Hi Brian!

We LOVED the collage that Kristine posted of your game with Avery and Elle! The word for this week is "calling:". We'll be looking at these two verses:

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. KJV

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: KJV

This is the Greek word "klesis". Strong's Concordance says: an invitation. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: an invitation the origin, nature and destiny of which are heavenly. God created us with a free will so that we would not be as robots, with no choice but to act as programmed. He desired to have fellowship with those who could and would choose to want to fellowship with Him! So, He gives us the invitation to salvation! He has made everything we need available to us, but we have to go after them in faith in order to have them. There is an invitation to walk in health, an invitation to walk in prosperity, to walk in His favor, to walk in His protection. He has provided for it all and will never take back what He has already given, but He will never force anything on us. He has also given each of us gifts and talents that put us in position to minister to different groups of people. In this, also, we have the choice to do so or not. There will be rewards for faithfulness in doing what He's called us to do, and we choose how faithful we want to be in that! Knowing that He trusts me with those decisions makes me WANT to be more faithful, dependable, available, and diligent! We just can't out-give God! He is SO good! Here is Hillsong United with a song called "Heartbeats" that mentions Him "calling" us out! 

 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful time! The word for this week is "measure".  We'll be looking at these two verses: 

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. KJV

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: KJV

This is the Greek word "metron". Strong's Concordance says: a limited portion. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: an instrument for measuring; a determined extent, a portion measured off. In Luke 6:38 we are told that when we give, God will used the same measure in giving to us that we use when we give to others. The difference is that He uses that measure and then multiplies our giving back to us! We see this in 2 Corinthians 9:10:

10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) KJV

What a wonderful return on our investment! You just can't out-give God! In Ephesians 4:13 we see that God's plan and purpose for us is to have each of us grow up in the things of God until we become 'perfect', which actually means mature. The 'measure' of that maturity is nothing less than to be like Jesus! That should be the goal of every believer, even though we will never completely reach that goal until we get to Heaven and are in His presence! 1 John 3:2:

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. KJV

If we make Jesus our standard in giving and in growing up, we can't go wrong! In the one instance we receive a generous return and in the other, we have the potential to become more like Him every day until we DO see Him! That's a very good thing! Here is a song from Hillsong United that speaks of of His value being beyond all earthly measure, called "Tapestry":

Maker of earth and sky
And everything before our eyes
Your Word formed life and light
Within the crucible of time
The genesis of all mankind

Our lives a tapestry of grace
Your hand has weaved together
In You no thread will ever fray
This hope is ours forever
Your work of art a mystery
Beyond all earthly measure
Your love for us a masterpiece
Jesus our hope always

Author of grace divine
Love orchestrated in our lives
The cross of Calvary
The gift of God the centerpiece
Upon that cross You set us free

Our lives a tapestry of grace
Your hand has weaved together
In You no thread will ever fray
This hope is ours forever
Your work of art a mystery
Beyond all earthly measure
Your love for us a masterpiece
Jesus our hope always

Lift our eyes Towards the Son Glorious you stand alone
Raised to life You've overcome Holy is the Lord our God

(Your love is unrivaled) Lift our eyes toward the Son
(Your glory spans eternity) Glorious you stand alone
(Your word is final) Raised to life
(The cross of Christ our victory) You've overcome
(Every knee will bow at the name of Jesus) Holy is the Lord our God
(For there is no name like the name of Jesus)

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "conceal". The verse we'll be looking at is Proverbs 25:2:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. KJV

This is the Hebrew word "cathar". Strong's Concordance says: a primitive root; to hide (by covering).  Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to hide carefully. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: to shelter. God has hidden vital Truths and promises in His Word that the unbeliever cannot understand. 1 Corinthians 2:14:

14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. KJV

He has also hidden, or sheltered, the Truth of the Word from the enemy! 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 says this:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. KJV

It is for believers to know the hidden things of the Word of God! We all have the potential to know! 1 Corinthians 2:12:

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. KJV

Not every believer can understand the Word of God simply by reading it either. It takes a deeper commitment for that. Jesus said this about that in John 8:32:

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.  AMP

Hosea 6:3a says this:

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord:  KJV

The only way to really learn and know the Word of God is to meditate on the Word that we read and hear. Joshua 1:8 says this:

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 

So, just as every person who ever worked for Target had the potential to have your position, only the one who took it seriously enough to learn and grow and be diligent to succeed at every level is now in that position! THIS is the type of person that the Lord has concealed His Word FOR! You have also proven to be that person! There is no limit to how much we can learn to know and understand about Him and His Word  as long as we continue to press on and go after it! You have become an even better son, brother, husband and father because of that commitment! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "I Live To Know You":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys! 

Hi Brian!

The Word for this week is "Gospel"! I cannot believe that we've never used this before! We'll look at these verses:

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. KJV

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. KJV

2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. KJV

1 Thess 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. KJV

In all of the last three, it is the Greek word "euaggelion". Strong's Concordance says: a good message. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: good tidings. In Luke it is the word "euangelizoo". Strong's Concordance says: to bring or to announce good news. The GOOD news is that JESUS paid for our sin/sickness so that we do NOT have to! The GOOD news is that ALL that we have to do is to believe what the Word says about Him and then receive JESUS as Lord and personal Savior! The REALLY GOOD news is that we can tell others all about God's wonderful plan for our salvation! Telling others the Good News helps to strengthen our own faith in all that He promises to do in us and for us! Here is Hillsong United with a song that I really love! "Say The Word":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!