A Testimony Resulting From the Presence of Jesus

On 2024-08-12 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

A Roadblock To Answered Prayer

On 2024-07-22 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, July 22, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Contemporary English Version IS FOUND IN Isaiah 59:1-2

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: The Lord hasn’t lost his powerful strength; He can still hear and answer prayers.
Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That’s why He doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see his face.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: In a day when the people of Judah felt forsaken by God because of the challenging invasion of the Babylonians, I believe that we too can learn a lesson from what God explained to them through the prophet Isaiah. Many of us have heard such things as ‘it felt like my prayers were going no higher than the ceiling’, or ‘it feels like my prayers are hitting a brick wall’, or ‘is God really there for me?’ Throughout the Bible we are taught: that God will not tolerate sin; God will not be present where sin resides; There is no room in God’s presence for unconfessed sin; etc. But do we ever stop to consider these things when we are intimately and sincerely begging for God’s miraculous touch, and our prayers appear blocked? There are times that a child can merely look into the face of a parent and feel relieved by their love, or feel denounced by their correction or displeasure. Yet, God told His people, and us, that He hides His face from us when sin is blocking an open, sincere, honest and righteous presence with our Holy God. Although I am one of the millions who claim a personal relationship with our Lord, I still stop and often reflect on why a holy God would stop to listen to our cry for bodily healing, or safety for our children, or Godly direction in major decisions, or blessings to overcome life’s desperate challenges, when we are living in open sin – disregard for the teachings of our Lord and His written Word. Perhaps it would be good for us to have these focal verses on the inside of the door to our homes, so that it is the last thing we see before leaving to face the world each day. For, although it is easy to live like God in our ‘safe’ places, like home, or church, or Christian based events, but it becomes a whole lot more challenging to live like that in our workplaces or other worldly events without God’s miraculous intervention in our lives. Yes, we need more prayer and help from God in the latter circumstances, but we must learn to live, walk, talk and act like God in every aspect of life, if we are truly determined to follow in His ways every day. So friend, where do you turn to when your prayers seem unanswered or not reaching the throne of God? I am reminded that I am to look inward first and determine what sin is preventing God’s involvement. May I encourage you to do the same? If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, my Savior, please know that it is a first step in your need for prayer. Asking dad for help with something, is altogether different to asking a stranger on the street for that same help. Yes, Jesus loves you, but He wants to know that you love Him, have accepted Him as Lord, and that you are serious about following His commands every day – both when things are going perfectly for you, and when you’re in need of His help.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord Jesus, I thank You for a Savior to who I can turn to when I’m thankful for answered prayer, and also when life is overwhelming and I need a powerhouse to help me overcome. As a child of Yours, and knowing You personally and intimately, You are my Rock to whom I can turn. I wouldn’t dare say that I never get impatient and frustrated when my prayers are either not answered, or as instructed, but Lord I thank You for teaching me through Your Word today, how critical it is that my spiritual condition be in order. Please dear Lord, teach me to always look inward and clear up any sin that may prevent me from seeing Your face or hearing Your response to my prayers. I don’t believe that I am any different to many who will read this devotional today, so I ask that You please open their spiritual eyes today and help them to understand the truth of Your Word. Yes, this Scripture was directed to Judah, but I am convinced that You are the same, righteous and holy God today, and when we are not, we should never be surprised that You are separated because of our sin. Forgive us Lord when we try to bring our worldly lessons and practices into the mix of our times with You. We are to be holy, just as You are holy! AMEN!

A Lifestyle To Pursue

On 2024-07-11 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, July 11, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Blue Tree Resort, Orlando, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 12:14-16

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, since no one will see God without it.Watch carefully that no one falls short of God’s favor, that no well of bitterness springs up to trouble you and throw many others off the path. Watch that no one becomes wicked and vile like Esau, the son of Isaac, who for a single meal sold his invaluable birthright.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I am always amazed when I consider, in amazement, how married couples succeed in marriage. Especially when I think about a man and a woman coming together from different backgrounds and upbringing, totally different lifestyles with a myriad of projections for their future life here on earth. Why, without the invitation for Jesus to lead and direct them, I am surprised that any marriage would flourish. God knew that there would be similar cause for concern about someone accustomed to the darkness, hatred and practices of this world and the Evil One, who decides to accept Him and His plan of salvation. In previous verses we see where God led His writer of Hebrews to explain how believers are adopted into His Kingdom of Light. In my previous devotional, I reminded every one of the teaching on setting human desires aside and concentrating on the Master for divine intervention – this was under the label of ‘fasting’. In today’s lesson I love the way that we are drawn to the fact that this Christian Life is not just a solitary, selfish relationship with God for me, myself and I, but that I play an important role in helping those around me to overcome the struggles of this wicked world and anticipate the glories of heaven. You see, this is all possible because of the Savior that taught fellow Christians and I to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness of our God. The God who loved us enough to sacrifice His only Son for our eternal benefit. God knew that in coming from a worldly, unChristlike environment, we would need direction to live the new life that we would transformed into as a Kingdom child. But I love the reminder that we are to help others who are after the same goal as we are. I knew of an employer who promoted, through incentives, gifts to recognize the employees who succeeded in their weekly goals. However, it was not enough for an individual employee to achieve their own goal, but the employer added incentives when the whole team was successful. That employer must have read their Bible, for it seems like God is encouraging us to do the same through encouraging all team members to achieve success. Watch that no one falls short. Watch that no one becomes wicked. I don’t believe for a moment that God intended this to encourage nosiness, but rather to promote love, encouragement and cheering our team members on so that we all achieve glory! But friends, let me also remind us that God did all this so that we not only live according to His plan, but that we not throw off the unbeliever who might be looking on to see if this ‘Christian’ thing is for real. They want to know if God truly did change us, before they decide to also commit to our team of believers. Based on your life so far this month, do you feel like they are convinced that Jesus lives, reigns, and is glorified in and through you and your lifestyle? If not, please let me encourage you to join me in asking Jesus once again to teach us His ways and be His ambassadors here on earth, so that others might see Him in us, accept Him as their Savior and Lord, and believe that He has gone to prepare a place for us, that where He is, we may be also!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord I believe, but I ask that You help my unbelief, or doubt, or fear when life is not going exactly as I envision it. Thank You for Your Word, and thank You for teaching us in advance, what is required of us as believers. As Your example here on earth, may others clearly see in us the attitude, words and actions of a Savior that loves them in the same way that I am convinced You love me. May we represent You well today, oh Lord, and may Your kingdom work be fulfilled around the world today. AMEN!

The Kind of Fast That God Is After

On 2024-07-10 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Wednesday, July 10, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Blue Tree Resort, Orlando, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE The Message (MSG) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 58:6-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: What is a ‘Fast’, and how were you instructed to fast the last time you made an effort to fast? Most will think of it as skipping one or more meals. Some may teach that it’s setting aside a particular food, habit or practice that you really love or tend to do regularly and get a lot of joy from. We may have been told that especially during these times of missing out on something, that we instead concentrate on prayer before our holy and righteous God for specific, and sometime desperate needs. I found our Scripture verses particularly interesting today, because God tells us, through His prophet, Isaiah, exactly what He wants in a fast. A pastor/teacher that I particularly admire, had a habit of avoiding personal opinions as much as possible in his teachings, and instead he would take us to biblical references that would explain, or answer, the questions that may arise from Scripture. I still believe that actions speak much louder than words, so today’s Scripture was especially attractive. Here are a few points shared by our Creator, God, who sees our every action, hears our every spoken word, and knows our every thought. He declared through Isaiah that we:
-> Share our food with the hungry – I admire those churches who have Food Banks and make food packages for handout to those in need. But I remember one church having to ask congregants not to bring outdated food items. Wouldn’t it be Christ-like to give our very best to the food bank, then try to personally make use of the outdated items in our pantry? Wouldn’t this tend to imitate our God who gave of His very best – His only begotten Son, so that we (sinners) could be allowed entry into His glorious presence? I’ve watched a few movies recently where people’s lives were changed after volunteering in a food kitchen for a few days. Could it be that God is telling us that this type sacrifice/fast might also change our lives and draw us ever so close to Him if we make a personal investment in the lives of the hungry?
-> Invite the homeless poor into our homes – We have become so proud of our belongings that we would rather drop off a meal to a homeless person, or give them a restaurant gift certificate for a meal. But what do you suppose would give the opportunity to witness to that person about their eternal worth and the God who truly loves them? To give a gift certificate is admiral, but isn’t it more like telling them you love them, versus joining them for a meal and chatting with them to show them how much you love them? I believe God would use those moments to truly minister to us, and to them!
-> Put clothes on the shivering ill-clad – If each believer would go through their closets and give away the clothes they haven’t worn in the past 6 months, there may very well be no more ill-clad, poor, people in our respective cities! But you know, God didn’t say ‘give of your excess’. I believe if God intended this to be a lesson for us and what He wants from us in a fast, then He is probably advocating that we clothe the cold and poorly clothed, even if it means a sacrifice of money and/or clothes from our personal wallets or wardrobe. Imagine going to look for your favorite outfit, only to be reminded that you gave it away to someone in need some weeks ago! I believe that would give reason to praise God for blessing you enough to help others! and finally….
-> Be available to your own families – I often cringe when I think back to my working days and remember how I sacrificed for my job, my church, my social club, and other individuals, often at a loss to quality times with that my wife and child. Yes, perhaps time may have been spent in the name of success, or in raising awareness of the needs of the visually handicapped, or even in the ministry of the church, but none the less – at the expense of the needs of my family. In some cases family members are not as fortunate as you are in their finances or in solid relationships or suffer through bad habits. Do you deliberately escape, or avoid them to sacrifice spending time with, or finances on them? In other words, blessing them?
The Word of God says that when you are successful, or at least make every effort in the above, God will turn your lives around, and righteousness will pave your path in life. I believe this means that God will bless you beyond anything you can think or imagine! His presence will be your comfort and your guide! Oh that we all may be found faithful by our soon coming King!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You for Your precious Word today, my Lord and King. Please help my readers and I to look to Your Word for direction in all Your commands, just as we found in the idea of fasting. More importantly Heavenly Father, I pray that the Holy Spirit will be our guide for righteous living, and lead us towards Your expectations for Your children. We have been taught by our church leaders to fast and pray. Now I ask that You will help us to back that up by fasting in a way that pleases You and honors Your Word, for pleasing You is our greatest desire. Teach the unsaved through our dedication and desire to practice what we learn from Your Word. Draw them to Yourself and renew a right spirit within them, for Your glory. AMEN!

How God Shows His Love For Us

On 2024-07-09 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Tuesday, July 9, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Blue Tree Resort, Orlando, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 12:5-8

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: ….“My son, don’t be angry when the Lord punishes you. Don’t be discouraged when he has to show you where you are wrong. For when he punishes you, it proves that he loves you. When he whips you, it proves you are really his child.” Let God train you, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a son who was never corrected? If God doesn’t punish you when you need it, as other fathers punish their sons, then it means that you aren’t really God’s son at all—that you don’t really belong in his family.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Isn’t it interesting how we have become accustomed to receiving a gift, or something good, as a form of recognition for something pleasing that we may have done? We even practice this with our pets! But what if you never disciplined your child, or your pet? Wouldn’t they feel that they lived in a carefree world where it didn’t matter what they did? But, know that at some point when our kids come to their senses, they may look back and question if we just didn’t care, or love them enough to help them be their best, or do what is right in the sight of everyone they encounter in life. In our Scripture today, the writer is reminding his readers/hearers of something that God said to all of us regarding His discipline, and how that proves His undying love for us. He cares for us, and He wants us to imitate Him and obey His teachings completely. In order to do that we must be corrected when we are otherwise misdirected by the Evil One and his contemporaries. I believe that too often we think of discipline as a whipping we may have received from an angry parent. But isn’t it a whole lot more? When we are being misdirected, God finds ways to discipline, or redirect us to a path that leads to Him. The world may tend to looks at this as discipline, or punishment, or a tap on our knuckles. I believe God says at this point, ‘because I love you so much I will remind you of the right thing to do and show you a path for getting there’. Friends, we must always remember that our ways are not God’s ways, and our thoughts are not like God’s thoughts, so His way of prodding us along in the right direction will differ to our way of doing things. Let’s be thankful that it is this way. God knows what He’s doing, so let’s be a thankful people, the recipients of His wondrous and amazing love.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, we’ve seen how others have tried to correct us and/or our children, and we’ve not been pleased. But praise to our loving God who, through Your servants and Biblical writers, have told us the loving manner in which You discipline and correct us! Living in this old hard and unloving world causes us to appreciate, admire and long for the loving discipline of our awesome God. Thank You Father, Son and Holy Spirit for directing Your love towards us, so undeserving, yet we are such needy children who long to be with You in glory one day soon. As Your children, we know of Your love and appreciate Your heart-felt discipline. Please help us to encourage our family and friends to seek You while You may be found and accept You as Lord of their lives, before it’s a day too late. AMEN!

Talk It Over With…

On 2024-07-082024-07-08 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, July 8, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Blue Tree Resort, Orlando, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Luke 24:15-19

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: ….suddenly Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them. But they didn’t recognize him, for God kept them from it. “You seem to be in a deep discussion about something,” he said. “What are you so concerned about?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. And one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about the terrible things that happened there last week.” “What things?” Jesus asked….

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Ever come home from work upset about something that happened at work, or at church, or in your social club? Often you would ‘unload’ with your spouse, but at times you just keep it bottled up inside to avoid making your spouse just as upset as you are. But in the case of a loving and caring spouse, they will recognize from what you said, or in the facial expressions they see, that you are much like the two disciples Jesus encouraged in our Bible text today. They may even ask: ‘What is bothering you? What things?’ So many times I have found that talking through a problem with a good listener, will often open my eyes to see that the problem is nowhere as bad as I first thought. Although Cleopas and his partner disciple were already discussing the events of the week together, it wasn’t until Jesus appeared to, and questioned them, that they spoke more objectively about the things that were troubling them. Hopefully, you have friends, or accountability partners, who will do more than just listen and agree with you about your feelings, or future outlook. At times these objective individuals will upset you, because they just seem to look beyond your feelings and still question you in ways that help you move forward. At one time, I had a good friend who wanted this type of accountability partner, for they wanted to be challenged when they were feeling down and discouraged. I believe there are days that most of us need to get more from a friend than just agreeing with us, so they could help us gather a more objective prospect on life. Jesus knew what the two disciples were talking about, but He asked them anyway. No doubt this allowed the disciples to look beyond their whining and complaining. When we do that we tend to see more than the one small thing that has really set us off. Think about it: Pastors leave the ministry at times because of one note or cruel unthoughtful comment from a parishioner. A child might leave home because of one last correction from a parent that caused that child to feel rejected. Good, solid, workers will walk off their good jobs, because of one careless, uncaring word from a supervisor. Parishioners wind up never returning to their church of choice, because of the way that some situations are handled at their church. Friends, I believe that Jesus is showing us in the biblical account today that we need to challenge our friends, especially when we see them struggling over something. However, these types of confrontations must always be bathed in prayer as we seek the Father’s will in what we should say or do to help our friends, without being the last straw that caused them to give up and leave the church or give up on religion altogether. Although Jesus asked ‘What Things’ in the very last verse today, I am convinced that He knew exactly what was bothering His followers. He just wanted them to hear out loud what they felt their main gripe was. Either of us could be on either side of this type conversation. We may have to impose a ‘keep quiet and listen’ mode, or we may be the one asked about what is bothering us. If the latter, I believe that we should find a quiet and private place, and be ready to talk calmly, but candidly about the problem at hand. Always remember that a burden shared is one where the stress of it is reduced by half. Satan is the author of confusion and division, so always seek time with the Master when someone, or something, is causing you stress. Our Savior and Lord wants us living in harmony and love for one another, so that we may better represent Him and His character. Let your action and reaction to life events show the world what it looks like to be a child of the King, not a hand piece of the evil one.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord Jesus for helping us on many occasions to battle with the Evil One, who seems intent on destroying our witness. These unwanted events happen all too often, and like in the case of the disciples in today’s biblical account, we just need to be reminded of whose we are, and how trivial the matters are that Satan is attempting to force us into battle over. You showed us how to live peacefully and lovingly towards one another. Please strengthen us to live like You exampled before us, so that the world will be reminded of Your goodness, strength and love towards Your people. Ultimately, I pray that the world will see You in action through us, and gain a deeper desire to accept and honor you with their whole lives throughout all eternity. AMEN!

A Better Way!

On 2024-07-05 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Friday, July 5, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 55:6-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near. Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: For those who may question why would the Lord not be found when you need Him, or when you’re possibly ready to accept His lordship, let me refer you to Genesis 6:3 which supports what the prophet is saying to us in this passage. It reads: The Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain in human beings forever, because they are flesh….” Friends, you might also recall in Luke 18 where the blind man, Bartimaeus, shouted out to Jesus for mercy when he heard that Jesus was passing near to him. He didn’t wait until he was better dressed, or finally getting along with his neighbor, or in better form. He had the opportunity, and he took advantage of it, for he didn’t know if tomorrow would come for him. Should you take time to study the above Scripture reference today, you may notice that in the previous chapter the Lord was addressing His people, the Israelites, and reminding them of why He rescued them from slavery at the hands of the Egyptians. For all that they complained about and all the sin they were guilty of during the long trip from Egypt, they may have felt much like we do when we feel guilty about the sin in our lives. We may all feel like there is no way that a holy and righteous God would accept us. But notice that God went on to tell the Israelites that He would abundantly pardon those who turn from their wicked and sinful lives and turn to Him. God was not unreal in His promise to these wicked and sinful people, but He told them that even though they may find this gift of salvation impossible in their own eyes, thoughts and minds, yet they must know that they could never appreciate and understand the thoughts and ways of our almighty, all-righteous, and all-powerful God. Remember, they were responsible for surrendering themselves to their Creator, the God of this universe. He took full responsibility for doing what only He could do, accept them as they were, forgive them abundantly (way more than they could ever imagine), and present them as forgiven, holy, and righteous before the Father. Dear friends, our God has not changed. He is still on the throne and He will always remember His own. He is still in the loving and saving business, and He will do the same for you and I. Are you tired of the emptiness and frustration of this sinful world, and ready to see God accept and clean you up? You alone are responsible for looking to God and inviting His Son, Jesus, to forgive you of your sin and accept you into His kingdom. Just as He did for the Israelites, God will also do the same for you. Please don’t tarry, for today may be your last opportunity.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord Jesus, I believe that You have convinced me that mankind will only think on You and seek after salvation when the Holy Spirit is busy at work in their hearts. In their sinful state, they have no time or interest in our holy God. Yet so many of us feel an allegiance to friends or loved ones visiting our church that we hesitate to move towards You when we hear Your voice speaking intently to us. I can only seek Your forgiveness for myself, Lord, but I humbly ask that You would soften the hearts of my family and friends who still need a close and intimate relationship with You. Please Lord, encourage them to surrender to Your voice and Your call on their lives to encounter the risen Christ and sure up their eternal future. Oh, how I long to celebrate their decision to seek You while You maybe found. May Your will be accomplished for Your holy purposes. AMEN!

Remember What He Said?

On 2024-06-20 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, June 20, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Luke 24:5-9

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Hopefully many who will read this devotional are habitual Bible scholars, devoted followers who attend church regularly and disciplined to spending time in the Word, and in prayer, daily. For those who are not, I pray that you will catch a glimpse of the connection that helped relieve the minds of the first visitors to the tomb of Jesus and discovered that His body was no longer there. Friends, your concern may not be that of an empty tomb or a missing body, but many of us have family and or loved ones who might need reminding of who Jesus is, and what He has already placed in His Word for their benefit. For example, some are sitting at the bedside of a close relative deeply concerned about their health, and they could benefit from the reminder of how Jesus healed the crippled man, the lady with a blood issue, and gave sight to the blind. Yes, the same Jesus to whom they and you are praying for healing of the ill relative in that hospital bed. Some are concerned where their next meal will come from, as their income has been spent for the month and supplies are getting low at the local food banks. But for those who recently read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 plus followers on the mountainside, you can remind them that nothing is impossible with God, and that little is much in His all-powerful hands. After all, He fed the multitude from one little boy’s lunch box! Some might use the excuse of not knowing the language of those who need to know the Lord, until you remind them of the large numbers who spoke in different languages on the Day of Pentecost, that also resulted in many being saved. Many of us may have lost our urgency to see lost souls saved, but perhaps if we remember the day of our salvation, we will be remined of the very special folk that prayed for us and those who led us to the altar where we sought forgiveness of our sin. As we ‘REMEMBER’ dear friends, perhaps we will do like the women, the first visitors to the tomb, we will be overfilled with hope and move into action to tell the world about our awesome Savior who is anxious to also receive them unto Himself.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: The first visitors to the tomb of Jesus was reminded of what Jesus had shared with them while ministering among them, and their hearts were renewed in this time of awe, disappointment, unbelief, and apparent loss. I believe that if we are faithful in our commitment and devotion to You Lord, we will constantly remember the awesome God that we serve, and be renewed in our spirit, to go on, knowing that there is nothing like our God, the Creator of all things! Lord, You know how hard we strive towards earthly success and gain, please stir up within us an even greater desire to know You, have relationship with You and have a deliberate yearning to know more about You. You created us for Your purposes, and we were intended to seek You in all aspects of life. Please renew a right spirit within us and help direct us to Your intended purpose, so that we might lift you up in all aspects of life. Teach us to ‘remember’ Your love so freely poured out upon us in everything You did for us. AMEN!

The Ultimate Sacrifice Paid Just for You

On 2024-06-06 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, June 6, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 53:5-6; 11

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!
…. and because of what he has experienced, my righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for he shall bear all their sins.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: You might recall that Noah was mocked, and many poked fun at him when he started building a huge ark (boat) in the middle of a land that had never seen rain. As we read through and meditate on the words of Isaiah, we should stop and ponder how he was empowered to speak with such authority about things that would happen many, many years in the future. However, we are once again reminded that our God knows all things, including those things that are yet to come! And while He works in the hearts and lives of individuals in unique ways that will ultimately result in glorification to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we find in our Scripture today that He chose to speak through His servant, Isaiah, about how the future of all mankind will change when God would choose to send His very own Son into the world to save the lost and wavering souls who are torn by Satan’s tyranny here on earth. As a child of the King, I find myself looking at a world filled with people that God must shake His head and wonder how on earth can they call themselves ‘Christian’, if they are truly looking to His Word for the meaning and lifestyle of a Kingdom child. Some that we know are cheating, lying, living an adulterous life, associated with the same sex in ways that the Bible calls an abomination, and yet they are members, and in some cases, even leaders in our local churches, the ‘bride of Christ’ as referred to in Scripture. Unfortunately, those who acknowledge that they are ‘without Christ’ look at these examples of current day ‘Christians’ and they decide to follow in their example, rather than the example of Jesus Christ as intentionally shown throughout Scripture. Now, some will say that if you read the Bible you will find where people today are no different to the people who lived in Bible days. While that is true, you will also find that your neighbor, or your fellow Sunday School attendee, and others that we rub shoulders with every day, still live today in ways that are contrary to Bible teaching. The key point for us today is the same as in days past. When God impresses upon us to seek Him while He is available to us, He convinces us that there is something wrong about the way we are living. There is no where in Scripture that God points someone to live like their neighbor, or parent, or coworker, etc. God directs us to be obedient children of the Word – His Book of Instruction. Think about it, a banker would not use the practices of a school teacher to do his/her job at the bank, but rather the rules of the bank and/or its regulators. Similarly, God would have us read, meditate, and try to understand His written Word, and to live by what He directs. In the last verse of today’s Scripture, it says that God’s aim is to have us live righteous lives that are pleasing to God. You and I gain nothing by trying to please those around us. God knows our heart, our thoughts and He is very aware of our actions and words. It is God that we must live to please, because only what’s done for Him will matter in eternity. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we could live in the light of eternity. Are you truly living a life that is pleasing, honoring, and faithful to such an awesome God? If not, please consider waiting no longer to invite Jesus into your heart, mind and soul and honor Him every day of your life through complete obedience to His Word.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank you Lord for anointing Isaiah, as Your messenger, to share the good news about a Savior that would come to prepare the way for us to enter into heaven some day. Unworthy, sinful, with the same mind as those who crucified You on that cruel cross, yet You sacrificed Your very own Son for us. Thank You Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Meditation on this Scripture invoked some very challenging thoughts for myself, plus the thoughts I shared in this devotional. Please Lord, teach us humbleness of heart and give us totally committed hearts that will learn to live out Your teachings and Your example so that the lost will catch a glimpse of Jesus without seeing the frailty of our attempts at obedience and with compromise and hypocrisy. Let there be nothing in us that will hinder the lost from seeing a holy and righteous Savior and Lord. AMEN!

By Faith

On 2024-05-302024-05-30 By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, May 30, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 11:24-27; 29;

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I find it interesting that attorneys will cite the outcome of previous cases similar to the one they are an active part of. It’s like saying to the jury, see, this is not the first time this same thing has happened, and there’s no need to reinvent the outcome of this, just follow suit with what a jury and judge already took days to reach a decision on, and follow through with sentencing. So how exactly is this different to the child of God who is facing a brand new challenge in their life? Hopefully, they could see from Biblical accounts that their situation was satisfactorily resolved by our ancestors when God became actively involved in their life and situation? Friends, I’m afraid that many today look at faith as a tool in their toolbox, that they could pull out and use when major events, beyond their control, occurs. Interestingly, those who have been to church at one time in their life, or have heard about the miracles of God, will attempt to use this tool as a quick fix for their problem, whether they know Jesus personally or whether they have a relationship with Him or not. However, let’s look at today’s Scripture and remind ourselves how was used by Moses. Remember that it was an encounter with God that brought Moses to his senses and helped him to realize that even he could be a toll used of God to fulfill His will and purpose. Yes, as a young man, Moses quickly acknowledged that he was no one special, nor did he even dream of being a leader of a few, much less a multitude of very challenging people that needed to be returned to their home country. After all, there’s military leaders especially trained for that type challenge. But God opened the mind and eyes of Moses to help him see how He (God) had been actively involved in his (Moses) life right from the very beginning of his life. Through the burning bush, God reminded Moses of how miraculous He was and how this would transcend down to every order given to Moses for the task ahead of him. Friends, God still uses similar tactics in our lives today to open our eyes of faith. We should always be opened to the mighty works of God in the lives of His children. We must be careful to no longer attribute the miracles happening in our life to ‘good luck’ or ‘happen chance’. If we are a child of the King and have a daily, active relationship with Jesus Christ, then let’s be reminded that if God sent His very own Son to save us from our sin, there is nothing that He wouldn’t do to save us from the wrath of this wicked world, if we ask Him to? If He used unusual circumstances to get through to us and cause us to surrender to Him, is there any reason He wouldn’t use even us to minister to those that we come into contact with? Please take some time and meditate on the miracles God performed through Moses for the benefit of His people. Try going to church for more than just checking off that box on your weekly To-Do list, but instead, anticipate encountering saints who have been touched by God, listen to their faith stories and hear the excitement of what God has done in their life. God will use these things to energize your faith. He did great and mighty things through the humility and willingness of Moses, there is no reason that He couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do the same thing through you, if you surrender your life to Him, and in faith, trust Him to use even you to complete His mission in your part of His world. Moses obediently lifted his rod and the waters of the Red Sea parted so his people could cross over without drowning; he struck a rock with that rod and water gushed forth in the desert to ease the thirst of his thirsty people. Perhaps there’s a ‘Red Sea’ that is challenging you today and blocking the progress of those looking up to you, listen closely as God tells you how He will part the waters to let your people through safely. God is all-powerful and mighty in every way. I believe He wants to come alongside of you and help you overcome your life’s challenges today. In faith, let Him do it, my friend!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord Jesus for seeing the faith that existed in Moses, and thank You for also recognizing the lack of faith in Peter when he looked away from You. I am convinced that there’s a mixed bag of faith in my audience today also as they read this devotional. I pray that You will once again show forth Your power, so that Your children will be strengthened in their relationship with You. Each day we need a renewed and refreshed look at our Master so that our faith will reach new heights and allow You to fulfill Your mission through us, Your humble servants. Please forgive us when we doubt and faulter, Lord. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth, even through us, today and every day. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Lord