“Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word.” (Acts 6:3-4)

In Acts 6, we see how important it became for these twelve men to raise up other Godly disciples to help in the work of the ministry. God had called these disciples to teach the Bible. In the midst of the grumbling among the believers, a decision had to be made. They could have either raised up other Godly disciples to help in the work, or they could have neglected their study of the Word of God. In order to teach the people, these men made a great decision. Instead of trying to delegate the order of business among themselves, they presented others with the opportunity.

It is important in ministry to delegate and ‘give away’ ministry. God has given each and every one of us gifts in order to serve Him and the body of Christ. The gifts that each of us encompass are a necessary ingredient to the body of believers.

(Eph 4:11-12)”And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”

Step out and begin serving the Lord in the small things, and watch as larger doors open for you. He is so worthy to be served. Together, we will see God change lives, starting with our own.

“We should be willing to serve the Lord in any and all ways.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we praise You and Love You in all circumstances Thank You for equipping me to serve You and others. I crave opportunities to use these gifts You’ve given me to serve others. Help me to use these gifts faithfully so that leaders in the church will present me with more opportunities to glorify You in ministry. 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

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

After several complaints to God and three chapters later, the prophet Habakkuk comes to an amazing revelation. In his brokenness, he finally realized that God is enough. In His song of prayer to the Lord, he writes of what is to come for the land of Judah. No figs, no wine, no oil, no food, nothing was left all because of their sin. Yet, when faced with the reality of these things, he says something so profound…

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord”

Imagine this, You’re going to barely be able to feed yourself and your family and in the midst of that fear you are filled with the joy of the Lord. This is not a fictional occurrence. This is God at work. His mercies are new every morning. Each breath we take is a blessing from God, but there’s more. In His great love, He sent His Son to die for our sins. We can now be forgiven not because we deserve it, but because God desires to show mercy and declare forgiveness. This is the God that Habakkuk clung to in those hard times. This is why he was able to say, “I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

“The mercies of God are evident all around us if we take the time to notice them.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your great love for me. Help me to continue to look for Your mercies all around me. No matter my life circumstances, I know that You are good and can be trusted. Give me the strength to walk the path of faith You have laid before me. 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

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us–they help us learn to endure. Endurance then develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.”(Romans 5:3-5)

Life is filled with storms of one kind or another. As for my family, we were given the news that my mother has a terminal illness. Has she not suffered enough was my first thought. My Mom, has faced many storms with her health over the last 5 years, but now. Leukemia? In the midst of those storms, we tend to respond as if God has somehow been caught off guard. The storm makes no sense. We can’t explain why terminal illness strikes Godly people. We all face them..The anguish of a broken marriage or the overwhelming heartbreak of a prodigal child drives us to doubt God’s purpose, plan and provision. The fear of financial ruin paralyzes us. God understands.

The Bible is filled with men and women who were storm survivors – people of God who endured great pain and weathered intense life storms because they chose to follow Him. The Apostle Paul, known for persecuting and murdering Christians, was forever changed when he met Jesus Christ. While God gave him a life of great power and eternal impact, it was also a life filled with great storms. Paul learned to “patiently” endure the troubles, hardships and calamities that came his way.

Because grain was a precious food source to the Romans, threshing grain was a natural part of every day in ancient Rome. In pictures of early Rome, one man is always seen stirring up the sheaves while another rides over them in a crude cart equipped with rollers instead of wheels. Sharp stones and rough bits of iron were attached to these wheels to help separate the husks from the grain. This simple cart was called a “tribulum” from which we get our word “tribulation.”

No Roman ever used his tribulum as a tool of destruction – only refinement. God uses our trials and storms as tools of refinement to build in us endurance. The word “endure” comes from two Greek words that when combined, give the meaning “to remain under.” It is the capacity to stay under the load, to remain in the circumstances without running away or looking for the easy way out.

The purpose of every storm is to purify and cultivate endurance. Like Paul, we may sometimes feel as if we are being torn to pieces under the pressure of circumstances. But his challenge to the Romans compels us to re-examine our perspective and response to each storm we face.

Endurance is never passive. It is the picture of a soldier staying in the heat of the battle under terrible opposition but still pressing forward to gain the victory.

There are few things that we can count on in this unpredictable life – but we can count on storms to come. We can also count on God’s continual and unfailing strength for those storms. When the hard times come and when bad things happen, we do not have to wonder where God is. Instead we can hold on to the promise that is found in (Jeremiah 16:19), “Lord, you are my strength, and my protection. You are a safe place for me to run in times of trouble”.

Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and face the storms of life.

No matter what storm rages in your life today – no matter how fierce the winds or how high the waves may be – where you are is no surprise to God. Heaven is not in a panic. Keep your gaze on Him and your glance on the raging waters. “Lash yourself” to Him, and He will supply everything you need to stand firm in the storm.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, It gets so hard trying to weather the storms of life on our own. I need Your power and strength to face each one. Please teach me to turn to You first. Help me learn to patiently endure the hard times and honor You in the midst of them as I walk by faith. I lift up my mom and faithfully trust in You Lord that you will guide us through the storms and calm the raging seas. In Jesus name, Amen

Invitation:

Facing the raging storms of 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

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)

Communion is a blessed time for any believer. Each element presented is a picture of the ultimate sacrifice of our loving Savior. As we take the bread, we remember our Lord as He was beaten by soldiers and spit upon by those who hated Him. When we look at the cup, we catch a glimpse of the blood that was shed on the cross so that we could be forgiven. These two elements help followers of Christ to understand the penalty of their sins while rejoicing in a God who has made a way for them to be cleansed of all they’ve done wrong.

(Luke 22:19-20) “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus accepted the cup that was placed before Him by the Father. It was the cup of our sins and the punishment that we deserved. Now in its place, Jesus offers us a new cup. The cup He offers is a cup of blessings, hope and eternal life. We may try to drink from other cups in this world, but only one leads to salvation. Drink deep and taste that the Lord is good.

“Be careful what cup you drink from.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving me and forgiving me, dispite that I have sinned against You. I realize that when You died on the cross You were taking the punishment that I deserved. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Forgive me for all the things that I have done wrong. I desire to drink deeply of Your cup – the cup of blessings. Each time I take communion, may I remember the sacrifice You made for me and may it lead me to tell others about Your amazing gift. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

Don’t go through life without Jesus. 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. Communion is a reflection of that. Jesus loves us and wants to help us. 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

“He also made ten lavers, and put five on the right side and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as they offered for the burnt offering they would wash in them, but the Sea was for the priests to wash in.” (2 Chronicles 4-6)

With Israel being a desert community, anyone who walked to the temple would find themselves covered in dirt and sand. As they approached God’s magnificent temple, they would find themselves facing containers of water which they were required to use in order to enter the temple. Even the priests who were serving inside the temple were required to bath in order to be in the presence of God. While this may seem trivial to many of us, God took it very serious.

(Exodus 30:21) “So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them–to him and his descendants throughout their generations.”

While we may not have to take a bath to come to church, we still must be cleansed of our sins in order to stand before God one day. You see, in this life we fail and fall. We miss the mark of perfection and therefore are stained with the dirt and sand of our sins. The good news is that just as a bath was prepared for the priests, a greater cleansing has been prepared for all mankind. Jesus Christ came into this earth and died on the cross, taking our sins upon Himself. Because of this amazing act of love we may be cleansed of all our sin and stand before our Lord without fear. Because of Jesus, we can trust in the words of God that say, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;” (Isaiah 1:18)

Prayer:

Dear Father, Thank You for the precious gift of salvation. Thank You for making a way for me to be cleansed of all my sins. Lord, if I have sinned against You today, forgive me and help me live for You in all I do. Father, I stand on Your Truth in 1 John 1:9 that says if I confess my sins, You will cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Wash me clean and use me for Your kingdom today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

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

“When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods.”(Romans 1:2)

The book of Hosea opens up with drama. God has asked His prophet to marry a prostitute in order to demonstrate the relationship between Himself and Israel. As a loving husband, Hosea will cherish his wife and love her unconditionally, even in the midst of her sin. His loving actions stand as a beautiful picture of how God shows us Amazing Love and Grace even when we fall short of His perfection.

Even with this vivid image, its hard to imangine that a spouse would run around on on the other if he or she truly shows their love to them. Surely, in the story of Hosea she sees his acts of selflessness towards her. Surely, she has experienced his warm embrace and heard his gentle call. Why would she even consider running into the arms of another man? These are good questions, but we must take them a step further. Why would we run into sin knowing the love of God? How can we even think about sinning when God has given His life for us? The reason is that sin makes us blind to God’s love. We have to understand that the enemy will often create situations to snag us away from hearing God. We also need to rember that we all are born sinners. This is why we must run from it at all cost. As we run from our sin, we will more clearly understand the Amazing Love God has for us, and it will change our lives.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for all the times I have forgotten Your love. Give me the power to overcome sin and to seek You with all my heart. Teach me through Your Word and guide me by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Invitation:

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

“Therefore, I will always remind you about these things-even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.” (2 Peter 1:12-13)

Nearing the end of his life, the apostle Peter continued to sound the alarm for believers. In the book of 2 Peter, he spends a lot of time warning against false teachers while also reminding believers to not forget the life-changing power of the Gospel. In fact, in the verses above, Peter mentions his desire to remind the church three different times. Why would Peter be so passionate about reminding believers about the Truth? We forget.

As Christians, our lives have been changed by our faith in Jesus. In God’s sight, we are perfect. While here on earth, we are growing more and more like Jesus every day, yet we are still human. We still allow doubts to creep in. We battle with forgetting about God’s goodness, His love and His power. This is why we need a constant reminder. This is why reading the bible and being in church regularly are vital to the believer. We need to constantly be reminded of God and His precious promises.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your goodness and grace. This morning, I ask that “anew” Your Holy Spirit to fill me up and give me the power to live for You. Father, use Your Word, Your Spirit and other believers as reminders of Your goodness and Your love for me. Also, help me to be a reminder to others of Who You are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

If you do not know Jesus personally, please consider His love and His guidance for your life. Please click here to learn more about who He is.

You won’t be disappointed 😉

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

 

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed -” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Paul, the writer of 2 Corinthians, was no stranger to hard times. During his ministry, he experienced angry mobs, plots to kill him, stoning, more plots to kill him, shipwrecks, imprisonment, even more plots to kill him, beatings and mockery. After all that Paul went through, how did he respond? He worshiped and sang hymns.

(Acts 16:25) “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Paul and Silas were in shackles after receiving beatings and what do they do? They sang to the Lord. They were so thankful to have experienced persecution for their Lord that they were singing to Him. We may never experience physical shackles on our feet but in the middle of our difficult times, we can still sing to the Lord. In fact, when we actively worship God in the middle of difficulties, our mind turns from self-focused to God-focused. This change of focus makes all the difference.

“Our troubles are temporary. Glory and celebration are eternal.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of salvation. I also praise You for those times of trial because I know they are making me more like You. Give me the strength to praise You in those times. May the song in my heart to You change the way I see my life. I give it all to You. 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

“And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly.” (2 Chronicles 27:2)

“I don’t need to be in church to be a Christian.” This statement has been uttered by many people throughout the years and often times is the sign of a struggling believer. The statement itself is correct. Anyone can have a relationship with Jesus Christ whether they are part of a church or not. Yet, God created the church to be a crucial tool for spiritual growth.

(Hebrews 10:24-25) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”

Like a burning ember that’s been pulled out of the fire, Christians who are not connected to a church often struggle to burn brightly in this dark world. This is one of the many benefits of fellowship. When we meet together under the banner of Christ, we stir each other up to good works. We are able to hold each other accountable as well as hold each other up during difficult times. While there may be times of transition when a believer finds themselves alone, our goal should be to find other like-minded Christians who can encourage us in our walk with Christ. Needing other believers is not a weakness; its how God designed it so that we could demonstrate love to one another in a way that changes the world.

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank You for the church and for the fellowship of other believers. In Your infinite wisdom, You created the church so that we could know You more and be equipped to share the Gospel. Father, I pray that You would give us unity as believers and help us reach out in love to others who may be on the edges. 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 He needed to go through Samaria.” (John 4:4)

In John 4, we see our Lord travel through Samaria. To us this may not mean much, but in that time the hatred between Jews and Samaritans was legendary. Despite the cultural issues around Him, Jesus continues through this land and the Bible says it was a “need.” What could be so important that Jesus had to go through Samaria? Why would Jesus walk through hostile territory? Simple, there was a woman in Samaria who was burdened with sin and shame and Jesus had the answer to her problem. This should be our hearts desire – to be like Jesus. We should be willing to face possible hardship in order to reach others with the Gospel & God’s Living Water.

(Matthew 28:19-20) “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

The action of sharing our faith is not an option for those who claim Jesus as Lord. We are told in Matthew 28 to “go” and there is no exception found in that verse. The ultimate goal of any believer is to reproduce other believers and as we do, we will see this world changed one soul at a time. Pray today that God would bring someone to you who you can share His love with. It may seem like an impossible task, but as you step out in obedience, God will take you where you need to go to share with someone who needs to hear.

“Sharing your faith is not an option, it is a command. My life was changed beyond measure because a dear friend followed your command in obedience to “Go Home!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, We love and praise You. Thank You for forgiveness and grace. Lord, help me not to simply admire Your goodness but to share it with a world in need. Give me opportunities to share with my family, friends and others around me today.Give me Your words and guide me by Your Spirit. Thank You for my dear friend that shared Your Word, and showed me, Your love. In Jesus holy and precious 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