Pastor Curt

Bible Verse of The Day – 9-23-16

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1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV) 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

We live in troubled times.

We talk about this fairly frequently. Why? Because it’s part of all of our daily lives. We see so much happening around us that points to end times… the last days.

We know beyond a doubt that it’s getting close. Very close, in fact. Many, many Biblical prophecies have been fulfilled and we see signs everywhere; Increasing natural disasters, non-stop wars, escalating terrorism, heightening racial tensions across the globe, a rapid decline of morality and increase in self-centeredness. And so many other things.

Yes, generations before this one have also dealt with these things, but it has escalated rapidly during the last 15 years and has now become a massive global problem. There is no nation that is immune to any of this.

And so what do we do about it? How does this affect us in our daily lives?

We love God first and foremost. We put Him first in everything.

And then we love those around us with His love. We continue to be the salt and the light that He has called us to be.

And we keep looking up. We keep our eyes focused on Him. We can’t get caught up in hype. We can’t get so focused on the events around us that we lose track of who we are in Christ.

And we hold onto God’s peace. No matter how bad it gets, or how terrible things look, we hold fast to Him. For He is our source of hope and strength.

And we don’t try to figure out when it will happen. Yes, there are signs all around us. But we need to remember that God’s timetable is never the same as ours. And Jesus Himself said that nobody will know the day or time in advance.

Matthew 24:36 (NKJV) 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

So, in the meantime, we just need to keep doing what Jesus told us to do; loving those around us, making disciples of all nations and loving God with all our hearts.

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 – 9-22-16

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Romans 12:2 (NKJV) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The ways of the world remind me of sandpaper. They rub on us, trying to wear us down a little at a time. And if we’re not careful, before we know it we’re blending right in with everyone else.

Or think of it like when a bug hits the windshield on your car. At first it’s just one blotch. But then you turn on your windshield wipers and it gets spread all over the place, making it hard to see.

Sin does that to us too. It makes it hard for us to see clearly. It’s little at first. But that little spot can grow if we don’t remove it completely. If we try to cover it over or we make only a feeble effort to overcome it, it will only grow and become worse.

And then it gets hard to see anything clearly. Right and wrong begin to blend together. Black and white become gray.

But there’s a cure for this. God has promised us that we will never be tempted with more than we can bear. And in doing so, He will always provide a way out.

Many times we tend to complicate things and make it seem like avoiding sin is some kind of intricate process. But in reality, it usually involves us saying no and letting God strengthen us so we can turn from it and walk away.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 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.

So we challenge you today. Don’t let sin become like that bug on the windshield, smeared and smudged until you can no longer see clearly. Let God clean it off thoroughly. Let Him guide your steps.

Let Him show you the way out. And when He shows you, be sure to follow 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 – 9-21-13

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James 1:19 (NKJV) 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Before we say anything, we should listen to what people are saying first. That’s right; be swift to hear and slow to speak.

Listening will help us hear what is taking place. Listening will show us what is going on in the heart of man. Because what is in the heart will come out through their words.

Matthew 15:18 (NKJV) 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

When people speak and we are listening, we will then hear what is going on and we can address the root of it, as we also listen and wait on the Holy Spirit to help us bring guidance and direction.

We need to listen if we want to be of some help to anyone.

Be swift to hear and then act accordingly.

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 – 9-20-16

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Proverbs 24:33-3 (NKJV) 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

Apathy & complacency. Those two words were dropped into my spirit as I pondered on some things during the past day or two.

Many believers wrestle with apathy. Apathy and complacency go hand in hand. This terrible duo can lead to the failure and ultimate destruction of a believer’s spiritual wellbeing.

What do we mean by that? Let’s talk about it for a minute or two.

First, let’s define those two words that are partners in quiet, subtle destruction.

Complacency: a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better

Apathy: the feeling of not having much emotion or interest

As believers, we should always be looking up and looking forward. Our eyes need to be fixed on God and our hearts need to be intent on drawing closer to Him and strengthening our relationship with Him.

This requires time and effort on our part!

When we become complacent and satisfied with how things are, we can become apathetic. We no longer have any interest in pursuing God or growing that relationship. We just want the status quo because it’s easy that way.

And as time goes by, if we’re not moving forward, we begin to slowly regress and then we start to slip backwards. We may not see that we’re slipping backwards. Or maybe we do see it, but don’t want to admit it or acknowledge it. But it’s happening nonetheless.

So let’s ask God to show us if we’ve become complacent and/or apathetic. And listen earnestly and honestly for His reply. He wants us to stay hot and on fire for Him, not lukewarm or smoldering.

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 – 9-19-16

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James 3:7-8 (NKJV) 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Of the many members that comprise the human body, none is as powerful as the tongue.

No matter how small or insignificant it might seem, it has power that most can’t even fathom. Yes, it can hide innocently inside of our mouths, concealed from sight most of the time.

But the devastation and destruction that the tongue can unleash are beyond comprehension. Men and women fall because of it. Nations go to war because of it. Eternal destinies can be altered by it.

We can build incredible structures, travel to planets and orbit the earth in a space station. We can bring many things into submission, and modern technology has taught us to accomplish so much.

Yet we cannot seem to tame the tongue. The number of sins committed with our tongues far outnumbers all other types of sin.

Yes. The tongue is unruly and full of poison.

So, what can teach us to tame our tongue? How can we bridle this seemingly untamable part of our bodies?

By the power of God’s spirit!

Only by God’s power can we begin to bring this member of our body into submission. Without Him, we are powerless to do anything good with it. But with Him, we can learn how to tame it and cause it to become a member that produces fruit, in our lives and the lives of others.

Let’s let God show us and teach us how to tame our tongues, starting right now.

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!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-17-16

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1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Paul doesn’t say to only give thanks when things are going well. Or give thanks when we are in the mood. He doesn’t say, give thanks only when we are in church or at Bible study. Nope. He said, “in EVERYTHING”!

Why?

Because it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. There is no other reason other than it being God’s will.

That is reason enough.

This is a nice little reminder today to not put off our thankfulness for when we FEEL like it, or when we have received our answer from God. But to stop what we are doing and give Him thanks, love on Him and show Him how grateful we are.

There will always be some situation or someone that will try to keep us from being thankful. But that is not going to stop us today. We are going to be thankful anyway. 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 – 9-16-16

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Ezekiel 37:4 (NKJV) 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

The prophet Ezekiel had been taken up in the Spirit. During this time, God showed him a valley full of dry bones. Ezekiel remarked that not only were there many, but there were very many! And not only were the bones dry, but they were very dry!

As God showed him more, He told Ezekiel to prophesy to those bones and speak life back into them! So Ezekiel spoke to them and watched as God restored their muscles, their flesh and their breath. And they lived again, in numbers of an exceedingly great army!

And God showed Ezekiel that these were representatives of the nation of Israel. Israel had become very dry and separated from God. They were spiritually dead.

And God spoke once more to Ezekiel and told him to prophesy again to them, telling them that He would put His spirit in them and they would indeed live and possess the land that He would provide for them. And in these things, they would know that He was God.

And so we speak to you, the body of Christ, today! We speak life into your tired, dry, weary spirits! Breathe again, in the name of Jesus. Let God renew your spirits. Let Him pick you up and re-create you, making you new in Him!

Let Him clean off the dirt and the cares of the world. Let Him show you how to cast off all that would try to weigh you down and dig a hole and bury you. Rise up, church, and live again!

Shake off the burdens of man-made traditions. Leave behind the rituals that would try to bind your hands and rob you of the freedom that Jesus died to give you.

Be still and let God fill you with His mercy and compassion. And receive His joy, for it is His joy that gives you strength!

Live again, bride of Christ! Live in the fullness that Jesus gave us. 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!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-15-16

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Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

It’s important that we know what God thinks of us. People’s opinion of us can sometimes sway us to the left or the right. People’s opinions or words over us can affect the outcome of our lives hugely.

Why do we let what people think and say about us affect us? Why do we let it mess with our minds and emotions, causing us to sometimes be less than who God really wants us to be?

As children, we learn from the beginning that we get different responses and reactions from people based on what we do. If we’ve done something good and mom’s happy with it, we know that what we did was a good thing.

As we grow up, we learn what works and what doesn’t work to get praised or get a good reaction from others. And we carry that throughout our lives, when we go to school or work a job, etc.

Wherever we go, we watch and look for the reactions of others and we then base who we are on their thoughts about us and toward us. Our confidence gets built up on what others think or say about us.

God is saying today to each one of us, personally, that He has thoughts toward us! Our confidence should come from Him and Him alone.

Are we listening to His thoughts toward us today or are we letting everyone else mold us?

He has a future for each one of us. He tells us who we are and who we will become. 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!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-14-16

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Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Being still is one of the hardest things any of us will ever be told to do by God.

You would think that sitting still would be easy. You know; just sit there and don’t move. But that is really hard for most of us to do.

Why? Because our minds like to try to figure things out. We like to know what’s going to happen. We don’t like surprises or the unknown. We like to be in charge.

For some of us, we just have a hard time waiting. We know something is coming. But we don’t know how or when. And it makes us antsy; we can’t sit still. Some of it is due to excitement. Some of it is due to not knowing what else to do. So we just want to move… do something!

But this is where we’re tested. This is what can make or break some of us. This is where we learn how to listen and obey God’s voice, even when it might seem like we’re not hearing anything.

But it’s while we’re sitting still, not moving and not saying anything, that we really start to see God move and Hear Him speak. And it might not happen in the time frame that we’d like it to.

But that’s OK. Because we’re not the ones in charge. He is.

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!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-13-16

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2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

His grace is sufficient. There is nothing that His grace can’t handle.

It doesn’t matter if our sins are “little” or “big”, His grace is sufficient.

It’s important for us to know that having something that we struggle with isn’t enough to push God away or cause Him to turn away from us. It’s because of our struggles that we need Him. If we were perfect, we’d have no need for His grace and mercy.

Matthew 9:12 (NKJV) 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

And there is no “issue” that we can bring before Him that He can’t handle. His grace is sufficient.

The key to all of this is one word; struggle. For if we’re struggling, it means that we’re trying to do right. We’re trying to obey, but we struggle with getting it right. Underneath the struggle, though, is a sincere effort. A genuine desire to put that sin behind us and move beyond it.

So if you’re trying, don’t give up. Keep seeking God and making an effort to get it right. If we keep trying, sooner or later we will get it.

And in the meantime, God’s grace is sufficient.

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!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-12-16

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Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Knowledge and understanding are so critical in our walk with God. It isn’t necessarily worldly or natural knowledge that we need. We shouldn’t be ignorant when it comes to the matters of the world, but getting God’s wisdom is the most important thing.

So many times we can cause problematic situations in our lives to be prolonged because we lack God’s knowledge, wisdom and understanding. As we face trials and tough situations, it really helps to know what God’s word says about various things that we encounter.

This helps us to be able to make wise decisions and choices quickly. And not only does it save time, but it keeps us from falling prey to things that will harm us or those around us.

Proverbs 16:16 (NKJV) 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Sharp discernment is also very important, as it will help us know how to judge the things we’re seeing and hearing around us, so we will know whether it’s God speaking to us or not. And once we learn to recognize God’s voice, that will also help us to follow His direction.

John 10:27 (NKJV) 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Get knowledge. Get Wisdom. Get understanding.

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!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

Please consider making a Donation.