Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "redemption". We find it in these verses:

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. KJV

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: KJV

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: KJV

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; KJV

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: KJV

These are all the Greek word "apolutrosis". Strong's Concordance says: ransom in full. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to redeem by paying the price, to let one go free on receiving the price. Vine's Expository Dictionary says this: releasing for a ransom. There was a price to be paid for our sin, beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden. That price was paid FOR US by JESUS Himself! The best news of all is that we no longer have to work at trying to be good enough! JESUS was and is ENOUGH! When we received Him as Lord and Saviour, then all that He is, and everything that He has done for us becomes ours! We HAVE this redemption! We belong to Him and HE belongs to us! One of the songs on the new "There Is More" album by Hillsong refers to redemption. It's called "Valentine" and here it is! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "remembrance". We'll look at two verses: Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 4:17

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. KJV

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV

In Luke we have the Greek word "anamimneeskoo", which means: a remembering, a recollection to call affectionately to mind, an active re-presentation for the purpose of awakening the mind to. This (communion) was never meant to be just an 'in memory of' ceremony. The purpose was so that when we do this, we can stir up our awareness of just what JESUS' did and what that means for us in the here and now! We purposely recall what the blood provided for us and what the beating of His body provided for us. By remembering and declaring it we make a declaration of His Word that HE can confirm for us! A MOST important 'remembrance'!

In John we have the Greek word "hupomimnesko", which means: to remind quietly, to suggest to the memory,  actively - to cause one to remember, passively - to be reminded, to cause to remember, to put one in mind of. The Comforter, being Holy Spirit IN us, has the responsibility of bringing back to our mind what we have already put into it. At those times He will also show us things we had not previously realized about each Truth! That's what meditation of the Word is for! Our Teacher has an added opportunity to teach! 

Two different, yet similar, words cause US to become more involved in what we are doing, and why we are doing it! Thank You, Holy Spirit, for our remembrances! Here is Hillsong Worship with (of course!) "Remembrance"!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I'm going to do something a little different again for the blog this week. I know that music is a big part of your life. Even though I've never played an instrument, and have never had a great singing voice, music has always been special to me. It is also a medium that the Lord uses to teach me or to make the Word more clear to me. I was thinking about the song "Oceans" by Hillsong UNITED today and it so speaks to some of the changes that have been happening in your lives! Here are the lyrics:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

It has been such a blessing to see how the Lord  has lead Kristine every step of the way in this new career path! She has truly stepped out upon new waters, where it was either sink or swim! Her faith, trust and confidence in the Lord, His Word and His goodness has been rewarded over and over. And I am confident that it has only just begun! What I realized as I was thinking about this, though, is that it took just as much faith, trust and confidence for YOU to fully support these new changes! In fact, I'm sure that in some ways it was even harder for you, because you could only let go, watch, pray, encourage and support her, but you couldn't do any of it FOR her! Your leadership, love, support and encouragement were YOUR way of keeping your eyes above the waves and allowing the Lord to lead YOU, too! I am so proud of both of you and how your trust in HIM has played out. It challenges me to step out of my comfort zone more, too! I also have an idea that your gifts and talents for music are going to open some doors for you spiritually, too! I will keep that in prayer, also! Here is the song Oceans. Nothing else would be as appropriate!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

Psalm 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. KJV

Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. KJV

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. KJV

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. KJV

These are all the Hebrew word "qavah". Strong's Concordance says: to bind together, to collect, to expect. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to look for, to hope, to look eagerly for. The Theological Wordbook says: to wait or to look for with eager expectation. It also says: waiting involves the very essence of a person's being. Those who wait in true faith are renewed in strength so that they can continue to serve the Lord. This is not just sitting around doing nothing until He comes again! This word implies that we are actively looking for and preparing for His coming! It also implies that we are expecting something from Him in return for doing this 'waiting"! That promise is found in Isaiah 40:31: We shall renew strength, we shall fly above problems (just as eagles do), we shall be active and productive without becoming weary, faint or worn out! I LOVE that promise! Taking the time to enjoy His presence, to pray, to praise and worship Him, to learn something new about Him every day and to grow our faith by meditating on His Word are all ways of "waiting" on Him! The effort is well worth it! The more that we get to know JESUS, the more we will speak and act like Him! That's a GOOD thing! Here is Hillsong with another new song from their "There is More" album called "God So Loved":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!