Hi Brian! 

We have three words for this week.  These are "harvest", "labourers" and "few" . We'll be looking at Matthew 9: 37-38:

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. KJV

"Harvest" is  the Greek word "therismos: Strong's Concordance says: reaping, the crop. "Labourers" is the Greek word "ergates", which Strong's Concordance says means a toiler, a teacher. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: one who does. The Theological Dictionary says: denotes action or active zeal. "Few" is the Greek word "oligos", which Strong's Concordance says means: puny (in extent, degree, number). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: little, small. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: few, little, small, slight. The main focus in the verse above is the gathering of people into the kingdom of God! There are SO many people who have yet to call on JESUS to be their Lord and Saviour, yet the number of people who are actively involved with reaching them is PUNY, in comparison. So, our job is to pray, asking the Father for more labourers, and to be about our Father's business of seeking and saving the lost! I'm keeping it simple this week so that we can focus on God's priority! I plan on amping up my prayer life as it pertains to praying for others, and to keep myself available to Him in to be of use in winning these to Himself! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I am going to do something this week that I haven't ever done yet. I am going to repost a blog that we had before. It's the word "Saviour", and it has kept coming up as I listen to Christmas music this last week. So, I believe a review is in order going into 2019 so that we can continue to operate at a very high level through all of the exciting things happening for your family! 

[GREAT game today! The word for this week is "Saviour". I couldn't believe we hadn't used that one yet! It's found in 24 verses in the New Testament, all of them referring to Jesus! Here are a few:

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord KJV

2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: KJV

Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. KJV

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; KJV

1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. KJV

Jude 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. KJV

This is the Greek word "soter". Strong's Concordance says: a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: preserver. "Soter" comes from the Greek word "sozo", which means, according to Strong's, to save, deliver, protect. Thayer's adds: to keep safe, to rescue, to make well, heal, restore to health. What Jesus accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection covers so much more than us simply escaping an eternity in hell and the lake of fire! What He accomplished, and what we receive when we accept Him as our personal Saviour, affects our entire being, spirit, soul and body! We are made new creatures, with our spirits being recreated in the image of God. We are made members of God's very own family, with all of the authority of Heaven backing us up. We have the full use of His Name as though it was our own, and it IS! Our identity is now found in HIM! The Weber name that you inherited from your parents meant something when it was given to you! What you have accomplished, along with your character, your work ethic, your attitudes and actions toward other people, have increased the value of that name! In JESUS we have been given the Name that is higher than any other name that has ever been given! One day, every person who has ever lived will bow to that Name! And HE is OUR Saviour! What a wonderful and powerful TRUTH that is!]

The song I want to share this week is a Hillsong Christmas song called "We Have A Saviour". 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian! 

What a GREAT game that was! Renewed HOPE! The word for this week is "promise". We'll be looking at quite a few verses, all with the same Greek word translated 'promise'. 

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. KJV

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. KJV

Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. KJV

Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. KJV

Hebrews 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, KJV

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. KJV

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. KJV

These are the Greek word "epaggelia". Strong's Concordance says: an announcement (for information, assent, or pledge, especially a divine assurance of good). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: a promised good or blessing. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: primarily a law term, an undertaking to do or give something. It is used only of the promises of God. It signifies a gift graciously bestowed and not a pledge secured by negotiation. So the promises of God that we find in the Word are sure and certain, because they are HIS! When we find a promise in the Word, it is there for us to grab by faith and fully expect that He will fulfill it! (I love the line in the song 'Oceans' that says: "You've never failed, and You won't start now!") In Romans 4:19-21 above we see that Abraham took a promise from God that seemed to the natural eye to be completely impossible and stood on it until he saw it! He waffled some in his belief, but God is well able to help our unbelief! (Check out Mark 9:23-25) I also love that 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that when there is a delay, it is not because God is 'slack', but that He is patiently working for the very BEST opportunity for US! So, we meditate on the promises with expectant hope and eager anticipation of just HOW He is going to do it, because we KNOW that He WILL! Here is another new song from Hillsong Kids called "Voices of Freedom":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "troubled". We'll be looking at the Greek word found in these verses:

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. KJV

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. KJV

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. KJV

These are all the Greek word "tarasso". Strong's Concordance says to stir or agitate. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity, to disquiet, to make restless, to render anxious or distressed, to perplex the mind. This is a state that it is NOT the will of God for our hearts and minds to be in! We are to cast all of our care over on Him (1 Peter 5:7) so that WE are free to be led by Holy Spirit to minister His LIFE to those in our realm of influence! If satan can keep us 'troubled' by situations and circumstances, then he has won a great victory over us and will be able to hinder our gaining Wisdom from God's Word. I choose to refuse! I will not allow my heart to become troubled! Once we know his tactics, then we are well able to exercise our God-given authority over him and to reinforce God's plan for our lives! As you go into the building of your new home, you and Kristine will have many will opportunities to become 'troubled'. We are praying and agreeing with you both that everything will progress smoothly, efficiently, in a timely fashion and be exactly as you desire it to be. In JESUS' Name! AMEN! Here is a new song from Hillsong UNITED that I really LOVE! It is actually like an anthem, to stir up the LIFE that is in us because of JESUS! This song is called: "Good Grace"!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "reaching". It's found only one time in the New Testament, but it is one of my favorite verses! Philippians 3:13:

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, KJV

This is the Greek word "epekteinomai". Strong's Concordance says: to stretch oneself forward. Thayer's  Greek Lexicon says: to stretch out or forward. This is a compound word with the first part being "epi", which Strong's Concordance says is a primary preposition which can mean a superimposition of time, place, order and has to do with direction. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: this word contains an intensive form of "epi". So the focus in this verse is one of refusing to be hindered by dwelling on the past, which could refer to failures OR successes, and instead focusing on what we have ahead of us to accomplish. Here, for a little more context, are verses 12-14 from the Amplified Bible:

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

Everything that God has promised us in His Word belongs to us, but can only be attained by reaching, stretching, growing, changing and seizing them by faith! It takes patience, diligence, persistence, and a refusal to give up or quit. With that kind of commitment, NOTHING is impossible! All of the wonderful blessings, promotions, favor, riches and rewards that you and your family have experienced, just in this last year alone, are a result of just that attitude! We are praying and believing with you all for even more and better things in the coming year! Here are Hillsong Kids again with "We Came To Meet With You":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!