Hi Brian!

I hope you had a fantastic birthday and that this blog as your birthday gift is still a blessing to you! We're continuing with the Names of God this week with Jehovah Shammah. This is found in Ezekiel 48:35:

35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. KJV

Along with Jehovah that we already covered, we have "shammah", which Strong's Concordance says means: The Lord is there. This is also a symbolic name for Jerusalem. After the building of the Temple, and up until the resurrection of Jesus, the presence of the Lord on the earth was in the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place, where no person except the High Priest could enter, and then only under certain very strict rules and requirements. Anyone with petitions, sacrifices or offerings needed to go through the High Priest. There is great significance in the veil of the Temple, which divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, splitting in two from the very top to the bottom. Once Jesus rose from the dead, everyone who called on the Name of the Lord to be saved BECAME the new Holy of Holies! God the Holy Spirit enters into the new believer and recreates their dead spirit man into the image of God and remains INSIDE of every believer. Now we can say that Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There, means IN ME! He is ALWAYS present in me (and YOU) and for every need or situation, I have only to speak to Him within and He will answer with that still small voice of leading, guidance and direction! It is such a comfort, encouragement and empowering Truth that the God of all knowledge, wisdom and power resides right inside! I hope that this Truth will encourage you that YOU can DO all things through HIM! Philippians 4:13 AMP:

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. AMP

We are continuing to pray for you, Kristine and your lovely family, and one of those prayers is that each new year will be the very BEST year of your lives so far! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with another new song called "Face To Face":

I remember when I called Your name

There I knew I'd never be the same

Love came rushing to this heart of mine

Like You waited for this all my life

I remember when I learned to pray

Close to You I find my hiding place

And Your Spirit looks within my soul

And Your presence keeps me wanting more

When I think upon your wounded hands

And how you begun a great romance

I will take your bread and take your wine

To remember what you sacrificed

Now I'm serving for Your kingdom come

Where You're leading me is where I'll run

Jesus I can be your hands and feet

And let my life remember You my King

I need You more than anything

Lord here I am

I'm reaching out

I will lay me down and surrender

I'll sing Your name

I'll sing it loud

You are all I want, now forever

[x2]

Lord here I am

And the day shall come when I will rise

Finally I'll see you face to face

With the heavens I will glorify

Crown You Lord for eternity

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!