Never Tire of Doing Good

On 2022-09-152022-09-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Help, Helper, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-09-15
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Galatians 6:9-10
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. ¹⁰So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

APPLICATION: It has become so much of a satisfaction to give financially to missions, to outreach groups, to evangelists, and to neighborhood help groups. But I’m not so sure that Paul would agree with you that your rewards will be based on the amount you give to these groups. To test this for yourself, let me suggest that you try going on a mission’s trip, instead of just giving financially to the group that goes. Instead of giving so much advice, or giving food to neighbor outreach groups, try going with them, if only for one day, and hand out food, or pray with those in need. If you do this, I believe you will quickly develop a whole new sense of how blessed you truly are, and how desperate the needs are in our community. I love this Bible translation and how it promotes not just handing out stuff to those in need, but also encouraging them spiritually. Yes, you can pay a minister of the Gospel to go with your mission’s group and help in the spiritual needs of those recipients your group is aiming at, but what impact will that have on your soul, your conscience, your mind? Compare that to returning from a trip feeling overwhelmed by the needs and seeing repeatedly the faces of those that you encouraged while you were with them. You saw them, you spoke with them, you felt their need. You could never achieve that through simply handing the Mission’s Team member a $50 bill. Friends, when we witness first-hand how God returns to us one hundred-fold for all that we do in His name, we will then fix our minds on the soul of men instead of fighting inflation and trying to maximize our bank account. Paul challenged the church, you and I, to be cognizant of the needs right in our very own churches. Strangers walk into our doors not to see how we are blessed by the God that we worship and adore, but to see how real our God truly is, and how He reflects His love and His power through you and I. What do you suppose they walk away thinking after their encounter with you? Did they truly see God’s amazing work, and His love and concern for mankind? Hopefully they didn’t see our selfish desires, or our pride still very prevalent in our words and actions. If they did, then perhaps they will walk into the church down the road to continue their search for ‘real’ Christians/followers of Christ. When Jesus rode along the road on a donkey and heard a blind man shouting out for help, Jesus didn’t hold his hand out from the 100′ mark and heal the man, instead He went over to this ‘reject of society’, asked him of his need, and healed Him. May this stir our minds to ‘jump in there’ and personally help in the needs of those in our church, along the path we travel each day, or buried deep in the trenches of our community. Paul said, let us not grow weary in doing this.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: There is no greater satisfaction than standing in the presence of Almighty God with a clear conscience because you have done all that He has asked of you. This includes being His hands extended to the poor and destitute that we come into contact with on a daily basis.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please help us to see what You see. You know exactly what we need, yet You respect us and ask us to verbalize our needs before You. Too often we tend to see the needs and then try to find ways to brush off the urgency of the need or the reasons why we shouldn’t help. Please Lord, help us to always see people and their needs in much the same way as You first saw our need and then helped us arrive at a state where we sought Your help, forgiveness and love. People still need the Lord. Additionally, people have needs that the world would rather leave for the government to satisfy, but I pray that You will help us Lord to reach out and touch those in need. May our love and Your forgiveness be more than enough to help those we come into contact with. As they see Jesus at work in the lives of those they recognize as Christians, may they also reach out to You Lord to assume control of their lives. 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!

Miracles In Return For Unhindered Determination

On 2022-09-132022-09-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Committed, Determined, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship3 Comments

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-09-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 16:1-5
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. ³On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” ⁴But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. ⁵When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side….

APPLICATION: I felt a strong sense of God speaking to me about the excuses we make for not visiting with Him more often, both personally and corporately. Look with me at a few things mentioned in this Scripture:
-*- Vs 1 – ‘…The women went out to purchase burial spices….‘ – This tells me that they had determined in their minds that they were going to visit the gravesite of their Lord and spend some time there. In buying the spices, I believe this showed that nothing, nor anyone would stop their planned visit. What if every Saturday night we were just as determined to be with Jesus and His people the next day, and that nothing, nor anyone would stop that visit?
-*- Vs 2 – ‘very early on Sunday morning….‘ – No distractions that might come their way would hinder their trip to the tomb. Top priority items are first and foremost for these ladies. Notice there were no excuses like we hear today – ‘but that’s my only day to sleep in’, or ‘That’s the only day I have to take my family to the beach (if you live near the beach)’, or ‘I’m not a morning person, so unless the church service starts after 10:30am will you expect to see me there’, and on and on.
-*- Vs 3 – ‘On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?‘ – Notice that this huge stone was not a consideration or hindrance in preparing for the trip or leaving home on the trip. It may have been a huge stone, but these ladies seemed to have considered this to be a small problem considering who they were going to worship and make burial preparation for. I believe I am very diligent in attending worship services, but this point hit me hard, for time and time again we let so many little things become ‘huge stones’ that stand as an impassable obstacle for us to worship with fellow believers.
-*- Vs 4 – ‘…the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside…‘ Can’t you see the glee on the faces of the women as they rejoiced over the way that even in the death of His Son, yet God moved ‘mountains’ so they could attend to His precious Son? This reminded me that when I surrender whatever obstacles may be in the way of me attending corporate worship, it is with such joy, and so praiseworthy, to later look back and see how God took care of the obstacles or ‘mountains’ because I was determined to not let them hinder me!
-*- Vs 5 – ‘When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man…‘ Later in the story this young man was referred to as an angel. I felt like God had even thought to provide a welcoming party for these ladies to feel at ease and comfortable while visiting with their deceased Master. I really don’t want to miss the angel that God has waiting for me at our worship service next Sunday, do you?
Some will read this passage of Scripture and become satisfied that they have read their Scripture for today. Praise God, He used this to open up some real-life challenges and experiences that we face today, and He showed me that if these three women had the tenacity to meet their challenges head-on, then I could also. I pray that God spoke to you in a very special way today, and that this will always be a reminder to you anytime Satan tries to help you find excuses to stay at a distance to your Lord and/or His people.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Be as determined as these three women were in going to the grave of Jesus, and be ready to rejoice every step along the way as I see God at work, for my good and for His glory!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I am thankful that because You died; was buried; and rose again; I can be assured that my sin has been forgiven and buried because of Your forgiveness. Praise God, I can stand boldly in righteousness before your throne. Thank You Lord for opening my heart and my eyes as I read this familiar story today. To be reminded of the commitment by these dear women, helps me to stand firm in my faith and be committed to stand for Christ in every circumstance of life. It is way too easy to find excuses. You have provided the way for us to live eternally with You, and I thank You for that. Lord Jesus. Please remind us daily to walk in the way You have set before us and to always be determined to fulfill all that we set out to do for Your kingdom’s sake. AMEN!

Rewards For Seeking Righteousness and Purity

On 2022-09-122022-09-12 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Purity, Recognize God, Righteous, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-09-12
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 22:21-25
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ²¹    The Eternal One rewarded me because I sought righteousness;
        He rewarded me because I kept my hands clean.
²²    He rewarded me because I kept the ways of the Eternal
        and have not walked away from my True God in wickedness.
²³    For all His laws were there before me,
        and I did not push His statutes away.
²⁴    I made myself blameless before Him;
        I kept myself from guilt and shame.
²⁵    That’s why the Eternal has rewarded me for seeking righteousness;
        He’s rewarded me because He sees I have remained pure.

APPLICATION: Standing before the righteous God of this universe and presenting yourself as innocent, pure and righteous is a bold step. For God knows: every word we speak, and the underlying thoughts while saying those words; every action we perform and the, often, ulterior motives we sometimes have for our actions; and every thought that we have, whether acted upon or not. Many of us have pretty much perfected the way that we present ourselves to the public, for we have a certain image that we want them to see in us, but God knows our heart, soul and mind. In fact, the closer we get to God, the more we become aware of how far we have drifted away from Him; how our attitudes suck; how many of our actions are probably frowned upon by God. But Satan is good at promoting these reasons right in our face whenever we even think we are righteous, innocent or pure in the sight of God. This is where we could then do like Jesus did on the mountain when tempted by Satan, we could quote 2 Corinthians 5:21 or Revelation 12:10, that assures us that we are righteous because of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was perfect in every way. Friends, I don’t believe that we could ever be used wholeheartedly by God in this world until we have developed a deep relationship with God and acknowledge that it is only because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that we could ever be righteous. So whenever you are questioned about your claim to righteousness, say what David taught us in verse 22 above: Praise God, I have not walked away from the true righteousness of God! I believe it is more important today than ever before that we determine in our hearts who we will follow for the rest of our days on earth, then seek the help of God to carry out our desire to serve Him faithfully throughout all eternity. As stated above, God knows all about us, but of equal importance is that others here on earth are watching. Your actions will help them decide their course of action for their lives. I pray that they will see enough of Jesus in you, and they will determine in their heart to surrender lordship of their life to Jesus and seek to serve Him until the end of time here.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: It is only because of Jesus that we could ever be considered righteous in the sight of God! Praise God for getting my attention and drawing me to His Son for forgiveness of my sin! Praise God, I’m redeemed, saved and considered righteous by Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You opened the doors of heaven for us, and we are forever thankful for that. We praise You for such awesome examples as David, to whom You portrayed Yourself powerfully. Like David, I pray that we will stop for a few minutes of our busy lives each day to commune with You, through intake from Bible study, and through output in prayer and communication with You. We have so much to praise You for Lord, but living in this world gives us urgency of need, encouragement, reassurance, wisdom and love from You each and every day. Lord, we want to be just like You in our speech, attitude, thought and actions, and we can only do that by fully acknowledging the source of our power and righteousness on a regular basis. We humble ourselves at Your feet, Lord, and we stand ready and willing to accept Your direction, so that the lost will see Jesus in action every time they make contact with us. AMEN!

Your Character Will Reflect Who Controls Your Life

On 2022-09-102022-09-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Character, Characteristics, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-09-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Galatians 5:24-26
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

APPLICATION: It appears like Paul was one who sought to simplify the message of God so that his audience would have no excuse to continue their old life. The Pharisees taught things to promote themselves and the Jewish law, so learning about Jesus and the characteristics taught by Paul, was a real challenge by the Galatian church. I’m sure that many will ponder why I don’t use just one version/translation of the Bible in my blog. Friends, I spend a lot of time making sure that I find the version that best explains a teaching of Christ in its simplest form. I aim at sharing the Word so that most readers could finally rejoice in saying ‘yes, I finally understand what that Scripture means’! In this particular chapter, Paul goes into depth to help the Galatians understand how they could identify their master, and because I believe that God inspired this author to pen these words, I also believe that He wanted these words printed so that those who follow – you and I, would have access to the same teaching that God inspired Paul to do. In the above verses, Paul shows a distinction between the character of one, before they invite Jesus into their lives, and then what everyone should look for in the Character of one who claims they are led by the Holy Spirit. In verse 23 Paul basically apologized for repeating this teaching, but because it served the important purpose of helping one live according to the life they have personally committed to, then he was at ease in repeating his teaching. By now, you are probably anxious to know what the Bible, or Paul in particular, teaches that would help us identify who controls our life. I will gladly share this with you:
Those who follow the sinful nature will reflect these characteristics, according to earlier verses: ¹⁹When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. In other words, before one comes under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, their lives are uncontrolled, and they therefore feel like they could do anything they want, even if they break the teachings of God. Paul warned that these folk will not inherit eternal life in Heaven but will spend eternity with their chosen master – Satan.
Those who are led by the Holy Spirit will reflect these characteristics of God as they characterize this teaching: ²²But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Paul taught that there is no law against these things, so one would never need to worry about the worldly legal system, but instead live expecting the warm and loving greeting of their Master when they graduate from this world to heaven.
Christians, I encourage you to keep a close eye on the list in vs 19-22. Anytime you see an inclination of those characteristics sneaking into your life, it’s time to draw closer to God and ask for His powerful hand to redirect you to His good graces as He draws you closer to Him.
Unbelievers, please allow me to encourage you to allow God to direct your path so that you could be all that He intended for you. Don’t settle for the ordinary and feel helpless to do any better. As a child of the King – my King, He is longing to love on you, bless you with His character, and guide you into being all that He needs you to be, so that He may be glorified through you. Yes, there is more to life than the natural tendency to act like Paul described in vs 19-21, but you must recognize that you are a sinner, and invite Jesus to be Lord of your life instead. A local Bible-teaching pastor will gladly help you in this quest, or you may email me, and I will be happy to help.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: With God’s help and through His power, we could live as He commands in His Word. I believe the world needs more truly committed and devoted saints today!

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that every man, woman and child who may read this devotional today will be touched by You. Please infused them with such a strong conviction, that they will strive to get over their natural tendencies that are pushed by Satan and his contemporaries, and instead place their faith and trust in You, Jesus, for a new and rewarding life that leads to eternity in Heaven. For every saint that will read or listen to this devotional, I pray the Lord will encourage you to watch your behavior and your characteristics closely to ensure that He is shining through you in every act and word. There is only one way into heaven, and I am thankful dear God that You sent us Your Son to provide that means. Please direct our path and instill in us the characteristics that will show the world what Jesus really looks like. We are anxious for Your return Lord Jesus, please have Your will and way in our lives while we serve and represent You here on earth. AMEN!

September Reasons To Praise God!

On 2022-09-072022-09-07 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-09-07
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Pslam 116:7-9
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷…. the Eternal has showered you with His favor. ⁸God, You alone rescued my soul from the grips of death, my eyes from weeping, and my feet from slipping. ⁹I will come before the Eternal as long as I journey in the land of the living.

APPLICATION: There are days when things just don’t seem to be going right for us, and it becomes challenging to find reasons to praise the One who created us and who sustains us each and every day. But like David, perhaps if we chose to look back over a larger period of time, we will remember:
-*- The many times that God rescued us from our troubles. In fact, we saw no way out of some situations, and we realized that we couldn’t survive too long under the strain and pressure of the existing stress. There was no one but God who could open the floodgates of heaven and permit the angels of God to envelope us, encourage us and guide us to a place where we could see the hand of God at work through our situation!
-*- How God protected us from premature death and the many vices of the evil one. For in the heat of the moment, we thought that we had everything under control. And it wasn’t until God pulled us aside and opened our eyes to the real danger of the moment, that we realized it was God’s protective hand that snatched us out of danger and death. He was our Savior – yet again!
-*- How He dried up our tears of dismay, sorrow and hopelessness, for in our time of trouble, we were convinced that there was no hope. But God came to our rescue and showed us His precious love for us and reminded us of the hope that is ours in knowing where we will spend eternity! Instead of tears and sadness, we became children of hope and expectation, and therefore rejoiced even under our current situation!
-*- How God kept us from slipping, our car from crashing, our children from the dangers that targeted them. Our prayers of protection were answered, and God took control, praise His holy name!
As we reflected, it was plain to see, and awesome to reflect on, the greatness of our God! It was for me that He died, for me that He rose again on the 3rd day, and for me that He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for me. My heart can only sing of His goodness, though it may seem to others that I am going through the worst of times. Dear friends, we are reminded by David that the Father has showered His favor on us. If you are not attuned to His goodness, allow me to recommend that you draw closer to the source of all love, goodness and mercy, our Lord, Jesus Christ. He has a personal, vested interest in You, for He died a cruel death so that you might gain heaven as your eternal home and see He and His Father at very close range. Come, worship the Lord in complete joy and in the holiness of His very presence. Recognize His favor poured out on you over the years, and forever stand in praise of the Almighty for His goodness and mercy on even you.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life, and I shall live in the house of the Lord forever! Praise to my ever-loving and everlasting Lord!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, great is Thy faithfulness, for You show Your love for us in so many ways, and You shower Your favor on us even though we are so undeserving. Forgive us Lord for our ungratefulness and for assuming that its only through our good works or our efforts that would make us deserving of Your love. You created us in Your image, and You sacrificed Your very own life for us. Your love is evident, in spite of who we are and what we have become. Please direct us Lord to pull up alongside of You and just savor Your goodness and relax our minds about what the future holds. All that matters is that we will be with You when You call us away from this earthly walk. Thank You for protecting Your servant, David, and thank You for drawing our attention once again today to your favor, so richly poured out for us. Please help us to show our gratefulness and to gloat on the mercies of our Master and Lord. May others see, hear, and believe. AMEN!

Live Out Your Faith Through Love

On 2022-09-052022-09-05 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evidence of Faith, Faith, Faithful, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-09-05
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Galatians 5:1-2; 5-6;
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹ At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past. ² I, Paul, tell you: If you think there is benefit in circumcision and Jewish regulations, then you’re acting as though Christ is not enough.
⁵ But we have the true hope that comes from being made right with God, and by the Spirit we wait eagerly for this hope. ⁶ When you’re joined to the Anointed One, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that works and expresses itself through love.

APPLICATION: I believe that many Christians who, when they find Jesus and accept Him as Lord, are guided into the path of righteousness by church members to help them live according to the teachings and practice of Jesus. Hopefully these new Christians receive Biblical instruction on why these things are recommended and why the church adopted these practices as part of their teachings. Otherwise, new believers could wind up telling their friends that these additional practices are required in order to secure their position with Christ. One of the things in particular that Paul found in his church was that, through tradition, Jews still insisted on the need for circumcision. While that particular medical procedure is still practiced today, it is performed for medical, or hygiene purposes, but in most Christian churches it is not mentioned in their by-laws or beliefs as a requirement by the church. Paul warns us that we must be careful not to attach any church or theological practices that are man-made or man-designed, as something additional that is required for one to believe on the Lord Jesus. The grace of Jesus is enough – all-sufficient for saving mankind from sin. Please always remember that Jesus came, died, and rose again, so that in our believing on Him, we might demonstrate His death on the cross – by us dying to our sin. And rise again in newness of life in Jesus, just as He did in His resurrection! We could never do enough good or be good enough of on our own accord to enter the gates of heaven – it is through the grace (undeserved favor) of God that we simply call on Jesus and tell Him how we believe He is the Son of God who died for our sin. He is enough dear friends! He has done the work already! He said He would accept us and forgive us of our sin, and we could go to the bank with that. So, I believe that it behooves Christians to really be careful in what we tell others about their obtaining eternal life. Just as we could never be good enough, let’s be careful to not burden those that need Jesus with a list of prerequisites. They can’t clean up their lives first, because they don’t have a Savior who will help them clean up the mess. Your church may require baptism for membership, but it is not a prerequisite for salvation. There is nothing, or no one else in whom we can be saved – only through accepting the gift or eternal life from Jesus alone and all that He did at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sin. I love the way that Paul described life after accepting Jesus – it will be evident through our love for others that Jesus is Lord of our life, and that the Holy Spirit who lives within the believer, is promoting love at every opportunity! I wonder – does the world see a child of God when they look at us? May our output be obvious proof of the love we received when we invited Jesus into our life!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our input – the genuine acceptance of the love of Jesus as our Savior, will produce the output that God is looking for in His children- love for one another!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for this reminder today! I pray that each reader and listener will join me, as together we look into the eyes of Jesus and thank Him for the opportunities given to us every day where we have the choice to love one another. It is so easy to complain about the sin of others and their failures in life, but it’s only through the grace of God that we overcome that weakness each day. God’s grace is greater than all our sin, our actions and even our bad language. But Lord, as a child of the King, we have every confidence that You will be our shield and protector against the evil of this world, as You work through Your holy Spirit in guiding us to all truth, happiness and joy in the Lord. You are our Lord and we adore You, faithful Lord. May that be obvious to the world as we strive to imitate You each and every day. AMEN!

Under Pressure, What Might You Say?

On 2022-08-312022-08-31 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-08-31
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 14:70-72
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷⁰….. the bystanders again said to Peter, “You are in fact one of them, for [it is clear from your accent, that] you are a Galilean, too.” ⁷¹But he began to invoke a curse [on himself] and to swear [an oath], “I do not know this man you are talking about!” ⁷²Immediately a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered what Jesus said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And thinking of this, he began weeping [in anguish].

APPLICATION: There are times when our best friend may embarrass us in public, and we might kid around by pretending that we disown them! However, how much worse will that condemnation get if you are spotted together and one of you are wanted by law enforcement for questioning on a recent murder case? In such a scenario, or as in the case of Peter when questioned about his relationship with Jesus, or in the case of our friends identifying us as Christians outside of the church walls, we may choose to be silent, or we may even choose to play the part of Peter and deny Jesus Christ. I know, many readers and listeners are probably shaking their heads east to west right now, as you might be much like Peter when he told Jesus that he would never deny Him. So, what happened to Peter, and what happens to us in times like these? I believe it is time that we face reality and acknowledge that others may see us dressed for church on a Sunday morning and carrying our Bible, but not in beach attire like they might be. They may see us bow for prayer over our food, or when asked to in a public place. They may notice that we don’t laugh at the dirty office jokes anymore. They may notice from our speech, that we are blessed by the Holy Spirit to speak like Jesus, and not like the world. So why did Peter, and why do we, lose hope and courage when questioned or identified in public? Are we ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or the One who gave up His life for our eternal salvation? Do we regret making the decision to follow Jesus, know Him intimately, and share in His life, death and resurrection? Jesus had been arrested, and I’m sure that Peter knew that he could just have easily been arrested next, and lined up for crucifixion, if the authorities knew that he was just like Jesus. Is that what happens to us? Or are we afraid that we would lose our earthly status, or our youthful nickname, or never be invited to awesome parties again, but instead stand out as a sore thumb when around our ‘old’ friends? Jesus knew what Peter would do – that’s why He quickly told him in advance what he would do. Jesus also knows what you and I will do, that’s why He challenged us in the Scriptures by telling us that those who claim Him publicly here on earth, He will also claim us before the Father. But for those who are ashamed of Him here on earth, He will disown us before the Father. So, I believe that our challenge for this last day of August in 2022 is to truthfully consider that based on our words, actions and thoughts over the last few days, what might Jesus be saying to His father at this very moment? Rejoicing over a sinner saved by His wondrous grace and living a life worthy of His love and admiration, or is He shaking His head in shame and disappointment that it is very clear that we have not been serious about our decision to accept and serve Him? Your pastor, wife, mother or father can’t answer that one for you, but Jesus will gladly point you towards the right path that He has set out for you. One-on-one time with Jesus will help you continue your walk with Him, if you know Him as Lord and Savior, otherwise He will gladly draw you to Himself, if you share your desire with Him. I pray that you will make time to be with Jesus today and open to listening to His still small voice to lead you on.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: ‘Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide til the day is done‘

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus that You know all about our struggles, and that You have the power and willingness to guide us through each and every day. Please help us to step aside and allow You to have control. We tend to blame our weakness on us just being ‘human’, but Lord, help us instead to look at, remember, and always allow the awesome power of our King to rule, reign and have His way in us. Through Your power, under your inspiration, and with Your constant encouragement, we can overcome! Peter struggled, and so do we. But with You in the wheelhouse of our lives, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Use us Lord as Your instruments to touch the lives of the unsaved and uncommitted today. AMEN!

David, Bathsheba, God and Us

On 2022-08-302022-08-30 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Forgiveness, Humility, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-08-30
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 12:24-25
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁴Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child ²⁵and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the Lord”), as the Lord had commanded.

APPLICATION: Although the Bible does not record it this way, it appears that Satan entered into David when he saw Bathsheba taking her bath on the roof of her home. Despite the number of wives that David already had, yet his carnal mind became filled with lust for another man’s wife, and being the king, he knew that he could get whatever he desired. After committing the sin of adultery, David did what most of us do when we sin, he tried to cover it up. His guards and personal attendants knew that David had sent for Bathsheba, and they probably had a pretty good idea what went on behind the closed doors of his bedroom. Yet David’s sin led him to even more sin as he continued down a path to have his own way. Often, we will gather in our groups and discuss how terrible David was, but I firmly believe that God would desire that we examine our own heart and how we try to cover up our sin. Hopefully no reader or listener ever had someone killed to avoid being found out about his/her sin. But when we allow Satan a little leverage in our lives, he will push that to the limit as he mocks God through us. Way too often we follow in David’s footsteps in going after something that we really shouldn’t have, or that we know will displease God, but we do it anyway. Then comes a time of reckoning: men lose their good wives; children disown their mothers; pastors lose all respect and are asked to leave a church where they have flourished in ministry; elders bring disgrace on their church; we lose our job and spend time in prison; or like David, we may even lose a child. In our story, we know that David went through an awful time of mourning over the loss of his child, and we know that Bathsheba needed a time of consoling after David was able to do so. Think about what happens to churches left to deal with the effects of sin. Some never overcome its impact, and some lose many members because of it. Think about families faced with the effects of sin. Divorce; separation from God and from each other; infighting, children who disappear and never return. Friends, God showed us through David that He abhors sin and will just not stand for it. But to an even greater extent, God showed us through this story that He is a forgiving God, and while He will punish us for our sin, He is faithful to forgive us when He sees that we are sorry and want to overcome the sin that so easily grabs hold of our attention. This reminds me of what Jesus did on Calvary, for He could have called legions of angels to His rescue, but instead the Father showed His love for all mankind (whosoever will – according to John 3:16) that He prefers and desires to see us saved by His grace and mercy, than crucified because of our sin. But just as David humbled himself before God and sought forgiveness from the very depths of his heart, so we are to humble ourselves before the God who can – forgive us of our sin and still loves us knowing that our sin is totally washed away. So let me encourage you today dear friends: God loved David when He sought forgiveness, and He accepted Him with an open heart. That same God is still your God today and He will forgive you for our sin, if you ask Him to. Don’t put it off, for you are only promised the very moment in which you are at. Try going before the Master right now, ask His forgiveness and invite Him to be Lord, Ruler, and everlasting Father to you for the rest of your life here on earth. Just as He forgave David, He will also forgive you. No telling what He has in store for you as you look to Him for guidance and strength to face every temptation that comes your way.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God forgives – even those that we feel don’t deserve it or are way too ugly in their ways and mannerisms. He is a loving and forgiving God even to those we might never consider letting back in to our circle of influence.

PRAYER: You know us all too good Lord, for You know our thoughts and our intentions. David’s sin is recorded for all to read about, but many of us may still be trying to hide our sin. Thank You for reminding us that nothing is hidden from You, so it behooves us to keep our relationship open and transparent at all times. Thanks for warning us about how our sin hurts the Father, who gave His very own Son as a sacrifice for our sin. Please forgive us Lord and strengthen us every day to keep our eyes focused on Your righteousness so that we might desire to live upright, and in a manner pleasing to You. Thank You for being with David, forgiving him, and giving him another chance to happiness through his son Solomon. Keep us close to You, Lord, and invoke a spirit within us that will help us to seek You in every step of this challenging life here on earth. May we live life pleasing to You Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN!

Promises Made, Promises Kept

On 2022-08-262022-08-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-08-26
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 9:6-8
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁶…. When he arrived, Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, laid facedown on the floor and honored the king.
David: Mephibosheth!
Mephibosheth: At your service, my king.
David: ⁷There’s no need to be frightened. I intend to treat you kindly for the sake of your father, Jonathan, who was my loyal friend. I will return to you all the territory that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always be welcome at my table.
⁸Mephibosheth again prostrated himself before the king.
Mephibosheth: What am I to you that the king should look with favor on a dead dog like me? I am as one of your servants.

APPLICATION: Although we personally would never do this (ha ha), there are many who will make a promise on a whim, with little hope of ever fulfilling that promise, especially if the person is dead and gone. This might be expected from an unbeliever, because they have no basis on which to fulfill their promise regardless of the circumstances between them and the person they made a promise to. But with the child of God, I believe that we could read for ourselves how God was faithful in all that He promised. To our ancestors, God promised forgiveness of their sin through the sacrifices and blood of animals. Later He sent His only Son for the atonement of our sin, and at that same time, God promised that anyone who would believe in His Son and accept Him as Lord of their life, they would experience forgiveness of their sin, and be considered holy even in the presence of an omnipotent and holy God. One thing that God has always proven to mankind, even from the very beginning of time, is that anything He promises, can be considered complete – forevermore, right up to and until He returns or takes us home to heaven. In Acts 13:22, we are told that God considered David to be a man after His own heart. As such, perhaps it is easier for us to understand why David did what he did for Mephibosheth, for if he didn’t, would we ever think about counting him as a God-like person? I believe the challenge for Christians in today’s Scripture is that we also are expected to be Christ-like, and to live according to all that He teaches us in His Word. How do you suppose God might look at us? A man/woman after God’s own heart? Is it common for us to honor promises we made to our deceased parents, to our best friend? or even to God? Can the world say about us, compare us to David, and say about us – ‘he/she is or was a man/woman after God’s own heart’? Is it obvious in our promises, our actions and our words? Friends, God not only sees our outward actions and evidence of our promises, but He knows our very heart? Will you automatically respond from your heart like God would? If there is any doubt, may I suggest that you consider drawing close to God so that He might draw close to you and direct your path? Be sure that you have a ‘relationship’ with Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and not just had a passing glance at Him when you attended church once while under pressure from a parent or a friend. More of Jesus into your life, will result in more of Jesus out of your life through your words and actions. Daily intake from His Word and daily conversation with Him through prayer will make all the difference in this world, and the next.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David allowed so much of God into his life, that his words, actions and promises reflected what God would do and say, not just what ordinary man would do.

PRAYER: Lord, only You really know the heart of man. Despite the failures by David, yet You knew that he had a heart that was compassionate, forgiving, loving unconditionally, sacrificial, and enduring – just like You. There are times that we wonder if we could ever be like You, for we cave into every trick of Satan and his demons, that seem to be on the lookout for us wherever we go. Forgive us Lord for assuming that You will just lay on Your goodness and Your character, while we continue to live like the world. Oh, that You would bless us with a heart like Yours, so that we may desire to know You better and to practice the instructions You gave to us in Your Holy Word. You made lots of promises to us who are called by Your name, please embolden us and give us strength and desire to always keep our promises in being Your faithful servants here among the evil that surrounds us much of the time. I want to be just like You, Lord, but I can only do that under Your strength, guidance and provision. Be glorified today through Your faithful servants, is my humble plea. AMEN!

How Will You Know?

On 2022-08-242022-08-24 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Knowledge, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-08-24
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Galatians 1:7-8
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷There is no other message that is the Good News, but some people are confusing you. They want to change the Good News about Christ. ⁸We told you the true Good News message. So anyone who tells you a different message should be condemned—even if it’s one of us or even an angel from heaven!

APPLICATION: Often church leaders and evangelists will use catchy sermon topics to catch our attention and perk our desire to learn from God’s Word. But I believe that Paul is urging us to be careful in what is actually taught, so that we might not taint the truth by which we were saved. In my earlier career, I worked for an organization where auditors came in on a surprise basis to examine our files and prove whether we maintained accuracy and best practices in accordance with company and government regulations. For them to write an exception for something where they determined we had not followed regulations, they had to quote the regulation so that we could read for ourselves what it is that we should have done differently. I believe that the same should apply to our pulpits, Sunday School teachers and/or anyone who tries to correct our understanding or our ways. But there is another piece to this that many church-goers, or Christians in general, take for granted. In addition to demanding accountability from your pastor or teacher, it is imperative that you take your tools with you when you attend church or a Bible study. If you are attending a Bible-teaching church, then it is imperative that you take your sword (Bible) with you. When a scripture is quoted, or read, look it up and follow along so you could validate what is being taught. If a reference was not included by the teacher or preacher, stay behind afterwards and ask for the reference so you could read the context on that Scripture for yourself. By asking, you will help that teacher or pastor to know that the audience is listening, validating and holding him accountable to tell the truth of God’s Word. I had a pastor who was told by an old lady that she understood a certain Scripture, he referenced in his sermon that day, differently. That pastor went home and researched, only to find that his church member was correct. He re-preached the whole sermon at the next service so that he could clear up any misunderstanding or mistruth. Paul taught that perhaps God should condemn anyone who deliberately confuses their hearers into believing something that is not true. Wouldn’t it be interesting if God was to also condemn us for simply attending church, and not paying attention nor checking the references given by our teachers? Friends, unless we protect the truth of God’s Word that we have learned, we might allow falsehood and various doctrines to dilute that truth or erase its impact on us. We must have a solid footing on which we may base our knowledge of the one true God. Reading your Bible on a daily basis and asking God to impress upon you everything He wants you to learn from His Word – that will help you when others try to teach or share with you a different gospel. Are you living out the teachings of the Lord Jesus and practicing all that He demonstrated for us during His time on earth? You should be – God being your helper!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Listen to the Word of God, understand its impact on your life, practice its teachings every day and stand ready to defend its cause when false teachers try to destroy you.

PRAYER: Open our eyes Lord, that we may see You clearly in the church, in Your Word, and in our relationship with You. We can’t thank You enough for the many ways that You bless us and fill us with Your goodness. But we want to help others Lord, so please fill us with Your Word, teach us Your ways, and keep us accountable for testing all that is taught, so that when we share with others, we would be sure of its meaning to us, from You. It’s all about You, Lord. The world doesn’t need more of my doubt, my tainted teachings, or my example that shows failure to imitate You on a regular basis. Please bless Your messengers and fill us every time that we try to share about Your power, forgiveness, love and provisions for eternal life. Oh, that You will be glorified in total innocence and adoration by all Your saints today, is my humble prayer. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Promises