Hi Brian!

It was so good to see you and your beautiful family this weekend! The word for this week is "thoughts". Specifically from Jeremiah 29:11.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "machashabah" or "machashebeth". Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: a though, device, plan, purpose, an invention. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says: planning, devising. Strong's Concordance says: an intention, a plan. I love the definition "an invention" from BDB because it brings to mind another verse of Scripture that I learned about many years ago. John 14:13:

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. KJV

The phrase "will I do" is the Greek word "poieoo". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to make, to produce, construct, form, fashion. What that literally says is "If I don't have it, I will make it for you!" So that makes it even more exciting to know that HIS thoughts towards us are ALWAYS good and ALWAYS for our benefit! The Amplified Bible has this for Jeremiah 29:11:

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

He desires our welfare! He WANTS us to be well (healthy) and to prosper! Remember 3 John 2:

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. AMP

When we renew our minds with His Word, we will develop faith, trust and confidence inthat Truth that HE wants better for us than we even want for ourselves! God is GOOD, all the time! Here is THAT song from a LONG time ago:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

Hope you had a great trip! The word for this week is "glorious". Here are the Scriptures we'll look at:

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. KJV

Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; KJV

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. KJV

The word "glorious" in all of these references is the Greek word "doxa", Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: opinion, judgment, view; splendor, brightness, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; majesty. There is no doubt that we have a good opinion of His power (Colossians 1:11) and that His (soon!) appearing will be in excellence, majesty, brightness and splendor (Titus 2:13). At the moment of His appearing, we will instantly receive our new and "glorious" bodies (Philippians 3:20)! We have already been changed instantly in our spirit like this at the moment of our New Birth! He has changed our dead human spirit into a living one by His Spirit, Who lives in us (2 Corinthians 5:17 and 21)! Out of something hopeless and lost, HE has made something truly GLORIOUS! Hillsong Live's new album is called Glorious Ruins, and this is what they're talking about! Here is the title song!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "glad"! There are two different Hebrew words and one Greek word that we'll be looking at. The first is found in Psalm 9:2:

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "samach". Strong's Concordance says: to brighten up, i.e. be or make blithe or gleesome. Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon says: to rejoice or cause to rejoice. The Theological Wordbook says: denotes being glad or joyful with the whole disposition. It's a daily choice to be glad in the Lord, regardless of the situation and circumstances we may be facing! The next example is found in Psalm 31:7:

7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love, because You have seen my affliction, You have taken note of my life's distresses, AMP

This is the Hebrew word "giyl". Strong's Concordance says: to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion) usually rejoice. The Theological Wordbook says: Root meaning is "to circle around". It is more applicable to vigorous, enthusiastic expressions of joy. One thing that I have found out about God is that He is VERY demonstrative! He is NOT shy, quiet or reserved when it comes to expressing His love for us! I like to take every glorious sunrise or beautiful cloud formation as an expression of His love for me, because He knows how much I love them! I am sure that He has revealed Himself to you through the things that you love, such as music! So, when we are happy, thankful and grateful, or when we are concerned, under attack and standing on His Word, it is ALWAYS the right time to celebrate HIM! The last example is found in Matthew 5:11-12:

11 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous — with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. 12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. AMP

Glad here is the Greek word "agalliao". Strong's Concordance says: to jump for joy, i.e. to exalt. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to rejoice exceedingly. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: it conveys the idea of jubilant exultation, spiritual "gladness". SO, when people give us a hard time, or the cold shoulder, because of our stand on the Word of God, we are to "jump for joy"! Jesus got the same response form some when HE went about ministering the Word! We're in good company, AND the rewards are amazing! Jerry Savelle has a great teaching called "If Satan Can't Steal Your Joy, He Can't Keep Your Goods"! A grateful, joyful attitude will put us over in every situation, AND, it's much more fun to live that way! Here is Hillsong Kids with "Get Up And Dance":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian,

The word for this week is "pen". The verse we'll be looking at is Psalm 45:1:

45 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. KJV

The word "inditing" here is the Hebrew word "rachash", which Strong's Concordance says means "gushing". Here is verse 1 from the Amplified Bible:

1 MY HEART overflows with a goodly theme; I address my psalm to a King. My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer. AMP

This psalmist has a heart that is so full of his love and awe for the One, True God that he cannot help but speak! The word pen is the Hebrew word "`et". Strong's Concordance says: a stylus or marking stick. It comes from the Hebrew word "`iyt", which Strong's says gives the sense of swooping. When you look at the Hebrew structure of the sentence you see that the word "is" is added for clarification. So it actually says "my tongue the pen of a ready writer". "Ready" is the Hebrew word "mahiyr" which Strong's says means quick and skillful. When the psalmist is speaking of the king (the Lord), he speaks as swiftly and skilfully as a writer writes! As a writer of songs, I believe that as your love for HIM grows, not only will your praise of HIM flow like this psalmist, but I believe it will also bless and enhance your song writing skills! Here is a new song from Hillsong Live's new album "Glorious Ruins" album called "Always Will":

Always Will

VERSE
Where I go
You will go
You never leave me
When I'm lost
There's always hope

In every high
In every low
You're standing next to me
In the fire
There's always hope

PRE-CHORUS
I will lift my eyes
Let my heart cry out
You're alive
Alive

With an anthem we raise
Up our voice proclaim
You're alive
Alive

CHORUS
Your love keeps chasing me
And it always will
It always will
Your grace keeps changing me
And it always will
It always will

You gave Your life away
Once and for all
Once and for all
Forever You will reign
And You always will
You always will

VERSE
In my joy
In my pain
You're right beside me
In Your arms
There's always hope

When I fall
You are there
Your mercy will catch me
All my hope
In Christ alone

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!