Hi Brian!

This week I want to share this great news from a devotional by Charles Spurgeon that is on my PC Study Bible! I LOVE this!

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance." — Ephesians 1:11

When Jesus gave Himself for us, He gave us all the rights and privileges which went with Himself; so that now, although as eternal God, He has essential rights to which no creature may venture to pretend, yet as Jesus, the Mediator, the federal Head of the covenant of grace, He has no heritage apart from us. All the glorious consequences of His obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in Him, and on whose behalf He accomplished the divine will. See, He enters into glory, but not for Himself alone, for it is written, "Whither the Forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. Does He stand in the presence of God?—"He appears in the presence of God for us." Hebrews 9:24. Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it is through His blood; if you are justified, it is through His righteousness; if you are sanctified, it is because He is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in Him. Thus Jesus is magnified—for all is in Him and by Him; thus the inheritance is made certain to us—for it is obtained in Him; thus each blessing is the sweeter, and even heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved "in whom" we have obtained all. Where is the man who shall estimate our divine portion? Weigh the riches of Christ in scales, and His treasure in balances, and then think to count the treasures which belong to the saints. Reach the bottom of Christ's sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love Him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ's possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. "All things are yours, for ye are Christ's and Christ is God's." 1 Corinthians 3:23.

(from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 1999, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

EVERYTHING that JESUS did on the earth was FOR US! Everything that HE WON when He defeated the devil, death and hell, is FOR US! To be SO LOVED is almost unimaginable to our human minds, but we will have all of eternity to express our praise, thanksgiving and worship for ALL that HE did for US! AND we can start right here and right now! GLORY TO GOD for His great LOVE! Here is Hillsong Worship with a song I have already shared, but it is SO powerful and so POWERFULLY HIM! "That's The Power":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "virtuous". It is found three times in the Bible, all pertaining to women! 

Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. KJV

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. KJV

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. KJV

These are all the Hebrew word "chayil". Strong's Concordance says: a force, whether of men, means or other resources. An army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, ability. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says: might, strength, power, able, valiant, substance. When used of men it can mean: elite warrior, honorable, reputable. When used of women it can mean: worthy, good, (and this is the part I like the best) but it may well be that a woman of this caliber had all the attributes of her male counterpart. So many times Proverbs 31 is used to show women how valuable they can be as a wife, mother and homemaker, and those things are true, BUT, GOD has so much more in mind for His PRINCESSES! You and Kristine have done so well in bringing up your lovely ladies to be all they can be! You've given them excellent examples of hard work, responsibility, accountability, kindness, discipline, goal setting. You've allowed them to explore their interests to find out what really moves and inspires them. You've allowed and encouraged them to use their gifts and talents and to strive to become better at what they love to do. You have been excellent DOERS of 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

Who can find viortuous women? The Weber household is a great place to start! Here is a fun song from Hillsong Kids (originally from Young and Free) called "This Is Living":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week we'll be looking at a phrase instead of just a word. The phrase is "cry out" and it's found in two places in the New Testament:

Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. KJV

Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. KJV

This is the Greek word "krazo". Strong's Concordance says: to 'croak' or scream, to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat). Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to vociferate (Dictionary definition: shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently), to speak with a loud voice. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: "an onomatopeic (Dictionary definition: creation of words that imitate natural sounds.) word, of any inarticulate cries from fear, pain, etc."  

The message that I see here is, in the first instance, a faith and desire so strong that he could not contain himself, but gave voice to his greatest need and desire, so that JESUS would hear and do what only He could do! That came out of a great faith that JESUS COULD do what was needed and a great hope that He WOULD! In the second instance we find that JESUS Himself said that if His people didn't praise Him, His creation (the rocks being part of it) WOULD do so. My challenge to myself here is to NEVER be outdone by a rock! I have learned even more in this last year how very important it is for us to give voice to the Word of God that we desire to see manifested! I have also learned more about the great POWER that is found in the praises of God's people! The enemy cannot stand in the presence of the Lord and He inhabits the praises of His people! The more we shake up the air waves with sounds of the praises of God, the more the enemy fears us and cannot stand to be in OUR presence! I am making it a commitment to do SO MUCH MORE of this in this next year! Here is a new song by Hillsong's Worship Psator, Brooke Ligertwood, called "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Lyrics: Who else would rocks cry out to worship Whose glory taught the stars to shine Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing But this joy is mine With a thousand hallelujahs We magnify Your Name You alone deserve the glory The honor and the praise Lord Jesus this song is forever Yours A thousand hallelujahs And a thousand more Who else would die for our redemption Whose resurrection means I’ll rise There isn’t time enough to sing of all You’ve done But I have eternity to try Praise to the Lord To the Lamb To the King of heaven Praise for He rose Now He reigns We will sing forever (We sing) Praise to the Lord To the Lamb To the King of heaven Praise for He rose Now He reigns We will sing forever

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "accept". We'll be looking at Psalm 119:108:

108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments. KJV

This is the Hebrew word  "ratsah". Strong's Concordance says to be pleased with, to satisfy a debt. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to be favorable, to accept favorably, to make acceptable. The Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament says: to be favorably received. Describes God's pleasure with His servants. Isaiah 42:1 translates this Hebrew word this way:

 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: KJV

I don't think that many of us really comprehend the magnitude of God's LOVE for us! NOT because of anything that we have done, but because of who HE has made us! He has MADE us acceptable! Nothing can ever again come between us and our GOD! When we really realize this, we will become SO free in who we are IN HIM that we will exude confidence, boldness, patience and love more than ever before, and more than most people in the world have ever seen or experienced! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "What The Lord Has Done In Me":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "fashion". We see it used in these verses:

Mark 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. KJV

Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. KJV

Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. KJV

In Mark 2:11-12 we have the Greek Word "houto". Strong's Concordance says: in this way. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: in this manner.  In Luke we have the Greek word "eidos". Strong's Concordance says: form, appearance, fashion, shape. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: the external appearance. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: that which is seen. (This verse is speaking of the Lord's countenance at the Tranfiguration.) In Acts we see the Greek word "tupos". Strong's Concordance says: a stamp or scar, a shape, style or resemblance, a model. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: an example, pattern, impression, type. All of these words refer to something that can be seen and remembered. When people see us, they see a natural person, they observe a personality or temperment, they see an example either to follow or NOT! Whatever we do and wherever we go, we leave an impression! When people see you and Kristine, they see a couple, they see business people, they see parents, they see coaches, they see examples of how to do it all in the right way! They see your children who are happy, joyful, intelligent, inquisitive, committed, talented, determined, caring, fun, funny, serious, goofy, but most of all, they see children who are LOVED and who KNOW that they are loved! You do it all in a good and inspirational 'fashion'! I pray that 2022 will be a year where you see even more wonderful fruits of your labors! And I hope that we will see you all more! Here is another new song from Hillsong called "Sure Thing":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!