Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "knock". We see it these 3 times in the New Testament:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. KJV

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. KJV

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. KJV

These are all the Greek word "krouo". Strong's Concordance says: to rap. Vines Expository Dictionary says: to strike as knocking on a door. It also adds: of imporunity in dealing with God. (importunity means persistent, urgent, and shameless insistence on having something) The Theological Dictionary adds this: knocking signifies the seeking of entry by believers. Seeking and knocking stress the material content of asking. The point is not the general one that prayer may count on an answer, or that action is the presupposition of fulfilment, but the specific one that God's promise of salvation gives us the assurance in faith that when we knock the door will be opened and access made possible. 

I also really like the Amplified Bible for Luke 11:9 So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. AMP

Our persistence in prayer, never giving up, guarantees that HE will answer! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with one of my favorite songs about prayer called "Like Incense (Sometimes By Step)":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "Immanuel" from the Old Testament. Isaiah 7:14:

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "`Immanuw'el" . Strong's Concordance says: with us is God. Brown-Driver-Briggs says:  the symbolic and prophetic name of the Messiah (the Christ), prophesying that He would be born of a virgin and would be `God with us'. The Theological Word Book adds: With us is God. This proper name occurs twice. It is the name to be given to the child to be born of the virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Isaiah addresses Judah's king, of Davidic lineage, as Immanuel (Isaiah 8:8). The prophet also gives the meaning and application of the name by stressing that, in spite of what a disobedient king does, God will be with his covenant people (Isaiah 8:10). The name Immanuel gives expression to the truth God had expressed in various ways to his covenant people in times previous to Isaiah. He had specifically said that he would be God to Abraham and his seed (Genesis 17:7). He would go with Jacob (Genesis 28:15) and Moses (Exodus 3:12). God identified with his people saying he had taken them to be his possession (Exodus 19:5-6). The angel of his name would go with and guard his people (Exodus 23:20,24). To Joshua the word came, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (Joshua 1:5). To David God said, "I have been with you" (2 Samuel 7:9).  Solomon earnestly prayed that the Lord would be with him and Israel as he had been with David (1 Kings 8:57). By various visible means, i.e. cloud, pillar of fire, and the ark of the covenant the Lord confirmed his word. He was with his people. He led, upheld, and blessed them. Isaiah, speaking to Ahaz, assured him that the faithful covenant God was present as he had been and as he would be in the incarnate Son to be born of the virgin. Thus the past, present, and future intimate relationship of God's presence with his people is summed up in the name Immanuel. 

I LOVE this! God IS and ALWAYS will be WITH HIS PEOPLE! No matter what happens from one day to the next, our GOD will NEVER leave us, but will be EVER PRESENT in us and with us to supply our every need! Here is Hillsong with an older Christmas song called "We Have A Saviour":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "encourage". We find it in these two verses in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 1:38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. KJV

Deuteronomy 3:28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. KJV

These are both the Hebrew word "chazaq". Strong's Concordance says: To fasten upon, to sieze, to be strong, courageous. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: To strengthen, to prevail, to be strong, to become strong, to be firm, to be resolute, to display strength. God's people were encouraged in Joshua 1:9 to be strong and of good courage:

Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

..but the verses above are instructions for US to encourage others! So, I want to encourage both you and Kristine that you are doing such a wonderful job raising your beautiful and talented daughters to be the very best that they can be! It has been such a blessing to watch them learn and grow and develop their interests. It seems that there is nothing done half way with them! Plus they are kind and thoughtful and loving! We love you all so much and we are so proud of you! I believe that 2025 is going to be a very good year for you all! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with a song called "World Outside Your Window" that I think perfectly describes your family because you are right where you are supposed to be and doing exactly what God has called you to do!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is 'patient'. We see it used in these Scriptures in the New Testament:

Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: KJV

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. KJV

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. KJV

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. KJV

In Romans 2 we have the Greek word "hupomone". Strong's Concordance says: cheerful or hopeful endurance; constancy. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: steadfastness. In Romans12 we have the Greek word "hupomeno". Strong's Concordance says: to stay behind; to remain, to undergo; have fortitude, to persevere. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to remain, to abide, to endure, to bear bravely and calmly. In 2 Timothy we have the Greek word "anexikakos". Strong's Concordance says: enduring; forbearing. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament adds: long-suffering. In James we have the Greek word "macrothumeo". Strong's Concordance says: to be longspirited; forbearing. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to persevere patiently and bravely; to be slow to anger, slow to punish and slow in avenging. 

These are all qualities that GOD has, and operates in, toward US! He is never desiring for anything but our very best. The enemy of our souls wants us to get ourselves into condemnation and fear when we occasionally miss it, fail, or do less than our best. But GOD NEVER DOES! He is ALWAYS ready to believe and to do the very best of us and for us! I have found in the 44 years that I have been born again that believing the BEST of HIM will cause the praises to flow and the answer to come quicker! The reason that I have been meditating on this is because of that new song by Brandon Lake that I shared with you a few weeks ago called "Hard Fought Hallelujah". Standing strong in the hardest of times has ALWAYS brought significant answers, relief, joy, blessings and opportunities! I hope that this is as much of a blessing to you as it is to me! Here is that song again:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share with you the evening devotional by Charles Spurgeon on the PC Study Bible.

"O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men."— Psalm 107:8

If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies—common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise Him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank Him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise Him, in fact, for everything which we receive from His bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God's redeeming acts towards His chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ—our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye heritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name." Let the new month begin with new songs.

In these days there are SO many new praise and worship leaders, singers, musicians, writers and those that organize it all. They collaborate in a GOD work and so many more people are BLESSED by them! As I was reading this, I had the distince impression that Holy Spirit has been creating (breathing) a new song inside of YOU for HIM. This may be only for your own personal praises, or to share with many, but if this confirms something in you, then I am encouraging you to take a deep dive into what Holy Spirit is saying and make it YOURS for HIM! I also forsee some new opportunities for you, your family, your business and your interests. I will continue to pray for you and that! You and your family are and have been a tremendous blessing to us and we love you all SO much! Here is Hillsong with an older song that I love called "Love So High":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!