Category: Drawing Closer to God

Bible Verse of The Day – 6-20-12

(Psa 51:10 NKJV)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Oh, a CLEAN heart.

Think of how beautiful and clean God is. Nothing about Him is bad or wrong; He is perfect in every way. Wow, how I long to just have one minute go by where everything I do is right within that minute.

Sometimes it seems so hard to do and say the right thing even in just a short period of time. It can be so discouraging at times. It makes me feel so awful and weak at times.

But I know that God is doing a work within all of us and it doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes time for things to get changed and other times it happens quickly. Cleaning the heart is one of the biggest and longest processes there is; everything comes from our hearts.

(Prov 22:15 NKJV)  Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Understand that we are God’s children and if we want this stuff driven far from us, we must let Him correct us, teach us, mold us and train us.

The heart is what we need to focus on. The love of God will help us clean things up and get things right if we go to Him, and those that He leads us to, to get counsel and advice from.

It’s a process and it can take some time, so don’t get discouraged…but be encouraged as we embrace God’s correction for us!!

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

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 6-4-12

(Mat 5:8 NKJV)  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

How do we get pure in our hearts?  By receiving, believing and following Christ, and then repenting and turning from our ways of doing things and following His commandments.

Jesus’ blood cleanses us as we receive Him as our Lord and Savior. Do you know the song, “What can wash me white as SNOW, Nothing but the BLOOD of Jesus!!”?  That song says it all, it’s the blood of Jesus that has given us the freedom to go to God and have a relationship with Him. Thank God for Jesus and His blood that was so pure, so clean, and so perfect.

Reading God’s Word will allow us to get to know Him, the person that He is, the things He loves, the things He hates, and so forth.

As we allow God to cleanse us, and we work to keep the junk out on a daily basis, we will see more and more of God in our lives. (James 4:8) God wants to draw near to us…we just have to want to draw near to Him.

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 – 5-7-12

(Lev 19:4 NKJV)  ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the LORD your God.

Back in the day when this commandment was written, idols were common. Statues were created and worshipped as being gods.

Nowadays, we don’t think so much about “graven images” or statues being worshipped, even though they do still exist and are worshipped in many areas of the world.

We deal with many different idols these days that can seem much more subtle, but are still just as dangerous as any other kind of idol. Let’s take a look at some of them and see which one(s) we are falling prey to.

TV – How many hours of TV do we watch each week? This might be a good time to take account here.

Computer/Internet/Games – This is a monster time consumer for some people! Virtual reality is fun, but it does nothing for eternity and our souls if we’re not using it for God’s glory.

Food – Ooh… here’s one that many of us can really use some help with. Are we putting food before other things, or even before God? Are we eating way too much? Or are we obsessed with dieting? How about hoarding food? Do we have cupboards and pantries full of food, just in case we might need it?

Hobbies – do we have hobbies that become idols? Do they consume our time and our thoughts, and even our finances? Do they come between us and our relationships with people or between us and God? There are so many of these: Golf, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, fishing, hiking, sewing, knitting, gardening, and many more. These are all great things to do, but are we letting them bet between us and God?

Addictions – alcohol, tobacco, drugs, food, porn, sex, and many more. These are all very powerful and some of them can be life-altering or life-threatening. Most of these are driven by demonic forces that can control our lives if we don’t seek deliverance and help from God.

Any one of us can be under the negative influence of any of these idols, but God offers us hope! He has given us His son, Jesus Christ, who overcame all of these things by His death and resurrection.

Ask God to help you and deliver you from these idols and addictions. He is faithful to do what we ask.

Start your week off on the right foot and take a huge step toward putting these idols behind you.

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 – 5-5-12

(Psa 69:34 NKJV)  Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them.

Do we ever take a day and just spend it to ponder on the goodness of God?

Nowadays it’s almost impossible to do such a thing. It is so busy. Running here and there …trying to get things done. We have television, cell phones and computers to distract us. Do we ever have a moment to ourselves, let alone time for God?

Today is a good day to start saying no! No to TV, no to the cell phone and no to the computer, etc. Not today… I have an appointment at such and such a time with the Almighty God!! He deserves our time and our praises!

Take time today…He’s waiting.

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 – 4-21-12

(Neh 8:10 NKJV)  Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The joy of the Lord is our strength! This has been our anthem this week, as we have worked our way through some tough things, meeting opposition as we moved forward.

Hanging our heads is always so much easier, but holding them high and pulling on God, taking on His joy, is so much better!

Sometimes it seems like we can sail through each day and everything falls into place, and then there are those days (or weeks) when it seems like it takes everything we have just to keep going.

Regardless of whether we’re in the first situation or second situation, it’s God’s joy that sustains and keeps us strong. If we lose our joy, we get miserable, weak and negative.

If the enemy has been beating on your door this week (or even if he hasn’t), make sure you’re holding your head up high, looking to God and letting His joy be full in you.

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 – 4-16-12

(Mat 16:15-16 NKJV)  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” {16} Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

I wonder if Peter really, truly understood what he was saying when he answered Jesus. I honestly believe that he didn’t fully comprehend what he was saying, simply because it wasn’t his intellect that revealed this to him, but God alone.

Had he truly understood it, would he still have denied Jesus at the time of his capture and the beatings leading up to the crucifixion?

What about us? Do we truly, truly understand who Jesus is?

I often think that we don’t fully, 100% comprehend who Jesus is. If we did, would we do some of the things that we do, or say some of the things that we say? Would we stop and think twice before making a bad choice or a wrong decision that leads us into sin, if we really, truly understood who He is?

Ask God to reveal Jesus to you in a new way and at a new depth and watch how He changes you from the inside, out.

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 – 4-3-12

(Mat 15:18-19 NKJV)  “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. {19} “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

In its original context, this verse goes on to explain that eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man or make him unclean.

Jesus used this example to teach us that what’s in our hearts is what defiles us, not whether we have washed our hands or not.

He also used it to teach us that what’s inside of us will eventually make its way out of our mouths.

Have you ever caught yourself saying something that was contrary to what you know God would want you to say? Maybe you used some language that you know in your heart was not pleasing to God. Or maybe you lashed out at someone in anger, and then regretted it later on.

We all make these mistakes at times. The important thing is that we learn from them.

First, we need to learn self control. But more importantly, we need to understand that this is showing us who we really are inside; what’s hiding there in the darkest recesses of our heart.

This isn’t something that we should beat ourselves up about, but something that we need to go to God with and ask Him to take those things out of our heart and replace them with His love, grace, mercy and compassion.

God is the best surgeon there is when it comes to fixing hearts!

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 – 4-2-12

(Heb 4:16 NKJV)  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Have you ever made a mistake? Of course, we all have.

Have you ever been told that you have made mistakes that are too big to be forgiven for? I think most of us can also say that this is true… that we have all been told this or we have felt like this at some point in time.

Well, let me tell you today that this is a lie straight from hell. There is nothing that we can do that God can’t forgive us for if we sincerely repent and ask Him to forgive us.

His word tells us that we can come boldly to the throne of Grace, where we can obtain mercy and grace to help us in times of need.

How much more can we ask for?

If you’re struggling with feeling like God has forsaken you or that you’ve let Him down, go to Him. Repent for anything you might have done and ask Him to forgive you. And then trust that you are forgiven, because His word says so.

Walk in His peace and joy today, knowing that you are abundantly blessed.

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 – 3-31-12

(Heb 4:12 NKJV)  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God is an incredible gift that God has blessed us with. I am constantly amazed at how God’s word brings light to our lives and gives us God’s wisdom.

God’s word is alive! It’s not just printed words on a sheet of paper. It’s not just a book. The words on the pages of the Bible are alive and breathing, bringing light to our darkened souls and hope to our most desperate situations.

We need to take God’s word into our spirits and soak it up, like a sponge.

His word is life to our dry bones. Getting it into us is not optional! It’s a necessity.

Take time today and every day to read God’s word. Our lives depend on it.

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 – 3-22-12

(Phil 4:11-12 NKJV) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: {12} I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Paul was content whether he was doing well or not so well. But nevertheless He knew that God would come through and deliver him at all times. He knew that His life was with God no matter what happened to Him and that was all He needed.

We are a child of the Almighty God! He is our Father. He cares about us, He loves us dearly and He wants the best for us!

Believe Him for that new job, new car, bigger pay increase, to be able to stay home with your children, to deliver your teen from bad influences, to give you a child you’ve been waiting for, to restore your broken marriage, to heal you and to bring on the breakthrough that you need.

Love Him today with all your heart and sing to Him. Talk to Him…tell Him how wonderful He is and thank Him for taking good care of you.

We can be content in HIM… He is all we need!

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 – 3-14-12

(Psa 51:10 NKJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Our prayer today is that this verse speaks to us in such a way that in everything we do, we do it for God. Whether it’s at work or at home, wherever we go, may this verse be so fresh on our minds that we would think twice before we say or do things that would be against what God has taught us.

If we want to grow and have a deeper relationship with Christ, a beautiful marriage a good relationship with our children etc., the first step in making anything better is to get our own hearts right with God.

This means that we need to take a good look at ourselves and the things that we’re doing and let God help us to make the necessary changes that need to be made in us.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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