“I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings. Then I won’t need to strike again, destroying their homes.’ But no, they get up early to continue their evil deeds.” (Zephaniah 3:7)

I really enjoy cooking… I love the preparation, the smell of ingredients simmering and everything that comes with cooking;  I even will have most of dishes washed prior to serving the meal.

Often when everyone has had their fill, any leftovers are put into one of my wifes eclectic collection of tupperware containers. Hidden in the back corners of the fridge or given to our dog. Do you realize this is often true of our lives? We spend hours each week working, spending time with family and enjoying hobbies only to throw God the leftovers.

The truth is that God has given us the time we have, the money we spend and the abilities we enjoy and because of that, we should give back to Him. In fact, we can do that by simply asking Him for opportunities to serve Him and others throughout each day. So whether you are on the job or out and about, ask God to give you an opportunity to share the Gospel. As we actively pursue ways to glorify God and reach people, we will be giving God our best and in turn will find true joy.

“God deserves our best, not just rest!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the life You have given me and for the many blessings I enjoy. Lord, I pray that You will help me to use them for Your Kingdom. Please open doors for me to be able to share the Gospel with those around me and to help those in need. Lord, I don’t want to simply give You leftovers. Help me give You my very best. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

If you do not personal relationship with Jesus, I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Jesus loves us and wants to help us through the storms. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

If you feel led to support this ministry, please contact us at P.O. Box 57284 Tucson AZ. 85732

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15)

Jesus asked two very insightful questions of Mary at this point: “Why are you weeping?” and “Whom are you seeking?” Often in life, we find ourselves in a place where we feel like crying and other times find ourselves in tears. Jesus sees those tears and wants to dry them… if we will let Him.

We need to allow Jesus, through the hands and wisdom of others, to tend to our tears. Sometimes though, we become strangely comfortable with pain and sadness. They become almost like old familiar friends. Jesus wants to be the better friend. For some, it may mean breaking a cycle long established and for others, it may mean coming out of a short season of pain.

Seek Jesus. Realize that in the midst of trial, trouble, turmoil and temptation, He is there with you. You may need to turn around to face Him. He wants to pull you out of your problems and liberate you from sadness, but before He does, He wants to walk with you through the valley. Even when you are in the valley of the shadow of death, He is there. May you know He is there to dry your tears, lighten your load and be a closer friend than any you have ever known. Loved one, right now take a few minutes out of your busy day and turn to Him. You will be glad you did. And so will He.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sticking by me through good times and bad times. You are the true friend. Sometimes, I become content to wallow in self pity. Please forgive me for that and humble me to allow You, through the hands of others, to comfort and even challenge me to step out of the mire. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

Experience a friend like no other. If you do not know Him personally, I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Jesus loves us and wants to help us through the storms. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

“It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.” (Haggai 1:10)

“This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.” Most every child has heard that statement from their parents at one time or another. While a child may not understand it at the time, no godly parent desires to punish their children. We desire to bless our children because we love them, yet the bible is clear that godly discipline is loving.

(Hebrews 12:6) “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

In the book of Haggai, we find God correcting His people. He is not doing it out of blind anger or to simply be mean. He is doing it out of a love for them and because He desires something greater in their life. The same is true for us today. God desires to bless us and to do amazing things in our lives, but we must be willing to submit to Him. In those times where we dig in our heels and begin throwing a tantrum, our heavenly Father will lovingly correct us so that we can grow in understanding and become more like Jesus. While these times of correction may be difficult, we can trust our Father and know that it is all for our good and His glory.

“God chooses to correct us for our sake and His glory.”

Prayer:

Dear Father, Thank You for Your grace and for the forgiveness of my sins. Lord, I pray that as I seek You that I would be submitted to Your correction. Help me to learn from Your loving hand and learn from those times I step away from You. Continue to mold me into the image of Your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, please click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) 

This is a popular verse that is spoken alot in recovery programs.. however some people get confused with what it means.

Jesus is speaking about a kind of spiritual poverty. Simply this: We must be humble in our spirits. If you put the word “humble” in place of the word “poor,” you will understand what He is speaking about.

Taken from the Beatutides.  Let us begin today with the first “attitude to be in our lives”: the attitude of humility.  By talking about being “poor in spirit” Jesus is saying that this is the opposite of self-sufficiency.  “Poor in spirit” speaks of those who realize that they are totally helpless and lost apart from God.  The person who is poor in spirit realizes his own utter helplessness without the Lord, and puts his whole trust in God.

When we think we are ok because we are a good person, we are depending on our own self-righteousness.  But self-righteousness will not make you happy.  Self-righteousness will not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Apart from God, we are totally lost.  It is only by God’s grace that we can be saved.  (Ephesians 2:8-9) says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We have to remember that going to church will not save us.  Reading our Bible will not save us.  Praying will not save us.  Only a relationship with Jesus will save us.  Only making Him Lord of our lives will save us.  Good works are good, but salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

When we come to this place of knowing that all we are, and ever will be, is because of Jesus, life takes a big turn for the better.  Being poor in heart, this true humility of soul, says, “Lord, You are the great Shepherd.  I have messed up my life in so many ways.  Today, I give it to you and I know that You will make a success out of it.”

That is true humility!  That is knowing that He is Lord, and giving Him the lordship of your life.  So today, do not back down.  Go ahead and live the abundant life by being poor in spirit.  When we are poor in spirit, we are rich in life, because He gives us His Kingdom.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father. I thank you for your presense in my life, I pray that will draw me close during this time of heartache and pain. I continue to choose to let humility of heart rule within me.  Jesus You are lordship of my life, and I know that You will guide me in the best path for my life. I love you Jesus.. in your precious name, Amen.

Invitation:

Facing life without Jesus will get overwhelming. If you do not know Him personally, I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Jesus loves us and wants to help us through the storms. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life. (John 6:68)

Words are very interesting things. Some are long and complicated and some are short and sweet. Some encourage and some discourage. Sometimes you can receive the most encouraging words from some of the least likely sources. The Lord seems to be able to use anyone at anytime to speak to us wherever we are.

It is amazing. There is only one place to receive the words, or the Word, that gives eternal life and that is from Jesus. There have been many clever men over the years who have said many astute things, but no one has ever uttered words with such power and wisdom as Jesus. No one has ever given us the words to know how to receive eternal life other than Jesus. That is why we are here, listening to Jesus, learning about His Words. Lord, we agree with Peter, you alone have the Words that give eternal life. Your words are Living!

“We should be reading and listening to the words of Jesus everyday.”

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank You for Words of eternal life. They are just that… the only Words that offer true life. Open my ears to Your instruction and give me feet that move swiftly to Your path. Search me and know my heart. Lead me in Your way everlasting. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, please click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

“‘I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end,’ says the Lord.” (Amos 3:15)

This old testimate scripture from the book of Amos clearly portrays that God is upset. Let’s review the setting. The northern ten tribes of Israel in 750 BC were worshiping false gods and idols. They were prospering as a nation, and they had built wonderful houses with excessive decor. They thought things were going well because of their wealth. Amos steps in with a message from God to tell them it will all be destroyed. They were living in luxury all for themselves, but they had forgotten the Lord. God is letting them know here that those things would not last. Don’t miss the blessing here friend. Paul reminds us in Corinthians that everything we do in our selfish nature will not last. Those things we do for the glory of God will last for eternity.

(1 Corinthians 3:11-15) “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”

Let’s be real. Our house, cars, and the ‘things’ we will have accumulated during our life span will not make it into eternity. But the time we invest for the glory of God,will last forever. That is very good news.

Every minute we live to please God is well spent.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. I am grateful that I have an opportunity to live for You and will be rewarded. Please continue to give me the power and desire to live for Your kingdom, not mine. Thank you for revealing the this truth.. A vast portion of the world is still worshiping idols. I pray that we as Christians will invest into others so that have the opportunity to know You and Your Love. I pray they will learn to seek You first  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, please click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”(Habakkuk 2:4)

This is the verse that started the reformation. It is quoted in Romans, Galatians and Hebrews. We are not saved by works; we are saved by grace for works. In other words, the faith that does not change your life will not save your life.

(Ephesians 2:8-10) “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Paul is speaking of everyone who believes. Once you are forgiven, you begin to do things that honor God and in that He reveals His righteousness to those around us. Faith should be living and active. If you believe in what Jesus said, it should affect your life. You should begin to want to go to church; you should want to hang out with other believers. You should begin loving God and loving people. These things are an overflowing of your faith. It starts with faith and overflows to good works. If you do not see good works as a result of your faith, you should be concerned. If we stand on our own righteousness then we stand ashamed. If we accept Jesus as our Savior and we stand in His righteousness, then we stand not ashamed.

“We are saved by faith alone.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,Thank You for loving me and saving me by grace through faith. Thank You that it is not something that I have to strive for, hoping my good outweighs my bad. Thank You that it is by faith. Lord, please show me opportunities to do good works in Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, please click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

“But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.” (1 Corinthians 8:8-9)

We are all different. This is true in our personalities, our life circumstances and our spiritual walks. At any given church, you will find both mature and immature believers. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul is dealing with these two groups who were wrestling with eating meat sacrificed to idols. The mature believers knew that there was nothing evil about the meat itself, yet the less mature believers still did not think it was right. So what was a mature believer to do?

…Die to themselves and think of others first.

Paul challenges the mature believers to not fight over petty things but instead, be willing to give up freedoms in order to keep a brother from stumbling. In fact, he writes in verse 13, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” Paul is willing to give up eating meat for the sake of his brother. That is a great picture of sacrificial love. Whether it is alcohol, movies, music or even meat – are you willing to put it aside for the sake of your brother?

“Through love and knowledge, people who are stronger in the Lord should help one another as well as those who are weaker in the Lord.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love. I pray that You would help me to love others even if it means giving up something in my life. May the actions and words of my life point to You and You alone, causing no one to stumble. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may be a beacon of light to this world. Thank You Lord for all that You are doing in my life to make me more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, please click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

“And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.” (Deuteronomy 7:15 )