His Promise is TRUE

On 2024-01-19 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, January 19, 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 New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Hebrews 6:16-19

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls….

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Some are challenged to sleep on Christmas night due to the buildup of anxiety about what they expect to see around the tree next morning! I believe we all love gifts! There are many who also do their best to take people at their word. This sometimes lead to disappointment, but at other times their hope in humanity is restored as they see commitments kept and promises fulfilled! I believe that today’s Scripture restores hope to the Christian, for we are reminded that ‘it is impossible for God to lie’! This should also give assurance to the unbeliever who is doubting and questioning whether God really does what the Bible says He would do. Less we forget, there were some huge promises made in the Bible – promises that unbelievers might find impossible to believe. Like when He told a woman who had been unable to get pregnant that she and her husband would have a child. A promise to Sarah that fulfilled a promise made to Abraham when he was 75 years old. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90! God never lies! Through Moses, God led a multitude of people through the wilderness, while at first being chased by the Egyptian army. On approaching the Red Sea, many doubted that God could ever hold true to His promise to carry them through to the Promised Land. However, God parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross over to the other side on dry land, while using the opposite action to drown the chasing army! He fed the Israelites with miraculous manna when there was no human sign of food! He brought forth water when the thirsty Israelites could only see a rock! Later, God gave us the promised Messiah through a miraculous situation that only He could satisfy. A virgin bore a son – Jesus, the Christ. Friends, as I meditated on these verses, I couldn’t help but wonder at the awesome God that I serve, for I know that He is still God and that He could still fulfill everything that He promises. He can’t lie! So when He tells me that He will love me forever and forever, I have no reason to doubt and feel alone or forsaken, for God can’t lie! Because He told me that He has prepared a home for me to live with He and the Father in heaven for evermore, I can start celebrating my eternal destiny now, for my God can’t lie! For those reading this devotional and you are still uncommitted to the resurrected Christ, please let me encourage you to believe with all your heart soul and mind that Jesus died because of His love for you, and in obedience to His Father. However, He rose again as living proof that just as He now lives, we too will arise and live forever with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all eternity. Remember, He can’t lie. So you can take this promise ‘to the bank’, for it is genuine truth! To do nothing at all in light of this truth, you are settling for the lies of Satan and, according to God’s Holy Word, you will have an eternal destiny with Satan in the pit of Hell. Cruel? Perhaps, but it is TRUTH, precious friend. You are responsible for your destiny, please make the best decision in light of the truth shared with you today.

PRAYER INSPIRED BY TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: What an awesome reminder dear Lord, that You cannot lie! This means that what You promised throughout Your Word, You will bring to pass! Praise the Lord! I thank You Lord for the promise of Salvation, and the gift You so aptly provided on the cross at Calvary. Today I can rejoice in the prospects of heaven, because I know that You cannot lie! I humbly pray that You will once again touch the hearts of those who have not changed their destiny to Heaven. Some of these are relatives, loved ones and coworkers, so they are very special to me. Please use these humble words to wake my readers out of a careless sleep that may be affecting their decision making. Draw them to Yourself, Lord and invoke a time of decision making today that will impact their eternal destination. I ask these things in the wonderful name of Jesus, 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!

Reassuring Trust In Church Leaders

On 2022-07-112022-07-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Church, Church Leaders, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, Trust, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-07-11
WRITTEN AT: O Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Corinthians 1:12-13; 17-19;
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹²We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. ¹³Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us.
¹⁷…. Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? ¹⁸As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.”….

APPLICATION: The church that is considered ‘perfect’ in the eyes of its membership, is probably most successful when it keeps the struggles that embattle their leadership, behind the scenes. After all, church leadership is made up of human men and/or women. In many cases, church leadership is made up of the same men and women who are challenged with their kids, struggle in their marriages, and possibly written up for various reasons at work. Having been there and done that, I was stricken by the Holy Spirit to carefully read what Paul, a notable saint of God, shared with one of his churches. Let’s take a deep dive into the words of Paul, which we know were inspired by the Holy Spirit, for his words to be included in God’s book of Instruction to us:
~ A God-given holiness and sincerity in all dealings (vs 12) – Because we deal with mere humans in church leadership, we can understand why this may be hard for parishioners to believe. After all, we insist on audits of church financial records, because of the horror stories of theft at some churches. We insist on a buddy system for counseling, because we have heard horror stories of misappropriation between counselors and counselees. BUT I believe that Paul wanted his church to know that he is aiming for perfection as he follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. He therefore shared with the church the principles that he had chosen to live by, with God’s help. I pray that each leader will strive to live as Paul taught, and that each reader will find men and women of God-like character in their church leadership;
~ Depending on God’s grace and not on human wisdom (vs 12) – In each of us, I believe that we are so tainted by the world, that it is always challenging for others to see the grace of God at work in us. We will always try to clarify the process by which we have made decisions regarding the church. However, when we depend on God, it is easy to explain how He guided us through His Word and through His almighty power to the decision He wants made for His church. Which do you see most often by your church leadership;
~ Straightforward letters (vs 13) – There are times when we need an attorney to review certain documents, because we want to make sure that there are no hidden agendas included between the lines. It is interesting, but also conniving how we could place our words just right in a document that leaves the interpretation totally up to the recipient! Paul assured his church that this was not his style of writing. Do you feel the same way about correspondence from your church leadership?
– Let you “Yes” be yes, and your “No” be no (vs 17) – If asked a pointed question, will it depend on the response from the others as to how you might respond? If your church leadership is prayed up and honest in God’s sight, each of them will know how God wants them to individually respond, regardless of what the others might say.
Friends, in all honesty, church leadership is a very challenging thing. Because leaders must learn to put aside personal agendas and wait for the Lord to impress upon them what He wants. Let me encourage every reader and listener to pray diligently for your church leaders. Pray that they will learn to empty themselves of selfish pride and personal agendas, and wait on the Lord for His direction in His church.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Imitate Jesus in our lives and our dealings with others, so that God may bless our efforts and our dealings with others.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You were perfect in the sight of Your Father, yet You were criticized, judged and rejected by mankind. I should expect no less, but please direct my path and keep me on the straight and narrow path so that I may be pleasing to my all-knowing God. Please Lord, give wisdom to our church leaders and guide them in the very critical matters they govern. Trying to gently deal with mankind, while staying true to our perfect God is extremely challenging. Please Lord, always give contentment to our church leaders who strive to always please You, and intervene on their behalf as their church members seek to trust and obey their decisions. You alone are our ultimate Judge, so I pray that we would always strive to please You in all that we do and say. Please remove the desire to please mankind, less our churches become more like the world than their God they were designed to honor and obey. May we always be pleasing in your sight so that You may accomplish Your work through us and our churches. 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!

May God Bless Our Employers, Because of Us

On 2022-01-312022-01-31 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-01-31
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Genesis 39:5-6
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. ⁶So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

APPLICATION: The obvious question is perhaps: how could I possibly make a difference to the success of my employer? I believe that qualities that our employer, and God, might be looking for in a child of the King are:
-*- HONESTY – I believe that any employer will tell you that the money they lose from dishonest employees is mind-boggling. The dishonest may tend to work the clock to make sure they give no extra time to the boss, however, the time wasted on the job is never considered cheating by them. I trust that the Christian worker will always be looked upon as honest and trustworthy in every way.
-*- PRAYER – I believe the Bible teaches us to pray for those in authority over us. Suppose we prayed for the success of our boss and that the company product would flourish in its market. Sure, that will inflate their pockets, but it also increases the chance of us continuing to have a job. Perhaps as profits increase, our working conditions will improve and the opportunity for raises become more possible. Pray for the soul of the boss, for they need Jesus just as we and other coworkers do. I bet it would be such an honor to work for a Christian boss!
-*- TRUST – I once knew a boss who bragged on one of his Christian employees and added that he would have a great company, if he only had a half dozen other employees as trustworthy and dedicated to their job. Oh that every boss will be able to say something similar because of Christian workers in their employment.
Our Scripture today says that God blessed the home and assets of Potiphar for the sake of Joseph. It sounds to me that God was so pleased with having an awesome representative working for Potiphar that He knew that in blessing Potiphar, His servant Joseph will also be blessed. I wish that would be the case for every believer who meditates on this devotional today, God being your strength and your Helper.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Our dedication to God and our representation of Him and His good works, will cause God to bless everyone and everything in which we actively participate!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help us to be Your hands and feet in our workplaces. May we always choose to represent You well and without always pushing the envelope for more money, better positions and greater recognition. May our boss just simply see us as an extension of the One True God, and may they and their businesses be blessed because of our employment. Thank You Lord for Your provisions and always showering us with Your blessings. May we be willing to just pass along the blessings so that others will see Jesus in action, and want to also know Him personally. Lord, we are a blessed people. Please help us to also bless others in return, and may we always praise You for Your kindness and Your faithfulness to us. AMEN!

Nothing To Be Afraid Of

On 2018-10-312018-10-31 By Ed AlgreenIn All have sinned, CommittedLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Peter 3:13-14 (TPT)

TEXT: ¹³Why would anyone harm you if you’re passionate and devoted to pleasing God? ¹⁴But even if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you will have the joyful experience of the blessing of God. And don’t be intimidated or terrified by those who would terrify you.

OBSERVATION: In the preceding verses of chapter 3, Peter had reminded us of our marital relationships, and about how we are to love one another. Based on that, some readers might step back and ponder why then does it seem like everyone is out to ‘get them’. So Peter went on to tell us about the unique experience of doing good, even under very challenging circumstances. We still face these types of scenarios, so I feel like it is very important for us to meditate on these thoughts, and allow them to penetrate our hearts into God-like actions towards one another.

APPLICATION: Imagine if you were a good, law-abiding, citizen and the cops show up at your door one morning, ready to handcuff you and haul you off to the police station. Many of us would probably come close to suffering a heart attack from just the thought of that, but it would really impact us if something like that was to actually occur! Most who are innocent would probably not even call an attorney, because we know that there is probably just some sort of mistake. Here’s another thought, imagine if someone came to you and started a conversation where they begin accusing your church deacon or elder of a crime. I believe you would quickly get in their face about falsely accusing a good man that you know, would never do such a horrible thing. Please know that I am not naive enough to believe that all religious leaders are innocent of all crimes, but if you know a man of God, and you know his heart and testimony, I believe you would quickly defend him of a crime you feel convinced God would protect Him from. Friends, I believe that God inspired Peter to share this for our good. Think of the following reasons:

To encourage us to live the life that we profess to the world. So let us always live life according to God’s plan, His design, His teachings, if we claim the name of Jesus to the world;
Live without ever being accused of being double-faced – talking being someone’s back things that you wouldn’t say to their face;
Let you yeah be yeah and your nay be nay. If you say that you will do something, never give someone reason to doubt that you will do as you say.

Notice that this Scripture today tells us that even though you may sometime suffer for telling the truth, you will always receive God’s gracious blessings for being obedient to Him and His commands. If you know our Master, live like you belong to Him! Make Him proud of you, won’t you?

PRAYER: Precious Lord Jesus, when I consider all that You did for me, and all that You gave up just for me, who am I that You would still reach out to me in love and with such purpose? My readers and I look to Your Word for direction on how we should live like You intended. Please give us that boldness, and a totally committed purpose in being totally obedient, regardless of any earthly consequences that might be due to us. Lord, we believe in You, and we are committed to serve You right up to our very last breath. We need Your wisdom and Your strength to remain true in all that we do and say. To God be the glory, for ever and for ever, 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 Sebring, 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!

The Path to Integrity

On 2017-03-25 By Ed AlgreenIn Dependable, Integrity, TrustLeave a comment

Post Date:	Saturday, 2017-03-25
SCRIPTURE
From:	Proverbs 4:10-15 (Voice)
Text:	¹⁰Hear my words, my son, and take them in; let them soak in so that you will live a long, full life. ¹¹I have pointed you in the way of wisdom; I have steered you down the path to integrity. ¹²So get going. And as you go, know this: with integrity you will overcome all obstacles; even if you run, you will not stumble. ¹³Tighten your grip around wise advice; don’t let it slip away. Protect Wisdom, for without her, life isn’t worth living. ¹⁴Do not start down the road of the wicked— the first step is easy, but it leads to heartache— do not go along the way of evildoers. ¹⁵Stay away from it; don’t even go past it— and if you find yourself anywhere near it, turn your back and run as far as you can in the opposite direction.
OBSERVATION:
Wikipedia gives the following meaning to ‘Integrity’: “Integrity is the qualifications of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. It is generally a personal choice to hold oneself to consistent moral and ethical standards.” That sounds like a pretty close match to what the Proverbs is describing in these focal verses today, I feel!
APPLICATION:
I believe that many strive to live a life of integrity even if they know nothing about the promises of God to bless us as we strive to live in the wisdom of all that He has taught us. Often this may occur because of the upbringing of the individual, or because of someone that they are looking up to in their life. For the child of God, we have the Word of God to guide our actions, thoughts and principles, and we have the power of God to help us overcome obstacles that may try to hinder our walk to consistent integrity. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our life, He places the Holy Spirit within us to guide us along the right path. He is our Helper and our Guide when puzzled about which path to follow; He is our Comforter and Protector when trouble comes our way; He is our Deliverer when tempted and we call on Him for help. So with that kind of support within us, can you think of any reason why we can’t follow the Word of God and the will of God for our lives? Friends, if ever our employers should find employees of integrity, that they can trust wholeheartedly, or if ever our friends could find and trust people of integrity that they could depend on and trust with sharing their heart, it should be in those who have honestly invited Jesus into our heart and committed ourselves to allow Him full control over our lives. Jesus has always been, and always will be considered a person of integrity, for He is the only Perfect One, so having Him as our Lord and Savior, we too can be people of integrity. It’s your call friend. As for me, I choose to be a man of integrity, God being my helper!
PRAYER:
Lord, in a world that seems filled with strife, backbiting and lack of trust in each other, I reaffirm my desire to be a man of integrity, with the help of Your Holy Spirit. I pray for commitment of this attribute for my readers, my family, my friends and my coworkers. Lord may this lost world see more of You in more of us. May we be known as people of integrity because of whose we are! 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!

Nuggets From God's Word

Tag: Trustworthy