Archive | April 2026

Scripture Of The Week by JoBeth Kested

Apr26

Scripture for the week of April 26, 2026
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 and singing rejoicing songs of gladness with shouts of joy to bring you into victory! Hallelujah! Yaaay God!

Living from the Tree of Life — The Bridge of Iyar

Apr22

Living from the Tree of Life — The Bridge of Iyar


Scripture Focus:

Revelation 3:20 (CJB)
“Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.”

Devotional Reflection

The month of Iyar stands as a sacred bridge—a hinge between Nissan, where we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua, and Sivan, where the Word was given and the Ruach HaKodesh was poured out.

It is in this in-between place that we are invited to live from the Tree of Life.

To live from the Tree of Life is to remain rooted in Yeshua—the Way, the Truth, and the Life—allowing His life to flow through us so that others may taste and see His goodness.

Iyar asks us a searching question:
What kind of bridge are we becoming?

Are we drawing others closer to Yeshua… or unknowingly pushing them further away?

A life rooted in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil tends to measure, judge, and divide.
But a life rooted in the Tree of Life restores, invites, and reconciles.

We are called to be bridges that carry His presence.

Are we:

  • A smooth bridge, making the path easier for weary souls?
  • A steady hinge, firmly fixed to the Door—Yeshua—helping others enter into Life?
  • A musical bridge, bringing rest, beauty, and transition in the middle of someone’s storm?

Yeshua is the Door. He is the One who opens what no one can shut and shuts what no one can open (Revelation 3:7). And yet, in His mercy, He chooses to position us as living connections—hinges that remain fastened to Him, moving only as He moves.

When we abide in Him, our lives begin to harmonize with Heaven.

We no longer strive to create something impressive—we simply release what we are connected to.

The Great Commission is not fulfilled through pressure, but through presence.

As we live from the Tree of Life, we become invitations.

We become:

  • voices that echo His truth,
  • lives that reflect His love,
  • and pathways that lead others home.

Reflection Question

Am I living from the Tree of Life—drawing others closer to Yeshua through love, truth, and humility?
Or have I been operating from a place that creates distance rather than connection?

Closing Prayer

Abba Father,

Thank You for the invitation to live from the Tree of Life through Yeshua.
Root my heart deeply in Him, that everything I release would carry Your life and not my own striving.

Teach me to be a bridge that draws others closer, not pushes them away.
Make me a steady hinge, firmly fixed to the Door—moving only at Your leading.

Let my life become a song that brings rest in the storm and hope to the weary.
Align me with Your heart, Your truth, and Your Spirit.

May I walk in humility, love, and obedience as I fulfill the commission You have given.

In Yeshua’s Name,
Amen.

Declaration-Living as a Bridge of Life

I declare and decree that I will be a smooth bridge, making the path easier for weary souls.

I will be a steady hinge, firmly fixed to the Door—Yeshua—helping others enter into Life.

I will be a musical bridge, bringing rest, beauty, and holy transition in the midst of someone’s storm.

I submit myself to You, Abba Father, and I yield fully to Your Spirit.

Let my life be rooted in the Tree of Life, not striving in my own understanding, but flowing from Your presence.

Align my heart with Yours.
Establish my steps in truth.
Guard my words, that they would carry life and not division.

Make me an instrument of reconciliation, a vessel of honor, and a reflection of Your love.

Let everything I release draw others closer to Yeshua—the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I choose humility.
I choose obedience.
I choose love.

I will walk as a bridge that connects, not separates.
I will stand as a hinge that moves only at Your leading.

And through my life, may others encounter Your goodness, Your truth, and Your eternal invitation.

In Yeshua’s Name,
Amen.

Scripture Focus

Revelation 3:20 (CJB)
“Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.”

Revelation 3:7 (CJB)
“To the angel of the Messianic Community in Philadelphia, write: ‘Here is the message of HaKadosh, the True One, the one who has the key of David, who, if he opens something, no one else can shut it, and if he closes something, no one else can open it.”

Matthew 28:19–20 (CJB)
“Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”

John 14:6 (CJB)
Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Apr19

Scripture for the week of April 19, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

Have you ever felt like a misfit, too different or unacceptable to others around you; your friends, at work or in your family? Sometimes it can be so hard to handle those inner voices that say, “You don’t fit”, ” Not good enough”, or “Never going to make it”. What an encouragement to find in this scripture what God has to say about you. You are a chosen one! You are a part of the elite inner circle with access to God; a Holy nation! And, you are part of a distinctive people that have accepted God’s invitation to come out of the dark painful, depressing and hopeless places into the marvelous light of His love! So lift your heart, your hands and your voice to praise the Lord because you are a chosen, special one with the opportunity to display His goodness and glory to all those around you in this world! Thank You, Lord!

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Apr12

Scripture for the week of April 12, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NASB)

Have you ever watched high flying acrobats swinging back and forth in a circus? It is so breathtaking to watch them release one swing in order to fly reaching for the next swing and safety. It seems in these verses that God is telling us that we must let go of the former and past things we are clinging to, so we can be free to reach for the new things He is preparing for us that we can’t even see yet! He is able to do sudden things like showing us the way when we feel lost and to even provide what we need in desperate places. Lord, help us let go of anything we are holding on to that keeps us from reaching for the new and blessed things you have prepared for us. Help us to find your roadway in our wilderness and Your river of life in the desert places. Yes, Amen.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Apr5

Scripture for the week of April 4, 2026
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!