Tag: Praise

The Prayer of One Man

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Power of Prayer, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-08-27
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 10:13-14
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT:  13 ….So the sun stopped in the heavens and stayed there for almost twenty-four hours! 14 There had never been such a day before, and there has never been another since, when the Lord stopped the sun and moon—all because of the prayer of one man. But the Lord was fighting for Israel. 

APPLICATION: There are some folk that we talk to and it seems like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. They can’t accept your invitation to the beach, because they have ‘this’ to do, and ‘that place’ to go, and ‘this person’ to see, or preparations to make for a planned meeting later that day. I was almost this bad one day, and I said to my fellow deacons that I just could not make enough time available to also read my Bible or visit the shut-ins. A quick suggestion from one of the deacons burned into my heart and changed my perspective forever: ‘you just haven’t made it a priority’. Although this means the same as my excuse, I would sooner tell God I didn’t have time, before I could possibly tell Him ‘It just was not a priority’. Have you also gotten yourselves so busy, that it has become a very minor priority to pray for the very important people in your life? Family and friends are dying every day, and some may even be going to Hell because we didn’t make it a priority to share the love of our Lord with them. I believe that Joshua was a man on his knees, because I could see that God was especially keen to hear his cries and respond to his needs. I would encourage you to click on today’s Scripture reference and read the whole chapter. You will see that true to God’s promise to Joshua, He was delivering on winning the battle against 5 kings and their armies. Joshua was so into the battle that he didn’t want the day to end, so he asked for additional daylight so he and the Israelites could continue in battle. God immediately heard his cry and stopped the sun and moon from moving. Yes, this gave Joshua more time in battle, but I was overjoyed to read how God was coming through on His promises, for more were being killed from God’s actions than Joshua and his army of Israelites. Friends, we can’t outdo God. When we ask Him to be in charge, we can count on Him like no other. Let me also remind you that Our God not only sees our needs and knows what really hurts our heart, but I believe that He is all to ready to jump in and help ease our pain and our heartfelt concern for our loved ones. Let me encourage you dear friend, to make it a priority to pray for every concern that you might have. Remember that from the prayers of one man, God stopped the sun and moon in motion. Imagine how much more He will do in response to your prayers!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Nothing is impossible with God! Joshua received a positive response to his request, that would seem impossible to any man. Doctors may give up on our family and friends in hospital, but with God, ALL things are possible!

PRAYER: Lord, please teach us to have such a relationship with You, that we can ask anything in Your name and it shall be done. God,You proved this through Your response to Joshua’s impassioned plea, and we are confident that You could do this again and again for those who place their faith and trust in the Almighty. Lord, we stand in desperate need, for our family and friends are dying from this Covid disease, and from unusual crime and war. Please give our medical teams wisdom from on high so they could stem the spread of this disease, and teach us Lord how to best protect ourselves to help in this dilemma. I know that nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible with You Lord, so I ask this in faith, on behalf of many who are hurting today. Please complete Your work among us and make us well. Draw the unsaved to Yourself so that they may know and believe in the God of this universe. May Your name be praised and lifted up today. 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!

Need A Blessing?

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

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-08-26
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 11:28
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 28 He replied, “Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”

APPLICATION: I believe if we were to follow the idea of the woman from the crowd that Jesus was in, we would probably point out some very important people that we consider blessed, and that is sure to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We would probably be quick to point out the pastors; evangelists; priests; church elders; millionaires who are very generous in helping the poor; most of our church members; etc. But stop and think for a moment why you would choose them. Is it because of the position they hold? Is it because of what they have taught you from the Bible? Or is it because of what they have given to you? But then we read Scripture like our verse today and we ponder if our judgment in the previous sentence is justified, based on what the Bible says about how one is supposed to qualify for acceptance into the Kingdom? In this verse today, Jesus shows us what really qualifies a person for being blessed by Him? Think about the suggestion before Jesus, that His own mother is a great example of who will be blessed of God. He set all agendas aside and told the woman, and the crowd, that blessings are in store for those who:
– -> Not only hears the Word of God – and I believe this not only includes hearing what is taught, what is preached, and what a child of God shares with you from the Word, but also when you pick up the Word each day to see what God has to instruct you on;
– -> Applies the Word to your own life and practice it daily – It is so easy to see the needs of others, but I believe God wants us to base our daily decisions, actions and words to our own lives first, then we could share with others what God has taught us to do. Without this basis, we are merely sharing our personal failures with them. Not good!
Reading the Word, learning the Word, and understanding the Word, are all good, but unless you apply it to your walk and to your talk, your intake of very important life-changing information is just sitting idol in your ‘do-nothing box’! I believe that Jesus is saying in His Word that if we use what we learn from Him and His instructions, we will be blessed beyond anything we could imagine. That’s my goal today! Won’t you join me!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Blessings are in store for the one who not only hears the Word of God, but also applies it to his daily life so that he might look and sound more like Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, we read a lot, and we listen a lot to the preaching and teaching of Your Word, but having been reminded of the importance of applying the principles we learned to our everyday life, I beg of You to open our eyes and our understanding to all that we read and hear. May this cause us to live noble lives patterned after Your perfect life here on earth. Oh that You may be glorified in every aspect of our lives. Lord, we need Your blessing, for everything else seems empty and void of great value. Touch the lives of those we love and care for today, and use us 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!

The God Who Never Gives Up On Us

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Prophecy, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-08-25
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 1:62-64; 67
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 62 So they gestured to the baby’s father to ask what to name the child. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to the amazement of all, he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again. And his first words were praises to the Lord.
67 Then Zechariah was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied, saying:

APPLICATION: A worker in the temple, yet Zechariah was in shock over God’s response to his prayers about his wife having a child. In fact, Zechariah and Elizabeth had given up on the idea of ever having a child. But God never gave up on them, for it seems like He had them in mind for a very special blessing – to birth a son who would be the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Because of the doubt and question at the time when the angel of God appeared to Zechariah, his speech was taken away from him. However, as Zechariah witnessed miracle after miracle transpire – especially in seeing his wife beginning to show signs of pregnancy, his heart was touched and his faith was rekindled. I wonder what it would take for God to truly get our attention and convince us to place our often shaken faith and trust in Him? You see, I believe that we build our faith based on those things that seem possible to us. When met with something outside of that realm, I believe that our red flags are raised and we doubt, at least until we gain added faith, or see something that makes the impossible seem possible. But Zechariah kept looking up and eventually his faith was strengthened to see God evident in his son’s birth. Upon acknowledging this, God quickly moved to use this man for His glory through prophecy. I believe that from a human point of view, if we knew all that God knew about Zechariah and his doubt, he would have been the last person on earth that we would have listened to, and he would probably have to show miraculous works for us to believe that He was truly God’s messenger. Aren’t you glad that it’s God who judges us and not our fellow human friends? God knows our heart, so He knows that although we may sin, yet He still has confidence that we could be His faithful followers, given the right guidance and wisdom to overcome earthly weaknesses. Praise God He is willing to work with us and use us for His glory, as and when needed. What an awesome God that we serve!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God used a man, who failed to believe an angel of God, to prophesy to His people. Praise God for seeing the ‘gold’ in our hearts even though we see nothing but doubt and failures!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You created us, so I believe You are well aware of our weaknesses and our failures. However, in Your perfect love, You still love us anyway. Like in the case of Zechariah, we can expect to be punished from time to time for our doubts and fears, but praise God you didn’t give up on Zechariah, nor do I believe You will give up on us. I believe that time left here on earth is growing very short, so Lord I pray that You will show us clearly what we are to do, and give us the boldness and strength to do it. We want Your name to be lifted on high, so Lord I pray that You will receive glory from all things accomplished by Your kids today. May Your kingdom come oh Lord, on earth as it is in heaven. 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!

Persistence

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Persistence, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-08-24
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 11:9-10
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9–10 So it is with your prayers. Ask and you’ll receive. Seek and you’ll discover. Knock on heaven’s door, and it will one day open for you. Every persistent person will receive what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.

APPLICATION: I shared one example of persistence with you in the introduction, but there is yet another example that I must share with you. My wife and I had been trying every avenue available to us to help our daughter find a job. While at an upbeat, expensive restaurant one evening, we were so impressed at the great service from our young waiter that we asked him for tips on how he landed a job there. He attributed his success to ‘persistence’, for he not only gave the restaurant his resume and completed a job application, but he went there every day asking if a decision had been made yet. Think about the employer – they saw a persistent young man who wanted to work, and he wanted a job with them. For the young man – he didn’t have to worry about missing an email or a phone call, for he went to the employer every day, just like he already had a job there. Jesus used a similar example as he introduced this idea of persistent prayer to His disciples. In the verses immediately preceding our focal verses, Jesus told them that if they had reason to bother a neighbor late one night for food to feed their friends who popped in on them, the neighbor may not appreciate the disturbance after he had gone to bed, but if they kept on knocking, the neighbor would eventually get up and give them what they needed! There are times that we ask God for something, and then that very thing is given to us by a friend later that day, so we no longer need God’s help. But there are times that we are tempted to give up, because it seems like our prayers are hitting a solid ceiling and never reaching the ears of God. While we know that God not only hears our cry for help, He also knows our very thoughts. But He wants us to keep on asking, keep on knocking and keep on searching for a door to be opened. I know that it’s not because God is afraid that He would forget our request, but this need should give opportunity for us to face God each and every day until we receive His response. So don’t give up dear friend. Just as Jesus told His disciples to keep on asking, we should also keep on asking. I love, and would encourage you to use a prayer list. It helps me remember the individuals that I promised I would pray for. Hopefully I will never forget to pray for those on my list. I ask that God will help me to be persistent in my prayers until He sees fit to respond according to His perfect will. Why don’t you do the same dear friends?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Thus saith the Word of God: Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.

PRAYER: Many needs exists today dear Lord, and it seems more important today than ever before that we be persistent in our prayers one for another. Lord, we know that You are in charge and that Your timetable of answering our prayers are different to our wish for immediate response. But You have instructed us to pray, and in today’s lesson, You have instructed us to pray without ceasing. Oh that we will be faithful in our prayers, just as we look forward to Your faithful response. Please help us to be a people who trust You with every aspect of our needful lives and to have faith in believing that You have Your best interest at heart when answering our prayers. Oh that You may be lifted up in response to our faithfulness, especially in prayer. AMEN!

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

Your Vote in Your Church Business Meeting

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Biblical Decisions, Decisions, Jesus led decisions, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-08-23
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 15:9-12
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”

APPLICATION: Business meeting outcomes are usually judged by the amount of opposition received when motions are placed on the floor for a vote. It seems like Pilate’s motion presented to his people was met with very stirring results, and that the people wanted something totally opposite to what the king was hoping for. Very often, in today’s church environment, the people will also side with church leaders because they feel like they have been placed in authority to do full research and come up with best solutions for a successful and flourishing church, while following the course and trajectory that would please God. But I wonder how we would act when someone, or something is ‘rocking the boat’ of our normal, cozy, church that pleases one and all. You see, in our Scripture the Pharisees were the ‘spiritual’ leaders of their cities, and generally their wishes were carried through. Pilate was their king, but notice how he really wanted to stay in line with his people’s wish. In this world, you will quickly find that to remain popular among the people, you must stay within their good graces and do those things that please them. But that’s very similar to what God has asked of us – for He wants us to obey His commands and follow His example. So I believe the challenge for each of us today is: Who’s in charge of our lives? To whom do we feel that we owe our allegiance? Who are we accountable to for our actions and decisions? Friends, if you respond something like: I’m my own boss and therefore make my own decisions; or No one jerks my chain, I am an independent thinker; or I only call God in when I don’t know how to resolve an issue; or I usually go along with the crowd; then I would humbly suggest that you try seeking God each and every day. As You draw closer to Him, and as you read His Word, He will be your daily guide in all of life’s decisions. If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then Jesus wants you to look like Him; act like Him; make decisions that are representative of Him and bears His approval. If you have opted to live life without Christ, then you may wind up pleasing the crowd and, together, make decisions that are aligned with the evil, deceit, hatred, revenge and disgust of the world while disappointing the Creator of this world, our Lord. Pilate is asking – what will you do with the Jesus who loves you, cares for you and has prepared a wonderful place for you in heaven? What’s your response dear friend?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Blessings are in store for those who love Jesus Christ and will make decisions that promote His earthly power. Be ready today to respond to such questions as posed by Pilate to his people.

PRAYER: Lord, although we hardly ever hear the words ‘Crucify Him’ anymore, we are often asked to partake in making decisions that result in You being ‘crucified’, or excluded from spiritual decisions, or destroying the life of one who calls you ‘Lord’. Please teach us every day to love like You love us; to have a heart for the lost, like You had for us; and to always be unsettled and unhappy about having friends who are lost and headed to Hell. Lord, we want to be just like You, but we need Your daily grace, power and wisdom to do so. We must learn to seek You for all decisions that we make, so that You may be glorified through all decisions that we make. Please touch the lives of all those who need You today. May this be a day of decision for 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!

Your Monument

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

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2021-08-22
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 4:20-24
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. 21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

APPLICATION: While on business in Belize at one time, we needed to travel from Belize city to another town, but we learned that the roads were flooded. The work-around was that a flat barge had been put in place to take cars and passengers from one side of a river to the other, where they could continue on an alternate route to the other area of Belize. Fortunately, our taxi was able to drive to a point, drive onto the barge, and there were men that pulled the barge across the river along a tight cable. We were under no real pressure to make our trip, but imagine over a million Israelites arriving at the Red Sea with a strong, mean, large army approaching them from behind. They needed a miracle, and they needed it fast. So God mirculaously stopped the flow of water coming down the river, so His people could walk safely across on dry land. Once the pursuing army started their journey across the dry bed, God released the water so that His people would be free of the battle that was sure to ensue. Again at the Jordan River, Joshua faced the challenge of getting the Israelite across a body of water. While experience was on his side, I’m sure he was on the edge of his seat when he ordered the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to enter the water. However, sure to form, God brought them to this point, and He wasn’t about to let them down, so He immediately created a huge dam with just one word. For the water flow stopped, and the remaining water exited through its normal flow. Leaving a dry river bed. What would have been your immediate reaction after placing your feet on high ground on the other side of the river? You watched with your own eyes as God acted miraculously in order to accommodate your safety. What if your church saw this kind of miracle, what type service would they have next? I’m sure that Joshua considered many of the things you thought of, but I am touched by his desire to see an ongoing memorial of this awesome event. Can you hear one of the Israelites explaining that to their teenager 10 years later? In the following verses (chapter 5) we read where other nations as far always as the coast were shaking in their boots at the thought of this great army of God heading their way. They knew that if God did it before, He could do it again. For us, we should repeat that previous sentence several times each day, for our God is still alive and He could repeat the same powerful miracles for us! Lord knows we need it just as badly as the Israelites needed it! Let me suggest that we look for ways to establish a memorial at the point where God has particularly met us at our point of need, and miraculously blessed us. It would invoke questions by those who travel by that memorial, and it would certainly create conversation for you every time you pass that way with a relative or friend. Oh that the world may know our God, and believe!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God will move mountains to bless us and provide for us. Set yourself up for sharing those blessings with others. It may be the one thing that will draw them to the God who loves us and sent His Son to save us from our sin.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I stand amazed in the presence of my all-powerful, everlasting King. You died for me so that I could be accepted in Heaven one day with the Father. Thank You for reminding me of Your power and Your wisdom in guiding Your people, the Israelites, through 40 years of various obstacles and especially for providing a way for them when there seemed to be nothing but hopelessness ahead. Lord, still today we tend to feel like they did, for we face obstacles much bigger than anything we could accomplish, or have answers for. Oh that we will learn to lean on the history of all that You have done, all that You continue to do in our midst, and the unlimited power that You have to do even more. As we are encouraged today in Your Word, may we now go out and share that encouragement with others who need You. May Your kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven. 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!

Nothing Too Big For Our God

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

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2021-08-21
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 3:14-17
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT: 14-16 …. The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap—a long way off—at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.
17 And there they stood; those priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant stood firmly planted on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. Finally the whole nation was across the Jordan, and not one wet foot.

APPLICATION: Many stories come to mind as I am reminded of individuals who approached Jesus with situations that seemed ‘impossible’ to every one around them:
– -> A man crippled from birth – he wanted to walk like everyone else, but doctors, family and friends knew that there was no earthly way that could happen;
– -> A child whose sickness led to her death – her dad (Jairus) searched for Jesus when all earthly efforts proved empty;
– -> Over 1 million people faced a crossroads of either continuing to suffer in slavery, or listening to God’s messengers (Moses and Aaron) to follow them – through the Wilderness, with God as their provider of all necessary provisions;
– -> The Israelites stood at a further crossroads in life when Pharaoh’s army was right on their heels, and the Red Sea ahead of them. BUT God provided a miraculous way for them, even when there appeared to be no way; and
– -> In today’s testimony of our miraculous King, the Israelites followed the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant right up to the overflowing Red Sea, hoping that God would provide a way – another miracle?
These are exciting stories to read, but are they fairytales, or are we to think that this same God of Bible miracles is the same God that we serve today? For we awake each morning with increased challenges to our faith and wonder if Jesus will return today, or will He perform yet another miracle for our family/friends/loved ones? Some reading or listening to this devotional today may have awoken to news of yet another family member stricken by cancer, or Covid; Some may have loved ones in Haiti where increasing numbers are reported dead every day from the recent earthquake; Some may have loved ones trying to get out of Afghanistan, but from the scenes shown on the news each day, you just don’t know if they will survive the mobs fighting for their life. So like the Israelites, we also stand at a crossroads about what today may bring. Will God heal our loved ones? Is God in control, even in a distant land like Haiti or Afghanistan? Can God truly do what is impossible in the eyes of mankind? Friends, let me encourage you today to look at the faith, and the outcomes, of my above examples: God provided direction, food, water and protection for the Israelites; The crippled man took up his bed and walked, when commanded to do so by Jesus; In spite of the crowd jeering at Jesus when He said the child was just asleep, yet at the command of Jesus, the daughter of Jairus stood up and greeted her father; And, because of their faith and at the instruction of the Master, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground without any threat of drowning. But to apply this to our purpose today, let me ask you where is your faith? Have you recently petitioned the Father for anything that seems impossible to man? Through your eyes of faith, are you able to see beyond the realm of man’s knowledge and expertise, and instead look into the eyes of Jesus who specializes in things thought impossible by man? There is hope my friend! You may be looking at situations that seem impossible in every sense of man’s abilities, but God may be waiting for you to look through eyes of faith and ask Him to intervene on your behalf. If you haven’t done that yet, may I encourage you to never give up on the power, strength and abilities of our Father, for NOTHING is impossible with God!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our Father will create a path where they seems to be no way. He can respond to situations thought to be impossible to man. Have faith!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, if there ever was a time that we needed You, it’s now. Life itself seems out of control as we sit helpless as family members contract dreaded diseases for which there may not be a cure. In fact, there are so many uncertainties that we often stand in a quandary about what tomorrow will bring. I pray that all who read or listen to this devotional will take time to examine their own heart and, through a test of their faith, be willing to seek the face of the only One who has answers to, or can do anything about, current circumstances. Lord I thank You for reminding us of the awesome God that we serve. May our faith be strengthened and, as we are tested, learn to look into the eyes of the only One who can do what others feel is impossible. What an awesome God that we serve! Thank You Jesus for hearing our cry, seeing our desperation and be willing to extend Your power once again in our desperate moments. 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 Source of Our Joy

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-08-20
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:17; 20
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 17 When the seventy missionaries returned to Jesus, they were ecstatic with joy, telling him, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we commanded them in your name!”
20 …. your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.”

APPLICATION: Jesus called 70 missionaries to go and evangelize their community. Based on what they told Jesus brought them joy, I wonder what they must have shared with their audiences that they ministered to? The response given by Jesus to these missionaries on their return caused me to look inward and evaluate what truly blesses my heart when I share Christ. For you see, I believe that we all tend to look way too much at self-promotion, self-praise and self-gratification. Imagine visiting a sick church member in the hospital, and your biggest praise item, as a lay person, about the visit revolved around a family member asking if you were the pastor? Of course it caused your head to ‘swell’ and you stood in awe about how important you must have appeared to them, but imagine telling Jesus about your visit. Based on our Scripture today, might Jesus ask if we shared the story of His sacrificial love with the sick person and their relatives? Or perhaps He may ask if we were sure to share our personal testimony of how Jesus rescued us from the deep sin sickness of this world and gave us a brand new life to serve Him faithfully for as long as we remain on earth? Friends, I believe that as we persistently study God’s Word, we will discern how God is constantly seeking to draw us closer to Himself, so that we may serve Him and show forth His love in every aspect of our lives. When He rescued us from our sinful state, and brought us into the light of His glorious power and might, was it because of anything we deserved? So when we talk to others about the joy inside of us, should we share about anything we brought on? Or should we instead talk about the wondrous, sacrificial, limitless, unconditional love of Jesus, who saw us where we were, and brought us into His marvelous presence, so that others will see the purity of Christ, and not the failures of sinful man? Friends, we have nothing to personally brag about that would save a person from the pit of Hell, unless we brag about the Christ who died so that we might be saved from our sin and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. As Christians, we should be seeking our strength in Jesus, so that we might share the source of our strength with others who are weak. We should find our joy in the One who promised us life eternally in Heaven! We have something to share with those who are down and out, and without any joy. The unsaved may look at us as coequal, and so they should, but we can always share with them the source of our hope and the everlasting promise of heaven, because of Jesus. You see, it’s all about Jesus – not us.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We have a joy to share with unbelievers – it’s Jesus! He saved us, He helps us maintain a happy balance each day in the strength of our Master, and He has a home prepared for us when we say goodbye to this world!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for saving my soul. May the joy that I find in You, Lord, be very evident to unbelievers and may I always make it clear to them the Source of that joy. You are the Rock of every believer, may we freely share the eternal source of our strength with those who desperately want restitution from their troubled lives. You’re all we need precious Lord. Please direct us each and every day to the foot of the cross where we may surrender ourselves in return for life eternally in heaven with You. Please touch lives today oh Lord. 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!

Instructions For The Called

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

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-08-19
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:2-3
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 2 These were his instructions….: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.

APPLICATION: There are some specific instructions that Jesus gave to the 70 that He called to join Him in ministry. For those readers and listeners who accepted the call of Jesus on your life, I believe that He has also passed these instructions on to us. Think on these things and ask God’s guidance, strength and guidance on you as you seek to implement these:
– -> Accept the call – Jesus called approximately 70 additional disciples to go on mission with Him. They had to accept His call, and I pray that each reader/listener will do the same;
– -> Pray – I found it very interesting that one of the first things instructed by Jesus was that His newly called disciples would ‘pray’ for additional workers. I am reminded that Jesus knew the importance of communion with Him (prayer), because that’s where our strength comes from. Jesus also knew that although He would be sending out 6 times the number of disciples, the needs out in the world far exceeded what these additional men could cover. Today it seems like fewer and fewer are accepting the call to missions, or evangelism so of course we must begin to pray the moment that we are called into the Kingdom of heaven, for more workers;
– -> Go – It seems like Jesus sent these disciples both cautiously as well as fully prepared. Imagine being sent into a community of unsaved, evil, criminally-minded people without any warning? It seems like the evil ones try every trick in the book to devour those who come to their rescue, or trying to help them. But notice that Jesus warned the disciples to avoid being just like the evil folk that they would minister to. In fact He told them to be just the opposite – like lambs, even though their audience will be quick to show them how they favor devouring wolves;
In the very last instruction, you might question why believers/disciples may agree to ‘go’ even under such conditions as described by Jesus. I believe we will agree to go when we acknowledge love for our brothers and sisters – regardless of their beliefs, their criminal records, or their attitudes towards God. We will also be reminded of the real love that Jesus has for us, as we see Him preparing an army of evangelists to go out and bless the unsaved.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus loves all the children of the world! That’s not just a cute children’s chorus, but we are reminded that Jesus called 6 times the number of disciples to pray for more disciples to go out and reach the unsaved. I believe that still today Jesus will call an army to make sure that we are loved and cared for!

PRAYER: Thanks for the reminder that we were not saved to sit and sour, but called to join Your team of disciples who will pray for more disciples, while going on mission to reach the unsaved in our communities and throughout the world. Thank You Lord for that kind of love. Just as You spoke of faith to move mountains, I believe You are assuring us today that You stand ready to call an army of believers/disciples to reach the unsaved and reenergize the saved. I am reminded of Your great love for Your children dear Lord. Thank You! Now bless us as we go out in Your name and for Your kingdom. 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 Calm and Pay Attention

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

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-08-18
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 46:10-11
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 10 Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth. 11 Here he stands! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! …

APPLICATION: Do you suppose that God created us in His image, loved us unconditionally, provided the means for us to move from this old sinful world into the glories of heaven, yet He places us here on earth to endure sorrow, hardships, loss of loved ones, and pain that often seems too hard to bear? What if you add into the mix of those thoughts, the idea that God gave us free will, or options/choices, that we could make on our own? I believe we could then see how we would might often divert from God’s ordeals, and meander down a path that becomes very slippery, muddy, or clouded with doubt, unbelief, selfishness, greed, etc. At some point we will look around and realize that we have taken ourselves down a road that led us into doubt, financial failure and hatred to our fellow man. Often we will then question why God allowed us to get like that, and we may even question whether God still truly loves us. But friends, I hope that we could today catch a glimpse of the loving and caring God that we serve. As we commit ourselves to Him, and as we allow Him to guide and direct us, we will see that He is indeed working all things out for our good. I believe that God is encouraging us today, through His Word, to keep our eyes fixed on Him. Not the circumstances around us, for He has everything under control! Satan is the master of confusion and responsible for distracting us from the path that leads to God. Satan knows that our minds are made to doubt and look at the worst possible outcome, so when we see young dads losing an unexpected bout to Covid, and we hear of relatives who are struggling for dear life as they fight off the pain and discomfort of this dreaded disease, we then begin to question if God is still there and allowing so much bad to come to His chosen children. But I believe that God is calming the waters around us and saying: ‘Just trust me dear child. I never promised you a set number of years. I endured heartache and hatred and was punished by children that I made and loved, so surely you will also face challenges while here on this old sinful earth as you follow in my footsteps. But stand still my child, for nothing is occurring that I am unaware of. I am still in control and will cause all things to work for good, to those who trust in Me. Yes, stand still, and just watch as things unfold before you. In the end, you will see what I was up to. In the meantime, be still and worship me anyways, knowing full well that I am God and I will always do those things that you expect of God’. My works and my message is signed in blood – the blood of my precious and perfect Son, Jesus.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Regardless of our anxious minds and our questions of all that occurs around us, we still serve a God of love, peace and joy. He has our best interest at heart, and He will be glorified through every work that He ordains.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is so natural to respond like the world expects – panicked, frustrated, hateful, revengeful, etc. Thank you for reminding my readers, listeners and I that You are still in control, even in a world that seems to be so out of control. There are times that as mere humans, we are ready to throw our hands up, as we just can’t imagine the world continuing in its present state. This seems like an anxious spirit of which You are guarding us against in Your Word today. Thank You for the reassurance that You are always in charge of our lives, and of everything that occurs around us, so there is no need to become anxious or fearful or troubled. Praise be to our God on high, ‘You’ve got this’, and we can calmly relax and be happy in the Lord! 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!