Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "worshipper". We find it in John 4:21-23:

John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. KJV

This is the Greek word "proskunetes. Strong's Concordance says: an adorer. This word comes from the Greek word for 'worship' found in this and the other three verses, which is "proskuneo". Strong's Concordance says: to fawn or crouch, i.e. prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: of homage shown to men of superior rank; of homage rendered to God and the ascended Christ. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to make obeisance, do reverence to. I think that one of the saddest things to see is when those who don't yet know the One, True God are paying homage and giving reverence to objects of creation and not the Creator! I even think of those prophets of baal who spent the whole day dancing and reverencing their dead idol, even to cutting themselves to try to get their 'god' to answer. When all the time the real GOD, who made them, was right there for them to turn to! I am SO very thankful that HE caused my friends to share the Gospel with me and then HE made it clear and real to me that they were telling me the TRUTH! Now I am a true 'worshipper', woshipping HIM in spirit, by the Holy Spirit in me, and TRUTH by His Word! I believe that I am THE most blessed person! My prayer for you and your beautiful family is that HE will reveal HIMSELF to you all more and more every day and that your intimate worship of HIM and fellowship with HIM will be sweeter every day! Here is another favorite somg of mine from Hillsong UNITED called "Clean":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I apologize for not having the blog up yet for this week! I simply lost track of what day it was! I usually begin working on it on Sunday and then add to it and post on Monday because you always use to read it on Tuesday. We got home from our grandsons' football game last night and I didn't think of it. I will be posting it later today! 

Hi again Brian! 

I have been thinking about you and Kristine a lot this past week as we began the adventure of having two high school football players in our grandsons, a granddaughter who plays high school soccer and basketball and another granddaughter who excels in music. (We have yet to hear her play publicly because her competitions have only been before judges as this point). As I was thinking of all the juggling that you have to do to make sure that each of your daughters has the best possible opportunities to excel, I was reminded of a song by Michael W. Smith called "Secret Ambition". If you're not familiar with it, he speaks of Jesus as a "Paragon". The dictionary definition of "paragon' is:  a model of excellence or perfection. Jesus was exactly that, pleasing some and scaring others! I have shared with you many times how the Lord has shown me that your family has reached SO many people, ministering to them of God's LIFE, LOVE, CARE and ATTENTION, most likely without even mentioning HIM specifically. It is just who you are and how you live! So now you have become an example for us! Our part as grandparents is much smaller than yours, but we have learned how to pray more specifically, encourage, love, appreciate, attend and celebrate them. Thank you for your excellent examples! You and Kristine are PARAGONS of support and encouragement! Here is Michael W. Smith with that song! We love and appreciate you both so much, and your lovely ladies. It has been SO fun to see them again! On a side note, it won't be long before I am the shortest one of us all again!  :)

Young man up on the hillside

Teaching new ways

Each word winning them over

Each heart a kindled flame

Old men watch from the outside

Guarding their prey

Threatened by the voice of the paragon

Leading their lambs away

Leading them far away

Nobody knew His secret ambition

Nobody knew His claim to fame

He broke the old rules steeped in tradition

He tore the holy veil away

Questioning those in powerful position

Running to those who called His name

But nobody knew His secret ambition

Was to give His life away

His rage shaking the temple

His word to the wise

His hand healing on the seventh day

His love wearing no disguise

Some say, "Death to the radical

He's way out of line."

Some say, "Praise be the miracle

God sends a blessed sign.

A blessed sign for troubled times."

Nobody knew His secret ambition

Nobody knew His claim to fame

He broke the old rules steeped in tradition

He tore the holy veil away

Questioning those in powerful position

Running to those who called His name

But nobody knew His secret ambition

Was to give His life away

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

This week I wanted to share this from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek" Volume One.

Never Forget To Look At the Children!

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. — 1 Timothy 3:4

Once while traveling on an airplane, I sat next to a lady who had taught public school for thirty-five years. I asked her, “What can you tell about a family by the way a child behaves in school?”

She answered, “Everything! I can usually tell by the way a child acts if his or her home is peaceful or tormented; if the parents pay attention to their kids or ignore them; and if the father and mother have a good relationship. Almost everything can be determined by watching a child’s behavior. It’s usually a mirror of what’s happening at home.”

Of course, I know there are unique situations in which parents do everything right in raising their child, yet the child still becomes indifferent toward God and develops a rebellious and disrespectful attitude toward others. But often rebellious children are a symptom of a deeper problem in the family. If only one of the children in a family is rebellious and unmanageable, you might be able to dismiss the situation as a freak development or an attack of the devil. But if every child exhibits the same disturbing behavioral problems, you can surmise that something is not right in that home.

Paul considered the condition of the home so important that he wrote that a leader must have “…his children in subjection with all gravity” (1 Timothy 3:4). This is important to understand, because what happens in a person’s home is usually the true picture about what kind of leader he is going to be. So when I personally look for new leaders or for people who will represent me and my ministry, I look at their children to see if they are respectful and understand authority. If the children aren’t being taught this at home, it may be a sign that this parent doesn’t value the things I count as important.

But what age of children are we talking about? The word “children” that Paul uses in First Timothy 3:4 is the Greek word tekna, the word used to describe children who are still under parental guidance at home. After a child grows into a young adult and leaves home, the parent is no longer responsible; however, as long as the child remains at home and under the authority of his or her parents, those parents have a God-given parental responsibility to teach that child how to live and how to act toward others.

Paul says in this verse that a leader’s children should have “gravity.” The word “gravity” is the Greek word semnotes. It presents the idea of a person who carries himself with dignity and treats other people with courtesy and respect.

Through the years, I’ve learned that the way a person’s children speak to each other and to others outside the home is very revealing about what’s really happening behind closed doors in that home. As noted above, children usually mirror the true situation in a home. In other words, how they speak, carry themselves, and treat others usually reflects the quality of relationships in their home.

If parents are constantly arguing and screaming at each other until it has become a pattern and a way of life, the children will usually speak to each other exactly the same way in that home. When siblings engage in chronic patterns of strife, name-calling, and mutual accusation, these destructive patterns probably exist in their parents’ marital relationship as well. Children repeat what they see their parents do.

I’ll never forget the time I was called upon to mediate a very difficult situation between a husband and wife whose marital problems could no longer be hidden. On the surface, they always smiled and acted deeply in love. However, the behavior of their children let me know that serious problems existed in that marital relationship.

Those kids frequently told each other:

“I hate you!”

“I wish you were dead!”

“I can’t stand you!”

“I’ll be so glad when you grow up and move out of this house!”

“I think you stink!”

It was very revealing to me that the children spoke so freely to each other like this and that no one at home stopped it. It told me that it was probably the kind of language spoken by everyone in the home — including Dad and Mom.

Then the true story came to light, and the facade of marital bliss this couple tried to project was removed. The truth was that this husband and wife fought like cats and dogs. He yelled and she screamed; he threatened and she threw objects. That house had been filled with strife, discord, quarreling, and squabbling for many years. This long-term destructive behavior was exactly what those kids mirrored in their own behavior and conversations with each other.

If a home is filled with love, respect, and teamwork, this is also evident in the way the children conduct themselves. For instance, just recently a leader and his family came to our home for dinner. I watched that leader’s children interact with each other all evening while they were at our home. By watching those children, I knew exactly what I needed to know about this family. Those children possessed a respect and courtesy for each other and for other people that had been passed down to them by their parents’ example.

When children are disrespectful toward authority and resentful when they’re asked to do something they think is too low for them to do, it usually means they come from a home where a servant mentality is nonexistent. If their parents were true servants, their children would reflect that servant mentality themselves. Leaders who are servants most often have children who are servants.

So if you’re looking for someone to serve in your church or to hire for a job, never forget to take a good look at the potential candidate’s children. If you see a house full of children who are content to sit and watch other people work, be careful. You may be inviting someone who lacks a servant’s heart into your team of leaders. Certainly there are exceptions to the rule, but you will most often find that what you see in the children is what you’ll experience with the parent as well.

I am certain this Sparkling Gem has raised questions for you. My prayer is that it raises a warning flag to make you think twice about your own children and to cause you to move more slowly when choosing a leader who has disrespectful children. I’m NOT saying that a potential leader whose children are rude and disorderly can’t be used. But you should enter that relationship with both eyes wide open.

If your own children are disrespectful toward each other and toward authority, maybe you need to ask the Lord to help you analyze the real situation in your life and your home so He can show you what is out of order. Then once He reveals it to you, determine to start taking the proper steps to put things in good shape!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, thank You for speaking to me through today’s Sparkling Gem. I ask You to help me truthfully evaluate the situation in my life and honestly analyze how I am doing at rearing my children. It is difficult for me to be honest with myself about my performance as a parent, so I need You to give me the grace to see the truth as You see it. After You show me where I have erred, please quickly teach me how to bring correction into the situation. I am willing to be corrected, and I am waiting for You to help me clearly see the situation. I determine this day to do whatever is required to put my home in good working order.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am growing and developing as a parent. My parental skills are getting better and better all the time. My home is filled with love; my children speak with kindness and respect; and I am rearing them to be godly leaders for the next generation. With God’s Word as my guide and the Holy Spirit as my Teacher, I am leading my family in a way that pleases God and that is an example to others.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

I thought of you and Kristine and your girls when I read this! I'm sure they have their moments of just being kids, but what I have witnessed in your family is so much love, encouragement, respect, sharing, giving, appreciating, comforting, supporting and challenging! That last being essential in becoming the best at whatever they may choose to do! You both have done SO well in raising these bright, precious, energetic, talented, loving and giving and competitive young ladies! They all have a very bright future because of what you as parents have instilled in them! They are a joy to be around and we appreciate you all so much! Here are Hillsong Kids with "This Is Living Now":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace" devotional! 

Selah Moments

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. Psalm 3:1–3

As you read what happened to David as he cried out to God in the verses above, notice the selah in the psalm. You will find such “selah moments” throughout David’s psalms. That means David paused . . . and listened.

In those moments, David turned his eyes from his troubles and looked to his God. In those moments, I believe he remembered afresh that he did not have to fight his battles because the Lord of hosts fought for him (1 Samuel 17:45–47). He remembered afresh the God who had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, the God who overcame Goliath without sword or spear. And as he looked to the Lord, he strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Samuel. 30:6), and that’s when things started to change.

Change came when he shifted his focus away from his painful and dire circumstances and allowed himself to be absorbed instead in the grace of the Lord, when he paused and tuned in to what the Lord was encouraging him with on the inside. I believe that in those few moments of meditating on God’s goodness and mercy, he heard the Lord say to him, “David, why are you worried about all these people coming against you? I am your shield. I am the glory and the lifter of your head.” That was what brought about David’s turning point in the situation. God’s comfort came to David as he chose to selah.

Does it seem like your enemies have increased and many are rising up against you? Have you been getting one bad report after another from the doctor? Maybe they have found a lot more to be concerned about than you were previously aware of. And now your heart is heavy because it feels like maybe even God can’t help you.

At times like this, do what David did. Selah. Pause and choose to run to the Lord in the presence of your enemies.

When David came back to the psalm, his enemies were still there. But he could rise up and declare, “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.”

In your selah moments with the Lord, you will find your turning point and victory. Don’t remain discouraged. Don’t run away from Him. Run to Him and worship Him.

This was such a blessing to me! I am SO not a "people person"! I love being with my family, your family, Nick and Nathalie's family and my church family. Being around other people, not so much! Knowing that I have the right and the freedom to run right into the presence of the LORD gives me such an awarenesss of God's great peace and of His LOVE! In order to have needs met, prayers answered and the peace that passes our understanding, I know that I must have some "me time" that involves being in HIS presence and really listening and learning! Being able to stand on the Word for your family and friends builds such confidence to be able to pray for others that HE brings into our lives! You and your beautiful family have affected so many people that you don't even yet realize! I forsee more and more people being affected strongly by your steadfastness, your joy, your Wisdom and understanding, your willingness to help others and your hard work and integrity. Spending time in the "secret place" of HIS presence prepares us for anything and everything to come! Praying for you all every day! Here is Hillsong with "Song For His Presence":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!