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Scripture of the Week by JoBeth Kested

Jun30

Scripture for the week of June 30, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)

Have you ever cried heartbreaking tears and there was no one there to wipe them away or to wrap you in a loving embrace? We all long for a world without the grief of injustice, suffering, broken hearts and tears. This scripture in Revelation is God’s promise that the dream in every heart to see the end of all death, sorrow, crying and pain will surely come. Until that day we find this comfort that our loving Heavenly Father is our safe refuge; He is always there to hold us in His everlasting arms, He holds all our tears in a bottle and writes all our sorrows in His book. (Deuteronomy 33:22, Psalm 56:8) We can now hold this hope that as we face all the trials and tribulations of this world we have peace, comfort and joy because of the resurrection life that is ours in Jesus. (John 16:33) Yes, AMEN!

Scripture Of The Week by JoBeth Kested

Jun23

Scripture for the week of June 23, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:17-19 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like you are faced with enemies too powerful to overcome? Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of overpowering circumstances and feel like there is nowhere to turn with no one to help. These scriptures remind us that even when we are confronted with disasters and powerful foes, beneath our shaking knees and unsteady feet we have the unshakable strength and support of the all powerful Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords. Oh, how wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father delights in you and me! He rescues us from captivity and bring us out into the freedom of open spaces with new opportunities. Whatever we face today or tomorrow we must not forget to rejoice in the truth that the Lord delights in us and will always be our strength, our deliverer, and Savior. All glory, honor and praise to our God!

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Jun17

Scripture for the week of June 16, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalms 121:5-8 (NIV)

Have you ever prayed and prayed, yet still wondered where the Lord is when you are facing difficult trials, feeling vulnerable, unprotected and all alone? Three times in these verses it is declared that the Lord is watching over you. This type of watching is like the secret service agents; meaning He is guarding, protecting and defending, which is so much more than just keeping an eye on you. These scriptures tell us the Lord stands guard over every detail of your life, protecting you from ALL harm and able to defend you in all your coming and going. May we find peace in the assurance of the covering shade of the Lord’s presence over us in the oppressive heat of our days and the warmth of His love in the cold darkness of our nights. Thank you, Lord.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Jun9

Scripture for the week of June 9, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV)

Have you ever enjoyed a summer night of frogs croaking, crickets creaking and fireflies flitting? Or have you ever taken the time to look for pictures in the clouds or watched for falling stars in a dark night sky? Isn’t it interesting how much we can see and hear if we will take the time to be still. In stillness we may also have to face our encroaching fears, our emptiness or our feelings of being all alone. But, in this scripture God instructs us that we will find Him in the still and quiet place. Our Heavenly Father desires for us to cease from our struggles and striving to find the comfort, peace and rest we so long for in the stillness of His presence. Whatever we may be facing in the uncertainties and upheavals of this world our God declares in this scripture that He will be exalted above all else in the earth. The Lord of Hosts is with us and is our refuge. Selah means ponder and think of that! Amen.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Jun3

Scripture for the week of June 2, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)

Are you in need of abundant grace and peace? Grace is undeserved favor and divine assistance. Peace is tranquility, harmony and freedom from disturbance or affliction. The Biblical definition of knowledge is based on understanding from experience. This verse exhorts us that the more we increase in knowing our Father God, and our Savior Jesus, the more His grace and peace will increase in our lives. Like the Hebrews in the wilderness that had to gather fresh manna each day, Jesus is the Bread of Life that God has provided for us to that we need to seek new each day. Whatever we may have experienced of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and provision in the past, be encouraged to KNOW that as we seek to know Him more each day we’ll never exhaust the supply His sufficient favor, divine assistance, and peace that passes understanding. May His grace and peace be multiplied to you today.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

May27

Scripture for the week of May 26, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9 (NIV)

Have you heard the saying,”You can’t know where you are going unless you know where you came from”? When we remember the stories of those before us that overcame great trials, handicaps, poverty, and wars we are encouraged that we can also overcome the trials before us. Likewise, God instructs us in this scripture to remember the former things. In the midst of our current needs and busyness, have we forgotten the answered prayers and miracles we’ve experienced or learned in the past that will inspire our faith to trust God today? Twice God declares that He alone is God and there is none like Him! Let us remember there is no other God whose very nature is love, extends mercy, offers peace, forgives sin, heals diseases, saves the lost, wipes away all our tears and knows the number of hairs on our heads! Yet, He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and commands the angelic armies of heaven. There is no other God like our God!

Scripture Of The Week by JoBeth Kested

May13

Scripture of the week for May 12, 2024

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV)

Have you ever heard someone say, “I love you to the moon and back” in effort to express the greatness of their love? God declares the magnitude of His love for as there is no end to the height of the heavens above the earth. You may need to ask, “What does it mean to fear the Lord?” It simply means great reverence and awe for the Almighty-Omnipotent-Creator-Ruler God of the universe and to acknowledge that He is the Lord over us individually, as well. When we choose to fear the Lord and receive His gift of salvation, His lovingkindness removes the consequences of our failure to meet His standards of holiness and perfection as far from us as the east is from the west! How wonderful it is to understand that east and west never ever meet! May we choose the fear of the Lord and experience God’s extravagant love for us that is over the rainbow, beyond the moon and to the height of the heavens!

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

May5

Scripture for the week of May 5, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Do have difficulty dealing with fear of failure, fear of rejection, or fear of the unknown? Fear is the friend of doubt and unbelief and the robber of our faith. The King James Bible mentions “fear not”, “do not fear” and “do not be afraid” 110 times and it is usually followed by exhortations that the Lord is with you. God makes five promises in this scripture. 1) He is with you. 2) He is your God. 3) He gives strength to replace your weariness. 4) He will help you. 5) And, He holds you up in the power of His righteousness. So, let the power of His presence, strength and righteousness overcome your fears of failure, inadequacy, or insufficiency. Let your faith be renewed in God’s empowering love, provision, and protection for you today.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Apr28

Scripture for the week of April 28, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV

Have you ever felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole? Do you have the repetitive lies of the world going round and round in your head: “Not qualified, not smart, not pretty, too fat or too old”? Maybe it is time to heed the advice of this scripture and to stop trying to conform to the self demeaning standards of this world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Believe you are who God says you are; accepted in the beloved, (Eph 1:6) fearfully and wonderfully made, (Ps 139:14) child of God, (John 1:12) and that your gifts make room for you (Pr 18:16). The more we focus on who God says we are the more we will clearly discern His good, pleasing and perfect will for us. Oh Lord, renew our minds with the washing of Your Word that we might find our perfect place in Your will. Amen.

Scripture Of The Week by JoBeth Kested

Apr23

Scripture for the week of April 21, 2024
By JoBeth Kested

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV

Have you ever felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole? Do you have the repetitive lies of the world going round and round in your head: “Not qualified, not smart, not pretty, too fat or too old”? Maybe it is time to heed the advice of this scripture and to stop trying to conform to the self demeaning standards of this world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Believe you are who God says you are; accepted in the beloved, (Eph 1:6) fearfully and wonderfully made, (Ps 139:14) child of God, (John 1:12) and that your gifts make room for you (Pr 18:16). The more we focus on who God says we are the more we will clearly discern His good, pleasing and perfect will for us. Oh Lord, renew our minds with the washing of Your Word that we might find our perfect place in Your will. Amen.