Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "peace". We'll be looking at these verses:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. KJV

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. KJV

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. KJV

These are all the Greek word "eirene". Strong's Concordance says: peace, literally or figuratively; by implication, prosperity. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: a state of national tranquility; exemption from rage and havoc of war. Peace between individuals (harmony, concord); as the Hebrew shalom: security, safety, prosperity, felicity. Specifically the Messiah's peace. The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.

We see from the verses above that this 'peace' comes from the Lord and is different that what the world has to offer. Galatians (above) shows us that this 'peace' is ours as a fruit of the Spirit and comes IN us supernaturally at the New Birth. As born again believers, this peace of God is ALWAYS available to us from the inside out, but we must exercise our faith in the Word in order to walk in it. When God tell us this in 1 Peter 5:7 ...

7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.  AMP

 ...  it is so that we can be in position to walk in that peace that passes our understanding! I am determined to never let anxiety, worry or fear keep me from walking in that supernatural peace that only God can bring! So I will continually cast my cares and worries on JESUS and choose to walk in His peace, and I hope that you and Kristine can do so, too!  Here is Hillsong Young and Free with another new song called "Peace"!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "hands". We are looking at one particular Greek word that is found in these three verses:

Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. KJV

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. KJV

Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: KJV

These are all the Greek word "acheiropoietos". Strong's Concordance says: unmanufactured, not artificial. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: not made with hands. The Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words says: Contrasts what is made by human hands with God's work. Human hands may seem get the credit sometimes, but when we operate in the favor and anointing of Almighty God, we KNOW that some things are simply God's supernatural FAVOR blessing our lives! We can't usually explain this to those not born again or those believers who do not yet know God's Word. The important thing, though, is that WE know! Giving God the credit, the thanksgiving, the praise and the glory for every good thing that happen to us or in our lives will always cause us to be in position for Him to pour even more of His FAVOR into our lives! My mom used to say "Praise the Lord" in the grocery checkout when the bill was less than she thought it would be! That's a great way to keep the FAVOR flowing! Here is Hillsong UNITED with another new song from their new album. This one is called "Whole Heart (Hold Me Now)":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "way". There are many words translated way, so we may use this one again. This week we'll be looking at these verses:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. KJV

These are both the Greek word "hodos". Strong's Concordance says: a road, a progress, a mode or means. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: a proceeding, a course of conduct, a manner of thinking, feeling, deciding. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a natural path, road, way.  We know that both of these verses above are referring to JESUS being the only WAY to the Father, to eternal life, to Heaven. JESUS opened that WAY by becoming sin with our sin, paying the price for sin so that we never have to. At that same time, He also became 'sick' with any sickness, disease, weakness or infirmity that could ever come upon a human body, making the WAY for us to walk in health and wholeness. He became poor so that we could have a WAY to become joint, equal heirs with Him, having all the riches of Heaven available to us. In every situation that we face, HE has the answer to get us OUT of the hands of the enemy and into the protection, provision and safety of the Heavenly kingdom of which we are now citizens (Philippians 3:20) and which is now our Source of supply! My prayer for you and your family is that before you even face a situation, Holy Spirit will show you the WAY to handle it and to walk through it victoriously! Here is a new song by Hillsong UNITED called "Another In The Fire":

VERSE 1

There’s a grace when the heart is under fire

Another way when the walls are closing in

And when I look at the space between

Where I used to be and this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

CHORUS

There was another in the fire

Standing next to me

There was another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

Of how I’ve been set free

There is a cross that bears the burden

Where another died for me

TAG

There is another in the fire

VERSE 2

All my debt left for dead beneath the waters

I’m no longer a slave to my sin anymore

And should I fall in the space between

What remains of me and this reckoning

Either way I won’t bow

To the things of this world

And I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 2

There is another in the fire

Standing next to me

There is another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

What power set me free

There is a grave that holds no body

And now that power lives in me

BRIDGE

And I can see the light in the darkness

As the darkness bows to Him

I can hear the roar in the heavens

As the space between wears thin

I can feel the ground shake beneath us

As the prison walls cave in

Nothing stands between us

Nothing stands between us

VERSE 3

There is no other name

But the Name that is Jesus

He who was and still is

And will be through it all

So come what may in the space between

All the things unseen and this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

CHORUS 3

There’ll be another in the fire

Standing next to me

There’ll be another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

How good You’ve been to me

I’ll count the joy come every battle

‘Cause I know that’s where You’ll be

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "aboard". The only verse that this is found in is Acts 21:2:

Acts 21:2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. KJV

This is the Greek word "epibaino". Strong's Concordance says: to walk upon, to mount, ascend, embark, arrive. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to get upon, to set foot in, to enter. This same Greek word is translated differently in Acts 21:6, Acts 27:2 and Matthew 21:5:

Acts 21:6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. KJV

Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. KJV

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. KJV

You and Kristine have walked upon, ascended, embarked, arrived, set foot in and entered many new and different areas, jobs, experiences, relationships, adventures, challenges, opportunities and blessings in the years since God first brought you together! Those of us closest to you have seen some of the harder times, but by far you both have shown the strength, character, patience, resilience, work ethic, joy, peace, love and determination that can only come from a strong reliance on God, His Word and His Spirit! As you 'arrive', 'set foot in' and 'enter' your new home, I believe that this will be just the beginning of a whole new level of opportunities, advancements, adventures and realms of influence! There WILL be challenges, as there always is, but you are well equipped to be the "more than conquerors" that you have been and that God has called you (Romans 8:37)! Here is an older song from Hillsong that reminds us of that! "This Is How We Overcome":

Your light broke through my night Restored exceeding joy Your grace fell like the rain And made this desert live You have turned my mourning into dancing You have turned my sorrow into joy Your hand lifted me up I stand on higher ground Your praise rose in my heart And made this valley sing You have turned my mourning into dancing You have turned my sorrow into joy You have turned my mourning into dancing You have turned my sorrow into joy This is how we overcome This is how we overcome This is how we overcome This is how we overcome

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "table". We'll be looking at these two verses: 

Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. KJV

Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. KJV

In Psalm 23 the Hebrew word is "shulchan". Strong's Concordance says: a table as spread out; a meal. Brown-Driver-Briggs says: used of a king's table. The Theological Word Book of the Old Testament says: this is used in several variations, all deriving from the use to which a table is put. It describes the physical table itself, a table spread with food with an emphasis on the meal, also fellowship shared with those seated around a table. 

In Matthew 15 it is the Greek word "trapeza". Strong's Concordance says: a table usually for food (a meal). Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: the food placed upon the table, a banquet or feast. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: what is provided on the table, the Lord's table, denoting all that is provided for believers in Christ on the ground of His death.

In Psalm 23 the LORD is telling us that as our Shepherd, JESUS will provide for us anything and everything that we will ever need! In easy times or trying times, JESUS will never fail us! He will ALWAYS be the SOURCE for all that we will ever need! And His delights in providing that for us! 

In Matthew 15 we see a women who was not an Israelite desiring that JESUS heal her daughter. As a foreigner, she had no right standing with God and no claim to His promises. Her faith in the provision of the LORD to HIS people, was so great that she was convinced that even a breath of God's power would set her daughter free! And under this new and better Covenant, we have SO MUCH MORE than was provided under the old! If we can keep these TRUTHS ever before our eyes, there will be nothing that can ever stand in our way from experiencing ALL that the Lord has provided us! In fact, many ministers of God have received similar prophetic promises that the time of a SUPER harvest is upon us! I'm READY! I  know that you are, too! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Good Grace":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!