Scripture for the week of October 29, 2023 By JoBeth Kested
Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:1-2 (NLT)
Everyone at one time or another suffers the wounds of failed relationships whether it is family, a spouse, best friend or a boss. The hurt, grief, betrayal, injustice and anger can be extremely difficult to deal with or overcome. We can spin our mental and emotional wheels endlessly asking the questions “Why me?”, “How did this happen?”, and “What if…?” yet never finding the answers to soothe our hurting souls. This scripture reminds us that God’s love for ALL nations and ALL people never ends and never fails. No matter our color or culture we will always find His arms open to receive and restore us in His love that will never end! No matter our faults or failures our circumstances or sorrows the promise and healing hope of the Lord’s steadfast unfailing love knows no barriers nor boundaries. Let us ALL lift our voice in gratitude for God’s endless unfailing love and Praise The Lord!
Scripture for the week of August 13, 2023 By JoBeth Kested
I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 (HCSB)
Have you ever been awed and captivated by the majestic beauty of the mountains? Some of us welcome the challenges of hiking and climbing mountains for the thrill of enjoying the breathtaking scenic beauty, the fresh smell of pine trees, and the enrapturing views from lofty peaks. But, sometimes we may face the treacherous slopes of life’s daunting dilemmas and mountains of difficulties that can seem impossible to climb. We need to be reminded that no matter how insurmountable our problems may be, the Lord is with us, He hears our cries and is able to lift us up higher than we ever thought we could climb on our own. Trust the Lord today to see your mountain of impossibilities as a mountain of opportunity to be overcome in the power of His might. Look up and hold out your hand to The Lord God Almighty, Who is already reaching out to you! Praise the Lord!
A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (HCSB)
Have you ever enjoyed the craziness of a scavenger hunt where you are dependent upon finding the clues to guide where you need to go next? Sometimes, we can feel stuck in our life without a map or plan to follow and no clue of how to proceed. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we can find ourselves feeling helpless, like stumbling along in the dark with a fear of failing and falling. How encouraging it is to learn in these scriptures that we can trust that the Lord takes pleasure in establishing our steps and showing us the way we need to go. He promises that even if we stumble along the way, He is holding our hand to strengthen and protect us from the overwhelming fear of falling. Lord, establish our steps, please hold our hand and protect us as we follow you out of the dark and confusing times of our lives. Amen.
The words “But if” implies a choice that is being presented to us. . 7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
We must choose to walk in the light as He Yeshua (Jesus) is in the light… then once the choice has been made, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of His Son Yeshua (Jesus) purifies us from all sin.
Dear one, this choice must be made in every circumstance that we face. If we slander, speak or seek unholy angry, selfish, disrespectful, disparaging words against our brothers and sisters, we are not walking in His Light. We are in fact walking in sin and darkness.
Abba, forgive us for our refusal to walk in the Light Yeshua (Jesus) as He is in the Light. He IS the Light!
We choose You Yeshua (Jesus). We ask for and offer forgiveness to anyone who has spoken wickedly against us and anyone that we have spoken wickedly against. We apply Yeshua (Jesus) blood over our brothers and sisters as well as ourselves.
We set our will to walk in The Light Yeshua
(Jesus). We choose Your will and Your eat, today and everyday and circumstances that we find ourselves in.
John 8:12 CJB 12 Yeshua spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”
John 14:6 CJB 6 Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.
We choose Yeshua (Jesus), today and every day. Thank You Abba for Your Son! Your Plan for our lives. In Yeshua (Jesus) Name Amen
Please read all of 1John 1. Ask Abba to reveal His Light Yeshua (Jesus).
1 John 1 CJB
1 The Word, which gives life! He existed from the beginning. We have heard him, we have seen him with our eyes, we have contemplated him, we have touched him with our hands!
2 The life appeared, and we have seen it. We are testifying to it and announcing it to you — eternal life!
He was with the Father, and he appeared to us. 3 What we have seen and heard, we are proclaiming to you; so that you too may have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Yeshua the Messiah. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. 7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.
Blessings and Shalom- Love Beyond Measure, Beth Auman
46 (0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
2 (1) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid, even if the earth gives way, even if the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 4 (3) even if its waters rage and foam, and mountains shake at its turbulence. (Selah)
5 (4) There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, the holy habitation of ‘Elyon — 6 (5) God is in the city. It will not be moved — when daybreak comes, God will help it. 7 (6) Nations were in turmoil, kingdoms were moved; his voice thundered forth, and the earth melted away.
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us, our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah) 9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai, the astounding deeds he has done on the earth. 10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease — he breaks the bow, snaps the spear, burns the shields in the fire. 11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God, supreme over the nations, supreme over the earth.”
12 (11) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us, our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
Abba, we come before Your throne today in Yeshua’s Name and declare and decree Psalm 46. You are with us, You are our fortress!! Be who You are! We will not limit You by our human thinking! We need you to be who You are in Your fullness!!Amen
Blessings and Shalom – Love Beyond Measure, Beth Auman
Psalm 36:1-13 CJB For the leader. By David, the servant of Adonai: Crime speaks to the wicked. I perceive this in my heart; before his eyes there is no fear of God. For, the way he sees it, crime makes his life easy — that is, until his wrongs are discovered; then, he is hated. His words are wrong and deceitful; he has stopped being wise and doing good. He devises trouble as he lies in bed; so set is he on his own bad way that he doesn’t hate evil. Adonai, in the heavens is your grace; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, your judgments are like the great deep. You save man and beast, Adonai. How precious, God, is your grace! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings, they feast on the rich bounty of your house, and you have them drink from the stream of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your grace to those who know you and your righteousness to the upright in heart. Don’t let the foot of the proud tread on me or the hands of the wicked drive me away. There they lie fallen, those evildoers, flung down and unable to rise.
Declared in Jesus Name
Blessings and Shalom in Jesus Name- Love Beyond Measure, Beth Auman
Have you ever presumed that just because something is good means that it is God’s will? The Bible does say that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). But, we also need to understand that sometimes good can be the enemy of God’s best for us.
Many years ago, I remember hearing a sermon titled “One Too Many O’s”. The gist of it being that the reason we must ask ourselves if there is one too may O’s is because sometimes good is not God’s way! That insight has kept me from settling for some things that seemed really good, but helped me to wait a little bit longer to find God’s will. I have learned to stop and ask myself, “Is there one too many O’s?” And, “Just because it is good is it God?” We cannot presume that just because something is good means it’s God’s will for us. We will do well to remember that the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden was the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Settling for or pursuing good things can be just as big an enemy of God’s best plans for us as any evil!
Looking back upon my life, it’s clear to see that many good and seemingly wonderful things or opportunities were definitely not God’s best plan for me. I can honestly thank the Lord for a lot of unanswered prayers! It’s so clear now that God protected me from a lot of not-so-good things. I am thankful that many things that looked so perfect and important, that I had prayed and prayed for, were definitely not for my good; even some things that broke my heart and caused me to question God’s love for me at that time.
So, how can we know the difference between what’s good, but not God? There are a few questions we can ask ourselves:
1. Does it disagree with or compromise scripture?
2. Does it honor God and lead me into closer relationship with Him?
3. Does it bring peace to me and those important relationships in my life?
Here are several scriptures that have also become guiding light to me when trying to discern God’s will:
By prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) First of all, it is very important to take everything to the Lord in prayer and to thank Him for circumstances that give Him the opportunity to demonstrate His power, provision and love to us when we need His help or guidance. Then, we are in the place to experience His peace that passes understanding which will guard our heart and mind; helping us to determine the difference between good possibilities and God’s best for us.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJV) Besides encouraging us to trust The Lord with ALL our heart, the hardest part of this verse is the challenge to make sure we are not leaning to our own understanding. Many times it is so much easier to settle for the good options because they usually make much more sense to our natural understanding.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) One of the hardest things to do is to wait upon The Lord and His timing. (This is an active waiting, continuing to ask, seek and knock, doing all we know to do in the mean time. (Matthew 7:7)) The temptation to settle for a good thing is often because it seems so much simpler, easier or more comfortable. But, the main reason I mention this verse is because doubt, confusion and fear weigh us down with such a heaviness. When we wait upon the Lord and his will becomes clear, there is a great uplifting peace and joy with a renewed strength that launches us into the new way.
Next time something seems too good to be true or seems so good you think it must be God, I encourage you to stop and ask yourself, “Are there one too many O’s?” and, “Is it good or God?”
Nearly two years ago my husband and I packed up all our belongings and moved from northwestern Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Our little dog Tootsie was getting a little confused. She watched us pack up one thing after another and carry it out of the house, her house, the only house she had ever really known. I picked her up and comforted her by saying, “Oh, my little girl, I know you don’t understand what’s going on, and I can’t explain it to you, but all you need to know is that I love you and you will always be with me.” When I said that I “heard” that sweet familiar still small voice of my heavenly Father whisper in my heart, “and that goes for you, too…and for My people who are struggling and confused.”
I knew that day my little doggie girl needed my reassurance to help her keep trusting me and not get anxious. If I feel that way about my dog, don’t you know your heavenly Father feels so much love and compassion for you, His beloved son or daughter! So when you don’t understand just stay close to Him, like Tootsie did with me, and let Him carry you through. Let His love comfort you today!
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
