Tag: Depend on Jesus

Overcoming Disconnection from God

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

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, December 11, 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 Voice (VOICE) and found in Jeremiah 2:27-28

THE SCRIPTURE READS
27 They say to a piece of wood, “You are my father”; they confess to a stone, “You gave me birth.” They have shunned Me, who gave them life—turning their backs instead of facing Me – But that will change when troubles come. That’s when they will cry out to Me, “Stand up for us, and save us!”
28 O Judah, where will your pagan gods be then? You know, the ones you made yourself? Let them stand up on their own. See if they’re able to save you from your troubles. You have as many gods as villages, Judah. Now let them take care of you.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
It always amazes me when times of trouble come, how many people seem so intense in their relationship with God. But this is not new, for we are reminded in the Scriptures, such as this one today, that the Israelites were challenged by God for the same reason. The advantage that we have today is that we can learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, for God tells us in His Word how He felt about their disregard, and also how He challenged them when they continued to choose to call on their man-made gods, instead of on the power of His name, the only one with answers to their needs and concerns. I also believe that God opened the eyes of believers in Jesus Christ today to see how they are still acting just like the Israelites, because I feel like our hearts have been hardened and we therefore respond in much the same way. I know, some are in deep thought about how we could possibly imitate the Israelites since there is little evidence of idols today. Friends, consider this: Who took the place of God the last time you missed church? Did you call on that god all week as temptations came, or as you were burdened about the health of your relatives or yourself? Who took the place of God when you skipped your devotional moment – your time with the Lord, this morning? Will you call on that god when you are reminded today of the poor condition of your finances? Who took the place of God when you needed someone to talk to after losing your best friend? Were you able to return to that same bar, that god, and ask for help in approaching that dangerous surgery you were faced with, and ask for a filling of your doctors with strength and knowledge for your surgery? Oh dear friends, we serve a God who can do all things, and He is so much greater than all our troubles. He tells us in His Word to bring our troubles and leave them at His feet for His power is greater than all our troubles. Our Father cares for us like no other. He created us in His image, so He can identify with our everyday challenges. BUT, He is greater than anything we can encounter here on earth, and even when we act like the Israelites, yet He is loving enough to forgive us our sins and welcome us into His fold – His circle of children who know, believe and trust in Him in every circumstance of life. Draw close to God, dear friend, and He will draw close to you!

PRAYER
Lord, I believe in the wonderful power and work of the Holy Spirit who resides inside of me. Thank You for the assurance of Your presence at all times, and for this challenging reminder from Your Word today. For I am convinced that many of us will stay disconnected from You as long as we are not faced with anxiety, fear, loss and/or disappointments. But while ‘disconnected’, or without a sweet, intimate relationship with You each day, we leave ourselves exposed to the same type of temptations that caused the downfall of the Israelites. I believe my readers will join with me in saying that we want to be just like You, Lord. We pray that others will see so much of You in us today that they will feel Your presence and see Your love through their encounter with us. Please draw us to Yourself, oh God, and be our constant guide as we live in a world that is so against anything You teach and stand for. Use us as instruments who will promote the Kingdom, Your love and Your grace for all who would believe in You. Thank You Lord for Your awesome love for me and my Brothers and Sisters who claim You as King! 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!

How To Be More Productive for God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Miracles, Obedience, Promise, SalvationLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Thursday, 2017-11-23
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 15:5, 7-8 (TLB)

Text:

 5 “Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing…. 7 But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8 My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had the disciples around Him for quite a while, and He could see how dependent they were on Him to do everything, so He taught them how they could become more productive in their own lives, for His work and His glory. I don’t know about you, but we all need that coaching every day, so let’s dig in and see how we can do this….
APPLICATION:
From the very early stages of childhood, parents have a responsibility to not only show a child how to do things, so that they can imitate them, but to also encourage them to be their own person and do the things that pleases God. I believe that most often the parent are more proud of the kids than the kid could ever imagine themselves! Jesus exampled this same principle to His disciples, and I believe it was deliberately placed in the Bible so that we might learn from His teaching. By telling us that He is the Vine, He is reinforcing the principle taught throughout the Bible that in and of ourselves, we can do nothing of eternal value, because we would teach nothing but earthly values, that are promoted by Satan himself. These values lead to eternal death, or eternity in Hell with your earthly leader, Satan. Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, means that you have resigned yourself of those earthly values, and you are now allowing the Holy Spirit to be your power, your guide, your counselor and your comforter. The Holy Spirit, being one with God, is then the Vine spoken of in our Scripture today, for He is ‘God with us’ and we are therefore attached to the Vine. Just as any other type of vine, we find new strength in our Vine, and the anointing of His blood fills us with His grace, His mercy, His love for everyone and the overwhelming anointing of His new birth, so that we too might go on as the disciples did, to share in His ministry here on earth. Friends, the Bible teaches us a known truth today, “How will they know if no one goes out to tell them”. Children of God, we are the hands and feet on the ground that can impact our world, and it starts at home. Let us do what Jesus taught in the Scripture today, let’s be sure that we are plugged in to THE VINE; Let’s be sure that we are obeying His commands and seeking to do His will in every aspect of our lives. The final verse declares, and it’s a promise from Jesus Himself, that if we do this, we could ask anything in His name and it will be granted. I have loved ones who need Jesus, so I have much to ask for. Now may I be obedient to Jesus Christ, and provide a pure body and soul for Him to live in, so that I may ask for His saving grace for these ones on my heart today. I encourage you to do the same friends…
PRAYER:
Although we have much to be thankful for today Lord, if only we would sincerely dedicate ourselves to You and consistently obey Your commands, then we know that Your Word will not return void, because You promised us that You will respond to any request. You know the hearts of each reader Lord, and You know the urgent needs that trouble our hearts. Please give us the boldness to totally surrender to You so that You may do Your work in, and through us. AMEN!
FOOTNOTE:
There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!