DEAR GOD: My Mind Is Set On Things Above~

Posted on January 9, 2024 by C D SWANSON

The Kingdom of GOD

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” –Matthew 6:19-21

Colossians 3:2 also says- “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This verse is part of a larger passage that exhorts Christians to live a new life in Christ, who is their life and their hope of glory.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21 – that our rewards are in Heaven and we should set our mind on the treasures above – for where our treasure is, there too is our heart!

The apostle Paul continues Jesus’ teachings thereby urging believers to put to death their sinful nature and to put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of God.

He also tells them to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love, which are the marks of the new humanity in Christ.

Paul also instructs Christians to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts (Philippians 4:13) to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly, and to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.

The main idea of Colossians 3:2 passage, is Christians are called to live a heavenly-minded life, not a worldly-minded one. This does not mean that they should ignore or neglect their earthly responsibilities, such as work, family, or society. Rather, it means that they should view everything from a higher perspective, that of God’s will and purpose.

They should seek the things that are above, where Christ is, not the things that are on the earth, which are passing away.

They should set their minds on the eternal realities, not the temporal ones. They should live as citizens of heaven, not as slaves of the world- (Philippians 3:20)

By setting their minds on things above, Christians can experience the joy and peace that come from knowing Christ and being united with him.

They can also resist the temptations and pressures that come from the world, the flesh, and the devil. They can also witness to the world the transforming power of the gospel, which can change lives and renew the creation.

They can also look forward to the day when Christ will appear, and they will appear with Him in glory, sharing in His inheritance and His reign.

To set our minds on things above, we need to cultivate a close relationship with Christ, who is our life. We need to spend time with Him in prayer, worship, and meditation on His word.

We need to seek His guidance and direction in every decision and action. We need to obey his commands and follow His example. We need to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. We need to remember that we are not our own, but we belong to Him, who died for us and rose again.

We need to live for His glory, not our own. We need to set our minds on things above, not on this world, and the things in it. Rather the Eternity and the Eternal rewards that will ultimately come to fruition when we are called “home.”

“Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for this day and moment in time, help me to keep my heart and mind fixed on You and Your Kingdom where You reign in glory. You are my heavenly goal, and with You is where I want to be! I will look ahead with hope in my heart and soul, knowing Your promises are real, and Your love in unsurpassed and unparalleled, Come, Lord Jesus! Amen!”

DEAR GOD: Always Running To Your Arms~

Posted on January 7, 2024 by C D SWANSON

spirituali - Risultati : Yahoo Italia della ricerca di immagini Bless ...

I am a “Daddy’s girl” always have been, always will be. As a little girl, I always ran straight into my “daddy’s arms.” He’s been gone for many years, due to an untimely medical mistake that cost him his life, but I still miss him, and will always love him. And I was blessed to have him in my life, so thank You LORD!

That being said, I am a “Daddy’s girl” for my Daddy in heaven, my LORD! I run straight to him no matter what, and even in good times I race right to his arms.

When things are happening or I’m experiencing turmoil in circumstances surrounding me – either be it family or friends-I only think to “run straight to Him!”

For He is the key for that ignites deeply within my soul to keep me going through it all.

I run on His love, His Wisdom, and His Word.

Without that I’d be “stalled on the highway of life” and I couldn’t function.

Much like a car being “dead” without the key to the ignition!

My LORD is the KEY!

Jesus is the key to all things in life because he is the source of life itself. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus is the key to all things in life because he is the ultimate example of how to live. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) He also said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
Jesus is the key to all things in life because he is the giver of grace and hope. He said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
He also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25)

Jesus, being the key in life means that He is the only way to have a relationship with God and to receive eternal life. He also said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

Jesus is the key to life because He died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead. He paid the price for our forgiveness and opened the way for us to enter God’s presence.

Jesus is the key to life because He loves us unconditionally and invites us to follow Him. He is our Lord, our Savior, our Friend, and our King. He is the one who gives us purpose, joy, peace, and hope.

He is the one who transforms us into His image and prepares us for His glory. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)

If you want to know more about Jesus being the key to life, you can read the Bible, which is God’s word and reveals His plan and love for us. You can also talk to other Christians, who can share their testimonies and experiences of following Jesus.

You can also pray to God and ask Him to show you His truth and grace. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

Do you run to Him for all things? Do you feel comfort by His Spirit? Do you love Him fully and with all of your heart and soul? And finally, and most important of all – have you accepted Him as LORD and Savior in your life? He’s waiting, so then–what are you waiting for?

“Dear Father, I know that I will always find comfort in Your arms and in all You are, I will always run to You first in all of my circumstances, and believe that You are the Messiah, and my LORD and Savior, and I will never ever stray from You or Your Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: Do We Have To Be Kind To Everyone?

Posted on January 6, 2024 by C D SWANSON

Hoe kan een werkgever mij ontslaan? - Jobat.be

Do we have to be “kind to everyone?” Well–Not really. It depends on the circumstances and what is happening at that moment in time.

The Bible teaches us to be kind to one another, as God has been kind to us in Christ. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and a mark of love (1 Corinthians 13:4). Kindness is also a way of showing God’s grace and mercy to others and leading them to repentance (Romans 2:4).

However, the Bible also warns us not to be naive or foolish in our kindness. We should not associate with wicked people who can corrupt us (1 Corinthians 15:33) or cast our pearls before swine who will trample them underfoot (Matthew 7:6). We should also not enable sin or injustice by being kind to the wrongdoers, but rather expose them and rebuke them (Ephesians 5:11, Proverbs 27:5).

Therefore, we need to be wise and discerning in our kindness, and follow the example of Jesus, who was kind to all, but also spoke the truth and confronted the evil. He said, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

Dealing with rude, selfish or unkind individuals really can be challenging and quite stressful. What I usually do is take a moment, take a deep breath, and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit as to how I should proceed. God never lets me down!

The LORD will usually guide our paths (Proverbs 3:5-8) when we look to Him and trust Him. God will temper our behavior when we ask for His intercession, when we take time to reflect, and think about how Jesus would act, we will find answers.

Be as gracious as you can be to a point. Be kind in your directives, your responses, but also firm in your belief. Don’t be nasty but be careful in your choice of words that doesn’t encourage the person to continue in their verbal abuse to you.

Sometimes, as Jesus’ said, “shake the dust off and leave” them to their own thoughts and consequences after you try to help. There is nothing more for you to do. It’s up to God to do the rest.

“Lord, may I always be reflective of Your love and kindness, may I know when to leave and how to turn from rude, unkind, and negative people in a respectful Christian way, and may I do all to please YOU, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH LOVE~

Posted on December 31, 2023 by C D SWANSON

Happy New Year Pictures, Images, Graphics for Facebook, Whatsapp

Psalm 90:12: -“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Anno Domini: This is the Latin term for “in the year of the Lord” or “in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is used to mark the years after the birth of Christ in the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used calendar system in the world today ¹. Christians can use this term to acknowledge that every year belongs to the Lord and that He is the center of history and time.

Every day is a day with the LORD for those of faith. And certainly, so it goes, every “year” is a day with the LORD. Of course there is also the verse in which we need to conceive and realize the depth of its content. – 2 Peter 3:8 (KJV)-But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

We are all new creations in Christ (Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new- 2 Corinthians 5:17). So actually, we are new all the time, in Christ. Firmly holding on to our resolve and our inner convictions of loving God fully and completely, and trying to accomplish, through Christ, all we can to attain those rewards and promises He sets before us in His Kingdom, we look forward to another year to do so!

New Creation: This is the ultimate hope of every Christian that God will make all things new and restore His perfect kingdom on earth. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem and renew His creation from the effects of sin and death. It is the final and glorious new year that will never end. Christians can live in light of this hope and seek to reflect God’s image and will in their lives.

Isaiah 65:17: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”
Revelation 21:1-: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

Think about what more you can do this upcoming year that could have done last year. Is there someone or something you overlooked without awareness? Is there some way you might be able to shine God’s light to someone in need?

“I wish you all a Happy New Year from here in the USA–to all those overseas, and beyond, may God’s light shine in you and through you to all you encounter along the way, may God continue to be a huge Presence in your lives and in your families, and may those who don’t quite know Him, come to realize His love (John 3:16) and just how much He loves us all, in Jesus, name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE~

Posted on December 23, 2023 by C D SWANSON

Christian Christmas Nativity Wallpapers - Top Free Christian Christmas ...

❤️❤️❤️❤️

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:11-14 (KJV)

Hallelujah! The King of kings and LORD of lords and The Savior of the World is here!!!! Merry Christ-mas to all!

May His Light shine upon you and your family
Christ-mas live in your hearts every single day of the year. Never forget how much He loved us and LOVES us to this very day.

I thought you’d enjoy this Christmas classic that gives me chills every single time, especially the part about “The Baby Boy you delivered will soon deliver you.”

OH my GOSH! Powerful, true and my heart beats so fast when I hear that line.

God Bless you all.

See you all back here on Tuesday.

Enjoy your holiday and be blessed~

DEAR GOD: You Fill Me With Your Joy~

Posted on December 17, 2023 by C D SWANSON

Psalm 103:1-5, ESV Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD gives me strength and guides me each day of my life, My soul and my heart are His, and I surrender to His will all the days of my life and beyond.

When we celebrate His love for us we are confident in our abilities as a child of Christ. We can be joyous knowing that our journey here on earth will be resilient in His cords of love that bind us with His Spirit. We are all united as one Body of Christ, and it is cause for continuous thanks and jubilation.

Do you celebrate your life that has purpose and meaning in Christ? Do you have joy in knowing that He is with you always? And do you take time to thank Him daily?

“Father, thank You for Your love, Your protection, and Your harness of security that surrounds me constantly, every second and minute of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are My Perfect Peace~

Posted on December 13, 2023 by C D SWANSON

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (KJV)

My pastor did a play on words while speaking of “Peace” of God. He equated it to a puzzle. You know, the type of puzzle put together on the table, a former family favorite of days gone by of which some of you may recall.

Well, many a time having worked so diligently on the puzzle only to find there is “one piece missing.” Did that ever happen to you? Well, it’s like our presence, it’s not complete without that final piece of the puzzle. That would be GOD.

He is the missing piece of the puzzle which ostensibly brings about PEACE.

Throughout the Bible there are references relating to knowing “peace” and having secured it only through the “Spiritual” aligning of His word and His Spirit. Without it there is no peace. It’s simple and complex. Simple to those who know and have an intimate relationship with Christ. Yet complex to those who haven’t yet accepted Him into their lives.

You’ll recall the famous sign that many churches display: NO GOD – NO PEACE. KNOW GOD–KNOW PEACE. Well, that is precisely what He is all about. That is what His Presence, His light, His love, and His word accomplish within us. We know perfect peace when we’re one with Him.

The world can literally tumble and fall around us (which these days it seems it is happening as such) …but knowing God will keep us free from anxiety and worry.

As Jesus said in Matthew 7:31 :34 (KJV)— “Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof…”

God loves us and He creates us with that love and there is no fear in love.

As stated in 1 John 4:18 (KJV) – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

And by knowing He loves us…we have peace. In peace, there is no fear. So, it goes…

When we exhibit and therefore take on the behavior of Christ in what we do… we eventually lose sight of “the world” and take up the Spiritual aspect of living. Things that mattered before, no longer have a place in our life. When people push us to the limits the Spirit will guide and give us the wisdom as to the handling of such circumstances. At times, we might not even be aware of such folly. It’s difficult to describe walking in the Spirit and wearing the gospel armor other than to say, it brings peace.

The pastor also gave another good example of “love and peace.” It was like describing a certain food to someone who’s never had it. You can describe it, but you cannot really know until you’ve tasted of it. Such is the love and the peace and the rewards of knowing God and participating in His banquet which all of us can partake of.

Stop, drink and eat of His presence and His love. I promise, but most especially and most important—HE promises the rewards are boundless. Amen.

“Father, God, thank You for Your peace and Your protection and providence over my life, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

“The pastures of His love go beyond explanation. It is to graze endlessly and be fulfilled, refreshed, and thirsty no more. The peace and the love that lives within is the ultimate freedom and expression of eternal rewards…”
My response in an article I was interviewed for in 2015 when asked about God’s love…

DEAR GOD: Shine Your Light~

Posted on December 11, 2023 by C D SWANSON

Isaiah 60:1 KJV- Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

LORD, shine Your light from high above in the world that seems to be under darkness as of late. Help those in anguish, and those in ill health, help those trapped in situations that seem hopeless, help those who are experiencing loss of a loved one, or those who are trapped in a bad marriage, or those who are tempted to ignore God’s Word and commandments, help those who haven’t yet come to You, or those who have turned their backs on You, help these individuals, help those who are addicted by something in their lives that are keeping them from experiencing life through You and Your Word, help those who go against Your Word, and help the World that is in such disarray my LORD, only YOU can change things with a wave of Your hand, or by Your Word, all those reading this right now, may their prayers be heard, and if it is Your will, may it be done, in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”

I felt it in my heart, God laid it upon me to write that prayer, someone out there is in need of prayers this very moment, so turn to the One who can help You, never give up, or lose faith, cause God’s timing and Will is perfect. Hang in there, hold on, and know that He hears You, and is there with You.

God is like oxygen. You can’t see it, but we NEED IT TO BREATHE. So, breathe! Take in the LORD, follow Him and His Word, and know that He will never leave or forsake You.

Accept Him as LORD and Savior. Jesus said, “no one goes to the Father, but through Me”(John 14:6) — He also says, “Whatever you ask in my name to the Father, it shall be done” (John 14:13) Those two verses meditate upon them, realize the depth of what that means, and accept Him as LORD.

Jesus is LORD, and LORD above all.
Praise His name, Amen!

“Father, may I do all I can to please You, may I always walk in obedience to You, may I turn from all temptations, and may I share You Word and be Your servant all the days of my life, and I pray for all those reading this message, I pray for all issues to be resolved in their lives, and that they are obedient to You and Your Son, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

John 8:12 KJV- Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Ephesians 5:8- KJV For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

John 3:16 KJV -For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

DEAR GOD: You Lift Me Over The Fires & Bring Beauty~

Posted on December 6, 2023 by C D SWANSON

Beauty for Ashes | Prophetic Light

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)

I began walking through the doors God was opening for me, so many years ago. And as anyone who is a follower, or filled with unwavering faith, it makes a difference in every single scenario during our lifetime.

When we are well acquainted with the LORD’s promises, and His voice, we can endeavor to overtake and undertake, all kinds of circumstances. That obviously pertains to both good and bad times and all of those in between times.

Life brings a series of gains, along with the losses. In the progression of life, we lose loved ones along the way. There are those we expect to “die before us” and it’s usually our grandparents, or parents, which hits full force in the pit of the stomach. But those are expected, albeit sad and gut wrenching no less.

Some who are reading this at this moment have recently lost their spouses, and are finding themselves in a “new kind of reality.” Life is not the way it was any longer, and they are hurting.

Then there are the unexpected, and totally out of the realm of reality situations, like the loss of a precious child. Or a young friend, that lost their life by a fatal error in an operating room, and yet another individual being killed by a driver that was under the influence.

All of these situations are horrific, some more shocking than others. I’m sure there are so many others, who have had their hearts slashed to ribbons. No matter the circumstances—Grief is real, it hurts, and it’s exhausting to the mind, heart, body and soul.

This morning when I woke up, and thanked God for another day, I felt that “someone visiting my site” needed to read, and hear this today.

The Spirit within led me to write this, and whomever you are right now, I pray it blessed you. I pray God’s light and comfort wash over you and bring you a semblance of peace and guidance from above.

Through so many “dark times” in which I’ve lost my grandparents, parents, my very best friend, acquaintances and the loss of our fur baby, whom we adored…There was one common denominator in all of the sad times…God had been there non-stop.

Just as I know He’s there for you right this moment. He has been with us all along. His promises are real, secure, and never ending. Especially His love.

He has given me bouquet upon bouquet of beauty, for my clenched fists full of ashes. And He will do the same for you.

Thank God, for the majority of individuals, life overall can be filled with joy. However, on the same hand, it can be blistering painful.

But how we manage to get through it, is what it’s all about.

When we embrace, and realize that God is ever faithful, the same today, as He was yesterday, or tomorrow—and realize His promises are true—We can certainly get through life as He holds us up with His right hand of righteousness.

He promises us “beauty for our ashes,” as He did with Joseph. He did so with Ruth, and for Job, and a host of others throughout the ages in the Bible and to this very day in time.

There is always an “open door” that God will guide us through. Or an open window, to let the fresh air in, when we recognize that the LORD’s promises, and His unrelenting love are there for us all the time. We then are able to see potential in every situation we face, because we are facing it alone. Nope, we are NOT ALONE.

Because no matter how we are suffering, He hears and sees us. He counts our tears, and He always has a plan for us…for our betterment, and for our peace.

When we know Him, it gets easier to face our adversities, no one said it’s easy, but it is so much better when the LORD is in the center of our lives, and we understand that He is in control.

“Father, thank You for always providing the path and the door for me to walk through, for opening a window for those moments in my life I couldn’t breathe from so much pain and grief, and for always loving me, may I always be mindful of Your grace, and Your gifts from above, I pray for those who are in need of Your touch, and for those who are suffering, may they find comfort in You, and seek Your face in all they do, in Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: LOVE & THANKS FOR YOUR HELP~

Posted on December 5, 2023 by C D SWANSON

Praise ye the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exhalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. (Psalm 112:1 KJV)

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And, if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17 KJV)

I realize that God is with us through all kinds of scenarios and have discovered that to be true too numerous to count and today I had a moment where I was exceedingly frustrated. My computer wasn’t recognizing my password and therefore wasn’t allowing me to get in. After several attempts “login failed…password unknown” I took a deep breath. I shut down and tried to get by safe mode and go into recovery, but my keyboard wasn’t allowing me to choose! This went on for about an hour. I asked God for help, and His wisdom. I called a “geek” squad, and they told me to bring in the computer and for about one hundred dollars they’d try to recover and make an attempt to get in. However, if that failed, they’d have to install windows from scratch, and I’d lose all of my info. I knew that myself-that is why I wanted to see if there was a way to get in without the process of reinstalling a new window.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I remembered I had another keyboard in my garage. I went to retrieve it, connected the old keyboard, shut down the computer and lo and behold, I was able to choose safe mode and go into recovery default!!! Hallelujah, and praise GOD! He helped me again.

I felt His presence with me the entire time very strongly in fact. It was His wisdom that led me to all of the circumstances to figure this out. And behold, it was done. So, Thank You God for fixing my computer!

Which brings me to the message for this post, “no matter the circumstances, God is with us.” He is with us and will never desert us. No matter how big or how small. Nothing is too big or too small for our God.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9 KJV)

The significance of His Spirit and His wisdom is what keeps us “going” in all that we undertake and oversee on a daily basis. We should never believe “we do it on our own”–He empowers us with His presence from within and guides us through all aspects thereof.

So thank You Lord for once again being there…how absolutely amazing You are! I love you so much.

Computer giving you trouble? –No problem, call God, after all who do you think taught that computer geek?