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September 26th 2016 – The Strong Tower

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“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

The Name of Jesus, to us that believe in that Name, is a very strong place to be.  In His Name there is protection, in His Name there is provision, in His Name there is safety and even comfort.

It is to the Name of Jesus that demons must bow, it is in that Name that prayers are answered.  Let’s look at a few scriptures today that show us these great truths.

(Philippians 2:9-11) “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

(Mark 16:17) “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

(John 14:13-14) “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

These are just a few of the many Scriptures that show that all power is given in that Name.  No wonder satan tries to downgrade the Name.  But we, who are called by His great Name, love and respect His Name, THE NAME OF JESUS!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Today, we look to the power of Your name and proclaim that You are Lord and that through Your name we can cast out demons and can heal the sick. It is in Your Name that we also see our prayers answered.  Help me to understand Your Word so that I know how to defend against Satan’s weapons of destruction. Finally, thank You for the victory I have in  Your name “Jesus Christ”. No matter what Satan says or does, I cannot be taken from You. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

www.scripturalseeds.org

September 25th 2016 – The Abused Spouse

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“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – (Romans 8:1)

Do you, or have you ever known someone suffering from verbal and physical abuse from a spouse or someone dating? The truth is that 1 in 3 have been in an abusive relationship in their lifetimes.

I was stunned when I read the statistics, but the fact is that many people being abuse do not say anything for many years, if at all. The reason is that the abuser invokes such negative emotions into the victim. They feel shame, fear, anger and grief brought about by the painful words and physical abuse.

Shame is a pervasive feeling of being inadequate as a human being. Every area of family violence causes shame. For example, children growing up in homes where a parent is committing adultery feel ashamed of their adulterous parent’s behavior and are similarly ashamed of the faithful parent who is trying to keep it a secret.

Spouses and children of alcoholics are ashamed of their loved ones drinking and the chaos it creates in their homes. When verbal abuse and labeling take place, shame becomes a dominant motivation for doing anything possible to avoid the continual reminders of inadequacy.

Shame leaves us with a strong sense of being uniquely and hopelessly different and less than other human beings. It isolates and alienates us. We may feel that we can never live up to the expectations of those close to us, or that the reason we were abused was related to some inadequacy within us that caused and perpetuated the abuse.

Consider this …

Shame occurs in secret and isolates its victims, keeping them from challenging their feelings. God’s light allows us to begin to challenge our early assumptions and distorted perceptions. It exposes the destructive decisions shame breeds and sets us free from the lies we never before challenged.

God’s light comes through prayerfully studying Gods word through the Holy Bible, absorbing the scripture, believing them for yourself. God loves you and wants to heal your emotions. When you made Jesus Lord of your life, you became a child of your perfect heavenly Father. And the Bible promises there is no condemnation in Him. Jesus does not condemn you. Ask Him to help you see yourself as He does–loved by Him, precious to Him.

Scripture says that we are the Bride of Christ 

How Does Jesus Love His Bride? (Remembering that the below reference to Her is all of us, and by no means am I stating that Jesus got married)

Jesus did not use verbal and emotional abuse to destroy his bride’s self-esteem.  He bestowed on her great value by coming to be her servant and giving his life to save her.

Jesus did not tear down his bride to make her feel weak and powerless.  On Pentecost he filled her with his own power.

Jesus did not isolate his bride out of fear she would fall in love with someone else.  He wants to give her his love so she can love others.  He sent her into the world to live her destiny and promised to walk with her, giving her support and encouragement, even to the end of the age.

Jesus did not treat his bride like a door mat, walking on her to prove his superiority.  He elevated her, even to be seated with him in the heavenly realm, in a place of authority.

Jesus did not yell at his bride or call her names.  He calls her his Beloved and rejoices over her with singing.

Jesus did not raise his voice to drown out what his bride is trying to say.  Instead, his ear is attentive to her prayer.

He did not look at her with contempt or hate, or glare at her from a distance.  He smiles when he sees her because he sees her without spot or blemish.  He sees how beautiful she is and knows it’s his love that has washed over her and made her beautiful.

Jesus did not use his strength to manhandle his bride.  His strong right arm lifts her up and defends her against aggressors.  He uses his strength and power to fight for her, not against her.

Jesus did not ever grab his bride aggressively, slap her to shut her up, or beat her into submission.  Instead he took the abuse for her; he was the one who was humiliated, spit on and beaten.  He submitted to death so she could live.  He offers healing and comfort to her when she’s in pain, he makes her strong when she feels weak, he weeps with her when she weeps, and he wipes away every tear from her eyes because he’s gentle and kind.

Jesus did not threaten to hurt her when he gets home.  Instead, his plan when he comes again is to sweep her off her feet, raise her up to meet him in the air, and forever be with him in the amazing mansion he is preparing for her in heaven.

This is no fairy tale.  This is how a husband is to love his wife.  Mutual submission and respect naturally flow in the relationship that is focused on loving and serving one another.

Take a moment to read God’s instruction for loving your husband or wife. Ephesians 5:21-33 This scripture should never be used as ammunition to keep women in submission to abusive men or to demand that they respect someone who is disrespectful. Using scripture in that way is spiritual abuse. This passage is about mutual, life-changing, empowering love.

Telling a woman she has to submit to abuse only reinforces her victim identity and empowers an abuser to continue in sin.  Both are in bondage and there is a much greater chance the marriage will end in pain or even tragedy.  God has a different plan – one that sets both free to step into a new identity.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I have suffered for so long with this shame. Help me to overcome the lies and see nothing but Your truth. Give me strength and help me feel loved and not shame. Remind me that I am beautiful in Your eyes and you are always with me. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for the promise that You will never leave me. Help me to trust in you. Increase my faith and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can live in great expectation of what You have in store for me. Bring loving people into my life that will love me and encourage me. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

www.scripturalseeds.org

September 23rd 2016 – Satan’s Evil Plan, God’s Awesome Victory!

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“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Satan is real and his tricks have been working for years. One of the greatest tricks is to disguise his work as “good” or even “religious”. Without an understanding of God’s Word, which is real Truth, many people are led away to follow after their own lusts. This is Satan’s plan, and it is the same plan he had from the beginning. He was tossed out of Heaven because He wanted to be God. With what authority he had been given, his pride led to his downfall. In turn, he desires that we do the same.

The enemy uses a powerful tool in our fallen human nature. We tend to be self-centered, self-sufficient, and independent of God. God says that type of belief and life will bring destruction, but following Jesus, will bring life and peace. There is part of you that does not want to submit to any authority. Not the authority of the Word of God, not the authority of any man of God or any leader, not even to the authority of God Himself or His plan for you. Rather than give into the enemy, trust in Christ and begin to love God and love others. Allow the Spirit to guide you into humble service and grace towards others. Use your gift and authority to defeat the enemy of your soul by living like Jesus. If you do, you will not give a foothold to Satan.

“Don’t  fall into Satan’s trap, learn the truth and Trust in God.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the power You have given me through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the power to live for You and not for my own desires. Give me continued strength to resist the devil and to serve You. Help me to understand Your Word so that I know how to defend against Satan’s weapons of destruction. Finally, thank You for the victory I have in Jesus Christ. No matter what Satan does, I cannot be taken from You. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

www.scripturalseeds.org

September 22nd 2016 – Hiding from God?

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“Behold, I am against you,” says the LORD of hosts; “I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your shame.” (Nahum 3:5)

In the last chapter of Nahum, God brings several charges against the city of Nineveh. One of these charges is their involvement in harlotry and sorcery. These two lifestyles thrive in the dark corners of society and desire to accomplish personal fulfillment with ungodliness. So what is God’s plan to punish those involved? He is simply going to expose their sinfulness to everyone.

In our own lives, I believe we fear this more than anything else. We fear the thought of being “found out”. This may come as a surprise to some, God already knows our sins. There is nothing we can do to hide them from His perfect gaze.

(Jeremiah 23:24) “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the LORD.”

(Hebrews 4:13) “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Here is the good news. He desires to forgive us of those sins and all we need to do is be honest. When we come to God fully confessing our faults and failures to Him, He will wipe them away. On the other hand, if we try to hide our sins from Him, one day they will make it to the surface for all to see. Today, rather than hiding your sins, come to God, confess and watch as your burden is lifted. Experience the fresh full forgiveness of your Heavenly Father.

Confession of sin.

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

God chooses not to hold our sins against us.

(Isaiah 43:25) “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

God removes our sin from us.

(Psalm 103:12) “It is possible for the Lord to look at us without seeing our sins because when he forgave us, he removed our sins as far as the east is from the west”

“The cost of hidden sin is shame and exposure.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to You this morning to confess my sins to You. You tell me in the Bible that if I confess to You, You will wipe away all my sins and so I come this day asking for Your forgiveness. Continue to change my heart and make me more like Jesus. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

www.scripturalseeds.org

September 18th 2016 – 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:

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

It means we can become children of God:

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

It means we can one day live in heaven forever:

(John 14:2) “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.”

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

www.scripturalseeds.org

September 17th 2016 – Follow Me, Do the Things I Do

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“And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:18-21)

If you are living the same way you did before you met Jesus, then something is wrong. “Do you mean the bad things I used to do… like lying, drinking, and profanity?” Yes, but only in part because this kind of thinking is what’s wrong with the modern day church. We tend to focus on the ‘things’ we have turned from and not on the ‘One’ we’ve turned to. You see, we should be following Jesus. Jesus said “Follow Me” and “DO the things I do.” What did Jesus do? He reached out to the hurting, loved the unlovable, and He challenged the religious people of the day. We have made Christianity all about what we ‘don’t do’ so that when we don’t smoke dope or drink ourselves into a coma, we think we are living the Christian life. Certainly that is part of it, but it is when we love and serve one another that we are really living the Christian life. Look at the difference Paul made through his ministry. The world would never be the same because of the life of Paul.

Paul wrote, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1)

What is your commitment to God? You can judge that by your commitment to ministry, to the Church, and to serving others. Think about it. The fruit of our faith should be active. We should be ‘Bible-doing’ and not just ‘Bible-reading’. It is my job to ask the hard questions and to help you with the answers. Here’s a hard question… Are you making a difference? You probably already know the answer, but if you are not serving the Lord and others, then you are probably not making a difference.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gifts and abilities You have given me. Please forgive me for the times that I have failed to use them to glorify You by serving others. Please give me a burden for the hurting, the unlovable, the unsaved, and for my family in Christ. Give me opportunities to exercise that burden. Lord, I thank You for saving me from the bonds of sin. Please help me to serve You with all of my heart. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

September 15th 2016 – Stop Making Excuses!

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“Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:6-7)

God knows everything about us… what we’ve done, what we will do – it’s a hard thing to really grasp. In spite of this, He still wants to use us. Many times God’s plan for our lives does not jive with our own plan for our lives. We say things like, We are too young or old, we don’t have enough skill or money,  or most of all time, What do we do then? Jeremiah wanted God to accept the excuse that he’s too young and inexperienced to do what God has called him to. God, on the other hand, knew exactly what Jeremiah was capable of. He chose Jeremiah not because of what Jeremiah wanted to do, but because of what He could do through Jeremiah.

Have you been handing God excuses? “Lord, I know You want me to do this but…” How can you say “Lord” and “but” in the same sentence? You certainly shouldn’t. It’s one or the other. Either He is Lord of your life or He isn’t. If you are throwing out excuses not to do what God has asked you to do, maybe you need to consider just who is Lord of your life?

God’s will leads to blessing; our selfish will leads to destruction.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Forgive me for times when I’ve given You excuses instead of hearing, believing and doing. Please show me areas of my life where I am saying “but” to You. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 14th 2016 – Team Jesus

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“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)

We have all heard the expression, “There is no ‘I’ in teamwork” and this is even truer for  the church which is the complete “Body of Christ”.  Like a team that has made it to the Super Bowl, we should stand united in Christ working together for one unified purpose – to proclaim the Gospel to the world. This is a lofty goal, yet it is one that our coach has called us to. Christ has given us the directive and now we must follow through, as a team.

(Romans 12:15) “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Like a team, we must support each player as they gain ground for the Kingdom. If one member is in pain, the rest should grieve for them, then do what they can to help. If there is a big play and one person is blessed, we all rejoice with glad hearts. There is no room for selfishness or jealousy in the family of God. These things lead to bitterness, deceit, and division. Remember, this is not about us. If we think that this life is all about us, then we miss out on God’s amazing blessings and the team suffers. It’s about our Lord and it’s about others. In front of us is the field of life, and the God of all creation has empowered us to gain ground for His Kingdom. It’s bigger than you and I, yet God has called us to the line of scrimmage. Are you ready? This could be your finest hour.

“We are in Christ and a part of something bigger and more important than just ourselves.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for life and for inviting me to be part of this adventure with You. Thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Lord, I pray that You use them for Your Kingdom. Help me to get rid of any selfishness and to put others first. Thank you for accepting me on the winning team! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Looking to join the winning team? Click Here to learn more.

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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 13th 2016 – Extra Extra, Hear the Good News!

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“And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.”  (Acts 10:22-23)

In Acts chapter 10, we see the doors opening wide for all of humanity to hear the Gospel. Until this time, only a select few knew of the Good News about Jesus. That was about to change, drastically. The Good News presented and accepted by this group of gentiles would impact all of mankind. The world would never be the same.

Now that we have heard the Good News, we have the privilege to help others hear it. In Genesis chapter 4, Cain posed the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. We are responsible for reaching this generation with the Good News that God loves them and died for their sins.

“We should work together to reach the entire world.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You that because I asked You to forgive me, You have indeed forgiven me. There are still many people who have not accepted You as Lord and Savior. Lord, please give me a burden to reach people. Lord, I will join together with my brothers and sisters to reach the world. Help me to care about whether they come to You or not. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 12th 2016 – Search & Rescue

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“And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.” (2 Corinthians 1:10)

Often when we are walking in the midst of a suffering, we may believe that God will rescue us, but it’s still difficult to fully trust Him. As we read the verse above, it’s almost like God knew we would struggle to trust Him and so He makes sure to emphasize His ability to rescue. In 2 Corinthians 1:10, Paul writes of rescue three times:

  • Did Rescue
  • Will Rescue
  • Will Continue to Rescue

You see, God’s plan is not to leave us in the middle of pain and hardship forever. He won’t allow us to walk into a dark valley and then leave us there to wander aimlessly without end. The truth is, HE WILL RESCUE. In fact, even if we were to walk in suffering the rest of our lives, we can know as a follower of Christ that He will rescue when He comes again. When we realize this, we don’t really need to know why He is doing it, but only that we can trust He is in control and will be with us until the end. Whatever door He opens or whatever door He closes, we can trust Him. He is good, all the time.

“Our faith is really growing when we don’t know what God is doing, and we still trust Him.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love that is so great that You would rescue me in my times of need. I also thank You for using my hard times for my benefit. Help me not to despair in difficult times but rather to rejoice because I know that my rescue is on the way. 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

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org