Month: October 2012

Bible Verse of The Day – 10-18-12

(John 8:32 NKJV)  “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The truth can be a hard thing to swallow sometimes. It can cut us with its harsh realities.

But the truth can, in fact, set us free. It can set us free from ourselves. It can set us free from hurt inflicted by others. It can help us to see things they way they really are, instead of how we think they are.

Truth, when spoken, needs to be spoken with love, not with sarcasm or hurtful intentions. Jesus spoke truth very boldly, but He spoke it with love.

Sometimes when we hear the truth about ourselves or our situation, especially if it’s something we don’t agree with, we immediately reject it. We don’t take the time to consider it or pray about it. But we need to let God show us the truth and then let Him work it out in us.

I have never had a problem with speaking the truth to people when I needed to, but God has really been working with me to speak the truth with love, mercy, grace and compassion. This can make all the difference in the world as to how it’s received.

God has also been working on me when it comes to hearing the truth from others. He is teaching me to listen and consider what I hear, giving Him time to show me what’s what.

Consider truth. Let it work in you and bring you freedom that you might otherwise never have known.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-17-12

(1 Cor 10:13 NKJV)  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Are we reaching out for God’s help to escape the temptation today?

There is so much temptation in this world that we live in. We all know this; it’s not an easy thing. Everywhere we look women are half naked, showing themselves. They don’t seem to know how to dress modestly anymore.

Men don’t know how to keep there eyes and comments to themselves. They don’t care if you are married or not… they will look lustfully at another man’s wife without any guilt or conviction.

Liars, homosexuals, alcoholics, drug addicts, thieves… you can escape the temptation today. God has made a way.

Movies and TV shows today are loaded with vulgar words and dirty scenes. So much of secular music today is full of filth and lust. What are we doing about it?

We need to take a stand and be strong today! God has made a way for us all to escape these temptations.

If you are struggling in an area, with something that you know you need to stop, contact us today so we can be praying for you.

Being tempted isn’t wrong. It’s what we do when we’re tempted that shows us who we are and where we are at.

No one is perfect, we all struggle, and we need each other.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-16-12

(Eccl 3:1 NKJV)  To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Seasons are a very important way that God moves in our lives. Learning to recognize these seasons… the end of one and the beginning of another, is critical to staying in tune with the timing of God.

We have taught on this in the past, but we’ve learned that it is such a critical matter in the lives of believers, that we want to touch base on it again.

We have witnessed many, many times when a season would come to an end and a person would either fail to recognize it, or refuse to make the change, and the results were never good. Sometimes, in fact, they were disastrous.

Seeing how God has worked in our own lives, through the changing seasons, has taught us to be very watchful and mindful of these changes, and to learn how to recognize when change is coming. This has helped us so much when it comes to staying in the proper timing of God.

Sometimes it can be hard to leave one season and move into another, especially if we are comfortable in the current season, or if moving into the new season means letting go of something that is precious to us. But as we learn to trust God with our lives and we begin to learn how to discern the seasons and flow with the change, letting go will no longer be a struggle for us.

Take a look at your situation today. Is it time to move into a new season? Are you trying with all of your might to hold onto the old, when God wants to bless you with the new?

Trust God. Let go of the old. Embrace the new.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-15-12

(Eccl 3:6 NKJV)  A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away…

If we need a breakthrough in our lives today, in any area, whether it is our health, our ministry, our work place, our finances, etc., and we’re not getting it, we need to stop doing what we have always done and change it up.

Habits will keep us in bondage. Breaking the habit of always doing what we’ve always done will help to bring in the breakthrough!

Can we agree that if we try and try, and nothing is changing, that we don’t give up trying, we just need to try something else?

Come on, let’s be bold. if God is telling us to throw some things away today, we need to do it!!

Change is coming; don’t be afraid!! If it is God’s change for us… we need to embrace it!!

We serve a faithful God!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-13-12

(John 13:34 NKJV)  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Love one another.

Jesus gave us a new commandment. He didn’t tell us to be sure to walk on water once per week. He didn’t tell us to be sure to part the seas on a regular basis. And He didn’t tell us to regularly turn water into wine.

Now, don’t get us wrong… these are all miraculous things. But even if we were able to perform these miracles, by the power of the Holy Spirit, on a regular basis, if we didn’t have love, we would be empty and the miracles would be meaningless.

Love is the ultimate gift that we have been given, so that we, in return, can give it to others.

Love conquers all. Love is patient, kind, humble, considerate, hopeful, generous and so much more. When we truly learn to love the way that Jesus taught us to love, it will change our lives and the lives of those around us.

Oh, and by the way, we need to note that Jesus told us that this was a new commandment, not a suggestion!

Love one another.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-12-12

(2 Pet 3:9 NKJV)  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Do you ever wonder why it seems like the return of Jesus is taking forever? Why does it seem like the end times never really come?

God is not willing that any should perish. He has held off on His return so that we, His people, can spread the gospel to “the uttermost parts of the earth” and give everyone an opportunity to embrace Christ.

Nobody knows the day or time of the return of Jesus. But there is one thing that is safe to say, and this is that the entire world has not yet been evangelized. There are still people groups in the world who have not heard of God’s love and the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.

People of God, we still have work to do!! We need to love the people around us and shine God’s light. We need to take God’s word and His love to those in other nations. It is God’s love that we need to share and bring to others.

God loved the world so much, that He gave His son for our sins. We need to love Him and spread His love, all the way to the ends of the earth.

Then, and only then, will He return.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-11-12

(Phil 3:14 NKJV)  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Life is not always easy. Even as believers and children of God, there are going to be trials and tribulations. It’s just a fact of life.

It doesn’t seem to matter what we do, these trials still come. What matters, though, is how we go through these trials.

Do we stay positive and honor God in the midst of the storm, or do we lose our faith quickly and begin to get negative, losing sight of the prize in front of us.

God has taught us that things will come our way that won’t always be pleasant. He has also taught us in scriptures, such as the one above, that our life is not just about short-term goals or victories.

We are in a race that is life-long. And while we will reap rewards even while we’re here on earth, our eye needs to be kept on the final prize, when we stand before our Creator.

As followers of Christ, our ultimate goal should be to hear these words:

(Mat 25:23 NKJV)  …’Well done, good and faithful servant…

So press through the tough times, the trials and the tests, no matter how hard it gets, and keep your eye on the prize. We might not be able to do it on our own, but with God’s help we can have victory.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-10-12

(Eph 2:13 NKJV)  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The blood of Christ has absolute power to overcome all evil.

There is nothing that the blood of Jesus can’t accomplish in our lives. The blood of Jesus causes men to draw near to God and become new creations.

If you have been washed in the blood of Jesus and have wandered away for some reason, His blood and the cleansing power of it have not been removed from your life. You have not been disowned.

Your life is in the hand of God and His grace is enough for you. No matter what you may have done or might even be doing right now, this very moment, it is not too much for the blood of Jesus to overcome.

Today is the day and this is the moment to let God draw you back to Him. Surrender yourself to Him and let Him break the power of sin in your life. Let God give you another chance. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed. It’s not worth losing your relationship with the creator of this world.

God is calling you back to Him right now. Don’t wait. Run back to Him with your arms wide open.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-9-12

(Psa 1:2-3 NKJV)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. {3} He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

How often do we find ourselves running to the Word of God because we are in trouble?

If we want to get through our times of trouble we must spend time in the Word of God on a consistent basis. This is what builds us and prepares us, so that when things come our way God’s Word has already built up a shield within us to protect us.

To delight means to take great pleasure, to give keen enjoyment.

When we delight in anything it means we enjoy it. If we find something that we delight in, we want to do it over and over again. I remember when our children were young and we took them to a theme park they would find this one ride they would love and would want to keep going back to. They would beg us; “mommy, daddy, oh can we please…just one more time!?” When we delight in something we want more of it; it brings us great pleasure!!

Spending time in the Word of God should be enjoyable. The more we realize that the Word has everything we need to get through this life, the more we will delight in it!

It is not just for Pastors, but for us all to pick up and read as much as we can.

As we learn God’s Word through reading it and meditating on it… we shall prosper in all areas of our lives. Now, isn’t that delightful?

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-8-12

(Mark 7:13 NKJV)  “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

A few months ago we sent out a teaching and we asked everyone why you do the things you do when it comes to your walk with God. We did this in an effort to get everyone to examine their walk with God.

It’s really important for us to know and understand why we do what we do when it comes to our relationship with God because so much of what we do can be “learned behavior”.

Our gut feeling, after getting feedback from some readers, was that the point we were trying to make wasn’t as clear as we wanted it to be. So, in light of that, we’d like to touch on this topic again, hopefully bringing more clarity this time around!

Jesus spent a considerable amount of time in the 7th chapter of Mark rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees for allowing their traditions to interfere with their walk with God. So this was obviously something very important to Him.

Using the verse above as the foundation for our question, we’d like to ask you once again, “why do you do what you do when it comes to your relationship with God?”

When you pray, do you pray a certain way because you have seen and heard others do it that way? When you worship, do you worship a certain way because it’s what everyone else does? Do you believe a specific way about certain Biblical topics because someone told you that it was so?

This is not a rebuke, by any means. Think of it more as a gentle tap on the shoulder to get your attention, nudging you and causing you to examine why you do what you do. The implications of this can be life-changing once we really get it.

So let’s sincerely think about this and let God show us the answer to this very important question.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-6-12

(Josh 1:9 NKJV)  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

He says, wherever we go He is with us!

Maybe today you are making some pretty big changes in your life or perhaps you have taken a big stand for something important on your job or in your family. No matter where we are, the Lord is with us and we don’t have to be afraid.

I used to be afraid of a lot of things. I was afraid things wouldn’t turn out the way I wanted them to. Sometimes I was afraid of what people thought of me. Other times I was afraid of life itself. I was afraid of the way the world has turned out, not knowing what would become of it all.

God does not want us to live like this and be afraid of things. He wants us to know that He is with us no matter what we are facing, and He wants us to be strong.

Don’t be afraid today.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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