Category Archives: Peace

December 22nd 2019 – The Secret of Encouragement

“Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too.” (Galatians 2:1)

In the beginning of Paul’s journey, he had a special assistant in the Lord’s work. This man was important to Paul for many reasons, but I believe the most important reason is found in the name of this godly helper. His name was Barnabas and his name means “son of encouragement”. As Paul faced long roads, strange places and hostile people, Barnabas was there to encourage him. Even today, you may find yourself saying,  “I need encouragement.” To that I would ask, “Are you always seeking out encouragement for yourself or are you giving more and more encouragement to others?”

That is the secret to encouragement. If you want to be encouraged then be encouraging! If you are always needing encouragement, something is out of balance. By encouraging others, you become more aware of what is going on around you rather than to you. When you learn to encourage others, you will learn how to encourage yourself.

Try it today. Find someone and encourage them. You’ll find that there is great joy in being a Barnabas for someone else.

“We should seek to encourage others more.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the encouragement I can find in Your Word. I pray that You would help me to be an encourager to someone today. Help me show the love of God by passing along a joyful heart. Thank you for encouraging me when I tend to want to give up or figure things out in my own reasoning. Help me to remain obedient, faithful, and filled with Your Spirit to lead, guide and direct me in all things.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dont know Jesus? 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. He loves us and wants to help us. 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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 14th 2019 – Christmas Grace

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11)

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh…these were the first Christmas gifts ever. These three things were precious and valuable. But more precious to God were the three people who fell in worship of Him.

Growning up for me was very lonely, I didnt have any family other then my parents, I didnt have siblings to play with either. My father didn’t enjoy being around people so even having friends over was very scarce.

It wasn’t until I had my own family and children before I started trying to enjoy Christmas. I do have fond memories raising my children with trees, carols, wreaths, lights, feasting and the joy of family and friends gathered together. However I didnt really understand what Christmas was all about. I only understood the secular view…Santa Clause and television shows and commercials teaching children greed and selfish gain.

My parent’s never discussed Jesus when I was a child, mostly because neither of them knew Him themselves. It was not until I endured a life changing tragedy, and only at that time did I come to know Jesus personally.

I do understand Christmas now, its not what the world teaches. Its not all about gifts and trees with lights. Its not even about my desires or wants. Its a celebration of Jesus birth.

God wants us to enjoy this season and He wants to bless us with good things, including His GRACE –  God’s – Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Do you know what God desires? His desire is for your heart. Christmas is an opportunity. Not an opportunity for selfish gain, but an opportunity to give God the gift He desires. Maybe you gave your heart to Jesus years ago and have wandered away. Maybe you’ve never given your heart to God at all.

As we celebrate Jesus giving Himself to us, won’t you take the opportunity to give yourself to Jesus?

“You are precious to God.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me so much. Thank You that You would leave heaven to come, suffer and die for me. You are such a precious gift. I have neglected the gift that You gave and I am sorry. Lord, I have been blessed by You. Thank You for Your incredible plan for my salvation. I give all of my life to You. 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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

December 13th 2019 – Angry With God?

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” (Psalm 139:1-4)

As human beings, we get angry. We get angry with our family, we get angry with our friends, and sometimes we even get angry with our God.

There are times that I’ve been really angry at God. But honestly, I believe this anger has been brewing deep down inside for a very long time. As a matter of fact, this type of anger I was feeling is actually generational.

Everyday I would find myself asking God why  things are the way they are. I ask myself, why must I face such trials and overwhelming opposition day after day as Christian. Unsurprisingly, I even felt like my anger was causing my relationship with God to be strained.  The real reason is because I had stopped turning to God in these areas. Too many times I have prayed and asked for help, asked for peace. But day after day I felt like I was beat down by one obstical after another.

I did not want to read my Bible, I did not feel like going to church, and worst of all, I had  stopped praying or asking God for help.

It’s true that when we are angry with someone, we tend to give them the silent treatment to let them know that we are still angry. However, God already knows that we’re angry!

He knows how angry we are, and He knows why we’re angry. And you know what? We need to talk to God the most when we’re angry. That’s when we need to feel His presence, and read His word, and know His perfect love for us!

You can be 100% real with God. Actually, you really have no choice. God already knows your heart. It’s okay to say, “Oh Lord, I’m so angry right now! I don’t understand why (insert reason for being angry). Oh Lord, I feel like You’ve forsaken me. Oh Lord, I need You more than ever right now.”

Lastly, when you’re angry, remember that God loves you so much! He died for you. Everyday, He is working miracles in your life; even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Lay your heart before God today and ask Him to take your anger. Push deeper into Him instead of farther from Him

“Lay your anger down at the foot of the cross,  Jesus can handle it”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for my sins and remove this deep rooted anger that I have kept deep in my heart. In my daily struggles and continuous opposition from the enemy I started blaming You Lord. Asking myself why You don’t make life easier for me. My life is hard, always has been. I ask humbly to help me remove the deep rooted pain, the dissapointments. Please show me these things so that I can give them over to You. Help me rebuild my dreams again, I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have you ever received Jesus as you Lord and Savior? If you do not know Him personally, 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

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

December 6th 2019 – When Situations Seem Bleak

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” (Acts 12:5)

How can you cultivate hope when life looks bleak?

The book of Acts chapter 12 opens with a challanging scenario “It’s Bleak!” James has been executed, and Peter has been arrested by King Herod. Next, he was going to be killed. But then we read that “constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (verse 5). The church took this seriously and began to pray. So God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison, and the story has a much happy ending.

Feeling like there is no hope is one of the most challenging emotions to manage. After all, why would someone even try when he believes there is no hope, and correspondingly, no possibility for things to improve?

Maybe you are facing a bleak scenario right now. Maybe you have received some bad news from your doctor or are facing a difficult situation at work. Maybe there is a problem in your family. Maybe things have gone from bad to worse, and you don’t know what to do. Pray about it. Get your Christian friends to pray about it with you. Bring the situation before the Lord, because with God, all things are possible. God can take impossible situations and turn them around for His glory.

Trust God!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we call upon You in the middle of this storm, That You give us the strength and will to bear our heavy burdens, until we can again feel the warmth and love of Your divine compassion. Be mindful of us and have mercy on us while we struggle to comprehend life’s hardships that come a storms of life. When fear and panic, shock and dismay are close by, so are you. May we always recconize you , Keep us ever in Your watch until these times of opposition of life pass. Thank you for the Church Body. In Jesus’ precious and glorious name, Amen.

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

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

November 6th 2019 – YOUnique Gifts & Talents

“For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

God has uniquely gifted you in special ways because He has special things for you to do. Enjoy the calling God has gifted you with, but be careful where your eyes wander. It can be easy to begin coveting another’s gifts. When we get wrapped up in envy, we can neglect our own calling, pridefully telling God that He gave us the wrong gifts. Ask yourself, on who does pride misplace your reliance? Pride is a dangerous thing, and it has wrecked many a man despite the best intentions.

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (Romans 12:3)

So, how do you explore your gifts? You won’t unearth much sitting on your couch. Pray and ask God how you can help. Through serving the Lord, you will begin to identify those things God has equipped you to do. As you use your gifts, you will discover and develop skills you didn’t know you had. Gifted musicians spend hours practicing; the more you use your gifts the more gifted you become. Are you faithfully using your gifts?

“We have all been given gifts by God. We should develop our gifts for the glory of God and to bless others.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for uniquely gifting me with talents and resources. Lord, I want to use my gifts for You. I want to experience the joy You have for me. Lord, I know I have been ungrateful for the gifts You have given me. Forgive me. Forgive me for being so distracted by what others are doing and not focusing on what You have blessed me with. I offer You all of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 26th 2019 – Live an Abundant Life

“So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3)

Satan never has a good day. He is completely miserable, and he wants to make you miserable too. He will offer you fun, that turns into immense sorrow, laughter that turns into tears and temporary pleasure that turns into a life of pain and possibly into an eternity of pain. God’s word tells us that we must resist.  Satan wants to destroy our life and kill us, God desires to give more of life and offers a eternity with Him.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

In order for us to resist the devil, we must first allow Jesus to change us from the inside out. You can go through the motions and do all the right things, but if you don’t let Jesus change the old ways, you are being deceived and being cheated of beautiful and abundant life. Don’t allow the enemy to gain control. Submit to God and allow His Spirit to help you and direct you in His ways..

“God can bless you, wherever you are.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I know there have been times I have allowed the enemy to pull me away from Your best. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear You more clearly through Your Word, Your Holy Spirit and other believers. I want Your ways, not the enemies ways! In Jesus Name, Amen.

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

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 23rd 2019 – In This World But Not Of This World

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” (1 Peter 1:1)

Whenever you think of aliens, you probably have images of flying saucers and little green men. While that concept is farfetched, the concept of being an alien is not. In 1 Peter 1, Peter describes the church at that time as “pilgrims”. This could also be translated as “foreigners” or “aliens”.

The idea is that they are not of this world. In this statement, Peter is affirming an important Truth for all believers. This earth is not our home. When we believe in Jesus for salvation and are born again, we are born into a new nature. We begin thinking & acting differently. While our bodies may be here on earth, our thoughts are on Heaven where we will one day live. Even our bodies are referred to as “tents” because they are simply temporary dwelling places.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) 

If we are of Heaven, how are we supposed to live in this world? The answer is that we live for God. We invest our time, energy, finances and anything else we have on earth into eternal things. God wants us to enjoy the blessings of this planet, but we should never hold on to them as if they are all we have. When Heaven is in our view, we can give our lives away without fear because we know that no matter what, Heaven waits for us on the other side.

“While Christians may live on earth, our eternal home is in Heaven.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope of Heaven and the promise of an eternity with You. Help me to remember Heaven is my home so that I can find peace even in difficult times. Lord, please use my time, money and other resources for the Kingdom of God. Today, I desire to live for eternity. In Jesus’ 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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 22nd 2019 – Do Everything In Love

“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.

“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.” (Galatians 2:20)

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 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 15th 2019 – Seeing the Whole Picture

“When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.” (Mark 8:22-26)

Have you ever seen or heard of a photo mosaic? It’s a really large image made up of many, many smaller pictures. I always thought they were really cool, because each individual picture has a story of its own, but when you take a few steps back and look at the entire masterpiece, it is really something else.

God is in control. Always. He has a reason for everything, though it may not be (immediately, or ever) revealed to us. In this passage, I find it noteworthy that Jesus decided to heal the man’s sight in two steps (instead of immediate complete healing).

For one thing, Jesus’ simple question (“Do you see anything?”) is a chance for Him to test and challenge the man’s faith. Is the man bold enough to honestly answer Jesus and tell Him that he only sees “trees walking around?” Is the man’s faith great enough to trust that Jesus has the power of complete healing? (How would you respond?)

Also, I think that Jesus’ two-step healing of the man’s sight is representative of a situation we often find ourselves in. Many times, we think we see the whole picture. We think that we know everything that is going on. However, we sometimes find that what we are looking at is just one little frame in the huge mosaic masterpiece. Our vision is equivalent to seeing people as trees walking around. We think we see it all, but God has so, so much more in store. He has so much more that He wants to show us. Ask Him to reveal more of His desire and His heart to you today.

“Sometimes God lets you be in a situation that only He can fix so that you can see that He is the One who fixes it. Rest. He’s got it.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, fully open my eyes to your current condition–physical, spiritual, emotional, mental during this quiet time in Your presence. With this new sight and new life that You Lord have given to me, I ask you to give me eyes like yours, that you may see You at work everywhere, both on the micro and macro scale. When I feel like all I can see is vague shapes of you presence, I ask earnestly and boldly that You will reveal to me not only the bigger picture, but how my work can further Your kingdom. I love you 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 or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 4th 2019 – God Still Heals

“to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,” (1 Corinthians 12:9)

What do you think about when you hear the words “healing” or “miracle”? Depending on how you grew up, these words may spark memories. Some of us may remember the charismatic preachers on television or even roadside tent revivals. Even though they may have involved miraculous signs and wonders, others may simply reject the notion that miracles even occur today.

Regardless of what we have seen or heard, we must always remember to ask the question, “What does the bible say?” You see, what we believe is not dependent on our opinion or upbringing, but fully relies on what God has revealed to us through His Word.

As we look into the glorious and perfect Word of the Lord, we see that He has given us His Spirit to help spread the Gospel and minister to one another. In 1 Corinthians 12, we see that Paul clearly states that the Holy Spirit can empower us with the gift of healings and miracles. While these can refer to many things, we must understand that we have the chance to be part of one of the greatest healings of all time.

What could that be you ask? Simply put, it’s the dead coming to life. When we share with others the Gospel and they respond, they go from death to life, from condemnation to forgiveness, from being a child of the adversary to a child of the living God. Maybe you’ve never experienced that supernatural healing. God desires to forgive your sins and make you new. All you have to do is come to Him. Are you ready for healing?

“Don’t ever forget that God still heals. He heals us spiritually, physically and emotionally”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I know that I have done wrong in my life and I ask that You forgive me. Lord, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that He rose again. I come to You today and ask that You would create in me a clean heart and make me new. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to walk with You every day of my life. I love You 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 or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org