Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "rooted". We find these two portions of Scripture in the New Testament:

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. KJV

Colissians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. KJV

These are each the Greek word "rhizoo". Strong's Concordance says: to root, to become stable. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to cause to strike root, to strengthen with roots. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: in Christ, i. e., in the sense of being firmly planted, or established. In the Theological Dictionary of The New testament we have this:  Colossians 2:7 and Ephesians 3:17 refer to the personal rootage of believers. In Christ they find life-giving soil and also their sustaining foundation ("rooted and built up"). The most powerful aspect of true Christianity is THIS! We are not simply following Jesus as His disciples did before His death, burial and resurrection! We have been born again by the Spirit of Almighty God recreating our previously dead human spirits into HIS image! We have been made PERECT in spirit, just like JESUS! Now it is up to us to renew our  minds (Romans 12:2) so that we can think, speak and act like JESUS! Knowing ALWAYS that we can NEVER be removed from HIS hand! We are ROOTED in HIM! Those 'roots' go deeper than we can even yet understand! Knowing this should give us the powerful understanding that no matter what happens, HE is expecting us to pick ourselves up and keep moving TOWARD Him! Here is Brandon Lake with an older song, that is new to me, called "Wildflowers":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "heaven". We'll be looking at these verses:

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. KJV

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. KJV

Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. KJV

Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. KJV

Phil 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: KJV

These are all the Greek word "ouranos". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: The region above the sidereal heavens  (space), the seat of an order of things eternal and consummately perfect, where God dwells and the other heavenly beings. Vine's Expository Dictionary says; It is to be the eternal dwelling place of the saints in resurrection glory. In the present life "heaven" is the region of the spiritual citizenship of believers. In fact, the word "conversation" in Philippians 3:20 is the Greek word "politeuma", which means citizenship. 

Jesus is expecting us to live by the resources He has provided for us from our Heavenly home, with the supernatural protection, provision and safety that He promises! Your home is so peaceful and has such a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere because of who lives there! You and Kristine have brought Heaven's atmosphere here! We also have that sense of Heaven when we spend time in fellowship with Him through Holy Spirit Who lives in us! This song from an older Brandon Lake album caused me to be thinking along these lines! It is called "Just Like Heaven" and it speaks of this very thing! So, here is this song!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "hunger". We'll be looking at Matthew 5:6 and  John 6:35.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. KJV

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. KJV

This is the Greek word  "peinao". Strong's Concordance says: through the idea of pinching toil, to famish, to crave. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire. The Theological Dictionary says: avidly to desire something. This is the attitude that God wants us to have toward Him! To desire to please Him and to desire to be like Him! When we have this desire, HE will see to it that we succeed! Our partner Jerry O' Dell said this:

"When we want what God wants for the same reason He wants it, we cannot fail."

Our key then is to develop this desire and to diligently seek HIM to fulfill it! This is my heart and I believe that it is yours, too! There are NO LIMITS to what GOD will do in and through those who have this same desire! Here is Brandon Lake with "Temple":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week the lesson is simply a song! Brooke Ligertwood sang this song on her album called "Eight". It's called "Soon" and here are the lyrics:

Soon and very soon
My king is coming
Robed in righteousness and crowned with love
When I see him
I shall be made like him
Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon
I'll be going
To the place he has prepared for me
There my sin erased
My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon

I will be with the one I love
With unveiled face I'll see him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon
See the procession
The angels and the elders 'round the throne
At his feet I'll lay my crowns my worship
Soon and very soon

I will be with the one I love
With unveiled face I'll see him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon

Though I have not seen him
My heart knows him well
Jesus Christ the lamb
The Lord of heaven

I will be with the one I love
With unveiled face I'll see him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon

We have been hearing since we were first born again that  the Rapture of the Church, when we are all caught up in the air to be with the LORD, will be VERY soon! That was over 44 years ago! He hasn't appeared for us yet for the purpose of taking us all to Heaven! BUT, keeping the idea that it COULD happen at any minute foremost in our thinking helps us to stay in tune with HIM and of one mind with HIM! He MAY not appear for us in another 44 years, BUT we KNOW that HE WILL! I just want to encourage you with this song that even if we have to wait more, we can ALWAYS, and EVERY DAY, be filled with His Presence, know His Purpose, obey His Word and keep looking forward with great anticipation as we get ever closer to THAT DAY! Here is Brooke with that song!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!