Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "comprehend". We'll be looking at only one portion on Scripture in the New Testament. Ephesians 3:18-19:

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.KJV

This is the Greek word "katalambano". Strong's Concordance says: to take eagerly, to seize, possess. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, to attain to, to understand, perceive, learn. The Amplified Bible says this for verse 18:

18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; AMP

This is something that we really need to do with every vital Truth we find in the Word. Memorization of Scriptures has no real power unless it is accompanied by comprehension, or, as the Amplified says, apprehension! Katalambano is also translated as apprehend in Philippians 3:13-14:

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. KJV

It takes a determined purpose, a concentrated effort and a real commitment to develop comprehension of the Word, or what I like to call a 'working knowledge' of the Word. It's the Word that we know that will set us free! (John 8:31-32) We will never fully comprehend all that there is to know in the Word on this side of Heaven, but we can make a tremendous start! Here is another new song from the Hillsong Worship "Let There Be Light" album called "In Control":

Verse 1
From heaven You can hear
I know You’re drawing near
As I worship
Held within Your love
The wind and waves will come
But I will stay here

Chorus
I lift my hands to heaven
Here my heart surrendered
I tell my soul again
You are Lord of all
Though the seas are raging
You will speak and tame them
In You I find my rest
You are in control

Verse 2
Through valleys I will trust
Your Spirit is enough to keep me walking
You guide my every step
Speak life to me again
Lord I need You

Bridge
I will trust in only You
No one can add to Your perfection
You’re the beginning and the end
More than I can comprehend
There is no one like You

No one
No one
No one Jesus

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

SO good to get that win today! The word for this week is "light". We've looked at light from two different Greek words in the New Testament. This time we'll be looking at one particular Hebrew word from the Old Testament found in these Scriptures:

Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. KJV

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? KJV

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. KJV

All of these are the Hebrew word "'owr". Strong's Concordance says: illumination or luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds this: the light of day, the light of heavenly luminaries, morning light, the light of a lamp, the light of  life, the light of prosperity, the light of instruction. Vine's Expository Dictionary also adds: light as the opposite of darkness. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament had an interesting paragraph that I will share here: The concept of light in Scripture is important, dealing with personal and impersonal forces on both literal and metaphorical levels. Light is closely related to life and happiness, which may account for the frequent comparisons between God and light. Since the ancient world often worshiped the sun, God's role as creator of light is stressed. Eventually, he will make the sun unnecessary.

I LOVE that last statement, that eventually the sun will be unnecessary because God Himself will shine with the light of His Glory and make all things to be seen! Because Holy Spirit lives in us as born again believers, the light of His presence brings understanding of the Word and Wisdom that puts us in position to operate at a high level, just as JESUS would operate if He were in our place! I love that when I get to the end of what I know and can do, that LIGHT will put me over the top! I CAN do ALL things through Christ Who infuses me with inner strength (Philippians 4:13 AMP) by His LIGHT in me! Here is another new song from Hillsong Worship that speaks of this very thing! "Let There Be Light":

There’s no darkness in Your eyes

There’s no question in Your mind

God almighty

God of mercy

There’s no hiding from Your face

There’s no striving in Your grace

God of mercy

God almighty

Let there be light

Open the eyes of the blind

Purify our hearts in Your fire

Breathe in us we pray

Jesus have Your way

There’s no borders in Your love

No division in Your heart

God of heaven

God of freedom

There’s no taking back the cross

No regret in what it cost

God of freedom

God of heaven

Let there be light

Open the eyes of the blind

Purify our hearts in Your fire

Breathe in us we pray

Let there be light

Open our eyes to Your heart

Desperate just to know who

You are Shine in us we pray

Jesus have Your way

Good news embracing the poor

Comfort for all those who mourn

For the broken hearted

We sing louder

Release from prison and shame

Oppression turning to praise

For every captive

Sing louder

Restoring sight to the blind

Breaking the curse of the night

For all in darkness

Sing louder

Proclaiming freedom for all

This is the day of the Lord

Beauty for ashes

Let the light that shines above

Become the light that shines in us

There’s no darkness in Your way

So have Your way

Lord have Your way

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "foundation". We'll be looking at these three verses:

Psalm 102:25 Of old have You laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Your hands. KJV

Isaiah 48:13 My hand also has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. KJV

Zecheriah 12:1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, says the Lord, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. KJV

These are all the Hebrew word "yacad". Strong's Concordance says: to set. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to found, to fix, to establish. The Word of God says in Genesis 1:1  that in the beginning (of time as we know it) GOD created the heavens and the earth. Romans 1:20 tells us that creation reveals the Creator! HE laid the foundation of the earth and put into place the laws and principles by which the entire universe operates. AND, He cares so very much about each one of us that He made sure to provide the Way into the Heaven of the Bible (John 14:6)! What God has planned, whether in the creation of all that we see or in the great plan of Salvation, He has planned in perfection and for our Good. When we establish that once and for all in our hearts, then believing all that the Word says will become easier and easier, until the Word becomes so logical that we wonder why everyone can't see it! This is called revelation and is the subject of this next new songby Hillsong Worship called "Your Word":

Before the earth knew its foundation

You spoke the dust into creation

Until the end when all has withered

Then still Your Word will endure forever

The lamp unto my feet

The light unto my path

Your Word will not be shaken

Your Word will never fail me

Like a fire in my bones

Like a whisper to my soul

Your Word is revelation

Deep calls to deep within Your presence

When I hear You speak my soul awakens

Your Spirit leads my heart to worship

As Your Word reveals the light of Jesus

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys

Hi Brian!

THAT was a tough loss, but it was SO good to see you and Kristine and those beautiful girls! I would love to have the pic you took with Reagan! The word for this week is "wealth". We'll be looking at these Scripture references:

Deuteronomy 8:17 And you say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand has gotten me this wealth. 18 But you shall remember the Lord your God: for it is He that gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He sware unto your fathers, as it is this day. KJV

Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. KJV

In both cases this is the Hebrew word, "chayil". Strong's Concordance says:  a force (whether of men, means or other resources), an army, virtue, valor, strength. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds this: efficiency, ability, wealth, to be firm. The Theological Dictionary also adds this:  to be able, valiant, substance.  This Hebrew word involves more than just the accumulation of riches. It shows the bigger picture of what it takes to get those riches, from attitude to education, experience, endurance, faithfulness, steadiness, courage, character and Godly favor. Those are all of the things I see evident in you and Kristine as you have both grown as people, spouses,  parents, and in your careers. A person can have all the money in the world and not really have 'wealth' such as that! Recognizing that the real source of all of this is God, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:18 above, is the theme behind this new song from Hillsong Worship called "Crowns".

 CROWNS

There is a hill I cherish

Where stood a precious tree

The emblem of salvation

The gift of Calvary

How is it I should profit

While He is crucified

Yet as His life was taken

So I was granted mine

My wealth is in the cross

There’s nothing more I want

Than just to know His love

My heart is set on Christ

And I will count all else as loss

The greatest of my crowns

Mean nothing to me now

For I counted up the cost

And all my wealth is in the cross

I will not boast in riches

I have no pride in gold

But I will boast in Jesus

And in His Name alone

And when I stand in glory

My crowns before the Lord

Let this be my confession

My wealth is in the cross

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!