Hi Brian!

Congratulations on your GREAT promotion! We are SO proud of you! :) The word for this week is "fight". We'll be looking at an Old Testament verse and New Testament verse. First we'll look at Psalm 144:1:

1 BLESSED BE the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight —  AMP

This is the Hebrew word "milchmah". Strong's Concordance says: (in the sense of fighting) a battle; war, warfare. Notice that it is the Lord Who is doing the teaching here! He does NOT want us to be passive, but to stand up for what is right and for HIS will and plan and purposes. When we are fighting the right fight, all of the ability of Heaven is at our disposal to win it! The second verse we'll be looking at is 1 Timothy 6:12: 

12 Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.  AMP

The first "fight" here is the Greek word "agonizomai". Strong's Concordance says this: to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), (to contend with an adversary) or (to endeavor to accomplish something), to enter a contest, to contend with adversaries, to endeavor with strenuous zeal. The second fight, is the Greek word "agon". This, according to Strong's, refers to the place of assembly, the contest held there, the effort. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: any struggle with dangers, annoyances, obstacles, standing in the way of faith, holiness, and a desire to spread the Gospel. Being a "doer" of the Word is not always easy and can sometimes be a real struggle. That's where faith, which comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17), comes in! Faith is simply trust and confidence in the promise of God, which is worth every moment of the "fight", and trust and confidence in our having His ability to win it! He IS the One who teaches us how to fight the fight! We're being trained by the very BEST! When it comes easily, it's like second nature to us. When it seems harder, we need to remind ourselves that it IS who we are - in Him - and we CAN do it (Philippians 4:13 AMP)! You have proven that over and over again with your success and promotions at Target and with the wonderful job that you and Kristine have already done, and are continuing to do, in raising your beautiful, smart, fun and uniquely individual daughters! We love them and you! Here is another new song from Hillsong United called "Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)":

(Praise Song)

Take this fainted heart
Take these tainted hands
Wash me in Your love
Come like grace again

Even when my strength is lost
I'll praise You
Even when I have no song
I'll praise You
Even when it's hard to find the words
Louder then I'll sing Your praise

[Chorus]
I will only sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise
I will only sing Your praise

Take this mountain weight
Take these ocean tears
Hold me through the trial
Come like hope again

Even when the fight seems lost
I'll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell
I'll praise You
Even when it makes no sense to sing
Louder then I'll sing Your praise

[Chorus]

And my heart burns only for You
You are all You are all I want
And my soul waits only for You
And I will sing till the morning has come

Lord my heart burns only for You
You are all You are all I want
And my soul waits only for You
And I will sing till the miracle comes

[Chorus]

Even when the morning comes
I'll praise You
Even when the fight is won
I'll praise You
Even when my time on earth is done
Louder then I'll sing your praise

I will only sing Your praise

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!