Hi Brian!

This week I want to share again from Charles Spurgeon's morning devotional. 

"Lo, I am with you alway."— Matthew 28:20

The Lord Jesus is in the midst of His church; He walketh among the golden candlesticks; His promise is, "Lo, I am with you alway." He is as surely with us now as He was with the disciples at the lake, when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon and bread. Not carnally, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us. And a blessed truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed. Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of Him so overcomes us, that we are ready to say, "Turn away Thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me." Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the cassia, which drop from His perfumed garments, causes the sick and the faint to grow strong. Let there be but a moment's leaning of the head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of His divine love into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer, but glow like seraphs, equal to every labour. If we know that Jesus is with us, every power will be developed, and every grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves into the Lord's service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the presence of Christ to be desired above all things. His presence will be most realized by those who are most like Him. If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to Him. Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ's desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to be favoured with His company. Remember His presence may be had. His promise is as true as ever. He delights to be with us. If He doth not come, it is because we hinder Him by our indifference. He will reveal Himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously suffer Himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to His people.

I am sharing this with you this week because it is so evident that you and Kristine and your family have already been doing what he is speaking about here! It is evident that "you have been with Jesus". So as an encouragement for 2023, whatever you have been doing - continue! If tempted to spend less time in His presence, spend more! Because this is the avenue that the enemy will TRY to pursue with you to get you all "off your game". This new year has been spoken of as OUR year! A year of more and more of the restoration of things lost or stolen, of a continual harvest of the good and godly flowing into our lives and of the seeds we've sown in faith to come forth in an abundance of dreams fulfilled, of favor, anointing, power revealed and of opportunites not yet seen! I will continue to pray and observe all that God does in and through you all! You are my role models! We love you all so much! Here is TAYA with another new song called "Lover Of My Soul":

LYRICS: I hear You knocking at the door of my heart Oh what a sound it is I’m scared to see You but I know who You are So I will walk You in I shrink back, You come close My resistance up in smoke And I tremble when I feel Your touch I give in, You give all Feel Your mercy washing all of me And I know there’s no one like You You’re the lover of my soul You’re the lover of my soul You’re the lover of my soul You’re the lover of my soul I can’t believe that You would meet me again Seventy-one times seven But You’re the one who died to breathe life again So I will breathe You in This is love, this is real Words that pierce, words that heal And I know there’s no one like You You’re majestic and You’re humble Magnificent and noble And I know there’s no one like You Always holy, full of glory None can rival what You are to me And I know there’s no one like You The lover of my soul Yeah Lover of my soul Lover of my soul

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!