Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "nourished". We find it in these portions of New Testament Scripture:

Acts 7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. KJV

1 Tim 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. KJV

Acts 12:20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. KJV

These are all three different Greek words, with two of them based off of the one found in Acts 12:20. This would be "trepho". Strong's Concordance says: strength, to stiffen, to fatten, to cherish, to pamper, to rear. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to support, to feed.  In Acts 7:20 it is the Greek word  "anatrepho". Strong's Concordance says: to rear. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to nurse up, to bring up. In 1 Timothy 4:4 it is the Greek word "entrepho". Strong's Concordance says: to educate. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds:  to nourish in, a person in a thing. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to train up. All of these aspects are important in a local church like The Spoken Word, where our vision is to: "train believers to be bright lights in and to the world"! They are also important in training people for the workplace, as Greg has to do when he hires someone. It is important for each of us to desire this training, educating, and supporting from the Lord as we grow up in the things of God and in the Word of God. But for parents, the very most important 'nourishing' that we do is in the raising of our children. This involves the natural things that they need to learn and know. Our kids LOVED veggies as babies because we introduced those first before the sweet fruits. We trained them in the way they should go nutrition wise! The same is true for their spiritual growth! In fact, Ephesians 5:29 and Ephesians 6:4 both use another form of this word:

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: KJV

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

These are another form of "trepho" in "ektrepho", which also means to cherish and/or train. When we train our children, we have THIS promise from God in Proverbs 22:6:

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

You and Kristine are doing a wonderful job of balancing all of the various 'nourishing' and 'nurturing' that your lovely ladies need to be the best they can be! They are all so interesting and unique, and it takes a real commitment to train while also allowing them to BE who GOD called them to be! Here is Hillsong again with "Who You Say I Am", because that is exactly what we want for ourselves and those we love! To BE all they can BE! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "infallible". It's only found one time in the Bible, in Acts 1:3:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: KJV

This is the Greek word "tekmerion". Strong's Concordance says: a token (as defining fact), criterion of certainty. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: that from which something is surely and plainly known, an indubitable evidence, a proof. Vine's Expository Dictionary adds: a sure sign, a positive proof. The Amplified Bible says THIS:

3 To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God. AMP

Every one of the apostles of JESUS were left without a doubt that He had risen from the dead! He showed Himself to them over and over again. He demonstrated Who He was to them with positive proof. I like that Vine's also adds: (a "proof" does not require to be described as infallible, the adjective is superfluous). That is the surety that they all had by what they had heard and seen of Him for those forty days. The proof that they were assured of these things is found in the way they refused to deny or denounce JESUS, even when faced with death. We all need, in our lives, to build this same conviction of  KNOWING Him! When we KNOW Him, we will have confidence in everything that He has promised. Here is Hillsong UNITED with another new song called "Holy Ground":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. KJV

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. KJV

1 John 3:2 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. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. KJV

These are all the Greek word "hagnos". Strong's Concordance says: clean, innocent, modest, perfect. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure from carnality, chaste, modest, pure from every fault, immaculate. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says: what awakens awe, what signifies moral purity, innocence and chastity. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: pure from defilement, not contaminated. 

Our thought life is so very important! Psalm 23:7 says that "as he thinks in his heart, so is he". What we think about is what we will eventually say and do. By controlling what we think about, we will be able to avoid speaking or acting contrary to God's Word. The very best way to control the thought life is to control what goes in the eyes and ears. Thoughts from God come from inside of us, while thoughts from the enemy come at us from without. When a thought contrary to God's Word comes, we recognize the source, and then 'reject and replace'. Reject that thought and then replace it with what the Word of God says about the subject. That's how we 'think on these things' in Philippians 4:8. It's a choice we must make! James tells us that God's Wisdom is 'pure'! That's what we want to think about! 1 John 3 is telling us that when we believe His Word and expect to see it fulfilled, we are thinking just like God, making us like Him! That mindset in every situation will keep us in the victory no matter what we are facing! I know that you already know these principals because you are walking in God's favor and seeing great success in life, career, family, friends and interests. Knowing the Word on it just gives more confidence! Here is Hillsong UNITED with another new song from the People album called "Clean":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

I am doing something different again this week! I found this devotional by Charles Spurgeon, who was a British preacher in the late 1800s, on my PC Study Bible and I think it is excellent! 

"Search the Scriptures."

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. KJV

The Greek word here rendered search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. 

Holy Scripture requires searching—much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word, yea, upon every title of Scripture. Tertullian exclaims, "I adore the fulness of the Scriptures." No man who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the word only opens to the key of diligence. 

The Scriptures claim searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur— who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account. 

The word of God will repay searching. God does not bid us sift a mountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible is winnowed corn—we have but to open the granary door and find it. Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendour of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No merchandise like the merchandise of Scripture truth.

 Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: "They are they which testify of Me." No more powerful motive can be urged upon Bible readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all things. Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Saviour.

This is exactly what you have been doing! From the time that you met with your then future father-in-law, asking questions until you were satisfied of the Truth, to now, you have been a constant student of the Word! I know that over the years you have come to realize that there is so much more to glean from the Word of God than just words on a page! I really like the Amplified Bible for John 5:39 (above):

John 5:39 You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! AMP

Joshua 1:8 is one of my very favorite Scriptures! Again from the Amplified Bible:

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

Your quiet strength, Wisdom, compassion, selflessness, love for your family, diligence in your career and interests have grown even stronger and more evident as you have searched the Word and put it into practice! Your life is a testimony of the Word of God in action! We are so blessed to have you, Kristine and your beautiful daughters in our lives, and to see God's favor so strong upon you all! Here is another new song from Hillsong UNITED's "People" album called "Starts and Ends". I wasn't sure how I felt about this song until I listened a few times. My favorite verse is:

You’re my can’t explain
First and last refrain
You’re my every good thing

We will never know, or be able to explain, all that He is, but the seeking and finding is such a wonder! 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Hi Brian!

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

Psalm 34:3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. KJV

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. KJV

Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.  KJV

In Psalm 34 we have the Hebrew word "gadal". Strong's Concordance says: to be or make large (as in body, mind, estate or honor). Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon adds: to grow, to become great or important, to promote, to make powerful, to praise, to magnify, to do great things. In Luke and Acts we have the Greek word "megaluno". Strong's Concordance says: to make or declare great, extol. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: to deem or declare great, to esteem highly, to laud, to celebrate. 

I remember when we were first born again how much pressure was put on us to 'evangelize'! We were asked often in meetings how many people we had 'led to the Lord' this week (month, year). There were always methods discussed for how to do this. Over the years I have found that the greatest witness we can have is the evidence of how much we love JESUS and how much we realize that we are loved! Giving Him the credit, the praise, the worship for every good thing that happens develops such an attitude within us of gratitude that shows in our countenance and comes up in conversations we may have. People will wonder how we can be positive and at peace when things seem tough and troubling. This is what is spoken of in 1 Peter 3:15:

15 But give reverent honor in your hearts to the Anointed One and treat him as the holy Master of your lives. And if anyone asks about the hope living within you, always be ready to explain your faith 16 with gentleness and respect. TPT

When we magnify the Lord in our own hearts we can't help but express it in our words and actions. I believe that this is what draws people to us. When people come to you for help and for answers, it will be because they see in you something that they need and wish that they had themselves. That's when we can be doers of 1 Peter 3:15! There is so much love, joy and fun in the the posts that you and Kristine share on Instagram and Facebook! People are watching and those that are hurting have hope rising! THAT is being a true witness for JESUS! Here is another new song from Hillsong UNITED's new album called "Might Sound Wild":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!