Hi Brian!

What a great game! It was fun to watch even on television! The word for this week is "alleluia". 

{A special note: I know that we have covered this word before, but when I tried to do something else, He just kept bringing me back to this! I am thinking that a review of this is not a bad thing and that we both can probably use the exhoratation!  :) }

 It's only found in four verses in Revelation and we'll be looking at three of them here:

Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: KJV

Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. KJV

Revelation 19:5-9   5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. KJV

This is the Greek word "allelouia". Strong's Concordance says: praise ye Jah! an adoring exclamation. This is a compound word, with the first part being "halal" (to be clear; to shine; to make a show; to be clamorously foolish; to rave; to celebrate; to stultify [Dictionary says: to make or cause to appear foolish or ridiculous] and the second part the Name of God. This worship of the Lord is nothing new for Heaven, but we are seeing a very noticeable increase in true praise and worship all over the world. There are so many anointed praise and worship leaders that are putting their music out there for all believers to make use of. When we first started out, there weren't any! We prefer Hillsong, Hillsong United, Hillsong Young and Free and Hillsong Kids because we have grown up with them and for the most part they are very true to the Word of God. Others that I like are Chris Tomlin and Kari Jobe. Being a musician yourself, I'm sure you have your own preferences! The important thing is that we make use of the tools that God has provided us to become true worshippers, who worship in Spirit and in Truth! John 4:23-24:

23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. KJV

I have heard people who have had visions of Heaven say that in Heaven there is continual praise going on. I don't know about Heaven, but I DO know that Jesus said THIS in Luke 19:40:

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. KJV

I may not have a beautiful singing voice, but I refuse to be outdone by a dumb rock! :) I am guessing that you feel the same way! In that light, here is Hillsong with "For Who Your Are":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "special". We'll be looking at Acts 19:11:

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: KJV

This is the Greek word "tugchano". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says this:  to hit the mark; to attain or, obtain, to become the master of. The Amplified Bible is very good for this! 

And God did unusual and extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,  AMP

These special miracles that God did were extraordinary, or beyond the ordinary! When I think of this word, I think of you and Kristine together! I truly believe that God fully intended for you to be together and raise the lovely daughters that He has blessed you with! I have felt that from the first time we met you! I believe that your relationship together is "special"! It is beyond the ordinary! You uniquely complement each other in a way that can only have originated from God Himself! You are a wonderful man, husband and father. You put your wife and children and their needs above your own. That is truly like Jesus! THEY shine because you allow them to be themselves. That is extraordinary, and extremely special! Here is Hillsong Kids with Supernatural":

Love and Shalom for the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

This will be a fun and busy week for you and your family!  Have a safe, blessed and wonderfully fun trip! The word for this week is "zeal". We find it in John 2:17:

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. KJV

This is the Greek word "zelos". Strong's Concordance says: heat, i.e. ardor (in a favorable sense) and jealousy (in an unfavorable sense). Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: excitement of mind; fervor of spirit; ardor in embracing, pursuing, defending anything. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament also adds this: the capacity or state of passionate commitment. The Amplified Bible says this for John 2:17:

17 And His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Holy Scriptures], Zeal (the fervor of love) for Your house will eat Me up. [I will be consumed with jealousy for the honor of Your house.] AMP

Another verse containing "zeal" is Romans 10:2:

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. KJV

Paul was speaking of Israel here. They were very passionate for their God, but they had no knowledge of Who He REALLY was/is! Nothing of the knowledge of the Word of God will just "magically"  appear in us. We MUST make a conscious decision to seek out what we need to know. We have to make this same commitment that Paul made in Philippians 3:10:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], AMP

When we combine this burning "zeal" for the things of God with the knowledge of Who He is, and who WE are, in Him, there will be no stopping what we can accomplish of what He has called and equipped us to do! Here is an older song that we used to sing called "The Zeal of God":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "travel". We'll be looking at 2 Corinthians 8:18-19:

18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: KJV

This is the Greek word "sunekdemos". It is a compound word that is actually referring to those who are travelling together. That sounds perfect for you and Kristine as you have been travelling and will be with Avery and Elle! Strong's Concordance says: co-absentee from home, i.e. fellow-traveler. It comes from the word "sun", which is a primary preposition denoting union (with, together) and the word "ekdemeo", which is another compound word meaning to emigrate, to vacate. Vine's Expository Dictionary says of this word: to be away from people, to go abroad, to depart. Paul used this word when he said this in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8:

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. KJV

So, you have been away from home and family while you were travelling, and will be from some of your family when you travel to Florida. Those we know who are currently in Heaven have traveled, and are absent from us, but present with the Lord! When the Rapture of the Church occurs, which some believe to be very soon, then we who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior (AND all babies and young children) will "travel" from this earth and be with HIM! I am thrilled that you and Kristine have been able to do some traveling together, and now with your family, and equally as thrilled that when the time comes, we will all be traveling together to be with Him! Soon and very soon! But, in the meantime, may the Lord bless and prosper your family travels with favor, anointing, protection, provision and safety, great weather, fun times and the desires of your hearts met! We love you all! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!