Tag: Praise

The God Who Protects

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

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-09-07
WRITTEN AT: Sebring, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 23:6-10
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 So be firm and unswerving, observing all that is written in the law of Moses without deviation. 7 That will ensure that you don’t start to blend in with the other nations around you or call upon their gods or worship them or serve them. 8 Just hold tightly to the Eternal One, your True God, as you always have, 9 for He has driven out great and powerful nations before you like leaves in the wind, and you know that no one has ever been able to stand against you. 10 One of you can pursue a thousand because it is He who fights for you, just as He promised.

APPLICATION: It seems like we have so much at our disposal to protect us in desperate times. We lock-down in our sanctuaries (our homes), sometimes protected by steel window bars, alarms and top-of-the-line locks, and we feel secure from the outside world. But then we look at countries that have been hit by earthquakes, hurricanes or war, and it leaves a degree of doubt in our minds as to our security. The Israelites had seen God work in miraculous ways to defeat nations much better prepared than they were, but then they lost their great leader (Moses), a man very near to the heart of God. Then Joshua was introduced as an awesome successor, and over time he proved through his relationship with God, that the Israelites were still under the protective hand of God. However, with evil nations still around them, and with Joshua telling them of his earthly departure, we could see where they would probably still be very concerned about their future. This reminds me of exactly where we are at today. We have read in the Bible of the mighty hand of God, and we have heard preachers explain the awesome power of God. Many may have even witnessed God’s miraculous hand at work in their own lives, or those of our relatives, or fellow church members, or even protection from great acts of God (earthquakes, hurricanes, wars by our enemies, etc) on our nation. But it seems like every day we hear of yet another challenging disease or disaster that strike us or our neighboring nations. I believe that God is prompting us today to consider exactly who it is that we could place our faith and trust in. It is very obvious that national leaders or health agencies do not have the answers, for in spite of their efforts, Covid is still spreading like wildfire. Earthquakes and hurricanes are still devastating countries and claiming the lives of many. How far are we willing to go in seeking protection for ourselves in what could very well hit us tomorrow? Please read the Scripture real good today and notice how Joshua was reminding his people to avoid all distractions and place their total faith and trust in God alone. I don’t believe that God would have us do anything different today. For only He has our very best in mind, and only He can protect us as we finish our journey here on earth. Accepting and serving Him will provide peace of mind while here on earth, and He will reserve a place for us at the feet of the Master as we enter Heaven for all eternity. The way seems clear to me and I pray that you will not only agree, but that you will follow through in accepting the love and person of Jesus Christ as He stands waiting with open arms to welcome and accept you.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Because of the power and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, He will not only love and protect us through every challenge here on earth, but He has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven where earthly challenges will disappear!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we stand in awe of You and for the power and majesty shown forth to our ancestors. Each day we seem to hear of one disaster or another, one disease or another, and yet an additional strain of what seems to be an incurable disease. Thank You Lord for reminded us again today that You hold the keys to the Kingdom, and that You are in charge of our lives here on earth, no matter what comes our way. Help us Lord to be willing to set aside our pride, our agenda, accept You as Lord and Master of our life, and allow You to guide, protect and see us through the remainder of our time here on earth. Lord, we are excited about the awesome beauty, tranquility and peace in Heaven, but most of all about the pleasure of being in Your presence. Please continue to guide and protect us here on earth until You are ready to call us home to glory – our eternal home! 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!

Be The Instigator of Joy in Heaven

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

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-09-11
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 15:7; 10
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 Jesus said, “In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to.”
10 Jesus said, “In the same way God’s angels are happy when even one person turns to him.”

APPLICATION: The Pharisees were going about their day as usual, looking for ways to aggravate Jesus and hoping to catch Him in a precarious way as He responded to their silly questions. However, Jesus responded to them with two simple stories and each had a very similar ending. First, Jesus knew that many of His audience were shepherds, so He told them the story about the happy culmination when a lost sheep is found. Jesus likened this happiness to heaven, and how the angels rejoice – not just when the saved on earth gather around the throne of God, but when the one who was lost, was hunted down by friends who cared about them, and now they are able to walk up to the throne just like the others who have been saved for years and years. Think about everything you’ve seen or heard about when the angels appeared before the shepherds singing and shouting about the birth of our Savior. Now imagine the angels singing and shouting around the throne, while at the same time you are rejoicing before your church and before Jesus, about using you to witness to your neighbor, who surrendered his life to the Lord! And that’s just one soul, dear friends! Now for the second story that Jesus shared, He used the example of a lost coin. I’m of the impression that this was one of only 10 coins that the lady had. So isn’t it easy to understand how she will move everything in sight to search for her lost coin. Upon finding the coin, can you even imagine the rejoicing? She invited her neighbors to help her rejoice! This, my friend, is only a glimpse of the celebration by the angels when one soul surrenders to the lordship of Jesus Christ, for that lost one is now found! Of course, by now you could probably see more clearly why I chose the subject for today’s devotional. I believe all readers/listeners have multiple individuals in their circle of friends and family who have chosen to ignore the call of Jesus on their life. We are now reminded that if we do what Jesus has called us to do, and if we care enough about those we love, then we will not only be reenergized to share the awesome news of Jesus Christ, but we could also share about our firsthand experience with Jesus. Why not invite them to know Jesus personally and join with you in daily communion with Him?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The angels rejoice when a lost person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior! Oh that we would love our family and friends enough to share the joy that is ours, each and every day! Perhaps we will then have a whole lot more rejoicing also!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for saving my soul, thank You Lord for making me whole, thank You Lord for giving to me, Your great salvation so rich and free! I am sure that there are many that my readers and listeners know, who are missing out on the joy we have in knowing You as Lord. So I would humbly ask that You empower us with the boldness and wisdom to show our love for these loved ones by introducing them to the Creator of this world. We all love a time of rejoicing and we are overjoyed at the excitement that it brings. Please nudge us to share that excitement with others, as we introduce You to them. 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!

The Effects Of Your Sin

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Live in peace, Love, Love others, Love your Neighbor, Needs, Peace, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-09-05
WRITTEN AT: Sebring, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 22:16-18
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 16 All of the Lord’s people have gathered together and have sent us to find out why you are unfaithful to our God. You have turned your backs on the Lord by building that altar. Why are you rebelling against him? 17 Wasn’t our people’s sin at Peor terrible enough for you? The Lord punished us by sending a horrible sickness that killed many of us, and we still suffer because of that sin. 18 Now you are turning your backs on the Lord again. If you don’t stop rebelling against the Lord right now, he will be angry at the whole nation. 

APPLICATION: When disaster strikes, the impact of that terrible time will often stick with us much longer than we care to even think about. In Peor, the Israelites saw many of their leaders killed, and also many of their own people – over 24,000 of them. Because of their unfaithfulness to God, that resulted in them creating idols and worshipping them, there was a time of desperation and mourning because of the loss of life and hurt throughout their camp, even though they were not necessarily a part of the evil they were doing. But just as we try to shy away from things that caused previous hurts, the hearts of the Israelites were immediately affected when they heard of some of their fellow tribes building another altar. They had already decided that they would go to war over this infraction, but before they did, they wanted to try and work out the problem in love first. So they sent a contingent of leaders to speak with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh. There are a few lessons for us in this story: 1). The sin that we commit will often have a detrimental effect on others. Stay true to God and to each other by considering everyone before you go out and commit crimes that will affect them; 2). Nip the problem in the bud immediately. Don’t let it fester and allow you to build animosity against your neighbor. Remember, it is always good to consider the heart of an innocent Brother in a situation before forging forward with your own selfish desires. Loved ones can and will be impacted by your selfish and angry motives; 3). Always try to resolve matters diplomatically and in love before you start a war that you will soon regret.
Notice that the contingent not only satisfied their own minds about what they thought was a huge issue, but they were able to return to their own tribes and speak favorably about their neighboring tribes. It is always better to be the encourager and peacemaker, rather than the agitator who arouses the anger of those opposed to a situation to which they don’t have all the facts. I learned as a child that you will either through gas on a fire already inflamed, or you could through water to extinguish the fire. For as much as lies within you, be a peacemaker rather than one who creates a war that will impact many other innocent members of your group, family and/or friends.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The Israelites were ready for war against their neighboring tribesmen, but they did all within their power to avoid war and death. Often our actions could create war, but by the grace of God, may we all strive for peace and goodwill in order to protect the innocent.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe that we were created to live in peace and with hearts filled with love, like our Maker. Please intervene when the evil one interferes and raises up anger in our hearts. Help us to always stand for what is right without ever building animosity for the one destined to do life by following their own inclination. May the lesson learned from the Israelites who tried to stop, what appeared to be evil in the making, be an ongoing example for Your children today. May the world see that Jesus is alive and well, because they see You at work in the lives of Your children. 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!

Our Promise Keeper

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

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-09-04
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 21:43-45
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 43 So the Lord kept the promise that he had made to the Israelites and gave the people all the land that he had promised. The people took the land and lived there. 44 And the Lord allowed them to have peace on all sides of their land, just as he had promised their ancestors. None of their enemies defeated them. The Lord allowed the Israelites to defeat every enemy. 45 The Lord kept every promise that he made to the Israelites. There were no promises that he failed to keep. Every promise came true.

APPLICATION: God made a promise to His people that He would take them out of slavery and the ugly reign of the Egyptians and that He had a wonderful land prepared just for them. Although they never made it to that Promised Land personally, their successors were the recipients of the promises God made to their forefathers. As I read the verses that followed I thought of a parent’s love for their children, for I could clearly see how God loved His children enough to not only provide a country they could call ‘home’, but then He also gave them the necessary wisdom and protection against their neighboring countries. Doesn’t this remind you of a parent rising up against the enemy that crosses paths with their child, or children? Don’t you know that even today God is watching over us with deepest concern over all that we are facing? I truly believe that there has never been a time that so many were impacted by a dreaded decease that killed so many of their family and loved ones, like this Covid 19. Hospitals are filled, so I’m sure that loved ones are also dying because of their inability to receive proper medical treatment. Added to that, we then see hurricanes impacting areas where residents lose material things like their home and auto. Many leave their homes and become wanderers in search of a home, much like the Israelites must have been like in the Wilderness. But friends, I want us to be content in what we read in the very last verse today. For just as God fulfilled every promise that He made to the Israelites, I believe He also stands ready to help us, His children, today. Just because God is way more powerful and knowledgeable than us, we may see where He accomplishes His work differently to what we might expect. But for those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we must remember that He is for us, and not against us. He loves us way too much to place obstacles in our way, but instead He opens doors for us that we may never think are possible. Let’s be careful to trust in Jesus with all our heart, soul and mind. Then lets be ready to celebrate as we watch His promises come true for us. What promises? The Bible is filled with over 5,000 promises, so let me suggest that you join me in reading the Book each and every day, and as we do, let us be encouraged by the promises of God as we wait for His mighty work to be accomplished in His perfect timing.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God fulfilled every promise made to the Israelites, and I believe that He stands ready to fulfill every promise made to us in His Word. Let’s be aligned with the King of Glory so that we might stand ready for His blessings!

PRAYER: In so many ways the world stands with open arms to receive every gift offered by their governments and by the Almighty, even though they may lack in commitment to each of these. Lord, as we have willingly accepted You as our Lord and Savior, we are once again assured that You will fulfill all of Your promises when the time is right. Please touch the hearts of my readers and listeners whose heart may not be standing in a state of readiness. You alone are God. May we be truly aligned with You each and every day as You seek to bless us in many different ways. May unbelievers see, and believe in the Son of God for the forgiveness of their sin. 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!

Be Sure and Choose Wisely

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, What The Lord Wants, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-09-03
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:51-53
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. 53 Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.

APPLICATION: When our daughter was growing up, her mom would often ask who she loved the most. Invariably, she would respond ‘both of you’! We always chuckled, but isn’t that so true in life today? Christians are called to decide on what we will do with groups and individuals who operate in total disobedience to the Word of God. More often than not, we choose to accept their beliefs, rather than standing firm on the Word given by God for us to live by. Jesus told His disciples that there was reason He had given them certain commands and guides for living, even though many of His instructions might seem totally opposite to what the world around them were doing. You might recall that some disciples were called from various occupations – tax collector; fishermen; etc, and invited to become a follower of Christ. There were many obstacles for these brothers to transition from their daily jobs to follow a man despised by the Pharisees and government leaders, so Jesus needed to do a lot of teaching and retraining. But isn’t it interesting how Jesus chose to complete this training so bluntly? It seems like today we try to pretty up the Gospel and suggest such a glorious life in accepting and serving Jesus Christ, that one might think that it is only second to working at the palace. But friends, Jesus is still calling us to choose. Will we go with the crowds; please our greedy, angry politicians; or work diligently to becoming the popular guy/girl among our peers; or will we truly accept the call to serve only our God and obey His commands that He issued for our good? We may often go a direction with Jesus that our family, friends or boss disagrees with, and we will be forced to make a decision whether we will truly follow Christ, or whether the cost is too high. Unlike us, where we stand on the fence with many choices of man, Jesus wants us to follow His example in calling a spade a spade, even if it leads us to a cross like He endured. Where do you take your stand, dear friends? Are you for God, or against Him? There’s no in-between. If His Word teaches against something, then we are called to teach/preach/witness/stand against it, even if it cost us friends, family, coworkers, job, church, etc. Are you truly on the Lord’s side?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Heaven is promised for those who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are willing to obey His commands, in spite of opposition and/or persecution.

PRAYER: Lord, I think of a hymn I sang as a child: ‘Who is on the Lord’s side’, never realizing that I would one day study these words of Yours to Your disciples and applying them to my life. What an eye opener today. We tend to think of You as the God of love, unity and One who creates nothing but peace and love among Your children. But as in all areas of life, we will create division when we stand firm on a point of view. Please teach us to be loyal to You in every aspect of our life and to always be obedient to Your commands, even if it causes division among those who disagree or sit on the fence of decision. I believe that You would have us love others, even through our disagreements, so please work miraculously through us as we dedicate our lives to You and live as You commanded. May all things still be done for Your ultimate glory. 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!

Always Trust In The Lord Our God

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

Thursday, 2021-09-02

Bible Reference: Psalm 56:9-11
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: …This one thing I know: God is on my side!
10 I trust in the Lord. And I praise him!
I trust in the Word of God. And I praise him!
11 What harm could man do to me?
With God on my side I will not be afraid of what comes.
My heart overflows with praise to God and for his promises.
I will always trust in him.

APPLICATION: So often we face challenges that we would rather happen to anyone else but us, because often trial and struggles will come our way and impacted us in life altering ways. No one in Louisiana was expecting such a powerful hurricane, after just being impacted a year ago by Laura. So could you even imagine the residents raising their hands in praise and thanksgiving to our Lord? I have family and friends who have been battling Covid. Some have lost a spouse, a coworker, a great friend, etc, but I can’t even imagine them standing in praise to the Master? Perhaps you know of friends who have suffered loss of jobs, or perhaps going through a divorce, or some other life-changing event. What would you do or say if they asked you to join them in praise to our King? Wouldn’t that amaze you? I believe that God wants to remind us today that regardless of our circumstances, He’s still God! I believe that He wants us to know that whether we are celebrating a mountain top experience, or whether we are going through the deepest ‘waters’ of our lives, He’s still God. We tend to fret and moan over the loss of material gain, but dear friends, let us always be reminded that the One who gives life; the One who guides us through every circumstance of life; the One who comforts us like no other, Our God – Our One and Only God – He’s still our very best friend; He’s still our Deliverer; He still loves us in spite of our failures or circumstances. Let us always remember that God loves us so much that He orchestrated the crucifixion of His Son so that we won’t have to face Hell and the grave because of our sin. So He knows what it’s like to see loved one perish or suffer. Most of all my friends, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, where we will dwell eternally with Him in glory! That’s our God my friend! We have nothing to fear or fret about. Just know that He cares for us and He is waiting for us to join Him around the throne when this challenging life here on earth is over! Yes, He’s still God – He is our loving and eternal God! Let’s learn to praise Him today in spite of our circumstances!

PRAYER: Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all thy hands have made! It’s all Yours Lord. Thank You for allowing us to occupy a small part of this old earth. Thank You for surrounding us with family and friends who love us. Please dear Lord, take hold of our hearts today and remind us that we are enjoying temporary quarters here on earth, so until we unite with You, many things will come our way that tend to dissapoint and perhaps even sadden us, but we have a hope! We have a promise! We have a Savior that awaits our departure from this earth, so that we could live eternally with Him. Oh Lord, I stand in awe of You and patiently await Your return! Please speak to those who might meditate on this blog and struggle with the things of this world. Only what’s done for Jesus will last! May we be found busy about Your work oh Lord, until You take us home to be with You! AMEN!

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

Be Carefree in The Care of God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worry, Worry no more, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-09-01
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:22-26
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 22 Jesus taught his disciples, saying, “Listen to me. Never let anxiety enter your hearts. Never worry about any of your needs, such as food or clothing. 23 For your life is infinitely more than just the food you eat or the clothing you wear. 24 Take the carefree birds as your example. Do you ever see them worry? They neither grow their own food nor put it in a storehouse for later. Yet God takes care of every one of them, feeding each of them out of the abundance of his love and goodness. Isn’t your life more precious to God than a bird? Be carefree in the care of God! 25 “Does worry add anything to your life? Can it add one more year, or even one day? 26 So if worrying adds nothing, but actually subtracts from your life, why would you worry about God’s care of you?

APPLICATION: Often we worry, because we can’t see what’s ahead, nor the outcome we could expect from our current circumstances. However, the Word of God says that God is our provider and He will care for us even better than He does for the beautiful birds of the air. The awesome encouragement in this is that God not only knows our current needs, but in providing for us, He takes into consideration everything that could possibly cross our paths in the future. Allow me to share a personal experience. There are two families in this story, a father and his son. The father had reached an age where his heart was beginning to give him trouble, but he was retired and since he had 5 children, I believe he felt relieved that he and his wife would be cared for. He was a Christian, so he also depended on God to watch over him and care for his every need. However, in the life of his oldest son, God began working on a plan to move him far away and continue his career in that foreign land. But his heart was broken when he told his dad about this move, because the dad felt like this would destroy his support system and separate his children, especially now as he was becoming older. Because of the direction felt from God, the son moved, just as he felt led by God. Within the first 18 months of being in his new home, his dad was rushed to medical professionals and hospitals very near to the son’s new location, where they saved his life from a heart attack that was misdiagnosed in the dad’s home country. Friends, I am the son in this story, and my dad sat down in tears after arriving home from the hospital and told me ‘now I could see what God was doing for me, when He opened doors for you to move’. You see, we absolutely cannot outdo God. He loved my dad, and was preparing a path for him to get the help that he needed when the time came. I felt like I was just blessed of God in how smoothly my move went, but God had a greater plan in mind for my dad, praise the wonderful name of Jesus! Please know that I may be blind to the very real challenges that you may feel pressed upon you at this time, but let me assure you that our God is greater than all our troubles and worries, and He has His children’s best interest in mind as they allow Him access. Be at peace my friend, that our hand rests in the hand of the creator of all things and He will never fail us. Trust in Him today and give Him access to the very intimate parts of your life. He cares for you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Worry is a sign of the non-Christian. Trust in God with all your heart, soul and mind, and He will take care of you – guaranteed!

PRAYER: Lord God, it is humbling to say that I am amazed by You. Thank You for taking care of my dad, and thank you for touching the lives of so many that will read or listen to this devotional. Please open the eyes of those who tend to worry, because they don’t know the God who can do I all things. Please soften their hearts and cause them to surrender their life to You before it is eternally too late. Please embolden us with the strength and wisdom to live life without worry, knowing that there is nothing impossible with You. 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!

Guard Your Heart From Greed and Covetousness

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

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-08-31
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:13-15
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 13 Just then someone spoke up from the crowd and said, “Master, you should compel my older brother to divide the family inheritance and give me my fair share!”
14 Jesus answered, “My friend, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
15 Speaking to the people, Jesus continued, “Be alert and guard your heart from greed and from always wishing for what you don’t have. For your life can never be measured by the amount of things you possess.”

APPLICATION: The reading of wills, and the content of a will dictated by a father, has probably caused more family divisions than anything else in the world! For a dad writing his will, he probably looks for a way to right the wrongs committed towards he and his wife, or the bitterness, meanness and hatred that may have developed between siblings. In our story, Jesus was teaching a crowd, but a young man in the crowd had a personal vendetta that he wanted Jesus to resolve for him, and he wanted the crowd to hear exactly how Jesus intended to resolve the issue. We have seen over time how Jesus found it very helpful to use parables/examples to help others better identify with His message or response. Jesus again uses an example that the people could identify with, in order to help this young man. You see, when you find yourself in a crowd, your questions should be such that the crowd might be helped, and leave personal scenarios for your one-on-one discussions with the leader. So Jesus responded with an example that might help all hearers. Often our greed will result in overfilling our barns, before we would agree for a neighbor to have some of the excess to just feed his cattle. The excess will often cause spoilage for us, but actually meet a very critical need for our neighbor. Jesus teaches in this parable today that greed and covetousness will do us no good, as it has no impact on our time left on earth to enjoy the excess. However, when we allow a neighbor to win the battle in order to feed his family and/or animals, we are actually showing love towards him, and we show understanding of his circumstances, without first overfilling our own barn. Friends, we witness many who fill their barns to overflowing, then comes the time for them to leave this world. The excessively filled barns are then left for selfish kids to fight over and continue the vicious selfish cycle. When the deceased stands before Jesus, He totally ignores all that the person has amassed and He looks simply at the heart and goodwill of the man. Did He know Jesus as Lord of his life, and was He obedient to the commands of Jesus? That’s what matters dear one. If you know Jesus and obey His commands, you still may die a rich man, but in following the commands of Jesus, you would ensure that no one around you is in need. May we draw close to God so that He may work miraculously in us, for His ultimate glory!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: When committed to Jesus, we will be led by the Holy Spirit to live like He intends. He will be glorified when His children are drawn to Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please have Your will and way in our lives. May Your children be such imitators of all that you demonstrated to us and all that You teach us each day, that the unsaved will experience Jesus and be drawn to Him. There is nothing in this world that could meet the basic need for Jesus that our soul yearns for. Oh Lord Jesus, please help us to stay focused on the miraculous works of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our life. May Jesus be glorified today because of our submission to His will, and through our obedience to Him as we experience life with others. 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!

Identify Yourself With Your Master

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-08-30
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:8-9
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 8 That’s why I keep telling you not to be intimidated. If you identify unashamedly with Me before others, I, the Son of Man, will affirm you before God and all the heavenly messengers. 9 But if you deny Me before others, you will be denied before God and all the heavenly messengers.

APPLICATION: Some may wonder why Jesus felt that it is important to identify yourself as a child of the King or not. What happens to good men who refuses to tell females that he is married? Is he not placing himself in a position of being solicited by unmarried women? Remember how Peter responded when put on the spot about his relationship with the Lord Jesus? ‘I never knew Him’ was one of the responses. Would that be your response if an aggressive member of management sought to rid his company of all ‘Christians’? The Holy Spirit really invoked a deep concern when I read this Scripture, for I am quick to stand in church and say that I’m a child of the King, but in reading the last sentence by Jesus in our Scripture, I wonder whether I am bold enough in my faith to stand before terrorists and give the same testimony as I would in church. Jesus said that if we reject the idea of identifying with Him before this world, then He would reject us before the father and His angels in heaven. Friends, I believe that just as we are proud to say that we are married, and name the one we are married to, we should be just as honest about saying who we identify with in the heavenly realm. If we feel like we will be happy to hug Jesus and greet Him with great anticipation when we enter the gates of heaven, then we should be just as free to acknowledge Him before our family, friends, coworkers and this world as well. Will this bring unwanted opposition from our circle of influence? I believe it might, but will that cause us to change our mind about who’s in charge of our life and our destiny? Dear friend, Jesus is the one who gave up His life for our heavenly benefit. He loved us enough, and went to that degree, so that He might identify with those who would have Him. Won’t you accept Jesus as your Lord and everlasting King and let Him rule in your heart every day here on earth and when we enter His presence in Glory? Let me suggest that we all ask Jesus for greater faith and greater boldness to proclaim our relationship with Him to everyone here on earth. I am convinced that Jesus will protect us from harm, and bless us for our boldness and commitment to Him.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus will identify with us before God and the angels, when we identify with Him! I can only imagine that He finds reason every day to be proud of us before the Father!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please forgive us for being such cowards to disown You before our counterparts here on earth when it seems like they may be a threat to us. Perhaps they are testing us to make sure that we are who we say we are. Please give us strength and a real boldness to overcome the evil one and stand firm in our faith. May we trust You enough to proclaim our identity with You, and may You be lifted up and praise by everyone that we come into contact with. May others be impressed by our stand, and may they be reaffirmed in their faith, so that You will be praised all the more here on earth. 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!

Made Right With God Through Faith

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Faith, Faithful, Faithfulness, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Trust, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-08-29
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Hebrews 11:6-7
TRANSLATION: Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.
7 Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.

OBSERVATION: Can you imagine the mockery that Noah experienced during construction of the ark? Even more so when he boarded animals of all sorts, and his family, on the ark while it was high and dry in the middle of the land? Yet his faith remained strong! God still directs His people today, and we must have faith to trust Him as He sets our agenda, taking into consideration all that’s ahead for us. How’s your faith? Will you trust Him today, even if you’re mocked by others?

APPLICATION: In this chapter of Hebrews we see where faith in God brought new life, new concepts and new miracles to all who believed in Him. In the example shown in verse 7, Noah had faith to believe God that He would send something to the earth for the very first time – ‘rain’. In fact he went further by believing that God would send so much rain that the whole earth would be flooded, so he set out to build a boat that would protect the lives of he, his family, and all types of animals. There are many that God has sent us to minister to, but they be challenge us by saying that we must be nuts to believe that Jesus died, and actually arose from the dead. While others may actually want us to pray when their loved one is sick or possibly dying. The faith expressed in each case may vary widely, yet you are expected to stand firm in your faith, while God works on those you meet. Faith – what is it to some folk? They will say they have no faith in God, because they can’t see Him. Yet they fill their gas tanks in their cars, and although they never see the gas or the tank, some gauge inside tells them how much is in their tank, and they have faith to believe that! Friends, God proves Himself to us in many ways, and for those who will trust Him, because they have faith in His existence; His promises; and His all powerful hand; we all can look forward to all that He has in store each and every day. Faith means that we are to believe in the God who has everything planned out for us, and although we cannot see these things, we are to believe that God is working all things out for our good. As we place our faith and trust in the One who loved us enough to sacrifice His life for us, and as we place our faith in the One who promised to never leave us alone, and faith in the One who promised that He has prepared a place for us, so that we may rule and reign with Him while worshiping our blessed Lord, then we will know that each day will be filled with anticipation of all that God has in store for us, to bless us, to love on us, and to provide encouragement for us to continue living for Him until He returns to take us home! God has so much in store for His precious children! Through faith we can rest assured in knowing that we are in good and faithful hands! Praise the wonderful name of Jesus!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Although limited by natural sight, we must rest confidently in our faith, knowing that God has everything under His perfect control!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we have no reason to doubt Your love for, and Your almighty power towards, Your children. Knowing that You can do ALL things, just as you have already proven to us, gives us faith to place our full trust in You. Please strengthen is when there is unbelief and doubt. Please touch the lives of those that have chosen to ignore the mighty works of our King. Lord, I’m sure that each day will bring its challenges and that we will need you more each and every day Please help us to stay strong in our faith, and to always stay connected to You in everything. You are our awesome God – One that we can place full faith, trust and deliverance in. 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!