Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "afraid". We'll be looking at these portions of Scripture. 

Matthew 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? KJV

Mark 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. KJV

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

These are all the Greek word "phobeo". Strong's Concordance says: to frighten, to be alarmed, to be in awe. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to terrify, frighten, to put to flight, to flee. The fear of the Lord is a GOOD thing! To be in awe of Him with reverence and respect keeps us in an attitude of faith, expectancy and confidence! To be frightened, alarmed, deeply concerned or full of trepidation is NOT a good thing! Even in the midst of trying circumstances. Fear is actually a spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that and I love it in the Classic Amplified Bible! 

 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. AMP

The reason I felt led to use this word this week is because I know that Avery is starting Junior High this year! Those teen years can be a trying time to navigate, but with everything that this beautiful young lady has had to deal with in these last couple of years, you can tell that you and Kristine have done such a great job of raising, teaching, training and being a shining example to her of how to be a WINNER! You have nothing to fear! She will SHINE! So for those times when you may be tempted to be concerned, this song from Hillsong Worship should be an encouragement to you both! God's got this, therefore you do, too! "Be Still":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share another devotional from Charles Spurgeon. I love this one!

"I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain." — Isaiah 45:19

We may gain much solace by considering what God has not said. What He has said is inexpressibly full of comfort and delight; what He has not said is scarcely less rich in consolation. It was one of these "said nots" which preserved the kingdom of Israel in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, for "the Lord said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven." 2 Kings 14:27. In our text we have an assurance that God will answer prayer, because He hath "not said unto the seed of Israel, Seek ye Me in vain." You who write bitter things against yourselves should remember that, let your doubts and fears say what they will, if God has not cut you off from mercy, there is no room for despair: even the voice of conscience is of little weight if it be not seconded by the voice of God. What God has said, tremble at! But suffer not your vain imaginings to overwhelm you with despondency and sinful despair. Many timid persons have been vexed by the suspicion that there may be something in God's decree which shuts them out from hope, but here is a complete refutation to that troublesome fear, for no true seeker can be decreed to wrath. "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I have not said," even in the secret of my unsearchable decree, "Seek ye Me in vain." God has clearly revealed that He will hear the prayer of those who call upon Him, and that declaration cannot be contravened. He has so firmly, so truthfully, so righteously spoken, that there can be no room for doubt. He does not reveal His mind in unintelligible words, but He speaks plainly and positively, "Ask, and ye shall receive." Believe, O trembler, this sure truth—that prayer must and shall be heard, and that never, even in the secrets of eternity, has the Lord said unto any living soul, "Seek ye Me in vain."

I have heard people say that if you don't do (whatever they think should be done) then God will not hear your prayer. NOT TRUE! Or that if you ARE doing (what they think you should not do) then God will not hear your prayer. This portion of Scripture above tell us that He will NEVER say that! Answered prayer for us is NOT based on what WE do, but on what JESUS has ALREADY done! Here is Hillsong UNITED with another new song called "What Love Is":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is actually a phrase! "I will" is the phrase and it is found many times in the Bible. We are just looking at these verses and the same Greek word.

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. KJV

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth. KJV

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. KJV

John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. KJV

2 Thessalonians 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. KJV

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. KJV

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. KJV

These are all the Greek word "poieo". Strong's Concordance says: a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make, to do (in a very wide appliction, more or less direct). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to make, to produce, construct, form, fashion. To be the author of, to cause. To make ready, to prepare. To acquire, to provide a thing. To make a thing out of something. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds this: To make, to do, to create, to produce, to cause. My favorite of all of these in John 14:13-14. The Classic Amplified Bible says this:

John 14:13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. 14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM].  AMPC

Representing all that He is means that when we ask in His Name, we have an understanding that He IS exactly WHO He says He is and He WILL DO exactly what He says He will do! Meditating on these promises as Joshua 1:8 AMPC tells us will bring us to that place of the God kind of faith! 

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMPC

So, if God says it, HE WILL DO IT! We can count on it! Here is another new song from the Hillsong UNITED album "Are We There Yet" called "Know You Will":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "overshadow". It's found in two places in the New Testament.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. KJV

Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. KJV

This is the Greek word "episkiazo". Strong's Concordance says: to cast a shade upon, to envelope in a haze of brilliancy, to invest with preternatural (beyond what is natural) influence. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to throw a shadow upon, to envelope in shadow. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: is used of the bright cloud of the Transfiguration, metaphorically of the power of "the Most High" upon the virgin Mary, of the apostle Peter's shadow upon the sick. When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, at her acceptance of what the angel told her, the supernatural power of God conceived within her the baby Who would become the Saviour of the world. When Peter, who was born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Spirit living IN him, and filled with the Holy Spirit, walked by people, the power and presence of the Spirit of God Himself healed those people. WE carry that same power and presence within us and upon us everywhere we go! I believe that as we continue to get to know Holy Spirit better, we will become much more aware of that presence and power and much more receptive to His leading to minister to people. One of my favorite tesimonies was from Jerry Savelle who had been ministering by the Holy Spirit in a meeting and then on the way home did something so normal and natural as stop at a store and buy bread and milk. As he did so, someone came up to him and fell to his knees wanting to receive Jesus! That presence and power will reveal Himself to anyone who is really seeking and receptive! I am expecting the same types of things to begin to happen more and more! Get ready! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Song For His Presence":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!