Nugget

As Prescribed by David...

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:34:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style=""><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/06/05/as-prescribed-by-david/"><span style="color:#000000;">As Prescribed by David...</span></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">By: Lyn Chaffart<br /> ----------------------------</span></h4> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">June 6, 2026</span></h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="267" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260606013440/3de8b92e023a445fb51cf05974c53a78_Worship-1-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 300px; height: 224px; display: inline !important;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">One of the things I like most about reading the Bible is how the Holy Spirit points out new things, each and every time you read a familiar passage. And what the Holy Spirit points out is <em>exactly </em>what you need to hear in that particular moment!<br /> <br /> This particular time, I didn't get the message the first time. Or the second or the third. It wasn't until I had seen it multiple times that it -- albeit slowly! -- began to filter through to my spirit: The simple line, "As prescribed by David".<br /> <br /> Oh, if you go right now and do a Bible search on that particular wording, it will only come up with a couple of references, but the books of history in the Old Testament are peppered with this same idea.<br /> <br /> And just what is this David-inspired idea that keeps popping up rooted in? His military achievements? Perhaps the time he slew a giant? Or maybe it goes back farther to when he killed a lion and a bear to protect his father's flocks? Is it the songs of David? The fact that his playing called the evil demon in Saul? Is it, perhaps, David's great sin with Bathsheba?<br /> <br /> Nope. None of the above. It is something far less spoken about when we study the life of David, a little fact that I, for one, tended to skip over completely!<br /> <br /> The story starts back in 1 Chronicles 16:4: <em>"David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the LORD—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel."</em> (NLT).<br /> <br /> Did you catch it? Those two little words at the beginning? "David appointed..."?<br /> <br /> Would you have caught those two words as being the most noteworthy point in David's life?<br /> <br /> I certainly wouldn't have. Yet we see over and over again through the history sections of the Bible that the temple worship was reinstated, "as prescribed by David"!<br /> <br /> We find it in 1 Chron. 23:27, when Solomon was taking over the kingdom: "<em><strong>In accordance with David’s final instructions</strong>, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service.</em>" (NLT See also </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/23-31.htm"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">1 Chron 23:31</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">).<br /> <br /> We find it in the records of King Hezekiah: <em>"King Hezekiah then stationed the Levites at the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, lyres, and harps. He obeyed all the commands <strong>that the LORD had given to King David through Gad</strong>, the king’s seer, and the prophet Nathan.</em>" (2 Chron. 29:25 NLT).<br /> <br /> We see it when Israel returned from captivity, first in the book of Ezra: <em>"When the builders completed the foundation of the LORD’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the LORD, <strong>just as King David had prescribed</strong>.</em>" (3:10 NLT)<br /> <br /> And again throughout the book of Nehemiah: <em>"They used the musical instruments prescribed by David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe led this procession.</em>" (12:36 NLT See also </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2012&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">vs. 24, 45, 46</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">).<br /> <br /> I could go on with more examples, but the point is, this one little thing that most of us wouldn't have noted as even important in the life of David had a profound impact on the making of history in upcoming years.<br /> <br /> Sometimes we accomplish great things. We write songs, conduct crusades, author books, etc. But sometimes what the Lord requires of us seems pretty small: Praying for someone, making someone a meal, smiling at someone, singing in the congregation. The Lord doesn't measure our service in the same way we do. The little things can potentially hold as much—or in the case of David, more—impact than the big ones. Our job isn't to strive to do something big in the eyes of the world. Our job is to be obedient to what calls <em>each one of us to do! Big or small!</em><br /> <br /> What are you called to do? Are you tempted to think that it isn't big enough to make a difference? Then remember: David isn't mentioned throughout scripture as the one who brought down Goliath! He's remembered as the man of God who organized the temple worship!<br /> <br /> God may have something grandiose for you to do, but don't shirk away from the smaller things!<br /> <br /> In His love,<br /> Lyn<br /> <br /> <br /> Lynona Gordon Chaffart<br /> Author, Moderator, Acting Director, </span><a href="http://www.answers2prayer.org"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Answers2Prayer</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"> Ministries</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="font-size: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">  </span></font><span style="font-size:12pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">SUBMISSIONS WELCOMED!!!</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Has God given you a special message? 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I Can't Hear You Through the Noise: Where Is God When It Hurts? Part 2

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:58:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/06/03/i-cant-hear-you-through-the-noise-where-is-god-when-it-hurts-part-2/"><span style="color:#000000;">I Can't Hear You Through the Noise: Where Is God When It Hurts? Part 2</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Kenn Stright<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>June 4, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260604005814/f90de0b8748c9bca94021a4a898b4b47_Hearing-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;">"<em>He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence</em>." (1 Kings 19: 11-12 NRSV)<br /> <br /> After a severe cold a number of years ago I was left with ringing in my years. No problem, it will go away. Six months later I sought medical advice for the ringing that would not go away. After numerous tests I was told, "You have tinnitus." Treatment? "Go home and live with it!"<br /> <br /> Yes, I have tinnitus. I am in good company. William Shatner of Star Trek fame is the celebratory spokesperson for Tinnitus. Tinnitus has nothing to do with the ear but everything to do with the brain. No one else can hear it not even with the best medical equipment. Tinnitus can be anything from an occasional irritation to an utterly debilitating affliction. I have made a certain peace with my ‘noise’ though at times I crave the ‘sheer silence’ that used to accompany prayer and meditation.<br /> <br /> Modern life is full of noise that detracts from the peace and quiet we crave, even making it difficult to hear the divine through the din of the day. The ‘noise’ of my tinnitus doesn’t go away but in prayer and meditation it is replaced by a peace and a presence that is far more powerful.<br /> <br /> Today you have opportunity to address the noise that is part of your life by the things you do and by the time you take to withdraw to a quiet place as did Jesus in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205%3A15-16&version=NRSVUE">Luke 5:15</a>.<br /> <br /> Prayer: <em>God, the world is full of such noise, noise that overwhelms our senses. Tinnitus is one of those noises that is insistent and often debilitating in my life. Let the sheer silence of your voice overwhelm the meaningless of the neverending sound and bring me closer to you.</em><br /> <br /> Thought for the day: Please forgive me if I don't talk much at times. It's loud enough in my head. #powerofpositivity<br /> <br /> Kenn Stright</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h3 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:28px;">Announcements</span></h3> <p style="margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Please join us next Thursday for Part 3 of the series, “Where Is God When It Hurts?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Serious Preparation, Part 2: The Result

Sat, 30 May 2026 01:37:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style=""><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/29/serious-preparation-part-2-the-result/"><span style="color:#000000;">Serious Preparation, Part 2: The Result</span></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">By: Lyn Chaffart<br /> ----------------------------</span></h4> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">May 30, 2026</span></h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260530023710/4e59dba81679f38456f3e1400d7faf50_Timber-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 300px; height: 224px; display: inline !important;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Last week, in </span><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/22/serious-preparation-part-1/"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Serious Preparation, Part 1</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">, we saw that when our Biblical forefathers and heroes, specifically Nehemiah, made a request to God, their prayers looked a bit different than most of ours. Maybe if our prayers were less about what we want and more on who God is, maybe if we spent more time in prayer <em>reminding ourselves </em>of who God is, perhaps we would feel more confident in what God has asked us to do! But are such prayers even effective?</span><br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Nehemiah 2</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"> tells us the results of Nehemiah's special prayer of preparation. Let's take a look...<br /> <br /> After Nehemiah's extensive prayer of preparation, recorded in </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%201&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Nehemiah 1</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">, Nehemiah, who served as the cupbearer to the Persian emperor, Artaxerxes, returned to work. He was still very upset by the reported state of Jerusalem, and this showed in his face. Even Artaxerxes noticed a difference in him: <em>"I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, 'Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.'"</em> (Nehemiah 2:1b-2 NIV)<br /> <br /> What amazes me is that Nehemiah didn't even have to bring up the topic himself! Rather, God prepared the way so that the king questioned ... <em>him! </em>It was the perfect opening for the conversation, and Nehemiah grabbed the occasion: <em>"...I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?'” </em>(Nehemiah 2:3 NIV)<br /> <br /> Was Nehemiah afraid?<br /> <br /> Yes! Vs. 2b says, <em>"I was very much afraid..."</em>. Yet Nehemiah's excellent preparation for this moment had bolstered his confidence enough in God that his fear did not hold him back!<br /> <br /> It is also obvious that Nehemiah's excellent preparation served to soften the emperor's heart, for Artaxerxes responds favorably: <em>“What is it you want?”</em> (vs. 4, NIV).<br /> <br /> And with that simple question, God has opened the door wide for Nehemiah to present the king with his request.<br /> <br /> Nehemiah didn't just jump right in, however. First he, <em>"...prayed to the God of heaven</em>..." (vs. 4b NIV), and only then did he answer the king, <em>“If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”</em> (Vs. 5 NIV)<br /> <br /> Basically, what God had placed upon Nehemiah's heart to ask was that he be given a leave of absence from his job in order to do something that could have been considered by Artaxerxes as a personal vendetta. Yes, I might have abandoned the quest at this stage. I might have apologized to the king for my sadness and promised that I wouldn't ever appear in his presence that way again. However, because of Nehemiah's excellent preparation, God gives him the courage to put forward this request, despite the fact that it might be considered a "personal vendetta"!<br /> <br /> How was it received?<br /> <br /> Again, as a result Nehemiah's excellent preparation, God further softened Artaxerxes' heart: <em>"Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, 'How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?'”</em> (Vs. 6a NIV). And as you continue to read through the story, you will learn that not only did Artaxerxes give Nehemiah the time off work, but he also provided Nehemiah with letters to the governors of the lands he would travel through (See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202%3A7&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Vs. 7</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">), a letter to the keeper of the royal park so that he would receive timber to makes the beams for the gates and the city wall (See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202%3A8&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Vs. 8</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">), and as if that wasn't enough, the king also sent army officers and a calvary to travel with Nehemiah for protection (See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202%3A9&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Vs. 9</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">)!<br /> <br /> That's the result of "serious preparation", friends! That's the result of fasting and prayer, with the focus of prayer being more on reminding ourselves of who God is! This type of prayer bolsters our faith, for: <em>"faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see"</em> (Hebrews 11:1 NIV), and Jesus promises us that, <em>"Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive"</em> (Matthew 21:22 NRSVUE)!<br /> <br /> Do you have a difficult task in front of you? Why not try some "serious preparation"! Bolster your faith by spending time reminding yourself of Who God is and how much He loves you, then step forward and ask in faith! You'll be amazed at how God opens the doors before you!<br /> <br /> In His love,<br /> Lyn<br /> <br /> Lynona Gordon Chaffart<br /> Author, Moderator, Acting Director, </span><a href="http://www.answers2prayer.org"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Answers2Prayer</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"> Ministries</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Is there a particular subject or series you would like to see featured in the Nugget? If so, please let me know by emailing me </span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:lyn@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">here</span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:12pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:18px;">, or by What’sApp here: +1 (905) 228-5072!</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a><br />  </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Thorn in the Flesh: Where Is God When It Hurts? Part 1

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:50:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/27/thorn-in-the-flesh-wheres-god-when-it-hurts-part-1/"><span style="color:#000000;">Thorn in the Flesh: Where Is God When It Hurts? Part 1</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Kenn Stright<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>May 28, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260528015023/fd9a77c5e610f4b6ba4d28b91164d03c_Thorn-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;">"<em>…if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,<sup> </sup>even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.<sup> </sup>Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,<sup> </sup>but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. <sup> </sup>Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." (</em>2 Corinthians 12: 6-10 NRSV)<br /> <br /> My ‘thorn in the flesh’ began decades ago. It took a little time to realize I was suffering from gout… and suffering barely covers the intensity of the pain! Imagine a bedsheet simply touching your toe in the middle of the night and responding with unbearable pain. That’s gout and it will be of part of my life as long as I live. I am in good company. Charles Spurgeon suffered from gout, along with other debilitating conditions, for most of his short life. OK, on the other side, King Herod may have had Saturnine Gout. Gout is caused by uric acid which builds up “crystals” (more like little torture demons, a phrase colourfully suggested by someone other than me) that produce intense pain.<br /> <br /> Biblically, I look to Paul and his chronicling of a condition he describes in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012&version=NRSVUE">2 Corinthians 12</a>. Paul refers to his condition as ‘a thorn in the flesh’, a phrase used today to denote any continual complaint that annoys or troubles or gives you pain... Paul's ‘thorn in the flesh’ became the metaphor for the difficulties he faced in his life, and the lessons he learned from them. You will find preachers drawing out lessons based on this passage, lessons about accepting limitations,  boasting in weaknesses, offering empathy and compassion to those in distress, enduring adversity, and yes, resisting the devil (remember my little torture demons above!) Paul's story is told in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012&version=NRSVUE">2 Corinthians 12:7–10</a> and may have been a contributing factor in his ongoing ministry in the name of Jesus. I know how gout (my thorn in the flesh) defines my life both during flare-ups and when adapting my everyday life to minimize gout’s effect. I avoid various foods and drinks, I exercise every day and I drink copious amounts of water!<br /> <br /> So you may want to ask your inner being about the place and purpose of those afflictions that come to you as thorns in the flesh. Can they be transformed by your attitude and your faith that<em> ‘all things work together for good’</em>. Maybe George Matheson's prayer can help you when you realize that thorns are part of your life. George Matheson was a blind minister of the Church of Scotland: <br /> <br /> Prayer: <em> "My dear God, I have never thanked you for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses but not once for my thorns. I have always looked forward to the place where I will be rewarded for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as a present glory itself... Teach me, O lord, to glory in my cross. Teach me the value of my thorns. Show me how I have climbed to you through the path of pain. Show me it is through my tears I have seen my rainbow.'”</em> (George Matheson)<br /> <br /> Thought for the day:<br /> <br /> 1. A Pox of this Gout, or a Gout of this Pox; for the one or th’other plays the Rogue with my great Toe . . . A good Wit will make use of anything; I will turn Diseases to commodity. — William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part II. I, ii.<br /> <br /> 2. “… we don’t have to fear or hide from our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. We can find our strength in and through them.”  <strong>- </strong>Adam Russell Taylor<br /> <br /> Kenn Stright</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h3 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:28px;">Announcements</span></h3> <p style="margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Please join us next Thursday for Part 2 of the series, “Where Is God When It Hurts?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

I Will Carry You

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:58:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style=""><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/25/i-will-carry-you-2/"><span style="color:#000000;">I Will Carry You</span></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">By: Paul Smyth<br /> ----------------------------</span></h4> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">May 26, 2026</span></h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260526015846/9d7dad2f64bc841f39013f535de944f7_I-will-carry-you-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 300px; height: 224px; display: inline !important;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:16px;">This coming week, my dear wife, Diane, celebrates, in her words, a significant birthday. Not old by any stretch of the imagination, she has people telling her on a regular basis that she does not look her age. By God’s grace, that’s a win! It’s not just because I am her husband of 37 years and bound to always say the right thing, I genuinely believe that she does not look a day over 45! I fully recognize that I am a very blessed man to have such a special woman in my life.<br /> <br /> Last week, while out of town on a road trip, my wife and I visited her mother, who resides in a seniors’ facility. Sylvia also has a birthday this week, and if you can find a cake big enough, there would be 90 brightly lit candles on top—no doubt an age we all strive to see. Because we live far away and do not get to visit her often, Sylvia’s face lit up when we walked into her modestly furnished but comfortable room. “Diane,” she spoke softly, and then she looked my way. “Hi, Paul. It’s been a long time.” Yes, tears welled up in both our eyes.<br /> <br /> Sitting in a plush grey chair beside a large window, Sylvia was reading her Bible quietly. Her grey hair was so pretty, and in her white zip-up sweater, black blouse with pearl-shaped beads adorning the neckline, and black matching pants, she appeared to us as being completely at peace. As we knelt to speak with her, it was abundantly clear that nurturing her faith was top-shelf in Sylvia’s life and her daily routine. Over the course of our visit, she kept repeating a certain Bible verse, as if to assure us that God had her firmly in the palm of his hand at this elderly stage of her life.<br /> <br /> <em>“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.</em>" (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)<br /> <br /> Holding both of our hands, Sylvia made sure we understood that the Lord will renew our strength when we put our hope in Him. With lumps in our throats, we talked about the Lord and our faith, that God is always there to carry us through anything that life throws at us, past, present, and future. Sylvia smiled warmly, and though she alluded to one day soon being with Jesus, her faith and hope in her Saviour, Jesus Christ, were unmistakable.<br /> <br /> I will be 64 in a few months, and even though birthdays are not something that any of us can avoid, my wife and I take great comfort from Sylvia’s example and show of faith. One week before visiting Diane’s mom, a prayer came across one of my social media feeds. It too was from Isaiah, and though I was not sure of its context at the time (the Lord knew), it reminded me that God is with us at every stage of life, from the day of our birth to the date when we are called home.<br /> <br /> <em>“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”</em> (Isaiah 46:4 NIV)<br /> <br /> My friend, allow the Lord to carry you no matter your stage of life. Jesus loves you, and He will neither fail you nor abandon you, ever. There is no one better to carry you. I guarantee it!<br /> <br /> Paul Smyth</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">The blood of Jesus: It is amazing in its healing and protective qualities. Have you been covered with Jesus' blood? If not, why not do so today? You can do so in one of three ways: </span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">1. 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You can visit our </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://answers2prayer.org/category/saviours-call/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Savior's Call</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> webpage, available in 10 different languages;</span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">3. Or you can </span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:lyn@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">email us</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">, or contact us via What’sApp at </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">+1 (905) 228-5072!</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">, and we'll be happy to help you accept Jesus into your heart!</span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Don't wait! Do it today!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a><br />  </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Nugget Message

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:58:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#ffffff;">THE NUGGE</span></a></span><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">T</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/22/serious-preparation-part-1/"><span style="color:#000000;">Serious Preparation, Part 1</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Lyn Chaffart<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>May 23, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="400" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260523015803/a2d9c3ff14f1ed2df22e99dba5e8fd9c_Serious-Prayer-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="300" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;">What do you do when faced with a situation that makes you feel nervous, even afraid? Yet it must be addressed in order for something you want very badly to be accomplished?<br /> <br /> Maybe you want to talk to your immediate supervisor about being transferred to a different section, or maybe even a raise.<br /> <br /> Perhaps you feel God calling you to go to school half-way across your country, or maybe even take a job half-way around the world, but you need the approval of your parents, or you are worried your spouse won't agree.<br /> <br /> Or maybe you feel God calling you to talk to your pastor, because you have evidence that he is leading the church astray.<br /> <br /> Or just maybe, you desire to build a wall around Jerusalem, a wall that has laid in ruins for decades, and you will need for the Persian emperor to come on board with the idea...<br /> <br /> Okay, so maybe you'll never find yourself in scenario #4, but Nehemiah did. And perhaps we can glean something from his story that will help us in our own dilemmas…<br /> <br /> Nehemiah, who served the Persian emperor, had just heard some very bad news from a brother who had just returned from Jerusalem: <em>“Those who survived captivity are in the province. They are enduring serious troubles and being insulted. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”</em> (Nehemiah 1:3 GW).<br /> <br /> Although Nehemiah was in the service of the Persian court, he loved his homeland and the news sent him into depression: <em>"When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days."</em> (Nehemiah 1:4a GW) But Nehemiah was a man of action. After hearing this news, he couldn't just continue his former life. He wanted to <em>do </em>something to help his people. This, however, would require the permission of his employer, the emperor Artaxerxes.<br /> <br /> In his shoes, I might have just had a few conversations with myself, like: "Well, it doesn't hurt to ask! After all, the worst that can happen is he'll say 'no'"! I would have prayed, yes, but mostly I would have done a lot of self-talk to bolster my courage.<br /> <br /> Not Nehemiah. In his words, <em>"I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven."</em> (Nehemiah 1:4b GW).<br /> <br /> Even if I did decide to fast and pray, my prayers would probably be along the lines of, "Please God, give me courage. Open his heart. Help him to want this as badly as I do. Make my efforts successful!"<br /> <br /> Nehemiah's prayer didn't go quite that way...<br /> <br /> First Nehemiah reminded himself of God's loving kindness and of how He keeps His promises: <em>“Lord God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise  and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments."</em> (Nehemiah 1:5 GW).<br /> <br /> Next, he prays for Israel and he confesses their sin: "<em>I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father’s family and I have committed.</em>" (Nehemiah 1:6b GW).<br /> <br /> Nehemiah then reminds God of His promsies: "<em>Please remember what you told us through your servant Moses</em>..." (Nehemiah 1:8a GW).<br /> <br /> Only at the very end does Nehemiah present his request: "<em>Please give me success today and make this man, King Artaxerxes, show me compassion.”</em> (Nehemiah 1:11b GW).<br /> <br /> That is some <em>serious preparation!</em><br /> <br /> No, my prayers don't go quite like this. Yet, perhaps if they did, maybe I wouldn't feel so much anxiety going up against something that I would really rather not have to do! Maybe if I made my prayers less about what I wanted, maybe if I focused my prayers more on Who God is, and in doing so, reminded <em>myself </em>of Who God is… Maybe I would feel more confident— not in my own abilities, but in the God who I am asking to go with me!<br /> <br /> Yes, the next time I'm faced with trying to convince someone of something, perhaps I will remember Nehemiah's prayer and do my own "serious preparation! Want to join me?<br /> <br /> Oh, and in case you're curious as the result of such prayer, join me next Saturday to see!<br /> <br /> In His love,<br /> Lyn<br /> <br /> Lynona Gordon Chaffart<br /> Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Are you in ministry? Why not let Answers2prayer partner with you by backing up what you do with prayer? Our global team of prayer warriors will pray for your needs, provide resources and encouragement, rejoice with you in victory, and never cease to hold your needs up before the throne of grace. If you would like this kind of a partnership, please contact us </span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:lyn@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">here</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> ! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Where Is God When It Hurts? Introduction

Wed, 20 May 2026 23:16:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/20/where-is-god-when-it-hurts-introduction/"><span style="color:#000000;">Where Is God When It Hurts? Introduction</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Kenn Stright<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>May 21, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260521001641/7c23426214d03342fea6d70ef3044c8c_Pain-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Philip Yancey wrote a wonderful book entitled, “Where is God when it Hurts?” and it takes the most pressing problems of life and asks where God is in the midst of them. And the surprising answer is that God is where God has always been, God is in Christ reconciling the world. And God’s presence cannot come closer than the Christ who came to us. That is all fine and good until hurts hits home in all their fury. It happened to Yancey. With little warning Yancey received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, a degenerative disease that disrupts connections between brain and muscles. (read his story in </span><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/02/philip-yancey-ct-parkinsons-diagnosis-gift-i-didnt-want/"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Christianity Today</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">). He concludes that article with the words: “I have written many words on suffering and now am being called to put them into practice.”<br /> <br /> Do you think for even a moment he deserves this, did something to earn it? Is it really a question about fairness or unfairness, about good or bad as some theologies would suggest? Take time to digest </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209&version=NASB"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">John 9</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">! <em>"Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.'"</em> (John 9:3 NRSV) <br /> <br /> The real question is: how do we stand before God in our need, our brokenness, our hurt, our pain? Where is God when it hurts? Yancey’s answer, my answer, is profound: God is present in the pain. God's love carries no promises about good or bad in life except the promise that God will not allow anything worse to happen to us than happened to His Son.<br /> <br /> The fact is that pain and suffering are here among us, and we, in faith, need to respond. The response Jesus showed was to bear the burdens of those he touched. To live fully in this world we must follow his example. Instead of giving a pat answer to why bad things happen to good people, God points us to a cross, and to a life given to us in order that our life may be more than the chances and changes that come our way day by day.<br /> <br /> We all have physical conditions we question and some of us need to delve deeper by theologically reflecting on the situations and circumstances that are part of our lives. So, that is what I decided to do and the results are the meditations that appear below. They carry few answers to what we experience in life but I do hope they contextualize what we experience from a faith perspective.<br /> <br /> Is there any way to transform the walk through the valley of deep darkness and death and despair  and still hold out a glimmer of light that guides the way? Does that small candle in a cavern of darkness make any difference to those who walk an unknown path toward an unknown future? The only answer I can offer for myself and for you is … yes.</span></span></span></p>  <blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><strong><em>Thoughts for the day:  </em></strong></span></span></span></p>  <ol> <li><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><em>“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller</em></span></span></span></li>  <li><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><em>“I often say now I don’t have any choice whether or not I have Parkinson’s, but surrounding that non-choice is a million other choices that I can make.” – Michael J. Fox</em></span></span></span></li>  </ol> </blockquote>  <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Kenn Stright</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h3 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:28px;">Announcements</span></h3> <p style="margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Please join us next Thursday for Part 1 of the series, “Where Is God When It Hurts?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; 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Do You Need Rest?

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:50:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#ffffff;">THE NUGGE</span></a></span><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">T</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/18/do-you-need-rest/"><span style="color:#000000;">Do You Need Rest?</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Paul Smyth<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>May 19, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260519015038/716c1df3d5152de643a84521a86ddf99_Rest-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Are you feeling tired, burned out, steamrolled, and just plain out of gas? Are your shoes worn out, and the hamster wheel you are treading upon is going faster and faster, and you can’t seem to find a way off? I know from life experience that we all feel this way occasionally and that our busy lives have a way of ramping up our exhaustion levels to the point of, well, utter exhaustion!<br /> <br /> Where do you go to seek shelter to recharge your internal batteries? Time to time, we all need to divert ourselves off of the busy highway of life to a place that brings refuge and rest. My wife and I enjoy stopping for coffee and simply going for a drive around town. The mountains close to our home are always a place calm and peace for us, or something as uncomplicated as watching a movie at home with a bowl of popcorn shared between us. Whatever it is that brings you and me rest, we tend to covet those things the most.<br /> <br /> The Bible app on my phone today was timely and perhaps even God-ordained for me, and possibly even you, hence this devotional. This verse reminded me that even though my life might occasionally feel like a locomotive going downhill with no brakes, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I have a place of never-ending shelter, rest, and refuge. Our Saviour can wholeheartedly be trusted, even when the events in our lives bring us to the point of heavy eyelids and fatigue.<br /> <br /> "<em>Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadows of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”</em> (Psalms 91:1,2 NIV)<br /> <br /> When our days are filled with craziness, it can be easy to forget about coming to the Lord and resting in Him. Sometimes I think the devil sticks his nose in and purposely makes our lives too busy for God and too overwhelmed with worry and stress. He wants us tired to the point where spending time with Jesus is minimal at best, and we might begin to question God’s love for us when the ground beneath our feet is shaking and we can’t slow down.<br /> <br /> The other day I highlighted another Bible verse from my phone. I wasn’t sure how it fit into things at the time, but now I believe it ties into the theme of this devotional and proves to me that my God, and yours, is unchanging in His love for us no matter the daily turmoil we may find ourselves in. Jesus is always full of love and compassion when we come to Him for sanctuary, rest, and spiritual renewal.<br /> <br /> "'<em>Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be moved, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” says the Lord, who has compassion for you.</em>" (Isaiah 54:10 NIV)<br /> <br /> I’ve read that <em>Rest is Trust, Rest equals Peace</em>, and for me, <em>Rest is Jesus</em>. We live in a world that likes to keep us far from rest, and I believe that if you are a child of the King, then it’s vital that we seek out God’s grace, love, and refuge—allowing Him to carry our burdens so that rest becomes our normal routine, instead of a sought-after rarity.<br /> <br /> Paul Smyth</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Are you in ministry? 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The Trudge

Sat, 16 May 2026 01:17:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style=""><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/15/the-trudge/"><span style="color:#000000;">The Trudge</span></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">By: Lynne Phipps<br /> ----------------------------</span></h4> <h4 style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color:#000000;">May 16, 2026</span></h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260516021755/d09400a8e6f28ff9968771e7a3ca5207_Walking-Dogs-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 300px; height: 224px; display: inline !important;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">My dogs and I try to walk every day.  Some days I find that we seem to fly around our route.  Our time passes quickly and pleasantly and is over all too soon.  Other days it’s more like a trudge. The Oxford dictionary defines the word trudge this way: to walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions. <br /> <br /> Exhaustion or harsh conditions can not only slow our physical walk down but also the journey of our souls. When life is going well, our relationship with the Lord always seems to be sweet and full of thankfulness and endless hope, it’s like having wings.  Our soul rejoices. The days fly by as we enjoy such calm, happy times.  When hardship arrives on our doorstep however, life often becomes more of a trudge as we seek to move forward each day, dragging our faith along with us.<br /> <br /> Years ago, I remember visiting with a friend who was weary from the struggles of life.  He quoted these verses to me:<br /> <br /> <em>"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."</em> (Romans 5:3-5 NIV)<br /> <br /> When he had finished, he sighed and uttered, <em>I’m so sick of character building</em>.  We both laughed at his remark, yet I still remember feeling the weariness of his trudging soul. Amidst such trudging times, even though we may feel so, we are, however never alone.  The Holy Spirit is trudging right beside us, reminding us:<br /> <br /> ++ The Lord himself goes before you: See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2031%3A8&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Deuteronomy 31:8a</span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="color:#2c3e50;">++ He is able to led you in the right path: See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%205%3A8&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Psalm 5:8a</span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="color:#2c3e50;">++ He, the God of peace is able to provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will: See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2013%3A21&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Hebrews 13:21a</span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="color:#2c3e50;">++ He is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom: See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2028%3A29&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Isaiah 28:29b</span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="color:#2c3e50;">++ He hears our pleas: See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%203%3A56&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Lamentation 3:56a</span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="color:#2c3e50;">Therefore, let us not despair, when life causes our souls to trudge.  Rather, may we rejoice in the Lord’s love and ability to transform our trudgings into all good things in Christ Jesus: spiritual maturity and hope in the Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He who gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  <em>"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will walk and not be faint."</em> (Isaiah 40:26b-31 NIV)<br /> <br /> Prayer: Lord God, You who strengthen the weary and increase the power of the weak, thank You for always being with us, hearing our cries, and providing us with all we need to rejoice in our trudging that we might persevere, which produces character and hope which will never disappoint us.  In Christ’s name. Amen.<br /> <br /> Lynne Phipps<br /> Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Answers2Prayer is now on </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/answers2prayer/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Instagram</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> and </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/answers2prayer" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Facebook</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">! </span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Check it out and be blessed! And if you like what you see, share it with your friends</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a><br />  </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Of One Heart and Soul

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:40:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/13/of-one-heart-and-soul/"><span style="color:#000000;">Of One Heart and Soul</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Kari Vo<br /> ----------------------------</h4> <h4>May 14, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260514014035/45c87d56c2f7a89f214b691202274b0d_Church-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 300px; height: 224px; display: inline !important;" width="401" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style=""><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">"<em>Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.</em>" (Acts 4:32-35 ESV)<br /> <br /> This picture of the early church is enough to make me sigh and wish it was still this way. A large group of Christians, united in heart and soul ... and with no needy people among them! Apparently as soon as someone had a need, someone else leaped to supply whatever they needed. Now that's a Christian community I'd like to live in!<br /> <br /> But of course it didn't stay this way, not for long. In the very next chapter, two people try to lie their way into an honored position in the church. And in the next chapter after that, the church has divided among ethnic lines—and the needy people of one group aren't getting the same care as the others.<br /> <br /> Maybe it will always be this way, until the Lord Jesus returns. We can't sustain that level of love and unity for very long. Sin comes in and ruins our unity.<br /> <br /> And yet, every time that happened, the early Christians repented and started over. Surely we, too, can find our way back to unity and love, even if we keep falling and repenting, again and again and again.<br /> <br /> Because the love and unity we have does not come from ourselves. It comes from our Lord Jesus, who loved us so much He lay down His life for us—not just for the greatest, but for the least. He died for you just as surely as He died for the great and the powerful. He saw you, in your need, and His heart leaped to help you. He sacrificed Himself to rescue you from evil; and He rose from the dead so that you, too, would live forever. This is how He loves you; and this is how He loves the people around you.<br /> <br /> Thinking of that, how can we not respond? If Jesus has loved us so much—and still loves us just that much, with His whole heart and soul—how can our own hearts remain cold? Surely they must melt to love the way He loves us.<br /> <br /> And we know in our own lives how much it hurts us when two people we love are at odds with each other. Think, then, of what it must be like for Jesus, loving each of us so deeply and seeing us in conflict with each other. I may not be naturally inclined to love the person in the pew ahead of me; but for Jesus' sake, I will learn to love. Because He loves me, and I love Him back, and I want to make Him happy. It can be as simple as that.<br /> <br /> We Pray: <em>Lord Jesus, teach me to love Your people the way You love me. I want You to be happy. Amen.</em><br /> <br /> This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.<br /> Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on April 2, 2024<br /> Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights<br /> <br /> <strong>Reflection Questions</strong>:<br /> 1. What is the most loving Christian group you have ever been a part of?<br /> 2. How could you see the love in action?<br /> 3. What small act of love could you do today for someone for Jesus' sake?</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Do you wonder about that unique "friendship" that we have with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour? Check out the mini-series, "</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/category/mini-series/what-a-friend-a-mini-series/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">What a Friend</span></a></span></span><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">"!</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a><br />  </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/nugget///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

The Unseen Enemy

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:45:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif"><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#ffffff;">THE NUGGE</span></a></span><a href="http://scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">T</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/05/11/the-unseen-enemy/"><span style="color:#000000;">The Unseen Enemy</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Paul Smyth<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>May 12, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/nugget/20260512014550/d3073880cf7caa988102c0f25ede5ca4_The-Unseen-Enemy-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Have you ever been engaged or embattled with an enemy? In the physical world, an enemy can come in the form of many different things. Speaking for myself, sometimes I perceive the enemy as the weather, especially when I have plans outside and it’s raining, or where I live, two feet of snow in 24 hours. Other possible enemies to our thinking might stem from ill health, lack of finances, or never-ending bills. Maybe you even know someone who, to some extent, might be considered your enemy. In our lives, I think it’s safe to say that an enemy is whatever we make them, or it, out to be.<br /> <br /> Last night, I faced an enemy in my dreams. It was a person, a male, who kept coming after me with the intent to harm me. At first, I thought this individual was not a threat, as they seemingly befriended me with chit-chat while apparently trying to win me over. Soon enough, however, I began a physical altercation with this person, who in my dreamy state refused to leave me alone. I was unable to shake them no matter how hard I tried. Thankfully, I woke up, albeit frazzled, but also with these three words on my tongue: t<em>he unseen enemy</em>. Yes, I believe God was trying to teach me something.<br /> <br /> Unsure about the ramifications of my dream and thus the words in the title of this devotional, I turned to scripture—thinking that the Lord wanted me, and perhaps you, to be aware of the battles that take place in the unseen world and that are a constant threat to our faith and well-being.<br /> <br /> "<em>For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”</em> (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)<br /> <br /> This Bible verse reminds us that our unseen enemy refers to the spiritual forces of evil and not just human and worldly adversaries. The Lord is encouraging us to be vigilant in our faith and to fully clothe ourselves in the full armor of God.<br /> <br /> "<em>Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” </em>(Ephesians 6:13 NIV)<br /> <br /> It’s abundantly clear in scripture that the real enemy we face is unseen, residing in a spiritual world that cannot be felt or touched but is just as real. The real battle we face as believers in Jesus Christ goes on in our hearts and souls and minds, and yes, even in our dreams. We are soldiers in a spiritual battle with an enemy unseen. All the more reason to bolster your faith each day through prayer, reading your Bible, and focusing on Jesus, who has already won the battle for us because of his death and resurrection.<br /> <br /> If you need the assurance that God has already won the battle, both seen and unseen, Romans 8:38, 39 provides us with the proof that we are never without the Lord by our side and that nothing can separate us from His love: "<em>For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” </em>(NIV)<br /> <br /> Look to Jesus and not to the unseen enemy.<br /> <br /> Paul Smyth</span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Know anyone in need of prayer? 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