Tag: Calvary

Recognizing the Lack of Appreciation in Our Lives

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, GratefulnessLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Monday, December 9, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) and found in Jeremiah 2:5-8

THE SCRIPTURE READS
5 This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness….
7 “And when I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled my land and corrupted the possession I had promised you. 8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I trust that this Scripture today will not be read just as a piece of history about the stubborn, ungrateful, and sinful Israelites. For I believe that God wants to remind us that not a whole lot has changed over time. I am certain that God still sees, and must be saddened by, the broken, neglected, haphazard and lackadaisical relationships with His Son, Jesus, by children – you and I, still today. It is unfortunate that this comes even after allowing us time to understand how sad this was for God, to experience this disregard with the Israelites. How heart-wrenching it was to read about the saddened heart of God when He saw how His children disregarded all the good, and the many miracles He performed to enable safe passage for them out of slavery and towards a new beginning – a thriving, abundantly producing country that God had prepared just for them. Yet God saw them turn aside from Him during their travels to, and again, in their new land. However, dear friends, it is vitally important that we examine our own hearts. Did we give God reason to jump with joy at our attitude of praise and thanksgiving this morning as we celebrated His blessings of opening our eyes one more time? Did we take time to celebrate in appreciation for His provisions, protection and guidance over past days? Or could God possibly be looking at us like He did with the Israelites, in wondering what fault we are finding with Him? Let’s be reminded that when we look for our blessings, Satan will do his best to push his evil agenda by showing us our problems and sometimes unfortunate circumstances. But let’s always remember that ‘greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world’. From a very early age, we were taught to appreciate what others do for us. Know that God is on our side, dear child of God, and He will look out for His children and love us until He returns to take us home to glory to be with Him. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and let’s be so filled with love and appreciation for our Father, that there would never be a time He may see, or feel, our ungratefulness.

PRAYER
Precious Lord, please take my hand and guide, protect and direct my path one more day, so that others may have one more opportunity to experience Your goodness. Please give me protection from the evil one, so that my heart, soul and mind would be fixed on You, and remain constant in my faith. I am saddened by the thought of You feeling slighted by Your children, but this has opened my heart to being more alert to the times when I fail to share my gratitude for all that You do for me, and also recognize how awesome are Your works in every way, every day. Please continue to bless Your people, oh God, and also speak intently to those who may become lax in their relationship with You. My unsaved loved ones need a touch from You and also those around me who may not know You as Lord. Please continue Your work in their lives and draw them to Yourself, is my humble plea today oh Lord. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Answering God’s Call: Overcoming Our Excuses

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, Excuses, Faith, Faith in Action, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, Obedience, Personal testimony, Testimony, TrustLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Sunday, December 1, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from The Living Bible (TLB) and found in Jeremiah 1:4-8

THE SCRIPTURE READS
4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
6 “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!”
7 “Don’t say that,” he replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
From a very early age, we learn how to give excuses when we don’t want to do something. But what about when God calls us to His service? I am convinced that whenever we feel the tug of God’s call on our life, we can rest assured that He has the ‘how’, ‘what’, and ‘where’ all worked out. Furthermore, let’s never forget what Jesus said in Mark 9:23 to the dad who asked Jesus to heal his child: 23 Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Friends, it seems to me that our faith is truly tested when asked to do Kingdom work, and less you shrug this off as never being asked to do anything, let me remind you that it is important to listen closely as your pastor and church leaders ask for help in various ways when you meet together to worship. Some examples might be:
** Pray for a certain family who is struggling at this time – In James 5:16, the Bible says: 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Interesting that YOU would be healed as you pray for others!
** Give to this need, or that need – You may feel like you can hardly afford to meet your own budget needs, much less giving to the needs of others. But in Luke 6:38 Jesus said: 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”
** We could use your help in…. – For people who are already stretched to the limit with their time and energy in working hard and taking care of others, these words are normally ignored when church leaders plead their case. But read about how God implores us to labor with the right attitude until He returns. Colossians 3:23-24: 23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Let’s be careful about second guessing God. Often, God will test us with things that we could easily see others doing better than us, but what sort of blessing would we receive for that referral? Does God not see or understand who He wants to do the task He is asking us to do? At one point in my younger days, I led a choir and the congregational worship at my church. It was a God thing, as I had no musical training or talent. It was God using His instrument to lead His people into times of worship and singing praises to Him. Each of you are at the same level as I am on earth, and we all have the same access to our powerful God. Please open your heart, soul and mind for His work in and through you, so that others may be drawn close to Him while you are also being blessed beyond anything you can think or imagine. We serve an awesome and all-powerful God, dear friends. Submit to Him and be blown away by His miraculous works, even through you!

PRAYER
Jeremiah immediately found an excuse why he shouldn’t be challenged outside of his comfort zone. But God knew what Jeremiah needed, and He also knew that Jeremiah was the man he wanted to accomplish His work through. Lord God, You are still the same awesome and all-powerful God that we serve today, and I’m sure that the needs are probably even more acute and plentiful today than ever before. I am also sure that You are still using Your children who are called by Your name, and have humbled themselves before You, to stand in the middle of today’s storms and challenges and allow You to minister to unbelievers, and also believers needing a touch from their Master. Please Lord, impress upon us, just as You did to Isaiah, and recorded in Isaiah 6:8 – 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Trusting God’s Plan: Reflections on Life’s Journey

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, Personal testimony, Testimony, TrustLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, November 30, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from The Living Bible (TLB) and found in Jeremiah 1:4-8

THE SCRIPTURE READS
4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
6 “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth!”
7 “Don’t say that,” he replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
Please allow me to draw your attention to verse 5, for it has become one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. Additionally, this verse is also one of the biggest challenges to those who say they are, and vote, in favor of abortion. For you see, while this verse is often quoted at times that we give credit to Almighty God for calling out one to preach the Gospel, it is also one that reminds us that although we might agree to giving ourselves every right to make decisions for ourselves, we should always be reminded that God’s ways are much higher than our ways, and His purpose is much greater than anything we could see up ahead, project for ourselves, include in our budgets or in our 5, 10, or lifetime plans. Why do you suppose He wanted this verse included in His Word to mankind? I believe He wants us to know that He not only creates life, but He also has purpose in what He does, just as He told Jeremiah. Like you, I have not heard God say audibly the purpose for which He has me here on this earth. However, I can reflect back on times where I said how glad I was to be in the right place at the right time, of how thankful I was for having made certain decisions. For I can reflect back on decisions and relocations as very inconvenient for my family, but I could now see how God had purpose in our moves, as I could now see: how ministry occurred; how my dad’s life was saved due to medical advancements at my new location; how we gained an ‘angel’ through adoption; how my wife and I were available to fill ministry positions that facilitated salvation for some; how we were able to help those who could no longer fully help themselves; etc, etc. And as long as we have breath and make ourselves available to the work of the Lord, I am convinced that He will continue to use us for His glory. But I can only brag or boast on the mighty works and plan of Almighty God, dear friends. But just as I see similarities in my life story to that of Jeremiah, I know that you are also in the same boat. Try to rid yourselves of negativity and instead, look to the God of all creation and give Him praise for how He has placed you in certain places, among certain people, and used your story and witness to help others see, experience, and desire a relationship with the Master. Obedience to Almighty God is way more important than any excuse Satan may help you drum up, and I will seek God’s help in doing a follow-up devotional to expand on this further.

PRAYER
Jeremiah wound up being a prolific write of a book in the Bible, so some may think that something grand will also occur in their life so they could know that You are at work in their story. However, I have experienced, and seen enough evidence in my life to know that You didn’t die after creating and ministering to Jeremiah, for You have been very much alive and active in my life’s story. Lord, I know that there are countless believers who could also attest to this story today in their lives also, so I ask that You specifically place this devotional in the face of those who struggle to see their purpose in life, or to recognize Your greatness in and through their life’s story. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet, yet he had a story to tell that is filled with Your goodness and power. Please, dear Lord, teach us today to develop such a close relationship with You, that we would see, know and experience Your love, protection and direction for our lives in every walk of life, and may this be a blessing to others in our circle of family and friends as we make our way through this life here on earth, causing them to seek this same God that we believe in and serve. Be glorified because of the impact Your Word has, and will continue to have, on others just like me. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Finding Meaning in Life, Beyond Vanity

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God's Will, God’s Word, HonestLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, November 27, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the Amplified Bible (AMP) and found in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

THE SCRIPTURE READS
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
3 What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)?

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
As my study took me into the book of Ecclesiastes, I found it extremely interesting how the wisest man ever lived, started off this book in announcing himself as a ‘Preacher’! This is because he had a message to tell, but yet appeared so negative about life itself in his introductory verses. However, the Holy Spirit alerted me to something that has crossed my mind several times in the past, about why we do some of the things we do. I would imagine that King Solomon thought that for a man who has it all – money, riches, wives, king of a whole kingdom, etc., why is it that even he could reflect on things that occur with, or without, him in the picture. My career was in the financial industry, and our firm often reflected on why customers would choose to bank with us, versus the competition down the street that offered the same products and services. In another example, let us take a moment to reflect on why we choose to shop at a certain place for our groceries, or other household goods. Many stores offer the same thing, but for certain reasons, we find ourselves at the same store getting the same products. Why? What makes the difference. When we were hired, our boss had multiple options on who they could, or should, hire. Have you determined why they chose to hire you? I believe that one way we could be satisfied on this is to have someone share with you what they overheard your boss saying about you behind your back. I had that satisfaction, and it gave me a renewed perspective on my boss and on my dedication to his employment. I believe that Solomon was allowing the Holy Spirit to encourage us to not look at the vain things that we may never be remembered for, like how we may have dressed, or how ladies may put on extra makeup to stand out in a crowd, or how we worked effortlessly to rise above the rest, even if it meant degrading others. Friends, God’s Word is filled with principles to guide us in being more like Him, especially in our workplace. It’s not through our preaching at work that we succeed in transforming the unbelievers. For Jesus is the only one who can bring true, godly change in a person’s life. Our job is to reflect the ways of Jesus in our everyday life, not just at church. Honesty in giving a good day’s work whether our boss is watching us, or not. Dedication to our boss in promoting him and his business above anyone one else in the marketplace. Loving our coworkers, like the Bible teaches us to love others like we love ourselves. Showing love like Jesus loved – even when coworkers, friends or family say and do things that we may not like or approve of. Be willing to speak up in love about the things you don’t feel are God-led or God-approved. Remember, it’s not your job to be God, but it is your job to act and respond like the Holy Spirit is teaching you about God. God don’t need our help in accomplishing His perfect will, because there will always be too much of the world in us, no matter how hard we strive to follow and obey God. I once lived in a home for a short while where the father would have a small devotional and prayer before breakfast, with all household members present at the table. He never preached at me, or challenged me on my words or actions, but his actions showed me what a true man of God must be like. He made a difference in my life. Do you suppose that you have made, or are making, a difference in the lives of those who encounter you? Are they seeing Jesus here on earth, or are they experiencing a hypocrite claiming to know Jesus? Let’s strive to let Jesus work out His will and purpose in our lives and never be bothered by a life of vanity where others encountered you but never saw the love and compassion of Jesus.

PRAYER
In these days of trying to outdo each other, I’m afraid that it may be easy for us to lose sight of honoring the will, design and teachings You left for us in Your Word, oh Lord. When we do this, I’m afraid that much of what we accomplish might be considered vanity, for it achieves our goal of moving ahead, but seldom aligns with Your teachings. Please forgive us Lord and grant us strength and determination to be submissive and obedient servants of yours. Please keep us faithful to the things You require of us and that You desire to do in the lives of those we cross paths with. Please have Your will and way in our lives, for Your glory. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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 being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Share/Preach What You Have Seen and Heard

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Friday, September 13, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Destin, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New International Version (NIV) IS FOUND IN Luke 24:45-48

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised….

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Ever notice that when you share someone else’s story it’s not as impactful as telling something that is near and dear to your own heart, because of your first-hand experience? In our Scripture today, Jesus share the Gospel with His disciples, but then He reminded them ‘but you are witnesses to these things’. Think about it: If you are married, like I am, then it is easy to share with someone seeking to unite in marriage; If you have been through a hurricane, like I have, then it is easy, but with a sense of urgency, to warn others that may be threatened with an oncoming hurricane; Likewise, if you have experienced the love of God – the One in whom you have placed your faith and trust, and surrendered your total lordship to Him, then you have a story to tell. I once heard an old preacher describe it as a beggar telling, and showing, another beggar where to find bread. I wonder if Satan doesn’t trip us up into believing that we must be ready to preach, or quote any and all verses in the Bible, before opening our mouths to share with someone else! In Ephesians 4:11 we are taught that some are given the gift of apostle, some teaching, some preaching, and so on. Not everyone in the church will be a preacher, otherwise there would be no skills for music or administration or otherwise. But the Bible specifically tells us that we each have been given a gift from God, and although that gift may not be evangelizing the lost, we each are prone to share our personal experiences, for it’s something that happened to us, or something that we have experienced. I was reminded of two additional things as I meditated on these verses:
1. Notice that Jesus opened the minds of the disciples so they could understand His teaching? When we go to church or Bible Study, try asking God to open your mind to what He has to teach you through His Word that day. We can walk through the doors of the church, sit in one of the comfortable seats, and although very capable of hearing and understanding, if our minds are hundreds of miles away, or wandering around the auditorium, then it may be challenging, if not impossible, to hear, understand and apply the teaching of God’s Word.
2. Jesus told His disciples what to concentrate on teaching and preaching, and I believe this holds true for His disciples, you and I, today. Repentance and forgiveness is to be the main principles of our sharing, and demonstrated through our lifestyle. Repentance is when you turn away from what you were doing, and turn to what you are taught to do through God’s Word. You were in sin, and you were living like the world, following Satan’s evil desire for your life. On surrendering to the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in your life, you accepted His gift of eternal life and you are on a road in life that leads to eternity with He and the Father in heaven. Follow His example and His teachings so that the world will know, and want to change in a similar way. Forgiveness is an acknowledgment that you are very capable of doing wrong, so don’t be so judgmental of everyone else. Be willing to forgive them, just as Christ forgave you.
Friends, we serve an awesome, loving and perfect God. Seek Him while He may be found, and allow Him to work in and through your life so that others may see, know, and also believe in the one true God.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord Jesus, please continue to open our minds to truly hear, understand and believe what You say to us through Your Word and through circumstances in our lives. We are the clay and You are the Potter. Teach us to be moldable, especially here on this earth where there are so many side currents and acts of Satan that presses upon us every day. This old world needs Jesus, I pray that as they see and experience us, there will be a huge reminder of Your goodness, Your love, Your forgiveness, and Your salvation, that they too will want to know You personally. Please teach us to seek after and obey Your will for our lives each day. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Eternal Life Promise: Isaiah 64:8-9 Prayer and Reflection

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, September 12, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Destin, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 64:8-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Still, Eternal One, You are our Father. We are just clay, and You are the potter.
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth. Don’t be so angry anymore, O Eternal; don’t always remember our wrongs. Please, look around and see that we are all Your people.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I’m not so sure that children today still fear the discipline of their parents, but there was a time when children may have feared returning home after a school teacher discipline, for they knew that there was additional discipline they could expect from their parents. As declared in verse 5, the Israelites acknowledged that they had continued in their sin for a very long time, but they came to their senses and realized that their sacrificial, forgiving and loving God was their only hope. Friends, as I read this I believe the Holy Spirit caused me to reflect on myself, my family, my church, my community and my country, for it’s difficult to turn on the evening news without hearing about the atrocious sins committed that day. It’s sad to attend church and look around at the empty seats, while later reading on Social Media about the other priorities and ways in which our friends chose to spend their Sunday. It pains us to see where their priorities were on a day that Christians choose to lift up the name of Jesus and encourage those who need a Savior. It is frightening and difficult to hear the family of a deceased loved one trying to console themselves by assuming that ‘absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’, especially when that loved one, while alive, wanted nothing to do with the Lord, or with anyone claiming Him as Lord. Friends, according to the Word of God, the day of salvation is at hand – now, today, without delay. God says in His Word that there will be a day of reckoning, and some will hear the sad words of the Master say ‘away from me, for I never knew you’. This means that the individual chose to follow their own way, as they wanted nothing to do with Jesus. Imagine how insulting that would be to the individual to hear Jesus claim them when you told Him ‘no’ all of your life. Notice in our verses today, the Israelites came to their senses – they are still alive and able to consciously make decisions to effect their present and future life situation. They pleaded with God to remember who they were and to give them what He promised. I believe that most importantly, they once again recognized who God was. When you approach those in authority over you, there is a sense of trying to honor them, please them, and place yourself into proper perspective. This often leads to you pleading your change of heart before them, for you now need them. It is so easy for us to look at the attributes of God like love, forgiveness, understanding and welcoming us home to glory. But let’s never forget that He is most importantly God – the one who knows our every action, word and thought, and because He will always honor His word, it is up to us to first recognize Him as God, and to honor Him by submitting lordship of our lives to Him, for He has awesome plans for each of us. Where do you stand dear one? When you claim Him as your God, He will claim you as His child for all eternity. If you choose otherwise, Satan is walking about like a roaring lion waiting for those without Christ. The later option leads to eternal damnation and tormenting. Don’t you get enough of that here on earth each day? Why not surrender to Jesus for eternal life with He and the Father in heaven?

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord Jesus for the promise of eternal life! Please teach us to not only plan our tomorrows here on earth, but to also secure our future in heaven with You and the Father. There is only one way, through the relationship we have with Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. Please help us to never assume relationship if we have never sought You out and accepted You as Lord of our lives. You set the path for eternal life from the very beginning of time, and You cemented that plan into the pages of Your precious Word. Just as we are reminded daily, there is no set time for our departure, so we must latch on to You today, before it is eternally too late. Please speak intently to the hearts of every reader and remind them of the decision they need to make, for salvation is not something that grows on them, or filtered into them because of their earthly behavior. Your Word is a light unto our path, may we make it a part of our daily habit so that we might be reminded of You and Your promises. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Making Godly Choices in Politics and Leadership

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, August 29, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River Resort, Fentress, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 62:2-3

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Jerusalem, the nations of the world will witness your righteousness, the most powerful world leaders will see your brilliance, And you will be called something new, something brand new, a name given by none other than the Eternal One. And you will be the crowning glory of the Eternal’s power, a royal crown cradled in His palm and held aloft by your God for all to see.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I heard of a church that struggled at one point because the ‘controlling’ members began withholding tithes until the church leadership listened to, and followed, their instructions. These instructions could have led to controlling who was the pastor, or how the tithes and offerings were used. Awful, isn’t it? But as I meditated on this Scripture today, my spirit was moved because I see the same thing happening in our politics, and in the decisions made by our government leaders regarding world leaders. Think about it – we have the power, so why not use that ‘power’ to control what others do? We have the money, so why not use that ‘money’ to control what others do? We have the arms, so why not use that ‘threat of withholding arms’ to control what others do? However, despite us giving the impression to the world that we are power-hungry and all controlling, they still may choose to listen, and follow, what they discern their Father in Heaven telling them to do. However, should we possibly feel compelled to seek God first in our decisions like the above-mentioned, wouldn’t there be many other decision areas that require change in order to comply with the instructions laid out for us by God in His Word? Why we’ve accepted the choice of some leaders to openly set up clinics to destroy the lives of the innocent, the helpless, the speechless as spoken of in Jeremiah 19:4. We’ve willingly opened our borders to freely facilitate the heart-breaking sin of human smuggling and other atrocious sins that seriously impact our citizens. Friends, I try very hard to stick to the Word of God and simply have my say in politics at the polls, but as I read this Scripture, I realized that we are making a mockery of God by visiting His temple regularly to ‘supposedly’ satisfy our religious obligations, but at the same time we are guilty of promoting and/or permitting these horrible sins in our lives and in our country. I don’t believe we could ever think that God would only bring condemnation on Israel for its sin, and not on the respective home countries of my readers for committing the same sins. I strongly believe that if God would have first place in our lives, then our decisions and lifestyles would be changed to reflect His leadership. This would not only lead to better husbands, fathers, church leaders and/or government leaders, but this change will be reflected in every decision we make – especially those decisions that impact the lives of others. At one time I stopped shopping at a certain, national store, because I learned they were careless with their investments and/or advertising dollars. I am fortunate to live in a country where the election of our leaders is up to voters like me. I feel like it is incumbent upon everyone to learn about the candidates and vote to reflect our personal Biblical beliefs and the teachings we have at our fingertips in the Holy Bible. Let’s pay close attention dear ones, for there’s a country that God holds in the palm of His hand, because of how meaningful it is to Him, and the closeness of its people to His heart. I believe we are called upon to make sure that we also love, respect, promote, encourage and support that country and uphold them in high regard before our Father, for we are to love what He loves, and denounce those sins in our lives that He hates.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Father in heaven, You have warned us in Your Word that Your people should let their yes be ‘yes’, and their no be ‘no’, as Your Word is clear on what is required of us. You’ve also taught us that we are not to dilute our faith by those that promote and/or live in evil/sin/disrespect to our Heavenly Father and Your precious Word. Thank You for allowing us to live in a democratic country where we can vote our conscience, while looking to You for guidance into electing those that best follow Your commands and Your teachings. I believe that Your ways and decisions are intentional, and that no leader is elected without Your approval, for they will rule over Your people, and their decisions may impact Your nation and people mentioned in today’s Scripture. Please continue to impress upon us the lifelong decision to live, honor, promote, and vote in a way pleasing to You and Your plan for our world while we are allowed to exist here on earth. May this all be an important way in which we stand up for You, as our King, and display our obedience to what You direct, so that the unsaved may recognize the One we love, adore and obey. Heaven is our eternal home, please help us to live on earth with eternity in mind! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Maintaining Integrity and Contentment

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, August 26, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River Resort, Fentress, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 30:7-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Two things I ask, O God. Sometime before I die, grant these humble requests:
Eliminate any hint of worthless and deceitful words from my lips.
Do not make me poor or rich, but give me each day what I need;
For if I have too much, I might forget You are the One who provides, saying, “Who is the Eternal One?” Or if I do not have enough, I might become hungry and turn to stealing and thus dishonor the good name of my God.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: To protect one’s integrity, they might exaggerate on the truth in order to protect their standing, or position on something. This might be something they said, did, or are being accused of. As a child, I remember my dad being leery of his takeaways from a certain individual, for that person was known to exaggerate about things or add their own twists to a story to make it more dramatic. As I read this plea from Agur, my eyes were opened to the sad state of affairs that many of us still find ourselves in today, for we still ‘stretch the truth’ in order to emphasize our point or make us look better in certain circumstances. But remember the example I opened with? My dad took anything said by his friend with a ‘grain of salt’, for he knew that there could be some truth in his story, but he also knew that much of it was probably constructed with ulterior motives. If we are truly meant to share our God stories with others, and if we are meant to evangelize the unbelievers, and if we are meant to be true representatives of our Lord Jesus Christ, shouldn’t we be clear, truthful and always unquestionable in the honesty of our speech to others at all times? If our words are tainted by untruth, what will we tell them about Jesus, since He is obviously not having an impact on our own behavior? The second request is similarly very interesting and challenging. ‘Teach me Lord to be content with what I have’, might be the proper label for this. For if I have too much, I might get cocky and think that I must have done something right in life and I am being rewarded for how good I truly am! Oh my, shouldn’t we wake up and realize that without Jesus Christ, we are nothing at all? While this is a frequent comment by Christians, I believe it is worth clarifying that no matter what the unbeliever achieves in life, or how much money they pile into their bank accounts, they will find themselves: very alone; with no one greater to call on or be challenged by; and no hope or expectation of a future life in heaven with the Creator of this universe. This sounds like a very lonely, disappointing and uneventful climax to a life on earth where one may have thought they were ‘on top of the world’ because of their personal achievements and success. But the second part of this request is that God would help Agur not be too poor, for he then might be tempted to steal or seek dishonest means in order to survive. Friends, I believe that an honest recap or evaluation of this entire request of Agur is that God would remove any distraction that might cause him to stray from his walk with God. Way too often we ask God to give, give, give, for we want to get as good as, or as rich as, or as favorable as, the richer person. I believe that this writer has shown us that we must recognize one thing only – our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If He blesses us with riches, then we use that for His glory and for expanding the Kingdom of God here on earth. If He blesses us with just enough to get by, then let’s be quick to bend the knee each and every day as we beg for one more morsal of food or finances to see us through another day. In ALL THINGS let us learn to be thankful to God for ALL His mercies and blessings. May the unsaved, and the world in general, always see and experience God in every form of association with us, every day.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, You are good to us and Your mercies are remarkable, and beyond anything we could ever imagine or ask for. Please Lord, help us to be satisfied in what You have done for us, and what You continue to do for us each and every day. You paid the ultimate price for simple people like us who want to achieve eternal life in heaven with You and the Father. Help us Lord to simply recognize our limitations and inadequacies and teach us to live in the light of eternity, while recognizing Your power and Your handiwork in everything we might accomplish here on earth. Without You, we can do nothing. Please walk with us every day and direct our path to live worthy of the King who gave himself up for our sin. Give us a strong desire to be honest in all we say and do, and to always recognize our all-sufficient Lord and Savior! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

Following God’s Values: Living a Holy Life Despite Worldly Influences

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Friday, August 16, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River Resort, Fentress, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Amplified Bible (AMP) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 13:5-6

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Something that I believe most of us truly care about, is our character. We will go to great lengths to protect against what others might think or say about our character. I therefore found the opening words of these verses very sobering, as God says through His messenger, the writer of Hebrews, protect your character so that others don’t find you offensive, or greedy, or money hungry. But why is this important? I believe that the minute someone evaluates you as greedy or hungry after money, their ears become deaf to the words you might share or the testimony you endeavor to expose to them through your lifestyle. It appears to me that many today have adopted the beliefs and character of the world, rather than staying true to the Word of the Lord, that God made available to us to teach us His values and His lifestyle, while Jesus was on earth among us. I am reminded that God knew that a major character flaw we might have, is our desire for more: money, things, friends, time doing worldly things, etc. I love it when pastors, teachers and yes, the Word of God, uses Scripture to support the point they are making. In our focal verses today, notice where the Spirit-controlled writer of Hebrews supported his message in reminding us of what God had said (bold print)? Check out Deuteronomy 31:6&8 and Psalm 118:5-8! Wouldn’t this be an awesome lesson for us to adopt and follow? Imagine when asked what our opinion is about a popular situation today, that instead of giving our tainted opinion, or the opinion of a tainted politician or public figure, that instead we respond with thus says the Lord, God Almighty! Friends, when we do this, we are much like a humble Pastor/servant I heard teach his church this week. He merely taught us what the Word of God says about abortion, not what his personal views are, or those of today’s politicians, or what doctors fear most, but instead ‘here is what the Word of God says in Proverbs 6:17 about God hating the sin of hands that shed innocent blood’ and in Prov 31:8 where God warns us that we are to open our mouths for the defenseless and speechless’. It is so easy for a poor person to rain down curses on a rich person and how their riches resulted from their greed. But when we share the unashamed Word of God with anyone who may have attained riches in ways displeasing to God, the battle becomes personal between that person and God. Friends, if you are anything like me, it becomes increasingly challenging to quote Scripture at the spur of the moment, but I am convinced that if God leads us to it, He will give us the boldness and the words to carry us through it. For only God changes lives, not you or me. Today you may be touched by the Holy Spirit to examine yourself for signs of your love for money. Please be open to what the Spirit says, and what He directs you to do to better align yourself with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. If we spend adequate time on this, I believe that the natural desire for more money, or self-worth will diminish as we recognize the desire for holiness and becoming more like our Creator and Lord becomes more prevalent in us.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for leading the way in showing us how to live like our Creator, God. He designed us, and He has a plan for us, if only we will subject ourselves to His teachings and to the life You lived while here on earth. Forgive us Lord for cheapening ourselves to accept and follow the ways of this wicked world instead. Please embolden us and show us the way to not only surrender our lives to Jesus, but to commit to imitating Him in everything we do and say in every circumstance of life. Our world has become so hypocritical that we struggle to accept anything said by our peers. We humbly ask that You evaluate us daily and deliberately show us our misguided actions. Precious Lord may each of my readers join me in admitting that we can only live like You, if we surrender our lives totally and wholeheartedly to You. Please Lord, may our surrendered lives look more like You each day, and may the unsaved be drawn to You because of our determination and commitment. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

A Testimony Resulting From the Presence of Jesus

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, August 12, 2024, and I was blessed to be at San Marcos River RV Resort when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Luke 24:35-36

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Some reading this devotional today probably have heard about Jesus for most of your lives, and many of you have experienced answered prayer and perhaps even felt God’s presence with you during some of your happy life-experiences, or even in the loss of loved ones. If this is your situation, I bet you are dying with anticipation at the thought of being with Jesus someday soon when God is ready for you to leave this earth and join Him in heaven – a day that all Christians look forward to! But today I want us to try and place ourselves in the shoes of the two disciples that Jesus appeared to while they were walking along the Emmaus Road. They were discussing the impact the Last Supper had on them. When we re-live life-experiences like this, we tend to melt away into the very moment that we are recalling. So, I would imagine that they recalled the love, the compassion, the concern Jesus seemed to have shown for their future and His upcoming arrest and crucifixion. And before any of us dare question their faith in this particular scenario, let’s remember that these men undoubtedly saw Jesus being arrested and perhaps even saw Him on the cross, followed by watching the soldiers seal the tomb of Jesus. Friends, if you were one of these men, what do you suppose you would have done if someone suddenly appeared in your small group and began talking to you? Let’s bring this thought a little closer to home – many of us attend church each week and we sing praises to God, and we do our best to stay awake while the Word of God is expounded. Do you suppose that we would pay closer attention if we look towards the front of the church, and we see Jesus standing there with outstretched hands, inviting us to surrender our lives totally to Him? Will our altars fill up a little quicker at the end of our services rather than the emptiness we see when God’s messenger invites us to respond to the Gospel message? When we pray, do we do it in such earnest that we know we are kneeling in the presence of Jesus, and we expect and or anticipate His miraculous response? When our world is falling apart – perhaps in the death of a very young relative, or if we lost our job, or if our spouse walks away from our marriage, and we are feeling very alone and like we’ve lost everything of value in our lives, does the refreshing Spirit of God fill our hearts and remind us of His undying love, and that He will be with us until the very end? In circumstances like these, we tend to be bitter, and although we cry out to God, we tend to do so with the wrong attitude. What if God made Himself so real in our lives, and so concerned about our circumstances, that we found a place to be alone with God and just allowed Him to love on us, counsel us about where to go from here, and reassure us that His promise is still true that He will be with us until the very end of time and that He is working out His plan in our lives, for our good? Can we handle that? Will you consider asking God to do just that for you? Let’s try to remember that our mission may not change at all, in spite of our earthly circumstances, so let’s learn to lean on Jesus so that He may work out His perfect plan in our lives. This will result in an effective, continued ministry of representing the kingdom of God, to whom we belong, for His eternal good.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord God for the presence and effectiveness of Your Holy Spirit that is always with us, as believers in Your Son, Jesus. Just as in the case of the disciples in our Scripture today, there are times that You pull up alongside of us to reassure us of Your power, Your love, Your ongoing plan for us, and the home that You have prepared for us when we leave this earth. Please help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, and not to be distracted with the circumstances that may hit us hard while still living here on this earth. Just as it is almost impossible for us to know the comfort of a spouse walking through life with us if we’re not committed, and married to one, so it is with knowing how good You are, oh Lord, without a living, dedicated, relational experience with You on a daily basis. Please help us to not wait until the ‘bottom’ falls out in our lives to look for the God of this universe, but instead help us to dedicate ourselves to You today and live a daily devoted life in sweet communion with You. In that kind of relationship, we know that You are with us on the ‘mountain tops’ and in the ‘valleys’ of life. We can then celebrate You in the good times, and when You pull up alongside of us in our most dismal times of life. You are our God, and You will be with us through every circumstance of life, if only we will let You. Today is the day dear Lord, please teach us to accept, and then expect You throughout every circumstance of life. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!