Tag Archive | Encouragement
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of October 6, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Psalms 19:1-3 (NKJV)
Have you ever been enthralled by stars shining in the darkness of night or the glow of a full moon over majestic mountains? Has your soul been thrilled by the glorious dawn of morning or a blazing sunset with gold and crimson streaks across the skies? Or have you been captivated by the delicate fragrance of a blooming rose, crashing waves upon a sandy beach, or a towering forrest with butterflies flitting and birds calling? These scriptures instruct us that the heavens are declaring the glory of God and the earth’s beauty reveals His handprints upon all creation. Day after day and every night all that is around us reveals the evidence of an intricate and intimate God. There is no place on earth where the voice of His creation and the language of His beauty is not spoken to all who will see and listen. May you hear His voice calling your name in the wind and your heart filled with His loving presence revealed in every detail of His beauty all around you. Amen.
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!
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of September 22, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
Have you ever tried to find your way in the dark without a light? In Genesis chapter one God said, “Let there be light” and He created light out of the darkness. Our verse for this week declares that God is also able to make His light shine into the darkness of our hearts. If light travels at the speed of 186,000 miles a second, then we know that darkness has to flee that fast from every ray of light; especially in the light of His presence. His glory is the perfection, beauty and power of His extravagant love we can each find in our personal relationship with Jesus face to face. Jesus proclaimed in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV) Let the light of Jesus’ love for you shine into any encroaching darkness and through you as you follow Him. Yes, amen!
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 September 1, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’ Deuteronomy 33:26-27 (NIV)
Have you ever felt the heavy weight of discouragement in trying to stand in the battles for what is righteous, honorable and true? The word Jeshurun in this verse is often used instead of the name Israel, God’s chosen people, and also implies one who is straight, upright and just. Therefore, this scripture exhorts us that the God of those who stand upright and straight for justice, His chosen ones, He will ride the winds of the clouds across the heavens in all of His majestic power to come to your help. He declares that He is your secure refuge and that He upholds you close to His heart in the everlasting strength of His arms; defending you in battle and promising to destroy your enemies! Be encouraged, for truly, there is no one like our God!
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of August 11, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20 (NKJV)
Do you have difficulty believing that God really cares about any of the pressing needs you are currently facing? First of all, this verse profoundly declares that our God supplies ALL our need! But, if we are to understand that the doorway of His provision is in the glory of Jesus we may need to ask what is the glory? Biblically this often refers to the manifestation or the reality of God’s presence with us. Remember, one of the names of Jesus is Emanuel which means God with us. Therefore, there is a wealth of God’s provision for us as we grasp that Jesus is with us; our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Friend of Sinners and our Savior. He is real, present and available to us in every circumstance today and everyday to meet ALL our needs. With renewed faith in His love for us, let us give worship, praise and glory back to our Father God. Yes, Amen!
Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested
Scripture for the week of July 21, 2024
By JoBeth Kested
Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. —the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. Jeremiah 31:17,18b (NKJV)
Have you ever gazed upon the innumerable stars in the night sky, admired the beauty of a sunset or captivated by the ocean depths and wondered in awe of the power and majesty of God? It is really easy to then feel so small and insignificant with doubts that God would care about us and our circumstances. Mighty God in this verse means Warrior, a Champion and Hero. The God who made all of creation, Warrior Lord of all the Angel Armies of Heaven, is also our Champion and Hero! Are you battle weary of circumstances beyond your control or blind sighted by troubles you least expected? No matter what you are facing, be encouraged and trust that the great and powerful arm of Mighty God (El-Gibbor), your Champion, your Hero, is outstretched to you! There is nothing too hard for our God to protect and provide, to lead and guide us in all our circumstances. Yes, Amen!
Scripture of the Week by JoBeth Kested
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!
The Faithful of the Land
Psalm 101 CJB
101 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) I am singing of grace and justice;
I am singing to you, Adonai.
2 I will follow the path of integrity;
when will you come to me?
I will run my life with a sincere heart
inside my own house.
3 I will not allow before my eyes
any shameful thing.
I hate those who act crookedly;
what they do does not attract me.
4 Deviousness will depart from me;
I will not tolerate evil.
5 If someone slanders another in secret,
I will cut him off.
Haughty eyes and proud hearts
I cannot abide.
6 I look to the faithful of the land,
so that they can be my companions;
those who live lives of integrity
can be servants of mine.
7 No deceitful person can live in my house;
no liar can be my advisor.
8 Every morning I will destroy
all the wicked of the land,
cutting off all evildoers
from the city of Adonai.
Adonai, we stand today declaring and decreeing Psalm 101 over our lives, our Nation, our families, ministries, ministry covenant partners, friends and neighbors in Yeshua’s Name Amen
Rise up, take your seat in heavenly places in Yeshua Hamashiach declare and decree Adonai’s Word.
Blessings and Shalom-Love Beyond Measure, Beth Auman