Tag: Call on Jesus

Some Are Crying Out To God

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

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-05-22
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 3:7-9
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. 8 Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz.

APPLICATION: A child will test their parents while trying to evaluate how far they could go in disobedience before being disciplined. But isn’t that what we continue to do as adults also? While driving our highways in the US, we strongly believe that State Troopers will not bother with us if we exceed the speed limit by no more than 5mph. So we look at the established speed limit, let’s say 55mph, and then we set our cruise control at 60mph. Are we breaking the law? Absolutely, for we are exceeding the established speed limit. At work we tend to consider it ‘OK’ to snitch a few paper clips or rubber bands, without considering it to be a sin. Or, perhaps, we may never feel it to be inappropriate to clock in and wander around chatting with our friends for a half hour before seriously getting down to work. But isn’t that ‘stealing’ from our employer? I find it so interesting that God thought to document His laws and His commands in His Book – the Bible. It was not enough for us to be taught His teachings at home, in Sunday School, or while around family members. So we can also read His Word and be reminded of every command issued by God, for our good! As we consider these things today, let us not be so quick to judge the Israelites, for we are very much like them. But what do we do about this? Well, God wound up punishing the Israelites for their disobedience, and he brought a 8-year sentence on them, under the rule of a foreign king. How do you suppose God has chosen to punish us? Is it Covid? Is it the threat of a nuclear war? Is it the ‘out of control’ desire and abuse of guns in every-day fights and squabbles? Some of the most outrageous crimes are being committed today – in total disobedience to God’s commands. From killing of babies, to selling humans into slavery, to killing other humans to reap their organs for sale on the open market. Our world has truly gotten out of hand, and because of the sin that abounds, it is extremely challenging for us to live in peace anymore. But the Israelites found peace when they pleaded with God for deliverance from their sin. This same God is still available to us today, if only we will turn from our sin, humble ourselves, and pray. He can also rescue us from the miseries of this old sinful world, and deliver us to complete peace and harmony through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you are reading this devotional and have not met Jesus and accepted Him as your personal Savior, let me encourage you to read my Footnote carefully. There’s a link to a page (To Know Jesus) that I would encourage you to visit and learn more about this.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Although God was very angry with the Israelites for their sin and disregard of His orders, yet He was quick to forgive and provide a Rescuer when they asked for help! What a forgiving, loving and awesome God that we serve!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for being such an understanding Father, and forgiving us when we bow before You. In spite of the sins of the Israelites, yet You quickly provided them a way of escape and a means to live in peace. Praise God, You are still the same today as You’ve always been, so our minds are at peace in knowing to whom we belong! Please continue to bless us and provide peace to us through the ‘storms’ of life here on earth. May we always fix our eyes on You, the author and finisher of our faith! 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!

Where Could I Go But to the Lord?

On By Ed AlgreenIn God our Helper, Helper, Our Help comes from God, SecurityLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Monday, 2017-11-13
SCRIPTURE

From:

 2 Samuel 22:2-4 (TLB)

Text:

 2 “Jehovah is my rock,
My fortress and my savior.
3 I will hide in God,
Who is my rock and my refuge.
He is my shield
And my salvation,
My refuge and high tower.
Thank you, O my Savior,
For saving me from all my enemies.
4 I will call upon the Lord,
Who is worthy to be praised;
He will save me from all my enemies.
OBSERVATION:
David faced many giants in his life, but as we could see in this Scripture today, he was well aware of his source of help. He knew in advance where he would turn for help, and on whom he could depend. Knowing that our world comes crashing in on us in an instant, we must also be very mindful of where we will turn for help and peace of mind. Let’s dig in on this subject…
APPLICATION:
In reality, I believe that most of us tend to react differently when we are faced with difficulties and challenges. Some get mad, or sad, or frustrated, or hopeless and are ready to give up. Some might be reminded of how faithful God is, and eventually think of asking God to help – especially when all other hope has expired. Friends, I actually believe, and would recommend to you, that when you start feeling that things are not going as you and God had planned, that you immediately work with God to analyze your relationship with Him. For this is a specialty area of God’s, because He wants His children to call on Him at all times. I believe it is most important that we learn from David that we don’t leave communicating with God as a last resort but, especially since He is your very best Friend; your Master and Lord; your Jehovah; your soon coming King who is sovereign over all things; who loved you enough that He skipped calling on ten thousand angels to rescue Him from the cross, but died to not only show His love, but also facilitate God’s provision for us to make our way to heaven. This is the One that holds the key to all of life’s questions, dilemmas, frustrations, and heartaches. He is the one that we call on FIRST and foremost, not after we have tried every trick in our knapsack.
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, thank You for not only being our redeemer and soon coming Lord, but also our Help and our Rock in times where we would otherwise feel like ‘throwing in the towel’. Father, Your Word reminds us that it’s You who David turned to when challenged with, what must have felt like, the whole world on his shoulders. Because we often feel just like David, we want to plead with You Lord, to keep us strong in our faith and help us to take our Father/child relationship very seriously. On earth we would tend to run to dad when there is trouble brewing, please help us to do no less with You as our eternal Father. Thank You for Your love and concern for each of Your children. May that be a deciding factor for many who may read this blog today, for they all need reassurance of the fact that You love them unconditionally and would welcome them into Your fold instantly upon their request. In Jesus’ name, 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 could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

God’s Plan For You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Obedience, Obedient, Tested, The PlanLeave a comment

Tuesday, 2016-10-11

Scripture

Bible Reference: Jeremiah 29:11–14

Bible Text:  11 I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12  “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. 13–14  “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take

I believe that verse 11 above is probably one of the more popular verses used from the Bible, especially when we tend to look at how upside down our lives seem to be at times, so we grasp at every possibility of how God could rescue us and turn our lives around. We want to believe that He has good plans for us! But friends, I encourage you to look very carefully at the whole context of these verses, for they were directed at the obedient Israelites who trusted God, in spite of their strong disbelief and personal desires. God had them surrender to the Babylonians, whom they despised, but He knew that is was for reasons that would be for their long-term safety. Aren’t we the same friends?  Don’t we often go to God in a panic because it seems like we would have to surrender to the Babylonians? You know, to those things, those people, those places, those leaders that we want absolutely nothing to do with? In fact, we foresee nothing but heartaches in the way our lives, or our family, or our churches, or our city, state or country is headed, and we just know that God would rather take us out of this situation than to make these drastic changes in our lives that might include things we dislike, or that we feel are ungodly? Of course we do. In fact, some of us even get mad at God when He refuses to honor our demands of Him. Friends, let’s be reminded today that we are a chosen people, a loved people, a forgiven child because of the sacrificed blood of Jesus Christ. If He tells us to do something, don’t you know that it is for our own good, and not to harm us or to make us miserable or to disown us? I love words included in the last two sentences – First – “when you get serious about finding Me” – that tells me that God is talking about something a little more serious than us realizing there is a God when an urgent need arises. If we are serious about finding God, I believe we will want to know everything possible about Him through daily time in His Word (the Bible) each day; through talking with Him on a regular bases – that praying to Him at least daily, but often more frequently; and for spending time with other like believers to be encouraged by them or to encourage them because of God’s mighty work in your life – that’s church. Secondly – “I’ll make sure you are not disappointed” – wow, praise the name of Jesus! He will make sure that His kids receive every good and perfect gift that He has in store for us. I believe that this will be far more than we could ever think or imagine! Test Him friend, and prove His Word. I don’t believe you will be disappointed!

Prayer

Heavenly Father; Master; Savior and Friend; thank You for the assurances You give in Your Word about Your love for us and Your ultimate, long-term plan for our happiness and our future. Lord You are good and Your mercies endures forever. I love You Lord and I life my voice in awesome praise and thanksgiving for Your goodness towards me. Please be especially loving and kind to my readers today as they meditate on this devotional. May they encounter the love of our Savior in such awesome ways, that their lives will be full and running over. May this be apparent to all those they come into contact with today so that the lost might be curious and ask questions about the immeasurable love and hope that they see in them. Draw us all closer to the cross today, and as You fill us, may that overflow to the unsaved observers we will encounter – all for Your glory and Your honor. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!