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March 30th 2019 – Counterfeit Christians

“Jesus presented another parable to them saying, the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.”(Matthew 13: 24-26)

Counterfeit money. It may look real. It might even be accepted as real, at least for a while. But the truth is, it’s not real. Eventually, that fake bill will be recognized for what it truly is and be destroyed.  The same can be true with our faith. We can create this flawless outer appearance: we look the part, we act the part, and to the untrained eye we appear to be the perfect Christian. But at the heart level, we’re simply fake.

Jesus spoke about this concept through a parable. Only instead of currency, Jesus used wheat and tares. For the agricultural community listening, everyone knew that tares were a weed closely resembling wheat. Still, the disciples asked Jesus to clarify.

As we continue the rest of the parable.

The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.  Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” (Matthew 13:27-30)

Here is how Jesus explained this parable.

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! (Mathew 13:36-43)

So what does this parable represent? The wheat farmer is Jesus. And because Jesus is sowing the Gospel of salvation, that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again,  anyone who chooses to put their faith in Christ, are like the wheat.  But blending into the wheat are the tares – the counterfeit Christians who might act like and sound like true a believer, and yet, in their heart of hearts they have not given their heart and lives to Christ. Sometimes a counterfeit Christian might even be leaders of the church.

The parable says that the wheat and tares remained together in the field until the harvest when the wheat was gathered into the barn for safekeeping and the tares were burned. Jesus is explaining why the difference is not revealed until the end of time. For the TRUE followers of Jesus, eternity will be spent in Heaven, in the Kingdom of God, with Jesus. The counterfeit Christians and everyone else will find themselves in Hell.

It’s a heavy topic, but one that we can’t tip-toe around; because the harvest IS coming. The Book of Revelation,  chapter 14 offers great insight into what these final days will look like and it’s a pretty sobering picture. Thankfully, Jesus continues to sow the redemptive Truth of the Gospel in hopes that everyone might experience God’s grace and mercy. So, as God looks at your heart and life – are you wheat or tares?

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your word and the wonderful way You reveal Yourself to me in it. I want to know You more and love You more. Please help me commit my heart to seek You and grow in my understanding of who You are and how much You love me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life? Did you once follow Him but let society trick you to fall away? Don’t miss out on the most important journey you will ever take. 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

March 29th 2019 – Heaven Bound

“Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (2nd Corinthians 5:5)

When you get ready to take a trip, you plan and prepare for the road ahead. You make sure to prepare all your clothes and other items you may need. You also make sure that everyone who is going along with you is also prepared for the trip. Since we take the time needed to prepare for our earthly trips, shouldn’t we also take the time to prepare for our journey into Heaven?

So how do you prepare for Heaven?  One way we can prepare is to spend time thinking about Heaven,  What will we do when we get there? What will it be like? What will we see, what will we talk about?

For me part of the excitement of a trip to the mountains or even the beach is thinking and planning what you desire to do once you get there. This builds the excitement and helps us know what we need to do before the trip. Of course, the most necessary part of any trip is making sure you know how to get there and this is most surely true with Heaven. We may have the best intentions but without a detailed map, we will not get there. So how do we get to Heaven?

Our map is the bible, it makes it very clear that we get to Heaven by trusting in Jesus Christ. We do not get there by our works, but by believing that Jesus died for us and that He rose again. Once we trust in His sacrifice for our sins, we are given Heaven and everything else that Jesus offers. We do not know when this journey will start, but we can be prepared today. Are you ready?

“Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people who have trusted Jesus as their Savior.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of Heaven through Jesus. Though I don’t deserve it, I look forward to all you have in store for me in Heaven. No crying, no pain and no sin; only the pure love and grace of our Heavenly Father. God, help me to share the message of Heaven with others so they can also experience the joy found in knowing it as their true home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life? Did you once follow Him but let society trick you to fall away? Don’t miss out on the most important journey you will ever take. 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

March 28th 2019 – The Cross

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

This true story was reported about a young couple visiting a jewelry store. The young lady was looking for something fashionable. She remembered that a a friend of hers wears a cute little silver cross, so she asked to see those. As the jeweler showed the couple various crosses, the young woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?”

What an analogy of what so many people seek today “a cross without Jesus.” They want a cross without any offense, a cross without any consequences, one that will look cool as a fasion accessory. But if we could travel back to a time the cross was used in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and horrific symbol of death. It would have been the worst image imaginable to actually see someone hanging on a cross.

The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to be a humiliating death for the person on it. The crucifixions were held on the outside edges of the Roman cities. They served as visual warnings to anyone who would oppose the rule of the Roman empire.

If there was any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like this? If there had been any other way we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it.

“If being a good person” or “living a good moral life would” would get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did, because there was and is no other way. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the Cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world.

If you were ever tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the Cross. Where Jesus sacrifised and gave His very life for us.

“Jesus’s sacrifice the cross, allowed for such a horrific symbol of death to now be seen as a beautiful symbol of His Sacrifice, His Message and His Love for us.”

There is no decision more important, accepting Jesus, it will absolutely change your life. It did mine. I couldn’t imangine where my life would have been without Him.

Christ’s love is deeper than any pit of sin. Do not grow weary trying to crawl out; look up to Christ, repent and ask Him for forgiveness & be set free.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Even though my salvation was obtained only through the costliest sacrifice ever made, You freely gave it to me. Lord, I praise You for this gift so lovingly given. Thank you Lord I believe You died for me so that I could be forgiven. I believe You were raised from the dead so that I could have new life. I know I’ve done wrong things, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me and give me the power to follow You all the days of my life. 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

 

March 27th 2019 – Tempted? God Can Help!

“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. “(Matthew 6:13)

It’s amazing how we can be so quick to condemn what someone else has done, and yet rationalize compromised behavior in our own lives. The interesting thing about temptation is that it is; well, tempting.

Jesus said we should pray, “Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). In this prayer we are asking God to guide us so we will not get out of His will and unnecessarily place ourselves in the way of temptation. We’re saying, “Lord, don’t let us be tempted above our capacity to resist.”

He won’t, of course, because the Bible says, “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Yet sometimes those so-called gray areas come along, and we wonder whether it’s okay for a Christian to do certain things. Here’s a little litmus test to apply when that happens. First, pray about it and bring it into the clear light of the presence of God. If you can’t pray about something you’re about to do and say “hallowed be Your name” over it, then don’t do it.

Second, ask yourself, “How would this look if another Christian were doing this?” Would it look wrong? Would it have what the Bible describes as the appearance of evil? If so, then don’t do it.

Third, pray that you won’t fall into temptation. You can’t go through life without temptation, but you can pray, “Lord, don’t let me foolishly put myself unnecessarily in the way of going astray.”

You can appeal to God to place a guard over your eyes, ears, mouths, feet, and hands and what you say and hear and do.

“The enemy knows just what flavor of Sin to bait the hook with!”

Prayer:

Heavenly  Father, Thank You for loving me. I know that I have wrong and have sinned against You. Father, please forgive me and fill me with Your Spirit so that I can identify and fight temptation. Please keep me from trying to justify Sin in my life. Lord, when I find myself in a tempting situation, open my eyes to the way out so that I can escape. 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

March 26th 2019 – Fractured Clay Jars

“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:11-12)

Whether they knew it or not, the church of Corinth was blessed because of Paul’s sufferings. The battles endured and hardships faced were all allowed by God so that Paul would be a great witness to the world. During this time in church history, there was a lot of suffering taking place, and as a result of that suffering, the Word of God was spread to more and more people. In fact, this continues today.

I believe we all could list out some areas where we suffered because of Christ. It may not be to the extent that Paul suffered, but trials are a part of the Christian life. That may not sound so great but think of it this way, when you’re going through a trial, someone else is watching you and can be blessed through your response. The Bible says we are like fractured jars of clay, or “cracked jars”. The more suffering and trials hit, the more we seem to crack.

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

The more we crack, the more Jesus is seen inside of us. God will use every situation in your life for good so rejoice in the hard times and look for those ways to shine… like a cracked jar with a brilliant light inside.

“You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, While it may be hard, I want to thank You for my times of suffering. I know that each of these moments is being used to make me more like Jesus. Give me the strength and wisdom needed to be a witness for You even in times of suffering. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If ou 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

March 25th 2019 – I Believe God, Do You?

“Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25)

As the storm threatened and the boat pitched back and forth, when it looked as though everyone was going to drown, the apostle Paul encouraged the others on board: “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25)

Those are not the words of a person in denial or out of touch with reality as some unbelievers might say. The fact is that Paul uttered them when they were still in the worst of the storm, with no tangible hope. They had the hope that had been given to Paul by God, the promise they would be delivered, but there was nothing visible to indicate that it really was going to happen.

This was faith, you see. It is faith when we can say, as everything is unraveling around us, “God is in control. I know He is going to get me through this, and I know that He is faithful.” Paul was confident. He knew that God was the Master of his circumstances and the Captain of his boat. He knew that God was in control.

There was a time when Jesus told the disciples to launch out into the deep for a catch of fish, after they had been fishing for many hours and hadn’t caught a thing. Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). Then the Bible tells us they caught so many fish, their nets were breaking.

There is a unique nautical term that is used when addressing  the master of a particular boat or ship, it is called “Captain”.

So here is the question: Are you willing to let Him be the Captain of your boat? Are you willing to say, like Paul, “I believe God”?

“Faith is knowing God is in control, even when things are unraveling.”

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 these storms, I ask that You place within me your spirit of hope, peace and rest. Help me  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

Are you struggling and feeling like you may drown? Seek Jesus instead of looking to the world for answers. As you take steps to follow and obey God’s voice, He will lovingly deliver you from the darkness. Click Here to learn more. 

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 24th 2019 – God Is My Guide

“Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.” (Psalm 25:4)

Do you ever feel like you’re going in circles and not making any progress? At least not the kind of progress you were expecting.

Is the constant insanity of our world pulling you in a million different directions, causing you to question if you’re even headed in the right direction?

If you’re like me, and you have dreams and made the plans, but life and all its crazyness makes you feel like you’re just surviving instead of living out those dreams.

Continual distractions.

Endless interruptions.

To many choices.

There are days I’ve felt like one foot was chained to a bolder, while my other foot is headed in every direction. Expending a lot of energy and mental fatigue, but going nowhere. Can you relate?

Wouldn’t it be awesome to wake up every morning and be assured you’re on the right path towards your dreams and goals? To know with certainty that you’re headed in the right direction? To feel confident with each step, without constantly questioning yourself?

Too many times I’ve second-guessed a decision I was confident about. I want so desperately to follow God’s will that I’ll pray, but then feel uncertain, not wanting to make a wrong move. I wonder: Maybe this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing. Maybe this isn’t part of God’s plan for my life.

As I’ve wrestled with indecision and insecurity, I’ve sought God’s Word for help. A few months ago, I found a golden truth in the Bible. It addresses our desire for guidance and shows us what to do when we need clear direction.

King David composed these words in a beautiful psalm, tucked within the pages of the Old Testament:

“Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you”(Psalm 25:5)

These verses reveal David’s humble and teachable heart. He wanted to be guided by God and led by His truth. David knew God was his Savior and placed all his hope in the One who created the right path for him.

We can find the answers to David’s request for guidance only a few short passages away. Promises we can claim for our own lives:

“The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands” (Psalm 25:8-10)

Based on these verses, when our hearts are humble and truly seeking God’s will, we can be confident of this:

1. God will always show us what is right for us.

2. When we get sidetracked, God will direct us back to the right path.

3. We are not alone. God leads and teaches us along the way.

4. God leads those who obey Him with unfailing love and faithfulness.

“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

If you’re unsure about some things in your life, don’t wait another day to figure it out on your own. Ensure your heart is in the right place of humility, and then ask God to help you. Once you’ve asked, trust that God is directing you.

“Where I go today, I pray it be only in the path You have directed for me.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me find my way to You for direction in my life. Remind me that the world will never be able to offer what my soul deeply longs for, nor does it hold my future, but You certainly do. No matter what comes my way and no matter where You lead me, I pray that my eyes will only be focused on You. You are my Rock and my Stay.  Please, God, guide me today for I don’t know what the day may hold, but I do know that if I seek You, you will guide my way. Thank You for leading my every step. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

If you you’ve gotten on the wrong path, seek God for direction instead of looking to the world for answers. As you take steps to follow and obey God’s voice, He will lovingly show you the way.. Click Here to learn more. 

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

March 23rd 2019 – In The Beginning

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

What an amazing statement. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  It doesn’t say I hope God did.  It sure doesn’t show God trying to prove that He did.  It just says, He did it.  One thing is sure, God is sure of Himself.  We need to just believe it His way, and everything works out.

When you think about what this verse has in it, that God, with His Word created everything that we can see, and the things that we cannot see. He made the stars, the planets, the moons that circle the planets.  He made every living thing, from human to animals to angelic.  He made it all.

God, our heavenly Father is truly amazing, and one day we will share in this wonder of His.  It says in (1 Corinthians 2:9) But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Now that should get your hope and expectation going.  God has given us little glimpses of heaven and the new earth, things like streets of gold, no pain or sickness, the lion laying with the lamb.  One day it will all happen and we will live before Him and with Him.  One day we will see our Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to hear Him say, “Well done you good and faithful one”.  Yeah, that’s going to be heaven right there. So go ahead, look at all God has created because He created it for you and for me.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!” 

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father, You made all of this world for us to live in and enjoy.  You gave us dominion to live a life of abundant blessing. Today, I choose that life over the life of sin and death. I thank you for saving me from destruction and death and restoring my life that I would have a new beginning. 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

 

March 22nd 2019 – From Tears to Diamonds

“I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.”(Psalms 6:6)

How deep does our emotional pain hit us? How do we respond to it? It could come from the death of a precious loved one, the hardship of having someone betray you, or the sin you keep falling into that you hate. Perhaps you’ve had sorrow as King David did when he had a child turn against him. Many of us, no matter how tough we are, have experienced pain that brought us to tears. How does God look at you and me during our struggles and when we’re weeping before Him?

“You keep track of all my sorrows.You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalms 56:8)

Our loving heavenly Father takes distinct note of when we cry. When we cry, we do not keep our tears, but they are captured by the Lord. Have you ever been bothered by seeing your child struggle, getting hurt, and crying? It is even more so with our Father in heaven who sent His Son to intercede with His tears on behalf of our struggles and sins. Jesus sowed tears of sorrow for our sin so that He could give us joy by defeating our sin (Psalm 126:3). Take heart today by knowing God has taken note of our hurts, our struggle, our prayer, our tears, and most importantly our sins, and we will ultimately be eternally freed if we have entrusted our life to Him.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4)

“Jesus turns our tears into diamonds”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for capturing my heart, my sorrows, and my tears. Thank you for paying the ultimate price for my sin so that I can be eternally delivered from the sorrow of my sin in such a sin stained world. I have great hope because of You Lord. Thank you for caring for me and remembering me even when I weep. Please keep reminding me that my tears are but for a moment, and you will wipe every tear I ever had away from my face. Please give me Your power to see and walk in Your joy since I know this day is coming. 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

March 21st 2019 – Hiding From God

“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”

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“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 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. Xxxxzz

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries 

http://www.scripturalseeds.org