There are times that as mere humans, we are ready to throw our hands up, as we just can’t imagine the world continuing in its present state. This seems like an anxious spirit of which You are guarding us against in Your Word today. Thank You for the reassurance that You are always in charge of our lives, and of everything that occurs around us, so there is no need to become anxious or fearful or troubled. Praise be to our God on high, ‘You’ve got this’, and we can calmly relax and be happy in the 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!

Taken God For Granted?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Thank You Jesus, Thankful, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-08-17
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Deuteronomy 32:3-6
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! 4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!
5 “But they have acted corruptly toward him; when they act so perversely,
are they really his children? They are a deceitful and twisted generation.
6 Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Isn’t he your Father who created you? Has he not made you and established you?

APPLICATION: Although it might be extremely challenging for us to admit that we are just as ungrateful as the Israelites were, I believe that we should always look for ways to show appreciation to our Master. Here are some ways that I believe will help us to show our appreciation to our faithful God:
– -> Speak to Him at least daily – prayer;
– -> Listen to Him at least daily – Bible reading;
– -> Obey His commandments – not just the 10 given in the Old Testaments, but all the comands given by God for our good;
– -> Love God – you know how to show love to your parents, siblings, spouse, children and others, so show love to the God who created you and watches over you each and every day;
– -> Love your neighbor – Love God and love your neighbor are listed as the two most important commandments, and around which all the others are built. Your neighbor is someone that you cross paths with who has a need. Love them, by meeting their need;
– -> Worship the Lord your God – For those whom you love, respect and adore, you tend to worship. Make it dileberate to worship God, personally. You don’t need church services to worship God. In fact, if you worship God personally on a regular basis, you will be more apt to join other believers in worshipping God corporately. God is looking for our worship, not just the worship by other believers who may be near you;
– -> Obedience and unselfishness – Ask God to teach you to do the things that please Him most. We tend to always default to the things that come easy to us and that makes us feel good about ourselves. In showing appreciation to God, you should take your eyes off self, and look for ways to please and honor God. Remember, God knows your heart and He knows your very thoughts, so you fool yourself when you think you could fool God. Be honest with Him and give Him your heart;
We could never ‘repay’ God for all that He has done for us, but we can show our appreciation for all that He has done, and continues to do in blessing us every day! Please strive to never take for granted the God who gave up His only Son for your eternal benefit. He is worthy of our everlasting praise and honor!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Show appreciation to God for His unending blessings towards us!

PRAYER: Lord, I am thankful that You are so gracious to us, even though our praise in return may appear weak and almost non-existent at times. Thank You Lord for all Your mercies and for all that You have done for us. Please forgive us for our ungratefulness and, make us ever so aware of your goodness. Thank You for Jesus and thank You for eternal life, that is only possible because of Jesus. You blessed the Israelites and we tend to jump on their case for being so ungrateful, but Lord, I need to ask You to touch our hearts so that we would never be found guilty of being ungrateful. You are our King, and we adore You Lord Jesus. Please forgive us of our sins and fill us with grateful hearts to always praise and worship You oh Savior divine. 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!

With All Confidence, Trust Jesus

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-08-16
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 14:13-15
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”

APPLICATION: The disciples on the lake late one night in boisterous waters gained confidence in the Lord when they saw Him walking on water, and then He calmed the rough waters. They knew His power, because they watched as many miracles were performed in their presence. But seeing first-hand what He was capable of, and how He saved their lives, they grew to be way more confident in His almighty, awesome, power. Jairus had a similar experience when He leaped outside of his Jewish faith and asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter. By the time Jesus arrived at the home of Jairus the child had ‘died’, at least in the eyes of the family and friends present. But Jairus watched as Jesus took his daughter by the hand and helped her to a position of the living! His faith in the miracle-working Jesus jumped to a whole new level that day, for his child who once was dead, stood before him in perfect health! Jairus knew that it was only Jesus, who could raise the dead. In our story today we are reminded of the awesome power of Jesus Christ. For only He could tell His disciples what to expect in actions and words, and with such precision. Can you imagine their expressions as they saw everything coming to pass just as He said? But for us, dear friends, we have a lot of proof available to us in the Word of God, that this same God we serve, is the same One who spoke this world into existence. The same God who created you and I. The same God who told us in His Word that that ‘if we humble ourselves, seek His face, and pray, then He would heal our land and forgive our sins’. With the confidence that this message brings us today, is there anything too big for our God? Can Covid stump Him or challenge Him beyond His ability to heal us, and our land? Many of our loved ones are struggling today, and that may also include many of my readers and listeners. Please go out in faith today, knowing that there is nothing too big for our God. Nothing is impossible for Him. But let me be quick to remind you also, that God told us in His Word, that He has not promised us tomorrow. Be ready for His return and/or your in-person meeting with Him today, for it’s up to God alone when He decides to call you home. It may not be Covid, and it may not be any known health issue you are dealing with, our God holds the key to your life. Be ready to meet Him today. Tomorrow will take care of itself, if you’re around to enjoy it here on earth. If not here, then there is no greater joy than being in the presence of Jesus!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our God sees and knows all things. I must trust Him with all my heart, soul and mind, God being my helper!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You know what we need and when we need it. This word was so encouraging today, because everywhere we look, it seems like everything is out of control and meeting with disaster after disaster. But praise be to God, You have reminded us in Your Word that You know exactly what’s ahead, and what’s around the corner. I have no doubt that You knew about Covid long before it ever surfaced to humans, and I know without a doubt that regardless of man’s attempts to find good medical solutions to save us, You are still the same miracle working God who created us, and You have made Yourself available to u,s even today. Lord, may Your will be doing and may Your kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven. 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!

He’s My Rock, Especially in Time of Trouble

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

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-08-15
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 46:1-3
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble – more than enough and always available whenever I need you. 2 So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away. We will not fear even when the earth quakes and shakes, moving mountains and casting them into the sea. 3 For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in you.

APPLICATION: My wife and I have a relative who has been in hospital about two months, most of that time being on a ventilator. Not only was his family prohibited from visiting with him, but they are facing mortgage and automobile payments, plus mounting utility bills, while their primary bread winner lies incapacitated and without his usual income. Understandably they are questioning what will they do? In my Old Testament Scripture today, the Israelites were facing a ‘giant’ as they stood ready to cross the Jordan River to take up new residence in their Promised Land. Not only were they facing huge armies, but they have just been notified that their leadership is also changing. No doubt they also had many questions about ‘what will they do’? Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and after facing many personal challenging situations, David wrote the Psalm we are meditating on today. You see, David knew that like him, his ancestors and his descendants have either faced, or will face, extreme circumstances where they could only look upward and acknowledge before God that they have no answers or insight into what they should now do. Friends, our world leaders today are right at that same place in pondering ‘what will they do’? For the man-made vaccine they produced to prevent the spread of this disease, has merely slowed down the impact, but even to vaccinated individuals are forced into already filled hospitals because they are about to die from the impact of this disease. Hospital beds would have to be emptied by dying children, before additional infected children could be admitted, according to one US State official. Have we not reached the same dilemma, the same ‘giants’ as the Israelites, and as David faced? I believe that God knew all about the challenges we would face that we would have no truly known cures for, so He had David share these encouraging words with us: ‘You, oh God, are a proven and safe place for us to turn to in these troublesome times where we have no real proven man-made answers. Because of all that You have already proven to us throughout Your Word, we know without a doubt that You are a proven source of help for those who have placed their faith and trust in You. Our mountains of faith are shaking, and the earthquakes of failed attempts by doctors and others are making us question each day ‘what else is coming that will be worse than we have today?’ You alone are God, the One who created this world and each of us that run around in it. You know the ones who have thrown their hands up and conceded to the defeat of crime, dreaded diseases, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. So I believe that the rest is up to us, we must now look to You more than ever before to take our hand and lead us through these rough waters, these troublesome times and these circumstances that we seem to have no real worry-free answers for.’ I’m Yours Lord, please take my readers/listeners and I by the hand and lead us through, while easing our minds to all that’s going on around us.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus is more than enough to satisfy our needs and our ailments, and He is available at all times – even though hospitals may be filled and doctor’s offices closed!

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, we stand very flustered and almost worried about the outcome of family and friends who are fighting for their lives because of Covid. We often shelter ourselves from the world, because we know that there is nothing else this world’s doctors and hospitals could do. But then we read the words You inspired David to share with us, and we are reminded that there is One greater than all our diseases and worries. You designed and created these human bodies. You know what impacts our bodies, and you stand ready to help us fend off diseases or anything else that might cause us grief. Lord, I just want to say thank You for accepting my plea to know You and to draw close to You. Because of that, I can freely look to You for EVERYTHING in life. Please calm our fears and protect us from the evil one and any diseases that may threaten us. May this serious time in our lives serve to draw us closer to You and depend fully on You for every phase of life. We are anxious to enjoy all the blessings of heaven that You have prepared for us, but we would really like to stay here as long as You desire, so that our lives might influence the unsaved. Please be our comfort and stay while every day ministering to the needs and challenges of this world. 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!

Choose Life!

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

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-08-14
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Deuteronomy 30:19-20
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long….

APPLICATION: Some may take my subject for today’s devotional as a pro-life theme, while others may ask ‘who wouldn’t want to choose life over death?’ But I would encourage you to look beyond your assumptions today and consider the message that Moses gave to his people. He not only gave them the choice of life over death, but he clearly showed them what they needed to do in order to have life, and have life more abundantly. Since these things still apply to us today, I believe that it is worth our while to spend some time to understand them and to seek ways that we might apply them in our lives:
——> Loving the Lord – In other Scriptures, Jesus admonishes us that if we love Him: We will serve Him; We will worship Him; We will tell others about Him; We will desire to be with Him. These words are not strange to us, for our spouse will frequently tell us that if we love them, we would…. You see, there is always evidence of our love for God, and for each other. So love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and all these things will be given to you!
——> Obeying the Lord – To disobey your God, your spouse, your boss or your friend, shows that you have no respect for them or their authority over you. To obey what they ask or tell you to do, shows that you love, respect and honor them, so you will do whatever they ask. So show you love for the Lord by obeying His commands!
——> Committing yourself firmly to the Lord – To whom do you belong? If it’s God, then firmly commit to Him in every aspect of life. I don’t know that it’s possible to say that you love the Lord and you obey the Lord, but you have not fully committed your life to Him. Show me an uncommitted ‘Christian’ and I believe you will show someone who follows Jesus when it is convenient, otherwise it’s all about him or herself. I always got a kick out of politicians who showed up at community groups right before election time. At other times of the year they were no where to be found. They showed up when they needed the people, not when the people really needed them to serve!
Moses told his people, and I believe the Scripture supports a very similar promise for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ – do these things and you are choosing life eternal – in heaven. Continue your selfish desires and ignore the commands of Jesus, and you will receive your heart’s desire – curses and damnation in a place especially designed for folk like you – Hell. Just as Moses did in our Scripture, let me repeat the same plea ‘Choose life’ my dear friends!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We can escape the damnation of eternity in Hell, by loving the Lord our God, obeying Him, and committing ourselves firmly to Him. By doing these things we are promised eternity in heaven with the Father and His precious Son!

PRAYER: Thank You precious Lord for calling me to Yourself many years ago, and for granting me peace to obediently follow You today and every day until You call me home to glory. Please touch the hearts of each reader/listener with Your Word today and may every word shared by Your faithful servant be acceptable in Your sight and in the hearts of every reader or listener. May we enjoy Your blessings today and every day, until You call us home for even more intimacy with You and the Father. Please draw the unbeliever to You very powerfully today, as this may very well be the last day we have here on earth. 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!