Scripture for the week of November 24, 2024By JoBeth Kested
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-4 (NIV)
What would you answer if asked what is your greatest need or desire? Most of us would acknowledge the deepest longingly of our hearts is to be loved. We all long for and cherish the loving relationships of family and friends. We are encouraged in these scriptures to give thanks to The Lord, God of gods, and Lord of lords because His love endures forever. In this Psalm, there are twenty-six declarations that His love endures forever after verses extolling the majesty of God’s creation, His awesome wonders, His mighty power and extravagant mercy. During this season of Thanksgiving we often remember and share the many things we have to be thankful for. It is also good to be reminded how blessed we are and to give thanks that The Lord God Almighty is good, He does great wonders and His steadfast love for us endures forever!
Tag Archive | Choosing God
If You Know And Do It Anyway
An Olive Becoming Oil by Conny Hubbard
The idea of writing as oil has come to me. Last night it flowed, you might say. Can anyone relate? And at what stage of crushing might you be? Maybe the better question is, Who am I becoming?
An Olive becoming Oil
I am an olive, no, wait, that’s not right. I need to begin by saying, “I was an olive” but now I am oil. Of course, oil cannot be produced from just one olive but it takes many. We were many and we went through a painful process of crushing. I still shudder when I think about it. I don’t wish it on my worst enemy but I also wouldn’t want to go back to the way I was before. I was alone, hard and somewhat bitter, hanging on a tree branch, a place that had become quite comfortable for me.
When the harvester’s hands reached for me, I hung on with all my might and resisted.
“I shall not be moved,” I sang on top of my lungs, believing that I was firm in my faith and that I needed to defend myself against these forces that sought to dislodge me from my cozy place of comfort.
But I didn’t succeed in my attempt at self-preservation. I was plucked mercilessly and thrown into a huge basket with too many others. It got dark and uncomfortable really quick and I resented it. I had no idea at the time that this was only the beginning of a crushing that I had not invited nor welcomed. Indeed, these challenges I was facing now were like a death.
Together with the others we were ground into a paste. Yes, you heard right. Ground into a paste! All the layers of our individuality were stripped away until we were laid bare and revealed the core essence of our being. At the time I had no idea what the essence of my being was. I just felt raw and exposed and feared that no one would ever see me for who I really was – an olive. At least that had been my identity. I had already lost my place in the sun and now I was losing my identity, too. It was so confusing. I was sure I was losing my mind.
“Who am I?” was the big question. I learned that fighting against this was of no use. I had no choice but to yield. There was quite a bit of murmuring and complaining going on in that pile of ground paste. We were definitely too close for comfort. It was messy. Our lives got entangled and intertwined. All the things that had worked for me in the past no longer worked. In the olive grove I had enjoyed the gentle breeze of the wind. I was cared for and protected from anything that could harm me. I felt important and knew that my purpose was to grow and be productive. But at the height of my growth I was suddenly thrown into this process that didn’t make sense. I longed for the presence of the wind that often delighted me with sweet songs. Instead I had to endure the cold and hardness of the stone that mercilessly crushed me and the others.
When I didn’t think it could get any worse we were pressed even further. Then we were spread out onto large fiber disks that were piled onto each other. At this point I lost consciousness and I was told later that the pressure that was put on us was so strong that oil and water seeped out of us. Furthermore, we had to flow through a filter to leave any impurities behind and what remained was a clear yellowish oily liquid.
The workers who did all this to us talked among each other and I overheard some phrases that made me wonder. I heard things like pure, desirable and valuable. I had no idea that I had carried droplets of oil within me all along. It took all this work to extract the oil but now that I was no longer a single olive but a part of oil I felt something had shifted within me. A new identity had emerged and with it came a clearer understanding of purpose.
Becoming oil had been tough but now united with many others we discovered a new purpose. Together we would be used for all kinds of wonderful things, such as
cooking, lighting, perfuming, anointing, beautifying skin, in the making of soaps and in healing wounds. We were even referred to as “liquid gold” and as “the great healer.”
Some of us were dispatched one day to assist a Samaritan man who came upon a man who had been beaten by robbers. It was a good thing he had us with him that day because he poured us into the man’s wounds so we could do our healing thing. Wine was also present that day. They were used to cleanse the wounds. Wine had to go through a similar crushing and they also had a story to tell. We were not in competition but each one did what was needed that day. For us, the oil, it felt so good to bring soothing to these wounds.
You might have noticed that I don’t refer to myself as a lone olive anymore. It has become a thing that we do together and not one olive can boast in it. I am part of a greater substance and in losing my single solitary life I have found a life that is much richer and more fulfilling than I could have ever dreamed of.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 The Message Bible
We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives.
By Conny Hubbard
October 2024
The photo below was taken by my sister Lydia in Mallorca. It’s a very old olive tree. What do you see?
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of October 27, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
The Lord will always lead you. He will meet the needs of your soul in the dry times and give strength to your body. You will be like a garden that has enough water, like a well of water that never dries up. Isaiah 58:11 (NLV)
Have you ever marveled by the beauty of a garden after a refreshing summer rain or seen the dazzling display of a dessert in glorious bloom after a drenching thunderstorm? Sometimes we find ourselves lost in a dry desolate place; overwhelmed by the pressuring demands of our lives with no idea how to find our way back to restoring waters of life? Be encouraged by the promise of this scripture that the Lord is always with us to mercifully show us the way even when we find ourselves lost and desperate through foolish choices or by no faults of our own. God can meet all the needs of our soul (mind, will and emotions) and renews us when it looks like there is no provision in any direction. So, call upon the Lord in your day of trouble and He will deliver you (Psalms 50:15) and restore you like a well watered garden; filling you with His living water that never runs dry. Oh, hallelujah!
Yeshua IS Lord
The Word of a True Prophet lines up with the Word of God -The Bible. A false prophet tickles your ears and tells you what you want to hear.. but if you search your Bible and ask God for confirmation.. you will realize that the prophecy was false! God Himself wrote an entire book with 66 chapters so that we would know the Truth and not be led astray.
Check your Salvation today. Ask Yeshua freshly into your heart. Crown Him King of king and Lord of lord over your own life. Then ask Him to fill you freshly with His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).
If you deny Yeshua before men. He will deny you before His Abba! Matthew 10:33 Denying Him means denying what IS written in the Bible!! Yeshua (Jesus) IS The Word!
That is His Word.
I am not ashamed to ask Yeshua (Jesus) into my heart and be my Lord and King daily..
Yeshua said in Matthew 24:12-13
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Iniquity is habitual sin.. the love of many will wax cold..
Check your own temperature! God is not double minded in anyway.
As for me and my house we will serve Adonai (The Lord)!
I choose righteous, peace and joy. My body belongs to Yeshua! My choice is Him and I will endure unto the end and shall be saved in Yeshua (Jesus) Name
You need to check yourself because according to this Scripture.. your salvation that you think you have may just be false because you bowed to the false.
Check yourself.. before God.. before it is too late.
I apply Yeshua (Jesus) blood over this post and seal this by Ruach Ha Kodesh! In Yeshua’s Name
Yeshua IS Lord! Yeshua IS King!
Yom Kippur 5785 Blessings
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of September 29, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
Have you ever wondered how to find God’s will? What if the three things listed in this verse were the keys to discovering and experiencing God’s will for us? In the many tests, trials and desperate situations we encounter each day, we all face the opportunity to choose how we will respond to life’s challenges. What if we would choose to rejoice in the Lords’s overcoming power instead of worrying? What if we would choose to pray in faith instead of yielding to fear? And, what if we would choose to give thanks for the opportunity to see God demonstrate His abundant provision for us instead of grumbling and complaining? In Matthew 19:26 Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” With His sufficient grace for today in everything that comes your way, be encouraged to rejoice, pray and give thanks that will set your feet on the path of God’s perfect will concerning you. Yes and amen!
Desist and Know
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)
Today is a day of decision. Whose report will you believe? Adonai’s or the devils. It is as simple as that.
YHWH said in Exodus 20:13 CJB 13 “Do not murder.
Yeshua said it very plainly in John 10:10 CJB 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.
Abba, remove the veil of lies that cover the eyes of all that cannot see this in Yeshua’s Name
May they repent, desist and run into Your strong and loving arms today in Yeshua’s Name Amen
Blessings and Shalom-Love Beyond Measure, Beth Auman
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of September 15, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:1-2 NKJV
Is there anything more beautiful than the dawning rays of sunlight breaking into a new day over majestic mountains, upon rolling ocean waves or watching from the serenity of your own back porch? But, what does the glory of the Lord rising upon us mean? The glory of the Lord in this scripture seems to mean the promise of His loving presence that drives away loneliness, the comfort of His peace that passes understanding, blessings of mercy that triumph over judgement, and the goodness of His enabling grace bestowed upon us. There are times we all need the restoring hope of light to drive out the darkness of fearful times and the unexpected circumstances afflicting our souls. What an encouraging gift we have in the promise of these scriptures that even in the darkest times our loving God promises the arising light upon us with His glorious presence, comfort and sufficient grace for each day. Thank You, Lord!
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of August 25, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
The Lord will always lead you. He will meet the needs of your soul in the dry times and give strength to your body. You will be like a garden that has enough water, like a well of water that never dries up. Isaiah 58:11 (NLV)
Have you ever seen the dazzling display of a dessert in glorious bloom after drenching thunderstorms or basked in the beauty of a luscious garden after a summer rain? Sometimes we find ourselves lost in a dry desolate place; overwhelmed by demands and needs with no idea of the way back to refreshing waters of life? Be encouraged by the promise of this scripture that the Lord is always with us to mercifully show us the way even when we find ourselves lost and desperate through foolish choices or by no faults of our own. God will meet all the needs of our soul (mind, will and emotions) and renews us when it looks like there is no provision in any direction. So, call upon the Lord in your day of trouble and He will deliver you (Psalms 50:15) and restore you like a well watered garden; filling you with His living water that never runs dry. Oh, hallelujah!