We hope you’re celebrating the resurrection of our precious savior, Jesus Christ!
We just published our newest video, called Beating The System. And while it has nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus, it has everything to do with our walk with Him.
Many people, including believers, come up with all kinds of creative ways to beat the system; sidestep laws, pay less taxes, ignore certain parts of God’s word, etc.
In the video for today, we talk about this, and what kind of impact it has on our lives as believers.
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.
1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV) 22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
Sometimes we may feel obligated to enter into a position we’ve been asked to volunteer for, even when we know it’s not for us. We can feel pressured into something, which can cause us to give in and do it anyway, even though we know in our heart that it’s not something we should do.
We might feel like we should do it because we’re afraid that no one else will. Or maybe the person/people that are asking us to take on this particular task will be upset if we don’t take it. We don’t want to cause conflict. In our heart, we truly want to help, but what we’re being asked to do just isn’t what we feel led to help with.
Seeking God first is important when we are asked to take on any position, whether within the church or outside the church. Obeying God should always come before making any type of sacrifice.
It’s easy to think that maybe God wants us to do these things just because we are being asked by certain people to do it, even if it doesn’t feel right on the inside. But that’s not always the case.
It’s important to pay attention to those feelings we have on the inside. We need to go after God and ask Him why we feel the way we do.
God has certain people for certain jobs, within the church, and even outside the church. He works with people and prepares them for certain tasks, and He knows their hearts. He knows when someone is ready for a specific position.
Stepping into someone else’s position, whether asked or not, will not only cause problems within that position, but it will affect our lives as well, even if we are doing it in the name of HELP or sacrifice.
Take time today and make sure that what we have said yes to is what we are supposed to be doing. Being in that place/position that we belong in will bring peace to our heart, mind and soul.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. 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.
1 Samuel 15:24 (NKJV) 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
God had given Saul very specific instructions. But Saul didn’t listen. And he paid a price for his disobedience.
Sometimes we let people speak louder than God. We let fear of what the people may think of us, if we don’t do it their way, be louder than what God may think of us.
When we obey people more than we obey the voice of God, we lose what God has put us in charge of. It goes away.
1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV) 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”
In Saul’s case, he lost his place as king. Saul did not listen to the word of the Lord. God looks at this as rebellion and stubbornness, which are both as bad as witchcraft.
Many times we think we can just do what we want, and it will all just be fine. We think we will get away with it because God is forgiving. Yes, God does forgive us if we ask Him to. But there are always consequences for our actions.
God stopped Saul in his tracks and He had already prepared someone else to take his position; Someone with a heart after Him. David would take King Saul’s place.
It’s important that we listen to what God is saying to us. Follow His instructions. Don’t try adding to it or taking from it. Don’t let the fear of what people may say be louder than what God is saying.
God has the final say and He is watching, listening and alert. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Psalm 69:5 (NKJV) 5 O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.
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.
Hebrews 13:1 (NKJV) 13 Let brotherly love continue.
Today, as we sit here to put another Bible Verse and devotional message together, we are reminded of how devoted each one of you are.
Our hearts are humbled and we are ever so grateful for the love we receive from you, our brothers and sisters in Christ!
Going into this year, we had some things we were facing; things that we needed God to make provision for.
He told us to trust Him when we stepped out 8 years ago. He told us to trust Him when we decided to do what we felt He was calling us into. Not knowing how it would turn out, we stepped.
We passed up job opportunities that would take care of us and bring security. We passed up living in areas we would love to spend time in. Instead, we said yes to God.
This changed us for good. We had no idea that on the other side of this computer, you would be there. You were there waiting, listening and open to God for what He wanted to say and do through you.
He has used you to help us in this faith walk. You have been obedient in your giving and your sowing, both in your time of drought and in your time of feast! You have stepped out and obeyed. And God took care of our needs.
Thank you for helping us. Thank you for listening and stepping out, and for following what God has put in your hearts to do.
Together we will continue to reach this world with the message of the hope found in Christ. We will bring His hope, peace and love. We will stand together and help people find the truth, as we found ours. Amen
Here is our heartfelt prayer today.
Dear God in Heaven,
Bless these dear ones who have been ever so faithful, diligent and consistent, not only in their giving but in their walk with YOU. We know that You have blessed them for their obedience more than we could ever do. We pray Your protection over them.
And we pray for a burning desire in them to keep growing, keep obeying and keep walking close to You. Help them to keep trusting that as You guide them to take new steps, they never look back. That they just move forward in this journey You have them on, knowing You will be right there with them.
And we pray these things in the precious name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
God bless you all. We are here for you!
Love and tight hugs to all of you from the bottom of our hearts.
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.
Exodus 16:4 (NKJV) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
This is very interesting. The bread that the Lord rained down was supposed to do what? TEST the people.
And what was the test? To see if the people would walk in God’s law or not. To see if they would follow His commandments and only collect what he told them to.
Have we ever wondered why we haven’t gone further ahead, or why we are still in the same place?
Maybe we are NOT passing the test when it comes to following God’s word to us. Maybe we are missing some steps, things that He has asked us to do. Are we not budging, not even making an effort to try and get it right?
If we are in school, and we don’t pass the test, we usually don’t do well in that subject. Why? Because we haven’t learned all that we needed to learn.
So we have to study more and take the test again, until we pass. And then we can feel confident to move forward. Studying gives us the understanding we need to correctly apply what we learned.
God will sometimes give us little test here and there, to see if we are ready for certain things. Will we pass it or will we have to do it over?
If we feel like we are not getting ahead, and we are stuck in one place, ask God why. Ask Him to help us learn what we need to learn so we can go forward.
It could be the simplest thing that we are missing, because we just don’t want to budge on it, and that one thing is holding us back.
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.
John 9:6 (NKJV) 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Jesus took His saliva and mixed it with the dirt and made clay. He then put it on the eyes of the blind man.
The blind man needed to do something before his miracle would come. He needed to obey the voice of Jesus. Until He took the step that Jesus told Him to take, he was still blind with mud on his eyes.
What step did the blind man need to take before he could see?
John 9:7 (NKJV) 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
He had to go and wash in the pool.
The blind man went and did what Jesus told Him to do and came back seeing. He didn’t see before that. He didn’t see on the way there, but after he went and did what he was told, he could see.
How many of us today are standing around with mud still in our eyes because we never made it to the pool? We got half way there and said, ” I don’t know, this it too hard” and we’re just walking around with an incomplete victory or miracle. We need to finish the steps so that we can receive a miracle or victory.
We know what we need to do, so what are we waiting for? Do we want what Jesus already wants for us? Healing, deliverance, salvation, financial breakthrough, growing business or ministry, restored marriage or family, etc. Or are we waiting on Him to take our steps for us?
He didn’t do it for the blind man, and He will not do it for us. There are steps that only we can take.
Maybe we need to take a step in giving. Maybe it’s a step in saying no to people that pull on us. Or it could be a step of saying yes to something that we have never done before. Maybe it is a change in the way we carry ourselves, our language, our attitude, etc. Follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings and take the step.
Our prayers are with you!
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.
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.”
Even in the midst of persecution, trials and tribulations there is peace if we know Jesus.
Many people go through life without knowing Him. They may have heard about Him, or read about Him. They may have even believed in Him. But it does no good to anyone unless we personally KNOW Him.
That’s right, a friend of Jesus Christ; our Savior and the Messiah of this world. The Son of the Almighty God.
Jesus came to show us all who He is, that we may love, honor and obey Him.
Loving Him will cause us to honor Him. Honoring Him will cause us to obey Him. When we love, honor and follow His commands, He looks at us as His friend.
John 15:14 (NKJV) 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
What a wonderful Friend to have by our side! Someone who will love us and hold us close. Someone who sticks close by and helps us through everything we go through in this life.
Do we know Him personally today? Has He walked us through some moments in life that only we can testify to? Have we seen His face shine down in the storm, His peace surround us when we didn’t know what way to turn?
Shout it from the rooftop, what our Jesus has done for us. Let those moments stay alive and breathe life into others as we share the goodness of our Lord and Savior, our friend for life!
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.
Luke 5:5 (NKJV) 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
Simon explained to Jesus what he had already done, and how he got nothing in his attempt.
But notice that even in Simon’s understanding of what happened, he still followed Jesus’ word and did what Jesus told Him to do. This is key.
We may not always understand why or what Jesus may be asking of us at times. But as long as we let Him lead, we will continue to see Him move, even in our lack of understanding.
Don’t give up on what Jesus is telling us to do today. His words are solid and transforming. You may need a healing today. Your business may need a breakthrough. Your marriage may need restoring. Your spouse may need salvation. Your children may need healing, or you may need deliverance from addictions.
If Simon said, “I already did what You are asking me to do last night, it’s a waste of my time”, and he did not heed the voice of Jesus and act upon it, he would have missed out on a huge blessing.
Luke 5:6 (NKJV) 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
We are believing that as you take that step of faith, and you listen and do what Jesus is speaking to your heart today, your blessing will come.
Do what Simon did, pushing aside his own understanding of what he had already experienced and listening to what Jesus was saying.
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.
Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV) 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
We need to teach ourselves to seek God and wait on Him for direction and answers every day. It may not be what we are used to doing, but It is the way to get good Godly results. It will cause our situations to change and we will be the head and not the tail.
Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV) 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
Observing the things God shows us to do in any given situation can be an exciting way to live!
Many times when God has given us directions or has shown us what needs to be done, usually it is not what we would ever have thought of on our own.
Trust Him, stay open minded and know that He is faithful to help us in all areas of our lives! 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.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
The truth is that there are times when we can destroy God’s good intentions for us by not listening to Him. We suffer, and others around us may suffer for us not listening.
God’s Word brings knowledge. It brings clarification, healing, deliverance and victory to any given situation. He speaks to us at different times and in different ways.
Sometimes God may want to use a person to speak through, at a particular moment or time in our life. If we shut them out of our life, for whatever reasons, we may be shutting out God’s way of reaching us at that particular time, for that particular reason.
None of us are perfect in hearing or knowing God’s voice, and it takes time and we will make mistakes trying. God knows this and He works with us as we continue to try to do what’s right. But there are those times when we are just being stubborn. We know what He wants from us and we ignore or run from Him or from anyone He may be using.
The book of Jonah shares about how Jonah was a man that ran from what God wanted him to do. He didn’t want to listen to God and the plan that God had for him.
Jonah ended up going through some unnecessary circumstances in his life until he decided to do what God was asking him to do.
Some of us today are going through some unnecessary things in our lives simply because we don’t want to listen to or do what God is saying.
We need to stop blaming our circumstances, our hurt, our losses and our errors on everyone and everything else, and let Him help by speaking to us from His Word and through others that He has sent to help bring clarity to our situation. 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 enter your email address in the box near the upper right corner of this page!
Joshua 5:6 (NKJV) 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord-to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
40 years.
That’s how long it took the Israelites to travel what should have taken them 12 days.
Why?
One word: disobedience
God provided a way for them to leave slavery. He fed them, clothed them and provided them with shade in the daytime and light during the night.
An entire generation literally passed away, died, in the desert, because of their disobedience. What a shame.
Are we like the Israelites sometimes? Do we wonder “why it’s taking God so long” to do something.
Sometimes it’s not really God that’s slowing things down, but us. We are the problem.
We need to be diligent to hear God and then to obey Him and do what He tells us to do.
If we could just get this right more often, we would spend way less time “waiting on God” and more time enjoying His blessings.
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 enter your email address in the box near the upper right corner of this page!
