Category Archives: Challenges

April 15th 2019 – From Pain To Passion

“How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!” (Song of Solomon 7:6)

Within the book of Song of Solomon, we encounter the dramatic love of Solomon and his bride. We also encounter their first fight. Yet, it seems that as soon as the fight begins, it ends. It does not end in simple tolerance of one another, but it ends with that renewed passion & desire. This leaves us asking, “How can other marriages move from pain to passion so quickly.” The answer is simple yet sometimes difficult to live out. It’s the two main biblical principles of forgiveness and love. When a marriage has a foundation of active forgiveness and genuine love, there may be conflict, but it won’t remain long.

So how do we bring these two elements into our marriages? Again, the answer sounds simplistic but without Christ, it is impossible. To live within these elements of love and forgiveness, we must choose to be loving and forgiving. Today, choose to forgive your spouse for anything they may do. Choose to love them despite their faults and failures. Choose to love them like Christ loves us in that while we were still sinners, He died for us. That is true love. Even in view of our weakness, Jesus chose to forgive us of everything. In light of this great love found in Christ, we too can learn to love and forgive in our relationships. When we do, we will be equipped to move quickly from pain to passion in our marriages.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

“It is impossible to live a life of continual, active forgiveness without a relationship with Christ.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the precious gift of salvation. Your love and forgiveness have changed my life, and I desire to show that same kind of love and forgiveness within the relationships around me. Fill me with Your Spirit and instruct me by Your Word, so that I can live like Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Don’t wait! In a flash of a second it could be too late!” Click Here to read Four Simple Steps to Jesus

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

April 4th 2019 – Spiritual Warfare

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“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”(James 4:7)

We all have a spiritual enemy. For those who don’t know or believe that, their ability to identify the enemy’s work and resist it will be nonexistent. The enemy wants to destroy families, marriages and your life, because God has has a great plan for your life. The enemy on the otherhand, can and will use people, create situations in your life and even use guilt to deceive you from the truth.

“The enemy comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). “He is the author of lies. He is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). By enticing you to believe his lies, he can steal your joy, kill your love, and destroy your relationships with the very people that love you. He will speak thoughts into your mind that contradict the Word of God, that play on your insecurities and doubts, and cause you to back away from the God the loves you. He will feed you suspicious and critical thoughts and try to make you think that his lies are true and that God’s truth is a lie.

When the opression of the Holy Spirit comes In your life, ask God to help you discern how much is due to works of the flesh and how much is the plan of the enemy in operation. Then take steps to resist both. Pray often that you will have the ability to recognize the enemy’s lies. In order to do that, you must have a clear knowledge of God’s truth. So fill your mind and soul with His Word. Ask Him to show you clearly what is true and what is not. Keep praying and God will reveal this to you. Resist the enemy by choosing to live in obedience to God’s ways and by worshipping God for who He is. The enemy hates that and has to flee from you.

“Enemy-occupied territory, that is what this world is. The enemy comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy you and everything you love. He does not want to see you vanish into God’s company without trying to reclaim you.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to You asking for help to discern the lies of the enemy, especially when the enemy hides within all the strife and tension that he creates. Open my eyes to recognize any spirit of division or confusion as the enemy’s plan to divert me away from God will for my life. I submit my life to You. Help me to surrender to You in every way and choose to live according to Your word. Continue to teach me by reading and speaking Your Word so that it is implanted in my heart and becomes part of my daily life. I want to live in obedience to You in prayer, in praise, in worship, and in gratitude. Thank You, Lord, that You have given all who accept You in their hearts victory over all the plans of the enemy. Thank You that he has to flee from our lives when we expose his plans to the light. Thank You for the wisdom to identify the enemy’s work in our lives and the power to resist him. In Jesus’ name I pray. 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 26th 2019 – Fractured Clay Jars

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“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:11-12)

Whether they knew it or not, the church of Corinth was blessed because of Paul’s sufferings. The battles endured and hardships faced were all allowed by God so that Paul would be a great witness to the world. During this time in church history, there was a lot of suffering taking place, and as a result of that suffering, the Word of God was spread to more and more people. In fact, this continues today.

I believe we all could list out some areas where we suffered because of Christ. It may not be to the extent that Paul suffered, but trials are a part of the Christian life. That may not sound so great but think of it this way, when you’re going through a trial, someone else is watching you and can be blessed through your response. The Bible says we are like fractured jars of clay, or “cracked jars”. The more suffering and trials hit, the more we seem to crack.

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

The more we crack, the more Jesus is seen inside of us. God will use every situation in your life for good so rejoice in the hard times and look for those ways to shine… like a cracked jar with a brilliant light inside.

“You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, While it may be hard, I want to thank You for my times of suffering. I know that each of these moments is being used to make me more like Jesus. Give me the strength and wisdom needed to be a witness for You even in times of suffering. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If ou 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 25th 2019 – I Believe God, Do You?

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“Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25)

As the storm threatened and the boat pitched back and forth, when it looked as though everyone was going to drown, the apostle Paul encouraged the others on board: “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25)

Those are not the words of a person in denial or out of touch with reality as some unbelievers might say. The fact is that Paul uttered them when they were still in the worst of the storm, with no tangible hope. They had the hope that had been given to Paul by God, the promise they would be delivered, but there was nothing visible to indicate that it really was going to happen.

This was faith, you see. It is faith when we can say, as everything is unraveling around us, “God is in control. I know He is going to get me through this, and I know that He is faithful.” Paul was confident. He knew that God was the Master of his circumstances and the Captain of his boat. He knew that God was in control.

There was a time when Jesus told the disciples to launch out into the deep for a catch of fish, after they had been fishing for many hours and hadn’t caught a thing. Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). Then the Bible tells us they caught so many fish, their nets were breaking.

There is a unique nautical term that is used when addressing the master of a particular boat or ship, it is called “Captain”.

So here is the question: Are you willing to let Him be the Captain of your boat? Are you willing to say, like Paul, “I believe God”?

“Faith is knowing God is in control, even when things are unraveling.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask that You increase within me your obedient spirit so that I may be obedient to Your instruction. Help me Lord to walk by faith and not by sight. I don’t always understand what You’re doing in my life, but I make a decision to trust You God, In these storms, I ask that You place within me your spirit of hope, peace and rest. Help me to endure all that comes my way. Right now, I make a decision to trust You Lord because I know that You’re in control of my life even when my life seems to be out of control. Lord, I thank You for clarity, guidance, provision and strength. I pray and ask for these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Are you struggling and feeling like you may drown? Seek Jesus instead of looking to the world for answers. As you take steps to follow and obey God’s voice, He will lovingly deliver you from the darkness. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 21st 2019 – Hiding From God

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“Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts; “I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your shame.” (Nahum 3:5)

In the last chapter of Nahum, God brings several charges against the city of Nineveh. One of these charges is their involvement in harlotry and sorcery. These two lifestyles thrive in the dark corners of society and desire to accomplish personal fulfillment with ungodliness. So what is God’s plan to punish those involved? He is simply going to expose their sinfulness to everyone.

In our own lives, I believe we fear this more than anything else. We fear the thought of being “found out”. This may come as a surprise to some, God already knows our sins. There is nothing we can do to hide them from His perfect gaze.

(Jeremiah 23:24) “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.”

(Hebrews 4:13) “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Here is the good news. He desires to forgive us of those sins and all we need to do is be honest. When we come to God fully confessing our faults and failures to Him, He will wipe them away. On the other hand, if we try to hide our sins from Him, one day they will make it to the surface for all to see. Today, rather than hiding your sins, come to God, confess and watch as your burden is lifted. Experience the fresh full forgiveness of your Heavenly Father.

Confession of sin.

(John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

God chooses not to hold our sins against us.

(Isaiah 43:25) “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

God removes our sin from us.

(Psalm 103:12) “It is possible for the Lord to look at us without seeing our sins because when he forgave us, he removed our sins as far as the east is from the west”

“The cost of hidden sin is shame and exposure.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to You this morning to confess my sins to You. You tell me in the Bible that if I confess to You, You will wipe away all my sins and so I come this day asking for Your forgiveness. Continue to change my heart and make me more like Jesus. 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. Xxxxzz

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 20th 2019 – The Lord Is My Refuge

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“This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”
(Psalm 91:2)

God’s word promises that He will give us a peace that surpasses understanding, but not necessarily a peace that always will give us understanding.

You may be facing a personal crisis right now. Maybe it is a lack of employment. Maybe it is a foreclosure on your home or your marriage is falling apart. Maybe its prodigal son or daughter. Maybe you have a life-threatening illness. Maybe you are paralyzed by fear as you think about an uncertain future. So what should you do?

The Bible tells us the answer to worry is prayer: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)

I have areas in my my life currently that are very stressful and overwhelming.

I have to pray and beleive God’s word and His promises daily for strength to face each day.

The harsh reality of it, there are waves of deep stress and sadness that overwhelm me at times. So I pray. Sometimes my prayers are not long, but simply a cry out to God: God, help me. Give me strength right now. And sometimes it doesn’t even feel like God is close or that He heard my prayer but He does. He gives me strength. It is not necessarily more than I need, but He gives me what I need for what I am facing at the moment.

The psalmist wrote, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

So when you are feeling overwhelmed, pray. Things will fall into their proper place as God brings about the events of your life according to His perfect will.

Are there areas of your life that feels out of control?

Facing the reality of these problem may be difficult; however, doing so can be the first step of finding peace again in your life.

Is there some negative issue in your life that you don’t seem to be able to control? Perhaps you have thoughts like these: “There is no way out.” “I am in over my head.” “I feel overwhelmed.” Maybe even “Hopeless”

As trapped as you might feel right now, there is a way out. You can change, but not by yourself. Take the first step. Admit your powerlessness over this problem. Don’t allow embarrassment, pride or hopelessness to stop you from getting or asking for help. Admit your need to yourself, and to God. Tell him that you need His help. He loves you, He wants to help you and He is able.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I do need your help. Please protect me and give me hopeful heart. I’ve tried to so hard find solutions on my own to these problems, sometimes making them worse the harder I try. Sometimes I don’t want to face them at all because the problems are actually people. Often the problems are not my problems at all. They are gifted to me from others. Lord please correct the hearts of selfish people that try to take advantage of me and my heart. Shield me from false accusations and dishonest people that accuse me because of their own short comings. Make known my honest and pure intentions for others in my work and dealing with people you lead in my life. Please show me the way out of the pain and stress in my life. I love You Lord and need You in my life. Please show me peace. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 15th 2019 – True Healing Comes by the Way of the Cross

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“Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” (Exodus 15:23-26)

In the Old Testament, Jesus had not come as a human yet, but His Holy Word had already come. We know from the Word of God that on the cross, Jesus not only took our sins, but He also took our sicknesses and diseases.

(1 Peter 2:24) talks about this tree. Look at it, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed”.

When God showed Moses a tree, he cast it into the water and the water was made sweet. This is a type of our Jesus, He hung on the tree for you and for me. And when we cast ourselves on Him, we are made whole. I believe this is total wholeness, spirit, soul and body.

So today, look at the tree, and let your sins be cast on it, let your sicknesses be thrown on Him. It is through the blood that Jesus spilled on the tree, the “cross”, that we are made well not only spirituality but physically! What a great God we serve.

“True Healing comes by the way of the Cross, whether it is Healing for yourself, others or this Country. ask for Jesus in and allow Him to start to heal.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, At The cross You blood spilled Your blood for me. The work of Calvary was a complete work, a work that was completely done in me. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the that tree (cross) and bearing all of my shortcomings so that I can be whole, so I can be healed, so I can be set free because of what you sacrificed on the tree… I love You and trust You Lord. I will not take my eyes off you… in Your precious name Amen.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Don’t wait! In a flash of a second it could be too late!” Click Here to read Four Simple Steps to Jesus.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 28th 2019 – Dear Problem, My God Is Bigger

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“As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:36-37 )

I have had the opportunity to speak with and pray for those who are in the midst of monumental life challenges. It might be unemployment, eviction, addiction, separation, divorce or even facing death. Whatever it is, for those going through it, it seems the problem are as large as Mount Everest. One thing I’ve noticed is that those who dare to take on mountains often triumph while those who survey the towering heights and presume defeat…

The Colossal cliffs in life that we face teach the deepest lessons – the kind you never forget.

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:8)

From the stable to the sacrifice, Jesus knew His mountain. Awaiting Him at the top were false accusation, humiliation, torture, pain, suffering and death on a cross. For us, our Savior clenched His jaw and pressed forward. Jesus made the greatest climb to Calvary.

Willingly, Jesus took that climb step by step. He knew what was waiting, and He went. It was His joy to do so. He did it to purchase you and change your destiny. Because Jesus made His ascent, we can climb our mountains with victory in hand. The next time you see a mountain looming in the distance, remember, you’re a conqueror. With Jesus, you will take that hill.

“Dear Problem, My God Is Bigger! – Don’t try to climb your mountain without Jesus.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, We love You and praise you Lord in all circumstances. Thank You for loving me first. It is through You that I do not have to fear the difficulties of this world and that I have everything I need for the challenges of life. Please forgive me for times when I’ve stalled in the face of trials instead of relying on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do you want to experience the kind of Peace and Love that is only found in Jesus? Jesus died on the cross for you. He loves you and wants to help you. He wants to bring peace in your life. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, or need to ask him back into your life. Please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 23rd 2019 – 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, Help me to hear Your voice over all the continuous problems that continue to come my way. Lord, it seems that others in this world try to insult or slander my character, often because of my relationship with You. Help me during those weak moments to know what You would say to me. Help me to hear and respond to Your voice and know that I am loved. Help me to fellowship with and love others around me. 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.

God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Click here to discover how you can find peace with God.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 20th 2019 – Life’s Struggles

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“He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of considerable insight and understanding. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Saul and Barnabas said. He was trying to turn the governor away from the Christian faith.” (Acts 13:7-8)

In this story, we see the governor torn between Saul and Barnabas, who meant him well, and Elymas who tried to keep the governor from hearing about God. I believe we can relate to this in the many struggles in our own lives. We want to hear the Word of God, like during a teaching, but sometimes we allow ourselves to be talked out of it.

Some of the things that can make a huge difference in our spiritual growth is reading the bible, going to bible studies and reading devotions. It encourages us, challenges us, and the bible studies allows worship and fellowship with one another. It is obvious why the enemy of our souls would not want us in that kind of environment. He will try to use our friends, family and loved ones to keep us from church, serving, giving, praying and reading the Bible. Above all the noise; however, the voice of Jesus rings true. Come to Him and He will give you rest. The world says ‘get’, Jesus says ‘give’. The world says focus on ‘you’. Jesus says focus on ‘others’ and upon Him. Be careful what voice you listen to. It is very important.

“If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Help me to hear Your voice over all the outside noise in my life. Lord, it seems that others in this wotld try to pull me down or keep me in sin. Help me during those weak moments to know what You would say to me. Help me to hear and respond to Your voice and know that I am forgiven. Help me to fellowship with and love others around me. Thank You for continuing to call me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Click here to discover how you can find peace with God.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

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