Category Archives: Endurance

July 3rd 2019 – Hope Is Real

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalms 27:13)

On my way home yesterday, I saw these words written on a sign at a local church. It said, “Hope Is Real.” I thought about it for a moment and (needless to say) agreed with the statement. But as I pondered the simple little phrase, I realized that for many people hope is not real. I believe that is one of the most important gifts we can give to another person, the gift of hope.

You see, someone who is hopeless and alone usually cannot help themselves out of their situations. They have a great sense of loss and helplessness. We must come alongside and bring the good news of Jesus Christ and all that He has to offer.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

One definition for hope is: To look forward to with confidence or expectation. We must bring the Word of God with all its hope to someone who does not know it is real. When we bring hope, we bring life. It is life changing to finally believe again. It is more than just asking God for something we so badly need; we must expect our miracle. Somewhere in the midst of asking, believing, and expecting God to answer, we will find what we are looking for.

I have felt for a long time that the biggest problem we have in the world today is there are so many people who have lost hope. There seems to be so many hurts, problems, sicknesses, troubles, financial issues, family problems, world issues, political concerns, etc. It seems the world has no hope.

Apart from God, it is an awful, hopeless place. But with God’s help, we can make it. I want you to know that whatever situation you find yourself in at this moment, there is hope. You may not be able to see or feel the hope, but it is there for you. How do we find the hope? There is only one place where hope can be found, and that is in Jesus Christ.

“Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (Psalms 25:4-5)

Trust God. He wants you to trust Him. You need to agree with God about your situation. What does God say about who you are and what His will is for your life? Don’t go by your feelings. Instead we should remind ourselves that God only has plans for us that are good. Jeremiah helps us remember what God has to say about us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We do not need to be disappointed and feel alone. We can have hope! God’s love in our hearts will ignite the flames of hope we have buried deep inside our hearts. God’s Word can encourage us as we read it with great anticipation and faith. Paul writes in Romans these words of encouragement:

“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.” (Romans 5:5)

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Here are a few key scriptures that help us to understand what we need to do. Words like “be strong, take courage, wait, reverently and worshipfully fear God, tarry for the hope, wait patiently for it, and be joyful in hope. They are all action words we need to work on. Read these scriptures out loud during your Devotion times. Watch how hope will come alive in your heart as you speak the Word of God over yourself and your situation.

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!”(Psalms 31:24)

“Those who reverently and worshipfully fear You will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in Your word and tarried for it.” (Psalms 119:74)

“But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I don’t want this to be just another Devotion. I want it to bring life to you. Pray out loud the words of hope into your life and your situations. I have hope! My hope is in the Lord! I will be strong and wait on the Lord. I trust God with my life and the life of my family. Speak these words every day. Hope Is Real. It comes from God! He has placed it in your heart. Speak it out and watch what God will do for you.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)

“Hope can give us a fresh start, a new beginning.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I love You and give You praises for still being here and loving us in such a time like this. The world is so ungreatful and broken.. I know that I can often lose sight of Your love while I’m in the middle of hard times. Help me to be mindful of Your love, mercy, compassion and strength, especially hope, so that I can endure and even rejoice in my pain. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may live in your blessing of hope. 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 30th 2019 – Trials and Temptations

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“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

It has been said that Christians are a lot like teabags; you don’t know what they’re made of until you put them into hot water. Maybe you’re in hot water right now. Maybe you’re going through what we might describe as a fiery trial. The good news is you are not the first person to go through it, and certainly will you be the last. Know that you are not alone in your trial.

And here is something else to consider: going through a trial or a temptation is a confirmation that you are on the right track as a Christian. If you were to say, “You know, as a Christian I can’t remember the last time I was tempted,” my question would be, “What is wrong with you?” I know personally that the devil sets his sights on those who are a threat to the kingdom of God.

You shouldn’t be surprised or shocked if you are tempted or tested. In (1 Peter 4:12–13) we’re told, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”

Hardship, temptation, tragedy, and the loss of loved one’s will come into our lives one day. Trials and temptations will come too. Take steps now to be prepared for that. Don’t say, “That will never happen to me.”

It will happen to you. Life is filled with pain. Granted, some have more than others, but every life will have some. We should gather this truth into our hearts so we are prepared when trials and temptations come our way.

“Trials and temptations will come. Take steps now to be prepared for that.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we call upon You in the middle of trials, That You give us the strength and will to bear our heavy burdens, until we can again feel the warmth and love of Your divine compassion. Protect us in our temptations. Be mindful of us and have mercy on us while we struggle to comprehend life’s trials and temptations that come in our of life. When fear and panic, shock and dismay are close by, so are you. Maywe always recconize you , Keep us ever in Your watch until these storms of life pass. In Jesus’ precious and glorious name, Amen.

Find comfort knowing that Jesus is there for you!

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

June 29th 2019 – Look to Jesus and Believe

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“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

There is this old hymn (song) we used to sing in the first church I attended. It went like this: “Look to Jesus and believe, look to Jesus and receive”. Isn’t that the truth? When we look to Jesus, believing, He seems to get everything put together for us. I sure want my life to be a reflection of Him. The way that I see a reflection is by looking into a mirror.

This verse is saying to us to look to Jesus, He is the One that began this work in us, and He is the One that will bring it to completion. The bible says it like this, “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”. I like that. What I have to do is fix my eyes on Him, and He will do the rest. He started this work in my life years ago. For some of you it could be many years, or just a few days, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that He is going to do a perfect work within us.

I always say it like this, “it’s all about Jesus.” When I get me out of the way, and let Him be Lord and King of my life, everything just seems to work out. When I try to make me king in my life, that’s when things just seem to go downhill. You know, He made us, and He can sure finish this up in us.

So today, be encouraged. He’s got your life in the palm of His big hand, and He won’t let you down. He started it, and He will complete it. Isn’t that great?

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I Love You.'”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Today, I am encouraged, because I see that what You Lord has started in my life, You will bring to completion. This isn’t about me, it’s about You Jesus in my life and through the Holy Spirit in me, and You cannot fail. In Your precious 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 28th 2019 – Unhindered

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“If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:12)

Paul had given up everything for the sake of the Gospel. He had been imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked and snake-bit, but he still remained steadfast in declaring Christ crucified. Even in his letter to the church of Corinth, we see a man who is willing to continue the race even if all support falls out from underneath him. How could he do this? Simple. He knew the God He served.

When we step out in obedience to God, we don’t always know what may happen next. He may lead us to share the Gospel with someone even though we don’t know how they will respond. Sometimes, we may give to our church while not knowing how it will affect our budget for the week. Whatever the situation, there is one unchanging element – God. He is still the same God who provided for Paul despite the lack of those who gave. He’s still the same God who protected Paul while adrift at sea. He is the same God who gave His own Son to die for our sins in the ultimate act of love. Listen closely, because He is God, we can step out in faith and experience a life like no other. Because He is God, we have the freedom to serve Him with all our hearts.

“When we give our lives to God, only then do we discover maximum freedom.”

Prayer:

Heavenly father, Thank You for all that You have done for me. Thank You for Jesus and the gift of salvation. Lord, because of that gift, I am now free to serve You with all my heart and soul. Remove the fear and doubt in my mind. Help me to give all of my life to You and use me for the work of Your Kingdom. 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 26th 2019 – Identity Crisis

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And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Right after this blessed moment of baptism God confirms Jesus identity and announces His pleasure. Shortly after this strong affirmation from God we find Jesus, in (Matthew 4:1-10), being tempted by the enemy after enduring a forty day fast. The enemy immediately challenges what God has spoken by saying ‘if You are the Son of God’.

Understand that the enemy’s first temptation often times is to get us to question our identity in Christ. When we receive God’s gracious, unearned gift of salvation our identity is sealed in the blood of Christ, which defeats the enemy. Could you imagine an 1st grade student coming home with the an ‘F’ on his/her report card and the parent saying “you are no longer my child, change your name and leave my house!” Of course not! Neither does the Lord dismiss you or I when we fail because His love never fails (1Corinthians 13:8).

If you were gardening and you saw a plant that was drooping and bent downward would you uproot the plant trash it and start over? Hopefully not. What a skilled gardener often will do is put a wooden stake in the ground next to it and tie the plant to it, leaving the plant dependent on the wood to grow. This is our life in Christ, leaning not on our own works, but on the grace that God purchased through Jesus Christ on that cross to help us to grow in Him.

“The enemy wants you to doubt who you are, whose you are, and to spend time trying to earn what you have already been given.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for dying for me so I could have identity in You as Your beloved. Please help me to continue to remember the grace You have shown to me at the cross that I might live for You, in good times and bad, all the days of my life. 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 24th 2019 – Keep Your Eyes Focused

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“Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23)

In the reality of Christianity, what do you bring to the table? There are really only a couple of possibilities – either you are bringing Heaven to earth, or you are not. It’s so easy to get caught up in today’s trials that we forget our Lord is triumphant. When your focus is on the world, you will be entangled in adversity. Focus on Jesus and the tribulations of this earth are short lived.

Have you ever spoken with someone who is fixated on all the troubles of their life? They bear a brand of defeat. Only the conquered should wear this badge of defeat. Christians are anything but conquered. Now, imagine someone – a non-believer – observing a Christian enamored with this world and its caos. Would he see hope? Would this fellow be inclined to follow?

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:24-25)

So, what do you bring to the table? What do you set before others for them to see? Is it Heaven or hell? Your faith is their evidence. If non-believers see you living out the substance of your faith they will know that your God is greater than this world’s woes.

If you are sitting at the station of this world waiting for a free ride on the gravy train you are sitting at the wrong station. That train, while tempting on the outside, has a only one destination, disappointment!

Christians, if the substance of your hope is what someone else has and not Jesus, then you need to review your faith because others already are.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

“Don’t focus on today’s groaning but on tomorrow’s glory.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope You have freely given to me through Your Son Jesus. Lord, help my doubt when I cannot see. As I eagerly wait in expectation of Your coming, strengthen me to persevere in the calling You have laid before me. I know that all things work together for good to those who love You. Lord, I commit my life to Your purposes today. 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 17th 2019 – Love Lessons

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“Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39)

If you want your life to count while we are here on Earth, we have to focus on it. We have to decied on whats inportant. We don’t have time for everything, and not everything is of equal value.

Jesus said there are two things that are more valuable in life than anything else: loving God and loving each other.

Have you ever wondered why God put us here on Earth to begin with? Why didnt He send us straight to heaven when he created you and me? We are only here for 100 years at the most, and you’re going to live for eternity in Heaven or Hell. And that is all determined by Accepting Jesus os our Savior or not.

The Bible is very clear that God put us here on Earth to do two things: to learn to love God and to learn to love other people. Life is not about a accumulation, accomplishment, or achievement. It’s not about all the things the world tells us life is all about. You can’t take our cars and houses with us. But you are taking your character and you everlasting ability to love.

Today is the day the majority of the world relfects on expressions of love for our spouses, and if your not married, then that special person your interested in.

Biblical Truth:

Any successful marriage is built upon the biblical truth that God designed each of us with five purposes in mind: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and missions.

It is important to have is a marriage centered on Christ, specifically focused on glorifying God.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The he added, “The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your [spouse] as you love yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

In this sense, you worship God when you love and sacrifice for your spouse. That brings pleasure to God, and any time you give pleasure to God, you’re worshiping him. Read through Romans 12 with a view of what its applications would mean to your marriage:

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” (Romans 12:10)

God put us on Earth for 80 to 100 years so we can learn to love Him with all of our heart and learn to love others. Life is one giant “Love Lesson♡♡!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I want to glorify my love for You by loving my spouse as you have expressed Your love for me. I never knew true love until You taught me how to love. I am so greatful for the blessings that You have provided for me. I thank you for my spouse and I pray that I can express Your love through me. In Your precious name, Amen.

Experience a love like no other.

If you do not know Jesus 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 and struggles in life. 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

June 14th 2019 – In the Shadow of the Cross

“After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.” (1 Corinthians 15:6)

They had known Jesus before His death and again saw Him after His resurrection. Surely, this group of believers was blessed to know Christ personally. I can imagine there would be no other group of individuals on earth who would long more passionately for His return. After all, they had sat and listened to His teaching. They broke bread in fellowship with Him. They experienced the pain of watching Him die and then experienced the pure joy of seeing Him alive again! After He ascended to heaven, they must have thought, “Any day now He will come again for us.”

Now let’s fast forward 2000 years… and we still wait. While we may never have spoken to Jesus face to face, we continue to go to Him in prayer. While He has not eaten at our dinner tables, we take communion at His. Each day, we stand in the shadow of the cross and what He has done for us, and we long for His return. But waiting is not passive, it’s active. Until He comes again, we continue to share the amazing story of God’s love for sinners and the death of Christ on our behalf. It’s a timeless truth that will ring throughout eternity from today in our world until long after He has come again.

“We should live in the expectation of the return of Jesus.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I look forward to the coming of Your Son and His Kingdom that will follow. Help me to remember that this world is a temporary place and that my true home is with Christ. Until He returns, give me strength, wisdom and opportunities to tell others about our coming King. Keep us in the Shadow of the Cross we will wait for Your Glorious and Triumphant return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you would like to request a prayer Click Here

Have you ever received Jesus as you Lord and Savior? If you do not know Him personally,you will never be truly free. 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

June 13th 2019 – Reignited

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“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6)

Have you ever watched a fire begin to burn down to the point that all you have left are coals? It looks as though there is no fire actually left, because the coals may be under a layer of ash. You can’t really see much. But when you take a fresh log and toss it on top of those coals and stir it around a bit, suddenly it ignites, and you have a whole new fire going.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). That phrase stir up the gift means to fan it into full flame.

There may be live coals in your life, but you have allowed the fire to go down. You haven’t been using the gifts that God has given you, the talents He has given you. It’s time to fan them into full flame again. It’s time to be reignited. It’s time to say, “Lord, how can I use what You have given me for Your glory until You return?”

It’s easy for our Christian faith to go stale. We say the right words and go through the right motions while having a cold heart toward God. One thing that causes our faith to become stagnant is we forget that Christianity is not about a set of ideas; it’s about the most important person in all history – Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to earth not only to provide a way for us to escape hell after we die, but also to show us a better way of living before we leave this world.

We need to take advantage of the opportunities that are out there. If we will humble ourselves and take what we have and offer it to God, if we are willing to do what He has set before us and be faithful in the little things, then He will give us more to do.

Any time you take a chance, you can fail. But it’s better to try than to never have anything happen in your life. I would rather try and fail than never try at all.

“It’s time to be reignited.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love for me and the faith that has grown in my heart. I ask that You fan my flame and ignite my faith into a towering infernal for you Lord! I want to use my life and talents to please You. Help me share Your love and the message to others. Keep my heart full of faith during in the often trials of my life, that I may be on fire to inspire others and glorify Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Seeking a personal relationship with Jesus?

If you do not know Jesus 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. He 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

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

June 8th 2019 – Foolish? Offensive?

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“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

There are many websites, books, movies and other things portraying the message of the cross as foolish. People pursue legal action to remove the cross and its meaning. Why? Because the cross offends those who do not want to hear the message. Jesus Christ came and died for our sins, and that’s offensive?! Yes, we are all sinners. “Well, that is just so judgmental.” No, it’s the truth. People don’t want to hear it. Jesus and the cross demand that we admit our failings. We cannot admit we are sinners and yet cling to our pride.

Pride feels so good, doesn’t it? “Look at me. I am a self-made man. Come and be amazed by my shiny pride.” No, unfortunately you are an incomplete and malfunctioning created being without Jesus in your heart. In spite of your pride, He stands knocking and waiting for you to open the door and ask Him in. It’s an incredibly simple plan that requires an incredibly simple response of child-like faith and a King David sized heart of boldness.

“The fact people think we are foolish is evidence that they are perishing.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the invitation of the cross. I know my sins have separated me from You, Lord. I ask that You forgive me of all of my sins. Give me the power to live for You all the days of my life. Thank You that You have made my relationship with You so simple. In humble faith, I give You my weaknesses and flaws and ask that Your glory be revealed in 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

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