Hi Brian!

I hope you're enjoying your trip! The word for this week is gift(s). We'll be looking at Romans 6:3 and Romans 11:29:

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. KJV

This is the Greek word "charisma". Strong's Concordance says this:  a divine gratuity; deliverance; a spiritual endowment; a miraculous faculty. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: a favor which one receives without any merit of his own. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a gift involving grace. The moment we prayed to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, we received this wonderful gift of never ending life and the very nature of the God of the Bible IN us! {The "life" that He has given us is "zoe", which we have looked at before, and is life as GOD has within Himself! It IS the very force of life that makes God, GOD!}  We did nothing to earn or deserve this life. He simply freely gave it to us so that we could be like Him and could fellowship with Him. HE will never change His mind concerning His promises. That should give us greater confidence to stand strong on the Word whenever we are faced with tests, trials and tribulations. Because of this gift, we can face anything the enemy tries to do and will always win if we refuse to give up and quit. Remember these two Scriptures whenever you are faced with adversity: Philippians 4:13:and Mark 10:27:

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. AMP

27 Jesus glanced around at them and said, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. AMP

I can't wait to see what other new and exciting things HE has planned for you and Kristine and your family! You ARE, of all people, MOST blessed! Here is Hillsong United with "Fall":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "divine". We'll be looking at 2 Peter 1:3-4: 

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. KJV

This is the Greek word "theios". Strong's Concordance says: godlike. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds this: that which proceeds from God Himself. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says: relative to all that bears the stamp of deity, as predominant power, final reality, supreme meaning. We HAVE the Spirit of God living in our recreated human spirits. In order for His nature to be apparent in us, we must prosper our souls (3 John 2) by renewing our minds with His Word (Romans 12:2). It is through the knowledge of Him, which is obtained progressively, layer upon layer, that we gain the understanding of just who WE are in Him! Our confidence in speaking the Word, standing on the Word and doing the Word, with the same results that Jesus had, will continue to grow as we continue to pursue this knowledge of Him. As you do this, remember that all of those good things about Him are IN you, too, because YOU have HIS nature! It shows! Here is Hillsong with "The Difference", because He IS the difference in us!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "parents". Of course, you KNOW what this word means! It is found only in the New Testament. The verses we'll be looking at are Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20:

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. KJV

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. KJV

This is the Greek word "goneus". Strong's Concordance says: From the base of {ginomai: to cause to be, to come into being}; a parent. Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T. adds: {always in the plural} biological or legal parents. Your girls are encouraged to obey you and Kristine because this is right and pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 6:2-3 goes on to tell them this:

2 Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother — this is the first commandment with a promise —  [Ex 20:12.]  3 That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. AMP

They are promised that things will go well with them when they honor you with respect and obedience! Training them to do this is the very best thing that you both can do for them! You also have a promise, which is found in Proverbs 22:6:

6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. AMP

I am standing on that one for my own grown up "children"! You and Kristine are some of the very best, most loving, most patient, most encouraging parents that I have ever known. Your daughters' eyes shine with the love and the confidence and the boldness that only great parents can instill in them. They will all do well at whatever God leads them to do! Here is a Hillsong Kids song called "Trust and Obey":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The Word for this week is "generous". It appears in a few verses from different Hebrew and Greek words, but we will be looking at only this verse today:

Proverbs 11:17 The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.  AMP

This  phrase, "merciful, kind and generous" is the Hebrew word "checed". Strong's concordance says: kindness. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: goodness, faithfulness. Vine's Expository Dictionary is my favorite! It says: loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; devotion. This is the word that comes to mind when I see you with your family. The picture of you putting polish on Avery's toes was so precious! The word I had in mind was "selfless", but that wasn't in the Word at all. Generous is a synonym for it and this verse has such a promise to it! This "chesed" is the wonderful love and care that the Father has for us, and it is what I see operating in you towards your family. The promise is that even though your thoughts were on others, God's thoughts are on you! Your "deeds will turn to bless" you! I am believing for wonderful things for you and your family! Here is a fun song from Hillsong Kids called "Better Than Life":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "whole". There are a few different Greek words translated whole in the New Testament, but we'll only be looking at two of them. The first is found in these verses: 

Matt 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour KJV

Acts 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. KJV

This is the Greek word "iaomai". Strong's Concordance says: to cure. The second is found in these verses:

Matt 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. KJV

Matt 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. KJV

Mark 5:33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. KJV

John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. KJV

This is the Greek word "hugies". Strong's Concordance says this: healthy; well in body. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: sound. Just from these two words we can see beyond any doubt that it is the will of God that we be cured of any and every ailment or infirmity that we will ever face. Not just healed, either, but made whole, restored to health and fully sound in every area of our bodies. It's very important to know these things from the Word of God so that when we pray, we can pray with confidence and accuracy! 1 John 5:14-15 gives us this promise and instruction:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. AMP

As the head of your household and the priest of your home, this should give you great confidence when it comes to praying, and standing, for yourself, Kristine and your girls whenever sickness and disease try to attack. HE wants you whole even more than YOU want it. WE are always in agreement with you for your healthy household! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Forever Reign":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!