Hi Brian! 

I hope you had a wonderful time with your family! The word for this week is "salt" again, because we didn't cover all of the aspects of it the first time. We find it in these two portions of Scripture: Mark 9:50 and Matthew 5:13:

50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. KJV

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. KJV

This is the Greek word "halas". Strong's Concordance says: prudence. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: Salt with which food in seasoned; used to fertilize arable land; a symbol of lasting accord; wisdom and grace exhibited in speech. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament adds: denoted moral worth. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says of prudence (from Strong's definition): the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason; sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs; skill and good judgment in the use of resources; caution and circumspection as to danger or risk. These are to be some of the most obvious attributes of born again believers. I know that neither you nor Kristine would have become so successful in your chosen careers without these attributes being active and noticed! As you continue to honor God in your life and family, HE will continue to honor you and your family with success and favor! Also, God loves, honors, and uses your distinct and different "savour" (flavor, smell, taste, distinctive quality). We are NOT to be clones of each other. Instead, He gave each of us unique and interesting personalities, interests, gifts, talents and abilities so that we can use that "spice" of our lives to reach others with the Truth of the Gospel! I love how you enjoy your life and family, and I love that you are reaching people I will never reach! God is SO good! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with another new song called "Close":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "flame". We'll be looking at three verses today. The first two are found in Revelation 1:14 and Revelation 2:18:

Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; KJV

Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; KJV

This is the Greek word "phlox". Strong's Concordance says: a flash or flame; a blaze. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to shine. Notice that these verses are speaking of Jesus and what His presence looks like! By His Spirit, Jesus lives in every born again believer! So do WE look like that? Look at Hebrews 1:7:

7 And of the angels he says, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. KJV

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says this:

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; KJV

So all born again believers are ministers! He, when we spend time in His presence by being in the Word and in fellowship with Him, will make each one of us a flame of HIS fire! They will say of us, as they said of Peter and John in Acts 4:13, that we have been with Jesus! That is the very best testimony that we can have. It is also the most important thing that our children/grandchildren can see in us! Your children already want to be like you and Kristine! Seeing Jesus in you causes them to want more of Him, too! Keep letting YOUR light shine and all of those around you will begin to ask you about that "flame" they see! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Embers":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

It was so great to see you and your family this weekend! The word for this week is "peace". We have this promise in the New Testament in John 14:27 (I've included both the KJV and AMP here) and Philippians 4:6-7:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. KJV

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] AMP

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. KJV

This "peace" is the Greek word "eirene". Strong's Concordance says this: peace; by implication, prosperity. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says this (after the obvious: absence of war): harmony, accord (between individuals); after the Hebrew: shalom, security, safety, prosperity, felicity (dictionary: great or intense happiness). We covered the Hebrew "shalom" back in April of 2011. That's when I began to sign off this blog with "Love and Shalom"! Here is a link to that blog post:

SHALOM

It is beyond our human capability of understanding how this peace that comes from God, and is a fruit of our born again human spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), can be present and powerful in the midst of the greatest tests and trials, but we have His Word on it that it is and will be! So, whenever you find yourself in stressful situations, remember that this forceful and powerful peace IS in you! My continued prayer for you and your family is that this peace that is so evident in your home right now will be such a witness and a testimony to all those who enter that they will be asking you about it! Here is Hillsong Worship with a song from their new "No Other Name" album called "All Things New":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "weary". There are two Scriptures in the New Testament that encourage us NOT to be weary. They are 2 Thessalonians 3:13 and Galatians 6:9:

2 Thessalonians 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. KJV

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. KJV

These are two different Greek words that have similar meanings. The first above is "egkakeo". Strong's Concordance says: to become discouraged, to become weary or tired, to despair. Weary in the second verse above is "ekkakeo". Strong's Concordance says of this one: to be weak; to faint. The exhortation is to NOT become weary. The promise, found in Galatians 6:9, is that IF we don't stay weary, we WILL reap a GOOD harvest for our efforts! I know that YOU know that the weariness that comes from having 4 children to care for, including 2 newborn babies, with a frequent lack of sleep, is temporary! They WILL grow up and sleep through the night and become more independent. The good news, though, is that there is a remedy for the weariness right now! Isaiah 28:12 tells us THIS:

12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. KJV

What is this refreshing? Look at verse 11:

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. KJV

Praying in the Spirit is an excellent way to be refreshed when your body is naturally weary! Another suggestion is something I do when I am not able to get the amount of sleep I need. Psalm 127:2:

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he gives his beloved sleep. KJV

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil — for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.  AMP

I pray, reminding the Father of His Word that He gives His beloved sleep! I KNOW that I AM His beloved, and so are you! I ask to receive  all the rest my body needs in the hours I am able to sleep! I also like the Amplified Bible for this! I receive those blessings! I am praying for both you and Kristine that you will supernaturally receive the rest that you need! COUNT on whatever hours of sleep you are able to get to be PACKED with supernatural REST! In Jesus' Name! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Love Knows No End":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I love the new pics of your family! The word for this week is appropriate for you! It's "double"! The verse we'll be looking at is Zechariah 9:12:

12 Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you. AMP

This is the Greek word "mishmeh". Strong's Concordance says: a repetition; a duplicate. Zechariah was telling the people who had been captive that despite all of the hardship they had endured, they were about to be blessed! TWICE as much as they had before to be exact! I believe that this applies to your family! I have watched you and Kristine as your family grew and I don't believe I have ever seen parents who do life better than you! I also believe that your two newborn daughters are a double blessing from God for your faithfulness! I can't wait to meet them. I am praying for continued protection, provision and safety for you and your family; and for an abundance of God's favor in all that you do! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Blessed":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!