Tag: Sincerity

Mercy, Because Of Who I Am

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Because of you, Mercy, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-06-03
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 86:1-5
TRANSLATION: GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

BIBLE TEXT: 1  Turn your ear ⌞toward me⌟, O Lord.
Answer me, because I am oppressed and needy.
2 Protect me, because I am faithful ⌞to you⌟.
Save your servant who trusts you. You are my God.
3 Have pity on me, O Lord,
because I call out to you all day long.
4 Give me joy, O Lord,
because I lift my soul to you.
5 You, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
full of mercy toward everyone who calls out to you.

APPLICATION: As I meditated on this today, I was compelled to stop and consider the power that David must have felt as he sat in humility and conversed with God. It is so easy for us to simply use the Scriptures to quote back at God, but can you remember the last time that you sat, quietly in your mind and spirit, and had an uninterrupted conversation with God? Sharing your very thoughts and feelings at the time with God? I’m sure that it would be well worth your time to record everything you remember about that conversation, for it might stir your mind at some point in the future when you feel out of it spiritually, or it might certainly help a loved one who is following your example. Praise God we can read and meditate on David’s time with the Lord! Not because he was perfect, but to the contrary – David was very much like us. The biggest difference is that David spent time with the Lord, and we tend to struggle so badly in putting the phone, computer, tablet, and/or television aside so that we could concentrate on the moments spent with God. Why getting up early to spend time alone with God is out of the question for many, as they try to sleep right up to the very moment they need to head out of the door for work. What really touched me in this prayer by David, is that he realized that he wasn’t perfect. In fact, he had dealt with some pretty serious sin before God. So when he took this precious time to converse with God, he didn’t just ask for a list of things, but he explained himself in each case as to why he wanted it. I went through and bolded each explanation given by David, and while God would never have demanded these explanations, I sincerely believe that it did David’s heart good to explain why he was asking for things. Wouldn’t that be an interesting process for us to explain why we are asking God for things sometimes? God already knows why we need what we are asking for, but it may certainly help us to think carefully why we are asking, and not just out of habit, routine, or as a recurring theme for our prayers. Why not stop for a moment and try this when you pray today! If it becomes a helpful thing for you to do, share with us by responding to my post. It may help us all to grow from your experience.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I just love the Psalms, and I especially love the prayers of David as shared throughout this book! David was known as a man after God’s own heart, but yet this was a gentle and humble man who sought to know God even better and to have regular conversation with Him. I believe this practice might help us to stop and evaluate our true relationship with our God, and help us insure that we are asking God out of sincere of heart and with honest and humble intent!

PRAYER: Lord, I am so grateful for Your goodness, because You gave up Your very own life so that my sins might be forgiven. I am so looking forward to Heaven, because it is where You are, together with Your Father, and You have promised to have a place prepared for us when we arrive. But Lord I want so desperately to know that my family and friends will be joining me around the throne, because the alternative is absolutely the worse place for anyone we go. So Lord, please glorify Yourself in winning the lost that I mentioned. Soften their hearts and speak intently to their very soul, so that they may be convinced of their sin, and make every possible effort to accept You as Lord and Savior. 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!

Through Our Actions, Who do we Say Jesus Is?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Faith, Humility, Imitator of Christ, Obedience, Righteousness, SurrenderLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-02-21
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Matthew 16:15-17 (NCV)

Text:

 15 Then Jesus asked them, “And who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because no person taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am.
OBSERVATION:
Because Peter was first asked who others were saying Jesus is, it almost seemed like Peter was being tempted to respond like the world and therefore respond to Jesus’ question along the same lines of what he felt like others were saying. However, Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, responded to Jesus’ question appropriately, but it sure does open the eyes of believers that followed Peter to stop and ponder what they truly believe! 
APPLICATION:
I wonder how many of us today would respond to a question like Jesus posed to Peter. I wonder how many of us would have a scriptural response for Jesus, and possibly the preacher, but a slightly different response for our unsaved friends, and an altogether politically correct response, if asked in public in the presence of the authorities. Friends, we are called on daily to show the world who Jesus is to us. Think about it. When we are asked to respond to a crisis, do we automatically panic and display our worry that the world is coming to an end because we can’t see clearly what’s ahead of the fast train that could easily jump the tracks? What about right inside of the church (with other believers) how do you respond when someone is about to desecrate another believer who is struggling with a situation? How do you respond to an individual who is very ‘needy’, not necessarily financially, but one who can’t see light at the end of their long, dark tunnel. There’s a lot less stress to just run in the opposite direction, and many of us choose that option, but is that really what Jesus would have done? I wonder what Jesus must truly think at the end of the day after having watched what you and I told the world who it is that we honestly serve and evangelize? I could only imagine that some days I would be honestly ashamed of what Jesus would say about me. How about you friend? From the very depths of our hearts we speak and react. I believe it is time for us to really fill our hearts with more, and more, and more of Jesus? Will you commit to this along with me?
PRAYER:
Oh Lord Jesus, please open Your loving arms to this weak and sinful son, for I am afraid that way too often I reflect a very poor image of who you truly are. I’m afraid that folk must sometimes walk away from me assuming that you are mean, selfish, stuck up with pride, unwilling to speak to the poor and lowly, uncaring and unloving. Please forgive me Lord, for I want my heart, my mind and my life so filled with You that You will spill forth from every word I speak and every action, each and every day. Lord, may I ask that You also tender the hearts of my readers so that they may also examine themselves and be prepared to face those who need proof of a Savior today. May there be no doubt that You are alive in us and may the world recognize that, and have a desire to know the Lord that we love, adore and aim to portray every day. 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

Well Worth Our Effort

On By Ed AlgreenIn Work, Work Til Jesus Comes, WorkplaceLeave a comment

Monday, 2016-12-26

Scripture

Bible Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Bible Text:  58  Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Bible Translation: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

My Take

I believe that especially at this time of the year we tend to feel so exhausted and may even cause ourselves to doubt whether, in light of everything we did at Christmas, was it really worth it all. I heard that studies show that the day that most pastors resign their churches is Monday, and I believe that this may be due to the fact that Satan ‘beats them up’ so badly and causes them to question themselves about the job they did the previous day. Paul tried to encourage the Corinthian church by reminding them of the truth about the resurrection, and about the glorious day that will be when they see the face of the Savior! Friends, this same assurance is promised to those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus and invited Him into our hearts! So to reiterate the thoughts of Paul in these verses today, may I remind you that in light of what God has promised to us, we should be:

  • Steadfast – Deeply rooted and built up in Christ. Established in the faith and know what we believe, sufficient that we can freely share our faith with others;
  • Immovable – Confident in our faith and not vulnerable towards evil coming between us and our Lord, while still gaining strength and assurance in remembering that nothing will separate us from the love of God!
  • Excelling – Isn’t it interesting how much time we put into our jobs, and how easily we accept going long distances to conferences or attending educational opportunities that will help sharpen our work-related skills? However, when it comes to the work of the Lord we find excuse after excuse why we can’t go to similar events that may sharpen our ministry related skills? Isn’t it interesting how we are prepared to work long hours, and even weekends, if necessary, to get our jobs done in perfect condition, yet we ‘slap together’ a lesson or a sermon as we rush into the hours right before delivery to our classes or congregations? Paul encourages us to always excel in our work for the Lord, especially knowing that our effort will not be in vain.

Friends, Galatians 6:8-10 says: 8  …. the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9  So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. I interpret this as a promise that we will be rewarded for all that we do for the Lord, and I especially believe this will be the case when we’ve put our all into the effort. Remember, all that’s done for Jesus will last!

Prayer

Father, there was nothing about our salvation that You took lightly, for You gave of Your very best, so that we might have the very best when we past from this world. I therefore question myself as to whether there is anything that I can do to compare with all that You have done for me? Lord, I pray that You will remind us of the gifts that You have blessed us with. There’s an awesome day coming, and we are anxious to see You, Lord Jesus! However, while here on this earth, please touch us each and every day with a strong desire to do our very best to spread the good news, and I firmly believe that unless we do that from the heart, our efforts will be in vain. Please place a passion in us to serve You better by ministering to our fellow man each and every day. AMEN!

Footnote

If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!