Hi Brian!

Have a great trip! The word for this week is "endless". It's found only one time in the New Testament, in Hebrews 7:15-16:

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. KJV

This is the Greek word "akatalutos". Strong's Concordance says this: indisoluble (incapable of being dissolved, disintegrated or destroyed), i.e. permanent. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: not subject to destruction. The Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words says: indestructible. The Amplified Bible says it well:

16 Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement [an externally imposed command concerning His physical ancestry], but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life. AMP

I also like the Message Bible here:

15 But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, 16 not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life — he lives!   THE MESSAGE

This "life" is "zoe", (which we covered on the blog for 9/4011) and means essentially: life as God has in Himself! This is the life of John 3:16 and the life of 1 John 5:11-13! WE have it in us! Knowing that more clearly and more powerfully every day should bring us to a position of total fearlessness in this life! We HAVE the same life in us that God has in Himself! That force of life will bring healing to our bodies, peace to our souls, and the power needed to set others free, including our families. We are, of ALL people, most blessed! As you and Kristine continue to raise Avery and Elle with the knowledge of God's Word, and are able to instill in them the understanding of the life in them, they will be well on their way to becoming fearless and confident in life! You are doing a wonderful job! We so love to spend time with your family! Here is a new song from Hillsong United called "Relentless":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I am so glad that you and your family had such a fabulous vacation with so much Godly favor and blessings! The word for this week is "minstrel"! It's found in only one verse in the Bible, 2 Kings 3:15:

15 But now bring me a minstrel. And while the minstrel played, the hand and power of the Lord came upon [Elisha]. AMP

This is the Hebrew word "nagan". Strong's Concordance says: to thrum, i.e. beat a tune with the fingers; espec. to play on a stringed instrument; hence, to make music. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to play or to strike strings, to play a stringed instrument. So, YOU are a minstrel! "Nagan" is also translated in other places in the Old Testament: play, player, or played and all on instruments. In the verse above, Elisha received the power and anointing of the Lord when the minstrel played. When David played his harp for Saul, the evil spirit left him and he was refreshed (1 Samuel 16:23). 

YOU have been given a gift and you have the Holy Spirit in you, anointing you for service and ministry! I know that the time will come when God will use your gift to be a specific blessing to someone and draw them closer to Himself! Your faithfulness to Him and your diligence in the Word have put you in a position to be used mightily by Him! It begins with your family and friends and only God knows where He will take you from here! We will continue to pray every day for you and your family and for you all to have opportunity to use your God-given gifts and talents for Him! Here is Hillsong United with a very pretty song called "Beautiful Exchange":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for your vacation week is "abound". We'll be looking at four Scripture references. The first three are here:


Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. KJV

2 Cor 8:7 Therefore, as you abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also. KJV

2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: KJV

This is the Greek word "perisseuo". Strong's Concordance says: to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to exceed, to be over, to exist in abundance, to overflow. 

I know that we've looked at this concept before! God's desire is that we prosper and be in health! He wants our abundant prosperity even more than we do! But I found an interesting verse in my study today! Look at Philippians 4:12:

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. KJV

Notice that Paul is saying that he knows HOW to abound! One of the greatest temptations that we have noticed in the church is the temptation for people to be satisfied when prosperity comes and to stop doing the Word that got them there! When people have needs they have a tendency to look to God for help! When things are going well, many just set God and His Word aside! They do this UNTIL they begin to reap the result of their negligence and then they are in need again! What a vicious cycle the enemy has them in! It takes diligence and knowledge to know HOW to abound! I believe that you and Kristine both know how to abound! You know how to properly view money, riches and property so that those things never take the place that God should have in your life! As you continue with your diligence in the Word, in tithing and giving, in worship, thanksgiving and praise, and in prayer for others, you will see a degree of abundance that you may have never thought possible! Have a wonderful vacation in "Mickey Land"! May you be abundantly blessed in every area! Here is Hillsong with "Your Grace Abounds":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "praise". I was surprised to find we haven't used that one yet! There are a couple of words translated praise in the Bible, but we'll be looking at only one of them today! Praise is found 13 times in Psalm 150:

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "halal", where we get the word "Hallelujah". Strong's Concordance says: to be clear; to shine; to make a show, to boast; to be clamorously foolish; to rave; to celebrate; also to stultify (dictionary says of stultify: to cause to appear foolish or ridiculous). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to act like a madman. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to glory, to sing praise. We've all seen people be "clamorously foolish" (act like madmen and appear foolish and ridiculous) at Vikings games, but THIS is to be done before God! HE is no stuffed shirt! He loves it when we do this. In fact, Psalm 22:3 tells us that He inhabits the praises (tehilla - the noun form of halal) of His people! If I can get "crazy acting" at a game, and I can, then I should get AT LEAST that demonstrative in praising the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! YOU should, too! Not ALL the time, but at some point in time, even if it's only in private! He deserves it! Here, to inspire you, is Hillsong United with J.D. (long hair and glasses) singing "Take It All":

                             

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!