Guidance For Living The Christian Life

On 2022-04-122022-04-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Guidance, Guide me, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-04-12
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Romans 12:9-13
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. ¹⁰Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. ¹¹Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.¹²Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. ¹³When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

APPLICATION: Saying that you love me may impress the world, but showing that you love me will probably impress God and the world. Saying that you love me will probably come just from the mouth, however showing that you love me will obviously come from every fiber of your being. To love someone you will want to know them intimately. It is extremely challenging to love someone when there are unknowns about them. But I have discovered that there is a really neat attraction to children of the same Father, our heavenly Father! For we tend to love the same things, like praying for each other, and talking about the one thing that is central for all Christians – our Lord Jesus. We respond to people and circumstances in similar ways, for we seek out the good that God has placed in each others’ lives. We celebrate and praise God for His answers to each others’ prayers and for the extra, and unexpected blessings that He bestows on us each and every day. Children of the same earthly father are linked through a blood relationship to each other. Children of the same heavenly Father are much the same, for we linked by the blood of Jesus that washed away our sin! We have a lot in common. Therefore when we see a wall rising up between another sister or brother and ourselves, we should seek the face of Jesus for the reason we feel that way. If we can find nothing that stands in the way between us and God, then we should approach our Christian Brother or Sister in love and ask them to have a similar search in their heart. I believe it is an ongoing goal of Satan to destroy relationships between us and our Christian Brothers and Sisters, but we know from the Bible that God is bigger than Satan, and more powerful than any vice Satan may try to bring between God’s children. Perhaps if we live according to verse 12, a demonstration of a beautiful garden of growth, with the three sweet peas of praise, patience, and prayer. And if we plant these seeds in your heart, we will do well throughout our earthly walk. Friends, God not only guides us and gives us the strength and guidance to be His representative here on earth, but He is the all-time designer and ultimate guide to living that will help us every day in our walk. Seek Him while He may be found, and live a life pleasing and acceptable to Him.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: With God’s help, we can be more than conquerors and live full and abundant lives while loving our neighbor!

PRAYER: Thank You merciful Father for reaching down and loving even me! Thank You for blessing me with strength and determination to live and love just like You even when the storms of life seem overwhelming and in such opposition to all that You have taught us. People all around me need the Lord , and my desire is that they will see enough of You in my life that they will be encouraged to call on You for forgiveness of their sin and make heaven their goal. Please have Your will and way in my life, and in the lives of all my readers, listeners, family and friends, so that the world will know that You live and love everyday in us and through us. 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!

Sacrificial Love

On 2022-04-112022-04-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Love, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Sacrifice, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-04-11
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Romans 12:1-2
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way.²Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

APPLICATION: It seems like mankind is designed to try and return a favor when they feel like someone went out of their way to bless them in some way. In our Scripture, Paul reminds us that Jesus did something for us on Calvary that cost Him His life. God had demanded animal and other sacrifices from our ancestors for the forgiveness of their sin, but He later decided to send His very own Son so that He might not only live among us, but: Showed us how to love unconditionally; He not only taught us everything that God had given Him to share with us, but also demonstrated being a mouthpiece for His Father, and showing us how to live in a way that would be pleasing to the Father. Over the years, our forefathers decided to set aside certain days for us to celebrate: the birth of Jesus – Christmas; a day to remember what Jesus did on Calvary for us – a true sacrifice, because He could have called ten thousand angels to protect Him from the evil men that sought to kill Him – Good Friday; the day that we would celebrate the resurrected Jesus – Easter; and a day each week that we would set aside to worship our resurrected Lord! I wonder, what might we sacrifice, in return for the sacrifices of Jesus our Lord, by actively participating in the above days set aside for us? Jesus desired that the cup of punishment, that occurred that first Good Friday, be taken away from Him. But He quickly snapped out of that thought by submitting to the will of His Father, even if it meant a deep embarrassment as He was arrested, charged, beaten, marched through the city streets and hung on a cross in a public display that led everyone to believe that He was helpless. Jesus knew that His commitment to the Father, and His sacrifice in surrender to the wicked men of His day, was for the eternal benefit of all mankind. ‘Not my will, but thine be done,’ were the words Jesus uttered to His Father. When you fail to sacrifice of yourself daily, weekly or on the above mentioned special days, what do you suppose Jesus might be seeing or thinking of your commitment to Him? Whose will are you submitting to, yours or that of the Father? Remember, without a second thought, you will submit to the will of someone you love and are committed to!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus loved us so much that He gave up everything and was crucified on a cruel, rugged, cross for our sin. Although we could never repay the debt He paid, our willingness to sacrifice the desires of this world would go a long ways in showing our appreciation for what Jesus did at Calvary.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, we could never adequately say thanks, nor offer to repay You for what You did for us at Calvary. Because Your love was pure, You never demanded repayment, but Lord I pray that my readers, listeners, family and Christian friends, would never consider our opportunities to worship, or serve, You as a ’sacrifice’ of our time, fun, activities, etc. Father, You sacrificially gave us Your very best – Your precious Son. Please help us to examine our hardened hearts the next time we find excuses that would cause us to miss opportunities to return thanks to You. In not sacrificing our time, efforts and money to spend time with You, and/or Your people who gather to worship You, might be an indication that You are not as valuable in our lives, and we are to You. Please forgive us for our lack of commitment, and help us to rededicate ourselves to sacrifice everything this world has to offer, so that we may spend time dedicated to You. Help us to seek Your will for our lives, and not our own selfish and prideful will. AMEN!

God’s Faithfulness is Irrevocable

On 2022-04-102022-04-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Faithful, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-04-10
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Romans 11:29; 2 Timothy 2:13
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁹For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].
¹³If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.

APPLICATION: I’ve heard people say it before, and perhaps you may have thought this also: ‘She’s just like her mother’, or ‘He’s just like his father’! In other words, often people will predict what we will say, or what we will do, based on their knowledge of our parents! Could you possibly use that theory with God? Consider what He did for the Israelites, and just imagine what He still does for His children today! Think about the disappointment God must feel when His minister of the Gospel allows sin to enter his life and causes many to stop attending church altogether, and possibly even wander away from the Lord. Think about any of us who claim to know Jesus Christ as Savior, yet we attend places; uses words; or acts in ways; that are no different to those who never met Jesus Christ. As God’s representative, Moses was dealing with a crowd who were blessed beyond words or imagination, but yet they often returned to their old way of life in worshipping idols and complaining about the goodness of God. But here they were, about to occupy a land, that we would critically say, they didn’t deserve. However God promised the land of milk and honey, and He promised that He would clear the way for them to occupy the land already prepared by citizens who were much bigger than them and had more means to whip them in battle. Sounds like more than they deserved, right? Well, try to remember that God had promised all this to their oldest ancestors, and as our Scripture reminds us today, God would never retract on His promise. He would never change His mind. Dear friends, if you are reading this devotional today and have drifted away from a relationship you once committed to Jesus Christ, please use this as a reminder that He is a God of love, and One that would never change His mind about you, even if you let Satan distract you from the presence of Jesus Christ. So please don’t allow Satan to give you an excuse to wonder; a reason to reject God’s plan for you; a distraction from entering into the presence, and wonderful grace of our awesome Savior, who will never turn His back on you. Let’s try to always remember God’s faithfulness, and therefore aim, with His help, to always be faithful to Him.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God remains faithful! Oh that we would learn to do teh same!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You have been faithful through every generation and through every circumstance of life, even when things don’t seem to go our way. Thank You for showing us the right way, and thank You for always being faithful, even if we are faithless. Please encourage the Christian who feels like they are ashamed to return to You, because of their straying away from You. May they be reminded that nothing has changed with You, for You will always remain faithful to Your own. Unbelievers will be encouraged by this today, so I plead with You to melt their hearts of stone and draw them to Yourself. AMEN!

Your Will Be Done, Lord

On 2022-04-092022-04-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God's Will, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Surrender, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-04-09
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 26:39-42
TRANSLATION: New Century Version (NCV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁹After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup^[c] of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” ⁴⁰Then Jesus went back to his followers and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “You men could not stay awake with me for one hour? ⁴¹Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. The spirit wants to do what is right, but the body is weak.”
⁴²Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this painful thing to be taken from me, and if I must do it, I pray that what you want will be done.”

APPLICATION: Peter was one to quickly agree on doing something for the Lord. When the disciples were told by Jesus that he expected everyone of them to turn their backs on Him in His time of capture, trial and crucifixion, Peter was the first to step forward and tell Jesus that would never happen with him. Yet it happened just like Jesus told the disciples. Notice in the Garden, Jesus looked to Peter and shared His disappointment that he and his Brothers could not stay alert with Him during this very difficult time. I can’t speak for you, but I am also quick to volunteer in doing my part for the Master. I wonder how often our Lord must shake His head, knowing that my heart is willing, but my follow-thru is not a great as it should be.
I believe this Scripture also shows us the lack of empathy that we might have for others. For if Peter was feeling the pain in his heart that Jesus felt at this crucial time, don’t you know that Peter would have been looking for every tear that fell, every groan that he heard, and every unhappy, worrisome moment that Jesus may have shared with he and his fellow disciples? What about you and I? Has our hearts become hardened to the pain that others bear, or do we truly feel their pain and pray diligently for their survival of the issues they face? This meeting in the garden occurred right before what we recognize in today’s world as Good Friday. In some countries, this is a sacred day of recalling the events that our Lord suffered. It refreshes the emotions that it was for our sin that Jesus was beaten, hung on a cross and died, even though He is God and could have called down thousands of angels to defend Him. Does it tear into your heart to think of the pain and agony He went through – for us? I would dare say that if this ordeal has no impact on us, then we are probably also numb to the pain our pastors feel when they are accused and picked on by church members, or that fellow Brothers and Sisters endure when they stand tall for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Have we arrived at the stage where, like Jesus, we can say ‘your will be done oh Lord’, even if we see the handwriting on the wall that it will mean pain and punishment for us? Sometimes standing firm on our claim to Jesus Christ as our Lord and personal Savior, might result in criticism, or accusations, or attacks. Are you strong enough in your faith and relationship with Jesus, to withstand the attacks of Satan?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Not my will, but thine oh God! Be willing to let go and let God have His way in our lives!

PRAYER: Knowing that the Father loves me so, reminds me that I can freely let go and let God have His way in my life, and that everything will be OK! Thank You Lord Jesus for surrendering to the call on Your life, and thank You for placing it all on the line for my readers, listeners and myself. Please humble us to trust You with our lives, knowing that there is no greater love than that offered at Calvary for our sin and eternity in heaven. Oh that we could extend that kind of love to others, because You first loved us. Perhaps they will then get the connection and also look to You for life everlasting that is only offered through Jesus Christ. Please touch the lives of those who may happen across this devotional, but don’t know You in a personal and relational way. May this be the day of salvation for them today, oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. AMEN!

Know That The Lord, He is God!

On 2022-04-082022-04-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-04-08
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Deuteronomy 4:35-39
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁵“He showed you these things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other. ³⁶He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you. He let you see his great fire here on earth so he could speak to you from it. ³⁷Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power. ³⁸He drove out nations far greater than you, so he could bring you in and give you their land as your special possession, as it is today.
³⁹“So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other.

APPLICATION: I believe that if we thought for a moment that some in our church were acting like the defiant Israelites, we would probably shun them so as not to become infected by their sin. However, Moses had a heart for the people God had directed him to lead out of slavery, and it appears evident that Moses would have done anything to help them recognize their shortcomings and instead draw close to the God who loved them. The encouraging words shared by Moses should help us today also, for if God went to great extremes to help His children then, we can be confident that He would do it again for us. Think about it – God heard the cries of His people enslaved in Egypt. These were the same people God had promised would be blessed to populate the whole earth, but if they were not free to do so, and if they were constantly beat down and downtrodden, what good would they be to anyone else. But there were some who prayed, and some who wanted to be freed from their oppression. So God began the process by finding a good leader – Moses and his brother Aaron. After years of hard lessons in the wilderness, God found it necessary to awaken the people from their sinful stupor and from their stubbornness in recognizing, praising and worshipping the awesome God that singlehandedly took care of them over their years of freedom. Doesn’t that sound a lot like our world today? We have been blessed beyond measure, yet mankind has used every vice to pull away from the God who loves them. Covid is the latest vice. Especially at church time, many are now using the excuse of sleeping in, or staying at home, because they don’t want to catch the ‘germ’ from the crowd at church. The same crowd that they welcome into their businesses during the week, dine at the same restaurants with, and attend the same social functions as they do. God has been actively working in the lives of our people, although not as severely as He did in the wilderness when our ancestors chose to follow their own vices instead of honoring the God who took such awesome care of them. Read today’s Scripture again dear friends, and be reminded of all that God did for our ancestors. Stop the busyness of your life long enough to evaluate the awesome gifts God has blessed you with, and dare to honestly question yourself if you have any reason to fall short in glorifying the God of this universe who loves you beyond our wildest imagination. Let me encourage you to lay aside the devices and the noise of the television, or even family interaction, for just a few minutes each morning, so that you could dedicate that time to: speak to God – in prayer; hear from God – thru Bible reading; and praising God – because of His infinite mercy, provisions and blessings. I believe you will come out on the other side of that time realizing that there is no other God, for you have been in communion with the One True God and He is in charge of your going forth that day, and your coming home that evening, and everything in between. Learn to give Him recognition for who He is, my friend, because He has proven His love for each of us through His sacrifice on Calvary. There is no greater love than that.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: When life is not going the way we would like it to go, we need reminders such as the ones given to the Israelites, to know that God’s got this – every aspect of our lives today. We can then stand firm in the faith!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for being so good to my readers, listeners and I! Unfortunately it seems normal for us to get bogged down and caught up in the worries, concerns, gossip and fault of the unsaved world, even though we know who’s in charge, and all the good You have already proven to us. Forgive us Lord for our unwillingness to stop and recognize You as our Master, Lord, and giver of all good things in life. Please help us to stop following the world and its losing battles here on earth, for we have the ruler of this universe who loves us, cares for us and beckons us to come unto You all that are weary and heavy burdened. Lord, we surrender all. Helps us to spread the Good News to all that we come into contact with. AMEN!

Only God Can Give Inward Peace

On 2022-04-072022-04-07 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Peace, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-04-07
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 62:5-8
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.
⁶God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe and he is the fortress where I feel secure.
⁷God saves me and honors me. He is that mighty rock where I find safety.
⁸Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each of your concerns. God is our place of safety.

APPLICATION: David enjoyed a very intimate relationship with His Lord. Based on God’s help in many areas of his life, David grew to call on God for new challenges that came his way, and for situations that were bigger than he thought he could possibly handle, and God gave him inward peace. I believe this is well worth the time for believers in Jesus Christ to be reminded of, and I believe this might help unbelievers to better understand why Christians find such peace in the God that they love, serve and obey. My wife and I have often praised God for His mercies during rough times in our lives, and after feeling the calm and peace brought to us by God, I remember us commenting to each other about what could possibly bring such peace to an unbeliever. Notice how David had drawn so close to His God that he was able to depend on Him more assuredly, knowing that God had proven Himself already in many of the same areas that David was once again facing. How then, can we draw that close to God? First of all, compare the time you spend with God, to the time you spend with your spouse or best friend. Spending quality, personal, time with your spouse draws you closer together. You can recognize the things that make your spouse happy, or sad. Things that would cause them to draw closer to you, or withdraw from you. Now compare that to the total time you estimate spending with the Lord. Then subtract off the time you sat under someone’s teaching or preaching, and take note of the time remaining that you personally spend with the Lord. If you spent only that number of minutes, or hours with your spouse, do you suppose your marriage would last? Friends, our confidence in the power of the Almighty God, comes from the time we spend with Him – reading His Word and committing to obey His commands; praying; praising God; and spending time giving and receiving encouragement to/from other believers. Our dependence on God for everything in life will give us confidence in, and faith to, depend on Him when we are at our lowest. A friend of mine chose to pray for lost keys, or a misplaced wallet, and such. He found peace in knowing that just as God answered those small, simple prayers, he was confident that He could, and would, also answer the more complex worries of life when he called on Him. Notice that David enjoyed an inward peace, a firm and solid Rock on which to stand, and a fortress where he could feel safe from the dangers of the outside world. Because of these things David felt like God saved him, honored him, and supported him when he was weak and helpless. Friends, although David was a man after God’s own heart, I am convinced that we are just as loved, cared for and surrounded by the strong arms of God in every walk of our lives, IF we seek Him, accept Him, and allow Him to rule over us. SPECIAL NOTE: God is not a puppet that you can pull from your pocket when you’re in trouble. He created us in His image, and desires relationship with us, so that He could save, love, protect, guide and provide for us until we unite with Him around the throne for eternity.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Oh what a Savior! God cares for us in ways we could only imagine. In making an effort to mirror His ways, we too must learn to love others, just as God loves us!

PRAYER: Lord we praise You for loving us and taking such good care of us. It was encouraging to be reminded of the solid foundation David had in You and how he celebrated Your goodness to him. At the foot of the cross, we are all equal. So I am confident that as my readers, listeners and I place our faith, trust and emotions into accepting You, loving You, trusting You and obeying Your commands, You will also answer our prayer for help in life’s circumstances. Thank You Lord for the inward peace this brings to us – Your children. Please touch the hearts and lives of the unsaved today. Draw them to You Lord. Soften their hardened hearts so that they will realize their need for You. AMEN!

Evaluation Day

On 2022-04-062022-04-06 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Judgment, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-04-06
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 25:32-36
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ³²All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
³⁴“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

APPLICATION: I like to watch a TV show ‘America’s Got Talent’. One of the things they do when giving their judgment to a group of contestants is to separate them in smaller groups by asking individuals to step forward. Often they will tell that group whether there are going home, or if they will go on to the next round of trials. I was reminded of this when I read this Scripture again today. Jesus said that the Father will also separate those who accepted His Son as Lord, from those who chose to live life without Jesus Christ. Jesus did not say that God would give us a chance to prove our case, like our earthly court systems need in order to render a verdict. But because God knows every action, word and thought by each person He created, then He also knows the content of their heart and the intent of their heart, soul and mind. This may catch a few by surprise, because often we want to brag on ourselves, or we may want to have a neighbor or family member brag about our good works. However, in God’s great wisdom and infinite knowledge, He also knows the intent behind our good works. He knows if we did something to gain popularity, or grow our business, or be mentioned by the pastor in front of the whole congregation. I believe it is evident from the Scriptures that when we did something from a sincere, loving and God-like heart, we were doing it for the glory of God, and I believe it is those very instances that God recognizes His likeness in us. We must remember, God is the only perfect one. But when we strive to live like Him, act like Him, and model the same sacrificial love that He showed on Calvary, then the evidence shows and it becomes easy for Him to judge us honestly and fairly. So in God’s ‘courtroom’ He has no need for us to bring someone to swear for our character, for He already knows about it; He has no need for us to have anyone lie about whether we did something wrong or not, for He already knows every little detail about our actions. Friends, if you know Jesus in a personal and relational way, and you listen to His teachings and read about His character, as a foundation for the way you handle life, then you should have no surprises on Judgment Day when God passes judgment on you. He will know, and be proud of you for following in His Son’s example, and obeying His teachings. God being our helper, may we all be found guilty of being a true child of the King who demonstrated His character while here on earth!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God will recognize us for all the good that we did for others that brought glory to Him! Oh that this good will far outweigh the times we fail.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us a firm foundation on which to build our character. May our lives be an example of all that You established for us, so that we might remind folk about our awesome Savior. As they decide to improve their time here on earth, may they choose to follow You, Lord. Use us Lord, so that the world might meet Jesus through us. May we never misrepresent You, nor be a stumbling block that may cause others to continue along their path to eternal destruction. AMEN!

Accountability Time for Talents Entrusted To You

On 2022-04-052022-04-05 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, gifts, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-04-05
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 25:14-15
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁴“Again, it (the Kingdom of Heaven) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five (talents) bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,^[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

APPLICATION: Ever been in a setting where the audience was asked to share what their talents were? How did you respond? It’s unfortunate, but so many of God’s children will respond that they have no special gifts/talents. For the Kingdom of Heaven to be likened to this story illustrated by Jesus, I am led to believe that in spite of the reminders from Scripture, pastors, family and friends about how valuable we are to God, I believe He will still challenge us with a very important question when He welcomes us home: what did you do with the talent and gifts that I gave to you? Pastors will sometimes let up when we say we have no talent, but in God knowing how He specifically blessed each of us, I believe His question will be a lot more pointed. Surely God must shake His head in disappointment when we acknowledge that He messed up and didn’t bless us with a gift. I believe it becomes evident to God, and to the world, that we are a ‘1 talent’ kind’a person, because we have satisfied ourselves with burying the gifts given to us by God, instead of making ourselves available in service to the growth of the Kingdom. Friends, some are encouragers, some are consistent on their knees praying for God’s workers, some are excellent evangelists, some care for kids, while some are happy to care for the elderly or visit the shut-ins. Some will choose to clean the classrooms, maintain the flag, clean the pews after each service, or stand at the door and welcome everyone in with a loving smile and encouraging word. Unfortunately I don’t believe God gifted any with the talent to warm a pew, gossip, find fault with everything everyone else tries to do, nor pick apart the pastor’s sermon or his whereabouts. The bottom line is that God has given each of us at least one talent. Have we buried that talent, or are we making full use of it for the glory and magnification of the Kingdom of God? May God be honored by all that you are doing today for an enriched and growing Kingdom tomorrow. May God welcome you home with the words ‘Well done my child, I blessed you with talent and you have made full use of it by blessing my people and winning the lost each and every day. Good and faithful servant, enter into my Kingdom for ever and for ever!’

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God blessed us all with talent to be used for His glory. May we all be found faithful!

PRAYER: While it is easy for us to look at and appreciate all the wonderful talent You have blessed others with, I am extremely thankful for the reminder today that You have blessed me also, dear Lord! I pray that every one reading or listening to this devotional today will search long and hard to ensure that they are making full use of the talents You have given to them, for I believe that when put together we all form the root of a church on fire for the Lord. Bless each one dear Lord, and magnify each gift as we put it to use for the furthering of Your kingdom. May it be obvious to the lost that Jesus is alive, because they see evidence in the lives of His children. May this encourage them to surrender their heart to You, Lord. AMEN!

About Our Sacrifices

On 2022-04-042022-04-04 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Sacrifice, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-04-04
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Numbers 28:1-4
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹ The Lord said to Moses, ²“Give these instructions to the people of Israel: The offerings you present as special gifts are a pleasing aroma to me; they are my food. See to it that they are brought at the appointed times and offered according to my instructions.
³“Say to the people: This is the special gift you must present to the Lord as your daily burnt offering. You must offer two one-year-old male lambs with no defects. ⁴Sacrifice one lamb in the morning and the other in the evening.

APPLICATION: Have you ever attended a church that still practices burning the sacrifices called for in God’s orders to Moses? For most of us, we would probably stay far enough away from such a church, for we might consider this sacrificing gory, or the smell too potent to be anywhere near to, and we might even want to question God’s sense of smell! So what might this whole practice be all about? I believe that when the people laid an animal on the fire – its flesh and all it’s inner parts, it represents us laying our lives bare before God and sacrificing everything we might consider ‘good’ in this life, as we ask God to accept us just as we are without one plea. Surely there is nothing sweeter to God than when we empty ourselves on the altar of sacrifice, and ask God to fill us with more of Himself to fill the emptiness and void left by the world. Here are two reasons, why this might be a sweet aroma to God:
-*- First, because it sets us free. God knows that sin is only pleasurable for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Consequently, whenever He smells the burning of the flesh, it’s sweet to Him because He knows the one making such an offering is set free. “To be carnally, or fleshly, minded is death,” Paul writes. “But to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (see Romans 8:6). Do you want to really live, to have abundant peace? Then put your flesh on the altar and be set free.
-*- Secondly, putting my flesh on the altar not only sets me free, but it lets me see. It lets me see God. Moses was one who desperately desired to see God. “If Your Presence doesn’t go with me,” he said, “I don’t want to go on this journey”. In other words, “I don’t want Your hand. I want Your face. I don’t want something from You, Lord. I just want You.”
Friends, whether or not you are aware of it, what we all crave is the face of God. We often think, however, that we want His hand, as is evidenced by our prayers. “Give me this, Lord. Touch that. Anoint the other. Open this door. Make it happen. My business is in trouble. My kids need Your touch. I’m not feeling very well,” we pray. We seek what God gives rather than who He is. And the problem is, once we get whatever is in His hand, it’s not enough. It doesn’t do what we thought it would do—be it in ministry, family, or any other arena. There’s something even more important than anointing. It’s called the presence of God.
Second Chronicles 7 says that when the presence of God filled the temple, the priests couldn’t even stand in ministry because of it. “Lord,” we say, “we want Your presence, Your chabod in our congregation and in our families.”
“Are you sure?” asks God, “because no one can see My face and live. You’ve got to die” (see Exodus 33:20).
Therefore, to the degree we die to ourselves is the degree to which we will experience God’s glory and presence, the degree to which we will see His face.
This was important for the Israelites as they practiced animal sacrifices, and it is even more important for us as we practice emptying ourselves, or sacrificing our sin, so that God may fill us afresh with Himself.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: May the sacrifice of ourselves, and our eternal praise be a sweet aroma to God, and perhaps even a blessing to us.

PRAYER: You sacrificed it all for us dear Lord Jesus, and we thank You from the very bottom of our hearts for that. May our ongoing sacrifices to You each day, in response to all that You bless us with, be a sweet aroma, and pleasing to You, oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Please be so prominent in our lives, that Your light will be evident in every phase of our lives, and may others desire union with our Lord, the King of all kings, and Lord of all lords. AMEN!

In A State Of Readiness

On 2022-04-032022-04-03 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, Recognize God, Salvation, State of Readiness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2022-04-03
WRITTEN AT: Astatula, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 24:36-42
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁶But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.
^37-38“The world will be at ease – banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the Flood; ³⁹people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the Flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be.
⁴⁰“Two men will be working together in the fields, and one will be taken, the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be going about their household tasks; one will be taken, the other left.
⁴²“So be prepared, for you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

APPLICATION: I believe that the example given by Jesus in our Scripture, is very representative of our situation today. Think about the comparison: Noah had an intimate and sincere relationship with the Lord. Our pastors and church leaders tend to have an honest relationship with the Lord. Noah was warned by God that a flood was coming, even though it had never rained before. Our pastors, who follow the instructions and warnings of the Bible, gives us many warnings about the impending return of Jesus Christ, although many people have never heard of Jesus, nor His impending return to earth. Noah was told to build an ark, as it would be the savior for he and his family when the flood starts. Church leaders have felt the call of God to build churches since the very early creation of man, as it is a safe place to teach and preach the Gospel – about the Savior of the world. Noah preached and tried diligently to save the people who came by to mock his boat building. He wanted them to be saved from their impending death to this world, and everlasting death and punishment in Hell. Pastors also preach the Good News of Jesus Christ on a regular basis, because they have a desire to see people accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ and ready themselves for the glories of heaven. Many pastors and church leaders cry in agony over the lost who attend church each week, hear the Gospel, yet leave the church doors no better than when they arrived. It saddened Noah that he had the answers, but no one was interested in the solution God gave to Noah. It still saddens the heart of pastors and church leaders to see that the hearts of congregations and community people that are hardened and refuse to listen and/or accept the gift of eternal life offered through the simple acceptance of a Gift God sent to us – His very only Son, Jesus. Friends, God worked through Noah to warn a very sinful world about their doom, and God carried out the very act He was warning them about, by sending the first ever rains, and a flood. I have no doubt that we should take God at His word in the warning given to us in this Scripture – Jesus is coming back again to take His bride, the church, those who have received Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus already has a home prepared for us, and He’s just waiting for God to signal His return. Although He may have already come by the time this devotional is read, I still wanted to share with you the urgency of the hour. We hear a lot about Russia’s President Putin possibly pressing the big red button to begin a nuclear war, but that’s nothing in comparison to the evil planned by Satan for those who have decided to just let him do what he wants with them. God loves you too much to see you agonize in Hell my friend. Accept Jesus as Lord today and become a part of His bride that He will take to glory with Him! Please read my FOOTNOTE for help on giving your heart to Jesus Christ. Otherwise, please get with a local Bible teaching pastor or drop me a note.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Praise God, I’m ready to go, should God sound the trumpet in the next second, or anytime afterwards. I have peace that I have shared with my subscribers the urgency of the hour in which we live, so whenever You are ready, come Lord Jesus, come!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for saving my soul and readying me for the glories of heaven! Thank You for yet another warning in your Word today. I pray that You will speak to the hearts of the unsaved yet again today as they read Your Word, and these humble thoughts from Your servant. May the words of my mouth, heart and mind be acceptable in Your sight, oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Promises