Category Archives: Patience

January 15th 2019 – Seek Jesus In All Seasons

“God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Life is full of up’s and down’s, sometimes we are going through mountains, and other times we go through valleys. We go through successes, and we go through failures.

With the weather, there are four seasons. But in life, there are many different seasons. And every season of life includes both good and bad times.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) identifies many different life experiences: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace”

Life is a combination of many seasons. All sunshine and no rain makes a dry baren desert, too much rain causes a flood. If you’re following God’s will, if you’re trying to live your life according to the way God wants you to live, then you’ll eventually see that these experiences can have purpose and value in your life.

You may think that the only time you’re in God’s will is when you’re in church or having a quiet time with the Lord.

You can be in God’s will as you’re at work. You can be in God’s will as you’re making dinner for your family. You can be in God’s will when you move to a new town or stay right where you are. There’s a time and season for everything.

When your going through a season and it seems like all hell is breaking loose, seek and lean on Jesus for peace in the storm. Scripture reminds us that “God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Because the Bible is saying that God can take even the bad things, and in the proper season, turn them around and use them for good in the way He intends.

You may be going through a season right now that is not beautiful. Your finances look bad. Your health looks bad. Your marriage or a relationship with your children looks bad. Maybe a friendship looks bad. Your forcast for the future looks like storms after storms.

But God can make something good out of it as you trust him with the broken and damaged pieces.

“Do not seek the world. Seek Peace, Seek Truth, Seek Love, Seek Jesus!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the good seasons that You have blessed me with. And during the not so good seasons I will continue to seek You. Thank you Lord that with You we can victorious over every season, every storm, every broken relationship and every trouble or obstacle in life. Thank you that you have overcome sin, and death, and any evil that we may face today. And because of you, we too are overcomers. We too can have victory, and we can walk strong in your peace in every season and especially in the raging storms when my very survival looks hopeless. I trust in You that something good and beautiful will be revealed as I trust You with the broken and damaged pieces. 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

December 20th 2018 – The Secret of Contentment

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“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

In the world today, many believe that acquiring wealth leads to happiness. On the flip-side there are some who believe that only when we live with nothing will we experience true peace. Both of these thoughts are scripturally incorrect because they seek to find fulfillment in things other than Christ. The truth is that true joy can only be found in a relationship with Christ. When we experience His love, His grace and His mercy, we no longer are slaves to our circumstances. Instead, we are free to experience a full life regardless of our bank account or social standing.

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul had experienced stoning, snake bites, ship wrecks and hatred from people he loved dearly and yet he was able to remain content. How is that possible? It is because he knew Who He was serving and loved Jesus above everything else. When we combine our love for God with an acceptance of His will for our lives above our own, we will find great gain. Stop fighting against what God has planned for you, embrace your situation and use it for the glory of God.

“You cannot have great gain in life without godliness and contentment.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for my life and the circumstances that I find myself in. Good or bad, You are using these things to help me become closer to You. Help me to walk in godliness, seeking You at every turn. Empower me with Your Spirit so that I can be content whether I have a lot or have nothing at all. May I glorify You in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please 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 7th 2018 – Sometimes God Says No…

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“Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.” (1 Chronicles 22:5)

This is such an important ministry lesson. David, one of the greatest kings and one of the greatest leaders of Israel, asks God to allow him to build the temple, but God told him “No”

Nobody wants to be told “No”. David proves the greatness of his leadership by setting aside his wants and begins to help. Instead of complaining, David begins to prepare so Solomon can build the temple.

Sometimes, God says “No” Sometimes, though we have the grandest of plans and the purest of hearts, God says “No” to our plans. What should we do then? Should we grumble and whine? Of course not! God wants us to help one another to build His kingdom. We should take joy in helping those who God has chosen. Kingdom builder’s work together in the roles God has uniquely gifted to each, and by such, live up to their God-given utmost potential… And God smiles.

“We are to help others build the kingdom of God as well. Kingdom builders are not concerned with who gets to do what; just that it is getting done.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your Word and for giving me the opportunity to be a kingdom builder. Lord, I desire to be used in whatever capacity You would have me to serve. Help me to recognize the gifts and talents You have equipped me with and give me a boldness to put Your Kingdom first. I don’t want to be a spectator in the Kingdom. I want to be a world-changer. 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 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 28th 2018 – A Gift of Grace

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“Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10)

It is a sad reality that few Christians are willing to extend grace to one another as Jesus showed grace to us. On the day that we asked Jesus to forgive us of all our sins, He extended His grace toward us. God extends this same grace to each of us every day. What about your friends and family? Do they need grace? What about co-workers or maybe the person sitting next to you in church?

How quick we can be to call out the sin in others while we ignore the sin in our own lives. This shows just how poor our understanding is of what Jesus did for us. If we truly understand just how far down God had to extend His merciful hand to reach us, certainly we should be willing to reach out with the same grace to others.

Think about this. When we accept God’s grace for ourselves, but are unwilling to show grace to others, are we not claiming the gospel of grace for ourselves while charging the law to others? What pride! Colossians 3:12-13 nu reads, “Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Be quick to show grace. Be ready to show mercy. After all, if when you look at someone else you see their sin, what do you think they see when they look at you? God’s grace is not only sufficient for us, it’s sufficient for us to show others.

“Grace is not just something we receive, it is also something we give.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your grace. Please forgive me for the times when I have not shown that same grace to others. Help me to show grace from now on so that others will see You in me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen

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

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 16th 2017 – Choose to Love

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“Let all that you do be done with love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

In 1 Corinthians 16:14, we find such a simple command. Simply put, we are to do everything with love. While this may appear simple in direction, it’s not simple in action. Because we are broken vessels in an evil world, it can be difficult to do everything with love. After all, our first reaction is to preserve ourselves. Our emotions, our lives, our stuff; these are the things we strive to maintain at all cost… and love demands we lose them for the sake of others.

(Galatians 2:20) “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

As Christians, we are no longer slaves to ourselves. We have been freed to love others just as Christ loved us. He is our great example as well as our strength. We cannot love rightly on our own. We must depend on Jesus. So next time someone in traffic causes you to see red, look to the cross of Christ and the blood that He shed for you. He died for us when we didn’t deserve it so now we can forgive others even when they don’t deserve it.

“You’re not living until you give your life away and start to love.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for Your love and grace. Because You loved me, I am able to love others in every circumstance. Give me strength to walk in obedient love and to look for opportunities to care for others around me. As Your love increases in me, may my selfishness decrease. 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 6th 2018 – It All Starts with You and Me

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“These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.” (Nehemiah 12:26)

In the days of Nehemiah, there was only a small percentage of Israel that left Babylon to go back to the land and yet, their love for God and for each other leads to incredible things. Each person was part of rebuilding the wall, defending against enemies and encouraging one another. Today, the same is true about each of us. When we give our life to God, we can change the world.

Will your life make a difference? Over and over, we have one life making a difference in the Bible and in real life. Not just the well-known heavy hitters like Moses or Paul, but two men many don’t know or could not identify. Ezra and Nehemiah made a huge impact in their community and in the course of their nation. You can impact the course of your family, neighborhood, town state or even the world. That being said, changing the world is too big. You don’t start out by changing the world; you start out by saying ‘yes’ to God. Then, you begin to change, and then your light begins to influence or change others. This leads to a domino effect of change that leads to communities that are on fire for Jesus Christ, which can change the world.

“There is no question; one life can make a difference. The only question is… will it change yours? You decide.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I desire to use my life for Your Kingdom. I am imperfect but willing. Take my life, my resources and my relationships and use them to impact my community with the Truth of the Gospel. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I am fully equipped for this ministry. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have never asked Jesus into your life, or wan’t to recommit your life to Him, please click here

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 21st 2018 – Pruning and Bearing More Fruit

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“For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” (Romans 7:5)

The technological advancements made by mankind in the last century or even the last 20 years are astounding. Yet with all our technology, we still have to wait for lettuce to ripen and for olives to mature. Lettuce ripens a month and a half after planting, but for an olive the wait is at least four years. Some of us, like the lettuce, are maturing quickly while others, like olives, are improving more slowly. Something changed in you when you were saved, and still… God is making changes to you.

(Romans 7:6) “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”

We should all be bearing fruit. There may be times that you need to endure pruning before you bear fruit. Pruning redirects energy to the right places. If you are not being fruitful, maybe you need to redirect energy toward the Lord. Don’t just come to church, be the church. Be praying, giving, serving – joining hands with your church to achieve something far greater than any one of us could achieve alone.

“Christianity is not do-it-yourself religion. Its a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and fellowship with the family.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Give me the desire to grow in righteousness through the washing of Your Word, in serving You and prayer. Help me to love and serve others in the place where You want me to grow and bear good fruit. 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

October 18th 2018 – Cast Your Burden on the Lord

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“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Ever go through a day or a week when you’re discouraged and it seems like nothing’s going right? Well, be of good cheer, you’re not the only one. When we look through the Bible we see many of the great people of faith having times of discouragement.

Moses had it right to the top of his head with the children of Israel, yet he got through it. Elijah, after his great victory on Mount Carmel, had to fight a great bout of depression when Jezebel said that she wanted to take his life. He said (1 Kings 19:4)”… And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my father’s!”

Here is this great man of God, who just had this great victory over the prophets of Baal, and one lady, Jezebel, so intimidates him that he wants to die.

And it can be the same with us, we forget what the Lord did yesterday and we look at today and see this problem or this situation and we get discouraged. But this verse tells us to “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

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.

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.

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

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 2nd 2018 – How Much Longer

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“They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” (Revelation 6:10)

In chapter 6 of the book Revelation, we read about those who were put to death for their faith. They are in Heaven, aware of the injustice, aware of the fact there were fellow servants still on earth being mistreated. So they prayed this prayer to the Father: ”O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world to avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”. In other words, Hey, Lord, this isn’t right, How much longer? When are You going to do something about it?

Here was God’s response to their prayers:

Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their. fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them. (Revelation 6:11)

God’s timing is not always our timing. The Bible says that “He has made everything beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

It kind of reminds me of taking a trip when my children were young. You are driving along, about hour into the trip you hear “How Much Longer before we get there?”

What do you say? “We are almost there. A little bit longer, or we are almost there”

The martyred saints were asking when they would be avenged. And God was saying, Just a little bit longer.

We say things like, “Lord, when are You going to come back?” He says, Just a little bit longer. “When is my prayer going to be answered?” Just a little bit longer. Be patient, I am in control. I am doing everything according to My perfect will.

“God’s delays are not necessarily His denials. So keep praying.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, deliver us from anxiousness when we have been falsly accused or wronged. Continue to keep us quickened to deliver Your message of salvation to everyone who will listen, until that day we die or You return again. We thank you for Your love and presence, Lord protect us in this time so that we may continue share Your gosple until the very end. We praise You for the day when Jesus returns. 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

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