Category Archives: Grace and Mercy

April 10th 2019 – Caring for Those Who Struggle

“To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold–I speak foolishly–I am bold also.” (2 Corinthians 11:21)

How do you treat those who are struggling? Whether it’s those at your work or a stranger on the street. Maybe it’s an adult child that struggles with drugs or a elderly parent at the end of stages their life. How you treat them tells a lot about yourself.

Why is that the case? Simply because those who are weak and struggling are not often in a position to help us or pay us back. When we care for the less fortunate or minister to those who are barely hanging on, we do so knowing there is no physical benefit. The opposite is also true if we refuse to help those in need because there is no benefit for us, it clarify our motives.

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul begins sharing everything he endured for the sake of others. He did so because his motives were being questioned and yet, he was able to clearly say that he endured all that pain so that the lost would hear the good news. This is what I desire for my own life, I also do not want to live my life with regrets that I didn’t do my best. My prayer is that more feel the same. Unfortantally we don’t often see that in this world anymore..

Today is the day to look around for those in your life who may be weak,  hurting or struggling. Let’s serve them with the love of Christ, so that they would be blessed. It may cost us something, but it is worth it in the end.

“How we treat those who are weaker tells a lot about us. But don’t be discouraged by those who are not ready for our help or care. In that case, pray for them.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,  Forgive me for any times I may have helped people with ulterior motives. Give me a heart for those who are in need and the strength to serve them. I desire to give of myself for the benefit of others, no matter the cost. Fill me with Your Spirit and teach me through Your Word. Please forgive me when I tend to want to give up or figure things out in my own reasoning. Help me to remain obedient, faithful, and filled with Your Spirit to lead, guide and direct me in all things. Please give me patience and compassion in all situations. I love You lord. I pray 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

April 9th 2019 – Jesus My Super-Hero

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27.1)

There is so much comfort in this verse. Our Lord is our light, He is the One who gives us direction even when things seem dark.  He enlightens our path that we do not trip or fall.  He is there to give us salvation, or as this word means, safety, soundness, deliverance, and healing.

How can we fear anything that life or the enemy would bring?  Our Lord is with us twenty-four seven.  He promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us.

The Lord is the strength of our lives.  We see all the movies lately with all these superheroes in them.  Well, there is no superhero like Jesus.  He died for me and then conquered the greatest villain that there is, satan, and defeated him and made a show of him publicly.  That’s a true superhero, that’s a conqueror.  Our Jesus didn’t just win the battle, He won the battle and then gave us the victory.  That’s why we don’t have to fear. The Greater One won the battle, gave us the victory and told the loser, you will follow the rules.

So today, see Him as the strength of your life.  See Him as your light and comfort.  The clearer you see Him, the less you will see the enemy.  As God gets bigger to you, the devil and the problems of life get smaller.

I see my Jesus as big and I see the devil and his lies as small.  I see my God as my superhero and everything must bow its knee to Him. He is the Greater One and He lives in me.

“Superheroes are fun characters we can follow, but no fictional character will ever be able to replace the world’s one true superhero – Jesus.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, there are marvelous things that I do not know, nor can I comprehend. Things that happen in my life, and things that happen in our friends lives. Lord, I desire to be thankful, to appreciate everything that comes across my path.Lord, so often life hurts, I get angry — upset, I do not understand, yet Lord You ask me to be thankful for everything, and have faith – Thank You for being my Super Hero… In Jesus’ name Amen.

Need a real superhero in your life? Click Here to learn more.

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

April 8th 2019 – God’s Promise, God’ Timing

“On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.” (Genesis 17:23)

We see the Lord working more and more in the life of Abram as he is obeying God. The Lord is establishing him to receive the gracious promise of the Father in his life. He leaves his home at God’s direction. (Genesis 12:1-3)

He is promised by God to have his descendants multiplied then builds an altar to worship God. (Genesis 13:14-18)

God formally seals the covenant in Genesis 15. Then in Genesis 17 we see Abraham given circumcision as the sign of the covenant and he obeys with his whole household. As you look at the timeline from the promise issued to Abram by God to multiply his descendants we see 24 years passed before the promise was realized.

We also see that God, as He establishes Abram in this covenant, gives him a new name. He goes from Abram to Abraham.

With the added letter “H” Abraham began to be known as the revealer. The “H” symbolized the Holy Spirit who reveals and gives strength. Prior to God’s enacting of His promise to Abram and Sarai what did we see? They acted alone, and in the flesh they could not fulfill their destiny. With the Holy Spirit, they could do anything.

How could they be fruitful in this promise? It was the “H” the Holy Spirit difference that would allow them to reproduce spiritually.

What do you do when you do not yet see the promise of God realized in your life? Have you raised your children diligently teaching them the ways of the Lord and not yet seen them walking with the Lord? Have you been giving consistently but don’t yet see the overflow of God’s blessing pouring into your life? Have you prayed for peace in your marriage, relationships, and work place only to feel dry and frustrated? Take heart, continue to be faithful, obedient, and be filled with the Spirit and don’t lose hope. He will come through because He is able to keep His promise, His timing.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)

“Happy are the people of God when they learn to walk in obedience.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the examples of seeing You continually coming through with Your promises in scripture. Please forgive me when I tend to want to give up or figure things out in my own reasoning. Help me to remain obedient, faithful, and filled with Your Spirit to lead, guide and direct me in all things. I pray 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

April 7th 2019 – When God Is Silent

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great day of the Lord.” (Malachi 4:5)

Between the last page of the Old Testament and the first page of the New sits about 400 years of silence.

Four hundred years without a recorded prophet. Four hundred years without a message or a story or any kind of preserved word from God. For four hundred years, we have neither record nor rumor of God speaking to His people through the prophetic word.

As hard as it is for us to comprehend 400 years, the Bible tells us this is how long God’s people waited to hear Him speak. It’s hard to imagine such a long time, but for the people who had seen God’s miracles first-hand, 400 years must have felt like an eternity. And the longer God was silent the worse things got. It certainly seemed as though God had forgotten both His people and His promises.

Where was God during all this time? Had He finally given up on His people and His promises?

It’s easy to share in Christ’s anguish on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

Can you relate? When God goes silent, it doesn’t take long until we assume God must have forgotten about us. Suddenly, we begin to take matters into our own hands – walking away from God in the process. But, God is always at work in our waiting. Waiting reminds us who is ultimately in control and prepares us for what’s next.

In Luke chapter 2 we find Simeon. He was a great man of faith. Having suffered the oppression of God’s people, He heard over and over again how God had abandoned them, forgotten them. As a result, he’s watched many fall away in hopelessness and despair. Simeon, however, faithfully clung to the promises of God, believing that God would come through in the end. And ultimately, God did! Imagine his joy to be one of the first people to hold the Messiah in his arms, experiencing first-hand the promise of God revealed!

Are you in the midst of a season of waiting? Maybe it has been a very long and incredibly frustrating few months or years. You feel as though God has forgotten you; you’re beginning to doubt. Don’t lose hope – God is at work in the waiting. Even during the most challenging seasons, God wants to point us to Jesus. Jesus, the only one who can perfectly and completely fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts.

If you’re seeking hope – look to Jesus. Comfort – look to Jesus. If you’re feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied, look to Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate hope and joy even when the wait feels like 400 years. Through Jesus, the wait is over as our souls find rest in the promise of God fulfilled!

So take some time today and listen to what He wants to say to you. Listen to that still small voice speaking to your heart.  He will never let you down. He is always there for you.

“Silence doesn’t mean God is standing still.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, It’s in the silence that we are most desperate to hear You Lord. Maybe You are just waiting for me to slow down and hear what you have been saying. Today I will listen to your voice as you guide me to go right or to go left. Father I know you always have my best interest in mind. I trust you, and  can be rest assured that You will guide me for good this day. Thank you for allowing us to Hear Your Voice. In Jesus’ 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

April 6th 2019 – The Narrow Path

“But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Sometimes we think the bigger something is, the better it is. This is essentially an American way of looking at things. If you are successful, if you are making more money than other people, the perception is that you are the best. If a church has more people attending than other churches, the perception is that it is the best. But not necessarily. Nor am I suggesting that smaller is better.

The Bible says that in the last days, there will be people in our churches who are not true believers, among other things. Because of watered-down messages and compromise, people will feel comfortable in certain churches because they are never confronted with their sin.

If people are coming to church with no intention of applying the truths they are learning, then their hearts can get hard. I once heard it this way, “The same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay.” The same message that liberates one person can hurt another if he or she doesn’t respond appropriately. People who go to church, claim to be Christians, and then contradict it with an openly sinful lifestyle are hurting themselves.

Or worse, You are attending a church that teaches tolerance and a watered down version of Gods Holy word. Although, tolerance is not always a bad thing. Many modern churches have tried to stretch it over the top of Gods Holy Values. We have applied it too often where it does not belong. The word “tolerant” means “liberal,” “broad-minded,” “willing to put up with beliefs opposed to one’s convictions,” and “the allowance of something not wholly approved.”

Tolerance, in one sense, implies the compromise of one’s convictions, a yielding of ground upon important issues. Hence, over-tolerance in moral issues has made us soft, flabby and devoid of conviction. Is the Modern Church tolerant and afraid of offending people with the truth just to fill the seats.

We have become tolerant about divorce; we have become tolerant about the use of alcohol; we have become tolerant about delinquency; we have become tolerant about wickedness in high places; we have become tolerant about immorality; we have become tolerant about crime and we have become tolerant about godlessness. We have become tolerant of unbelief.

The Bible says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). If nothing bad happens when we sin, if we don’t get caught or found out, we sometimes think that God has given us a pass. He hasn’t. Don’t confuse God’s mercy and grace with leniency or think that He has turned a blind eye. God still will deal with that sin. But He gives us an opportunity to repent so we don’t have to face the full ramifications of it.

“The Road to Destruction Wide and the Road to Salvation Narrow”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Please destroy every possible barrier that could keep me from You. Reveal to me the difference between tolerance and conviction. Keep me from compromise and help me choose the narrow path.  I want to live for You. 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

April 2nd 2019 – Is It Time to Make a Choice

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Are you trying to live in two worlds? If so, then I know something about you. I know you’re not really happy inside. When you spend time around other Christians, you’re sometimes uncomfortable because of your sin. On the other hand, when you’re doing things you know you shouldn’t as a Christian, then you also have the conviction of that sin inside your heart.

I have the answer: Stop doing that stuff. Make your choice. As Joshua said to the Israelites, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Every one of us must make that decision. No one make it for you, and you definitely can’t make it for me.

Are you in a relationship that is dragging you down (see 2 Corinthians 6:14)? Are you doing things that are weakening your resolve? Stop doing those things.

I’m not saying it is easy. We all get tempted, and we all have a sinful nature. As Christians we all have a God who will give us the strength to do what He has called us to do.

It really comes down to this: Do you really want to change? If you do, then God will give you that resolve. When the Lord came to Moses and spoke to him through the burning bush, Moses basically said, “I can’t do this. I don’t know what to say. I stumble over my words.”

But later in Exodus we see him facing off with the most powerful man on the face of the earth. That is because God gave him the strength.

In the same way, God will give you the strength to do what you need to do. Don’t live in two worlds. Make a complete commitment to Jesus.

God will sustain us as we make a decision to give it over to Him.  So today, try it.  Give it to God.  His shoulders are a lot bigger than yours and He is a loving and caring Father.  Trust Him and He will see you through.  Remember, He did it in the past and He will do it today and in the future.

“We have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. How we begin our day will frequently determine how we end it.”

Prayer:

Heavenly  Father, I put my trust in You Lord and I know that today, You will get me through what I’m going through. Your living word has told me to cast my cares on You Lord and that’s what I’m going to do, trust and obey. Thank you for always being there for me. I love and Praise You. In Jesus’ Holy and Precious name, Amen.

Do you trust Jesus enough with your life? You should, 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 don’t miss out on making a choice today. It will change your life! please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

If you have never asked Jesus into your heart. Click here to learn more.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 29th 2019 – Heaven Bound

“Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (2nd Corinthians 5:5)

When you get ready to take a trip, you plan and prepare for the road ahead. You make sure to prepare all your clothes and other items you may need. You also make sure that everyone who is going along with you is also prepared for the trip. Since we take the time needed to prepare for our earthly trips, shouldn’t we also take the time to prepare for our journey into Heaven?

So how do you prepare for Heaven?  One way we can prepare is to spend time thinking about Heaven,  What will we do when we get there? What will it be like? What will we see, what will we talk about?

For me part of the excitement of a trip to the mountains or even the beach is thinking and planning what you desire to do once you get there. This builds the excitement and helps us know what we need to do before the trip. Of course, the most necessary part of any trip is making sure you know how to get there and this is most surely true with Heaven. We may have the best intentions but without a detailed map, we will not get there. So how do we get to Heaven?

Our map is the bible, it makes it very clear that we get to Heaven by trusting in Jesus Christ. We do not get there by our works, but by believing that Jesus died for us and that He rose again. Once we trust in His sacrifice for our sins, we are given Heaven and everything else that Jesus offers. We do not know when this journey will start, but we can be prepared today. Are you ready?

“Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people who have trusted Jesus as their Savior.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of Heaven through Jesus. Though I don’t deserve it, I look forward to all you have in store for me in Heaven. No crying, no pain and no sin; only the pure love and grace of our Heavenly Father. God, help me to share the message of Heaven with others so they can also experience the joy found in knowing it as their true home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life? Did you once follow Him but let society trick you to fall away? Don’t miss out on the most important journey you will ever take. Click Here to learn more.

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 28th 2019 – The Cross

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

This true story was reported about a young couple visiting a jewelry store. The young lady was looking for something fashionable. She remembered that a a friend of hers wears a cute little silver cross, so she asked to see those. As the jeweler showed the couple various crosses, the young woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?”

What an analogy of what so many people seek today “a cross without Jesus.” They want a cross without any offense, a cross without any consequences, one that will look cool as a fasion accessory. But if we could travel back to a time the cross was used in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and horrific symbol of death. It would have been the worst image imaginable to actually see someone hanging on a cross.

The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to be a humiliating death for the person on it. The crucifixions were held on the outside edges of the Roman cities. They served as visual warnings to anyone who would oppose the rule of the Roman empire.

If there was any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like this? If there had been any other way we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it.

“If being a good person” or “living a good moral life would” would get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did, because there was and is no other way. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the Cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world.

If you were ever tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the Cross. Where Jesus sacrifised and gave His very life for us.

“Jesus’s sacrifice the cross, allowed for such a horrific symbol of death to now be seen as a beautiful symbol of His Sacrifice, His Message and His Love for us.”

There is no decision more important, accepting Jesus, it will absolutely change your life. It did mine. I couldn’t imangine where my life would have been without Him.

Christ’s love is deeper than any pit of sin. Do not grow weary trying to crawl out; look up to Christ, repent and ask Him for forgiveness & be set free.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Even though my salvation was obtained only through the costliest sacrifice ever made, You freely gave it to me. Lord, I praise You for this gift so lovingly given. Thank you Lord I believe You died for me so that I could be forgiven. I believe You were raised from the dead so that I could have new life. I know I’ve done wrong things, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me and give me the power to follow You all the days of my life. 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

March 26th 2019 – Fractured Clay Jars

“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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

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

“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. 

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org