Category Archives: Challenges

October 6th 2017 – A Walk in the Park

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“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30)

We must not forget, in our pursuit of Christ, that our days  will not always be a Walk in the Park. There will be difficult days, troubling times, and storms. Please don’t be fooled by thinking, just because you have been called by God, that life won’t include these times. In these times, we are set apart by one thing, “Hope”.

Maybe today, you are experiencing grief from a loved one passing, or difficulties with your spouse or children. We wake up sometimes to trouble at work, financial problems, and other trying times. One thing we need to remember is what Paul said, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Today, make the decision when troubles come, To Praise God. When difficulties arise, To Praise God. When you are in the valley and the trees are too tall to even see the bottom of the mountain top, To Praise God. He is working out something for that eternal weight of glory.

“Quit being fooled into thinking life is always going to a walk in the park, give God praise in the sunshine and the rain.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Today, I want to give You praise within my storm. I know my feelings get in the way of my faith, so I am asking for Your strength and wisdom to trust You during these times. Help me to learn from You, so I can help others when their storm is rising. I thank You for working out the good and difficult for Your eternal glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 1st 2017 – Warcraft

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“And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29)

It’s important to know that the enemy is in opposition to us as we step out to make disciples. The works of Satan continue today just as they did in Jesus time. The enemy’s objective is to incite distraction, division, and render us ineffective. One of the biggest keys to understanding these things is asking God to open our eyes to see where He is working. When we do this we see these spiritual battles abound. It’s important for us to note also that spiritual battles are being waged whether we see them or not. It’s up to us to test the spirits to see if they are from God.

(1 John 4:1)
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

According to a recent poll, close to 70% of all churches in the United States have fallen away from teaching Biblical doctrine. As we seek to be vigilant and maintain an active relationship with God we should expect to be attacked by a raging enemy hell bent on undermining the work of God in our lives. So how do we live in light of this? Put on the whole armor of God. Live as unto the Lord having our minds ready to do so.

(Ephesians 4:17-24)
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

“As believers, we need to pursue Christ with the understanding that the enemy of the Father is our enemy too and is in direct opposition to our calling to disciple others.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please give me a fresh measure of Your Spirit, wisdom, and grace to be aware of the attacks surrounding the work You desire to do in my life. Please forgive me when I slip into apathy and become spiritually stagnant. Help me to see Your work and delight myself in You regardless of whatever opposition may come. Shelter me from the enemy and his warcraft I know I can’t do this alone so I ask for grace and help to submit to You in every way for Your eternal purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you prayed the prayer above. Click here and select the acknowledge button at the bottom. We would love to pray with you and for you.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 30th 2017 – The Struggle is Real

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“I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” (Job 3:24-25)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Job was in a hard situation. In fact, you could say it is one of the most intense situations in Scripture. He has lost all that he loves and now sits before the Lord in great grief, even to the point of wishing he had never been born. Surely, things could not get worse. Yet, later, in this chapter, his friends come to “help” by pointing out that he must have sinned greatly to be punished by God in this way. These accusations show a flaw in our thinking as humans. In a world that is increasingly more interested in karma than in biblical truth, it is easy to see someone suffer and assume they are getting what they deserve. The problem is that Jesus himself points away from this train of thought to a deeper concern.

In Luke 13, Jesus is asked about people who died in tragic ways. The assumption was that they were “The worst sinners in Jerusalem” until Jesus said “No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish too.” Jesus points us away from the judgment of others sin and instead tells us to assess our own relationship with the Lord. So next time you see suffering in someone else, do not assume punishment for sin. Instead, assess your own walk, and do what you can to encourage them in the Truth of Christ.

“If someone is suffering, it doesn’t mean they have done anything wrong!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for those times I have judged someone’s suffering. Help me to live a Proverbs 3 life of not leaning on my own understanding. Teach me your ways and use me to minister to the broken. In Jesus’ name, Amen

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you prayed the prayer above. Click here and select the acknowledge button at the bottom. We would love to pray with you and for you.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 29th 2017 – Shaken Not Forsaken

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“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

At the beginning of Psalm 13 David feels that God has forsaken him. Has that ever happened to you? Do you let your problems make you despondent, discouraged, and disillusioned? Honestly, that couldn’t be further from the truth for those of us that have received the salvation of the Lord. We see David acknowledging this as he continues…

(Psalm 13:5-6)
“But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

You see, when we accepted the sacrifice of Christ we received the forgiveness of sins and the promise that we’d never be forsaken by God. Jesus ultimately experienced separation from Father God for the first time on that cross on our behalf when He cried out “my God my God why have you forsaken me?” Now, once we realize in our heads and hearts this reality, our trust in His mercy causes us to rejoice in our salvation! Our eyes can now be enlightened by the Spirit of God to see how rich we truly are in Christ. Count those blessings friend and allow the Lord to encourage you with all He has done for you!

“Sometimes we forget what we should we remember, (the good done by someone, by others, sometimes by us) and remember what we should forget (the wrongs done by someone, by others, sometimes by us).”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for enduring all things for me on the cross. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Please give me the power to remember the blessings that You have poured out into my life through Christ and help me to walk after You with joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you prayed the prayer above. Click here and select the acknowledge button at the bottom. We would love to pray with you and for you.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 26th 2017 – Put “It” Down

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“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” (Ephesians 4:26)

Ephesians 4 is packed with so many treasures.  (Ephesians 4:31-32) “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

The words ‘you’ and ‘your’ are used many times in Ephesians chapter 4, so it is speaking to ‘you’ as a believer. It says “don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.” Now, this could be your anger, which is the main and plain meaning, but if you don’t ask for forgiveness for things, then your sin works to separate you from God. So whether you need forgiveness, or you need to forgive somebody in obedience to the Lord and forget your wrath, do it before sundown.

I was recently reading Psalm 4 thsn looked up Ephesians 4. It’s interesting that Psalm 4 contains the only verse similar to Ephesians 4:26 that I have found.

(Psalm 4:4) “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Are you nursing any wounds? Are you holding on to any unforgiveness? Bitterness? Offense? Did you get offended by someone and instead of putting the offense down, you are carrying it around? You can’t do that. It gives place to the devil in your life.

This world is getting worse by the day and you can’t be tied up and weighed down by the past. The Bible says ‘don’t let the sun go down on your wrath’. Now here’s a cool little tidbit. How do we count our days? Well, we say that it goes to midnight and then the next day starts. Man came up with that. It’s not in the Bible. Actually in the Bible, in Genesis Chapter 1, verse 5 and many other verses, it says “the evening and the morning were the first day,” “the evening and the morning were the second day,” “the evening and the morning were the third day.”

*The biblical day ends at sundown.

*At sundown you begin the next day.

The verse says don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, anger or unforgiveness. Ask God to forgive you, forgive others and forgive yourself before this day ends and before you start your next day. Do it everyday. Because of God’s grace and Jesus death on the cross we can be forgiven! And as we walk in forgiveness we are empowered to forgive others.

“God wants to deliver us out of His wrath and anger, and the consequences of it.”

Prayer:

Heavenly father, I ask that you please forgive me for holding on to offenses, for letting the sun repeatedly go down on my wrath. I’m sorry. Thank you for Jesus and the forgiveness I have in Him. Father, show me any place where I have allowed a root of bitterness to get established in my heart and remove it. I choose to trust and obey. Help me to forgive others as you, in Christ, have forgiven me. In Jesus name, Amen

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 25th 2017 – Unlimited Resource

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“He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.” (Nahum 2:1)

Tests and trials are a part of life and often push us to our limits in so many ways. During these times, what do you turn to? Do you first run to others seeking those who feel the same way you do? Do you find yourself to be anxious because you are constantly looking down the road of life waiting for the next attack? Maybe you run to your money or addiction to seek answers or comfort. Whatever the case may be, the truth is, when we do not run to God first, we will not last long.

As followers of Christ, we have the unlimited resource of wisdom and power available to anyone. He is our Father God and He desires to help us in times of need. We may be able to limp along on our own wisdom and strength for a time, but when we trust in the Lord’s strength and His infinite wisdom, we will never grow weary. Today you will encounter difficult situations. Don’t be surprised by them but simply use them as an excuse to draw closer to God. Need wisdom? Ask the Father. Desire strength? Find it in Jesus.

“When you aew faced with a problem, seek God first before relying on your own wisdom or strength.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your generous love for me. I am so grateful that I can run to You in times of need and You will hear my cry. Father, I ask for Your strength and wisdom today. No matter where I find myself I ask that You would guide my steps and use me for Your purposes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 23rd 2017 – Are You, Overburdened?

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“On the third day, we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.” (Acts 27:19)

Here is a cool fact, Did you know that ships have a line drawn along the hull to indicate their burden? If the line goes too far beneath the water, the sailors know there is too much cargo on board. This allows the sailor to take the necessary steps to avoid disaster. Wouldn’t it be great if we had indicators on us? In Acts 27, Paul, now a prisoner, was taken by ship to Rome where he and the ship’s crew encounter a mighty storm. In danger of shipwreck, the ship’s crew threw overboard the cargo they once had considered necessities. Timing and events can really change the way we look at things. We fill our lives with ‘tackle’ and ‘rigging’ that is not important to the eternal plan. Often, we get distracted by those things and cling to them rather than to God. We think… “Oh, I need this” or “I just can’t live without that,” but soon, overburdened, we hit a storm and sink.

(Hebrews 12:1) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.”

What’s in your cargo hold? Are you carrying bitterness? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is your ship laden with shame? Are you hauling around guilt or sin? In (Matthew 11:28-30), Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Why carry burdens around when you don’t have to? Won’t you lay your burdens at the foot of the cross?

“Lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross, before you sink”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for my sins and show me the burdens I carry that You want to remove. There may be things I’m not aware of that are distracting me from the best that You have for me. Please show me these things so that I can give them over to You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

September 20th 2017 – Trusting God

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“But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” (John 6:6)

Praise the Lord that we don’t know everything that is going to happen because that keeps our lives hopeful. Uncertainty can also be frustrating, because we want to know everything but we can’t. There are things we go through that surprise us and catch us off guard. There is, however, nothing in your life that catches God off guard or surprises Him.

The things we are dealing with right now, at this moment, God knew before we even came on the scene. That can be pretty mind blowing, but here is the kicker… He also knows how we are going to get out of our tough situations. He saw the curve ball coming long before you did and He prepared us for what He already saw coming. He knows what fruit this trial is going to produce in each of our lives. For our benefit, He allows this trial or that test to proceed. But, take heart and be strong. While we may wonder how it works out and what happens next, we can trust in our God because He knows all along what He is going to do.

“We don’t know everything, but God does.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your provision of growth in my life. You love me so much that You do not want me to remain who I am but to grow in Your good gifts. What an incredible comfort it is to know that my Father in Heaven knows who I am and who I will be and will see me through the changes. Thank You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 19th 2017 – Temptation

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“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

There it is, staring you down. It grabs hold of your attention and captivates your thoughts. It appears so harmless but in the end, it can be deadly. It is called temptation, and every one of us has to face it. The good news is that if you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you don’t have to face it alone. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be freed of our bondage to sin while also finding strength to resist it through God’s Spirit. What an encouraging thought. When faced with temptation, the God of all creation provides a way out, the path to escape or the strength to bear it.

Unfortunately, this does not mean we always take that way of escape. Like someone staring at a bag of chocolates. often we stand gazing into temptation and wonder why we were not able to resist. In those moments when we fail, we can come to God and experience His forgiveness and grace all over again. This is the beauty of the Gospel. Yes, we must resist sin and flee from temptation but when we do fall short, we have a loving God who desires to forgive.

“When Tempted, God will always show you a way out. “

Prayer:

Heavenly  Father, Thank You for loving me. I know that I have done wrong and have sinned against You. Father, please forgive me and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can fight temptation. Lord, when I find myself in a tempting situation, open my eyes to the way out so that I can escape. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 14th 2017 – The Mighty Anvil

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“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

It has been said that the Bible is an anvil that’s worn out many a skeptic’s hammer. This means that what the Bible says is completely true and unchanging. Let’s really consider what that means for a moment.

It means our sins can be forgiven:

(Ephesians 1:7) “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

It means we can become children of God:

(John 1:12) “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

It means we can one day live in heaven forever:

(John 14:2) “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

These things and more are true for those who know Jesus as Savior. If you have trusted in Jesus, then read His Word and trust in these amazing promises. These are promises of love, joy and peace in this life and the next. The world will try and cause you to doubt the Truth of God’s Word, but throughout history, the Bible has remained unmoving. Trust in it and find rest for your soul.

“Jesus and the Bible are both completely reliable and trustworthy.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for the many promises found in Your Word. Help me take each one to heart and to allow Your Truths to change me. Protect me from the fears and doubts that can cloud my thinking, and give me boldness to stand on Your Word and to share it with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org