Tag: strength

Reminded of Where Our Strength Comes From

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Friday, May 24, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Good News Translation (GNT) IS FOUND IN Isaiah 50:4-8

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: ….Every morning He makes Me eager to hear what He is going to teach Me. The Lord has given Me understanding, and I have not rebelled or turned away from Him. I bared My back to those who beat Me. I did not stop them when they insulted Me, when they pulled out the hairs of My beard and spit in My face. But their insults cannot hurt Me because the Sovereign Lord gives Me help. I brace Myself to endure them. I know that I will not be disgraced, for God is near, and He will prove Me innocent….

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: For the child, or adult, who devotes their time to watching television, they will learn the words and habits of those acting in the shows they watch. What is absorbed by the heart, will be revealed in their words and actions as they face the world. Why? Because that’s the prominent thing in their heart, and therefore the only thing that will trigger their response to life events. However, God created us and placed us here on earth so that we might honor Him and be like Him in every way. Isn’t it obvious that one will become irritable and miserable if they were made for one thing, but because of their intake of other other worldly ideas and practices, they act and respond in a totally opposite manner to what what God intended? Is there any wonder why some turn to crime and acting out worldly hatred towards others? In today’s Scripture, Isaiah is teaching us way before the birth of Jesus Christ what God has in store for the world centuries later when He will produce a Son, equal to Himself, to reinforce what He wants us to learn and how He wants us to be His witness. Notice that Jesus credited His Father for alerting Him each morning to what He wants Him to learn that day, and how to be best prepared for any eventuality that day. How are we doing with this dear friends? The news channel will not teach us the truth of our God. The children’s animated channel will not teach our children God’s way in preparation for their day. Many will respond that they have no time in the morning for opening the Word of God to hear what He might teach them. Please try to use the words ‘It was not a priority for me to open God’s Word this morning’. It is the sole reason why you left no time to open the Good Book, so go ahead and tell God what He already knows. But now let us examine what challenges we face in following the next steps mentioned by Jesus – Obedience: I believe that way too often we care more about what we might look like in the eyes of our coworkers, or peers, than in what we might say to God why we didn’t follow His teachings. On the cross, Jesus obeyed His Father, rather than following in His own strength and endless power to recuse Himself from the whippings, hair plucking, verbal abuse, shame and disgrace of that awful day on that cross at Calvary. Why? Because He had one goal in life – to honor the will of His Father. Are we there yet, or do we have way too much of the world in us that our souls are conflicted and determined to please our friends over our Savior and Lord? I love the very first part of verse 8: ‘I know that I will not be disgraced, for God is near, and He will prove Me innocent!’ Praise the Lord for His love, teachings, and His promises to be with us through all the ages, until He calls us home to glory.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, there is no comparison to anything we know here on earth, versus what we find in You, so we thank You Lord for who You are and especially for all that You are to us, Your children. Our concept of all things are totally flipped when we read about Your characteristics and Your unconditional love for us. Please forgive us for saying that we believe, yet we struggle to accept, obey and live like You want us to do. This is yet another reminder of where we must turn to for our daily strength. Please continue to work on us and give us boldness and determination to stay true to our commitment as a born-again child of the King. Others need to see and experience You. Oh Lord, please let us be that example for them and may their hearts be warmed to know that You are alive, indeed alive in and working through us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Your Faith and Strength in God Will Sustain You

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, February 10, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM The Voice (VOICE) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 24:10

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: If you fall apart during a crisis, then you weren’t very strong to begin with.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I am convinced that the Holy Spirit wanted me to spend some time on this verse today. Perhaps one of the shortest in the whole chapter, and definitely one of the bluntest for us to accept, but it sure is impactful. There are so many Bible references and hymns of the faith that refer to the power of God, and I believe that we hang on to that because we know that we are minimally strong when things are going great in our lives, but this Scripture verse precisely describes us when things get stressful or tough, for we tend to fall apart. I wonder why?? Perhaps too often we pray for an easier, wealthier, and more successful life, rather than asking God to make us a stronger child of the King who can accept and deal with all circumstances of life that may confront us. Trials don’t make or break a person. They’re simply a gauge to show you where you’re at in your walk with the Lord. In Jeremiah12:5, God addressed this when He said: ‘If you are worn out after only running with a few men, how will you one day compete against horses? If you stumble on the easy terrain, how will you manage in the thick brush near the Jordan?’ Friends, in other words, if you’re exhausted by the problem facing you today, what will you do when even bigger problems come your way? Whatever I’m going through today is strengthening me for what will come tomorrow. 2024 came in with a bang for me, with trials, medical, finances, etc., it was enough for me to seek the face of the Master and question what it is that He desires of me to do differently in my life. But as I continue in the Word of God, I find refreshment that my God is waiting for me to open the doors of my heart so that He might open the floodgates of heaven to supply all my needs, guide me through all my challenges, and renew such a spirit of holiness in me that others might be touched by the power of my God, and overwhelmed with a desire to know Him in new and beneficial ways that might return glory, honor and praise to Him. Oh, that our strength might be renewed so that we may face our present challenges with such boldness and faith, that God will do even more to prepare us for what lies ahead! With God as my strength, I have nothing to fear! How about you, how do you deal with the extraordinary and stressful things of life? If you know my Jesus, then this devotional is for you. If not, then I believe this devotional will prompt you to a knowledge and acceptance of my Jesus, so that you too may depend on him in all circumstances of life. Please read on to my Footnote, where you will find tips on leading you to Jesus.

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, I am convinced that You can do all things, and because of Your love for me, I ask that You give me ongoing faith to depend on You for today, while accepting of everything You will provide to help me through tomorrow. You are my Rock and my everlasting strength, dear Lord. Please continue to work out Your plan in my life so that I may be obedient to Your direction and accepting of Your love and protection in all circumstances of life. Many who will read this devotional are probably in a similar situation as I opened up about already. Please show Yourself to us and give us the faith and humbleness we need to call on You, depend on You, and trust You for everything that might come our way. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby 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!

In Spite Of It All – Trust God!

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

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-05-18
WRITTEN AT: Nassau, Bahamas

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 31:14-15
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 14 But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
15 My future is in your hands.…

APPLICATION: So many times we may have experienced, or perhaps heard about, situations where someone will lose their minds, or all hope in the future, because of the circumstances they have encountered. It might be a huge argument between family members that may cause at least one member of the family to move hundreds of miles away in order to never come in contact with that family member again. It may be that we were looked over for a promotion at work, so we decided to quit our job, even though we have no prospects for a possible alternative. It may be like David, where it seems extremely obvious to us that someone is out to kill us, or perhaps get us fired from our job, separated from our spouse, etc. Friends, we all have probably experienced extreme responses to these things by the world and our unsaved loved ones. But I pray that you are reading this devotional today because you are looking for the reaction that God would prefer, or that He demonstrated and/or taught in His Word. I believe that David demonstrates something that we see repeatedly throughout the Bible, that for the man/woman who places their trust in the God of the universe, and depend on Him for their walk here on earth, that we are to not only praise Him when we are on the mountain top experiencing His outstanding blessings, but we are also to be reminded that this same God is also there to hold our hands and help us through the toughest times of life. He alone could calm our minds at these very challenging times, and He alone can show us that every little thing is going to be alright. I believe that we look at our circumstances way too much, and we look for worse-case scenarios that could impact us because of those times. But shouldn’t we be reminded in this Scripture today that as a prince/princess of the most Holy, Righteous and Powerful King every known, that He will care for His own, calm our nerves and anxious fears, and give us confidence to go on knowing that He has a future planned for us, if only we will stay focused and stay committed to His lead. Consider the stress that David encountered with so many of king Saul’s army being in hot pursuit to capture him and/or kill him. However, in this chapter we could see that David resigned himself to the fact that no matter what happens, he was content in knowing that the Lord God was His master, and whether He chose to bless David then, or in heaven, there was no need to fear! As a father myself, I can’t think of anything that would stop me from protecting my daughter, or ensuring that she is safe and cared for. Can you even imagine how much more our Heavenly Father cares for us? Oh that we could finish each day by brushing aside the concerns of that day and repeating similar words to those of David ‘… but You are my God, and I place my today and my tomorrows in Your hands’. I believe that this might allow us to lay aside our troubles and sleep content in knowing that our great big God is watching over us and caring for us!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Circumstances will come every day. We have a choice practiced by the world where they are out for revenge, or for those who know Jesus as Lord, we have peace in saying like the Psalmist ‘You are my God, and my tomorrows are in Your hands’!

PRAYER: Thank You precious Lord for not only saving my soul, but also for caring about me each and every day. No matter what comes my way, may I also stand strong in my faith knowing that You’re in control and You will still be God. Help my readers and I to stay focused on You, the one true consistent source of strength, wisdom and love in our todays and our tomorrows. You alone are God, and I pray that we will trust You in every circumstance of life. 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!

BLESSINGb(S) NOTED: ^

Reasons To Praise Our God?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faithfulness, Loving-Kindness, WorshipLeave a comment

Monday, 2019-08-19

Bible Reference: Psalm 138:1-3
Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text:  1 Lord, with all my heart I thank you. I will sing your praises before the armies of angels. 2 I face your Temple as I worship, giving thanks to you for all your loving-kindness and your faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

OBSERVATION: To worship the God of this universe, the One who created you and I, the One who listens to and responds to our every cry for help, should be a natural response for His created ones, but do we? Do you find yourself praising God in response to answered prayer? When You see God open doors and provide a means for you to move forward in life, do you praise Him for looking out for you? Today, let us take a moment to redirect our hearts and minds towards the God who makes all things possible for us!

APPLICATION:  In this Psalm we can see where David was touched by, or reminded of, the love of God and His undying faithfulness, and it triggered his worship of God. Notice that David said he faced the temple as he worshiped, but he didn’t wait until the next scheduled worship service where he could watch the praise team worship or the pastor rejoice over a passage of scripture that God spoke to him about. Friends please don’t get me wrong, each of these things I mentioned are important, but I truly believe that when we recognize the love of our God, when we feel His precious love for us individually and we realize that He is faithful to us in every aspect of our lives, then we will be moved to worship God on a very personal level. When we do that, I believe that our corporate worship services will take on a whole new dimension, for our churches will be filled with worshipers, not just Christians looking for a place to be electrified, or energized by a good worship leader or an awesome praise team. David goes on in these verses to say that he is reminded that all of the promises of God are backed by the honor of His holy name – the name above all names! He is also encouraged that the God of this universe answers his prayers and encourages him by giving him the strength that he needs to go on each day and live a strong and noble life for the Lord. These are all wonderful reminders for us to also worship our God, but this list is exhaustive, for I think of the wonders of nature that He places before me as I drive to work, the beauty of another sunrise, the blessing of rain, of cows and wildlife playing in the fields and pastures. Most of all, like David, I am amazed that the God of this universe takes time to listen to my prayers and answers/comforts my concerns. Who am I that a Kind should bleed and die for? Yet, I am convinced that He would have sacrificed himself on that old cruel cross – even if I was the only one in need of a Savior. He loved me that much, and it is no different in the love that my Savior has for each of you today friend. Worship Him! Thank Him! Recognize His goodness and never attribute His careful and deliberate love for you as mere chance or good luck. Make every effort to be a personal, worshiping believer, not just one looking for a place for corporate worship of the Savior who loves you personally so very much.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, You have given us so much reason to worship You from the depth of our heart. Please awaken Your saints from the sleep of laziness, or dependence on others and/or other influences to invoke a heart of worship within us. Please help us to rest from the busyness of this life long enough to reflect on Your goodness, Your love and Your undying faithfulness. The Psalmist has triggered our minds and reminded us of the awesome joy in lifting up praise and worship to You, may this be a day that our eyes will be opened to reflect on Your beauty and Your goodness and may we recommit to a personal relationship with the God of this universe who loves us personally and cares for us intimately. Thank You Father for loving and caring for even me. These things I ask of You in the precious name of Your Son, my Savior and King, Jesus. AMEN!

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

To Live In Expectation of That Day!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Acknowledge God, Joy, Temptation, Temptations, TrialsLeave a comment

Tuesday, 2019-05-19

Bible Reference: Job 19:23-27
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text:  23-24 Oh, that I could write my plea with an iron pen in the rock forever.
25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And I know that after this body has decayed, this body shall see God! 27 Then he will be on my side! Yes, I shall see him, not as a stranger, but as a friend! What a glorious hope!

OBSERVATION: In ways that we could never imagine, Job was tested and tried because of his faith. In ways that may have caused us to buckle under the pressure, Job stayed true to God and endured the persecution. All because He knew that a day was coming that he would unite with the King of Glory! What a lesson for us to ponder today as we meditate on the Word of God!

APPLICATION:  At the beginning of the book of Job, God said of Job that he was a true man of God that stood tall among other men and was firm in his commitment to God, in spite of what might come his way. Friends, we have seen for the past 18 chapters where Satan unleashed his power on Job and, yes it became very discouraging for Job, because he even wished he was never born. But praise to the God of heaven and the Savior of all mankind, Job never lost his allegiance to God. He knew that God was right there, and that it was he (Job) that needed to lift his eyes above the troubles and look towards the day when he would see God’s wonderful and loving face. I believe that when he wished that these words were written in stone for others to see and be encouraged by, he not only thought of us, but he also wished that he could be encouraged by his own words when discouraging times came. Job realized and acknowledged where his struggles came, but he also firmly acknowledged where his strength came from. Satan is very powerful friends, but our God is head and shoulders above him, He created this universe and He is very capable of ruling and reigning over Satan and any of his deceptions, lies or devious acts that could possibly be imposed upon us while living in this old world. What a lesson this is for us! If we would take time to analyze the cause of our sin, our frustration, our weakness and our failing, perhaps it would help us to do like Job and stand firm in our faith in spite of all that goes on in our lives. I believe that our application here is that we must make God so much a part of our lives that not only will He be able to say like He did about Job, but that He will also acknowledge our commitment, our dedication to the cause of Christ, and that our faith will be evident to our God and to those around us. Friends, others hear of Jesus but they are constantly looking for proof of His existence in the lives of His children here on earth. Will they identify whose we are, and in whom we gain our strength and guidance. While we are living each day in the fear of the Lord, others are watching for an example to follow, and they are making mental notes, so that when anything is said about us, whether in life or death, they will be ready to attest to our lives and what our principles and character meant to them. Let us then live in the light of eternity, in our everlasting hope, in the One who leads us to the love others like He did. Let us stand strong in our faith, no matter what may come against us by this world and it’s leader. Our God’s not dead, for He is very much alive in us each and every day!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are my hope and my strength in all that I contend with in this old world. My joy comes from You alone, and it causes me to reflect on heaven where I will spend eternity with my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank You for loving me enough to make such provisions for me. Thank You for always being there for me! Please continue to give me strength to look above my troubles and look towards the heavens and remember all the joys that are mine! Lord, more than we could ever imagine, You are fully aware of our challenges here on earth, and You know full well everything that my friends and I face on a daily basis. Please keep us focused on You, so that our challenging times down here will seem miniscule compared to the overwhelming joy that is ours when we join You in heaven. Thank You for watching over Job, yet allowing his true strength and joy to be revealed to us in the scriptures. May the light of Your Word always be the path that we will follow all the days of our lives! Jesus, I ask all this in Your precious and most holy name, knowing that You are Master over everything that could possibly come our way, AMEN!

How to Defend Against Every Kind of Attack

On By Ed AlgreenIn Follow Christ, Imitator of Christ, ObedienceLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE – Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) ~ 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 ~ We show that we are God’s servants by our pure lives, by our understanding, by our patience, and by our kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by speaking the truth, and by depending on God’s power. This right way of living has prepared us to defend ourselves against every kind of attack.

THOUGHTS: There are many who accept the Lord thinking that all of their troubles will now be gone, as they will now associate themselves with ‘holy’ and ‘righteous’ people. Friends may I remind you that as long as we remain on this sinful earth, we will encounter sinful, hurtful people, as there are many who will cross our paths that have decided to stay clear of our best friend, our Savior and our soon coming King. Prior to the verses listed above, Paul had just shared with the Corinthians how much he and his team had endured in their ministry. Fortunately for us, Paul went on to tell them what he attributed his success to in dealing with sinful people and their deliberate attack on children of God. This is helpful information for us, as we are bound to find some awful, unfortunate, opposition as we seek to spread the Good News, and light, among a world filled with darkness, deceit and bad intentions. Here are some things that Paul teaches that might help us stay stronger in our faith and true to our Master, especially as we deal with the vices of Satan here on earth:

  • Purity – keep ourselves pure in God’s sight and our earthly opposition will see the evidence of a man/woman controlled by God. I consider purity to be a true and consistent witness for God. True to His teachings and always consistent in obedience to His Word no matter who our audience might be;
  • Understanding – Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions that a person is wrong or unfaithful, but instead try to look at them through the lens of God. I believe He sees them as His very own creation that just needs a little encouragement, teaching and mentoring by one of His stronger servants at the time;
  • Patience – Isn’t it strange how we get so impatient with someone who is doing precisely what we struggled with just a very short time ago? Wouldn’t it be better to share with them a spirit of understanding because you can relate to their dilemma? Wouldn’t it encourage them to know that you are living proof of what our awesome God can do in the life of a messed up, weak individual?
  • Kindness – Part of the reason that the unsaved is having a second look at a Christian, is because they see where we have a sense of calm over us; a strength inside of us that they just can’t comprehend. While I believe that God can miraculously open their eyes to this, I also believe that unbelievers will see this through the characteristics of the believer. Kindness is especially important in this fast-paced, selfish, unkind world we live in. After all, why would we be ‘kind’ to a total stranger, or to one who is out to get us? This is a character of God that must be displayed in Christians, if we ever expect for the lost to see Jesus in our actions.

Fortunately, Paul went on to say how he gained the strength to do the above, so that we might also know how to gain and stay attuned to the blessings of God in and through the characteristics listed. Paul shared that he depended on the Holy Spirit; through genuine love; by speaking the truth, and by depending on God’s power. So friends, when you read the above and allow your minds to wonder into the question as to who can possible achieve such things, allow God to use the qualities Paul told us that helped him. Remember, God is all powerful, and that you and He can accomplish great things – greater than anything you could ever imagine!

PRAYER: Lord God, Your holiness and Your character is what we desire, so that the world might recognize to whom we belong. We have so many temptations and trials thrown at us every day, and we can only do this thing called ‘life’ – Christian Life, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, through our genuine love for everyone, by always speaking the truth in love, and through Your awesome power. It is only then that I believe we will stand a chance at defending ourselves against every attack of Satan. We know that greater is He that is in us than he that is in this old wicked world. Please have Your will and way in me today, and please touch the lives of those that will read this devotional today, for I ask this in the precious and holy name of Jesus, 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 so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!

Bursting Into Songs of Thanksgiving!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Praise, Prayer, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE – 7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. ~ Psalm 28:7 ~ New Living Translation (NLT)

THOUGHTS: David, the Psalmist, had such great results in his prayer life that he would often break into outbursts of praise, such as seen in this verse from Psalm 28. Was he always this pumped up about his prayer life? No, David was very much human, as we are, so he often became impatient, despondent and felt abandoned by God, especially when God’s timing and David’s immediacy was at odds. Friends, as we build solid relationships with God, perhaps we too may one day identify with the Psalmist in saying, Oh Lord…:

  • You are my strength – because so often I am overwhelmed by life and the circumstances that result from my being here. You help me to overcome and You give me strength to carry on;
  • You are my shield – for in every circumstance of life I am protected from the evil one, and you shield me from the wicked that would otherwise pull me down and destroy my witness;
  • I have learned to trust You – for you are my only constant in life. You are always there for me, and You love me enough to not answer all of my prayers in the manner in which I selfishly and ignorantly ask without any vision of tomorrow;
  • You help me – especially when I am weak, down and out. You have restored my faith in You and assured me of Your awesome power. You along are God!
  • I am so overwhelmed with Your goodness that – I can barely contain myself. My soul rejoices in the awesome God that I adore and serve, for You are God, and besides You, there is no other. I burst into thanksgiving right now as I reflect on Your goodness. Please help me to consistently thank and worship You, because even when I am weak, distraught and feel so far away from You, yet You are always there for me. Thank You Father! Thank You Lord Jesus for being my awesome and loving God!

Lord, may we daily burst into songs of thanksgiving as we recognize Your awesome power and love in our lives and through our walk with You. Lord, You are good and Your mercies endures forever!

PRAYER: Lord, may we daily burst into songs of thanksgiving as we recognize Your awesome power and love in our lives and through our walk with You. Lord, You are good, and Your mercies endures forever! You are so worthy of our praise, and we are so needy of our awesome, powerful, loving God. Thank You Lord Jesus! We are Your humble servants, so I ask these things in the name of our loving Savior and Lord, 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 so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!

What Triggers Your Praise?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faithfulness, Loving-Kindness, WorshipLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Living Bible – Psalm 138:1-3): 1 Lord, with all my heart I thank you. I will sing your praises before the armies of angels. 2 I face your Temple as I worship, giving thanks to you for all your loving-kindness and your faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

THOUGHTS: In this Psalm we can see where David was touched by, or reminded of the love of God and His undying faithfulness, and it triggered his worship of God. Notice that David said he faced the temple as he worshipped, but he didn’t wait until the next worship service where he could watch the praise team worship or the pastor rejoice over a passage of scripture that God spoke to him about. Friends please don’t get me wrong, each of these things I mentioned are important, but I truly believe that when we recognize the love of our God, when we feel His precious love for us individually and we realize that He is faithful to us in every aspect of our lives, then we will be moved to worship God on a very personal level. When we do that, I believe that our corporate worship services will take on a whole new dimension, for our churches will be filled with worshippers, not just Christians looking for a place to be electrified, or energized by a good worship leader or an awesome praise team. David goes on in these verses to say that he is reminded that all of the promises of God are backed by the honor of His holy name – the name above all names! He is also encouraged that the God of this universe answers his prayers and encourages him by giving him the strength that he needs to go on each day and live a strong and noble life for the Lord. These are all wonderful reminders for us to also worship our God, but this list is not all inclusive. For I think of the wonders of nature that He places before me as I drive to work, the beauty of another sunrise, the blessing of rain, of cows and wildlife playing in the fields and pastures. Most of all, like David, I am amazed that the God of this universe takes time to listen to my prayers and answers/comforts my concerns. Who am I that a Kind should bleed and die for? Yet, I am convinced that He would have sacrificed himself on that old cruel cross if I was the only one in need of a Savior. He loved me that much, and it is no different in the love that my Savior has for each of you today friend. Worship Him! Thank Him! Recognize His goodness and never attribute His careful and deliberate love for you as mere chance or good luck. Make every effort to be a personal, worshipping believer, not just one looking for a place for corporate worship of the Savior who loves you personally so very much.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, You have given us so much reason to worship You from the depth of our heart. Please awaken Your saints from the sleep of laziness, or dependence on others and/or other influences to invoke a heart of worship within us. Please help us to rest from the busyness of this life long enough to reflect on Your goodness, Your love and Your undying faithfulness. The Psalmist has triggered our minds and reminded us of the awesome joy in lifting up praise and worship to You, may this be a day that our eyes will be opened to reflect on Your beauty and Your goodness and may we recommit to a personal relationship with the God of this universe who loves us personally and cares for us intimately. Thank You Father for loving and caring for even me. These things I ask of You in the precious name of Your Son, my Savior and King, Jesus. 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 read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 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, Sebring, FL! 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!

God Knows The Heart

On By Ed AlgreenIn Clean Heart, HolyLeave a comment

The Holy Bible  (The New Century Version – Isaiah 57:17-21): 17 I was angry because they were dishonest in order to make money. I punished them and turned away from them in anger, but they continued to do evil. 18 I have seen what they have done, but I will heal them. I will guide them and comfort them and those who felt sad for them. They will all praise me. 19 I will give peace, real peace, to those far and near, and I will heal them,” says the Lord. 20 But evil people are like the angry sea, which cannot rest, whose waves toss up waste and mud. 21 “There is no peace for evil people,” says my God.

Thoughts:  It is so easy for us to beat up on a friend because of the wrongs we see in them, but way too often others see very similar traits, or wrongs in us. I found it encouraging to read in these verses where, in spite of Israel’s sin and the punishment God was already extending to them, yet He still chose to heal them, guide them, comfort them and give peace to them. Friends, I believe this is evidence of God looking at the heart of mankind, and not the stupid acts that we are so often guilty of. Now please don’t assume that this means you can go on doing whatever you please, knowing that God has your back, for when you do that you are doing it in deliberate disobedience, and from a heart filled with total disregard for God. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, and do our very best to live according to His Word and His will, there is not a wave of perfection that comes over us. However, God’s Holy Spirit working in us, should give us a deep sense of guilt and a desire for forgiveness that leads us to beg God for strength to overcome that certain weakness and His guiding hand to help redirect us towards holy living going forward. I believe in the last two verses we are shown that when we feel unsettled, or angry about our actions and challenged in getting no rest over them, we may want to question ourselves about whether we truly have sought forgiveness from God over our actions. I believe when we act sinfully and have no remorse or desire to seek God’s face and His forgiveness, we had best examine the spiritual state of our heart. Remember, God knows our heart, and His Holy Spirit helps us to not only know our own heart, but directs us to all Truth so that we might have a heart like Christ. So how’s your heart friend? Does God reside in your heart as evidenced by your words and interactions with others? We might easily fool those around us friend, but God is the only One who truly knows our heart. Make Him proud today, won’t you?

Prayer:  No matter how hard I try to dress up my outward appearance and my outward reflection to my fellow man, I am convinced that only You know the condition and intent of my heart dear God. Lord, I want to be just like You in my everyday life, whether it’s inside my church doors; in the middle of the marketplace; in the presence of Your saints; or in the presence of unbelievers. Please take hold of this sinful man and make me into Your own image. May You see enough value in my intent that You have no reservation in accomplishing Your will through me. Many who might meditate on this devotional today might have similar challenges in this tough life here on earth, please touch them with Your powerful and almighty hand so that Your work might flourish in and through clean and holy vessels today. This my humble and respectful prayer that I ask in the precious and almighty name of Jesus, my Lord, with thanksgiving, 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 so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!

Your Source of Help for 2015

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible (The Voice – Ephesians 6:10-13): ….. Draw your strength and might from God. 11 Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. 12 We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.13 And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground.

Thoughts: As we enter into this brand new year, I must begin with bragging on the awesome God that I serve. Against all odds, He kept me on track with intentionally and consistently reading His Word in 2014 and even providing me the thoughts to share with you in my blogs. While I pray that many of you were touched in some way by being drawn to the Word of God through my blogs, I can brag about the blessings I received each day in meditating on the Word, and in allowing God to orchestrate the thoughts and words for the blog through three surgeries, vacations out of the country and through very early risings each day to ensure that it was just God and I while I studied. Praise God for all He has done! To begin the praises for 2015, I believe that there is no better preparation for us than to face this year being reminded of where our strength and guidance will come from. God knew this long before I could have thought about this, so He predetermined that my scheduled readings would bring me exactly to the verses highlighted today! Wow! Friends, God is instructing us to be solely dependent on Him, to the extent that we should plant ourselves inside of Him and allow His sweet Holy Spirit to: protect us when we’re troubled; strengthen us when we feel weak from the stresses of this world; encourage us when we feel like we just can’t go on any longer; love us when we feel so alone and isolated from the worldly battles of Satan all around us; and to give us ongoing hope knowing that He’s still on the throne, and has a place prepared for us to be with Him, when life as we know it today, is over. But friends, this hope is of no value to us, and will not benefit us when we take our eyes off the prize, off the Master and instead allow the worldly pleasures of this world, driven by Satan, to take precedence in our lives. May I encourage you to start this brand new year with a brand new commitment to invite God into your life and allow Him to rule and reign in and through you? May I encourage you to do your part by committing to put on the armor of His Word every day – remember, that’s what draws you closer to God; helps you better understand what He wants you to do, and gives you the strength and guidance to be strong in the Lord and in His awesome might!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in glorifying You for all that You did for me in 2014, I am reassured, comforted and yet challenged to keep You in the forefront of my life in 2015, so that I might depend on You as my guide, my strength and my deliverer. Please teach me to better seek You in all decisions and in all things, and to have unwavering faith so that I might quickly and daily call on You with my health, job, marriage, parenting, church responsibilities and in my daily walk with You. You are my Rock, my Deliverer, my Salvation, my Guide and my Protector – thank You dear Jesus for such reassurance and peace! I ask all this in the name of, and place my faith believing in, You dear Jesus, 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 so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely 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, Sebring, FL! 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!