Your Heavenly Reward

On 2022-01-202022-01-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-01-20
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 5:11-12
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹¹“How blessed you are when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me! ¹²So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you.

APPLICATION: This Scripture was also referenced in Ps. 119:85–87. While I love to look at commentaries to help me better understand the Scriptures, I was totally blessed and excited when I read this comment by one on this passage: We are to live in such a way that people have to lie when they speak evil of a believer in Christ! Wow!! If only we could live in such a way that this commentator’s statement would always be true of us. Interesting that Jesus had just listed a number of contributors to a life of blessing (the beatitudes), then He followed that with this eyeopening statement – warning us that we will be hated for looking, sounding and acting like Him. In fact our friends, family and peers will even lie to accuse us falsely of not doing what we preach. This generally happens when one is envious of our lifestyle, or they wish that they could acquire some of the characteristics they see in us. What seems so opposite in this, is that our kids seem to look for the most popular peers to follow after. Most often this leads to serious trouble, as they are coerced into doing things quite different to those things taught in the home by their family. Our natural instincts would lead us to depression when others are mean to us, or show jealousy towards us. But Jesus wanted us to be encouraged when we see these things as a Christian, because it is evidence that our Christ-like behavior is having an impression upon our peers. When this happens, Jesus assured us that it is then that we should be encouraged, and rejoice, because it is a moment when we should realize that it is more than us shining through, because greater is He that is in us, than He that is in the world. And although the world may seem to jeer at folk who seem different than they are, yet we should be reminded that Jesus working through us will save the lost, encourage the downtrodden and lift up the broken-hearted. Friends, if all that our friends see is plain old ‘us’, then there’s nothing to change their heart. Oh that their eyes would be opened to the love and example of Jesus in every word we speak, and every unexpected action that we take, for it is only Jesus who can make a difference in our world.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus in us and evident through us, can change a sinful and troublesome world. Let’s learn to step aside and let God have His perfect will in and through us, for His glory alone!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, take my hand and lead me through this troubled world. There are many that I will come into contact with who will need a lot more than I could ever do for them – for they need You. Please use me as an instrument through which Your light will shine, and Your love will be evident, to even the unlovable. People are looking for something better than what they find in the attention grabbing actions that they take every day. They want to make a difference in someone’s life, and that’s where You kick in, for it is only You who can change a sinful heart and a life filled with worldly desires and evil. Oh that You will create peace in the hearts of many today as you touch lives and make a difference in them for the Kingdom. May I be one of the first to be impacted positively for You and may I make a difference where there seems to be no hope. AMEN!

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

Jesus Demonstrated Effective Ministry

On 2022-01-192022-01-19 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Healing, Needs, Praise, Preaching, Recognize God, Teachings, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-01-19
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 4:23-25
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ²³Jesus traveled all through Galilee teaching in the Jewish synagogues, everywhere preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of Heaven. And he healed every kind of sickness and disease. ²⁴The report of his miracles spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that sick folk were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were insane, or paralyzed—he healed them all. ²⁵Enormous crowds followed him wherever he went….

APPLICATION: Some of you may have served in church leadership, or on a committee charged with organizing events designed to entertain different age groups in your church’s community. If your experiences were similar to those in which I participated, then you will agree with me that church leaders spend many, many hours behind closed doors in planning and organizational responsibilities. I’m not sure that we could ever succeed in ministering of the Gospel just through planning, but what if we concentrated on the proven methods of Jesus? Let’s examine the three main parts of His ministry, as mentioned in our Scripture:
—> TEACHING – We send our children to school to learn everything they need to survive in a workplace and in life overall. So, because they are lacking in these areas, we find help for them by well learned teachers. Most of us will pick up the Bible and try to read it, but we are quickly stumped by everything written. I would dare say that just as in Jesus’ day, many of us could benefit from the teaching of God’s Word. Our churches are blessed to have good teachers who do a fair job in teaching through Sunday School, Bible Study and small groups. But it is becoming more and more challenging to encourage attendees of the need to join others in this important learning experience;
—> PREACHING – I found it interesting that some translations said that Jesus ‘announced’ the Kingdom. Research shows that this means He preached about the kingdom of God. I believe this helps us to better understand why most churches still preach the Word of God. Please remember that for the preaching to be most effective to you individually, it is just as vital that you pray for your pastor or preacher, as it is to pray that God would open your heart’s door to accept what He has to say to you that day. You see, God’s Word is designed for us individually and God will speak to us personally and very directed as we tune our hearts to hear Him.
—> HEALING – I believe this is the area that you will tune into most intently, because you have seen so much fraud and false teachings/actions in this regard. I’m with you, because only God can heal, and I detest the idea of men or women proclaiming healing power of their own. However, I believe what the church needs most today is the man/woman of God who acknowledges the sole power of God in healing, and the love of God who sees the need for physical, mental and personal healing in everyone who crosses their path. For there are so many who are hurting in so many different ways, and they are hoping that the church will not only accept them as they are, but also empathize with them over their challenges in life. Especially since Covid, it seems that there is less connection between church leaders and their members who are in desperate need. Many times healing will come to hurting people just from someone who shows that they care. Leave the computer. Close the office. Call someone without worrying if you are disturbing them. People need the Lord, and their first step in that path towards the Master, is through knowing that His helpers and supporters care about, and love each other, especially in their times of need.
As I stated in my introduction, if churches spent as much time in ministering as they do in planning events, the Word of God will quickly extend to all ends of the earth, and the world will know who Jesus is, and that He cares for them, because they could see it in His representatives.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus’ ministry was effective and fruitful because He mastered three of the same areas that we try to perform today. Perhaps today we could emphasize even more on Teaching, Preaching and Healing of the whole person for even more effective ministry.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for caring enough for mankind that You were pliable in the hands of Your Father and followed through with being captured, crucified and buried so that we might know perfect love. I am in awe about Your resurrection and I praise God for such a miracle, because we are left with a risen Lord who still loves and cares for us. Forgive us Lord when we think it too much to sacrifice time to check on, and/or visit one another when there is a known need. How else will we prove Godly love for our Brothers and Sisters? You taught us how to love, and the extreme that one could go through to show love. You showed us how to minister effectively and You have blessed us with great churches, awesome ministers/pastors and also wonderful congregations who need to know about Your love for them, and see it practiced in reality every day. Please forgive us where we fail in this Lord. Help us to follow in Your footsteps for effective ministry to Your children we are blessed to associate with. AMEN!

Those Impacted By Your Lies

On 2022-01-172022-01-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Impacted by the Word, Lives Impacted, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-01-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 5:3-4, 9
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ³Ananias, have you allowed Satan to influence your lies to the Holy Spirit and hold back some of the money? ⁴Look, it was your property before you sold it, and the money was all yours after you sold it. Why have you concocted this scheme in your heart? You weren’t just lying to us; you were lying to God.
⁹Why did the two of you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?….

APPLICATION: Kids start at a very young age to lie in order to avoid consequences of their sin. Don’t you remember: mumbling through a mouth-full of cookies that it wasn’t you who stole from the cookie-jar?!!! Getting into your despised math class late, and trying to make up an excuse (lie) to avoid being marked ‘late’ yet again for the week? It worked a few times for you, so you may have felt like it was worth trying, but what if you heard God audibly ask why are you hurting Him again by lying? Don’t you realize and remember that He knows everything possible about you? I wonder if it would help if, when we ask for forgiveness of someone, that we also ask forgiveness of God at the same time? I truly believe that our consciences have become so hardened to lying, and to sin in general, that our lies just roll off our lips naturally and we go on about our day as usual without addressing those who may have been impacted. For the instigator of lies, I am always surprised that they think their friends are so gullible that they never even realized they were lied to. Unfortunately, we lose trust in the person who lies, for we have proven the untruth over and over again, and now we expect to question every thing they say. Let’s have a look into the scenario with Ananias and his wife. They reminded me of what we do from time to time. I have relatives in the Bahamas, and there are import duties for almost everything you take into that country. So at the airport the Customs Officer will ask the value of gifts or non-personal items you are bringing in. Unfortunately, it seems like the amount we give them, depends on the amount we believe we could make the Officer believe. In the US we file annual Tax Returns. Tax is ultimately calculated based on annual income. For regular employers, they are required to report to Internal Revenue how much they paid you, and that should match with the amount you report. However, cash payments for tips, bonuses or even salary in some cases, are not reported to IRS, as it is not recorded in the employer’s record books. It seems like Ananias felt like he was in a similar situation. After all, who would know how much he was paid for the property he sold? Surely he should be allowed to withhold some portion of that payment for all that he did to maintain and/or improve that property over the years! Friends, what do you suppose God must think of His children that He not only created in His own image, but He also provided a Book of Instruction to guide and direct us. God also sent His very own Son to be our advocate and forgive us of our sin, yet we overlook that fact and just continue on sinning. What must He think when we just can’t be honest in our speech? In all my years of reading the Bible, I have never doubted, or mistrusted, anything that Jesus said. If I am to be His follower and His earthly representative, shouldn’t others be able to trust me in exactly the same way? Ananias and Sapphira were not allowed to live because of their sin. How many around us would die today because of their sin before the Almighty? I’m sure that it would not be a pretty scene. Do your part dear friend, be honest before God and everyone you come into contact with.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God will forgive and protect those who seek forgiveness for their sin. Let’s learn to listen carefully to our conscience and recall the teachings of our Master, especially when we sin. Unforgiven, deliberate sin is an abomination before God.

PRAYER: Lord, may we never become comfortable telling a lie, nor sinning in any other form. You created us to be holy, just as You are holy; righteous, just as You are righteous; and to be Christ-followers and imitators so that the world will see Jesus instead of our prideful selves. Please forgive us where we fail in this, and give us a mind like that of Jesus, so that we may aim for holiness and righteousness at all times. Only the blood of Jesus will save a sinner, but the stained blood of sin and unbelief will distract a sinner from ever seeing Jesus. Please help us to facilitate the cleansing blood of Jesus, and never be a stumbling block to anyone who needs You. May it be obvious to everyone we come into contact with, who rules and reigns inside of us, and may they seek to know You personally, dear Lord. AMEN!

The Results of What Just Happened

On 2022-01-152022-01-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Disciple, Evangelism, Evangelize, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-01-15
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 4:27-30
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁷… The foreign ruler Pontius Pilate and the Jewish ruler Herod, along with their respective peoples, have assembled in opposition to Your holy servant Jesus, the One You chose. ²⁸They have done whatever Your hand and plan predetermined should happen. ²⁹And now, Lord, take note of their intimidations intended to silence us. Grant us, Your servants, the courageous confidence we need to go ahead and proclaim Your message ³⁰while You reach out Your hand to heal people, enabling us to perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.

APPLICATION: Based on your level of boldness, what do you suppose you would have done in Peter and John’s position? They had just been jailed and reprimanded for teaching about Jesus, and told to leave the jail knowing that they are not allowed to do that anymore. Peter and John ‘pulled no punches’ with the leaders, because they knew that what was inside could only come out! They knew that everyone in the towns they visited needed Jesus, and since they had firsthand knowledge of Him, they had an obligation to share the simple truth with everyone they met. So if you feel like you could have been bold enough to take the same stand that Peter and John took, I want you to now consider what you would have done after being released. Perhaps you would consider warning other believers to quiet down on their preaching, teaching and witnessing? Perhaps set up a private ‘home’ church where you could minister to attendees without being out in the public for the leaders to see you continuing the ministry? Perhaps leave the ministry and return to regular workplaces where you could hopefully witness to others privately? Could you in your wildest imagination consider immediately meeting up with your fellow ministers to rev up the work and reach even more people? Many churches closed their doors when Covid became such a scare, and some have not found alternate ways of ministry yet – their doors are still shut. Because of this threat, many have stayed at home, and have become very comfortable to have the TV on while they sit in front of the TV in their PJs with other devices in hand while the service plays on via TV. Many will probably never return to the church building again. Peter and John had the perfect excuse – the threat on their lives, to hang up their ministry and return to their old job of fishing, which threatened no one. However, and this is especially the part we need to take note of, they had such a passion for their Lord and for what He did for them in providing salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, that they were willing to put their lives on the line in order to get together with God’s people and worship their Lord together in one place. Friends, we have family and loved ones who are still dying every day, and they are destined for Hell unless someone shares the secret to Eternal Life with them. Nothing stopped Peter and John, not even the threat on their lives. Will you decide today to actively pursue spreading the love and work of our Savior to all who would hear you, regardless of the threat on your life through disease and/or hardship and/or danger? Remember, you were saved because of the love and concern of others who prayed and/or ministered to you. Please consider passing along that same love and concern to others.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Peter and John continued to minister, in spite of the threat on their lives. Oh that we would do the same today. Our friends are so worth it!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for our warriors who served as disciples to our Lord Jesus, and for all they they exampled before us when they continued ministering even in the threat upon their lives after being jailed. We still have threats today, even though most are very minor compared to our forefathers. Please give us a renewed boldness to minister in good weather and in the midst of storms that seem to threaten our existence. Our jobs here are incomplete until the day You call us home to glory, so please be our Guide, and strengthen us every day for the task at hand – sharing the Good News of our Savior! AMEN!

Always Share About The Jesus You Have Seen and Heard

On 2022-01-132022-01-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Personal Witness, Praise, Recognize God, Witness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-01-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 4:13-14; 18-20
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: ^13-14They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
^18-20They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

APPLICATION: I believe that most will agree that too many Christians assume regular church attendance satisfies the God who saved them, and that they serve such an understanding God, He is Ok with how much, or how little they do for the Kingdom. Why is that? Do you suppose it may be that their church attendance is very similar to their habitual watching of Television, where they just sit and relax while being entertained? Let’s look at what the religious leaders faced with Peter and John, and perhaps this might open our eyes for clarity on this matter. Somehow, they were not overly threatened when they realized that these two disciples were unlearned in the Scriptures, for they had not taken extended studies on the Bible like the church leaders of their day did. While I believe that seminary serves an important role in educating the religious leaders of our day, I can find no place in Scripture where this is given as a prerequisite to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So I would encourage every reader to not sit back and leave all witnessing and outreach to your pastor, but to always do your part in sharing what Jesus has done for you. I don’t believe God ever intended for you to share what you think the Pastor will share. Instead, God wants you to share your personal experience with your Lord. Peter and John were simple fishermen, yet they not only got the attention of their hearers, but also of the town leaders. I am convinced that people respond better to our true and honest experience with the Lord, than they would to any story we might share with them. Of course using Bible stories, miracles and any other Biblical experiences only support what Jesus also did in your life, but your friends will identify better with your personal experience. I included the latter verses in our focal Scripture today, because I wanted to remind you how personal our relationship could get. Peter and John told the leaders that even if God wants them to respect their worldly leaders, there is nothing that can take away from their personal, one-on-one, intimate relationship with their Savior. Friends, I strive for that type of relationship! How about you? I believe the joy of that will just overflow through everything we share with others!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We are quick to brag on our spouse, our kids and our extended family. Why wouldn’t we also do the same for the relationship experiences with our Savior? I believe it will be a natural thing to do!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You willingly went to the cross for us, and I believe you would do it again, if it became necessary. You were never ashamed of Your Father, and Your love for us was always evident. May we never be ashamed of the One who rescued us from a life of sin, headed for eternal damnation. May this be such a part of our life that it will be evident to the lost world around us, and may our actions and words always confirm who our Master is. Forgive us Lord when we allow the distractions of this world to take priority in our witness. Please strengthen and embolden us to always be Your best witness and ambassador while allowed to remain here on earth. AMEN!

Preparing For Baptism

On 2022-01-122022-01-12 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Forgiveness, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-01-12
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 3:5-9
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. ⁶And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. ⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? ⁸Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ⁹Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

APPLICATION: Ever noticed how some will dye their hair blue, if they see a friend or two doing the same thing, and getting attention over the strange practice? Ever noticed at an altar call in your church how challenging it is to get the first person to respond to the gospel message, and how much easier it is after the first person makes the walk down to the altar? We don’t want to be the first to make a move, but we are quick to follow the flow by our friends. People from the neighboring towns came to hear for themselves what all this ‘wild man’, John, was preaching about. His message touched their heart, so they confessed their sin and was ready to be baptized. This is still pretty customary in churches today, especially during revival or evangelistic services. But what would your church, or your pastor, do if at the baptismal service a number of people showed up for baptism who had never visited your church before? I believe we all can agree that at such special services, many might get in the spirit of what is occurring , and they may want to be baptized also. John recognized that the Pharisees and Sadducees who showed up and wanted to be baptized, felt like they were already good enough on their own reconnaissance and at least as good as the persons there who may have received forgiveness of their sin that day. However, John addressed this by drawing their attention to the change that occurs in a believer’s life. I believe John’s teaching on this is well worth our time to reflect on. Think about it – if we are a child of the King, then we will look like; sound like; and act like the King. It would be highly hypercritical of us to say that we are a child of the King, yet continue to behave like our old sinful selves. Who are we trying to fool? I also appreciate that John included the piece for his audience not to feel ‘saved’ because of them being from the seed of Abraham. You see, when we have grown up in the church, or if we happen to be a child of the pastor, deacon or elder, we may try to fool the world into thinking that because of our heritage, we too are saved. Notice what John taught here: we are each to approach the throne of God individually. Nothing done, said, or practiced by our ancestors could cleanse us of our sin and make us right with God. It is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we are saved. That’s the sole purpose in God sending His Son, and He will have it no other way. We cannot slither our way into heaven through any other means. Be encouraged today Brothers and Sisters. We may not be a son or daughter of any earthly king or queen, but as a son of the Most Hight God – King Jesus, we are born again and ready to meet our Savior whenever He calls us home to glory. We are never too bad, or never too much of a pretender for God to accept us. Repent of your sins and ask God to become alive in You so that your words, actions and witness will be all about your heavenly Master.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus can save the hardened criminal or even the one who feels like they’ve always been ‘good enough’ according to the word’s standards.He came to seek and save ALL that are lost. That includes you, me, our neighbor or the drunk down the road.

PRAYER: Father God, we are reminded that there is nothing we can do of our own selves to save ourselves from our sins and ready ourselves for the portals of Heaven. John was very blunt about this with the Pharisees and Sadducees, and he may have even found reason to preach at some of our churches today. Yes, we must be saved through the righteous sacrifice of Jesus alone. But our life will always reflect who takes center place in our lives. May that always be you, and you alone dear God. As the world see Jesus in us, they might become convinced of the power of the One who sacrificed His life for the remission of our sins. Please forgive us for trying to play the fool before You, like we so often try to get away with before our fellow man. You are the one, and the only one, that we must be honest before. Please deal in our hearts and our lives so that we may have an honest relationship with You, and the one who will naturally display to the world who controls every fiber of our being. We love You Lord and we want You to be evident in all that we are. AMEN!

Repeating The Evil of our Ancestors

On 2022-01-042022-01-03 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-01-04
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Genesis 6:5-7
TRANSLATION: New Century Version (NCV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵The Lord saw that the human beings on the earth were very wicked and that everything they thought about was evil. ⁶He was sorry he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. ⁷So the Lord said, “I will destroy all human beings that I made on the earth. And I will destroy every animal and everything that crawls on the earth and the birds of the air, because I am sorry I have made them.”

APPLICATION: Whether in our homes, or at work or just in society in general, we tend to hope that the discipline we hand out would impact others to avoid repeating the same sin. I know of a boss who once said that he should fire one person weekly, so that the others might stand in fear for their respective jobs and do better! God showed us in His Word how upset He was with seeing His creation turn so badly away from Him and His teaching. In fact, so disappointing, that God desired to just start all over again. Although God went on to say in Genesis 8:21 that He would never do such a drastic thing again, I’m sure that He must be so disappointed that He is seeing a repeat of things that hurt Him so badly to have previously disciplined our ancestors for. But as we enter a New Year, I believe we must ask ourselves ‘what is it that I can do to better obey and serve my God?’ Yes, we must be concerned about the rest of the world around us, but our responsibility is to pray for them to stay persistent in their commitment to the Creator of the World, or have a growing desire to know Him personally and/or more intimately. In an earlier devotional, I came across a statement by Jesus where He told His disciples to not be so worried about the date/time of His return, as they must be about seeing the hearts of sinful man turn to, and accept the Savior of the world. So when we look towards a New Year and wonder where to start, and what to plan for our days that God allows us to remain on planet earth, we must always look to what God wants us to do. When people, who need the Lord, come to accept Him as Lord, they will have no desire to keep on sinning. When we know that something irritates our parents, or our spouse, or those we love, we tend to try everything possible to avoid repeating that sin, or action. We know from the Scripture today that God was totally frustrated and angry at the sin seen in His creation. We also know that there is enough going on today that must be upsetting to our Maker, let us therefore commit ourselves to prayer, and to encouraging one another – especially the unsaved, so that they may see Jesus at work through us, and surrender their lives to Him for all eternity.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God created the world and everyone in it, so He was very much authorized to wipe them out and start again. He promised never to send another flood, so we must enjoy every blessing, and do our best to avoid the sin that upsets Him.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we are ashamed to be here on earth where so much sin abounds – perhaps very much like the sin that upset You in Noah’s day. For those who have accepted You as Lord, I pray that we will be even more committed to touching the lives of the unsaved, for we know that when sin is conquered, so will the crime, hatred and fighting – the things that hurt the Master’s heart. Lord, impress upon us the urgency of doing the work of the Father. There is no time to sit around and complain about it, instead we must seek Your wisdom, Your strength and Your guidance to be Your ambassadors while alive here on earth. May 2022 be the year of revival and great evangelism, because Your people, who are called by Your name, has humbled themselves and prayed. AMEN!

A Tip For Our Number One Goal in 2022

On 2022-01-022022-01-01 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Focused on the Goal, goal, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-01-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 1:7-8
TRANSLATION: The New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷ He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

APPLICATION: You are probably stumped on what I alluded to in the introduction. Not everyone we know, or meet, tells others about Jesus? Well, consider the man who is constantly cursing and sharing evil thoughts about everyone. What’s your take on his belief about Jesus? Perhaps that Jesus is a myth and only necessary for mankind when we die, or when when faced with serious issues? What about the lady who refuses to attend church, or associate with friends who frequent the church? Perhaps she got burnt at one time by a Christian, and now she is of the false impression that every believer is just out to ‘get’ the unbeliever and hurt them in every way possible. But what does her attitude tell you about her belief in God? So how would you honor the command of Jesus to witness and tell people everywhere about Him? I’m of the impression that Jesus wanted those Bible teachers and scholars, plus our folk today, that they/we needn’t spend so much time on writing books, or traveling the world over showing off your self designed date charts about the return of Christ, for no man knows the day or the hour – not even the Son of Man. Jesus said don’t worry your head over that, only the Master Himself knows that date. Instead, since we all know from the Word of God that Jesus will return to take His bride, the church, home to glory, then we are to spend our days sharing that news with all that we come into contact with. If we had news of an oncoming hurricane, we would warn everyone that their life might be in jeopardy. Furthermore, many of us would be willing to sit down with our friends and help them map out their evacuation strategy and how they would buy certain life supporting food and safety items. Would you consider yourself a professional at that? Probably not, yet many Christians are afraid to warn the unsaved because they are afraid they wouldn’t be a professional, like a pastor, in knowing all of the answers to their questions. Friends, one main ingredient available to the child of God, is that Jesus said He would send His Holy Spirit to be upon us, teaching us and guiding us to all truth. What more do we need? We are now inside the boundaries of 2022. I believe that God is reminding believers today that we should put behind us all that occurred in 2021. Yes, many of those things may have been about as much as we could handle, but we are to rest assured that He will send the Holy Spirit to help us carry out His primary command – go and tell everyone that Jesus is available to them, so that they would be ready for whatever date God has planned for His official return to earth for His church. Furthermore, He has sent His Holy Spirit to empower us with all we need to accomplish His work. Nothing to be afraid of, and no need to worry about what you would say. God’s got this, all He wants is our availability! Will you consider making this a priority my friend?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as we gain confidence to do challenging things when a friend comes along with us, Jesus assures us that the Holy Spirit was sent to guide us, teach us and be our comfort in our evangelizing. Praise God for His Helper!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for not only creating us in Your own image, but also for looking out for our inadequacies, failures and ignorance. In sending Your Holy Spirit to be our guide and our helper, You have given us extra assurance and confidence to freely obey Your commands and confidently share You with everyone that we come into contact with. Please embolden us to do Your will, so that none would be lost, or left out, on Judgment Day. Work powerfully through us, and give us a mind like that of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

State Your Master and What He Has Done For You

On 2021-12-31 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-12-31
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 23:3-5
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³Our Mighty Rock, the God of Jacob, told me, “A ruler who obeys God and does right ⁴is like the sunrise on a cloudless day or like rain that sparkles on the grass.”
⁵I have ruled this way, and God will never break his promise to me. God’s promise is complete and unchanging; he will always help me and give me what I hope for.

APPLICATION: If you were asked today who, or what, has made you what you are today, what might you say? Some will give many excuses for the times they know they have failed, or feel like they have messed up on. Others might reflect on their inheritance and how wisely they feel like they invested, or used that. Yet many others will consider the little they have to add or reinvest. But I wonder how many of us would stop to reflect on the moments that God took over and just blessed, in spite of our efforts, ignorance, selfishness, or self-worth. Remember, it’s not ‘I’, but ‘He’ who created us, lives in us and works miraculously through us, that deserves the praise! At times I wonder if it doesn’t hurt the Kingdom more when it becomes so obvious that we are seeking our own accolades rather than promoting the praises of our Heavenly Father. We are simply servants of the Most High God, and it’s always the Master who is deserving of praise, and not His servants. David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Is there any wonder why he was such an awesome king and leader of his people? Are we giving our friends, loved ones and admirers reason to praise God, or are we way too busy looking for our own praises? As children of the God of this universe, our motto should always be ‘To God be the glory, great things He has done’! My heart would be overwhelmed in praise if I saw one person blessed because of the work of the Father through me. Lord, have Your will and way in and through me today!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: When God is allowed to rule and reign in and through us, great things will be accomplished for the Kingdom. He did it through David, and He can do it through us!

PRAYER: You created us oh God, and You provide everything for every day to help us survive and truly represent You. Oh that You may be praised even through Your humble servants today. Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus, and thank You Holy Spirit for using Your humble servants to accomplish Your work here on earth. May you never be disappointed in us. May Your Kingdom come today and Your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN!

Your Righteousness in God’s Sight

On 2021-12-272021-12-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Righteous, Righteousness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-12-27
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 22:21-25
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: ²¹“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
²²For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
²³All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
²⁴I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
²⁵The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

APPLICATION: I remember as a teenager I went home for lunch, and wanted to return to school early, so that I could play with the other kids before school resumed for the afternoon session. Mom reluctantly allowed me to return early, provided that I assured her of my good behavior until the official start of afternoon school. Saying ‘yes’ to mom allowed me to get I wanted, so I ran to school. After much hard playing, I fell and cut my arm open on a broken bottle. Right away I concluded that I could not go home to mom, who didn’t want me to return to school early anyway, so I went to a favorite aunt who patched me up. Upon arriving home after school that afternoon, it was comical to see how I tried to hide my arm behind my back so mom wouldn’t see my mishap!! Doesn’t that remind us how it will be when we walk before the King of all kings? But I was amazed by David in our Scripture today, for he knew that he was guiltless and could therefore approach God boldly, and he would be considered righteous before God. Of course this made me ponder how the guilty, and the non-guilty would do in their approach with God, for you see – He not only knows about those things we fell like the world knows, but He also knows about those things we thought were hidden from everyone else, plus God knows our very thoughts and ill feelings that we harbor against our neighbors/friends. So, surely God would not have us live in such misery and die in shame, would He? It is clear from all that God did for us that He would rather do just the opposite. We just celebrated the birth of God’s precious Son that He miraculously sent to earth to save us from our sin and the guilt associated with our sin. This gift was not just made available to the best of mankind – those who try to obey every law and be gracious to every neighbor. But God’s gift, Jesus, is available to ALL who believe on Him. In John 3:16 we are told that ALL who believe on Jesus, will have everlasting, or eternal, life! For the one who accepts this gift, and the promise of the Father associated with this gift, we become righteous just as He is. We then become just like David, where we could praise God every day for the freedom we have in standing before Him as a righteous son or daughter. Friends, it is possible, but only through the wonderful work of Jesus. Without accepting the gift of God, we are unrighteous, and deserve the only alternative destination – Hell. What’s your destiny – heaven, or hell? It depends on whether you are righteous (because of Jesus), or if you are unrighteous? You determine, my friend!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David was convinced that God saw him blameless because he had kept himself from sin, and that He consequently had rewarded him for his righteousness. Wow, we too could be that confident and assured before God!

PRAYER: Lord, I believe that You designed us with our own guilt meter! For we know full well when we decidedly disobey Your commands and Your will for our lives. This has sometimes led to our hearts being hardened, and our minds being buried in total guilt. Please Lord, direct us to Your Word daily, and help us to stay focused on what You would have us do each day. For I believe that this is what leads us into ministering to others and encouraging them to look towards the Kingdom, where only You could cleanse us of our sin and make us righteous in Your sight. The lost is looking for Your followers who exemplify You in every way. May we be true to our calling and allow You to have Your will and way in our lives everyday, so that Your ministry might be fulfilled even through humble men and women who love and serve You. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Praise