Hi Brian!

I am no musician and I have never had a good singing voice, but for some reason Holy Spirit has always spoken to me through music! He has also often had me use certain songs to share the Word. This week this song by Brook Ligertwood (with Brandon Lake), Honey In The Rock, is what He has given me to share with you! I'm sure you've probably heard it, but it is a powerful declaration of God's provision for every need we will ever have! Here are the lyrics:

[Chorus]
There's honey in the rock
Water in the stone
Manna on the ground
No matter where I go
I don't need to worry
Now that I know
Everything I need You've got
There's honey in the rock

[Verse 1]
Praying for a miracle
Thirsty for the living well
Only You can satisfy

[Verse 2]
Sweetness at the mercy seat
Now I've tasted, it's not hard to see
Only You can satisfy

[Refrain]
There's honey in the rock
There's honey in the rock
There's honey in the rock
There's honey in the rock (Yеah)

[Verse 3]

Freedom where the Spirit is
Bounty in thе wilderness
You will always satisfy, yeah

[Chorus]
There's honey in the rock
Water in the stone
Manna on the ground
No matter where I go
I don't need to worry
Now that I know
Everything I need You've got

[Post-Chorus]
There's honey in the rock
Purpose in Your plan
Power in the blood
Healing in Your hands
Started flowing when You said it is done
Everything You did's enough

[Bridge]
I keep looking, I keep finding
You keep giving, keep providing
I have all that I need
You are all that I need
I keep praying, You keep moving
I keep praising, You keep proving
I have all that I need
You are all that I need
I keep looking, I keep finding
You keep giving, keep providing
I have all that I need
You are all that I need
I keep praying, You keep moving
I keep praising, You keep proving
I have all that I need
You are all that I need
I have all that I need
You are all that I need, yeah

[Chorus]
There's honey in the rock
Water in the stone
Manna on the ground
No matter where I go
I don't need to worry
Now that I know (I know)
Everything I need You've got

[Post-Chorus]
There's honey in the rock
Purpose in Your plan
Power in the blood
Healing in Your hands
Started flowing when You said
It is done
Jesus, Jesus, who You are is enough

[Refrain]
There's honey in the rock
There's honey in the rock
There's honey in the rock
There's honey in the rock

[Outro]
Oh, how sweet
How sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus
Oh, how sweet
How sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus
Oh, how sweet
How sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus
To trust in You, Jesus
We trust in You, Jesus

HE provided for them under the Old Covenant, and OUR Covenant is so much better, more powerful and provided for by the BLOOD of JESUS! The message is, no matter what is happening in the world and BY the world, HE continues to provide for HIS people who put their trust in HIM! All that you and your family have sown into other people including finances, time, energy, wisdom, GOD is MULTIPLYING back to you in every area that you need! I am expecting that 2026 is going to be a year of GREAT FAVOR for you all! We love you all so much and we are very grateful to be a part of your lives! Here is that song!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

As I was praying and reading my Bible Plan yesterday, Holy Spirit spoke to me about you. I was reading in Galatians 6,  verses 4-5 and verses 7-9:

4 Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others. 5 Every believer is ultimately responsible for his or her own conscience. 

7 God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. 8 The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. 9 And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!

 I have absolutely no doubt that you have been fulfilling the 'work' GOD callled you to do, not only in your buisness, but also in your home and family life. Sports has brought a whole new area of influence for both you and Kristine and you have SO touched people's lives, in some ways that you do not even know! THAT is being the Living Witness that the Word speaks of! 1 Peter 2:12:

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The real message that I felt about you came in verses 7-9, especially the last part of verse 9! for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!

I believe this to be TRUTH for you AND your family. Now AND in your very bright future! Here is Brandon Lake with "Kids" because YOU are one of HIS! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "confidence". We looked at a different Greek word translated "confidence" before. This time we will be looking at 1 Corithians 7:16:

2 Corinthians 7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. KJV

This is the Greek word "tharrheo". Strong's Concordance says: to exercise courage. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to be of good courage, to be hopeful, confident. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says: this word has the basic sense "to dare," "to be bold," "to be of good courage," "to be cheerful or confident," and then  "to trust in," "rely on," and "to be bold against someone or something," "to go out bravely to. I LOVE that our Father is expecting us to be BOLD and CONFIDENT in all aspects of life because of what we KNOW about HIM and HIS WORD! Paul had confidence in the people of the church in Corinth because of their obedience to the word of God. One of the greatest feelings for me is to KNOW that I am bringing joy to HIM when I treasure His Word and put my trust in HIM! Circumstances may not always appear to be in our favor, but our confidence in HIS promises will cause those promises to become REALITY! That brings to mind this verse in Numbers 23:19!

19 God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?

My prayer for you is that YOUR confidence in HIM will increase to the point that doubt will have no place and then you will see even faster manifestations of His promises in every area of your life! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian! 

I am SO sorry that I forgot your blog! We were in Duluth Saturday for a concert, then I was at the Vikings game and then yesterday our grandson had a basketball game and it just dawned on me that today is Tuesday! This week we will be looking at Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional. He is another person who wrote years ago and sometimes the language is a littl obscure, but usually always worth thinking about! 

The Impartial Power Of God

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. — Hebrews 10:14

We trample the blood of the Son of God under foot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation of the forgiveness of God and of the unfathomable depth of His forgetting, is the Death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the Atonement which He has worked out for us. “Christ Jesus…is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” When we realize that Christ is made all this to us, the boundless joy of God begins; wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is at work.

It does not matter who or what we are, there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at another door than the one which Jesus has opened. “I don’t want to come that way, it is too humiliating to be received as a sinner.” “There is none other Name…” The apparent heartlessness of God is the expression of His real heart, there is boundless entrance in His way. “We have forgiveness through His blood.” Identification with the death of Jesus Christ means identification with Him to the death of everything that never was in Him.

God is justified in saving bad men only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The Atonement is a propitiation whereby God through the death of Jesus makes an unholy man holy.

I LOVE that last sentence! There is NOTHING that we humans can do to EVER deserve God's forgiveness! Every part of it is based SOLELY and COMPLETELY on JESUS and what HE HAS DONE! And it is ENOUGH! SO thankful for that TRUTH! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with one of my very favorites songs about what HE has done! "Ancient Gates":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "trucebreakers". The only place this is found in the Word of God is in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. KJV

This is the Greek word "aspondos". Strong's Concordance says: without libation (that usually accompanies a treaty), truceless. Thayers Greek Lexicon adds: without a treaty or covenant; cannot be pursuaded to enter into a covenant, inplacable (not able to be,  not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated. Unyielding, relentless, inflexible, uncompromising, ruthless, and inexorable.  

These things are said to be true of people in the time near the end of this age. My prayer for both you and Kristine in your businesses is that Holy Spirit will continue to bring good and Godly people into your lives and your businesses so that you can trust them and count on them! That is all a part of the promises of God to tithers and givers! Here for inspiration is another of my favorite songs from Brandon Lake called  "Kids", because HE doesn't ever let His kids down!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to use "thanksgiving"  again for obvious reasons! We've already covered this word, so this is a repeat! We will look at 

Colossians 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; KJV

The Amplified Bible says this:

Colossians 4:2 Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.  AMP

This is the Greek word "eucharistia". Strong's Concordance says: gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship): Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: "Thanksgiving" is the expression of joy Godward.

As I think about celebrating Thanksgiving this week, one of the things that I am most thankful to God for is that He brought you into Kristine's life at just the right time! When I saw that bright light of joy back in her beautiful eyes, I knew that prayer had been answered! Then to see your marriage so loving and the way you both raise your beautiful young ladies to be who God has called them to be is another joy! I know that we don't see as much of you all as we used to, but know that we are continually praying for you all. Have a greatly blessed Thanksgiving celebration with your family, knowing that you are all greatly loved and appreciated! Here is one of my favorite thankful songs by Brandon Lake called "Gratitude"! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share a recent devotional from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest".

The Eternal Goal

By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing,…that in blessing I will bless thee.… — Genesis 22:15-19

Abraham has reached the place where he is in touch with the very nature of God, he understands now the Reality of God.

“My goal is God Himself…
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.”

“At any cost, by any road” means nothing self-chosen in the way God brings us to the goal.

There is no possibility of questioning when God speaks if He speaks to His own nature in me; prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says — “Come” I simply come; when He says — “Let go,” I let go; when He says — “Trust in God in this matter,” I do trust. The whole working out is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.

God’s revelation of Himself to me is determined by my character, not by God’s character.

“Tis because I am mean,
Thy ways so oft look mean to me.”

By the discipline of obedience I get to the place where Abraham was and I see Who God is. I never have a real God until I have come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ, then I know that “in all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee.”

The promises of God are of no value to us until by obedience we understand the nature of God. We read some things in the Bible three hundred and sixty-five times and they mean nothing to us; then all of a sudden we see what God means, because in some particular we have obeyed God, and instantly His nature is opened up. “All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen.” The “yea” must be born of obedience; when by the obedience of our lives we say “Amen” to a promise, then that promise is ours.

I am sharing this because it speaks to me of how easily we become more and more like Jesus simply by trusting Him and His nature becomes our own! I didn't pray to become born again until 1980 when I was 25, but I remember certain things that occured in my life that could only have been God even when I didn't know Him. That's why it was so easy for me to believe everything else I saw in the Word. Now, when I look back, there was never a time in my life when He wasn't leading me. I see so much of God's nature in you as you take care of your family! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family! Here is another of my favorite songs by Brandon Lake and Cody Carnes called "Too Good To Not Believe":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

This week I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. It is just a refresher on something I know that YOU already know, but sometimes reviewing Truths from the Word of God helps bring them to the forefront and that helps renew our complete faith in HIM and HIS WORD!

Praying And Saying

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. — MARK 11:24

Faith will work by saying without praying (notice Mark 11:23 doesn’t mention praying), but faith also works by prayer.

However, when you pray it, you still have to say (or confess) it.

Let me repeat that: Faith will work by SAYING it, or it will work by PRAYING it, but when you PRAY it, you still have to SAY it.

Mark 11:23 and 24 brought me off a bed of sickness many years ago. After I had prayed, then I began to say (not think) out loud in my room, “I believe that I receive healing for my body.” Then I specified each thing that was wrong with me: “I believe I receive healing for the heart condition. I believe I receive healing for this paralysis. I believe I receive healing for the incurable blood disease.”

And just in case I had missed anything, I concluded, “I believe that I receive healing from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.”

Within the hour every symptom of physical deficiency disappeared from my body, and I was standing on the floor beside the bed — healed!

Confession: What things soever I desire, when I pray, I believe that I receive them. I confess what I believe. I hold fast to my confession. And I never fail to receive them.

Holy Spirit has been reminding me lately of the simple, powerful TRUTHS that we first learned years ago. I have found that a fresh look at things like this has really deepened my faith and increased my expectation! I hope that it does the same for you! Here is a video version of Brandon Lake's "Tear Off The Roof" song that used scenes from the Chosen movies.

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is from the song that has been on my heart again! The word is "borders" and it is found in the song: Oceans by UNITED. One of the meanings of the word is: A border is the outermost edge of an area, a line separating one political or geographic region from another. In other words, a border defines the limits of something. This song is about going beyond! Part of the bridge says this:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour

We know after all of our years of studying the Word of God that HE sees us as the indiividuals that HE has created us to be. He sees all that we CAN be if we DARE to believe and to step out in faith! So this song is like a cry to the Lord to help us to expand and extend where we presently are. My prayer for you and your family is that you will all continue to dare to believe that you can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that HE has put in your hearts to do! Here is that song:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "violent". We'll be looking at this verse:

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize — a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. AMP

This is the Greek word "biastes". Strong's Concordance says: a forcer, energetic. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: strong, forceful, using force. The Theological Dictionary adds: brave. I LOVE the Amplified Bible for this verse! There should be nothing passive about our attitude toward study of the Word of God because within is everything we need to walk in power, health, prosperity, success, favor, anointing and Wisdom. My word list says that we have used this word before but I couldn't  find where so I am possibly repeating this, but it IS the leading I had for this week. So as you continue in what you have already been doing, be excited about the results you have to look forward to because I have found that though God is rarely early, He is never late! I believe that so many more good, Godly, powerful, and amazing blessings of favor are headed your way in the coming months! Here, to encourage you in this, is an older song from UNITED called "Wonder":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys

 Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "passion". We have looked at this one before, but the only "passion" found in the KJV Bible refers to what JESUS went through for us when He gave His life for our salvation. We'll be looking at the dictionary definition for the word this time. 

Genuine passion means having a deep, authentic, and persistent enthusiasm for something, shown through consistent action and a willingness to endure challenges for it. It goes beyond just a fleeting interest and involves a deep, internal commitment that fuels actions, conversations, and the investment of time and energy, even when things get difficult. This contrasts with ego-driven passion, which is often more focused on the idea of success than the work itself. Deep engagement:
It's not just being interested; it's being deeply involved and committed to an activity, subject, or goal.

I believe that JESUS desires for us to have this attitude for everything that He has called us to do. When we do that, it reflects His life IN us! I really love how you and Kristine have given your daughters every opportunity to pursue their interests, knowing that they will find their passion in the things that they are really willing to go all out for. Some people think that the only way to serve the Lord is through becoming a pastor, missionary, or some other 'work' in the church, but excelling in natural things as a believer shows our 'passion' for Him in ways that people can really relate to! Here is one of my very favorite Hillsong songs called "Every Breath":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share Charles Spurgeons Evening Devotional. I needed this this week for myself! 

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost." — John 14:26

This age is peculiarly the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, in which Jesus cheers us, not by His personal presence, as He shall do by-and-by, but by the indwelling and constant abiding of the Holy Ghost, who is evermore the Comforter of the church. It is His office to console the hearts of God's people. He convinces of sin; He illuminates and instructs; but still the main part of His work lies in making glad the hearts of the renewed, in confirming the weak, and lifting up all those that be bowed down. He does this by revealing Jesus to them. The Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation. If we may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the Physician, but Jesus is the medicine. He heals the wound, but it is by applying the holy ointment of Christ's name and grace. He takes not of His own things, but of the things of Christ. So if we give to the Holy Spirit the Greek name of Paraclete*, as we sometimes do, then our heart confers on our blessed Lord Jesus the title of Paraclesis*. If the one be the Comforter, the other is the Comfort. Now, with such rich provision for his need, why should the Christian be sad and desponding? The Holy Spirit has graciously engaged to be your Comforter: do you imagine, O you weak and trembling believer, that He will be negligent of His sacred trust? Can you suppose that He has undertaken what He cannot or will not perform? If it be His especial work to strengthen you, and to comfort you, do you suppose He has forgotten His business, or that He will fail in the loving office which He sustains towards you? Nay, think not so hardly of the tender and blessed Spirit whose name is "the Comforter." He delights to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Trust you in Him, and He will surely comfort you till the house of mourning is closed for ever, and the marriage feast has begun.

* One called alongside

* Exhortation, encouragement, consolation or comfort

I really love this! I was feeling a little overwhelmed this week with so many people needing encouragment from me that I neglected to keep myself encouraged. This made so much sense! Holy Spirit is the ONE Who lives IN us, but He is saying exactly what JESUS would say if He were actually right here. We are NEVER alone. I can imagine that with all that you and Kristine have on your plates, with your individual careers and then four beautiful, talented, hard working pre-teen and teenage young ladies and their interests and needs, you just may sometimes feel overwhelmed. But the POWERFUL Spirit of God is living IN you for the very purpose of whispering exactly what Jesus would say to encourage you! And He does say this in 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Passion Translation:

We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.

ANd here further encourage you is Brandon Lake with "I Need A Ghost":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share a new song by Brandon Lake called "When A Cowboy Prays":

I remember when we were first born again that we knew nothing about the Word at all. We even questioned whether or not WE could pray for someone for healing or if a Pastor had to do it! We have learned SO much about the Word and about our authority as born again believers over the years and now have confidence in our prayers according to the Word! Everyone who has received Jesus as Lord and Saviour HAS this ability within! Here is that song!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "religion". It is only found in a five verses in the New Testament. Two of those are referring specifically to the Jewish 'religion'. Of the others we will be looking at James 1:27:

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. KJV

This is the Greek word "threskeia". Strong's Concordance says: cerimonial observance. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: religious worship, especially external. That which consists in ceremonies. Vine's Expository dictionary of New Testament words actually says this: religion in its external aspect. I think that this word packs a powerful punch when taken on with intimate care and powerful expectations of ALL that GOD can do! Here is another new song by Brandon Lake called "But God":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "better". We will be looking at that word in this verse. 

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. KJV

These are both the Greek word "kreitton". Strong's Concordance says: stronger, better, nobler. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: more useful, more serviceable, more excellent. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: power in activity and effect. Also, what is adventageous or useful. Israel had a covenant with God under the Old Testament, but the covenant that WE have in the New Testament, provided to us through the death, burial and resurrection of JESUS from the dead is an even BETTER one! The more that we learn and know of this NEW COVENANT, the more powerful it will be in our every day life! Then we find that we are, of all people on the earth, MOST BLESSED! Here is a song by Brandon Lake that declares that there is NOTHING that is BETTER for us than JESUS! "Graves Into Gardens":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share Matthew 26:48-54.

48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, The One I shall kiss is the Man; seize Him. 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), Master! And he embraced Him and kissed Him with [pretended] warmth and devotion. 50 Jesus said to him, Friend, for what are you here? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword and, striking the body servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.  [Genesis 9:6.] 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must come about this way? AMP

I have always been greatly affected by the TRUTH in verses 53-54! Jesus could have, at any time, called for those angels and decided to call the whole thing off! He suffered more than we can even imagine, yet, for the love of HIS FATHER and US, He CHOSE to see this through! Hebrews 12:2-3 tells us WHY he did it:

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

KJV

Even through His great suffering, which included sweating drops of blood, He desired to please His Father AND to free US to become HIS! Nothing about my life has ever been even remotely as hard as that! To know that HE thinks that I was worth that is the greatest TRUTH of my life! I am SO looking forward to the catching away of the church when we see HIM face to face. In the meantime, I will continue to be about what HE has called and anointed me to do. Here is Brandon Lake again with  a song that I shared last week that got me thinking again along these lines called "King of Hearts":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

The Centerpiece of God’s Heart

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12

One of the things I love to do when I preach is to unveil Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. It’s amazing how we can see Jesus unveiled in the Old Testament and what each detail reveals about the perfection of His finished work and His grace toward us. This is why it’s so important to get into His Word and take time to meditate upon the pictures or types that reveal His unwavering and unfailing love for you.

Would you like to see another example of Christ unveiled that will make your heart burn within you? Then look with me at the picture of Christ that is hidden in the ark of the covenant. In the days of the old covenant, God dwelled within the temple in Jerusalem in the Holy of Holies between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4:4).

This was the throne of God. The ark was the centerpiece of His heart and so important to God that He gave the Israelites very specific instructions on how it was to be constructed (Exodus 25:10–22; 37:1–9) because every detail of the ark points to the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For instance, the box portion of the ark is made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Wood in the Bible speaks of humanity (Isaiah 55:12; Mark 8:24). Acacia wood is known in Israel as incorruptible wood, so this speaks of Jesus’ incorruptible humanity. Gold in the Bible speaks of divinity and deity (Isaiah 2:20; Song 5:11, 14–15). So the wood overlaid with gold speaks of the person of Jesus—He was completely human and at the same time completely God.

Let’s look at the lid of the box, which was made from a solid slab of gold and covered the box. In Hebrew, the lid is called the kapporeth, which means “mercy seat.” God said that He would speak to the high priest from the mercy seat, “from between the two cherubim” (Exodus 25:22). The mercy seat was also the place where the high priest would place the blood of the animal sacrifices, only once in the entire year on the Day of Atonement. Let’s see what the mercy seat was used to cover from view.

Three items were kept in the ark. The first was the stone tablets on which God wrote the Ten Commandments, which we have seen speak of our rebellion and inability to keep God’s laws perfectly. The second was Aaron’s rod. When the people were complaining against God’s appointment of Aaron as the high priest, God caused Aaron’s rod to bud supernaturally to show the people that it was He who had appointed Aaron (Number 17:1–10). Aaron’s rod thus speaks of man’s rebellion against God’s appointed leadership. The final item in the ark was the golden pot of manna, which we have seen speaks of man’s rebellion against God’s provision.

Every item in the ark of the covenant speaks of our sins and rebellion against God! But what did God do with our sins and rebellion? He put them all into the ark and covered them with the mercy seat where the blood of the animal sacrifices was placed. By doing this, He was saying that when He looks down, He cannot see man’s sins and rebellion because the blood on the mercy seat covers them all!

This is the good news! Let me say it one more time to make sure that you did not miss it: God cannot see your sins when the blood of Jesus covers them. That is why in the Old Testament, Israel rejoiced every time their high priest went into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement and placed the blood of the animal sacrifices on the mercy seat. When the blood was on the mercy seat, God could not see His people’s rejection of His laws, His appointed priesthood, and His provision. He could not see the people’s sins and rebellion. He only saw the blood on the mercy seat.

Now, stop and consider the wonder portrayed in this picture of Jesus and His sacrifice. Understand that it was “not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood [Christ] entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” His shed blood that covers your sins is the basis of your eternal redemption!

My friend, as you see Jesus unveiled like this and make Him the center of your heart, you will experience peace, joy, and the fulfillment of redemption’s blessings, and reign in life.

I think that this is so interesting and just one more reason to continue reading through the Bible  chronologically. We are SO blessed to have and KNOW the TRUTH! Here is Brandon Lake with another song from his new album called King of Hearts (the album AND the song):

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share the Charles Spurgeon devotional!

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light."  — 1 John 1:7

As He is in the light! Can we ever attain to this? Shall we ever be able to walk as clearly in the light as He is whom we call "Our Father," of whom it is written, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all"? Certainly, this is the model which it set before us, for the Saviour Himself said, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect"; and although we may feel that we can never rival the perfection of God, yet we are to seek after it, and never to be satisfied until we attain to it. The youthful artist, as he grasps his early pencil, can hardly hope to equal Raphael or Michael Angelo, but still, if he did not have a noble beau ideal before his mind, he would only attain to something very mean and ordinary. But what is meant by the expression that the Christian is to walk in light as God is in the light? We conceive it to import likeness, but not degree. We are as truly in the light, we are as heartily in the light, we are as sincerely in the light, as honestly in the light, though we cannot be there in the same measure. I cannot dwell in the sun, it is too bright a place for my residence, but I can walk in the light of the sun; and so, though I cannot attain to that perfection of purity and truth which belongs to the Lord of hosts by nature as the infinitely good, yet I can set the Lord always before me, and strive, by the help of the indwelling Spirit, after conformity to His image. That famous old commentator, John Trapp, says, "We may be in the light as God is in the light for quality, but not for equality." We are to have the same light, and are as truly to have it and walk in it as God does, though, as for equality with God in His holiness and purity, that must be left until we cross the Jordan and enter into the perfection of the Most High. Mark that the blessings of sacred fellowship and perfect cleansing are bound up with walking in the light. 

I LOVE this! Our goal is to be LIKE out Father, which causes us to be the very BEST version of ourselves!  Though perfection is NOT possible, reaching for that goal not only puts us in great company, but also causes our desires to line up with HIS and makes us so valuable to all of the people in our lives. All of which is really the theme of this new song by Brandon Lake (and Hulvey) called "Right In The Middle", which is where HE is in all of this life! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

 Hi Brian!

This week I want to share a devotional from Joseph Prince's "Daily GraceInspirations". This made me think of you!

Supernatural Transformation

“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45

Christ-occupation makes you bold but not superior, humble but not inferior. When our minds are occupied with Jesus, we don’t have to try to be humble. In the presence of the Servant-King, our hearts become supernaturally transformed, and we will carry His servant heart. In other words, when you hang out with Jesus, all that He is will rub off on you. Your thoughts and your words will be full of the fragrance of His sweet presence and grace. All your inferiority and insecurities will melt away in His marvelous love for you. It takes people who are truly secure in Christ to be able to bow down and serve others with genuine humility.

Similarly, when you are courageous and bold in Christ and in His love for you, it doesn’t manifest as fleshly pride and arrogance, but rather as complete dependence on Almighty God. Think of how young David charged down the Valley of Elah and challenged the giant Goliath, while the rest of the well-trained and full-grown men of the army of Israel cowered in fear. Was that simply a display of youthful bravado or a genuine dependence on God?

To the untrained eye, David could have appeared like an impudent little brat. But we know where this steely chutzpah comes from when these bold words of a mere teenager resonated throughout the valley: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45). From his words, we can tell that young David was clearly occupied with the Lord of hosts and not with himself or his abilities.

When your thoughts are occupied with the Lord, you become a giant slayer! Are there giants in your life today that need to be slain? Like young David, occupy your mind with the Lord, and God will fill you with the courage and audacity to overcome all your adversities. Listen to the words of David in Psalm 18:29: “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.” Let these words of faith and boldness be established in your heart. With God on your side, nothing is impossible!

This was my impression of you when we first met you, but all of these years serving Jesus has caused you to be even more like HIM! You handle situations with such grace and there is no doubt at all that you love and protect your family! Your love and care for us, even when we don't see you as often anymore, is such a blessing! We love you and Kristine and your beautiful daughters so very much! Seeing Avery and Ellyson has been a real blessing, too! You two have done so well training them in the way they should go!  Here is a fun song from Brandon Lake's new album called Ghost Stories:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "possible". We find it in this verse:

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. KJV

This is the Greek word "adunatos". Strong's Concordance says: powerful or capable. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: able, mighty, strong. There is nothing that God has promised in His WORD that we cannot believe and receive from Him! In order to have our faith in Him operating at the highest level, we must continually meditate on every GOOD thing that He has done and promised! And the Brandon Lake song that covers this is again "Remember The Miracles"! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

One of the songs on Brandon Lake's newest album, King of Hearts, is called "Remember The Miracles" and that is the message I want to share with you this week! We'll be looking at these verses:

Mark 8:17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? KJV

Remember is the Greek word "mnemoneuo". Strong's Concordance says: to exercise memory, to recollect. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to be mindful of, to call to mind. The message that Jesus was getting across is that we should ALWAYS remember, or call to mind, His Word, the things that we have seen and heard of Him, the answers to prayer and GLORY reports that we have heard. Doing so helps to keep us in a constant state of expectation that HE will ALWAYS fulfill HIS promises to us! I am so looking forward to the day when my first thoughts are ALWAYS about His promises! No matter what things my look like in the coming months, always REMEMBER that God's Word is TRUTH and that He watches over it in order to continue to perform it! Here is Brandon Lake with that song mentioned above! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "call". There are many words translated call in the New Testament, but we will be looking at the one found in Acts 2:21:

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. KJV

This is the Greek word "epikaleomai". Strong's Concordance says: to entile, to envoke (for aid, worship, testimoy, decision). Thayer's Greek Lexicson says: to put a name upon. When we "call" on the Name of the Lord, we we are calling forth all the HE IS and all that HE has given to us! When we set our hearts and minds to do this, then there will be no end to the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that HE will pour into our lives! Brandon Lake's new album, King of Hearts, has the perfect song for this: I Know A Name!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

"Exceeding great and precious promises."— 2 Peter 1:4

If you would know experientially the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfillment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God. Speak to thy soul thus, "If I were dealing with a man's promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy—that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the promiser—that will cheer me. My soul, it is God, even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of His which thou art now considering is as true as His own existence. He is a God unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of His mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence. Nor doth He lack any power; it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can He fail in wisdom as to the time when He will bestow the favours, for He knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, I will and must believe the promise." If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfillment.

Knowing what God promises us in His Word is only the first step! REALLY believing that He said what He meant, and meant what He said, and that He was personally speaking to each one of us is key to walking in those promises! Sometimes every day life and the cares of it can cause us to entertain doubts. That is why the instruction to 'meditate much on them' is so important! Also remembering all of the times He has been true to His Word on our behalf will keep that faith strong! My prayer is that you will see more manifestation of God's Word working in your life than ever before! Here is another new song from Brandon Lake's new album, 'King of Hearts', called "Watch This!":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I have been meditating lately on all of the wonderful things that God has done for me, for my family, for the church and for all of the people that I love! It is SO easy when we get busy to push those things to the back of our mind and forget to be SO thankful for them! This may not be the case for you, but I know that I have to remind myself, especially when I'm faced with having to stand strong on the Word when something doesn't happen immediately. Every time I DO remind myself of what HE has done for me in the past, Holy Spirit shows me even more aspects of each answered prayer or miracle! That brought to mind this verse from John 21:25:

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written. AMP

As you continue through the rest of this year, I am believing for and expecting signs, wonders, miracles, favor, creative ideas, and blessings upon blessings for you and your family! He is a GOOD, GOOD GOD and LOVES to BLESS His kids! And here is a Brandon Lake song to cover that, too! "The Half Has Not Been Told":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share Charles Spurgeon's evening devotional!

"When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me." — Psalm 56:9

It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, "God is for me." He was "for us" before the worlds were made; He was "for us", or He would not have given His well-beloved son; He was "for us" when He smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of His wrath upon Him—He was "for us" though He was against Him; He was "for us" when we were ruined in the fall—He loved us notwithstanding all; He was "for us" when we were rebels against Him, and with a high hand were bidding Him defiance; He was "for us" or He would not have brought us humbly to seek His face. He has been "for us" in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within—how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if He had not been "for us"? He is "for us," with all the infinity of His being; with all the omnipotence of His love; with all the infallibility of His wisdom; arrayed in all His divine attributes, He is "for us"—eternally and immutably "for us"; "for us" when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; "for us" throughout eternity. And because He is "for us" the voice of prayer will always ensure His help. "When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back." This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance—"this I know." I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, "for God is for me." O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?

AMEN! Romans 8:31 says:

31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]

And He IS! ALWAYS! What confidence that should ALWAYS give us! Brandon Lake's song "God Is Not Against Me" is SO good! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "serve". We'll be looking at Joshua 24:15:

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. AMP

 

This is the Hebrew word "abad". Strong's Concordance says: a primitive root; to work (in any sense). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to labor, to do work, to serve another by labor, to make oneself a servant. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to serve, to cultivate, often used toward God.

When we were first born again and began to go to Bible Studies, most people had the idea that to serve the Lord meant you had to become a Pastor or a Missionary! Those are definitely callings from the Lord for SOME people! But every believer is called to the Ministry of Reconciliation, which is simply representing JESUS to everyone we come in contact with. Many times this is done by our actions and interactions with the people we come in contact with on a daily basis. Sometimes it is random and other times we will have a knowing inside about what we are doing! The main idea here is that GOD is NOT finished with us yet! There is so much more that HE desires to do IN us and FOR us! So the next time you are praying for Kristine and the girls, KNOW that THIS is serving the LORD! Every selfless thing you do is another way that you are PLEASING too the LORD and SERVING HIM! Here is another new song from Brandon Lake called "As For Me and My Home":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This week I want to share Charles Spurgeon's Evening devotional.

"Ah Lord God, behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee." — Jeremiah 32:17

At the very time when the Chaldeans surrounded Jerusalem, and when the sword, famine and pestilence had desolated the land, Jeremiah was commanded by God to purchase a field, and have the deed of transfer legally sealed and witnessed. This was a strange purchase for a rational man to make. Prudence could not justify it, for it was buying with scarcely a probability that the person purchasing could ever enjoy the possession. But it was enough for Jeremiah that his God had bidden him, for well he knew that God will be justified of all His children. He reasoned thus: "Ah, Lord God! Thou canst make this plot of ground of use to me; Thou canst rid this land of these oppressors; Thou canst make me yet sit under my vine and my fig-tree in the heritage which I have bought; for Thou didst make the heavens and the earth, and there is nothing too hard for Thee." This gave a majesty to the early saints, that they dared to do at God's command things which carnal reason would condemn. Whether it be a Noah who is to build a ship on dry land, an Abraham who is to offer up his only son, or a Moses who is to despise the treasures of Egypt, or a Joshua who is to besiege Jericho seven days, using no weapons but the blasts of rams' horns, they all act upon God's command, contrary to the dictates of carnal reason; and the Lord gives them a rich reward as the result of their obedient faith. Would to God we had in the religion of these modern times a more potent infusion of this heroic faith in God. If we would venture more upon the naked promise of God, we should enter a world of wonders to which as yet we are strangers. Let Jeremiah's place of confidence be ours—nothing is too hard for the God that created the heavens and the earth.

I LOVE THIS! NOTHING IS, ever HAS BEEN or ever WILL BE too difficult for our GREAT GOD! In these times, when new things are happening every day and GOD is showing HIMSELF strong, we MUST dare to believe that WE are about to be BLESSED beyond measure!!! To encourage you to be ever ready to receive GOD'S input on decisions you make, I want to share this song by Brandon Lake and CeCe Winans called "I Know A Name!" The lyrics are powerful and we KNOW that WE can count on HIM! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

We will be looking at this portion of Scripture this week: John 4:46-53

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son was lying ill in Capernaum. 47 Having heard that Jesus had come back from Judea into Galilee, he went away to meet Him and began to beg Him to come down and cure his son, for he was lying at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, Unless you see signs and miracles happen, you [people] never will believe (trust, have faith) at all. 49 The king's officer pleaded with Him, Sir, do come down at once before my little child is dead! 50 Jesus answered him, Go in peace; your son will live! And the man put his trust in what Jesus said and started home. 51 But even as he was on the road going down, his servants met him and reported, saying, Your son lives! 52 So he asked them at what time he had begun to get better. They said, Yesterday during the seventh hour (about one o'clock in the afternoon) the fever left him. 53 Then the father knew that it was at that very hour WHEN Jesus had said to him, Your son will live. And he and his entire household believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Jesus). AMP

The moment that JESUS spoke the words, the man's son was healed! The moment that WE speak His Word, that WORD goes to work for us! I want to encourage you with this today so that you can develop and even greater degree of expectation that what GOD says in HIS Word WILL happen for you when you dare to believe, expect and receive it! Here is a new song by Brandon Lake from His new album "King Of Hearts" called "The Great I AM Can". 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "plans". We have looked at it before but I wanted to look at it again as it is the title of a song from Brandon Lake's new album "King of Hearts". We'll be looking at Jeremiah 29:11 from the Amplified Bible.

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. AMP

The KJV Bible says "thoughts" while the AMPC says "thoughts and plans". The word is the Hebrew word "machashabah". Strong's Concordance says: an intention or plan. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: a thought, a device, a plan, a purpose, an invention. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says: The basic idea of the word is the employment of the mind in thinking activity. Reference is not so much to "understanding", but to the creating of new ideas. Our GREAT GOD has the very BEST "thoughts, plans and purposes" for our lives from HIS position of seeing all and knowing all! Isaiah 46:9-10 says it like this:

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: KJV

ALL of HIS PLANS for us are GOOD and ONLY GOOD! I can't wait to hear what wonderful things He has planned to bless you and your beautiful family in the coming months! Here is that song! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

Over all of the years since I first received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, He has often spoken to me through music! I can't explain why as I have never studied music and have never had a singing voice that I had conifdence in, but He has always done that! There is a line in a song on the newest Brandon Lake album that I shared with you in the last blog that really ministers to me! Here are the lyrics to the portion I am referring to:

There was something in the marrow
Always coursin' through my veins
But buried deeper than the rubble
Is my Daddy's DNA

This means a lot to me after finding out about my own heritage through a DNA test. I found out  the why of so many things that have always been different in me than the siblings I grew up with. Personality, interests, intelligence, temperment and so many other traits and characteristics. So when I heard these lyrics, it made me realize that when we received JESUS, we received His nature! We received the abilities needed to carry out what He has called us to do and also, as we spend time in His Word and in His presence, some of Who HE is always rubs off on us and becomes a part of who we now are! What I beleive He wants you to realize from this is that no matter what happens in the world around you, IN HIM you will ALWAYS have what is needed to overcome! The Wisdom, understanding, discernment, creative ideas and instinct to to tackle any and every situation, will be as though it has always been a part of you! This is the most exciting time to be alive and I believe that the rest of this year and all of the year to come will be your very BEST and MOST BLESSED than any before! Here is that song again for you to hear!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!