Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "melody". It is found only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 5:19:

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; KJV

This is the Greek word "psallo". Strong's Concordance says: to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes). Vine's Expository Dictionary adds this: to play  a stringed instrument with the fingers, to sing with a harp, sing psalms. The Englishman's Concordance shows that this Greek word is found four other times in the New Testament. In each of those it is translated "sing". We know from previous study that the 'heart' is the spirit/soul combination. Our born again spirits are prefect in the eyes of God because we have been recreated by Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our soul must be renewed day by day with the Word of God (Romans 12:2) so that we are transformed, progressively, to be more and more like JESUS! So making 'melody' in our hearts to the Lord means that we are praising Him with everything that is within us, and it can be accompanied by instruments! God LOVES music! He created it! I can't wait to experience all of the different types of Heavenly music that there will be! I hope that this encourages you as a musician that your gifts and talents are God-given, and God-blessed! As you spend your own private worship time with Him, I truly believe that you are going to be given new and different melodies, songs, and arrangements that will transform your music and take it to a higher level! Your faithfulness will ALWAYS be rewarded, and it will be in areas that are a blessing to YOU! God is SO good! Here is Hillsong with "Most High", which speaks of JESUS giving us a 'new song'! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "unsearchable". We'll be looking at an Old Testament verse and a New Testament verse. Psalm 145:3:

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. KJV

This is a compound Hebrew word "made up of "'ayin", which means to be nothing or not exist, generally used as a negative particle, and "cheqer", which Strong's Concordance says means examination, enumeration, deliberation. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: a search, investigation, an enquiry. The Theological Wordbook adds this: It can refer to initial phases of a search or the end result, but always connotes a diligent, difficult probing. The New Testament verse is Ephesians 3:8:

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. KJV

This is the Greek word "anexaurentos" , which is also a compound made up of "ek" which is a negative particle, and "erauno", which Vine's Expository Dictionary says means: to search, examine. The Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words says that it means "inscrutable", which Dictionary.com says means: not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable and Merriam-Webster Dictionary says means: difficult to understand : causing people to feel curious or confused.

I like the description of both words that says this is difficult and not easily understood which means that these things of God will NOT simply fall into our understanding without a diligent pursuing of the Truth! We know that it is NOT impossible to know "his greatness" or His "riches" because Hosea 6:3 tells us this:

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

Hebrews 11:6 also tells us this:

6 ... he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. KJV

We know that it will be difficult, but also completely rewarding, to get to know God's Word, His ways and His 'riches' (all that He has provided for us). Paul tells us this in Philippians 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

12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. AMP

I love that YOU are diligently pursuing Him and His Word! It shows in every area of your life, including in your beautiful children! I am expecting even more wonderful and powerful blessings for the Weber family this year! Here is Hillsong with "Closer", which is all about knowing HIM! 

VERSE

There is no life without You

You have all that we need

Where You are every fear is broken

And the darkness must flee

CHORUS

Closer and closer we want to know You

Reaching out, reaching out

Here in Your presence we want to go deeper

In Your light, come alive

VERSE

There is no one beside You

You alone are enough

You fling the doors of Your heart wide open

And we are lost in Your love

(Chorus 2xs)

BRIDGE

To You, we will come running

In You, we find belonging

Your love is all that can satisfy    (4xs)

(Chorus  2xs)

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

We LOVED Avery's videos! She is SO mature for her age, but still so CUTE! You and Kristine have done such a beautiful job raising your girls. The word for this week is "conformed". It appears only twice in the New testament. Both times are in Romans, but two different Greek words. The first is Romans 8:29:

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. KJV

This is the Greek word "summorphos". Strong's Concordance says: jointly formed. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: having the same form as another. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds this: (a) of the conformity of children of God to the image of His Son, (b) of their future physical conformity to his body of glory. This is speaking of us becoming more and more like JESUS from the inside out, and then being just like Him when we are finally with Him. 1 John 3:2 says this:

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

The second verse is Romans 12:2:

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

This one is the Greek word "suschematizo". Strong's Concordance says: to fashion alike, conform to the same pattern. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to fashion or shape one thing like another. This verb has more especial reference to that which is transitory, changeable, unstable. Suschematizo could not be used of inward transformation. God's plan for His people is that we do NOT simply blend in with everyone else. We are to be the Light to the world, and we can't do that effectively if there is no outward manifestation of what has happened to us on the inside! That is where the first 'conformed' comes into play! As we become more and more like JESUS, from the inside out, by spending time in His presence through prayer, praise & worship, and study and meditation of His Word, there will be something different about us that draws people to us who are really seeking. Not everyone will be drawn to us, but everyone SHOULD notice something different about us! Your Father-in-law did a teaching once on 'Fruits, Flakes and Nuts'! :) We want to be different from the world, but not weirdos! We want to be a good different. Different in the same way that JESUS was when He ministered on the earth. He was known for the good things He did. I desire for that to be said of me! Here is an appropriate song by Hillsong called "From The Inside Out":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

The word for this week is "nurture". It's found in only one verse in the Bible. Ephesians 6:4:

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. KJV

This is the Greek word "paideia". Strong's Concordance says: tutorage, education, training, includes disciplinary correction. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this:  the whole training and education of children, whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes, instruction which aims at the increase of virtue. I like the Message Bible for this verse!

4 Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. THE MESSAGE

That is basically the way a child should be brought up! Teaching them a TRUTH, then showing them how to live that out, correcting when the need arises. It has been wonderful watching your girls just blossom into their God-given personalities as you and Kristine "nurture" them! I am thinking of this especially now as your new nanny, Natalie, will be starting soon. We will be praying that she will continue to reinforce in your girls what you have already taught and trained them!  Here in Hillsong Young and Free with "Embers":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!