How Will You Know?

On 2022-08-242022-08-24 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Knowledge, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-08-24
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Galatians 1:7-8
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷There is no other message that is the Good News, but some people are confusing you. They want to change the Good News about Christ. ⁸We told you the true Good News message. So anyone who tells you a different message should be condemned—even if it’s one of us or even an angel from heaven!

APPLICATION: Often church leaders and evangelists will use catchy sermon topics to catch our attention and perk our desire to learn from God’s Word. But I believe that Paul is urging us to be careful in what is actually taught, so that we might not taint the truth by which we were saved. In my earlier career, I worked for an organization where auditors came in on a surprise basis to examine our files and prove whether we maintained accuracy and best practices in accordance with company and government regulations. For them to write an exception for something where they determined we had not followed regulations, they had to quote the regulation so that we could read for ourselves what it is that we should have done differently. I believe that the same should apply to our pulpits, Sunday School teachers and/or anyone who tries to correct our understanding or our ways. But there is another piece to this that many church-goers, or Christians in general, take for granted. In addition to demanding accountability from your pastor or teacher, it is imperative that you take your tools with you when you attend church or a Bible study. If you are attending a Bible-teaching church, then it is imperative that you take your sword (Bible) with you. When a scripture is quoted, or read, look it up and follow along so you could validate what is being taught. If a reference was not included by the teacher or preacher, stay behind afterwards and ask for the reference so you could read the context on that Scripture for yourself. By asking, you will help that teacher or pastor to know that the audience is listening, validating and holding him accountable to tell the truth of God’s Word. I had a pastor who was told by an old lady that she understood a certain Scripture, he referenced in his sermon that day, differently. That pastor went home and researched, only to find that his church member was correct. He re-preached the whole sermon at the next service so that he could clear up any misunderstanding or mistruth. Paul taught that perhaps God should condemn anyone who deliberately confuses their hearers into believing something that is not true. Wouldn’t it be interesting if God was to also condemn us for simply attending church, and not paying attention nor checking the references given by our teachers? Friends, unless we protect the truth of God’s Word that we have learned, we might allow falsehood and various doctrines to dilute that truth or erase its impact on us. We must have a solid footing on which we may base our knowledge of the one true God. Reading your Bible on a daily basis and asking God to impress upon you everything He wants you to learn from His Word – that will help you when others try to teach or share with you a different gospel. Are you living out the teachings of the Lord Jesus and practicing all that He demonstrated for us during His time on earth? You should be – God being your helper!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Listen to the Word of God, understand its impact on your life, practice its teachings every day and stand ready to defend its cause when false teachers try to destroy you.

PRAYER: Open our eyes Lord, that we may see You clearly in the church, in Your Word, and in our relationship with You. We can’t thank You enough for the many ways that You bless us and fill us with Your goodness. But we want to help others Lord, so please fill us with Your Word, teach us Your ways, and keep us accountable for testing all that is taught, so that when we share with others, we would be sure of its meaning to us, from You. It’s all about You, Lord. The world doesn’t need more of my doubt, my tainted teachings, or my example that shows failure to imitate You on a regular basis. Please bless Your messengers and fill us every time that we try to share about Your power, forgiveness, love and provisions for eternal life. Oh, that You will be glorified in total innocence and adoration by all Your saints today, is my humble prayer. 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!

Your Will Be Done

On 2022-08-232022-08-23 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God's Will, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-08-23
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 14:33-36
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ³³He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. ³⁴He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
³⁵He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ³⁶“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

APPLICATION: Often we will face the challenge of knowing the outcome of what is going to impact our lives. Challenges such as the situations I made reference to on my introduction to this devotional. Do these challenges bring out the Christ who lives inside of us, or do they tend to bring out the worst in us? For the unbeliever, they might struggle to predict what they will do because, in most cases, they react the only way they have ever known, and often that will lead to extreme anger, revenge, and unattractive, horrible reactions. But what might you expect to see in the life of a Christian? Well, since we are tasked with following the example and teachings of our Lord Jesus, let us take a look at what He did:
-*- Jesus wanted to share His heaviness in thought and concern with those closest to Him. Could Jesus have gone off to Himself alone? Yes. However, I believe that Jesus wanted His friends, and us, to know that a problem shared is half the battle. It helps you, and it might have a godly impression on our friends;
-*- Jesus wanted His close friends to know that He would be praying about this concern that was troubling Him. Again, Jesus could have done this without anyone else knowing, but there is such peace in knowing that others might be praying with you, even though the Bible does not record that the disciples prayed for Jesus while He went off to Himself in private prayer;
-*- Being well aware of what He wanted, and what might be easiest for Him, yet Jesus knew the importance of pleasing the Father. God had a purpose and a will for the long-term effects of everything that would happen to His Son. I believe that man’s greatest challenge today is to follow in the example of Jesus and pray to the Father: ‘Knowing full well what this situation will lead to, yet I want to see Your will fulfilled so that mankind might see Your glory, and honor Your holy name.’ Imagine praying those words to the Father when faced with one of the challenges mentioned above?
Friends, very often in this life here on earth, it is much easier to learn, teach and preach what the Word of God teaches on a subject, than to actually follow it in obedience to the Father. Remember – not my will that I should be totally healthy; not my will that I should be financially capable of traveling the world, helping the poor while still buying everything my family and I desire; not my will that I should retire and rest in peace while the church and the younger generation carries the torch of evangelism; but Your will oh Lord, my God and my salvation. May You be glorified in and through everything I do and, in every effort, to grow Your kingdom, while I have breath to do so here on earth.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Total surrender to God, means surrendering to His perfect will for my life – good, bad, or indifferent to what I want. Oh that I might sing that old invitation hymn every day – ‘I surrender all, all to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.’

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may we stop being selective in what we obey from Your Word and from Your example lived out in the words of Your Book. May my readers, listeners and I be willing to listen, understand, and without excuse, obey Your Word – Your will for our lives. You did it, even though You knew it would cost You life itself as we know it here on earth. The sacrifice was hurtful for You, but You showed us that above all else, we must be obedient to the Father’s will. for He holds the future in His hands, and He really don’t need our two cents worth of suggestions on what must be done to bring about the end result He has in store for His children, and for this old world. Servants, or a beggar looking for bread, is what we are. Humble us, direct us, and continue to love us through the rough parts of life here on earth, is our plea today dear Lord. May Your will be accomplished regardless of our stubbornness and rejections. Please let others see the love and perfect will of the Father today, instead of our selfish, sinful acts and words. AMEN!

Overwhelming Blessings!

On 2022-08-222022-08-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Blessing, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-08-22
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 7:18-21
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: ^18-21King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: “Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming, for you’ve also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You’ve done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart! – but you’ve let me in on it.

APPLICATION: Based on the Word of God, I believe that we would easily discern that there was good reason for God to consider David ‘a man after my own heart’! For God not only saw the works of David, but He also knew the heart of a man, He created, that loved Him in return, and who was persistent in following the commands of God honestly and without reservation. It is so unfortunate that many in our day will try to attend church – if there’s nothing better on television, or no favorite stars performing nearby, or inclement weather for beaching or boating. In other ways, some will work on deals and relationships that are totally private to their bank, their pastor, their friends, and especially their family, so of course they think that God would never know about what goes on behind closed and private doors. Pastors and church leaders have lost their ministries when these things come to light, and church members who looked up to them, often leave churches while vowing never to entrust such a person again. Yet we wonder why such ‘honorable’ ministers are not receiving God’s rich blessings? I have noticed in reading up to this place in the Scriptures that David sinned, because of frailties in his human qualities. However, David persistently displayed a humble heart dependent on God for his position as a servant of the king; as the captain of his armies; as a father to his children; as a king to the largest nation of his time; and to everything ordered of God. In the prayer included in today’s Scripture, David acknowledged to God that he was so surprised over His goodness, because he knew that nothing was hid from God – none of his sins were unknown to Almighty God. Friends, when we know the will of God, and still commit our sinful deeds – especially those we think are in private, we can expect God’s wrath while trying to correct us, redirect us and still love us enough to see us return to Him. When we experience otherwise from God, like David did: loving on us; blessing us with good health; showing us what He has planned for our future; and giving us more than we could possibly handle; then we are forced into the humble position David found himself in when he sat before the Lord and prayed this appreciative, celebrative, yet humble prayer. Let’s be reminded today that there is nothing we can do to demand God’s forgiveness or His goodness, even if we attend church every time the doors open, of demand total honesty and transparency in our businesses. In the words of David, God will bless us because of who He is, not because of anything we have done or said in His name. We are no different to our ancestor, David, so God is looking for more men and women who are willing to live out the heart of God like David did. Has God discovered your attributes yet? Do you suppose that He sees His righteousness displayed though everything that you are in the eyes of the public here on earth? How’s your heart? Can it be likened to a heart after God’s very likeness? Not sure about you dear friends, but it seems like I have need to stay on my knees before God so I would quit acting out the heart of ‘man’, and start acting, speaking and loving like a man after God’s own heart, God being my helper. Pour out your heart to God today, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God blesses us because of who He is, not because of anything we have done to deserve His goodness!

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, in deepest humility I dare pray to You, because I am reminded that You know my heart, You are well aware of my thoughts, and You know my intentions and prejudices. Thank You Lord for including me when considering the sacrifice needed at Calvary. Nothing, absolutely nothing can wash away my sin, but the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Lord, as my readers, listeners and I approach Your throne today, we come like David, knowing that You will bless because of who You are, because there is nothing, we can do that would be worthy of such mercy by the King of all kings. Thank You for Your mercy, Your forgiveness and Your everlasting love that transcends all human love. We worship and adore You Lord Jesus for who You are, and for all that You have done, presently doing, and promised to continue doing for us! AMEN!

Spiritual Exercise

On 2022-08-212022-08-21 By Ed AlgreenIn Dependence on God, Meditate, Spiritual FitnessLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Sunday, 2022-08-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

Bible Reference: 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text: ⁷Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. ⁸Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too.

APPLICATION: I believe we all may have given some thought as to why we want to stay physically fit. For some, it may ease certain aches and pains; For some it may help their breathing; For some it may help avoid certain medications by keeping the heart healthy; For some, it prepares them for a huge competition that’s coming up; and a plethora of other reasons, I’m sure. So then, why do you suppose that God, through His servant Paul, found it necessary to get our attention in staying spiritually fit? Let’s first look at the pitfalls when we are not spiritually fit. I believe that this is where we are easily provoked into sin, for we have no real, current, depth and/or communication with the Master. There are really two parts to this, first of all we must know what to do and what’s expected of us. This means that we have to learn what’s expected of us by our Lord. As in the business world, this means that we not only learn the Word, but we also keep on learning and refreshing our knowledge of the Word. Secondly, we must put into action all that we learn. Imagine in the business world where you might tell an auditor that your books, practices and overall processes are in order because you read about what’s required? That will absolutely not protect you against exceptions, since your auditor will compare what you are actually doing, against what written regulations say that you must be doing. Our Christianity is much the same. God has set forth a wonderful book that details His commands, and it shows us how our Savior lived perfectly while here on earth by following the commands of His Father. For us to do the same, we must know those commands, we must be in the Bible daily so that our minds might be spiritually fit for battle against the Evil One at every opportunity that he aims to challenge us. Yes, I know that some are fast studies and therefore only need to read through the Bible once but let me assure you that the Word of God is very real and it is pointed to help us each and every day, no matter what we are facing today for the very first time in history. To practice what we learn, we must be diligent to apply God’s rules and commands in every aspect of our lives, with the Master’s help. In fact, if we aim at perfection in all our ways, then we might be mistaken frequently for the One that we are imitating. Has that happened to you recently? Friends, when we hit our finger with a hammer, our immediate response will often reflect what’s inside of us. Likewise, when we are hit with life’s challenges and the temptations of Satan, our immediate response will reflect what has filled our heart, and how close we are to the Savior – how fit we are spiritually. How are you doing friend? Seek the Lord while He may be found, and allow Him to guide your steps, your actions and your speech. May it be known to God, and obvious to all those you meet, that the blood of Jesus as washed your sins away and that Jesus lives within every fiber of your being!

PRAYER: This is a very challenging passage of Scripture Lord Jesus. One in which we are reminded that we don’t have all the answers, and we desperately need You in every aspect of our lives, every day. We are reminded that without You we can truly do nothing of value for the Kingdom. Please open our hearts and draw us to a closer walk with You and a life truly dependent on the power of Your sweet Holy Spirit. Lord, You know all too well how weak we are, but thank God You also know that You created us to be like You. So Lord, again today we beg of You to forgive us for those evil things that we do, and the awkward things that we say – our spiritual weaknesses. Please draw us close to You and melt our hearts to closely depend on You in all walks of life, so that You may be glorified in every aspect of our lives. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org 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 or listening to this devotional, please go to 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. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. 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!

Test Your Christianity

On 2022-08-202022-08-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Christian, Christianity, Example, Example of Christ, Genuine example of Jesus, Godly example, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-08-20
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Corinthians 13:5
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all?

APPLICATION: Paul had a purpose in asking this question of the Corinthian church. Some evangelists might ask this to invoke a spirit of personal examination into our spiritual condition, to see if there is a need for revival of a life dulled by the things of this world. But Paul was actually being accused of not doing the work the people felt like God sent him there to do. This still goes on in churches today, for church leaders are quick to blame the pastor when things are less than booming in church growth, in financial giving, and in satisfying to desires of the congregation. Wouldn’t it be interesting for our Father to sharpen the minds of the people to first examine themselves? Wouldn’t it be challenging for the church leaders to first examine themselves and their lack of sharing the love of Christ with everyone they meet? We should realize that Paul wanted the people to examine themselves and prove that they were worthy of the Kingdom of God. If they were, then credit should be given to the one(s) that shared Christ with them (Paul)! And not to tear him down for not doing everything they expected of him. Friends, I hope that Paul’s congregation accepted his challenge as an opportunity for self-examination before a holy and righteous God. But seeing that God included this in His Book of Instruction (the Bible), then we must assume that He wanted us to also perform a self-examination before God, and here lies the challenge. Why, we’ve been getting away with pulling the wool over the eyes of our Pastor, our Sunday School Teacher and church leaders for years. For we attend church regularly and we have the lingo down pat. But should we be forced to reconcile any difference in opinion with God, that might really present a problem. Here are some things that might help us self-examine our own Christianity: a). Are we truly in the faith or are we simply attending church with hopes that everyone will assume we are? b). Do we honestly have an intimate, daily and active relationship with Jesus? c). Do we have a love for holiness, or does it tend to interfere with our social life? d). Do we abhor, or hate, sin, or does that seem too hypocritical to us? e). Do we practice righteousness by loving the brethren, or does it still depend on who they are? f). Can a new Christian follow in our example – our righteousness? g). Have we truly separated ourselves from the world and the things of this world? h). Do we look and sound so much like Jesus, that the world often mistakes us for the Master? I believe that through His servant Paul, God is teaching us to evaluate ourselves on a regular basis, especially before we attempt to point fingers at another beggar who is also looking for the Bread of Heaven. Our Christian walk is not meant to impress others, it is intended to help others who are seeking Christ to find Him at work in us. Oh that we would never be a stumbling blook to some poor sinner looking for the Master. ‘May they see Jesus’, should be our persistent prayer!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: One beggar helping another beggar find bread! That should be the aim of every believer through their actions and their speech. If Christ resides inside of us, He will shine through in everything we do or say!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that You lived and died for our sakes. You created us to live as an example of all that You taught through Your wonderful Word. Others expect that and look for that when they want to know who You are. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable to You Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Please Lord, draw us close to You, and encourage us to be Your church, Your followers and Your light in this dark world of sin. Let others see and experience You today as they encounter us in our normal walk of life. AMEN!

Why We Thank, Praise and Worship Our God

On 2022-08-192022-08-19 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Give thanks, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, Thank You Jesus, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-08-19
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 138:1-3
TRANSLATION: The Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹Lord, with all my heart I thank you. I will sing your praises before the armies of angels. ² I face your Temple as I worship, giving thanks to you for all your loving-kindness and your faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. ³ When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

APPLICATION: In this Psalm we can see where David was touched by, or reminded of, the love of God and His undying faithfulness, and it triggered his worship of God. Notice that David said he faced the temple as he worshiped, but he didn’t wait until the next scheduled worship service where he could watch the praise team worship, or the pastor rejoice over a passage of scripture that God spoke to them about. Friends, please don’t get me wrong, each of these things I mentioned are important, but I truly believe that when we recognize the love of our God, when we feel His precious love for us individually and we realize that He is faithful to us in every aspect of our lives, then we will be moved to worship our God on a very personal level. When we do that, I believe that our corporate worship services will take on a whole new dimension, for our churches will be filled with worshipers, not just people looking for a place to be electrified or energized by a good worship leader, an awesome praise team, or a charismatic preacher. David goes on in these verses to say that he is reminded that all of the promises of God are backed by the honor of His holy name – the name above all names! He is also encouraged that the God of this universe answers his prayers and encourages him by giving him the strength that he needs to go on each day and live a strong and noble life for the Lord. These are all wonderful reminders for us to also worship our God, but this list is not exhaustive, for I think of the wonders of nature that He places before me as I drive to work or into town, the beauty of another sunrise, the blessing of rain, of cows and wildlife playing in the fields and pastures, these all open my eyes to the wonders and majesty of my God! Most of all, like David, I am amazed that the God of this universe takes time to listen to my prayers and He answers my concerns and comforts my anxious heart. Who am I that a Kind should bleed and die for? Yet, I am often reminded that He would have sacrificed himself on that old cross – even if I was the only one in need of a Savior. He loved me that much, and it is no different in the love that my Savior has for each of you today, dear friends. Look for God’s almighty hand at work in your life, then in spontaneous worship, thank Him! Glorify His holy name! Tell others about your awesome friend! And lift Him up before a lost and dying world! Recognize His goodness and never attribute His careful and deliberate love for you as mere chance or good luck. Make every effort to be a personal, worshiping believer, not just one looking for a good place with great corporate worship done by others. Jesus is, or at least He can be, your personal Savior who loves you unconditionally and so very much.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, You have given us so much reason to worship You from the depth of our heart. Please awaken Your saints from the sleep of laziness, or dependence on others and/or other influences to invoke a heart of worship within us. Please help us to rest from the busyness of this life long enough to reflect on Your goodness, Your love and Your undying faithfulness. The Psalmist has stirred our hearts and minds to remember the awesome joy in lifting up praise and worship to You! May this be a day that our eyes will be opened to reflect on Your beauty and Your goodness, and may we recommit to a personal relationship with the God of this universe who loves us individually, and cares for us intimately. Thank You Father for loving and caring for even me. These things I ask of You in the precious name of Your Son, my Savior and King, Jesus. AMEN!

Drawn To Depending On God

On 2022-08-182022-08-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Dependence, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-08-18
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁸Three different times I begged God to make me well again. ⁹Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. ¹⁰Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong—the less I have, the more I depend on him.

APPLICATION: When we’re in pain and feeling the effects of that pain, we run to the medicine cabinet to find Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or similar OTC pain relieving drugs to help eradicate that pain. Those pain pills are our saving grace, and we readily turn to them whenever the need arises! However, when life is good and we are pain-free, we find no need to run to the medicine cabinet or think about Tylenol or Ibuprofen, praise the Lord! We just go on about life without a care or concern in the world. In fact, if we see others in distress over an ailment, we may even brag about our great health! Could this have been where God was coming from when He saw the potential in Paul, knew the tremendous work He had planned for him, but realized how side-tracked he might become in rejoicing over the blessings he received from God? Could it be that God saw how challenged Paul might be to identify with those down on their luck, seriously swayed by the world, and those who couldn’t get themselves above the sick world where they daily buried their worries? After being on such a ‘high’ from the change in lifestyle for Paul, can you even begin to imagine how terrified he was to be struck by something that would distract his momentum? However, to be effective disciples and have the ability to identify with everyone that we will meet, God has to sometime place us in circumstances to help us out with that. Using the comparison of the pain pills mentioned above, can you see where God had to quickly get Paul’s attention to get over feeling sorry for himself, and becoming envious of God for not hearing his cry to rid him of that ‘thorn in the flesh’? Don’t we tend to use every excuse why we can’t do certain things? My feet aches, I don’t have proper shoes, I have an infection on my foot, my wrist is weak, etc. etc. I believe that God continues to whisper to us the same promise He made to Paul – why are you whining and complaining, my undeserved favor is freely available to you, and we can do all things through the strength of the One who lives inside of you! There is nothing that you and God can’t do! Just like the pain pills, God is our saving grace dear friends! He will heal us of our diseases and restore our strength to serve Him even better. It’s up to us to seek God and appreciate that His healing may not happen the way we ask for it or expect. Remember, God knows what we need, even if it’s something to help us draw even closer to, and fully dependent on Him. So, let’s learn to simply place our concerns before God and ask Him for the strength we need to do His will. We may not be able to walk, but God can get us from point A to point B without healing of crippled feet. Just share with Him your points of pain and discomfort and watch how He delivers miracle after miracle while we simply worship and adore His mighty works. Remember, God said in another Scripture that He would not place more on us than we could handle. Be assured dear friend, that God knows what we can handle. Trust Him today and be ready to obey His call. Trust Him with all your cares, and He will deliver you from the weight of your burdens. Make yourself available and allow God to work through you to accomplish His work.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: “I am with you, and that is all you need’ says the Lord God Almighty! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

PRAYER: Often times we use the slightest obstacle to prevent us from ministering, even though we are spreading the joy of salvation in Your wonderful name. Forgive us Lord for assuming that because we are part of the greatest movement ever to affect this world, we don’t deserve hardships. Remind us often of Your authority over the very bodies that You created. Thank You for the reminder of what You told to Paul. You didn’t heal him to his specifications, and You may choose to do the same to us. But praise to Your wonderful name Lord, You assured him of Your presence, and that You were all that He needed. May that be a constant reminder to us! AMEN!

Unholiness Leads to Unfaithfulness

On 2022-08-172022-08-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Faith, Faithfulness, Holiness, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-08-17
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 106:34-37; 39;
TRANSLATION: New Century Version (NCV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁴The people did not destroy the other nations as the Lord had told them to do. ³⁵Instead, they mixed with the other nations and learned their customs. ³⁶They worshiped other nations’ idols and were trapped by them. ³⁷They even killed their sons and daughters….
³⁹The people became unholy by their sins; they were unfaithful to God in what they did.

APPLICATION: Of course you are holy, faithful, and true to your Master, right? I believe that’s always the answer many, who claim Jesus as Lord, will give. But do you suppose you will continue with that answer if you had a few moments to consult with God and give Him the freedom to open the eyes of your soul? Most of us are probably just alike, in the way we despised our parents for not letting us hang out with the ‘cool’ bunch on Saturday night or staying out after midnight with the young guys who owned cars – fast, cool, cars! Then we became parents, and we had many of the same fears that our parents had. You see, we remembered our best friend who lost his girlfriend when his car flipped at 1:30am on a Sunday morning and she got killed. We couldn’t dare to think of hearing such news about our little girl. But, today we want to think more directly about how our Christian walk might survive if, and when, challenged. It seems like the most common challenge is when we disobey God in much the same way kids disobeyed the warnings or commands of their parents. Think about when a Christian young man marries an unbeliever, even after warnings from Bible teachings and from his Christian parents. Of course, the young man feels like he will marry her to be a good witness to her and win her to the Lord. After all, he is convinced that ‘love’ is all that matters in that very moment of affection! However, in a huge percentage of the cases, we see where the Bible and the parents were right all along, for that Christian young man succumbs to the stress of his wife, walks away from his faith, and then suddenly faces challenges in his marriage, and his life in general in general. Our God, who knows all things – past, present and future, has a reason for teaching us what He explains in His Word. It is imperative that we note that God didn’t have His instructions documented to make us miserable and unhappy, but instead He wanted us to be a successful follower, obedient to His plan for our lives, while spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through every thought, word and action. God designed us, so He knows how we tick, and He knows how we will react to circumstances that we face. That’s how it was with the Israelites. God meticulously brought them out of slavery in Egypt, through the harshness of the desert, while taking excellent, loving, care of over a million of them. This took over 40 years, so if you suspect that God didn’t know them before, let me assure you that He knew all about them after their desert journey, for He saw their reaction to the good times, the challenges and the successes. He saw them fail in recognizing the Hand that fed them, protected, cared for and loved on them. So God knew that they were not leaders, but instead needed an environment that helped them achieve success in living a life dedicated to the Lord. Meanwhile, God also knew about the Canaanites, and He knew that they would just add to the bad habits and misery of a people group already in a slump. In verse 39 it was obvious that the world witnessed the increasing unholiness of the Israelites who disobeys God. Their unholiness and unfaithfulness to Almighty God had reached an all-time, disappointing high. I know, friend, they’re only human – that’s what we tend to say when we fail. But the Israelites, and those of us who are committed to the lordship of Jesus Christ, are servants of the ‘Great I Am’, the Creator of this universe, the God who sees all things, knows all things and will bless us with all things that we need. We have so much to gain by listening to, and following in full obedience, to our awesome God! Will you commit to Him today? Please learn from the story of the Israelites and allow their failures to teach you the importance of not only accepting Jesus as Lord, but also following Him in obedience to His Word. Jesus loves you, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God has a plan for us that will not only be for our benefit, and for His glory, but also one that will prepare us for eternity in Heaven with Him. Glory to God in the highest!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for blessing the Israelites in so many wonderful ways and for guiding them on a path that would have led to their faithfulness and commitment to honor Your will for them. Thank God, You still do the same thing for us. I feel tremendously blessed in being led by You today! Please help my readers, listeners and I to stay in close communion with You, to listen and obey Your commands put in place so that we might be obedient and holy. You designed us, created us, direct our path, and You have a plan for our eternity. Thank You Lord for Your mercies on us. Thank You Lord for loving us enough to care about our past, present and future. Oh that we would remain faithful and true until the day You call us home. AMEN!

A Heart That is Humbled And Sorry For Sin

On 2022-08-162022-08-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Sacrifice, WorshipLeave a comment

Tuesday, 2022-08-16

Bible Reference: Psalm 51:16-17
Translation: New Century Version (NCV)

Bible Text: ¹⁶You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don’t want burnt offerings.
¹⁷The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.
God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.

OBSERVATION: Throughout the Old Testament we see where there were sacrifices for almost any sin committed, and there were even some for praises to God. As we meditate on these verses today I hope that we will concentrate on those things that are a part of our relationship with God that may be considered ‘sacrifices’.

APPLICATION: I believe that a good explanation for the act of sacrificing might be when we offer up something as payment for an action performed by us that may not meet the requirements of the person, or God, who sets the rules. Another meaning might be that we are willing to give up something we love very much, so that someone else could benefit from that thing we are willing to give up. So let me mention a few things that I believe we ‘sacrifice’ in place of something near and dear to us: 1). Some may go to church to please someone bugging them to attend church. So they sacrifice time and go through the motions in order to make that person happy, or at least get them off their back! 2). Some may give to the church, or even to the work of God. So they may sacrifice monetarily with hopes that God might credit them for giving to His causes; 3). Some may ‘send’ missionaries to foreign countries. So they sacrifice monetarily, and give time in prayer for them so that the Great Commission (go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel) might be fulfilled. These are just a few examples of sacrifices that we make. I also believe that in all the examples given, these sacrifices might be noble, and even recognized by God, if done in the spirit of sacrifice and holiness. But in the Psalm we are meditating on, David shares what he found to be noble and trustworthy in a life that is truly after pleasing God. In verse 17 David shared that we must have a broken spirit in order to arrive at the very depth of our heart. I believe this means that we must be at a state where we are willing to let go and let God have His will and way in our lives. But I believe a warning may come with that. For God may remind us of His many blessings and we may get up and attend church without being asked to, or regardless of the way someone looked at us the last time we attended! It may help us to openly declare that since God has blessed us with a good job and a fair income, we will be obedient to His Word and give at least 10% of our gross income, in thanksgiving for His goodness and out of an act of true obedience! We may decide to actually join a missions trip, instead of sending others! Our spirit might become one that is pliable by God. Friends, I believe it is only then that we will be open to hearing God’s voice and obedient to His commands, or pleasing to Him. Are you willing to make this kind of sacrifice for the God who sacrificed His very own Son for you? Isn’t this the least that we could do?

PRAYER: Spirit of God, please descend upon us, Your children, and have Your perfect will and way in our lives today. Please direct our hearts and our minds towards Jesus, and may we be willing to sacrifice self, and become fully obedient to Your perfect will for our lives. Lord, our hearts are broken and desirous of everything You might require of us. Please use us in ways that will bring honor and glory to You oh Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer! AMEN!

Past Efforts vs Our Proven God

On 2022-08-152022-08-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Proven, Recognize God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-08-15
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Pslam 106:19-22
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁹They made a gold bull-calf at Sinai and worshiped that idol; ²⁰they exchanged the glory of God for the image of an animal that eats grass.
²¹They forgot the God who had saved them by his mighty acts in Egypt. ²²What wonderful things he did there! What amazing things at the Red Sea!

APPLICATION: In all walks of life, I believe that we reflect on our past experiences to guide our future endeavors. However, we seem to really struggle with using proven experiences of others or acts of Almighty God to convince us of the path we need to follow. We may have learned this from the Israelites that the Psalmist spoke of in our Scripture today, for they experienced first-hand the miracles that God performed in Egypt to cause Pharoah to change his heart about letting His people go. They saw first-hand how God miraculously protected, fed and cared for a body of people much larger than anything we could imagine. Their experiences included such off-the-chart things that would otherwise have been considered impossible, such as: parting of the waters to provide a pathway for over a million people; striking a rock with a staff to produce water; clothes and shoes that never wore out; manna that fell from heaven in just the right quantities for each day’s meals; etc. So, with all that background, shouldn’t we expect to read in the Bible where the Israelites never wavered from their trust in God? I believe that most readers and listeners will know the remainder of the story about how that was not the case, so I will fast forward to our scenario today. Let me start by reminding us that because of the Bible, we have knowledge about all that God did for our ancestors, and because He did this throughout the course of the whole Bible, and because we know that He is arisen and very much alive today, we have reason to believe that He is just as capable of repeating such miracles today. Because of man’s knowledge, creativity, advancing science and determination to become self-sufficient, we have available to us many new technologies and advancements that we could turn to for knowledge and direction. Do you suppose that might be the reason we look at doctors and ask if our relative will live? So often doctors respond ‘I’m not God, so I can’t answer that question for you’! But I would encourage you today to reflect on the miracles of God – both in Bible times and in your lifetime. I would recommend that you start your day with heart-to-heart conversations with God. Yes, He’s alive and will listen to every praise, complaint or need you might have. His response back to you will be via your Bible reading, or your encounter with another believer who has a word for you – without knowledge about your need. Friends, my God will direct your path, meet your need, love you unconditionally, and be your companion through every aspect of your life. He has a place prepared for you when you graduate from this earth, and He will open the doors of opportunity for you to share His love, His Word and His wisdom while you still have breath and are willing to be used by God here on earth. Let me assure you today, that based on HIS past experiences, you can be assured of tomorrow, and confidence in every challenge you may face today. Only God can do this. Only God’s methods are current and have eternity in mind. You can trust Him, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: By our actions, others can often tell who our ancestors are. Oh that others will also recognize who our heavenly Father is, based on our words and our actions!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, till I stand in Your presence! You already know how determined we are to do life by ourselves and in our own strength. Please be a constant reminder of who You are and what You are capable of doing, so that we may always look to You instead of making the same mistakes we’ve made in the past. Lord, we want to be the best that we could be, and we want to be obedient children. Please mold us into Your likeness and humble us to seek help, instead of thinking we know best. You, oh Lord, are high above the mountains in majesty and glory. Our trust is in You alone, for this old world proves the error of its ways every day. May we keep our hand in Yours and be led through every circumstance of life through Your guidance and with Your protection. Make us more like You so that the world will have earthly proof of who You are. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: God