Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "pleasure". We will be looking at these verses in the New Testament: 

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. KJV

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, KJV

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. KJV

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. KJV

In Luke we have the Greek word "eudokeo". Strong's Concordance says: to think well, to approve, to approbate (meaning to formally sanction). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to think it good, to choose, determine, decide. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to be well pleased with. In Ephesians and Philippians we have the Greek word "eudokia". Strong's Concordance says: satisfaction, delight, purpose. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: will, choice. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: good pleasure. In Revelation we have the Greek word "thelema". Strong's Concordance says: determination, choice, purpose, decree. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: what one wishes or has determined to be done, will, choice. The Theological Dictionary says: the will of God as good, sovereign, creative and all-determinative.

 In the first three verses the translation refers to "good pleasure" and is definitely a very positive and beneficial thing. In Revelation we see the WILL of GOD revealed and that He does what He does FOR us for HIS pleasure. The idea we clearly see here is that our Heavenly Father delights in us and in doing GOOD in and for us! The Amplified Translation of Philippians 2:13 says this: 

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. AMP

When we really understand and believe that HE only ever desires the very best for us in every area of life, we will have such a freedom to pour ourselves into every good thing that we do! Knowing that God desires for us to succeed at everything we lay our hands to is a great incentive to always strive for our best! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "God Song":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I found this from Charles Spurgeon on my PC Study Bible and thought it was very interesting! 

"The trees of the Lord are full of sap."— Psalm 104:16

Without sap the tree cannot flourish or even exist. Vitality is essential to a Christian. There must be life—a vital principle infused into us by God the Holy Spirit, or we cannot be trees of the Lord. The mere name of being a Christian is but a dead thing, we must be filled with the spirit of divine life. This life is mysterious. We do not understand the circulation of the sap, by what force it rises, and by what power it descends again. So the life within us is a sacred mystery. Regeneration is wrought by the Holy Spirit entering into man and becoming man's life; and this divine life in a believer afterwards feeds upon the flesh and blood of Christ and is thus sustained by divine food, but whence it cometh and whither it goeth who shall explain to us? What a secret thing the sap is! The roots go searching through the soil with their little spongioles, but we cannot see them suck out the various gases, or transmute the mineral into the vegetable; this work is done down in the dark. Our root is Christ Jesus, and our life is hid in Him; this is the secret of the Lord. The radix* of the Christian life is as secret as the life itself. How permanently active is the sap in the cedar! In the Christian the divine life is always full of energy—not always in fruit-bearing, but in inward operations. The believer's graces, are not every one of them in constant motion? but his life never ceases to palpitate within. He is not always working for God, but his heart is always living upon Him. As the sap manifests itself in producing the foliage and fruit of the tree, so with a truly healthy Christian, his grace is externally manifested in his walk and conversation. If you talk with him, he cannot help speaking about Jesus. If you notice his actions you will see that he has been with Jesus. He has so much sap within, that it must fill his conduct and conversation with life.

*a source or origin of something. "Judaism is the radix of Christianity"

This is what is so obvious and evident in you and Kristine! The life and nature of God, whether you even mention Him or not, is what shines through. You are both becoming more like Him, yet you are both unique in personality, interests, gifts, talents and strengths. You are finding favor because people are seeing HIS life and nature through you. And THAT is exactly how every believer is supposed to operate in all of our individual uniqueness! GOALS! I want to be more like you two! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Never Walk Alone" because we never do! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

 Hi Brian!

Rather than a 'word' this week, I am going to share something that I found preparing for Adult Bible Study on Sunday! This is a letter that comes in my email from Bob Yandian. This is SO good that I felt it would be a blessing to you an your household! We love you all so much and we are SO very grateful for the blessing of being in your home for a couple of days! 

"If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit." Philippians 2:1 (NKJV)

Today I want to share with you a few ways to have fellowship with this supernatural friend, the Holy Spirit. You can pray with His power. When you pray in faith, the Holy Spirit joins your prayer and gives it it supernatural power. You can wait on the Spirit - be quiet in His presence. He will speak to you, guide you through your most difficult situations and give you peace as evidence of His direction. You can pray in the Holy Spirit, in tongues and make yourself sensitive to the will and leading of God. Finally, you can praise God and experience the Holy Spirit's presence and fellowship. Just as the power of the Spirit is so present in church when you praise God, the same thing can happen each day as you drive, work, or live out your daily life. When was the last time you had fellowship with this powerful friend?

Here is Hillsong with "Oceans":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "reverence". We will be looking at just these verses in the New Testament:

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire. KJV

This is the Greek word "deos". Strong's Concordance says: awe, godly fear. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: fear, awe. When we read in the Old Testament of the "fear of the Lord", the meaning is to revere or be in awe of. As we continue in fellowship with HIM through the study of the Word, prayer, praise & worship and listening, we come to realize just how great, powerful and complete HIS love is for us! Being able to receive HIS love makes us able to walk in greater love with our loved ones, and also to forgive and pray for those who are not loving to us. The more that I recognize and am thankful for HIS love for me, the harder it even is to hold a grudge or even be hurt by the words and actions of others. Then we find that it really is TRUTH that "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8)!  Here is TAYA of Hillsong Worship with "All Eyes On You" from her new album.

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "vocation". it is found only once in the New Testament in Ephesians 4:1.

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, KJV

This is the Greek word "klesis". Strong's Concordance says: an invitation. Thayer's Greek Lexcion says: a calling. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: Is always used in the New Testament of that 'calling' the origin and destiny of which are heavenly (the idea of invitation being implied). It is used especially of God's invitation to man to accept the benefits of salvation. The dictionary definition of "vocation" is: a person's employment or main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication. "her vocation as a poet"; a trade or profession.

I believe that God had both in mind when He was preparing us with gifts, talents, interests and abilities for the work that we are each presently doing. Your success and achievments in your career and in your business reflect on the 'calling' that God has placed on YOUR life from before the foundaion of the world! Your character, work ethic, honesty, wisdom, honor and integrity refect the image of the Father in all that you do! And it flows from you so naturally! You and Kristine are an inspiration to us older people to keep on being active, productive and committed to God's will for our lives! Here is Brooke Ligertwood  with  "Honey In The Rock":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!