Archive | April 2023

Scripture of the Week by JoBeth Kested

Apr24

Scripture for the week of April 23, 2023
By JoBeth Kested

The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in his love; He will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NRSV)

Have ever had or are you currently in the midst of one of those difficult times where everything seems to be just too much, too hard, or too impossible? Sometimes the hard stuff feels so overwhelming when we are also battling the wounds of abandonment, betrayal or loneliness without any hope for help. This scripture reminds us that our God is with us as a mighty warrior, our champion El-Gibbor, that fights for us to bring victory into our seemingly impossible situations. We must remember that our Heavenly Father delights in us and rejoices over us with gladness. He longs to renew our faith and strength in the assurance of the reality of His loving presence. So, be encouraged with renewed hope and faith in God’s extravagant love for you! Be assured that the awesome Lord God Almighty is fighting for you with rejoicing songs of gladness and shouts of joy to bring you into victory! Hallelujah! Yaaay God!

Scripture of the Week by JoBeth Kested

Apr16

Scripture for the week of April 16, 2023

By JoBeth Kested

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34:8,10 (NKJV)

Have you ever longed for the taste of something like the first sip of coffee in the morning, your favorite piece of pie or maybe the best decadent chocolate as it melts in your mouth? There is nothing quite like that first taste that is so satisfying; that causes us to savor or cherish the moment and is often accompanied by the feelings of comfort and happiness. This verse seems to encourage us that we don’t have to struggle and fret because we can’t understand the whole Bible or to grasp all the ways of God. If we will just begin to taste a little at a time of God’s love, goodness, mercy and grace we will want to keep seeking for more and more of Him as we see the blessings of His comfort, peace and joy in every aspect of our lives. O taste and see that the Lord is good!

 

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Apr9

Scripture for the week of April 9, 2023
By JoBeth Kested

Jesus… asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13-17 (NIV)

Throughout the last 2000 years the question is still being asked, “Who is Jesus?” Many are still saying that he was a good man or spiritual teacher, while others say he was a prophet. In these verses Jesus commends Simon Peter for declaring the truth that He is the Messiah. Jesus acknowledges in this scripture, and many other verses, that He is the Son of God. He also declares in John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life; that no one comes to the Father accept through Him. We don’t get the option to believe that Jesus is just a good man, a teacher, or one of many prophets. We must face the fact that He is either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord as He says He is. Jesus is still asking each of us the question, “Who do you say that I am?” This Easter morning, do you know Him as the promised Messiah, the risen Lord resurrected from the grave? To all who believe, He is still showing The Way, The Truth, and The Life. He Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed!

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Apr2

Scripture for the week of April 2, 2023
By JoBeth Kested

For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:3-6 (NASB)

Have you ever had your breath taken away by the beauty of an ocean sunset, stood in awe of snow capped mountains or thrilled by the delicate display of wild flowers in a meadow? Elohim, the Creator God, the most masterful of all artists, reveals Himself to us in the minuscule and extravagant details of His creation. God displays His majesty in the loftiness of mountain peaks and the splendor of ocean depths. We are humbled by His sovereignty expressed in the brilliant display of lightening and the blustering winds of powerful storms. His mercies that are new every morning are revealed in every glorious sunrise. The Lord tenderly captivates our hearts in the loveliness of butterfly wings, the fragrance of roses and the awe of a sleeping baby. Then, wonder of all wonders we are invited to call Him Father because He loves us! Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Prayers to Pray as we approach Passover

Apr2
Psalm 56 CJB For the leader. Set to “The Silent Dove in the Distance.” By David; a mikhtam, when the P’lishtim captured him in Gat: Show me favor, God; for people are trampling me down — all day they fight and press on me. Those who are lying in wait for me would trample on me all day. For those fighting against me are many. Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God — I praise his word — in God I trust; I have no fear; what can human power do to me? All day long they twist my words; their only thought is to harm me. They gather together and hide themselves, spying on my movements, hoping to kill me. Because of their crime, they cannot escape; in anger, God, strike down the peoples. You have kept count of my wanderings; store my tears in your water-skin — aren’t they already recorded in your book? Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call; this I know: that God is for me. In God — I praise his word — in Adonai — I praise his word — in God I trust; I have no fear; what can mere humans do to me? God, I have made vows to you; I will fulfill them with thank offerings to you. For you rescued me from death, you kept my feet from stumbling, so that I can walk in God’s presence, in the light of life.
Abba, we cry out to You today. There are people in this world trying to harm us. We have reached the time of Passover. We want You to know that we put our trust in You. We praise Your Word and we know that You have rescued us from death. We know that You have kept our feet from stumbling so that we can walk in Your presence, in the light of life. Yeshua (Jesus) is the light of the world. We choose this day and every day to walk in Him. We will walk in Your light as You Yeshua (Jesus) are the light. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Thank You Abba for our Passover Lamb that was slain. Thank You Abba that Yeshua (Jesus) is our Victory over death, hell and the grave. You so lovingly sent Him here to be born, walk a sinless life, die on the cross and rise from the dead to defeat the devil. That whoever receives Him will be cleansed from sin. Whosoever will choose Him and receive the Salvation that His blood paid for will is now eternally Yours. We Praise You Abba our Elohim that Yeshua (Jesus) rose again and that we can now walk in Him because we are born again, filled with Your Holy Spirit and will live eternally with You. While we are still here on this earth walking in Your Light, lead, guide, guard, protect, provide for and multiply all that we have, that we may walk in Your Victory and be the overcomers in Yeshua (Jesus) that You called us to be. In the name above all names, King of kings, Lord of Lords-Yeshua (Jesus). Amen
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved. Those who trust in him are not judged; those who do not trust have been judged already, in that they have not trusted in the one who is God’s only and unique Son. “Now this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness rather than the light. Why? Because their actions were wicked. For everyone who does evil things hates the light and avoids it, so that his actions won’t be exposed. But everyone who does what is true comes to the light, so that all may see that his actions are accomplished through God.” John 3:16-21 CJB As you prepare your heart for Passover this year ask Abba if there is anything whatsoever still within you that is in unforgiveness, sin, anyone to whom you owe an apology or to make things right. May we all come before Him this Passover – applying the blood of the Lamb that was slain for the forgiveness of our sins. Passing over and not taking one thing that would be a stumbling block to you in your NEW. Is there anything whatsoever that would keep you from Passing Over Free? With clean hands and pure hearts before Abba (Father)? You cannot cross over if you are weighted down. Abba, help each of us cleanse ourselves in Yeshua (Jesus) Name Amen Blessings and Shalom-Love Beyond Measure, Beth Auman