Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "gracious". It's found in 1 Peter 2:2-3:

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. KJV

This is the Greek word "chrestos". Strong's Concordance says: employed, i.e. useful. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: fit for use, virtuous, good. The Theological Dictionary of the New testament says: God is kind even to the ungrateful and selfish, divine kindness which allows space for repentance. 

As an extension of last week's blog where I shared with you a sense that you will be ministering to people who may feel that they aren't 'good enough' to come to God, or to come back to Him, I am using this word that is found in another new song from Hillsong UNITED's new album, "People". This song is called "As You Find Me" and speaks of these very things. God's LOVE for us is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3) and He will ALWAYS leave the 99 to find the lost 1! He will never give up on us and is ever ready to bring us right back into intimate fellowship again. Restoration is what He is all about, because He IS GRACIOUS! I love the line that says: "You are faithful and You are gracious and I'm just grateful". He IS everything that we will ever need and is EVER waiting for US to come to HIM! You and Kristine have demonstrated this life of faith and standing on the Word so very well! THAT is why I truly believe that you both will be leading others in these TRUTHS! Here is this song, along with my prayer and agreement that the Anointing within and upon you both, and your lovely ladies, will shine so powerfully that MANY will be drawn from the clutches of the enemy into the life that God has always intended them to have! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

It was SO good to spend some time with you and Kristine and your family at Theo's party and in your beautiful new home! Thank you so much for the tour! I have been sensing that the Lord is going to be bringing some people your way who feel that they could never know God because of their lifestyle, their past or even things done or said recently. With that in mind, the word for this week  is "change". We'll be looking at these verses:

Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? KJV

Jeremiah 2:36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. KJV

Malachi 3:4 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. KJV

These are all the Hebrew word "shanah". Strong's Concordance says: to fold, to duplicate, to transmute (change in form, nature, or substance). Brown-Driver-Briggs says: to repeat, to alter, to disguise. I love that our God says that HE changes NOT! We can count on Him ALWAYS to be true to His Word. He's not moved by emotions, but by His Word. That great good news is what those without God, or who have once known Him and then moved away, need to hear and know. If I happen on any given day to 'feel' as though I am not close to God anymore, I have THIS witness that HE hasn't moved at all, but somehow I have. The answer, of course, is to get myself back to Him. Knowing that no matter what 'we' may have done, He is right where WE left HIM, should give us confidence in every situation! When we draw near to Him again, He is already there! There is a new song on the "People" album by Hillsong UNITED that covers these things very well. It's called "Highlands (Song of Ascent)":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

Mark 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. KJV

Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. KJV

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. KJV

These are all the Greek word "apodidomai". Strong's Concordance says: to give away (up, over, back). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to deliver, to restore. One of the sayings that we are all familiar with is "Give credit where credit is due". That is really the idea that we are seeing in this new Hillsong UNITED song called "Here's To The One". It's all about honoring the ONE Who has done the most for us! It is always good to give thanks to people who have helped us or given to us, but sometimes the One Who has given or done the most gets the least amount of praise and thanksgiving. We know that this is NOT true of your family! That is one of the many reasons that you walk in so much FAVOR and BLESSING! You give God the glory for every good thing! We love to give God the glory for all the wonderful blessings we see in your life, too! We can't wait to see your new home! God's hand is everywhere on this situation! This song helps us to keep practicing our 'rendering' thanks to HIM!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is one we have already used, but not this particular Greek word. The word is "ready" and it is found in 1 Timothy 6:17-19:

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. KJV

This is the Greek word "eumetadotos". Strong's Concordance says: good at imparting, i.e. liberal. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: ready or free to impart. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to give. There are so many believers who speak against what the Word of God has to say about financial prosperity. JESUS already made the Way for each of us to 'have and enjoy Life' (John 10:10 AMP)! In order to do so, we must get ourselves 'ready'! Being "ready to distribute" and "willing to communicate" is the position we all want to be in in our lives, where we can move when God says 'move' and speak when He gives us something to say! I believe that we are close enough to the appearing of JESUS for the church that we should be led by Holy Spirit each day for what we do, and when and where! Moving into your new home is a big and very blessed step for your family! If, while doing something as natural as moving into a new home, you also meditate on what God has been saying to you to do, for both yourself and your family, you will all be 'ready' to be used by the Lord to bring Light, Life and Truth to a whole new neighborhood of people! An exciting new adventure for you all! I can't wait to hear all of the great reports. And to see this beautiful new home! Here is Hillsong UNITED with another new song from the latest CD called "Ready Or Not":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!