Hi Brian!

The 'phrase' for this week is "new thing". We'll be looking at Isaiah 43:18-19:

18 Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  19 Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  AMP

This is the Hebrew word "chadash". Strong's Concordance says: new. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrrew Lexicon says: a new thing, fresh. Vine's Expository Dictionary of  the OT says: new, renewed, both in the sense of recent or fresh, and in the sense of something not previously existing. It is ALWAYS exciting when the Lord moves in a new and different way! It gets the attention of people who may have become complacent, but it also stirs up renewed enthusiasm among the faithful ones who have been 'keeping on'! THIS is a day of new things! People getting born again in places like Iran, where the Gospel has never been freely preached! Miraculous dreams and visions among the people getting there attention and pointing them to the Saviour. We have even heard of New Births and baptisms happening wherever chaos and destruction has occured with the riots, looting and burning of cities. These ARE exciting times to be alive and living for JESUS! There was an old DC Talk song called "New Thang" back in the 90s. It was all about how GOD, at that time, was doing a 'new thing'! Fast forward about 30 years and Hillsong Young and Free have another song out called "New Thing"! Here it is!

VERSE 1: These are the days that we prayed for A stirring of faith has begun And I’ve seen so much still I’m certain That the best has not yet come CHORUS 1: Jesus You’re not done with me You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing VERSE 2: I see a wave of revival Preceded by justice and praise Where young and the old run to Jesus And all the sins that held us back are laid to waste CHORUS 2: Jesus You’re not done with me You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing For all I’ve seen I still believe You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing BRIDGE: Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me TAG: I know I know OUTRO: We’re ready for what’s yet to come Ready for what You’ve got next We’re ready for the past to pass We’re running where the future is It’s coming like the rising sun We wanna see Your kingdom come Do a new thing Oh come do a new thing Cos You’re doing a new thing Oh You’re doing a new thing

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!