Category Archives: Hope

December 10th 2018 – God, I Got This On My Own

“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’” (John 20:26-27)

We have all heard the comments, “get it together,” “straighten up,” or the ever classic, “as the good book says, the Lord helps them that help themselves.” Eventually, we heard it enough that we believed it. First, I have read the good book from cover to cover several times and let me assure you, it does not say that. Second, the Lord helps those that ask for His help.

If you are still determined to make it on your own, or get yourself cleaned up, or fly right or that you can fix the problem, whatever term you want to use, the Lord will let you try. The moment you realize you need the Lord’s help, He will be there to help, though not when you are over the trial, but while you are in the trial. To think that He comes to us after we get through the tough stuff is to paint Him as a fair weather friend. Beloved of God, it is you that the Lord longs to walk with through the storms of life. Call out to Him right where you are, just as you are and He will become even more real to you. The Lord loves you enough to take you just as you are, and thankfully He loves you too much to let you stay that way.

“Jesus will come to us right where we are and as we are.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I’ve tried it my way and my way doesn’t work. I need Your help in my life. Whatever things I’m trying to do on my own outside of You, I completely surrender to You. Please help me. Thank You for being the here for me always. Forgive me for not listening to You when I have heard the answer to my situation many times. Forgive me for choosing my way over Yours. I confess that am just a sinner and do not know more then You Lord. Please strenthing my faith and trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you would like to request a prayer Click Here

Interested in experiencing forgiveness and love found in Jesus? Please click here to learn more about how to ask Jesus into your heart. 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 5th 2018 – Jesus Hold Me Close

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Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15)

Jesus asked two very insightful questions of Mary at this point: “Why are you weeping?” and “Whom are you seeking?” Often in life, we find ourselves in a place where we feel like crying and other times find ourselves in tears. Jesus sees those tears and wants to dry them… if we will let Him.

We need to allow Jesus to do just that. Sometimes it happens through the hands and wisdom of others, but either way He wants to tend to our tears. Whatever the circumstance, life threatening Illness, brokeness of a marriage or loss of a loved one, spouse or child. Jesus is the answer to our pain..He will comfort us.

Sometimes though, we become strangely comfortable with pain and sadness. They become almost like old familiar friends. Jesus wants to be the better friend. For some, it may mean breaking a cycle long established and for others, it may mean coming out of a short season of pain.

Seek Jesus. Realize that in the midst of trial, trouble and temptation, He is there with you. You may need to turn around to face Him. He wants to pull you out of your problems and liberate you from sadness, but before He does, He wants to walk with you through the valley. Even when you are in the valley of the shadow of death, He is there. May you know He is there to dry your tears, lighten your load and be a closer friend than any you have ever known. Loved one, right now take a few minutes out of your busy day and turn to Him. You will be glad you did. And so will He.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sticking by me through good times and bad times. You are the true friend. Sometimes, I become content to wallow in self pity. Please forgive me for that and humble me to allow You, through the hands of others, to comfort and even challenge me to trust you and Your promise. Please help me through the times of panic, the times when the pain is crippling and I can’t breathe. Hold me close Jesus when I feel all alone. Remind me that You are here and Love me when I am unable to see past the pain. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you would like to request a prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 2nd 2018 – A Potent Prayer Life

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“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” (Daniel 6:10)

We often hear people talk about this thing called prayer. We may toss it out as a blessing to folks who are going through a difficulty or when a sudden need crops up. None of that is wrong, but a good question to ask ourselves is how we can have a potent prayers. Most of all, an effective life of prayer where we experience authentic intimacy where we genuinely hunger, thirst, and actually experience fellowship with the living God.

There is a lot we can lean from the prayer life of Daniel the prophet. You see, Daniel was consistent and faithful for more than 70 years of his life in prayer. He prayed according to God’s word, humbled himself on his knees, had a set appointment three times a day without distraction to pray, and he gave thanks to God for all God had blessed him with. He prayed not only because of any specific trial, but because he had a real relationship with God as a priority.

We can get easily distracted from prioritizing our time with the Lord. Prayer becomes something we only do in a crisis, but in order for us to have a real relationship with God we need to give him the rightful place and time in our lives.

(1 Peter 4:7) The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

“Our prayer life shouldn’t be relegated to just crisis control. It’s meant to be consistent communion and connection with Christ.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please give me the grace to make and keep time set aside to worship, connect, and dialogue with You in prayer. Please forgive me when I push aside that time and donít take it seriously. Help me to hear from You according to Your word and allow You to speak into my life that I might commune with You always. 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

December 1st 2018 -Help For The Hopeless

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“Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.” (Ezra 10:4)

God may be the director of the universe, but He has given us power to make decisions. You have a decision to confess your sins to Him and to ask for His forgiveness. You have a decision whether to serve the Lord, give to the Lord or share the Gospel with others. No matter who you are, you have an opportunity to change the world through your decisions.

(Joshua 24:15) “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.”

As you read this devotional, there is a world filled with people who desire peace. They desire love. They desire hope in something greater than the economy, the president or their own ability. As a follower of Christ, we can make the decision to share with them how to change their life and those things by sharing the Gospel. We can serve them. We can offer them our time, resources and compassion. God will empower us to do mighty things, but we must decide to do it. Choose this day who you will serve, and do it!

“You are not helpless or hopeless. Your destiny is in your hands and in the hands of a God that loves you and wants to bless and protect you.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I desire to choose You above everything else. I decide this day to serve You and to serve others. Give me a heart of compassion and a willingness to think of others before myself. God, use me to change the world. 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

November 30th 2018 – Finding Joy In Our Trials

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“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.” (2 Corinthians 7:4)

It’s hard to think of a trial as a good thing, but in 2 Corinthians 7, Paul indicates that we can find joy in our trials. How can this be? After all, trials are painful. Trials may be painful, but they are also great opportunities to see how God has changed our lives. Remember in school when you took a test and knew the material? You looked forward to it. It was a chance to exercise what you were learning. The same is true in our faith. We can see what we are learning through our trials.

Another joyful purpose of a trial is to learn from it. God will use difficult situations to teach us about ourselves or about other people. We can learn how to respond in a situation or how not to respond. Sometimes when we don’t learn the lesson, we repeat the trial. We waste time, energy and effort by not ‘getting it’. In our relationships, we often think we should part ways at the first sign of conflict. When we do this, we are responding carnally or unspiritually and miss out on a great opportunity to love one another. If every time you have conflict you flee, you will never develop love and maturity in your Christian life; therefore, leading to trouble in your church relationships, in your marriage and your friendships. Use each trial that comes your way to grow in Christ. As you grow through them, you will be able to rejoice in tribulation because; it will draw you closer to God.

“Trials can be our chance to show what we know or what we have learned.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, We love and praise You. Thank You for the difficulties in my life. While they are not easy to walk through, I know that they are being used to teach me new things. Help me to depend on You during these times and to learn the lessons You have for me, the first time. 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

November 29th 2018 – Trust God, with Everything!

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“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

It’s easy to say, “give your cares to the Lord and trust Him” when everything in life seems to be going well. It’s easy to say, “I trust you Lord with everything I own” when bills are paid on time and when you just got a salary increase at your job.

However, if God striped you of everything you own; If God told you to leave the very job that’s paying your bills, will you trust the Lord enough to do it? Will you trust God even when you don’t understand; even when life hurts? If God told you to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar, will you trust Him?

For many of us, God has done just that. He has taken from what’s “oh so familiar” and redirected paths into the unfamiliar. You don’t understand what’s happening in your life; what to do or where to go. The only thing you know is that the Lord gave you a word (instruction, a promise, vision, etc) and the only thing you have to hold on to is that word.

I understand the feeling; you’re not alone. There is encouragement for you today. Here are 4 things to remember whenever you feel as though you don’t understand what God is doing and/or allowing in your life.

1 – Consider the Source

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13).

Who else can say that but God? No one, only God can say such a thing. God knows everything: the past, current and future and our knowledge and understanding doesn’t even compare to the knowledge and understanding of God – even when it applies to our own life.

Also, when we don’t understand what God is doing in our life, consider the source – Who is it that you’re trusting; God or yourself?

Here is something to remember. Man is fallible; we fall short and at times we’re unable to keep our promises. Man can give you instructions that are misleading and imperfect. With God, none of these things are possible. God keeps His promises, God gives you right instructions according to His perfect will and He won’t mislead you.

No matter how much we don’t understand life as it is right now; no matter how uncomfortable it may seem or how hard it gets, don’t give up. If God is with you – the same God who spoke life into you, the same God who IS and knows the beginning and the end, the same God who knew you before the foundation of this world -is with you, then ask yourself who or WHAT can stand against you.

Consider the source and seek to be obedient to the Lord, even when you don t understand what God is doing in your life; don’t worry about “this or that” because God has provisions for you.

2 – Trust the Lord

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

When you learn to trust the Lord, you will begin to have a sense of rest in the Lord knowing that He has everything under control even when life seems to be out of control. Trusting God will get you to the point where you make a decision to trust in Him and NOT in your own logic and understanding.

As Christians, we must make a decision to trust Him regardless of how scary the situation may seem. Trusting God doesn’t prevent you from being in uncomfortable situations but it does allow you to be placed in a position where you seek the Lord’s presence, provisions, guidance and promises.

3 – Be Obediant

The bible states that “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22) which should tell you a lot about our God. God places significance on obedience. He’ll much rather you be obedient to His instruction than for you to give Him sacrificial praise, money offerings, fasting and etc.

God told Abraham to leave everything he knew; everything he was familiar with and to enter into the unfamiliar. God told him to go into a land which he will show him which meant Abraham didn’t know where he was going; He only had the instruction of the Lord to depend on. Abraham could have easily said, “God, where will I go; what will I eat and drink”, but he didn’t. He chose to trust God and be obedient and as Christians we must learn to do the same.

4 – Have Faith in the Lord

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

As much as we would like God to give us “what where when and how” upfront all the time (all in one shot), God does not operate like that. Sometimes, God will place you in a satiation where you have to trust Him and He’ll give you piece by piece as you obey and trust Him.

As a person who’s been in this situation, I will tell you that this only increases your faith as you learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

I don’t know what your story is (your more than welcome to share it below), but I encourage you to trust God even when you don’t understand what’s happening in your life.

You may not understand life and all that’s happening; but God will give you a piece to the puzzle as you learn to step out on faith, trust and obey him.

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 this season, I ask that You place within me your spirit of joy, peace and rest. Give me joy; peace and rest 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

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

November 26th 2018 – Depleted, But Not Defeated

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“Even when times are rough and you are in “deep waters” God will be right by your side, leading and guiding you through your worst.” (Isaiah 43:2)

There are sometimes times in our lives when we have been hit by blow after blow, and we feel depleted and also defeated. During these occasions, it is easy to lose all hope. The good news iS, God does not want us to live out our daily existence discouraged or hopeless, so He has given us His word as a source of blessing and encouragement.

(Deuteronomy 20:4) “for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

We all have battles that we fight even in today’s modern world. It might not be a physical war against other human beings, but rather our struggles may be against our own thought patterns, bad habits or weaknesses.

Sometimes these situations and circumstances that we face that are out of our control. Whatever the case, this verse in Deuteronomy can fill you with hope and courage. The author reminds us that it is the Lord who goes with us to fight for us against our enemies—whoever or whatever that may be. God not only fights for us, but he also gives us the victory.

(Deuteronomy 28:7) “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.”

(Matthew 19:26) “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

(Romans 8:37) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

One of the most encouraging thoughts for you to know is that even when things seem the worst, that God is in control. He starts from a point of victory in every situation, and he easily overcomes what feels impossible to us. Every time I struggled with feelings of loss and defeat, Like I felt this morning. We have to remind ourselves so our hope can be restored.

(1 Corinthians 15:57) “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 John 5:4) “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

God does not want us to ever to be overcome by feelings of defeat and despair in spite of the crushing blows we receive. He has given us His powerful word full of encouragement and hope to strengthen us instead. Ultimately, His will for us is that we live our lives in victory.

“When your lost and can’t seem to find your way, seek God for guidance, encouragement and hope!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask You to replace sadness my with joy, defeat with victory, and weariness with praise. Help me when I feel defeated, weary or sad to focus on Your blessings in my life rather than on my circumstances. Remind me to praise You the Father at all times so I may obtain life and hope. I ask that You bring all things to my memory that concern You and Your plans in my life. Holy Spirit, please increase my hope as I focus on Your Word. Help me to not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind. Strengthen and renew me in my innermost being. Destroy the fiery darts of the enemy that attempt to pierce my souls. May always always hear Your voice and obey Your will. Father, help me to overcome today fears. Thank You for the ones in my life that Love me. I praise You and Love You Lord in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Here is a list of crisis numbers for 24 hour help line. Click on the link for help —-> Broken Believers

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

November 25th 2018 – I Belong To Gods Family

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“Praise God for the privilege of being in Christ’s family and being called by his wonderful name!” (1 Peter 4:16)

Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, there are many Christians who’ve never publicly identified themselves with God’s family by being baptized.

Baptism is not some ritual to forced on you as a child. You need to be consciously able to make the decision to follow Jesus Christ prior to Baptism. Just like accepting Jesus into your life it should not be delayed or postponed. It signifies your inclusion in God’s family. It publicly announces to the world, “I am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family.” Jesus commanded this beautiful act for all in his family.

For years I wondered why Jesus’ Great Commission gives the same prominence to baptism as it does to the great tasks of evangelism and edification. Why is baptism so important? Because it symbolizes one of the purposes of your life: incorporation into the fellowship of God’s eternal family.

Baptism declares your faith, shares Christ’s burial and Resurrection, symbolizes your death to your old life, and announces your new life in Christ. It is also a celebration of your inclusion in God’s family.

Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment God brought you into his family.

Baptism doesn’t make you a member of God’s family; only faith in Christ does that. Baptism shows you are part of God’s family. Like a wedding ring, it is a visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart. It is an act of initiation, not something you put off until you are spiritually mature. The only biblical condition is that you believe.

The Bible says, “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11).

Being included in God’s family is the highest honor, the greatest privilege you and I will ever receive. Nothing else comes close. Why not pause right now and thank God that he included you?

Let that amazing truth sink in! Because Jesus makes you holy, God is proud of you.. If you haven’t been baptized as an expression of your faith in Christ, do so immediately, as Jesus commanded.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we love and praise you for being who you are, (The One True God.) I thank you for loving me and for welcoming me into your family with open arms. I am proud to be called a child of God. Thank You for revealing to me the significance of dieing to ones self, leaving all of our old ways and being reborn a new creation with a clean slate and a fresh start. I pray tonight that anyone that has not publically announced thier faith through baptism would do so as soon as possible. In your precious name Amen.

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

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 24th 2018 – Hide And Seek

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“If you seek me with all your heart you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13-14 partial)

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

The Lord encourages us to seek Him with all our heart and all our soul. If we do pursue Him with everything within us, He promises that we will find Him. I imagine this to be similar to a child’s game of hide and seek. When my children were young, they would love to play this game with me, They would turn towards the wall and close their eyes and count to ten.

In the mean time, I would sneek off into another part of the house to find a place in which to hide. At the count of ten, my children in much delight would begin their quest to find me. Their anticipation would build as they would open every closet door and look under every bed.

While the searching part of the game was always fun, it was the finding part that was the real joy! I would never pick a place too hard for my children to find me. I loved the moment when they would finally catch me. I would yell out “You found me!” and they would also say “I found you!” would happen simultaneously followed by a mutual celebration that the game was over.

The game wouldn’t have been fun if my intention was to hide so that my children would never find me. The fun is in being found. I think it is the same way in our relationship with God. When He calls us to search for Him, He never hides Himself so well that He cannot be found.

“If you seek Jesus with all your heart you will find Him.” Hint… He is Right Here —> Click Here

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am thankful that You do not make it difficult for me to find You, for You are never far away and are always happy to be found! I pray that I might pursue You with all my heart and my soul, all the while having a child-like anticipation of finding 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.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 22nd 2018 – What Happened to “True Thanksgiving?”

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Todays message from Roy Squyres

Psalm 50:14
“Offer to God Thanksgiving, and give your praise of gratitude to The Most High.”

To the Good, God fearing citizens of this Nation, The United States of America, and to all around the World, who celebrate Havest Season, may we truly give thanks for the good things our Creator God has given to us this year.
May we count our blessing and offer praise for still being a free nation, for our families and loved ones, for the privilege of worshipping without government restraints. We are still one nation, under God, with Liberty and Justice for all, and let us remember those who gave their all for our rights and freedoms, let us give thanks.
There are those who do not believe in God, who would like to forget this time of gratitude toward a Gracious Creator and Provider, and erase from public memory this season, Let us all, who call upon God, join hearts as one people, to give
Praise and give thanks, as our forefathers and mothers have done, and as we grew up doing. And may God Almighty recieve our gratitude as One People, One Nation indivisible. And may you all have a wonder and blessed ‘Holy Day of Thanksgiving’. We, at Scriptural Seeds wish you all a
Happy Thanksgiving.

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.

We are your Bond-servants in Christ.

Roy Squyres

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

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