Tag Archives: Love

November 29th 2018 – Trust God, with Everything!

“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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 28th 2018 – A Gift of Grace

“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.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 25th 2018 – I Belong To Gods Family

“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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 13th 2018 – How Jesus See’s You

“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town.  There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.  (Luke 19:1-2)

According to the world’s standards for evaluating worth, Zacchaeus was a failure. He was extremely short; he was disliked by everyone because he was a tax collector; and he even hated himself.

He was not proud of what he had achieved in life because he knew he had cheated people to get where he was. He was powerful and had a lot of money, but he absolutely had no friends and was incredibly lonely.

But one day Zacchaeus’ life was completely changed because Jesus walked by and wanted to spend time with him, he realized how much he mattered to God.

When Zacchaeus learned that Jesus was coming to town, he wanted to see him, but he was too short to get a glimpse above the crowd.

“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”” (Luke 19:3-5)

That very moment when Jesus looked up and noticed Zacchaeus. Can you imagine how Zacchaeus’ felt? Did his heart start pounding, did he experiance butterflies deep in his stomach? Jesus was looking right at him, a small, despised, insignificant man.

Why did Jesus stop at that tree and look at him? Because He knew that’s exactly where Zacchaeus was.

God knows exactly where you are too. He knew where you were a week ago and he knows where you now and even where you will be tomorrow. You may feel like you’re stuck in a tree right now in your life. God knows where you are. You may feel like you’re out on a limb, Jesus knows. You may feel all alone, but Jesus stops and notices. You are not forgotten, you are not alone.

No tear has ever been hidden from Him. No hurtful word said to you has ever passed that he missed. No abuse has ever occurred that he didn’t see and grieve with you. He sees it all.

What is the price of five sparrows, two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

The greatest gift of love anyone can ever receive is attention. When you give people your time, you give them your life. When you pay attention to someone and look them in the eye, you are saying, “You matter to me. You are valuable.”

There is never a moment, never a second in your life that God is not paying attention to you. He notices you 24 hours a day because he loves you; you are valuable to him.

Don’t forget to call or visit your loved ones the fast approaching holiday’s and let them know that they matter to you. Make amends to the ones you may need to, and brighten the day of someone that wouldn’t expect you to call. Let them know that they matter and you still care.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the always noticing me no matter how insignificant I may feel in the world, how lonely I may be because family doesnt call or how screwed up I may get. Today I come to You with nothing but empty hands and a heart that desires more of You. Please Lord, take my life and do with it as you please. I trust You and desire to glorify Your name in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please Watch this short video animation. (Forward this devotion to someone that needs to hear what is says)

Invitation:

If you are reading these devotions and are not a follower of Jesus Christ, please be aware that these seeds of scripture are being sown in your heart right now… I am praying that they start to take root in your heart and you come to know personally the greatest truth you will ever hear.. Jesus Christ died on a cross for you. He loves you and He cares for you. When you call His name and ask for His help, He will set you free..  Click Here if you would like to learn more about Gods salvation, or ask Him into your heart.

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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

November 2nd 2018 – Stretched Out Love

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

In 1st Peter chapter 4, the apostle uses an interesting word to describe the love we are to have for one another. He says we are to have a “fervent” love. In the Greek, this word means “stretched out” and carries with it a picture of a runner straining for the finish line. It’s a vivid image of a love that never quits. This love is a marathon type of love, not a sprint.

What does this “stretched out” love look like? Peter answers this question with the next quote, “Love will cover a multitude of sins.” In other words, a fervent, stretched-out love is a love that forgives no matter the cost. Like a marathon runner continues despite the burning in his lungs and the cramps in his muscles because he desires to achieve the goal, so we should endure the pain of rejection and the harsh words of those around us with a love in our hearts and a forgiving spirit. How can we love like this? We can love this way because Christ first loved us. He loved us even when we were sinners. He loved us, even when we rebelled against Him. He loved us with stretched out arms on the cross. Let’s love each other in the same way.

“We should stretch ourselves in order to love one another. This means being willing to forgive no matter the cost.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your love and ask that You would help me to love others in the same way. Help me to forgive often, love unconditionally and serve those around me. Use my fervent love to draw others to Your amazing grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you would like to surrender it all and seek Jesus, or recommit your life to Him, please click here

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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 27th 2018 – Tear Filled Eyes

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18)

Are you aware that many people of the Bible struggled with sadness? Moses asked God to take his life (Numbers 11:10-15), Job cursed the day of his birth (Job 3:1-26), Jonah was angry with God and wanted to die (Jonah 4:3-9). Hanna grieved because her womb remained closed ‘couldn’t have children’ (1 Samuel 1:1-16), Naomi was filled with anguish after experiencing hardships (Ruth 1:1-20), Hagar sobbed in the desert as her son was about to die (Genesis 21).

There are multiple reasons why these people incurred feelings of despair, but there is one awesome God who helped each one out of their pit. Moses was overwhelmed, so God appointed him help. Job lost everything, but God blessed him in his later years. After Hanna poured her heart out to the Lord, He opened her womb. As Hagar cried in the wilderness, God provided for her and her child’s needs.

Sunken feelings can enter your life after a loss, after committing sin, from the hands of someone else’s wrong doings, or even following a huge spiritual triumph, and so forth. No matter what the cause of your sadness, God desires to restore you to wholeness.

If you’re feeling down, know that God is with you. He knows what you are going through and does not want you to remain crushed in spirit. Invite Him into every area of your life that needs healing. Brighter days will come as you place your hope in the Lord.

“My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”(Psalm 73:26)

“The ultimate friend we find in our pain is Jesus himself. He wept. On the cross, He experienced separation from God in its fullness. Our Savior knows what it means to suffer.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me for I am battling the inner demons of depression, sadness, and sometimes hopelessness. Shine Your warm heavenly light down on me. I am in need of strength and courage. Help me to be gentle with myself whenever I regress. Give me courage and strength to move forward following You way. Thank you for the special ones that love me, family, friends and and pets. Guide me to find rest, happiness, and contentment in myself and in life. 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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 26th 2018 – Spiritually Flowing

“For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.” (1 Corinthians 14:17)

God has created the church to function in an amazing way. Each person is at a different level of spiritual maturity. Some are new to the faith and are in need of spiritual sustenance. They desire the Word and need time to learn and grow in Christ. Then there are those who are well equipped with God’s Word and who have endured trials and tribulations with Jesus by their side. They are able to pour into others and help equip them for the journey. This is a beautiful part of the body and an important relationship in the church.

As more and more people are filled and equipped, we must be diligent to not become spiritually selfish. It is a blessing to sit and hear the Word of God and to be filled with understanding yet if we are not pouring out into others, we are missing part of the equation. Just like still water will eventually become stagnant, we too can become that way if we are not pouring out into others. Please don’t worry about running out of water. Our Lord promises fountains of living water that will never run dry, but the key is to share the water so that others can experience the life-changing message of Christ.

“Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrows questions.”

Prayer:

Heavely Father, I am grateful for all that You have done for me. I thank You for the living water of Jesus that flows in me. Help me to pour out my life for Your name’s sake and to help equip others to follow 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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 21st 2018 – Pruning and Bearing More Fruit

“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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 17th 2018 – Let Your Light Shine

“All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they praised God because of me.” (Galatians 1:23-24)

God is in the business of using our lives, no matter our past mistakes. Paul had persecuted the church and then he became one leading the church. God was using Paul and his past to be a witness of God’s power and grace.

God wants to do the same with you. I know it sounds a little crazy, but it’s true. God wants to use your life to be a light in a dark world. “But you don’t know what I’ve done in my past.” I may not, but God does and he says that those things are forgiven. Don’t dwell on those things, confess them to the Lord and then move on in faith. Share your testimony, love your enemy, give to the needy or whatever else God may have you do. We are only on this earth for a short time. Use every moment for the Lord and you will find incredible joy in the adventure. Since we are only on Earth for a little while, we should do things that will shine forever.

“Let it Shine!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for saving me and empowering me with the Holy Spirit so that I can live for You. Use my life to shine Your love and Truth to everyone around 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.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

October 15th 2018 – Jesus Can Restore Your Life

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Colossians 1:13)

Society doesn’t really have answers for all the problems we are facing today. Ironically, our society seems to do everything it can to undermine the only one who can help us, and that is Jesus Christ.

There are people caught in the legal system as repeat offenders. Incarcerated and seperated from their families. There are judges and prosecutors who sometimes also make wrong decisions. There is the breakdown of the family. And all of these elements combined produce a society that can do very little to change a person’s heart, if anything at all. Then we have the drug epidemic, people literally dying on the streets, often help unavailable even when they want it. Drug rehabilitation efforts largely fail. In fact, the only real programs that seem to produce lasting change are faith-based, and more specifically, are being operated by Christians who are calling people to faith in Jesus Christ. Society doesn’t have the answers.

Jesus met two men whose lives had been controlled and ruined by Satan. Society didn’t have the answers. Then Jesus comes on the scene Jesus. What did He do? He sought them out in their graveyard and offered them hope. In fact, Luke’s account of the story tells us what happened to one of the men who was delivered: “Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid” (Luke 8:35).

Why were people afraid? They didn’t know what to make of it. He was so transformed it frightened the people. They couldn’t even imagine a guy like him could be changed in such a dramatic way.

It is such a glorious thing when Christ so transforms someone that you can’t even imagine that person being what he or she used to be. You realize that it is the power of a changed life. And that is what God can do.

If you or someone you know are facing a such a situation as above, know that Jesus can truly help. He can take the broken and hopeless, and make them restored and beautiful again. Jesus can take the most bleak situation and give you healing and hope.

“God can do more in five seconds than we can do in five hours or months or years.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, your Word speaks promises of healing and restoration and I thank you for the miracles You still perform today. Today I claim those promises over myself. I believe in the healing power of faith and prayer and I ask you to begin your mighty work in my life. Please reach down and surround me with supernatural peace and strength and increases my faith to have no doubt at all that all things are possible in you. Remind me that You are here and Love me when I am unable to see past the pain. Protect me from Satan’s lies and discouragement and let my miraculous healing begin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Ask Jesus into your life.

Jesus, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross at Calvary, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in Jesus’ precious name Amen.

If you prayed this prayer please  Click Here and let us know.. We would love to pray for you and with you. Congratulations and welcome to Gods family.

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

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org