Category Archives: SIN

February 24th 2020 – Our Sinful Nature

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“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

When we solely act on our feelings it is very dangerous. If we always do what what we “feel like” doing, most times it will end up getting us in trouble. Following just our feelings will lead us into sin, and that can lead to broken relationships, depression, prison and even far worse. So the question is, “What filter do we use to help us control our thoughts and feelings?” While the world may say, “If it feels right do it,” God’s Word tells us that we don’t have the ability to know what is “right” without His direction. We need His guidance, through the Bible.

When we process our thoughts and feelings through the Bible’s instructions and God’s promises, we will be better able to replace the bad or harmful thoughts with those that are good and beneficial. Submitting to God’s Word and His Holy Spirit allows us to know what is good and right. It gives us hope in something greater than our own understanding and therefore, we walk in light rather than darkness. Jesus will walk with us if we allow Him to. We don’t have to be alone.

Do not take your dark brooding thoughts out and play with them. Do not sit and focus on what’s wrong. Don’t allow your desires to run away with you. Take your thoughts captive. Do not walk in fear. Fight the good fight. God will give you victory!

“Sometimes thoughts and feelings are great and good and holy; sometimes they are dark and brooding and torturous.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the power I have in Christ to overcome bad thoughts and harmful feelings. It is because of Your promises of hope and salvation that I can rejoice no matter what my situation may be. It’s with Your power that I can control my emotions rather than my emotions controlling me. Please protect me from myself and my own destructive sinful nature. Help me forgive myself and seek You first. Thank You Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do you trust Jesus enough with your life? You should, 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 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

February 23rd 2020 – Is God Speaking to You?

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“then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men),” (2 Chronicles 6:30)

Trials, hardships, frustrations–whatever they’re called, we all deal with them at one time or another. The good news is that God desires to speak to us during those times. It could be that you are surrounded by circumstances that are difficult, or you may have made bad choices which have led to a bad situation. In those times, remember the words of Jesus Himself…

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

Many times in life, we can’t hear the Lord, even when He is shouting to get our attention. It’s often in those times of struggle that He whispers and we hear His voice loud and clear. If today you find yourself in the midst of hardships, seek the Lord. Use this time to seek forgiveness and cling to the grace of God. Cry out to God and He will hear from heaven and pour out His love upon you in abundance. When we do this, God makes the most of our pain and can bring something good from something bad.

“Whenever something in life goes wrong, use the moment to ask forgiveness and draw closer to the Lord.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the life You have given me. Lord, I pray that when this life gets difficult that I turn to You. Help me draw closer to You whether I am enjoying blessings or walking through trials. Father, may each day and circumstance be used to make me more like Jesus. Forgive me of my sins and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can be used to build 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 17th 2020 – The Mighty Anvil

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For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

It has been said that the Bible is an anvil that’s worn out many a skeptic’s hammer. This means that what the Bible says is completely true and unchanging. Let’s really consider what that means for a moment.

It means our sins can be forgiven:

“In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7)

It means we can become children of God:

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12)

It means we can one day live in heaven forever:

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

These things and more are true for those who know Jesus as Savior. If you have trusted in Jesus, then read His Word and trust in these amazing promises. These are promises of love, joy and peace in this life and the next. The world will try and cause you to doubt the Truth of God’s Word, but throughout history, the Bible has remained unmoving. Trust in it and find rest for your soul.

“Jesus and the Bible are both completely reliable and trustworthy.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for the many promises found in Your Word. Help me take each one to heart and to allow Your Truths to change me. Protect me from the fears and doubts that can cloud my thinking, and give me boldness to stand on Your Word and to share it with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

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

 

February 13th 2020 – How Do We Trust Again

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“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)

Each time that he said that he was sorry, I honestly wanted to beleive that he meant it. I knew at that point he was sincere just like before, but part of me wanted to give up on trusting him altogether. Why trust someone who like so many times before will probabally let you down again? In fact, why trust at all? Why not just close my heart and keep it safe from any potential harm?

King David understood this struggle. In Psalm 28, David asks God for help. Many scholars believe that this was written at the end of David’s life. At this point, he knows what it is to hide from words and actions that harm. He understands how it feels to be surrounded by people who say they are loyal to him, but sometimes let him down.

Even at this late stage, it may have been tempting to shut everyone out and never trust again … not just the people who intentionally sought to harm him, but those who loved him and messed up. It might have even crossed his mind that he should trust no one at all.

Instead, in verse 7 we see David’s thoughts and attitude change and find him singing a beautiful song to his Heavenly Father. In this place of hurt and uncertainty, he reveals a secret: He can trust because God is trustworthy.

The Lord is our strength and shield.

Like a triple-plated silver shield, David needed God’s protection for his heart. David may have wanted to isolate, but God had handwritten a plan for his life. People were an integral part of that blueprint.

The reality is that people are messy. My son was a mess, his addiction had cost him almost everything. Sometimes I’m a mess, too. The actions he chose to do really did hurt me and I need to work through it, but God’s shield of protection allows me to see the areas where He was still working in me. It also offered His truth to counterbalance hurtful actions.This shield allowed me to approach him from a place of resolution, rather than a place of offense or retaliation.

It will soon be two years that my son has been clean and off of drugs.  I praise you in all that You do Lord, Thank you for giving me the strengh to get out of Your way and let you work in his heart..

Our hearts trust in the Lord and He helps us.

We need wisdom to know what to say, when to say it and when to hold those words back. God offers that guidance (James 1:5).

We need discernment over what is ours to fix and when to step back as God does His part (Psalm 55:22).

We need to know what to do when someone is destructive or unwilling to change, and how to transfer our trust to God in that hard situation, rather than take matters into our own hands. We can ask for hope and healing in our hearts while God performs His work in someone else’s heart.

Our hearts leap for joy, and with a song when we praise Him.

Conflicts, difficult conversations or poor behavior can make you want to give up or shut people out completely. In David’s case, trusting in God produced a strong foundation that led him out of seclusion and into a plan and a purpose.

Like David, have you been tempted to climb into a cave of isolation?

Do you sense God asking you to trust again? Maybe not even in a specific person, but in Him? In others? In the fact that He’s completely with you as you run after His plan for your life?.

 

“Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love and the future to God’s providence.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I praise and love You..but most of all I Trust You. In the past when someone has deliberately broken my heart, my response has always been to hide or build a wall. Thank You for wisdom, compassion and discernment as I trust in You first, Continue to give me the strengh to stay away from people that continually hurt me because they do not want to change. You show me how to trust others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

February 10th 2020 – Open To God’s Correction

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Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.. “(Hosea 4:1)

We should all be open to correction whether it is from the Bible, from a teaching or from a friend. None of us have it all right. Right and wrong is not determined by society or our culture. Just because things like gambling, abortions and drug use are now legalized. That doesn’t mean it is a good thing. Just look at society as an example. What was called abnormal when I was growing up 1970’s and 80’s is now considered normal. What was good is now bad and bad is now called good.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

This is why we should always form our opinions and our choices in life on God’s Word.

We don’t always see the WHY we should or shouldn’t do something but that does not negate our responsibility to obey. Even if it’s hard, uncomfortable or even costly, we should be willing to change for the sake of our Lord and King. The good news is that when we walk in obedience, we will find great blessing. In fact, Jesus puts it this way in John 15…

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:10-11)

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“Discipline is correction. God’s correction is an act of love. Love is never punishment.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word. I believe it contains the ways of life and the instructions I need to obey You. Help me to understand Your Word and give me the power to live it out. I desire to lay aside my plans or opinions for the sake of the Gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

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

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 2nd 2020- Rejecting God’s Light

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“But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:21)

Perhaps Nicodemus is having reservations about Jesus’ message to him that he must be born again. The Lord is making it clear, for both Nicodemus and the religious establishment he represents, that they are not believing in Him. Jesus said to Nicodemus “you don’t know these things” (John 3:10), “you do not receive Our witness”(John 3:11) and “you do not believe” (John 3:12).

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20)

One of the greatest tragedies in the world is the rejection of God’s light inside the glorious Gospel. When people reject Jesus it’s often because there is a secret sin that is more important to them rather than intellectually needing more information to believe the Gospel. Nicodemus perhaps loved the prestige of being a Pharisee, a well-known teacher, and a rich influential part of the religious establishment more than the Lord.

We all have a proclivity towards the darkness in our own sinful nature. Sometimes these dark spots surface in our relationships with others that are broken. It can also poison our love for anything that is not from Christ. It’s really important for us to see that His sacrifice for our sins is more than enough to amend our broken and dark ways so that we might be in the light with Him.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)

“It’s not that people don’t believe because they don’t know; it’s because they don’t want to know.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You that You give me the opportunity to approach You so that the truth of Your love might be revealed in me. Thank You for Your death for my sin and for giving me the opportunity to look to You and lean on Your sacrifice for my sins so I wouldn’t have to succumb to death and darkness for eternity. Please continue to shine in and through my life and the lives of those I fellowship with in the body of Christ. 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

January 30th 2020 – Attitude Adjustment

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“lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.” (1 Corinthians 1:15)

Paul, in writing this letter to the Corinthians, dealt with division inside the church. Any idea you may have that church is a perfect place, can often be shattered the moment you walk through the doors. It was the same in the early church. We all bring something valuable to the church, but because we are sinful people, we also add to the problems.

In this letter, Paul takes on people’s attitudes; their way of thinking. Do we need to be challenged today? Absolutely we do. Being saved does not mean we’re done being changed. We continue to be changed, and as we are, our ideas and concepts of what it means to be a Christian are challenged. God wants to adjust our attitude and if we are truly honest with ourselves, we are desperate for that change.

When we take a moment to look at challanging situations or even life in general, when we do so with a different attitude our perspective often will change. What may have seemed impossible now looks hopeful.

“God wants to give you an attitude adjustment.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your Son Jesus who died for me so I could have life more abundantly. Lord, I confess to You that I am struggling. I have been looking to the world for answers rather than depending on You. I surrender my heart to You, Lord. Help me to make the changes You want for me. 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

January 24th 2020 – Facing Accusations

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“Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?” (2 Corinthians 12:16-17)

You can’t stop it from happening. You can try your hardest & do everything in your power to keep it from occurring but one day, it’ll happen. One day, someone is going to accuse you of something. You may have done anything wrong. Just look at Jesus. He lived a perfect life, healed people, raised the dead and taught about God’s love and yet, the religious leaders accused Him of all sorts of things. If it happened to Jesus, then it can happen to any of us.

So how do we deal with accusations when we cannot control those who accuse us? We control ourselves and live in such a way that when people accuse us, other people dismiss it as a lie. After all, what use is an accusation when your life speaks of integrity, love and charity? It may not stop accusations, but it will remove some of their power to destroy. Live for Christ and allow Him to defend you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I know there are areas of my life that I can live with greater integrity and love. Help me to live for You in such a way that the accusations of others fall flat. Help me to be a witness to everyone who may be watching my life. 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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

January 23rd 2020 – We Should Examine Ourselves

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“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28)

Have you ever met a Christian that believes they have the gift to identify sin in peoples lives or flawed doctrine in churches. I have yet to find it listed in scripture that this is actually a gift. Also I have yet to find the perfect church. The likely cause is that people are inperfect.

Although there are times to lovingly correct a brother or sister or even false teachings within a church, we should not be quick to condemn. Before we begin pointing our finger at someone else’s problems, we need to first examine ourselves.

“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

In Scripture, Jesus draws an absurd but poignant picture of someone with a giant beam of wood in their eye striving to remove a speck of dust from their friend’s eye. As we sit back and laugh at the imagery, the truth remains. Often, we believe we can ignore the sin in our life all the while condemning those who may be sinning in the same way. This leads to a life of hypocrisy and self deception. Instead, we should examine our own hearts and seek God for forgiveness. As we find freedom from our struggles, we will be fully equipped to care for our friends who need help removing the dust from their eye.

“We should examine ourselves, not others for problems.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace. Help me to examine myself every day through Your Word and Your Spirit. Continue to shape me more into the image of Your Son so that I may help others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you would like to request a prayer Click Here.

Interested in knowing Jesus personally? 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

January 17th 2020 – Game Plan For Sin

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“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Sin… a tiny word, a huge big problem. Think of all the problems in your own life caused by your sin. Think of all the problems in the world caused by the sin of others – wars, violence, stealing, laziness, and envy. On and on and on the list goes and grows. There is a saying, “Sin is the seed, and death is the harvest.” The bible has a lot to say about sin. It tells us that sin is not only the bad things we do, but also the good things we don’t do. When we fail to love, give or help, we are engaging in sin.

As long as we never do wrong and always do right, we don’t and won’t have a problem with sin. “Wow, that really helps!” That may sound easy to some. But the truth is, we are all sinners…

However God’s written word in the Bible tells us how to deal with past sins and how to deal with sin in the present and future. It is easier than you think. “Past sins,” you may ask? Ask for forgiveness.

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

What about dealing with our present sins? (Hebrews 12:1-2) says that we should strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up and that we should run with endurance the race God has set before us.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the winning coach, who initiates and perfects our faith. Here is a awsome truth, one you can trust even on Aprils Fools day. Don’t tell God you have a big sin problem, tell the sin problem that you have a Big God. Think about life, think about Jesus, and keep your eyes on Him.

“Develop a game plan with Coach Jesus” how to beat sin when it shows up in your life!”

Prayer:

HeavenlyFather, Thank You for taking my sin upon You. I am sorry for the wrong things I have done and for the right I have failed to do. I confess my sins to You and ask for forgiveness. (Confess your sins, by act and by name to Him). Lord, thank You for helping me with my past and present sins. Help me to keep my eyes not on my sin, but on my Savior, Jesus. Help me to soar by casting off the weights of sin. Help me to live the life You have called me to live. I thank You for having a winning game plan for dealing with my Sin, 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