Tag: desperation

Nothing Too Big For Our God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Diligently Search and You’ll Find HIM

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

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2021-07-18
WRITTEN AT: Van Horn, TX

SCRIPTURE FROM: Deuteronomy 4:29-31
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 29 But when you’re there, you’ll look for the Eternal your God. If every part of you is invested in the search, heart and soul, then you’ll find Him. 30 When you’re in trouble in those days yet to come because of all these things, you’ll come back to the Eternal your God, and you’ll listen to His voice. 31 He is a compassionate God. He won’t abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made with your ancestors—He swore to them that He’d keep it!

APPLICATION: As a young man who was given the responsibility to take my younger brother out for a walk, I somehow became detached from him and I couldn’t find him. I remember searching every possible place where I thought he would hide, or simple seek out through his curious spirit. There was a fire in my aunt’s backyard, and I remember spending time there praying, because I was sure he must have walked into the fire!! Wow, what if we were desperate enough about finding Jesus? Do you suppose anyone would go to the extent that I did in the search for my brother? Friends, some of you may feel like that’s a far out example, but let me share another story with you. I visited a distant country, and I won’t mention which one, but many of the churches had either closed their doors or they were meeting occasionally with just the few people that may show up. The people had abandoned God to serve other gods – alcohol, sports, hiking, the great outdoors, etc, and because these things brought such joy to them, they saw no need for God or His church. I felt like I was in a land similar to where Moses felt his people would wind up. But friends, you or your relatives may be in a similar situation even in your own country – one that others refer to as a Christian nation. How is that? Unless we turn a blind eye to what is around us folks, we have relatives and friends that don’t have time for God or his church, because of the things they involve themselves in, and many of these things are right in our own neighborhoods. Unless we pray, pray, pray for these loved ones, we could only hope that something will awaken their senses and help them to remember the God who rescued their mom from death due to cancer, or their brother who was saved from a fiery crash because of the prayers of a faithful dad. Friends, I believe that when one is deep into the hold of Satan, much like the Prodigal son was, God will still knock on their heart’s door just loud enough to get their attention. Sometimes, God will place enough evidence in their minds that they will be reminded of the God who loves, cares, heals and saves His children from the pit of Hell into the Kingdom of Heaven. If any reader or listener is in a place where they feel like there is no hope, or that no one loves them, may I suggest that you diligently reach out to Jesus. The Bible says, with everything you have – your heart, soul and mind. Notice the last words of our Scripture today: we are being reminded that God will not break His promise to our ancestors, and that He will hear our cry and save us from our sin and deception. For the one who has a relative in a bad place and you are concerned that they are destined for Hell, let me suggest that you pray diligently for them – in fact, pray with all your heart, soul and mind that God will trigger a thought in their mind, or open their eyes to the love of an all loving God, so that they might seek Him with every bit of diligence possible. If they diligently search for Jesus, they will find Him!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus never leaves or forsakes us, He is always near when we call on Him. Now if we could only get over ourselves and call on Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You made so that we might have life more abundantly and everlasting in a much better place. Please forgive my readers and I when we are sometimes pulled into the world’s way, and especially for those who struggle to return to ‘the only way’ to heaven. Lord, we each have loved ones and friends who are really struggling, or simply refuse, to see the Light – Your truth, Your light and Your everlasting hope. Please direct them to some source that will help them through their abstinence and stubbornness so that their eyes, their heart and their mind will be redirected to the Savior who loves, adores and is waiting to receive them. Lord, we all need You. Please give us strength to overcome when we fall into Satan’s path, for it’s You that we desire, and strive to live for while here on earth. Be glorified through us oh Lord. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!