God Has Plans For Us!

On 2015-03-192015-03-19 By Ed AlgreenIn Heaven, The PlanLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – Jeremiah 29:11-13): ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

THOUGHTS: I believe that there is so much hope and encouragement for us when we realize that our employer has great plans for us while in his/her employment. It tends to bring us great hope about our future, and therefore a peace and a calmness about our present time with the company. In this story in Jeremiah, I found it interesting how God saw that His people were losing hope because of one calamity after another, so He decided to give them the ‘big’ picture! Friends, this is a picture of our loving God! Just imagine how awful things are in our world today, with crime and war taking such a toll on nations, on states and on cities, and how it all takes such prominence in our daily news. In fact, it often discourages many to just not listen to the news at all. For Christians who are struggling to see the difference God is making in our own neighborhoods, homes and churches, I believe that God might respond in very similar words to us. For I believe that He expects us to keep on believing, trusting and leaning on Him. Keep our eyes fixed on Him, knowing that all things work together for good, for those who trust in Him and call on His name. We are to never give up, or even become discouraged, for taking our eyes off God will cause us to fail and lose hope. I truly believe that God is the same today as He was yesterday, and for those who keep the faith, those who trust in Him through the good times and through the bad times of life, will receive the same assurance from God as He gave to the exiles in Babylon:

I have great plans for you, son. You are truly loved by me, daughter. Plans to lift you up, love on you, provide a glorious home for you, and bring you into my presence. So don’t give up. Be encouraged. Continue to pray to me, and I will continue to listen. But I don’t want you to be half-hearted in anything you do for me, think about me, or believe in me for. You will find me, and you will receive my attention to your needs. Remember, you have been bought with a price, and no one will snatch you out of my hand. I long to have you near Me and enjoy My presence.

Can you rejoice with me over the thought of all this friend? Can you sing that song with me “Oh That Will Be, Glory For Me“, or perhaps “What A Day That Will Be, when my Jesus I shall see“? I am thrilled and encouraged to know that my God has way bigger and better plans for me than what mere eyes can see or imagine today! To my readers, I have just one warning to this great news: the Bible is clear that this is reserved for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Please read my ‘Footnote’ and ensure that you are included in the number that will rejoice around the feet of Jesus. You can have that assurance today!

PRAYER: Father in heaven I thank You for the encouragement I gain from Your Word, and the opportunity to share that encouragement with my friends through this channel. I believe that there are many, like me, who needed reminding of this promise today, because we easily become discouraged when we hear so much about Satan’s work around us, and insufficient about the plans that are in store for us who believe on You and have committed our lives to You. Thank You for the BIG plans You have for us! No matter our status in life today, we will be humbled at Your feet when You call us home to be with You. No matter what struggles beset us today – health, family issues, job woes, crime or misfortune, these will all be non-existent in Your BIG plan, for I believe there will only be time and space for our endless worship of You and to enjoy Your blessed presence. Please help us to stay focused on that, and therefore not allow the temporary ills of this world to get us down. The good times ahead cannot compare to the small challenges we face today here on earth, so as we center on that and minimized our attention to the earthly life, please help us to learn to glorify You today in all things, as we practice for the endless praise and adoration in a day to follow. That will be glory for me! Thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice and Your pure evidence of love for me! I humbly life up these petitions in Your precious and holy name, Lord Jesus, 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 so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!

Knowing the Heart of Man

On 2015-03-182015-03-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Purity, SincerityLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – Titus 1:15-16): ¹⁵Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.

THOUGHTS: Paul warned Titus about what to expect when he went to minister to the people of Crete. Ever stop to ponder what the Elders or Deacons might warn a new pastor or evangelist coming to minister at your church, about you? Chew on that for a few moments! There is an old saying: ‘you can fool some of the people some of the time, but never all of the people all of the time’!! I’m afraid that we may convince ourselves that our outward appearance and actions at church might have everyone convinced how good we truly are, but friends may I remind you that it is God who truly knows us, and since it is He that we supposedly go to worship at church, then it is He that we must convince of our goodness and worth. This presents a challenge, because He knows our heart, our intentions, and our façade. We just can’t fool Him. We might try to put on a smile to avoid depressing friends at church, but God truly knows the hurt deep inside of us. Please don’t get me wrong friends, I’m not suggesting that we go before God’s people with long drawn out faces when it seems like life is unfair. But as I share the Word of God with you, I believe you will reflect on His goodness; the assurance of His presence; the comfort of His touch on your life; and the worthiness of His honor – for which you will burst forth in praise and adoration, in spite of life’s circumstances! We must remember that when it appears like we have been dealt a ‘lemon’ in life that we are to make lemonade, or lemon meringue pie, and not to complain about the sour lemon we seem to have inherited. I believe that Paul is warning us that for those with impure hearts (non-believers in Jesus Christ), they are detestable to God and therefore cannot do anything truly ‘good’ in His sight. How is it with you today friend? Will God see your actions and your attitude from a heart filled with His grace and mercy today? Or is He still seeing you from an impure state and merely doing good from a worldly standard and for personal praise and attention? Knowing my Savior not only assures us of honesty in our demeanor today, but provides a bright future for us in knowing that we will be with Him eternally in heaven! Invest in your day and in your future by searching out my Lord today. He loves you and wants His very best for you, but you must surrender self and accept Him as your Master – your Lord and Savior. Please refer to the ‘Footnote’ for any help needed in making this vital decision friend!

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, God Almighty, thank You for providing a sacrifice for us, because You knew that we could never handle this thing called ‘life’ on our own. Thank You for doing that in spite of the sin of mankind. Thank You for loving me in spite of the worldly things I do and think at times. Humbly I ask that You might fill me with so much of Your Son that my mouth will constantly overflow from the abundance of grace, love and adoration that fills my heart. Lord, I want others to see Jesus in everything that I do and in everything I say, so that You might be magnified and that others might be drawn to You. This scripture reminds me again of Your dislike of hypocrisy, especially in Your church, and in the lives of those who claim You as Savior and Lord. Please warm the hearts of Your saints to once again be pure in spirit and in the grace of Your amazing love. Fill us Lord, and use us for Your glory. We want to know You better and we want to be an influence in the lives of relatives and friends that have not accepted You as Lord. Please endow us with so much of You that our lives might overflow with the love of our Savior! I ask all this in the powerful name of Your Son, Jesus my Lord, AMEN!

Refocus May Be Necessary

On 2015-03-162015-03-16 By Ed AlgreenIn God's Power, RefocusLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – 2 Timothy 4:16-18): ¹⁶The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. ¹⁸Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

THOUGHTS: Ever stood your ground on something, then turned around and felt like you were the only one standing? That’s similar to what Paul must have felt when he stood before the judge mentioned in this passage. However, for those who trust in God and make a stand in obedience to His calling, I am comforted in knowing that the same God that stood with Paul, will also stand with us! This is something that we can stand confident in the Lord about! However, may I also draw our attention to the remainder of verse 17, for Paul tells us that the matter of God standing by him was not for the purpose of Paul being lifted up in the eyes of his oppressors, but instead to give him protection, deliverance and strength to return to the ministry for which God had called him in the first place. Wouldn’t it seem natural that following such a rescue, we would assume that God might be telling us to escape the area to prevent a recurrence of getting caught by the Romans again? But look at what Paul shares with us: God rescued him and gave him strength so that he might go on to preach the Good News in its entirety for all Gentiles to hear. In other words, that he might go on to finish the job for which he was called! Distractions in ministry often tend to beset the ministry, however when we see God at work even in the distractions, we must stay on track and allow Him to carry on without regard to the circumstances being slightly different to what we originally thought. I believe that there are also times where God might cause distractions to cause us to return to Him, or refocus on Him, or draw even more strength from Him, so that we might be reminded of the true Commander in charge of our mission. Therefore, when commissioned by God, we must never lose hope, but instead surrender our all to the Commander and be prepared to accept instructions from Him, in His time, as we are on mission for His purposes! Like Paul, we will quickly celebrate our victories as we stand in amazement to the mighty works of God!

PRAYER: Father I believe that there may be times that we change ministry direction or focus, when instead You are merely trying to strengthen us and help us refocus on You as our leader. Please help us to examine ourselves and regain our focus on the Leader of our mission and the purpose for which You have called us. Please show us Your power so that we will not succumb to the distractions that Satan will send our way, especially while dedicated to Your work and Your will for our lives. Please continue to show us Your will and open our eyes to Your power, that’s absolutely necessary to help us fulfill Your will, so that everyone that we might come into contact with might see Your mighty works evident in our lives, and they may be convinced of their need for a Savior. I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!

What Can Your Life be Likened To?

On 2015-03-142015-03-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Allegiance, CommitmentLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Contemporary English Version – 2 Timothy 5:6-7): 6 …. My life is like a drink offering being poured out on the altar. 7 I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful.

THOUGHTS: I believe that we might want to stop and think about an earthly example to help us apply this heavenly application. Let’s imagine for a moment we are being interviewed for a job, not as in a first job scenario, but later in life. The interviewer asks you to summarize your life so far so they could better understand the heart of the man/woman they are considering to bring into their employment. While this will challenge us to think about all of the good things that we’ve done in our lifetime, in order to promote ourselves for the job being applied for, I believe that we will still give a different response than if we were standing before the Lord and answering the same question. Think carefully about this as you consider your answer before God, Paul declared that his life was like a ‘drink offering’, a sacrifice, a life surrendered totally to what pleased God and responding in every way to His will and direction. It would truly be a challenge for any of us to come close to saying anything similar to Paul, especially before an all-knowing God, wouldn’t it? So then, how do we strive towards that? Well, I believe that this comes from a daily commitment to truly seek God, both in prayer and in the study of His Word; and through a totally committed life to the Master, so that we don’t let the ups and downs of this world get to us, weaken us, or cause us to wander off the course charted towards eternity with our Master. Friends, we must live today as for the Master, then when we stand before Him on Judgment Day, we’ll have nothing to be ashamed of. Paul proved that this CAN be done. We just need to be as committed as he was!

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the clear-cut path You have developed for us. Not only have You provided the rule book for us, but You have given us clear instructions in Your Word to help us succeed in our walk here on earth. Please empower us with the will and commitment to honor Your Word, to obey it and allow it to guide us daily in every aspect of life. Lord, I believe that each of Your children would declare allegiance to You, however, please help us to have the will of Paul, so that we may live as a sacrifice to You, allowing Your will to override ours, and Your Word to direct our path each day. With the temptations of this world, I believe that we can only achieve all this under Your complete guidance and with Your all-powerful hand. Please continue to bless and endow us with Your strength each and every day. I ask this believing wholeheartedly in You and depending on You, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, my Lord and Savior, AMEN!

The Power of the Word of God!

On 2015-03-122015-03-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Correction, God’s Word, Self-DisciplineLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Century Version – 2 Timothy 3:15-17): ¹⁵Since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. ¹⁷Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.

THOUGHTS: I am always amazed to see how God puts together a plan for us. In my Old Testament reading this morning I learned from Jeremiah how prophets will be destroyed because of declaring their own personal message to the people, as they would be deceiving the people while teaching them a lie. In the highlighted verses we see where God used Paul to tell Timothy, and us, that the only power we have in our teaching or preaching or witnessing, comes from the God-inspired Word (the Bible). For the Word of God has the power to show people what is wrong in their lives, show them corrective measures and teach them how to live right. In fact, just as the prophets in Jeremiah’s ministry was told – it is the Word of God that makes His messengers capable and powerful enough to share with those that come under their preaching, life-changing qualities that not only draw them to Jesus Christ, but gives direction for ongoing fruitful lives for the Master. So I believe our take from this is to look deep inside and to stay so close to the Word of God that our actions will reveal to whom we belong, and our Words might be mere reflections of what God has laid on our hearts to share with those that we come into contact with. I’m sure that much like you, I become personally concerned about my unsaved loved ones and friends, but I believe that way too often we try to help remedy that through our own personal worth, or ideas. This Scripture has taught me/reminded me that it is only God that can change lives or redirect people trapped in a life of sin, and while we all should know that God is very capable of changing lives on His own, I believe that we must always ask for direction from Him for what we should say or do to encourage the lost towards belief in Jesus Christ. Vs 15 reminds us that it is the Holy Scriptures that can fill us with this kind of wisdom. Are you personally in the Word seeking this kind of wisdom? If we are to share real TRUTH friend, we must be saturated in IT (the Word of God) ourselves. Are you concerned enough about your loved ones to personally do something about it? Get in the Word friend, and allow it to enrich you and fill you with the wisdom of God, so that you may share the gift of salvation with others. Vs 17 tells us that we will be endowed with everything we need to do this!

PRAYER: What a happy day, when Jesus came into my heart! Father, it is that kind of happiness that we so desire for our loved ones also. Thank You for Your precious Word, and the whole truth that it reveals to us every time we read it. Often our eyes are opened, as they were today, to things needed in our personal lives, not just in the lives of our lost family and friends. This is true from what you told us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where you told us to take responsibility and humble ourselves, seek Your face and pray, then You would hear from heaven and bless our land. In today’s verses You are instructing us to saturate ourselves with Your Word, the power-source for our witnessing, teaching and preaching, then we could share from the overflow of that which we have been filled with. Lord, I pray that we can stop looking for someone to pawn off our blame to, and take full responsibility for our actions, weaknesses and shortcomings. Please give us strength, boldness, and the ultimate will to change self, so that You may have usable instruments to impact the lives of others so that You may change them also. Thank You for loving us enough to care about us, even when we fall short. We need You every hour of our lives dear Lord, for it’s You we live for and look forward to uniting with when this life is over! Praising You, and asking all this in Your most wonderful name dear Jesus, I remain Your humble and willing servant, AMEN!

Things to Run From and Things to Run Towards

On 2015-03-102015-03-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Christian Living, Holy, ObedienceLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – 2 Timothy 2:20-22): ²⁰In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. ²¹If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. ²²Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

THOUGHTS: One of the things that I love about God’s Word is that it not only tells us what not to do, but it also doesn’t leave it up to us to decide on our own what we think we should do, for it gives us a righteous path to follow that leads us towards the characteristics of Jesus. In verse 22, Timothy, together with us, are encouraged to run from youthful lusts. This tells me that we will be battered with temptation and youthful lusts, and we must learn to get away – run far away from them. I heard a story of a drunk who came to know the Lord. After this turn of events, the man would travel a different route every day between work and home in order to avoid the bar that he often frequented before Christ. I believe he ran from those lusts that held him captive before Christ. Likewise, I believe that we/Christians need to make very conscious decisions to avoid certain circumstances, places and things that might otherwise take us off track from our Christian walk and commitment to the Lord. Let’s run from them! Now, here are the things that we should run towards: righteous living – things that are right in God’s sight, for we are only righteous because of God; faithfulness – practice faith in God in our daily walk. Live in faith, and boast of it every time possible; love – not just natural lustful love, but actually practice the love that God showed us through His Son Jesus. Sacrificial, humble, unselfish love; peace – this is an unworried soldier who is content in the direction, support and leadership of his Chief, and convinced of the strength and agility of his fellow soldiers; and time together with other Christians – we become much like those we hang out with, for we strengthen our character by everything we experience from them, good or bad. ‘Birds of a feather flock together’, so we should be right at home fellowshipping and worshiping with other believers and we should desire to spend even more time with them. So where are you at in all of this friend? Have some things that you need to deliberately run from? Satisfied from the way your life is going, and your relationship with the Lord, that you are convinced that you are running towards and practicing the right things in your life? If not, may I remind you that the God who made you, and this universe, is available and ready to help you when you call on His name, right now? He is able friend! Know Him and know the peace that comes only from Him, then live like you are convinced that His peace is deep inside of you! I need this, and I believe you do also!

PRAYER: Dear God, may our lives be intentionally lived for You and according to the design outlined in Your Word. Thank You for the direction given to us today by Your servant Paul. I believe that Your servants will only be effective when we live according to Your design and in subjection to Your will and command. I also believe that for this world to change, they must see Christians being Christ-like and living according to what our handbook (the Bible) says. Lord, I pray that You will start with me, and I also plead with You to touch the lives of my readers, that they also may see the need for recommitting their lives to Your call on their lives and therefore live like children of God. Fall afresh on us dear Lord and allow Your Holy Spirit to indwell us with power to overcome sin and the temptations of this world. Help us to run away from sin, and instead, run towards You and display the characteristics Paul reminded us of today. For we are to be holy, even as you are holy! These requests I ask in the precious and holy name of Jesus, with thanksgiving, AMEN!

The Extent To Which You Will Go

On 2015-03-092015-03-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Endure, Evangelism, SacrificeLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (New Living Translation – 2 Timothy 2:8-10): ⁸Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. ⁹And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. ¹⁰So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

THOUGHTS: I remember in growing up I would hear my parents remark how surprised they were about the extent I would go to, in order to please my friends. We also hear this phrase used in our workplaces, as we observe some folk who are willing to do just about anything to keep the favor of their boss, or advance their position in the company. Paul basically used this same phrase in verse 10, but he included the term ‘endure’. This gives the impression that Paul was willing, and committed, to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, or the gospel, under every circumstance, even if it led to him being beaten, imprisoned, laughed at, spit on, or whatever. In other words he was willing to do whatever it took, if it would bring salvation to some, and eternal glory to Christ Jesus. So how does this speak to us today? I believe that we should be willing to cross cultural and or racial borders if it would lead to introducing an individual to our Lord Jesus and possibly leading them to the foot of the cross for forgiveness of their sin. I believe that we should not let our church/religious affiliation, or worship preference stop us from attending another Bible teaching church with a nonbeliever, if it would lead to getting them connected in a church of their liking and subsequently hearing the Word of God, that might possibly lead to them accepting Him as Lord. I’m about to embark on a missions trip, and a fellow missionary encouraged us to openly invite others to partner with us on our journey, but without putting them in a box. What she meant was that way too often we have predetermined ideas of what we believe a person will do or say or accept. What we must remember is that Jesus called some of the most unlikely people to follow Him – Tax Collectors; Doctors; Fishermen, etc. and they went on to become His lead men – disciples. Also be reminded about who we were when Jesus spoke to us. If He was willing to save even us, why would we dare exclude some from hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ? How much more then should we be willing to go the extra mile; accept another culture or race; attend church with an unbeliever at a Bible teaching church of their choice; share the Word of God with someone in a public place; pray with someone in a public place; or share the beauty of God’s love, that has enveloped us, with someone who is searching for that kind of love? Friends, remember that someone went out of their way to lead us to the Savior, and so should we be willing to endure all things and do the same. If this speaks to the heart of one who is searching for the unconditional love of Jesus, please use the information in the ‘Footnote’ to receive the help you need. Jesus loves you way too much to see you excluded from His kingdom. He died just for you, please let Him love you by asking Him to come into your very heart and lead you each and every day.

PRAYER: I am very thankful Lord, that Paul showed a great example of determination to spread the gospel in spite of hardships, imprisonment, beatings and the like. I am also thankful that even today we see Christian leaders who sacrifice so much of their lives to minister to so many. I pray that You might open the eyes of blinded Christians whose eyes are still fixed inside their small box of self-motivation and possibilities, rather than the huge opportunity that is available to us today thru You. People Need The Lord, and how will they know about You if we don’t share the Word of God with them, and show the love of God to them? I believe that we are to be equally as unselfish as Paul was, but I’m sure that You know what a major move is needed for that to occur in most Christians today. However, I am convinced that nothing is beyond Your reach and Your power dear God, so I ask that You humble the hearts of Your children and open our eyes to the needs around us. May we be busy about Your work and stop looking at the obstacles and excuses why we feel we shouldn’t do something, but learn to Lean on the Everlasting Arms of Jesus for our strength and guidance. Your love is amazing, and Your power is beyond our wildest imagination. Please help us to see and understand the awesome God that leads us! We depend on You Lord, and we need You every hour, bless us this day with Your mercy and Your grace, and hear the plea of our hearts, for I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, with thanksgiving, AMEN!

Try To Please Your Commanding Officer

On 2015-03-072015-03-07 By Ed AlgreenIn Commanding Officer, SoldierLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Contemporary English Version – 2 Timothy 2:1-4): ¹ Timothy, my child, Christ Jesus is kind, and you must let him make you strong. ² You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others. ³ As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering. ⁴ Soldiers on duty don’t work at outside jobs. They try only to please their commanding officer.

THOUGHTS: God designed us with a sense of choice in life. Parents and church workers teach children the right choices to make in life, but admittedly there are tons of other choices they could make, based on the friends they hang out, both their age and also older child-minders. However, the influence of teachers or daycare workers could also influence a child from a very early age. As adults, we grow up with these earlier age influences and we make choices impacted by the principles we have learned. Paul is teaching Timothy, and ultimately us, that when we become one with Jesus Christ, we are to live in a way that pleases Him. In fact, outside distractions and non-biblical principles will steer us away from the life our Commanding Officer desires of us. I was especially touched by the one command that we are to spread the gospel, not just to any and every one, but especially to those who will then also spread the gospel wherever they go. In fact, my takeaway on this is that I don’t just sit in Bible School and church each Sunday morning to allow the words taught, to tickle my ears, but to allow the Holy Spirit to open my ears of understanding and my eyes to the needs of those around me, so that I might share what I’ve been blessed to learn. I was taught that we are to be careful to whom we allow access to our belief system, as our allegiance to our Commanding Officer might be impeded or seriously distracted. As Christians, we are to practice that although we are in this world, we are not to be of this world and impacted by its sin and destruction. For our allegiance is to be to our Commanding Officer, Jesus Christ. Friends, your output will reflect where most of your input is coming from! Take time to evaluate self and see who has your allegiance today, please? If you need help in turning this around, please use my contact information in the ‘Footnote’. I will be happy to pray with you and give you some additional scripture that might help you realign your allegiance to our Lord and Savior!

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, please show Your favor on us once again today by blessing us with power to overcome the evil of this world and to center our thoughts and allegiance on You. Our news reports are filled with the results of evil in men’s hearts, so I am reminded that it is even the more important that Christians stand firm in our belief and our stand for our Commanding Officer. In the military, many would have been charged with defecting, and I believe that there will be a price for ‘Christians’ to pay when we see You face to face for the many times that we have defected in our allegiance to You. For some have accepted You as Lord (joined the army of Saints) yet never have chosen to learn the rules of engagement, therefore have no idea what they should be doing as a soldier, nor do they have a desire to do it. Some of us know it, but have deliberately chosen to defect. Some of us know it yet we stand wishy-washy in our belief system and in our daily commitment to You. We are ashamed dear Lord. We badly need Your strength, Your guidance and Your patience to make us stronger in our faith and more committed to our decision to be Your child, Your warriors and Your messengers. Please continue to work with us today and every day that we remain on this earth. I ask all this knowing that You are the only one true God and the only One who can give such blessings, in the name of Jesus, my Savior, AMEN!

Be Confident In Your Faith

On 2015-03-062015-03-06 By Ed AlgreenIn Faith, Godly ConfidenceLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Contemporary English Version – 2 Timothy 1:11-14): ¹¹ My work is to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. ¹² That’s why I am suffering now. But I am not ashamed! I know the one I have faith in, and I am sure that he can guard until the last day what he has trusted me with. ¹³ Now follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, and let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model. ¹⁴ You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you.

THOUGHTS: Living in the south all of my life, I can only imagine what it must be like to live in the cold north! One story relayed to me is about the time of year that the lakes begin to freeze over. I could only imagine that there must be a period of testing, before one would trust the idea of walking across, or skiing on a frozen lake. One would have to gain faith that the thickness of the ice will support their weight, and this might come through occasional testing, or through watching how someone else does, who has tested the lake for themselves. Paul had tested the faith entrusted to him on many occasions. In fact, even as he was teaching this fact to Timothy he himself was in jail because of his persistence to share the faith that he was blessed with. Wouldn’t it be great to see this type of faith and confidence evident in Christians today? Don’t you suppose that our churches would be filled each week with worshippers who would come to lift up holy hearts and hands to the Almighty who had blessed them through their faith in Him that week? Don’t you know that there would be no shortage of friends visiting you in hospital to encourage you with the faith they had earned over time in the great Healer and Encourager, especially during their previous times of ill health? Don’t you know that unsaved loved ones and/or friends would rather not be around us, because they know that we would be overflowing with our love for Jesus; stories of all that He has done for us; blessings that we have received from the study of our text book (the Bible); and our deep desire to see them know our loving, caring, guiding, protecting and all-powerful Savior? Conversely, don’t you know that these unsaved loved one would love to be around us when they are hurting or facing life challenges, because they know that we are so connected to Jesus and confident in our faith? Paul had enough of this faith, hope, love and personal experience with the Lord bottled up inside to share it with Timothy for the purpose of helping to give him confidence for the job God called him to do. Do you have that kind of faith friend? I would love to have this level of faith and boldness, how about you? I can confidently talk about marriage, because I’ve been married for almost 40 years, and I have experienced many of the ups and downs of most marriages. We need to be around Jesus enough to be able to share our experiences with Him, and knowledge of Him, with others. We do this already with our marriages, work or any other life experience, why not share an experience about the Savior who has given us hope and a promise for an endless future with Him in heaven! After all, we love our family and friends and want to see God’s very best for them!

PRAYER: Father God, You know more about us than we would ever care to admit, so You know the reasons why we don’t see a lot of end results like mentioned above. I would much rather see You get our undivided attention while we are able to help others along their course of life, rather than us waiting until a disaster, or major health issue occurs, as these things can often lead to ineffectiveness in our remaining life here on earth. I believe that there is no greater hurt, than that of regret. Please touch the lives of Your children today, and give us the faith like Paul so that we may boldly witness for You even under extreme circumstances like Paul encountered. May we never regret having done what we feel You directed us towards. I believe that Your Word is clear that You are interested in seeing us be Your witness to all that we come into contact with. May we make You proud today, is my humble plea, that I ask in the name of Your precious Son Jesus, with thanksgiving, AMEN!

A Glorious Life That Never Ends!

On 2015-03-052015-03-05 By Ed AlgreenIn Love of God, SalvationLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Contemporary English Version – 2 Timothy 1:9-10): ⁹God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us. ¹⁰Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends.

THOUGHTS: From the time we think about having children we begin to dream and plan for all that we would like for them to be, and how much better we want them to do in life than we were ever able to do. But have you ever stopped to think that the Creator of you and I did the same for us? Wow! What an awesome God we serve! What an awesome thought for all who are considering accepting Jesus as Lord today! From the time we were formed in our mother’s womb, God loved us and had a plan for us. I love that song “He Knows my Name“, because in the lyrics of that beautiful song I am reminded that I am not here through any accident, and in spite of all that might take place in my life, I know that the same God who created me is the One who watches over me each day, loves me to the point that He sacrificed His only Son to die for me and thus provided the path for me to eternity in heaven. Whom then shall I fear? Why would I become discouraged when this evil world impacts my life in one way or another? This old earth is just my temporary quarters, with brothers and sisters who might choose to love me, or despise me, but my time here is limited! My goal is to love you like Jesus does, and to live my life in dedication to Him as I anxiously await His return to take me to my eternal home in heaven with Him! To quote a worldly saying for this heavenly joy of which I speak, I might say – ‘that’s what I’m talking about’!!! So friends, I want to encourage you today to slow down from the hustle and bustle of this busy life, and allow these words to soak in, penetrate your heart, and encourage you to live for Jesus, if you have already accepted Him as Lord. If you have yet to make the best decision of your life and receive Jesus as Lord, please don’t delay your decision, for my desire is to see you happy in the Lord today and throughout eternity with us in heaven! For help on how to go about the simple act of receiving Jesus, please refer to the ‘Footnote’. Drop a note to me so that I can pray with you, and for you. Jesus loves you, friend, and so do I!

PRAYER: Father, Your love is beyond anything mankind can imagine, and exceeds anything we are capable of understanding. You created this earth in such a way that Your kids would enjoy it and reap great benefits from it. You created us in Your own image for the purpose of worshiping You and declaring Your glory each and every day. In giving us a choice to accept this beautiful life offered by You through Your Son Jesus, I believe You wanted us to consciously recognize Your great love and have reason to worship You at every opportunity. Thank You for working in my heart to draw me to the vital decision to accept You as Lord of my life! Thank You for not giving up on me! I plead with You to please make me more effective in witnessing for You, and that You also touch each and every life that reads this devotional today. For those of us that have accepted Jesus, may we be encouraged by Your Word today and serve the purpose for which You have placed us here today. For those who have yet to accept Jesus, may Your Word bring encouragement to them, that will lead to a life changing decision to surrender their life to You. Thank You for creating us, providing for us, accepting us and loving us way beyond anything we deserve. I ask all this with deep respect for Your power and Your wonderful love for me, and I ask it in the name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Christ