Category Archives: Grace and Mercy

March 7th 2019 – Don’t Dwell Alone

“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’” (Mark 1:40-44)

We see in the Hebrew Scriptures that people with leprosy had to dwell alone. That person couldn’t be around others.

“He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:46)

Once someone showed themselves to the priests and the priests declared that person leprous they had to leave the camp. They couldn’t hug their family bye, they couldn’t touch anyone. No one touched them. This leper comes to Jesus and what does Jesus do? Jesus could heal with just words, but not this time. I wonder how long it had been since someone had touched this guy? Remember, you didn’t touch anyone with leprosy. And let’s talk about why Jesus actually touched him. When Jesus touched him it was Jesus taking the leprosy from him. Leprosy was a picture of sin, and when you had it you had to leave the camp.

Just as Jesus took the leprosy, Jesus can take our sin. Sin makes you feel alone. When you mess up during the week, you don’t feel like going to church, do you? You don’t feel like hanging out with those that could possibly encourage you. But as you mature in Christ you start to realize that is when you need fellowship the most. Do not, do not … turn away from those who could encourage you. When you feel like staying away, don’t follow your feelings, be lead by your faith. Fellowship, serve, give… go against your feelings.

“Fellowship will drive you away from sin or sin will drive you away from fellowship.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Don’t allow me to pull away from fellowship with other believers. Thank you for giving us the body of Christ. Thank you for sacrificing your son for our sins. Help me to serve, to fellowship and to give to increase your kingdom. Continue to make the desires of my heart things that please you. 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 6th 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.

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

“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.” (Hebrews 4:13)

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.

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

God chooses not to hold our sins against us.

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

God removes our sin from us.

“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” (Psalm 103:12)

“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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 5th 2019 – Threshold

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“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”(2nd Corinthians 5:8)

The belief of the Greeks during the time of Jesus and Paul was that death swallowed up everything including life, people and animals. The Bible reverses that and says that life swallows up death and victory swallows up death.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

“these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.” (2 Corinthians 5:4)

How awesome is this? Life’s greatest unknown, death, is both life’s greatest enemy and greatest fear, yet it is turned upside down and inside out by our God. Jesus not only turned death into victory, but also the tomb into a changing closet. Instead of fear, death can reveal a deep confidence and trust in God. The more you read the Bible, the stronger this confidence becomes (Romans 10:17).

“We are fully confident.” The two thieves that faced death with Jesus tell us an interesting story. One taunted and teased Jesus, and the other asked Jesus for forgiveness. The big question is, “Which thief are you?” Jesus said to the one who asked for forgiveness, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

There is nothing to fear about paradise, and there is nothing to fear about heaven or the journey there.

“For the believer, death is the threshold of heaven.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for dying for me on the cross so that I could be forgiven. Lord, sometimes I do not understand heaven and death, but thank You for reminding me in Your Word that I have nothing but victory to look forward to. 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

March 1st 2019 – It’s Time to Put God First

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“And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God! After this Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, from west of the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley to the Fish Gate, and continuing around the hill of Ophel. He built the wall very high. And he stationed his military officers in all of the fortified towns of Judah.” (2 Chronicles 33:13-14)

Manasseh began as one of the worst kings in Israel and because of his sin, he was led into captivity. It was during that time that he finally called out to God. You see, God knows how to get our attention. It is much better to have Him speak, while we listen, write it down and begin to change. Our selfishness can lead us to be in bondage, while putting God first leads to maximum freedom.

After God graciously heard the prayers of Manasseh and forgave him, the king began thinking about the lives of others. This is what should occur after we experience Gods love. Yet, so many Christians don’t give or volunteer so other people can get saved or learn about God and the Bible. The sad news is that not only are people not hearing, but those believers are missing blessings in this world and in eternity. God desires to use us to make a difference, but we cannot have an eternal impact until we set our eyes on the one who saved us – Jesus.

“You can make a difference in your home, your workplace, your church, your community, this world and in eternity. You can… but will you?”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am sorry if I have not been thinking of others first. I pray that You would forgive me and give me a fresh look at the love You have for me. I know that as I think about Your grace and mercy, I will find the power to love others like You love me. 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 27th 2019 – (a•new*) our Minds to Break Free from Bondage

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is anew creation: the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

* A·new əˈn(y)o͞o/ adverb literary

In anew or different, typically more positive, way. “HE had begun anew, ” once more; again.“tears filled her eyes anew” synonyms:again, afresh, another time, once more/again, over again “may we please begin anew?”

When it comes to breaking free from bondage, I have found that many people often dread the work that comes with being free…And to be honest, I completely understand! I don’t know about you, but just hearing the phrase, “breaking free from bondage” seems strenuous and down-right uncomfortable! This is especially true for many people when it comes to the certain areas such as theese. Quitting addictions, losing weight, or even reaching a health or fitness goal.

After years of working with people, and experiencing change in many areas of my own life, I have come to find that the reason change often seems so difficult is that we are trying to make it happen backwards! The bible says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7), this means that if you are ever going to experience freedom in any area, you are going to have to start to see yourself as free on the inside before you see it on the outside.

I have learned that lasting change in any area truly starts and takes place right in between our ears, or in our minds. We must realize that we have an enemy, the devil, and he can only attack us in one area, in our minds, and he does so with lies and deception. One of the most common lies that the enemy tries to get us trapped in is to make us think that we are, (and will always be) slaves and in bondage to things. He comes at us with this lie because he knows that as long as he can get you to believe that you are a slave to a certain habit, behavior, or thing, you will never be able to break free, which is right where he wants you to stay.

The good news is that Christ came to set us free from ALL bondage! In fact, if you are born again, the Bible says you are ALREADY free. “Whom the son has set free, is free indeed” (John 8:36). This means that when you ask Jesus to be your Savior, that you are free from the power that sin once had over you.

I like to think of it it like a person who is in a jail cell with the door locked, and when Jesus comes along, He comes and unlocks the door, and says, “come on out, your free!” But just as we are about to step out, the devil says “wait, who told you that you could leave? You are not really free, and you never will be. You will be in bondage to this thing, habit, or lifestyle forever!” And so, the born again believer stays in the jail cell, with the door wide open, when all they needed to do was take a step out into freedom!

Taking this step into freedom does require action on our part, and it takes effort to a•new* our minds with God’s Word, and learn our identity in Christ. The first step often requires us humbling ourselves before the Lord, and repenting of our behaviors that are not glorifying to Him, and ask for His help to change, maybe even a make public confession to people that can hold us accountable. Jesus will always be there to respond to our cry, and He is a good Father that loves and desires to take our hand and lead us into freedom.

The next step is getting into the Word of God, and asking God to a•new* our minds, and help us to see ourselves as the overcomer that He has created us to be. It also means praying specifically about the things that we desire change in on a daily (sometimes multiple times a day) basis!

This process of walking into total freedom can often happen in steps and stages, like peeling back layers on an onion. The reason for this is simply because many of us have lived in bondage to things for many years and it often takes time for our minds to be renewed, and our hearts to respond to the Lord and change. The important thing to remember however, is that God has already given you everything you need to walk in total victory and freedom in every area of your life, and the very first step is to see yourself as you truly are in Christ…totally and completely set free!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Your word tells us that our flesh lusts and wages war against our spirit. I am not to gratify the lusts of my flesh. I will walk by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Father, You know at times, we will struggle with the temptation to gratify the desires of our flesh. I understand that lust is saying, “I must have this at once.” Much of this battle is in my mind and thought life. Because of loneliness and inner pain at times, we may entertained lustful fantasies in our minds and thoughts. This only increased the desire for us to gratify our flesh. At times, this battle has been more than we could stand and we may have given in to the lust of our flesh. I ask You, Father, reveal to us any ways in which we have broken your moral laws. I also pray for a breakthrough in the life of who you may lead my way today. I pray for continued guidance and verbal articulation of your word. I love you Lord .. in Jesus’ name Amen.

(Please pray this prayer for Repentance and Salvation)

Father God, I am truly sorry. I repent and ask You to forgive me. I want to follow you and ask you (into) or (back into) my life. I acknowledge that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me all my sins are forgiven in His name. I repent and cancel all access to my life by evil spirits. I claim the blood of Jesus over me as my protection. I command all evil spirits that have entered my body or mind, to leave me now in Jesus’ name. I now make a new commitment to guard my eyes and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. I will walk by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I will work to take control of my body and anew my mind, not giving into fleshly lusts. I will depend on the Holy Spirit to help me accomplish this, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 26th 2019 – Help Is Only a Call Away

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“and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:15)

When we go through major disappointments in life, our natural reaction is to pull back and isolate ourselves. We want to handle it ourselves. We want to keep our losses, our failures, our mistakes or crises a secret. We want to withdraw. It’s is a terrible idea to walk it alone.

When you go through disappointment, crisis or loss. Those are the times when you need to call on God and your friends the most. You need to accept help from others. God doesn’t intend for you to handle all the pain and stress in your life by yourself. We were wired for each other. We need each other. We’re social beings. The first thing God said in the Garden of Eden is, “It’s not good for man (speaking about His creation of humankind) to be alone.” We’re made to be in relationships.

“When desperate people give up on God Almighty, their friends, at least, should stick with them” (Job 6:14)

There will be times in your life when you are in so much pain you will say, “I don’t even believe in God right now!” You need to have friends who will come alongside you and say, “That’s OK. We’ll believe God for you right now.”

There will come a time when you’ll say, “I don’t have any faith right now. I’m full of doubt.” That’s when you need your friends to step in and say, “That’s OK. We will have faith for you. We will trust God for you in this.”

“By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). What is the law of Christ? It’s this: Love your neighbor as yourself. The Bible commands us to help each other. Every time you help somebody who’s going through pain, you are fulfilling the law of Christ.

Trying to handle your trouble yourself will only make you more tired and stressed out.

So don’t run away and hide or ingnore your friends and the ones that love you. You need to accept the help of others and let your friends carry you through it.

Our Lord Jesus is only a call away, And He already knows the trouble your having. He is already calling out to you. Answer His call,

“Give Jesus a try….if you don’t like Him, the enemy will always take you back!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Help me trust You in all circumstances in my life. Increase my faith. Help me remember that I am your child and that you love me. Thank You for the people in my life that care about me and are there when I need a friend. I also know that all things are possible in my life, If I would trust in You without doubt, and trust in Your Word. You said it is true, so I trust, and I believe, and as I do, I will see the results! Thank you for Your presence in my life. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen…

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 22nd 2019 – Who Is The Holy Spirit

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“However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” (John 16:7)

We talk about Jesus, we talk about the Father, but we seem to forget the one that Jesus said to wait for, the one that would fill us with the power of God. We seem to forget to acknowledge Him as part of the Godhead, yet He is as much God as God the Father and our Lord Jesus. So let’s take a little time and get to know Him.

Jesus, in this verse, tells us that it is expedient that He goes away so that the Holy Spirit would come. I don’t know about you but I would say, “No way, I need and want Jesus!”. I would like to have been physically there with Jesus, like Peter, James and John was. Yet Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is like Himself and can be at all places at all times.

You see when Jesus walked on this earth He lived in an earthly body like yours and mine, so if He was in Jerusalem, then He wasn’t in Rome. Yet when we look at the Holy Spirit, He is Omnipresent, He exists everywhere. There is no place in heaven, on earth, or in the universe that He is not there. He is Omnipotent, He is all powerful, and He is Omniscient, He knows everything that there is to know.

So today, living inside each and every person that has received Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior is Almighty God, the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us that He is coming to be our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby. This is such amazing truth that we should take a few minutes right now and thank Him for living in us and helping us each and every day. The scripture also has promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us. What a wonderful gift from God.

“When we pray for the Spirit’s help … we will simply fall down at the Lord’s feet in our weakness. There we will find the victory and power that comes from His love.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank and praise You for the precious gift that i have inside of me, I have the all powerful, all knowing and always present Holy Spirit to help me in my life journey. God You are so good to me. I ask that you would continue to fill me daily with so much love and faith the it spills over. I pray that when others speak to me that they will notice Your Holy Spirit present in my life… please continue to use me to share your gosple.

I Praise You for each and everyone of the people that have had the faith to choose you Lord. I will never forget the day I chose to follow You and experienced the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit into me. I truly did not understand, Iwas blinded and in bondage until you set me free. I love you… in Your precious name. Amen.

If you have never made the decision to ask Jesus into your life, please consider what you are missing. JESUS is the greatest gift I have ever experienced. My life has never been the same. I would not ever want to life any other way. Please 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

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

February 17th 2019 – A God of Love

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“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

What a contrast the love of God is to the so-called “love” of our culture.

Our world loves you when you are young and beautiful; God still loves you when you are old and not so attractive.

Our world loves you when you are famous and a celebrity; God loves still you when you are unknown and a complete nobody.

Our world loves you when you are rich and powerful; God still loves you when you are penniless and weak.

Our world loves the extraordinary. God still loves the ordinary. People like you and me.

And God has demonstrated this love for us in a tangible way. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13)

“Love will find a way. A lack of love will find an excuse. It has no limits”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love. Because of Your love for me, I have forgiveness of sins and hope of heaven. Father, fill me with Your Spirit and help me to love others like You love me. Make me more like Jesus so that I can share Your grace and mercy with those around me. Use me today to show love. I praise You for the amazing love, Help me to grasp this love so that I will be equipped to love others in the same way. Strip me of any excuses and use me to reach others with the love of Jesus. In His name, Amen.

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

February 16th 2019 – God Uses Imperfect People

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But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62)

If anyone had a reason to doubt God’s love for them, it was Cephas. Cephas, also known as Peter, he had denied Jesus three times. Peter had turned his back on the very Son of God who he had seen raise the dead and heal the sick. Yet, Jesus did not reject Peter. Instead, He lifted Peter up and restored him.

This is one of the many reasons I love God’s Word, because it’s real. The writers of scripture did not blot out the shortcomings of Peter. God’s Spirit did not inspire the writers to only record the good actions of God’s servants. Instead, we read through scripture the stories of imperfect men and women who God uses despite their shortcomings.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

As fragile as jars of clay, all our cracks and broken edges reveal the power within. Peter did not have the power in himself to admit relation to Jesus, but years later he endured much pain and suffering for his King. This is the power of God to change a life and to use us to impact those around us. Praise God that He uses imperfect people to work out His perfect plan.

“God chooses people that are not perfect to follow Him, to tell others about Him and to lead others.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love. Thank You for dying for a sinner like me and for using me to share this news with others. Help me to overcome my weaknesses with Your power as well as to stand in Your grace when I stumble. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

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