Tag: faith

Your Daily Bible Verse – 1-4-12

(Phil 4:6-7 NKJV)  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; {7} and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Yesterday we talked about having God’s peace when making decisions. We talked about how having that peace can help us better understand when we’re on the right track, and how not having that peace can tell us that we’re on the wrong track.

Today I’d like to share a little more on this topic, so as to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings. This is very important because it can seriously alter the paths we choose in life and the decisions we might make.

I really feel like I need to clarify a couple of things here. First of all, if you’re married and you are facing a major decision in your life, either as a couple or as individuals within the marriage, if one person is feeling at peace and the other isn’t feeling peace, it’s imperative that you DON’T make any changes at that time.

A lack of unity on the part of the couple is a pretty clear indication that more clarity and understanding is needed. Any and all decisions that will affect a married couple need to be made in 100% unity on the part of that couple. If there is no unity and no peace, simply wait. If no peace comes, move on and put it behind you.

The other area where we see people get into trouble all the time is when someone who is not a part of the decision-making process expresses their opinion and sways someone one way or the other in the decision making process, especially if no opinion was asked for.

There are some well-intentioned people out there, in the church body, who are always more than willing to “share a word from God”, and give people direction in their lives. But these self-proclaimed profits are nowhere near qualified to be doing this. These types of people can lead to very serious problems in the lives of those people to whom they speak.

No decision should ever be made based on input from one of these people. Although they may have good intentions, their guidance can do great harm because they typically don’t operate fully under the spirit and the guidance of God.

When you face any of these types of decisions in your life, make sure that you have that peace that passes understanding. This is God’s peace. You can have this peace even when God has instructed you to do something that you have no earthly idea how to do, but your faith carries you in a way that allows you to be at peace in your spirit when your natural mind might be running in the opposite direction. Once we know and understand this, our lives will be forever changed and we will look at things from a new perspective.

Know Him, and know His peace.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-30-11

(James 5:16 NKJV)  …The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

For many years I thought that this verse meant that in order to be effective, a prayer had to be fervent… repetitive, prayed many times. It’s how we are all taught.

We’ve all heard that we need to prey fervently. But we are led to believe that praying something fervently means praying something over and over again.

A few months back God showed me that this isn’t the case. I had it all wrong. Fervent prayer doesn’t mean repetitive prayer. Fervent, in the way God uses it here, is referring to the person being fervent (consistent), but not that the prayer itself needs to be repeated over and over again for God to hear it and give you results.

We need to be fervent. We need to be consistent. It’s our consistent effort that God sees as being fervent. Take a look at this scripture below for confirmation:

(Mat 6:7 NKJV)  “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Repetition of our prayers is not the key. Consistency in our walk with God is the key. When we’re consistent in our walk with Him we will know Him and discern Him better. This puts us in line with His spirit and His will, allowing us to hear His voice better.

Our prayers are our conversations with God… us talking to Him and Him speaking to us! They are not an opportunity for us to show our eloquence of speech and how well we articulate our words!

Let’s be fervent in our walk, which will lead us to a better relationship with God and prayers that will get results!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-27-11

(John 4:48-51 NKJV) Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” {49} The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” {50} Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. {51} And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

The question today is; do we believe in Jesus’ Word that He speaks to us about our situation or our need, or do we have to see Him work it out first in order to believe it?

Faith is not about seeing the results first. The Bible clearly tells us what Faith is (Heb 11:1 KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When we believe God to do something for us, we can’t wait until He does it. The faith comes first. We have to get Him ahead of time, get His word on the situation, knowing what the Bible says He will do and hold onto it, trusting that He will work it all out even if we don’t see the evidence at first.

Very recently, my nephew, John, laid in the intensive care unit after being in a terrible car accident. He looked hopeless. He had tubes everywhere. He couldn’t eat, couldn’t breathe on his own, and they COULD NOT let him regain consciousness, because just being awake could harm him badly.

His brain was so swollen it could have killed him if there was any kind of activity at all. But, God gave me a vision in the midst of the storm and in this vision, my nephew was awake, laying in the hospital bed with a football under his arm, smiling. It was God’s word to me. It was His way of showing me that John would be fine.

After this, I got updates on John each day. They were all very disturbing; nothing like I would have thought. But God gave me His word and in my heart His word stayed strong despite what I was hearing, despite the pressure of the family and what they were saying. Of course they were lining up with death and negativity on all ends. But, God’s Word is much more powerful!!

Today John is doing a lot of the normal things that teens do at his age. He’s home, walking, talking, texting, eating! Praise be to God! If John had died he would have gone to hell, he has not accepted Jesus Christ as of yet. My prayer is that he will soon.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. Your faith in God did not only saved his life on this earth, but your prayers and your faith helped save him from going to hell if he had died. He is not burning today because of your faith, your prayers and you standing strong on God’s word!!

Thank you for your faith in God, and remember trust in the WORD and let God bring it to pass! Your situations will change from hopelessness to a MIRACLE!!

God bless you all!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-26-11

(Job 2:9-10 NKJV)  Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” {10} But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job holds a special place in my heart. He was a man who faced incredible adversity and yet he never gave up on God.

Job’s own wife told him to just curse God and die. Hmm… not very loyal, was she?

But seriously, what did it take for Job to hold fast to God while losing everything he had, including his family, and while everyone in his life who remained was telling him how foolish he was to hold onto his faith?

It took an absolute trust in God. It took a faith that could not be shaken by situations or circumstances. It took a faith in God that went beyond human logic and understanding.

We all need faith like that. We all need to learn to put our circumstances and situations lower on our list of priorities and put God first and let Him work our situations out for us.

Don’t get me wrong… it’s not always easy to do, but it’s something that we need to do. We need to learn to give our situations to God and keep our faith strong, even when the world around us is telling us to curse God and die.

So as I wrap this up, I want to share a little something with you that God showed me many years ago. Many of us have probably heard people talk about the patience of Job, but God showed me that Job had more than patience. He had incredible faith. So in the future, when you think of Job, remember his faith.

We all need faith like Job’s faith.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-24-11

(Luke 8:23-25 NKJV)  But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. {24} And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. {25} But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

This is Jesus… our Savior. He is the one who gave His life for us and whom we follow.

He spoke to the winds and they stopped. He spoke to the dead and they lived again. He touched blind eyes and they could see. He rebuked demons and they fled.

What is it that we really have to worry about? Isn’t our trust in the right place if we’re truly trusting God, through our faith in Jesus?

Our minds wander and they blow things out of proportion. We always tend to think the worst.

But if we truly learn to trust God, our worries will fade away and they will be replaced with peace and joy.

Tests and trials will surely come. It’s a fact of life. But worrying doesn’t have to follow right behind the tests and trials.

Let God build your trust and then give Him your worries.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-16-11

(James 4:13-14 NKJV)  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; {14} whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Every once in a while we all need to be reminded of how fragile life is and that not a single one of us is promised a tomorrow.

I know this is something we’ve touched on before, but it’s always worth repeating, simply because it’s a hard truth.

Our lives can change forever in a split second, either by a choice we make or because of something that someone else does. Either way, we can never go back and rewind and change what happened.

We need to know that when these trials and tests come we are not alone. God is there for us. We just need to reach out to Him and trust Him, no matter what the circumstances look like.

In our lives, every choice we make has a consequence. But when we make bad choices, or when someone else makes bad choices, and the consequences for those choices come our way, we will never be left alone.

If you’re going through a tough time right now, trust God. Let Him help you through your trial and bring you victory.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-14-11

(Psa 18:2 NKJV)  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.

We would like to say a sincere “thank you” to you all… you guys are amazing!

We are so appreciative of you and your kind and encouraging words to us, how it helps us through, to keep going and doing what we feel called to do. Thank you!

We know for some of you, just from reading the testimony you sent in, how hard it must have been to shout out, being in the situation you are in. But, Praise God YOU did it! We are believing that God is going to bring you great Victory as You trust and obey His commandments!

I sat at my desk as I do every morning, sipping my tea, and as I began to open up the testimonies that came in, I had moments of tears, moments of laughter and rejoicing and moments of just lifting my arms up to God and praising Him for what He has done for you!!

You people amazed my husband and I with your faith! Do you know we need each other? Your testimonies meant a lot to us and touched us both right in our hearts. We are praying for those that requested prayer and even for those that haven’t. God is FAITHFUL!

Lean on Him today, He is our rock!!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-13-11

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(Psa 98:4 NKJV)  Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Today is a good day to SHOUT!!

I know that when things are good it’s easy to Shout. But when things are not so good and you’re feeling depressed, sad, tired and worn out, we have to get up and SHOUT, making a joyful noise unto the Lord!!

We are asking you today to get up and start shouting regardless of where you’re at in your situation. Don’t let the weight of your situation or someone else’s situation bring you down. Shout your way back up and stay there. Break forth in song and Rejoice!!

OH for God is GOOD!!

If you have a testimony that you would like to share about God’s goodness, please send it in. We would love to hear how Good God has been to you!

Shout the Victory!!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

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

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-10-11

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(Gen 22:10-12 NKJV) And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. {11} But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” {12} And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

God is never too late, but always on time. Thank God that Abraham did not slay his son. He would have had some explaining to do for that one. But, God was there on time!!

How often does God ask us to do something and He will take care of the rest? So, we start off doing our part and if He doesn’t show up when we think He should, we get nervous and take matters into our own hands.

God did ask Abraham to do this and Abraham was going all the way through. God saw Abraham’s heart and He saw that nothing came between Him and God; not even his own son.

I have to be careful when it comes to my children because I love them so much that if I’m not careful, I let them take precedence before God and that is wrong. Nothing and NO ONE should come before God. He comes first in all things.

I find it interesting that God wanted Abraham’s son. This was the son that Abraham waited so long for…and this son, I’m sure, meant a lot to him and Sarah. It was the very thing that probably meant the most to them. Abraham did not withhold it from God.

What or who are we holding on to today? Do we love it or them more than God or will we give it up when He asks for it?

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-8-11

(1 Th 5:11 NKJV)  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Learning to lean on each other, share each other’s burdens and help each other is a huge part of being in the body of Christ.

God has made us a body for that very reason. He wants us to go to each other when we’re in need.

He wants us to help each other when we see someone suffering or struggling.

We were not designed to go through life alone. We were not designed to go through trials and struggles alone. We should draw our strength from God, but we also need to learn to draw from one another.

God has placed things within each of us that are valuable to others in the body of Christ. We just need to let Him teach us when to use those gifts.

If you’re hurting or struggling today, reach out to someone who can encourage you. If you know someone who is hurting or struggling, ask God what you can do for them, and then do it.

Love each other. Encourage each other and lift each other up, in the name of Jesus.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-06-11

(1 Pet 3:8 NIV)  Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Compassion – sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

I was praying this morning, asking for God to help those that were hurting and in trouble all over this world. I was thanking Him because as I was praying I knew in my heart people were coming out of terrible situations, I could sense that God was moving quickly and these situations were changing as I was trusting and believing that He was answering my prayers.

As I was praying I saw this man in a ditch. It was a hole and he was in there, laying  face up. Along came a person and with his hands he reached in and pulled this man out! Up and out he came from that ditch, very quickly!

The hands that pulled this man out were a man’s hands… but God was moving through those Hands. God is what gave the man the compassion to stop and care. It was God’s strength that lifted him up and out. It was God’s wisdom and knowledge that showed the man how to to help him up out of that ditch.

Show your love today by being compassionate to one another. Who is it today that is in that ditch and needs to come up and out?
God will make a way!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
401-377-5400

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