Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "yoke". We find it in the New Testament in these verses:

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. KJV

Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? KJV

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. KJV

This is the Greek word "zugos". Strong's Concordance says: to join, a coupling. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: serving to couple two things together. Of Christ's yoke - not simply imparted to Him but shared with Him. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds this: serving to couple two things together. Metaphorically of a submission to authority or of bondage. Acts 15:10 is referring to the Jewish believers wanting to force the Gentile believers to follow their Jewish traditions. They had received Salvation by the grace of God and it would be bondage to them to force them to follow empty traditions that the Jews themselves had trouble following. Galatians 5:1 is also referring to new believers following the Law (circumcision) as a requirement. There was nothing wrong with the practices until they tried to make them requirements. In Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus is showing us that His will is NOT that we take on the bondage of trying to follow the Law, but that we should be joined together with Him in carrying out His will. He says that His yoke is 'easy', which is the Greek word 'chrestos', which means: fit for use, useful, virtuous, good, manageable. This life in HIM is meant to be a life of gratefulness, thankfulness, peace, joy, love, enthusiasm, faith, confidence, boldness and power! It is impossible to really walk in our authority unless we can freely accept that provision that comes because of HIS Love for us, with no strings attached! Being "yoked" together with Him gives us access to His Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, His power, authority and might, and His blessing, favor and anointing! I certainly don't mind being tied to HIM in that way! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Let There Be Light":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "omnipotent" again. We covered this word early on on the blog, but I want to look at it from a new and better angle this time! It's found only once in the entire Bible. Revelation 19:6:

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.  KJV

This is the Greek word "pantokrator". Strong's Concordance says: the all-ruling, i.e. God (as absolute and universal sovereign). Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: he who holds sway over all things; the ruler of all; almighty: used of God. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to hold or to have strength; is used of God only. Here are a few other translations:

6 After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns! Amplified

6 Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd, like the sound of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunder, saying,“Halleluyah! Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, has begun his reign! Complete Jewish Bible

6 And I heard a sound like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah, because the Lord our God, the Omnipotent, has assumed His royal authority The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest 

6 Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder: Hallelujah! The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong! THE MESSAGE 

Right now we are waiting for, and expecting soon, the APPEARING of JESUS in the air to catch away the Church. After that happens there will be, during the Tribulation, much horror and destruction occurring on the earth on those who have rejected JESUS as Lord and Savior are left without our influence and help. At the end of this time we will all return with JESUS as He sets His feet once again upon the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. He will defeat the armies that have come against Israel when they have no one but GOD to turn to! THIS is the time of the verse above! Satan will be bound for 1000 years and JESUS will reign as the ONLY Ruler! WE will be reigning with Him! The very exciting part for US about this verse is that HE is that for US, right here, right now! We have to believe that and expect and allow Him to have that place of rule in our lives. When we do, then we will see even more miraculous protection, provision and safety, Wisdom, knowledge and understanding than we have up to this point! I am expecting powerful and abundant manifestation of His glorious FAVOR in our lives! We will be that LIGHT that points the way to HIM while people still have time to make that decision! I believe that this should begin with you and Kristine 'finding' the very best nanny for your beautiful girls! Even better and more personally suited to them than Angela! How is THAT for miraculous GOD work! We are in agreement with you all! Here is Hillsong Worship again with the best song for this expectation! "Look To The Son":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "yield". We'll be looking at Romans 6:12-19:

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. KJV

These are all the Greek word "paristemi". Strong's Concordance says: to stand beside, to exhibit, proffer, recommend, substantiate, to aid. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: to present, to bring into one's presence, to show, to offer, to dedicate, to provide, to send. One of the biggest blessings that we have been given is our free will. We are free to choose which direction we will take in every situation. We are free to put the Word into our hearts so that it is the Word that comes out of our mouths as a response to attacks from the enemy. We are also free to choose not to do so. We are free to choose, but we are NOT free from the consequences of these choices. If we choose to operate contrary to the Word of God, then the results that we receive into our lives will be contrary to the promises of God. When we choose to obey the Word, then we choose the blessings! This same Greek word is also translated 'present' in Romans 12:1-2:

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV

I know that you have been making good "Word" choices because of the results that you have been having! This Greek word, and all of the many nuances of it, is simply encouraging us to continue in the BLESSING choices so that we can continue to BE a blessing! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Blessed":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "moment". There are three verses using three different Greek words in the New Testament. The first is found in Luke 4:5:

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. KJV

This is the Greek word "stigme". Strong's Concordance says a point of time, i.e. an instant. Now this could be that it only took an instant to show Jesus all of these kingdoms or it could be that he was showing all of the kingdoms at a certain point in time, whether past, present or future. There are so many things in the Word that will be interesting to learn when we finally get to Heaven and are able to see how things actually played out! The next word is found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52:

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. KJV

This one is the Greek word "atomos". Strong's Concordance says: indivisible (an atom of time). Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: that cannot be cut in two or divided. This is referring to our resurrection bodies that we will get at the Rapture of the Church! It will take just the smallest possible segment of time to change these mortal bodies into bodies that can walk through walls, move at the speed of thought, never change, decay or die! Bodies just like JESUS has now and revealed to His disciples when He appeared to them before He ascended up to Heaven to wait for that trumpet sound that will accompany Him as He appears for us in the sky! The last word is found in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. KJV

This one is the Greek word "parautika". Strong's Concordance says: at the very instant. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: for the moment. Vine's Expository Dictionary says this: the meaning is not simply that of brief duration, but that which is present with us now or immediate, in contrast to the future glory. We know that some of the situations we have faced have changed quickly with prayer. Others have taken a little more time, and some we are still believing to see changed. The most exciting part of this verse is that, though we may be facing something right now, it is "temporal", which means 'subject to change'! Those things that we can see can be changed by the things that we can't see, which are the promises of the Word that we receive by faith. We speak the Word into the situation that we desire to have happen, calling those things which be not (yet) as though they were (Romans 4:17), and then they become! The things that we can see may be facts, but facts can ALWAYS be changed by the TRUTH (the Word -John 17:17)! We don't ever have to be satisfied with the way things are when the Word gives us a better promise. I LOVE the Word! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

SO great to win that game! The word for this week is "difference:. We'll be looking at Acts 15:8-9 and Jude 12-23:

Acts 15:8 And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us; 9 And He made no difference between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith (by a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God). AMP

Jude 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. KJV

This is the Greek word "diakrino", which means: to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from or oppose, to discriminate, according to Strong's Concordance. Thayer's Greek  Lexicon adds: to make a distinction, to decide. The Theological Dictionary says: to distinguish between persons. On one hand, we know that God does not favor one believer over another, as we see in Acts (above), but gives every person the opportunity to do things according to His Word! He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). On the other hand, we see in Jude (above) that, because He knows each of us intimately, He knows how to best reach each one of us with the Truth of His Word! WE are to do the same! I know that by now you have realized this Truth with your 4 beautiful daughters. Each one, though you can certainly tell that they are sisters, has their own unique outward appearance, even the twins! This is even more true concerning their individual personalities, likes, interests and temperaments. When we minister to our family, friends and acquaintances, Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom necessary to minister to each person according to their individuality! That is, in a way that they can easily see and understand! Going back to the individuality of your daughters, I have always LOVED the Amplified Bible for Proverbs 22:6:

 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.  AMP

When we honor and respect God's Word, His purpose and His plans, then He will give us the necessary Wisdom we need to individually and uniquely help those we are responsible for! I LOVE that promise and stand on it continually! It is evident that you and Kristine are already operating this way where your girls are concerned! They are each uniquely smart, fun, precious and loving! We LOVE them! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "The Difference":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!