Tag: Lord

Promised Relief From This World!

On By Ed AlgreenIn SalvationLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
5 All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Galatians 1:3-5)

Thoughts:

We see and hear so much in advertising about all that various products and vacations can do for us, but isn’t it interesting how we never see where something might help relieve our stresses about crime, hatred, personal vendettas, robberies and other things that trouble us every day? That’s why I believe God spoke to me so clearly and demanding in these verses today. Just imagine, God saw our stresses coming to the level where we’re at today, so He created a plan to rescue us out of this mess and take us on to glory with Him. To accomplish this, He had to provide a means for those who develop a desire for change. So at that first Christmas He arranged for His Son to be born, knowing that He would later allow Him to undergo intense pain and suffering, even to the point of death. However, God also provided a miraculous resurrection, so that those of us who believe on Him, would have our key to salvation from this wretched world, and would also rise again to be with the Lord! Oh What A Savior! Oh what a love! So are you ready for that kind of peace today friend? Yes, in the midst of our busyness, our fears, our disappointments and our uncertainties. This peace, this Savior that I already know, can be your Lord and Savior today. This is a peace that passeth all understanding or explanation, no matter how much I might try to convince you. Click on the link “To Know Jesus’ below and allow God to minister to you through the Bible verses included, for you too can also know Jesus in a very personal way!

Prayer:

Come Lord Jesus and give us relief from the stresses of this world, and the effects of sin on our lives. Thank You for patiently loving us, caring for us, directing us and providing the means for us to be with You eternally. Lord, You are good! Thank You! I am concerned for family and loved ones that have still not accepted You as their Lord and Savior, and therefore have no promise for tomorrow, and no hope for this life or the next. Please tender their hearts even now and draw them to You, their Creator, the only path to the Father. Jesus, I love You and so look forward to one day being relieved of all worry and concern, and replace that with fulltime worship at Your feet! I ask this believing, in the name of Jesus, the Christ, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that I can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. I would also recommend the following resource to you: “To Know Jesus“. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at my church home, Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

Your Defense Against Satan

On By Ed AlgreenIn FaithLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.

(Bible Translation and Location: Good News Translation – Ephesians 6:16)

Thoughts:

I believe that our country is well prepared in defending us from the evil that others may want to inflict upon us because of hatred for one reason or another. However, as individuals, how prepared are we in defending ourselves against the evil, temptations and trials that come our way each day? Normally we would think of ‘burning arrows’ as something an enemy might shoot into the camp of an opposing group, and we could apply this verse, if taken out of context and on its own. However, the ‘faith’ being referenced in this verse is part of the armor of God that Paul is teaching us to put on each day so that we may remain protected and strong against the enemy, Satan. If taken literally, you might say that you’ve never been hit by an arrow! Therefore let me suggest to you what some of these ‘arrows’ might be that would cause Paul to suggest how we might defend ourselves:

  • Depression – I believe that there are probably more folk depressed today than ever before in history. Whether it’s due to their concern about their health, family, job, finances or any number of things;
  • Discouragement – It is so discouraging for us to work our buns off for 8-16 hours per day, and still wind up broke at the end of the pay-week, or feel unappreciated by our supervisor, or not to receive a raise for our hard work;
  • Disappointment – You didn’t win the award or the promotion that you worked so hard to achieve. You are not pleased with the spouse your child found to spend their lives with. You can’t retire as early as you had hoped to.

There are numerous other ‘arrows’ that Satan may send our way to distract us from the path to righteousness and faith in our Lord and Savior. However, as children of God, refreshed by the Word daily, we know that God is in control of our lives and the circumstances that might impact it. The ability to take hold of these promises and know that God will be, and do, all that He said He would, is accomplished through our faith in our Creator. This ‘faith’ is possible through our first-hand knowledge and trust in the God of this universe, please read ‘To Know God‘, and our daily walk, or relationship, with Jesus. With this ‘faith’ we can move mountains, per scripture, and we can put Satan at bay knowing that he is not in control of our lives, but instead Jesus, the Son of the living and all-powerful God is! Praise His holy name forever!!

Prayer:

Jesus, Savior, Lord, Son of God, we are often overwhelmed by the fiery arrows of Satan. Please help us to stay focused and know that our Deflector of those arrows, and our Defender is so much stronger, loving, caring and very capable of handling our defense against Satan. Please soften the hearts of those who might feel like their decision to accept You as Lord is one that is made and forgotten. Please encourage them into a daily, relational, personal interaction with You, and give them knowledge to know that it is only in, and through You, Your grace and Your power that we could ever expect to defend ourselves against the evil one. Lord, may this be a day that Your children will seek You, know You and worship You in all spirit and truth. May we renew our relationship with You and maintain a sweet daily communion with You so that our faith may be energized and reinvigorated to overcome Satan in his daily attacks on us. You are God alone, and in You I place my trust oh Lord! I ask all this in Your precious and most worthy name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that I can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. I would also recommend the following resource to you: “To Know Jesus“. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at my church home, Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

Test Yourself

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

(Bible Translation and Location: The Amplified Bible – 2 Corinthians 13:5)

Thoughts:

I believe that the best way to prepare for a test of any kind is to practice responding to mock questions of what you feel will appear on the actual test. After all, you have read the material upon which the test is based, therefore you can, hopefully, answer almost any question around that particular subject. Similarly, in our Christian walk I believe that because we have:

  • Followed God’s instructions on ‘how to become His child‘;
  • Stayed in close communion with God, through regularly reading His ‘Book of Instructions’, the Bible;
  • Built a close relationship with Him through daily prayer;
  • Developed trust in your new-found Savior through answers to your prayers and your learned knowledge of Him, and
  • Showed evidence of being related to the One that you serve through talking and walking like Him

Then I believe that you can respond very positively, should Paul pose the same question to you that he did to his Corinthian church. Friends, just how you might have an occasional thorough exam by your doctor, I feel like this type of thorough spiritual checkup is also very important. For I believe that it will sever to highlight any cancers (sin) that might have eased its way into our lives, and it will help us to get alone with God and examine ourselves without any outside influences such as: the church, good Christian friends, or even those friends whose faith is questionable – as they will try very hard to convince you that your actions are fine. God’s Word says that by ‘our fruit’ (our Godly actions, – the fruits of love, peace, joy, forgiveness, etc. as detailed in the Bible) the world will know us. Unless we are convinced of our faith, how can we possibly and effectively convince others? If we are to be obedient to God’s Word and be constantly going and convincing others of their need for our Savior, then we must be on top of our game, friend! Why not join me in committing to this test today!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, what a sobering thought that Paul presented to his church, and to us today. Way too often we can see the faults and shortcomings in others, but seldom do we stop and compare ourselves to the ultimate source – Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, I believe that almost everyone who might meditate on this devotional today will agree that we daily strive for perfection, however I don’t believe that often enough do we stop and compare ourselves to the only true ‘Perfect One’. Please humble the hearts of Your children today so that we may find the need to: read Your Word regularly; pray often; practice the fruits of the Spirit that You detailed in Your Word, and imitate You, our role model, in every way possible. All this is only possible because of the strength, wisdom, love and direction that only You can offer dear Lord, so I humbly ask this in Your precious and holy name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

The Importance of Integrity

On By Ed AlgreenIn Integrity, TruthLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

(Bible Translation and Location: The New International Version – Ephesians 6:14a)

Thoughts:

In this chapter of Ephesians, Paul is warning the church, and I believe that since Paul’s words are inspired by God for our benefit, that we also are being warned, to be prepared for challenging times. I find it interesting that the first thing we are warned to have in order, is our integrity. For Paul says that it is vitally important that we represent Truth, and that we will stand for Truth in every circumstance of life. I believe it is outstanding how the New Testament backs up and supports those things prophesied in the Old Testament, for in Isaiah 11:5 we were told that “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.” and this was referring to Jesus Christ! Now, if we are to be ‘little Christs’, how much more important it is that we also always have Truth as our foundation? I believe that it all boils down to integrity, for if we had found where Jesus didn’t always stand for Truth, we would have lost all faith in Him as our divine Savior. Do you suppose that the reason we may not be winning the lost for Christ is that we have lost our integrity in their eyes? Are they seeing someone different outside the four walls of our churches than they see when worshiping with us in church? God saw integrity of vital importance for His Son, Jesus, to have prevalent in His life. Paul saw it of super importance in his life. May I challenge you to join me in also making this of utmost importance in our lives? We will be put to the test daily friend. Be sure that the world can clearly see whose you are in every scenario, if you ever expect to be a witness to them for Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us the way of truth, and for living a consistent life of truth, in spite of the circumstances that You were forced into by very evil people. Most of us have never been pushed to the limits that You have, because we want so badly to please others, and are so filled with greed, that we often cave in to the ways of the world. Please forgive us Lord, and raise up a multitude of saints that will stand firm for what they believe in Your Word and let the world know what it truly means to be a follower of yours. This may sometimes place us in unpopular situations, because we may have to go to the back of the line, or our choices may cost us more money. Father, please help us to always evaluate our decision based on our loyal servitude to You vs being more concerned about this old world, Satan or even our friends. Please fill us with boldness and confidence to stand for Truth in every circumstance of life, so that there will be no doubt about whose we are. Only You can give us this strength dear Jesus, so I ask all this humbly in Your precious and holy name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

When Life is At Its Toughest

On By Ed AlgreenIn Seclusion, Time alone with GodLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The “worst” is never the worst.

(Bible Translation and Location: The Message – Lamentations 3:28-30)

Thoughts:

I believe that we all respond differently to trials, struggles, and life when it seems to be at its toughest crossroads. I also believe that we have become a people who will go insane when faced with total silence! We seem to turn the television on while we work, just for the extra noise. We listen to music to calm us and help us go to sleep. We have music turn on automatically as our daily alarm. Our cars are filled with music or perhaps the spoken Word while we drive to and from work. However, in this scripture, we are told that when life seems to be tough and perhaps even at its worst for us, we need to slip away by ourselves and at some point in that silence bow in prayer before our heavenly Father. Friends, He knows exactly what we are going through and wants very much to help us through our challenging times, but He wants us to initiate the request for help. This teaches us patience, submission, humility and a heart full of respect for the Creator of this earth to care that much about us. I found it interesting that this was not just something that God thought to throw out just for us weaklings, because in the New Testament we are told that Jesus himself went to the garden to pray alone. While He could have easily prayed in the presence of His disciples, He chose to follow the pattern taught in this scripture, He went off into the garden alone to pray. Life was at its toughest for Him, and He followed this direction to give God His undivided, private, and full attention. I can’t be sure about you friend, but with me it seems like I can use this solution at least on a daily basis, due to the stresses, worries and concerns of life today. There is another verse that also comes to mind: Be still and know that I am God. I receive peace and resolve from knowing that God is not only available to me, but is also right beside me ready and willing to help me when I ask because of a need. He just loves me that much! What an awesome God that I serve! Friend, this same God is also available to you. Please consider this, and learn to lean on Him as Your everlasting Father.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for reminding me that I don’t need to wait until I have exhausted all personal efforts before coming to You for help and direction. Thank You for being available to Your children at all times. Thank You for reminding me that You needed time with the Father during the tough times of Your life. How much more do I need You in my life today? I have friends who seem to be at wits end with all of their challenges also. Please give us all a yearning for You on a daily basis, so that You might be the first one that we turn to, rather than the last alternative. Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness, love and provisions so that I may live life to its fullest, without stress, and in line with Your perfect will! Bless those that might meditate on these words today, is my humble prayer that I ask in the name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

Change

On By Ed AlgreenIn Change, SurrenderLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that everything comes — both calamity and blessing?
39 Why should any living person complain when punished for his sins?
40 Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven

(Bible Translation and Location: The New English Translation – Lamentations 3:38-41)

Thoughts:

I have always been told that the truest meaning of insanity is: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results! In verse 40 we are reminded that there should be a reckoning day where we have a serious, honest day of inflection with ourselves, especially when we realize that we the reason for our struggles and/or hardships might be because we are being punished by the Almighty because of our sin. For God is telling us that we should then stop, carefully examine our ways (compared to the ways taught by God in His word – not compared to your neighbor, coworker or your best friend), and return to the Lord. Now, I believe it is very evident to see that for us to redirect our lives from something that God dislikes, or something that is contrary to His Word and His will for our lives, then ‘Change’ has to take place. Otherwise we will continue doing the wrong thing knowing that we are living out of the will of God and contrary to His commands. The next verse (41) helps us to understand how we might achieve this change. In this world, whenever someone is caught doing something wrong, they are asked to surrender themselves to the authorities. When we lift up our hearts and hands to God, we are surrendering ourselves to His authority. To truly come before a righteous and holy God, we must first seek a cleansing from Him, and agree to accept the change that He might dictate to us, in order to be like Him. When last have you placed yourself before the God of all creation and asked Him to examine your very thoughts and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, so that You may be more in line with His will for your life? To truly represent Him, be His child and be more like Him, we must surrender the ways (sin) of this wicked world, seek His face, and return to the ways of God. Anything less than this will merely be lip service and life as it is right now. Please let us commit to ‘Change’, right now!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Your Word achieves its purpose every time. It drives deep inside and causes us to see our unfaithfulness and our sin, the reason for our separation from You, the reasons why our loved ones and friends are not being impacted by us for You. Please forgive us. Please don’t give up on us, but continue to patiently direct us towards all that You need us to see, and all that You need us to understand and follow in Your Word. Thank You for loving me enough to care about my future with You in Heaven. Thank You for providing The Way of us to enter Heaven’s portals one day and worship You in person. You are Holy, Almighty and worthy of our praise oh Lord. I thank You for Your amazing grace and Your indescribable love. Please touch each one reading this devotional today. Direct them to the areas of their lives that must be affected by ‘Change’ for them to know You personally, and/or draw closer to You, if they already know You. My prayer is asked in humility and thanksgiving, for I ask it in the precious name of Jesus – Lord, Savior, Almighty God and Everlasting Father, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day‘s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

The Passion of Ministry

On By Ed AlgreenIn WitnessingLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.

(Bible Translation and Location: The New Living Translation – 2 Corinthians 11:10)

Thoughts:

I hope that no one will be turned off from the subject of today’s devotional, thinking that ‘Ministry’ is reserved only for your pastor, priest or congregational leader. For I believe that God’s Word is clear in designating each of His faithful children as His ministers, or imitators, or promoters, or believers responsible for sharing what we know about God. About the reason for our Joy, our Hope and our Eternal Destination! What really caught my attention in this short verse, is the point Paul made about not allowing anyone to stop him in what he was doing! Wow, do you realize how little the interruption might be that stops us from simply attending church? Can you recall how simple the reason was that prevented us from witnessing to that friend who was hurting and needing our Savior in their life? Isn’t it amazing how we tend to stay clear of those in a crowd who tend to openly witness? We hardly want to be seen associating with such a ‘freak’ or fanatic. Sad isn’t it? Interesting how we would probably place ourselves in harm’s way to protect a friend from danger, yet we would just as soon see them die and go to eternity in Hell with Satan and his cohorts, rather than simply sharing the joy in our hearts because of Jesus. Friends, time is short. Jesus could come today! That friend you’ve always felt God pointing you to share His salvation with, could go for his/her last drive or flight today and die in route to their destination. Please don’t let an opportunity pass by to share God’s love with them before it’s too late. Like Paul, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from sharing your passion, your ministry, your love for the Lord, with someone that God leads you to on this day!

Prayer:

Dear Father, You allowed Your very own Son to bear the shame of crucifixion as a sign of Your love for us, and as a sacrifice for us that enables us to one day be with You in glory! What amazing love! You sent men of passion to share Your Word with a world undeserving of the sacrifice they made, yet they did it because of Your love for them, and their dedication to, and love for, You. In spite of all that, today You have given us the choice to openly share the joy of our salvation with unbelieving family, friends and coworkers with a passion like that of Paul, or to simply hide the light and source of our happiness, and allow these ones to go on thinking that we are just that ‘good’ or ‘holy’. Please forgive us Lord. Please place a new boldness and passion in us that would ignite a new fire of desire and passion to openly share the source of our joy with all that we might come into contact with. Lord, may others have a desire to know You today, because of the change You will make in our lives. It’s all about You oh Lord, not us. I humbly ask this in the wonderful name of Jesus, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

Things to Do While We Wait

On By Ed AlgreenIn Disciplined, ReadinessLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

(Bible Translation and Location: The New Living Translation – 1 Peter 4:7-9)

Thoughts:

Living in a hurricane prone area of the world, we know how to be prepared for the often short notice about an approaching hurricane. However, when warned, we quickly hit the streets and pay a visit to our grocery stores and possibly to hardware stores for last minute items to make sure we are fully ready for eventual power cuts or breaks in deliveries to our local stores. Similarly, living in this world and having taken the first step of readiness for God’s eminent return, God, through Peter, is warning us of some last minute things we should really be doing to avoid any regrets when we stand before Him. Here are some things that we should be doing right now friends:

  • Be earnest and disciplined in our prayers – A Christian living in a world stained by sin, and where sin abounds, must stay close to God and constantly seek His guiding and protective hand to help us to stay on track and not be distracted by the sin that initially entrapped us and kept us at bay from God. “Being earnest and disciplined at it” gives me the impression that we are to make this a priority even when we don’t feel like it, but like vitamins and food itself, do it because we are told to, and because we know that we need it;
  • Show deep love one for another – Generally we will exude what’s inside of us. If God has filled us with His love, then we should have no trouble showing love for one another. However, I believe that just how a perfect God chose to love imperfect people like us, God wants us to love even those who might otherwise be unlovable. Ones we despise because they believe different to us, or act in ways that we have overcome (with God’s help). Ones that have hurt us, or who we may have hurt, because the Word says that this kind of love will be greater than the hurt, and also help us to overcome the hurt. Loving those who are different to us is much like what God was faced with when He looked down on us – sinners, yet He loved us anyway. Praise the name of the Lord!
  • Freely share your home and your food – Who blessed us with what we have, friends? Therefore, because all that we have, became possible because of our loving God, we should therefore pass the blessing along and bless others with it! Let’s truly be an example of the Savior that we worship and adore!

Friends, we are God’s very own and He has blessed us way more than we could ever imagine or deserve. As He has blessed us, let us therefore bless others! Let’s learn to pass along the blessings and not just hog them up to ourselves.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I thank you for giving me Your Word to plainly tell me what I should be doing right now. As I was obedient in Your call upon my life to accept You as my Lord and Savior, please continue to nudge me along with reminders to live according to Your book of instructions so that I might do what You require of me on a daily basis. These verses today are excellent reminders of what I should be doing as I wait for Your return. Please give me strength today, and a willing and obedient heart as I strive to obey You and do Your will. Please allow Your Word to make an indelible imprint on the minds of Christians that read this today so that they also might be realigned to obedience. For others that You may point to this devotional today, please work a miracle in their life so that as they see the need to surrender their life to You, they may also catch a glimpse of Your expectations after their initial decision. Thank You for being so gracious to even me dear Lord. May I now be gracious and obedient in response to You. I am asking this in Your awesome, powerful and loving name, Jesus my Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

For No Selfish Gain, Just Glorify God

On By Ed AlgreenIn HumilityLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

17 As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”(Jer. 9:24)

18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.

(Bible Translation and Location: The New Living Translation – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Thoughts:

Here Paul is defending himself against a bunch of ‘super apostles’, who couldn’t stand seeing someone not from their group come in to share the gospel with their people. Do we have these type folk in our churches today? In my opinion, yes we do, and they are usually the troublemakers, much like Paul encountered in the early church. However what I feel like Paul was trying to clear up for us, is that Christians are to be loyal to God and always striving to please Him. If we please others along the way, then glory to God for whom the pleasing was intended! We should never have to boast on ourselves, after all it is God who created us; God who provides life each day; God who fills us with His love and the knowledge necessary to discern His Word and be able to share it with others. We are therefore just servants of the Master Designer and therefore He who should receive honor and glory from everything accomplished by Him through us. Friends, we are to be careful to pass the praises on to our Lord and Savior, and not soak them up in selfish pride with the assumption that it was due to anything we may have done. We are merely empty vessels with the love and power of God working in and through us as we open our mouths and or work any good deed. Please let us continue to please our Lord, and then worship Him together with others as we are blessed by Him. Don’t let our selfish pride get in the middle of this, for we are nothing without You.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, in all humility I come before You today asking that You might continue to receive glory for any and everything that You might accomplish through my efforts. Thank You for even considering using me to help others and to represent You. May I fade into the backdrop as You maintain prominence and receive praise for working in the lives of your people. Please keep me volunteering to help where You know that You can use me to receive glory, especially through people surrendering their lives to You. Please make me very aware of the times that I may be less than humble, as my desire and wish is to see people won to You, and only You can perform such a miracle. Please soften the hearts of Your messengers who may be less than obedient, or less than humble before an awesome and perfect God. May this be a day that we all learn to pass the praises up to You while continuing to seek Your face and Your perfect will for our lives as we serve You. Lord I ask these things humbly in Your name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day‘s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!

With Thanksgiving – One for Another

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

(Bible Translation and Location: New Living Translation – Philippians 1:3-6)

Thoughts:

With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, those of us in America focus our hearts and minds on ‘thanksgiving’. I believe that we primarily think of giving thanks to God for all that He has blessed us with, which is the right thing to do, when we consider that ALL things come from God, and through blessing us each and every day, we go on to bless others. However Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also saw the need to encourage us to look around us and thank those who, like us, are striving to reach the world for Jesus. In our country we have designated a month of the year to especially thank our pastors for their services. This is good, but what about the other 11 months of the year? And what about the other lay leaders/workers of the church, do they deserve a word of appreciation also? Our pastor recently reminded us that most folk come to know the Lord though the laypeople of the church, not through the preaching and/or teaching at the church. I believe you would see great encouragement among the members of our churches if we were to find something to thank each one for as we greet them at our worship services, or anywhere else we see them! Paul considered each of us as ‘partners’ in the ministry. In other scripture we, the people, are referred to as a ‘body’ with various parts, all of which are important. So friend, what is your area of ministry in the church? Think about it, in addition to the obvious ones like preaching and teaching, some are constantly offering prayers one for another, others might be encouraging a Brother or Sister who might be feeling despondent, while another might call to check on someone who didn’t make church service to make sure they are not ill. There are numerous other ways that we each may minister, but together we complete the circle of ministry ordained by God. Because we are reaching for the same goal and working for, and in the name of, the same Master, then we are partners in the ministry as indicated by Paul in the captioned verses. Be ready with an answer for a partner when they ask you about your area of ministry! Let’s be diligent in praying one for another, so that the work of the Lord might prevail and flourish!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for all you did for us, and for what You continue to do for us each and every day. Thank You for those who partner with us in ministry, as together we strive to reach the world for You. Bless us with courage, stamina and a deep desire to serve You through everything that we do. May we always bless those that we come into contact with, because of You! Lord You are good, and Your mercies endure each and every day! Thank You Lord Jesus. These things I ask in You wonderful and precious name, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day‘s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL!