Category: Trials and Tribulations

Bible Verse of The Day – 5-29-15

Psalm 30:4-5 (NKJV) 4 Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

We go through some things in life that aren’t pleasant. Some of them are due to choices we have made. Others may be out of our control and may even be a sort of “test” for us.

Not that they are necessarily set in motion by God, but more that we will learn a lot about ourselves as we walk through them.

During these kinds of times we will face some very dark moments. Some moments, in fact, may make us feel like it’s the end and we just can’t go on any longer.

But whatever you do, never give up hope. For when it’s the darkest and we are at our lowest, daylight is not far away.

I spend a lot of time on the water at night during the summer months. It can get pretty dark out there! One thing is true, and it is this; it is always darkest right before the daylight.

So as you’re walking through this dark time in your life, look up. Focus on God, not on the problem at hand.

We may not yet know how He is going to bring us through the darkness. But the fact of the matter is that He is going to bring us through. And joy comes in the morning!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-26-15

John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

You will have tribulations. Not exactly the kind of words we like to hear, are they?

Those words aren’t what we would call encouraging. But wait!

Jesus followed those words up with some encouraging words of hope that should give us comfort.

“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

These days we might not use the expression “be of good cheer” very often, but we might say “take heart” or “cheer up”.

Jesus wanted us to know that despite the trials and tribulations that come our way, we don’t have to be down or depressed about them. He has overcome the world and conquered everything about it, including death and the grave.

Sometimes the things we go through can make us feel like our heart is being ripped out. We’re human and we hurt because of the trials we face.

Some days we may feel like crying, and that’s OK! During these past two years we have gone through some terrible trials. And there were days when we would lay on the floor and cry. We knew we had tough decisions to make and we wanted to make the choice that would please God, not man.

Some days we would wrestle with these choices and decisions and it seemed like the end of that dark time would never come. But we had faith in our God and we trusted Him. And eventually the breakthrough came, and the trials slowly came to an end.

God came through, as He always does. And, not surprisingly, the way He came through was nothing like what we had pictured or thought of in our own minds.

And He will come through for you, too. This time of trouble that you’re facing isn’t forever. Seasons come and go, and so will this trial go in due season.

So take heart, cheer up and trust in God. He is faithful and more than able to do what needs to be done for you in your situation.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-21-15

James 1:2-3 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.If we are going through a trial right now, let’s be honest; it’s probably not feeling very JOYFUL is it?

JOY is probably the last thing we are thinking about. It’s more like “how will we get through this time?  How will it end up? What will we lose? Will it be something we’ve worked so hard to keep? Will we be able to make up for the loss, etc.?”.

When going through a trial, most times we feel more scared than joyful. Our first reaction is almost always to fret.

In order to change that reaction, we have to know what the word of God says and then we have to hold it dear to our hearts every time fear starts to come in.

Let’s stop fretting and start having the faith we need to get through this trial. Starting right now we are going to remind ourselves that everything under Heaven belongs to God, according to Job 41:11 (NKJV) 11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

It all belongs to God. We don’t need to get upset, or be anxious about it, but trust that however it turns out will be the way He wants it to be. There is no one like our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our DELIVERER. He is our STRENGTH!!

Psalm 18:2 (NKJV) 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Remind ourselves that God has the final say in all matters. Everything belongs to Him. Put our trust in Him today and wait on Him.

The trial we are in today will not last forever and when we come out of it, we will have produced patience, and patience is good!

James 1:4 (NKJV) 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-6-15

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV) 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

We are all running in a race.

We have our eye set on the prize, or at least we should have our eye set on the prize, our eternal home in heaven with our Creator.

God’s word tells us to run in such a way that we may obtain it!

So let’s look at something for a minute. Have you ever watched people running a race and one of them suddenly falls down? I would dare say that any of us who has ever watched any kind of race has seen someone fall. It just happens.

But what did you see next? Did that runner just lay there and let the race finish as they laid there?

Absolutely not! They got up and ran even harder, to try and make up for the time they lost while they were down. And most times you will hear the crowd cheer them on to try to encourage them to catch up with the rest of the runners.

Stuff happens in all our lives. We move ahead and then something comes along that knocks us down or pushes us backwards. None of us likes it, but it’s just a part of life.

The question, though, is “what will we do when we’ve fallen?”. Will we stay down and roll around in the dirt a little? Or will we get up, brush ourselves off and then move forward again?

Well, if we follow God’s leading, we won’t just get back up. We’ll get back up and run hard, in such a way that we may still obtain the prize.

Just as that crowd cheers for the runner who has fallen and gotten back up, so God is encouraging us when we fall and then get back up, to keep our eye on the prize and run in such a way that we may obtain it.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 10-15-14

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

We need faith to face tribulations or hard times in this world, because they will come.

Sometimes tribulations can seem unbearable and it’s hard to have the faith to get us through. Maybe we have been in it for awhile and we are simply drained and discouraged.

We need to ask God today to increase our faith so that we can make it through this battle.

Luke 17:5 (NKJV) 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Jesus instructed us as to how to handle tribulations and trials.

John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The Word clearly states that He has overcome the world. In order for us to overcome our hard times, tribulations or battles, our faith has to be in Him, not in what we see happening around us, not in what we hear people saying, and not by listening to someone we put on a pedestal. We will overcome our battle by having faith in The One who has overcome the world.

If this is where we are at today, we’re having a hard time keeping our faith, everything around us is falling apart, and we are tired and confused, we need help. We need faith in God to overcome this.

Take one day at a time and ask God to increase your faith. This thing may be staring us in the face, but as we look to God, we need to remember that He has overcome and He knows just what to do. Follow Him.

Dear God,

We come to You in the name of Jesus Christ, and ask You, Father, to intervene in our situation. It is more than I can handle and I need You. I ask You to increase my faith and help me to trust in You, God, to get me through this trial today.

Lord God, if I have had a part in getting myself into this mess, I ask You to forgive me and help me to see where I went wrong and to help me to not make the same mistake again.

God, thank You today for Your help, for Your increase in faith, for caring, and for Your continued love for me. I give You all the glory, honor and praise for what You are about to do. I pray in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-8-14

Luke 6:47-48 (NKJV) 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

Have you ever known anyone who seemed like they had it all together? Their life just seemed like it was always good and things always went their way. Nothing ever seemed to go wrong.

And then one day it was as if the rug got pulled from under them and their whole world came crashing down. No matter what they tried to do, nothing could seem to make it better.

And when the heaviest part of the storm hit them, their whole world collapsed.. fell apart right before their very eyes, and in front of your eyes too. You saw it. That person who’s life seemed so perfect was in shambles and they didn’t know what to do about it.

Have you known someone like that? Or is that maybe a good description of you at some point in your life? Maybe even today…

You see, there are two possible endings to these kinds of scenarios. The first would be that the person simply loses everything and never recovers. The emotional trauma is more than they can handle and they simply fall apart, never to fully recover.

But the second possibility is that they (or you) had their life built on the rock, the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. And when the storm came, it shook the house. It rattled the windows a little and it might even have caused them to stagger a bit under the pressure.

But because this person had their life anchored in God and not in material possessions or earthly status, they recovered and became even stronger than they were before the storm hit them.

So if you’re facing trials today and it feels like your house is about to crumble and your world is about to get sucked up in a tornado, check yourself. Make sure your hope is in God and anchored on the rock of Jesus Christ.

You will come through the storm. And you will not just come through and be barely standing, but you will come through with victory. Oh, you may have some scars from the battle, but you will be stronger than ever and your faith will never be able to be shaken, no matter what you face.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-24-14

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…

We are all running a race. It’s a very long race and there are so many things that can try to keep us from finishing it.

Things come at us from every direction. Sometimes they’re things that we never expect and it catches us off guard.

But we need to run this race with endurance. Endurance requires strength. We have to work to build and develop endurance. It doesn’t just happen because we want it to.

In this race called life, there is one way to build our endurance and one source for it. The way we build it up is by pressing into God and becoming one with Him in our spirit. And He is our source. He is where we get our strength from.

There are many of you reading this right now who are weary and tired. You’ve been in a long battle and you feel like you want to give up. But we’re here to tell you that victory will come if you don’t give up.

There are still others reading this who are just now beginning a battle. You’re afraid and worried what might happen to you. You don’t know how it will all turn out.

But we say to you, cling to God and keep your faith intact. This battle will not be your demise if you keep your faith strong and hold fast to God.

There are many things that come at us during our lives. How we fare during those tough times will always depend on our attitude and our ability to trust God.

Let’s make sure we keep our faith strong.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 3-25-14

Matthew 7:24-25 (NKJV) 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

So many times we have people ask us “why did God do this to me?”. They tell us about how God has done good things for them and they felt like they were headed in the right direction, and then they encounter a trial or rough time.

And suddenly they are asking why God would “do this to them”. “Why did God pick me up and make me think everything was going to be OK, just to do this to me and crush me again?”

Well, we can’t speak for every single situation, but we can say this. God has never, ever promised us that we won’t go through stuff. He never told us “follow me and I will make your path trouble-free and full of miracles for the rest of your life”.

On the contrary, God has told us that we will go through trials and storms. And there will be times in our life when we feel like everything is crashing down around us. And there will be days when we wonder how we can go on.

But it’s in these times when God has promised to hold us up. It’s in these times when He has promised to be that rock that we need in order to be able to weather the storm and come through it still standing.

Facing adverse times doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us or picked us up only to crush us again. Adversity comes. It’s just part of life, and we need to accept that fact.

But what God does offer us is strength to endure the storm. He offers us hope to see past the storm. And He becomes our rock, our foundation, if we let Him.

“the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

Are our lives founded on the Rock? They should be! And if they’re not, it’s never too late to do the right thing and start fresh, building our new life on that Rock.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 3-8-14

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

Tests and trials come our way constantly.

Sometimes they make us feel like our guts are being ripped out, and we begin to question whether we will make it through or not.

Well, we are here to tell you that you can make it through.

You can’t do it on your own, but with Christ, you can.

Christ is our rock, our foundation and our fortress. He is our source of strength, no matter what we’re going through.

It doesn’t matter if it’s financial struggles, relationship trials, health problems or any other battle that might come our way.

If we try to face it on our own, we will surely fall. But if we lean on Him and trust Him for the answers, victory will come.

Let go today. As hard as it is, let go. Hand it over to God and cling to the hand of Jesus. He has already won the victory for us.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-27-14

(Matthew 7:25 NKJV)  “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

I was speaking to a person the other day and they were having quite the situation going on at their work, between themselves and upper management.

When the conversation was coming to a close the person said, “I know I’ll be fine because I have God on my side.”

The confidence the person had in their Savior, the knowing that she had, was all she needed. She had confidence in God that it would all be OK, no matter how it turned out.

As she stuck to what she knew, that Jesus was with her, her storm would pass and she would be fine.

The storm came, but as she kept her place on the rock, the battle was won!

She won that battle because she was founded on the rock!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-15-14

(Psalm 16:8 NKJV)  I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

The Bible doesn’t tell us that we won’t go through hard things or tough times. But it does tell us that when we do, “We shall not be moved”. Why? Because, we have set Him before us!

What are some of the things that try to come against us when we face hard times or tribulations?

The first thing is worry and stress.

Jesus tells us in  (Luke 12:22 NKJV)  Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

He gives us His answer to worry and stress right off the bat. He says “don’t do it”.

The second thing that tries to get to us is anxiety.  God clearly tells us what anxiety will try to do to us if it gets in.

(Proverbs 12:25 NKJV) Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Stay positive no matter how hard the fight looks; don’t give in to depression or negative talk.

The third thing to watch out for is fear; it will try to grip us in the worst way.

God tells us in  (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

If God has not given it to us then don’t fall for it. Rebuke that spirit of fear, in the name of Jesus. Amen

This is how we set the Lord before us, by knowing what His Word says, speaking it over our lives and walking in it daily! Amen

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-315-0902

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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