Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "attend". We find it in these four verses from the Book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. KJV

Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. KJV

Proverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:  2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. KJV

Proverbs 7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "qashab". Strong's Concordance says: To prick up the ears, i.e. hearken. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to hear, to be attentive, to heed, to pay attention, to listen. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament also adds this: the activity of hearing, emphasizing either paying close attention or obeying. If we truly desire to walk in the fullness of God's Word, and the blessings that come to those who do, we will have to "attend" to the Word! We will have to pay attention to what God's Word says in every situation. We will have to LEARN what His Word says , and then make a determined effort to OBEY that Word! When we do, we will discover that His Word really IS Truth and that everything the Father tells us to do is for our own good and benefit! Here is another new song from Hillsong Young and Free called "Only Wanna sing":

 [Verse 1]

This is no performance

Lord I pray it’s worship

Empty words I can’t afford

[Verse 2]

I’m not chasing feelings

That’s not why I’m singing

You’re the reason for my song

[Chorus]

I only wanna sing

If I sing with everything

If I sing for you my King

I can’t imagine why

I would do this all for hype

Cause it’s all to lift You high

[Verse 3]

You don’t want perfection

Just my soul’s attention

All I have is what I’ll give

[Verse 4]

More than a song that lasts a moment

I’ll live a life full of honest worship

If I’m here to sing then I’ll sing with purpose

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I hope you had a great trip! The word for this week is "know". There are a few different Greek words translated know, but we'll be looking at the word found in these verses:

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. KJV

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. KJV

Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; KJV

This is the Greek word "ginosko". Thayer's Greek Lexicon says this: to learn to know, to come to know, to get knowledge of, to understand, to perceive, to become acquainted with. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to be taking in knowledge, to recognize. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament also adds this: intelligent comprehension, a perception of things as they are and not an opinion about them. Jesus said in John 8:31, above, that this level of knowledge comes as we continue in the Word. It takes a commitment to spend time studying the Word until it becomes real to us. For others to "know" that we are His disciples, they have to be able to observe our lives, not just see a random act of love. For us to get to really "know" Him and His power, also takes time and a great commitment. In the Amplified Bible Paul calls it a "determined purpose":

Phil 3:10 [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  AMP

One of the most important ways to come to this level of recognition, understanding, perception and comprehension is to meditate on the Word. Joshua 1:8:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

Meditation involves reading, studying, thinking about, speaking about it to ourselves and others. It takes time and there is never an end to it, simply an ever increasing understanding! The Word is really limitless and the more we learn and know, the more we increase our capacity to learn and know even more! This is certainly NOT a boring life! Just as you have grown and developed at Target from a "rookie" to a Senior Buyer (Congratulations! So proud of you both!) you have also grown and developed in your understanding and skill where the Word of God is concerned. Your girls are learning from you at an early age when it is so much easier to learn and they have the potential to become even more proficient in the Word! Now THAT is really exciting and I am so blessed to be able to see that! We love them and you! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with another new song called "Face To Face":

FACE TO FACE

[Verse 1]

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

[Verse 2]

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

[Bridge]

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

(2x)

Lord here I am

[Verse 3]

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!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is another of the Jehovah Names of God. This time we'll be looking at Jehovah-Shalom. It's found in Judges 6:24:

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. KJV

We have "Jehovah" which we have already covered and I will post that here from an earlier blog post: 

"Jehovah" is the Hebrew word "Yehovah". Strong's Concordance says this: self-Existent; Eternal, Jehovah, Jewish national name of God. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: Yahweh - the existing One. (This Hebrew Name for God appears many more times in the form YHWH, called the Tetragrammaton, having no vowels). I see this as the Covenant Name for God. The Names that we find attached to Jehovah reveal Who He is to us in different situations.

Then we add "Shalom", which we also covered very early on this blog. It is used by itself many times in the Word of God translated to say "peace". Strong's concordance says that it means: safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity and safety. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, tranquility and contentment.

{ Here is an article I found on it from Out Of Zion Ministries that is very good. I would have linked to it, but it's an older article that I couldn't find online.} I used this earlier and like it so much I wanted to share it with you again! 

By David Silver

The Hebrew word SHALOM is understood around the world to mean peace. But peace is only one small part of the meaning of the word SHALOM. Here in Israel, even though we don't have much in the way of peace, we use the word SHALOM on a daily basis. We use it to greet people with, and we use it to bid farewell to people. However, SHALOM means much more than peace, hello or goodbye.

Strong's Concordance 7965 - Hebrew Shalom ..... A word study in the New King James version for SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

Shalom comes from the root verb Shalam meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid.

Sar SHALOM (Prince of Peace) is one of the descriptive names the Bible uses to indicate the ministry and personality of the Messiah: Isaiah 9:6 - The Son of God is completely perfect in all things.

So in essence, when you speak out the word SHALOM - you are not only proclaiming peace, but all the above meanings of the word over that person - that's a mighty blessing!!!

Remember what the word of God says - "there is life or death in the power of the tongue".

We recently heard someone on a Christian TV program say: "No wonder the Jewish people are so blessed, because every time they say Shalom to one another, they are also allowing the full meaning (see above) of SHALOM to be pronounced over them. He humorously proceeded to say that this greeting word would be much more beneficial to the American people if they greeted each other with SHALOM instead of their usual "Hi" or "Howdy" greeting. As Josie and I adapted to life in Israel, we adapted to the SHALOM habit over the "Hi" habit....As Messianic Jews, we are called to bless you and we take that very seriously, by praying for you and by greeting you with SHALOM. Therefore, from now on, when we or someone says SHALOM to you, you should receive it as a tremendous blessing. And bless them back with a hearty SHALOM!"

Numbers 6:24-26: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His face upon you and give you SHALOM. In the name of SAR SHALOM - the Prince of Peace.

So Jesus IS the Lord of the Covenant and He IS the Source of everything we will ever need to be successful, prosperous, healthy, at peace, and able to help others in their lives! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with another new song called "Real Love":

Staring into Your eyes,   Makes my heart come alive

Suddenly brought to life,   When I met You

Reaching beyond the skies,   Running deep, stretching wide

Perfect love realized,   Here with You

[Pre-Chorus]

Yeah this love is for real,   You will never let go

Never let go, oh,   And it's more than just words

Love beyond my control,   Out of control

[Refrain]     This is real love,   This is real love   (2x)

[Chorus]     

You're pulling me closer and closer,  

Holding my heart till the very end

Jesus, I'm found in your freedom,   

This is real love, this is real love

In Your heart, I'm found,   I want You, I want You

You won't let me down,   You got me, You got me

[Pre-Chorus]   [Chorus  (2Xs)]

Staring into Your eyes,     Makes my heart come alive

Suddenly brought to life,    When I met You

[Refrain]    [Chorus]

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

We still have a couple of "Jehovah" Names of God to cover! This week we'll look at "Jehovah-Sabaoth".  It appears in these two portions of Scripture as "LORD of hosts". 

Psalm 46:7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. KJV

Isaiah 1:24 Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: KJV

"Hosts" in these two verses is the Hebrew word "tsaba`". Strong's Concordance says: a mass of persons, especially organized for war (an army). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds this: what goes forth, an army, a war, warfare. The Theological Wordbook adds: has to do with fighting. Another resource that relies on "The Names of God" by Ken Hemphill and Logos Bible Software, says: Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do. Whenever we are up against something that seems to be insurmountable, we need to remember THIS that the prophet Elisha said to his servant when they were surrounded by natural armies! 2 Kings 6:15-17:

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. KJV

When it comes to God's family (US!) there is ALWAYS more that be with us in the spiritual realm, which is more real than the natural realm in which we live, than those that be with our enemy, or against us! Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, is ALWAYS on our side! He WILL deliver us from every situation if we dare to believe and receive His supernatural provision! We truly have the Leader of all the Heavenly armies ready to deliver, defend and restore us! I REALLY feel blessed to be a member of THAT family! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "When The Fight Calls":

"When The Fight Calls"

[Verse 1:]

You've overcome this world with love

And made my fight Your own

I lift my eyes and throw fear aside

And sing out into the night

[Chorus:]

Cause even when the world caves

Even when the fight calls

Even when the war's waged

I'll take heart

I know You are greater

Forever You are Savior

I will sing Your praise

With all that I have

With all that I am Lord

[Verse 2:]

I'll stare down the waves

Cause You own the tide

I still myself and know

You wait for me

On waters wild

Where faith walks above the storm

[Chorus:]

Even when the world caves

Even when the fight calls

Even when the war's waged

I'll take heart

I know You are greater

Forever You are Savior

I will sing Your praise

With all that I have

With all that I am Lord

[Bridge x2:]

I won't let the storm weather my heart

Won't let the darkness beat me down

Sing in the night my hope alive in You

I'll walk through the fire and not be burned

Pray in the fight and watch it turn

Jesus tonight I give it all to You

[Chorus:]

Even when the world caves

Even when the fight calls

Even when the war's waged

I'll take heart

I know You are greater

Forever You are Savior

I will sing Your praise

With all that I have

With all that I am Lord

With all that I have

With all that I am Lord

Yeah,  Oh ohh,  Yeah,  Oh ohh

[Bridge x2:]

I won't let the storm weather my heart

Won't let the darkness beat me down

Sing in the night my hope alive in You

I'll walk through the fire and not be burned

Pray in the fight and watch it turn

Jesus tonight I give it all to You

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!