Category Archives: Grace and Mercy

January 14th 2017- The Dove and The Pigeon

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“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

When you spend time with God, you get to know His ways as well as His Word (assuming you are reading His Word). More than that, you develop sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. You eventually get to know His ways to the extent that you sense when you are about to grieve Him.

Have you ever wondered why the Holy Spirit was represented as a Flying White Dove when Jesus was Baptised it the Jordan river? see Matthew 3:16

I did a personal study a few months back and discovered this. Pigeons and doves are in the same family, however they are not the same! You can train a pigeon; you cannot train a dove. The pigeon can be domesticated; the dove is a wild bird. A pigeon is belligerent; the dove is loving. A pigeon is boisterous; a dove is gentle. A pigeon will mate with more than one pigeon; the dove mates with only one dove for life.

I beleive that the pigeon represents the counterfeit spirit—strange fire. The dove represents the Holy Spirit—holy fire. I reckon there are services where people imagine that the Holy Ghost came on the church, but when you get to the bottom of it, you discern it may be pigeon religion. Strange fire. Personally, I think it is an absolutely wonderful but probably rare moment when the authentic Holy Spirit comes down in great measure. Holy Fire.

It can be so easy to grieve the Spirit. It can even happen to people on the way to church. They shout to each other as they drive into the parking lot. Then they worship as if nothing is wrong and wonder why there is no sense of God. It happens to a minister as he prepares his sermon. It can happen at any moment.

The problem is, when we grieve Him,  we don’t always realize we did it! We may find out later. If you have walked with Jesus a long time and are in His word daily. You more then likely to sense the wings of the dove flapping and ready to fly off—and you stop yourself!

So, if you want to have a lively, real, unfeigned and constant relationship with God, His Son and the Holy Spirit, you must get to know God’s ways. One of the ways of the Holy Spirit is that He is sensitive—like a dove.

“Nothing is worth grieving the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to You Lord with a repentant heart for all the times I have greived You. Please cover me with Your Holy Spirit Lord and help guide me in Your ways Lord. Keep me from my fleshly self Lord. Help me continue to be in Your Holy Word so that I can recognize how to not do wrong, and correct me with Your  Spirit when I do. I Love you Lord…In Jesus’ prescious name. Amen.

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

If you are seeking Jesus in your life and want to quench yor unquenchable thirst. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 13th 2017 – My Ultimate Expression of Love

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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 )

It is one thing to say the words “I love you”, and it is quite another thing to prove your love. God did not only say that He loved us, He practically demonstrated it by sending us His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

While we all need an intellectual understanding of God’s love, many of us struggle to actually feel God’s love in the realm of our emotions. And if we don’t “feel” His love, we can spiral down to a place ruled by our emotions where we begin to question if He loves us at all.

It is at these times that we need to be reminded of God’s own definition of love found in 1 John 4:10… This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Father did everything that He could possibly do to prove His unwavering love towards us when He sent us Jesus.

When we struggle to believe that God loves us, we need not go any further than the cross to see the full expression of His love. When your feelings question God’s love for you, let faith rise up in your heart and thank your Father for His complete expression of love demonstrated in the work of the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your sacrifice of your Son Jesus, it was the ultimate expression of Your love for us. Please forgive us for the times when we have questioned your love for us. I believe that You love us and have demonstrated that love once and for all through the cross. I pray that the truth of Your love for us will be the bedrock of my faith even during the times when I don’t feel loved. In the name of Your beloved Son Jesus 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 and want to quench yor unquenchable thirst. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 4th 2017 – I Messed Up, Again!

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Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” (John 4:13-15)

Have you ever messed up so badly that it left a sense of believing that God wants nothing to do with you? If your answer is “yes,” then you’re in good company, because we all have. We’ve all made poor choices and bad decisions. A bad decision can cost you your marriage, job, friendships and even your peace of mind.

But, if you’re willing to admit you’ve messed up, you’re a prime candidate for an encounter with Jesus. In fact, He specializes in ministering to messed-up people. One of the many things I love about Jesus is that He gravitates toward those who are typically ignored, ridiculed, hated and rejected.

One of the greatest examples of this is found in the book of John. In chapter 4, Jesus encounters a woman at a well. This nameless woman meets Jesus while she performs one of the most mundane tasks in her messed-up life — drawing water out of a well.
She quickly learned a lesson we all need to know as well — the mundane can become momentous when we let Jesus clean up our mess-ups and radically change our lives. Jesus wants to clean up our mess-ups so much that He will break down every possible barrier to do so.
For example, to meet the woman at the well …
Jesus overcame a cultural barrier. Jesus traveled through a region that His people “the Jews”  would always avoid. Jesus saw culture, not as a barrier to compassion, but as a bridge to ministry.
Jesus overcame a moral barrier. This woman carried a terrible reputation. Her past put her in the category of a Hall-of-Fame sinner. She had been married five times and was now living with a man who wasn’t her husband. With this track record, everyone in her community knew her, and no man would dare to speak with her in public. No man, except Jesus! Jesus engaged with this woman, and we see her fess up to her mess-up.
We live in a culture that teaches us to hide our mess-ups and call them anything except the sins that they are. Jesus demonstrated through this woman that He will forgive us when we are willing to confess our sin to Him.
Jesus is not intimidated by our past. He sees beyond our failures and offers us a faithful future. You can’t do anything so bad that it will cause God to love you less.
If you’re reading this today and feel like Jesus wants nothing to do with you, I want you to know that He will break every possible barrier to reach you. Jesus is so serious about the task that He left heaven and came to earth to restore anyone who is willing to be cleansed. Today, you can meet with Jesus, bring Him your mess-ups, and allow Him to clean you up.

“Addiction does not always kill the addict. But it kills the hearts of the family and friends that love you and tried to help!”

“Jesus wants nothing more than to forgive you of your past and give you a brand new fresh start, confess your sin, ask for forgiveness and ask Him into your heart”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me so much that You destroy every possible barrier that could keep me from You. Help me to quickly fess up to my mess-ups, so that I can receive the wonderful forgiveness that is only found in You. Please help restore my life and help restore the relationships that I caused pain to. Come into my life and rescue me Lord!  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 and want to quench yor unquenchable thirst. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 1st 2017 – A Fresh Start

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Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)

How timely it is to stop and consider this verse today. As we are starting a brand new year, in like manner we have a fresh new start in our life for the Lord. What does the year hold for you? Well I can assure you that the Lord has some awesome things prepared for each of us individually and as well in the church body. This past year the Lord did some incredible things and I look forward to a new year filled with family and friends coming to know the Lord. We will see multitudes moved forward in the spiritual journey from discovery to discipleship. If you have not read the bible in its entirety, I challenage you to. We are seing almost on a daily basis the bible unfold and prophecy revealed right before our eyes. I challenged mysely to read the Bible twice this year, I was able to accomplish three times… I have never felt as close to the Lord as I do now.

What an adventure! All made possible by a fresh start… Thanks Lord for new beginnings!

“Jesus makes all things new… including you.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for fresh starts and new beginnings. What an incredible day this is with a brand new year’s potential stretched out before me. I want to be found faithful this year in each and every opportunity You bring to me. I also ask that my new years resolutions are not empty promises to myself that I don’t accomplish. . I will be praying on a daily basis for you to hold me accountable, ONE DAY AT A TIME. You are the best coach ever. I love you so much. Thank You, Lord, for new beginnings. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation:

Ask Jesus into your heart this fresh new year.

My prayer is that we would not let our hearts stay hardened and that we would never forget that we are not our own gardener. There is a Gardener, there is a Vine, and we are the branches that get to see the fruit burst forth from us. Jesus loves each of us and has made a way for us to spend eternity with Him forever. Please considder today asking Him into you life. Time is ticking away, and in a blink of an eye it will be too late.

“Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” 

Please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus.

God bless you, Happy Ney Year

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

December 31st 2016 – New Beginnings

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“The earth is full of his unfailing love.” (Psalm 33:5)

New beginnings often give us a sense of hope and joy. Newly married couples radiate happiness on their wedding day. Choosing a new place to live is often an exciting adventure. There’s a certain energy that accompanies the start of a new job. As we get ready to celebrate the new year tonight with parties, cheers, and even fireworks, keep in mind that

God designed creation to give us a similar sense of hope and joy. Before sin entered the world, creation radiated God’s justice, faithfulness, and love. God’s word, by which the heavens and the earth were created, gave structure and meaning to all created things.

At times, we still catch glimpses of this beauty and joy in creation. We marvel at the majestic views of a beach and ocean. We watch the sun set over the ­water. We wonder at the ­complex patterns of frost etched on our window panes. We admire the fresh snow blanketing trees in the winter. And when spring comes, we are delighted with the first blade of grass or the first blooming flower.

Too often, though, in our hurry through life we miss the creative majesty of God at work. What’s new soon becomes old, and we feel no reason to offer praise or even take notice. As you enter this new year, ask God to help you instead to observe something new each day about his unfailing love in creation.

“Dont hurry through life we miss God’s creative majesty at work.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, the stars and the seas declare your goodness and love. By your Holy Spirit, help us do the same. Open my heart and my eyes to see You Lord while observing creation all around me. Thank You for my family and my friends.  In Jesus’ precious and glorious name I pray, Amen.

Happy New Year from Scriptural Seeds Ministries, may you be blessed abundantly this new year.

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

If you are seeking Jesus in your life and want to quench yor unquenchable thirst. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 27th 2016 – Peace Be With You, May You Be Well

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“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

 

(John 20:21) “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

(Philippians 4:7) “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The issue of peace seems to be very important to God. Real peace is more than just the ‘absence of war’. Real peace is Shalom (shal-lom) – a Hebrew word meaning justice, prosperity, good fellowship and health … a blessed and fulfilled life by the gracious hand of God. People the world over strive and churn hunting for emotional peace, financial peace or spiritual peace. We spend so much energy trying to find something God wants to give us for free.

How about you, do you have shalom? What does it take to ‘derail’ your peace? A small thing, a big thing or do you have the peace of God that stays with you even in the most trying situations? That is the peace God offers, a peace that surpasses all understanding. In other words, even in the midst of trial or temptation, when you shouldn’t have peace, you have it. What a gift from God. Turn off the TV, cell phone, log off of the internet and spend a few minutes with the God that offers you more lasting peace than anyone or anything else. In that time, may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace. Shalom Aleichem means “may you be well”, so Shalom Aleichem to you, my friend.

“We can have peace with God.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your peace which allows me to press forward in Your call even when the days appear fearsome. Lord, please forgive me for times when I have wandered from Your peace or allowed circumstances to rule over me. I am Your child and as such I have no person, place or thing to fear. Give me the power to live for You in every moment of my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 26th 2016 – Honoring One Another

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“Honor widos who are really widows.”(1 Timothy 5:3)

 

Throughout the Bible we are called upon to honor those around us. In Exodus we are called to honor our mother and father. In the book of Leviticus, God calls us to honor the elderly. Into the New Testament we are commanded to honor our spiritual leaders as well as widows. To honor someone is to place them in a high place, to see them as important. In short, to honor someone is to place more significance on them than on ourselves.

(Romans 12:10) “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

What if we all lived lives dedicated to honoring one another? The battles over minor differences would disappear as we seek out the best interest of the other person. The fight to be noticed or to gain power would be erased from even the church as we rejoice with those around us rather than see them as enemies or competition. This is exactly what Jesus did. In Philippians 2 we see an image of Jesus stepping out of heaven for us. While we are not worthy of anything, He left His throne so that we could be forgiven. If we live as our Savior did, a servant to others, we will honor each other and the world will never be the same.

“To honor someone is to place a value upon them that supersedes the focus on ‘self’.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Today I thank You for the love and grace that You have shown me. Help me to show the same love and grace towards those around me. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can honor them. Whether it’s through kind words, generous gifts or diligent work; give me the strength to live like Jesus. In His 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

December 20th 2016 – Give Me Some of That Water

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“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.” (John 4:15)

 

The Israelites and Samaritans lived in a dry, thirsty land; in a desert. It is hard for many of us to imagine how valuable water is in such a desperate place. Yet, we live in a spiritually dry and thirsty land; we are often oblivious to the lack. I wonder how many times a day someone tells us they are thirsty. Perhaps not, “please give me some of that water,” but they put it another way. When they speak of problems with their children, troubles in their marriage, trials in their life, they are really saying, “I am thirsty.” When they are short tempered, worn out and angry, they are saying they don’t know how to quench their thirst. I also wonder how many times we don’t really understand their plea and their thirst. How many times we walk past opportunities to minister to them. Look for the thirsty and look for the dry. Hear their cries and offer them living water.

“We should be pouring out to the world what God has poured into us.”

Prayer:

Heavenly  Father, Thank You for loving me so much that You allow me to serve You. Lord, I lift this land up to You and ask You to raise up workers for the harvest. You offer the water that completely quenches our need and You offer it abundantly and freely. Open the hearts of this world to Your gift and allow me to play a part in the quenching of this thirsty world. I thank You that the results are in Your almighty hands. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 19th 2016 – Finding Peace in the Suffering

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“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,

Against the Man who is My Companion,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered;
Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.” (Zachariah 13:7)

Often, it can be difficult to walk through situations that we can’t explain. In this fallen, broken and sinful world, we are constantly facing trials and tribulations that shake us to the core. In the thirteenth chapter of Zechariah, we get a glimpse of our loving God’s divine plan to use the pain and suffering of His Son to change the world. Fully involved in the process, God calls for the sword to come against His Shepherd which is Jesus. When Jesus walked to the cross, He did so with determination and a purpose. It was no accident, but it was His perfect plan.

“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:18)

From the beginning of time God planned to use the suffering of His Son for the redemption of mankind. In the same way God can use our suffering for something far greater than ourselves. The loss of a job may mean an opportunity to display God’s peace in difficult times. The brokenness of a relationship may mean that God has something much greater for you.  The diagnosis of cancer could be the catalyst God uses to bring someone to Christ. In the hands of a mighty God, even the death of a loved one can mean the salvation of many more. The God of all creation is at work in our lives and He will use the good and the bad for His glory and our good no matter what.

“God is more concerned with His glory than our gratification, and we should be too.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am sorry for the times that I have questioned Your goodness and love. Despite life’s difficulties You have shown Your love for me in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Help me to remember this powerful Truth and to use my good times and bad times for 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

December 18th 2016 – Show Me the Truth

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“Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.” (Micah 1:1-2)

In the verse above, we see those in power taking advantage of the people. (Sound familiar?)  The world believes that it is acceptable to take advantage of others for gain of position or authority.

Are you are a leader government, or in the workplace? Do you take advantage of the system to benefit yourself? Let’s make this even more personal. Do you take advantage of your family, friends or co-workers for your benefit? When we get to know a person, we know how to set them off or manipulate them for what we want. That is ungodly and God does not bless the unbiblical practices of deception.

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

Even in times when it seems there is no other option but to bend the truth for your benefit, God provides a way out. Taking responsibility for your actions is an important characteristic of a Godly disciple. God will always honor you when you take responsibility for your mistakes, even when it’s difficult. Live out the Biblical model that God entrusted to you in regards to your relationships even when it doesn’t make sense.

In the end, it comes down to your making a decision about Jesus. How far will you follow Jesus in your relationships? Until it gets inconvenient – uncomfortable – what about when it becomes painful? Are you willing to follow the Biblical model all the way? What will you decide? Gain for yourself or lay your life down for the sake of the Gospel?

“One characteristic of a Godly leader is to do what is Biblical even when it causes personal hardship.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for continuing to do a work in my life. You have called me to live a disciple’s life, and I choose to honor You in living out the model You have set before me. Lord, when things get tough and I mess up, empower me with courage and strength to live out Your Truth and encourage others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Don’t be deceived by the world. You will continue to be blinded and not see the truth until you have Jesus in your life?

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20)

The Bible promises eternal life to all who receive Christ: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13)

If you have not asked Jesus into your life you can receive Jesus Christ right now by faith through prayer.

Prayer is just talking with God. He knows your heart, so don’t worry about getting your words just right. Here is a suggested prayer to guide you:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

If you have done this, then congratulations! (Luke 15:7) says that when one sinner accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Saviour the angels rejoice. So there’s a party going on in heaven right now over your decision! Remember this date as your “second birthday,” the day you were born into a new life in Christ! You have God’s Word that he answered your prayer.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org