Tag: The joy of our Salvation

Do It Again Lord!

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

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-05-30
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Pslam 85:4-7
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
    Put aside your anger against us once more.
5 Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
6 Won’t you revive us again,
    so your people can rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

APPLICATION: It is unfortunate, but way too often we tend to feel like our one vote won’t matter in a general election, or our ability to participate in the evangelistic work of our church won’t matter much in reaching the masses who have chosen to reject Jesus. But as we look at the desperate plea of Korah’s clan in this Psalm today, we will recognize that they had heard about the actions of their ancestors as they traveled through the Wilderness rejecting God and His wondrous works in spite of Him providing for them as they traveled through desert land. No doubt, they saw the love of God in still keeping up with His covenant agreement with His people by safely delivering them to the Promised Land. But, in true form to what we tend to do today, the Israelites soon forgot their many blessings and returned to their sinful ways when they felt like God’s help was no longer needed. Friends, we are living in such a time that we seem to believe that WE have everything under control, for excuses abound why we needn’t attend church; we are way too busy to find time for enhancing our relationship with God; despite what others face with health issues, we have been unaffected; despite skyrocketing inflation, we have managed to keep bread on our table and clothes on our backs, so ‘we’ve got this’. How sad for us to be so narrow-minded. When previous troubles came, we had a God that we could run to, and we were comforted, provided for, and encouraged to go on. Should this not form an indelible impact on our minds and lives that would invoke praise and adoration each and every day – even when things appear to be going well? Perhaps our daily prayer should be likened to that of Korah’s clan – ‘Please Lord, restore to me, my family, my church, and my workplace, the joy of remembering all that You have done for us. Remind us often of Your power and Your might. Forgive us when we fail to glorify You each day. Restore in us the memory of our very first day under Your wing. Refresh our desire to know You more, and to serve You better, by becoming involved in all the ways that You point us towards here on earth. Do it again Lord – PLEASE?’

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Whenever we ask God to do it again, we are remembering that He had blessed us beyond measure at least once already! He does this every day, so may we celebrate His blessings every day, and seek to share that blessing with others.

PRAYER: It’s amazing how easily we put You on ‘the back-burner’ Lord. You have made such a difference in our lives, and we can never forget Your love, forgiveness, and unending goodness towards us. When we accepted You as Lord and Savior, we became one with You and therefore represent all that You stand for. Please Lord, help us to act in a way pleasing to You and representative of You and Your goodness. Please ‘do it again’ – revive a right spirit within me, within Your church and in every one of Your kids, so that the world might see Your mighty works and Your loving and forgiving spirit. There are many around us that need to know You. Please impact their lives, and do it through us, if it pleases You. 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!

Doubting It’s Really Jesus?

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

Monday, 2021-09-20

Bible Reference: Luke 24:36-41
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text: 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them, and greeted them. 37 But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why do you doubt that it is really I? 39 Look at my hands! Look at my feet! You can see that it is I, myself! Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost! For ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!” 40 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see the marks of the nails, and showed them the wounds in his feet.
41 Still they stood there undecided, filled with joy and doubt.

APPLICATION: In light of the challenge that the disciples faced, the Holy Spirit prompted me to look inward and see what I would do if Jesus appeared at my church, or Bible Study, etc. Whoa, that brought a whole new perspective on this. You see, I believe that often we will read these Scriptures and, if we’re not careful, we start to examine the hearts and lives of the individuals, like the disciples, to see what on earth might have distorted or blocked their faith at such a sensitive time. But what about us? I often attend a Easter Sunrise service each year, where we highlight, celebrate and try to envision with the rising sun, what it must have been like to see the rising Son. What if Jesus became our guest speaker at one of those services one year? Wouldn’t that truly break the routine what we might expect from those services each year? I can’t imagine the impact that would have on the believers present, or at least those who don’t die from shock! Often we will pray that Jesus might come down and heal our bodies, our church and our land. What if He came in person one night and just chatted with us about His Kingdom and perhaps His intentions for our respective ministries? Would our feeble hearts be capable of handling that? Friends, our Savior is no longer in the grave, for He arose! So as we reflect on this wonderful experience of the disciples, let’s be sure to prepare our hearts for seeing Jesus again some day. Whether it’s here on earth, or when we get to heaven, I am convinced that it will be a glorious time for us to kneel at His feet and worship Him endlessly! Until that time, let me encourage you to seek the face of Jesus daily, and prepare yourself for the most magnificent visit with Him. There’s a song ‘Oh that will be Glory for me, Glory for me, Glory for me, When by His grace I shall look on His Face….’. Not sure about you my friend, but I become overwhelmed with joy at just the thought of seeing my Savior. May you be ready to see Him, whether it’s today, or whether He waits for your arrival to allow your physical presence! Oh Lord Jesus, come!

PRAYER: The disciples experienced it first! Meeting Him in person after His Resurrection, had them in awe! And I can’t even imagine how such a miracle would impact us today. Lord, You gave it all for my friends and I, and we’ve read and understood from Scriptures that You are very much alive and awaiting our arrival in Heaven! Thank You Lord Jesus for making the way possible for us to overcome the evil of this wicked world and to make the transition to heaven one day where we might worship You throughout the rest of eternity. Please help us to live as children of the King, and may every selfish desire disappear as we work on convincing our unsaved loved ones and friends about the need for our Savior. Please soften hearts even today as we go about our way and make contact with various ones who have not yet accepted You. Please give us boldness and wisdom to share the joy of our salvation with everyone we come into contact with today. AMEN!

What Would It Take to Convince You?

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

Monday, 2019-09-23

Bible Reference: Luke 24:36-41
Translation: Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text: 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them, and greeted them. 37 But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why do you doubt that it is really I? 39 Look at my hands! Look at my feet! You can see that it is I, myself! Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost! For ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!” 40 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see the marks of the nails, and showed them the wounds in his feet.
41 Still they stood there undecided, filled with joy and doubt.

OBSERVATION: The prophets foretold the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples about His death, burial and Resurrection. The ladies to first visit the tomb found out that Christ had risen. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus saw that Jesus had risen. Yet when he stood before the disciples, they thought it was a ghost. I wonder how we might react to seeing Jesus in person at our work sites, or our homes, or our church services this week?

APPLICATION: In light of the challenge that the disciples faced, the Holy Spirit prompted me to look inward and see what I would do if Jesus appeared at my church, or in our Elders’ meeting, or Bible Study, etc. Whoa, that brought a whole new perspective on this. You see, I believe that often we will read these Scriptures and. if we’re not careful, we start to examine the hearts and lives of the individuals, like the disciples, to see what on earth might have distorted or blocked their faith at such a sensitive time. But what about us? I often attend a Easter Sunrise service each year, where we highlight, celebrate and try to envision with the rising sun, what it must have been like to see the rising Son. What if Jesus became our guest speaker at one of those services one year? Wouldn’t that truly break the routine what we might expect from those services each year? I can’t imagine the impact that would have on the believers present, or at least those who don’t die from shock! I make our midweek prayer service a vital part of my public, corporate, worship time each week. Often we will pray that Jesus might come down and heal our bodies, our church and our land. What if He came in person one night and just chatted with us about His Kingdom and perhaps His intentions for our ministry? Would our feeble hearts be capable of handling that? Friends, our Savior is no longer in the grave, for He arose! So as we reflect on the wonderful experience of the disciples, let’s be sure to prepare our hearts for seeing Jesus again some day. Whether it’s here on earth, or when we get to heaven, I am convinced that it will be a glorious time for us to kneel at His feet and worship Him endlessly! Fortunately I have never needed an organ donated, but I could only appreciate the thankful hearts of those who have benefited from such a miracle. But what about someone who agreed with His Father to lay His life on the line for our benefit? Can you even imagine how our hearts will sing, and how we will try to cling to our Savior who sacrificed it all for us, when we see Him face to face? Oh Lord Jesus, come!

PRAYER: The disciples experienced it first! Meeting you in person after Your Resurrection, had them in awe! And I can’t even imagine how such a miracle would impact us today. Lord, You gave it all for my friends and I, and we’ve read and understood from Scriptures that You are very much alive and awaiting our arrival in Heaven! Thank You Lord Jesus for making the way possible for us to overcome the evil of this wicked world and to make the transition to heaven one day where we might worship You throughout the rest of eternity. Please help us to live as children of the King, and may every selfish desire disappear as we work on convincing our unsaved loved ones and friends about the need for our Savior. Please soften hearts even today as we go about our way and make contact with various ones who have not yet accepted You. Please give us boldness and wisdom to share the joy of our salvation with everyone we come into contact with today. AMEN!