Tag Archives: faithfulness

DEAR GOD: Temporary Passage Here on Earth~

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A black vintage convertible car parked in an underground garage

1 Peter 2:11 (KJV) “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

This verse captures the truth that we are pilgrims, passing through, training for eternity, and that everything here is temporary compared to the glory of being with the Lord.

 A Long, Beautiful Reflection
by C D Swanson~

Life on earth often feels loud, glittering, and demanding. Everywhere we turn, something tries to pull our attention — possessions, achievements, admiration, status, beauty, comfort. Yet Scripture reminds us that we are strangers and pilgrims, not permanent residents. We are here for a season, for shaping, for learning, for refining. Our true home is not built with human hands.

When we remember this, the weight of earthly things becomes lighter. The pressure to impress, to accumulate, to keep up, begins to fade. We start to see the world as God sees it — a temporary classroom where He teaches us trust, obedience, compassion, humility, and love.

I saw this clearly in one moment in a parking lot. People gathered around an unusual, beautiful car, admiring it, marveling at it, almost worshipping it. And yes, it was striking — a rare sight, something that turns heads. But my spirit whispered a deeper truth: Imagine if people were this fascinated with Jesus.

Imagine if hearts raced at His mercy the way they raced at horsepower. Imagine if eyes lit up at His Presence the way they lit up at polished chrome. Imagine if crowds gathered not around metal and paint, but around the Savior who gives eternal life.

That thought wasn’t random — it was spiritual clarity. It was the Holy Spirit reminding me that everything dazzling in this world is temporary, but Christ is eternal. Cars rust. Trends fade. Beauty changes. Wealth evaporates. But the love of God, the Presence of Jesus, and the promise of eternity remain untouched.

We are pilgrims. We are passing through. And everything else is just “fill-in” until our training is complete.

When we anchor our hearts in Him, the temporary things lose their power. We can enjoy them without being owned by them. We can see beauty without worshipping it. We can walk through this world without being shaped by it.

Because our eyes are fixed on the One who is everlasting.

Ask yourself –What temporary thing in my life has been pulling my attention away from the eternal, and how can I gently turn my focus back toward Jesus?

🙏 Lord, remind me daily that I am a pilgrim passing through, and that my true home is with You. Help me loosen my grip on the temporary things that distract my heart. Teach me to see Your eternal beauty in every moment, and to desire You more than anything this world can offer. Shape me, train me, and guide me until the day my journey is complete. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: You Promises Are Real As Is Your Love~

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He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. —
Psalm 91:11

My Psalm 91 Testimony —

How God Protected Us Before We Even Knew We Needed Protection
by C D Swanson~

Psalm 91 has always been a chapter of comfort to me, but now it has become a living testimony in my own life. It is the chapter of protection, covering, and deliverance from hidden danger — and the Lord proved every word true as we prepared to move into our new home.

We are downsizing from a large home to a modest place two towns away. In the middle of sorting, decluttering, and making plans, I kept noticing an odd smell every time we visited the new house. Everyone insisted it was “musty” because it had been emptied for a year, but something in my spirit said otherwise. I even felt physically ill after leaving.

I didn’t know what was wrong. But the LORD did. And in His mercy, He stepped in before we moved in — just as Psalm 91 promises.

🕊 “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler…”

The danger was hidden. The contamination was concealed. The trap was already set — and we were days away from walking right into it.

But God delivered us.

🕊 “He shall cover you with His feathers…”

The Lord sent a handyman named Caleb to our door. We had never met him before. He came only to fix a small issue — nothing related to the HVAC system. But when he finished, he felt compelled to open a vent. We did not ask him to. We did not direct him. He simply felt led.

Behind that vent was the truth:

  1. animal feces
  2. urine‑soaked insulation
  3. debris hidden inside the walls
  4. a glued‑shut main vent
  5. airflow intentionally restricted

This was not “mustiness.” This was a serious health hazard — something that could have harmed me, my husband, and our fur baby Mickey.

God covered us under His wings. He shielded us from danger we could not see.

🕊 “You shall not be afraid of the pestilence that walks in darkness…”

The contamination inside the walls was exactly that — a pestilence in darkness. Hidden. Silent. Dangerous. We were preparing to move in within days, unaware of what was waiting behind the vent.

But the Lord intervened.

He sent Caleb as His servant — His messenger — to uncover what was concealed and protect our health, our home, and our future.

🕊 “No evil shall befall you…”

The repairs are costly — nearly $2,000 already — but the discovery itself is a blessing. It is proof of God’s love, His mercy, and His perfect timing. He prevented us from stepping into something that could have harmed us.

Had Caleb not come… Had he not opened that vent… Had God not intervened…

We would have moved in unaware.

But God said no. God said not my children. God said I will protect you.

Psalm 91 came alive in our lives, and I give Him all the glory.

🙏  LORD- thank You for Your protection, Your mercy, and Your perfect timing. Thank You for sending Caleb to uncover hidden danger and keep us safe. Cover our home, our hearts, and our steps as we move forward under Your wings. I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your love, and Your constant watch over us. Amen.

DEAR GOD: You Are Not of This World~

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woman in red hoodie sitting on rock looking at the mountains during daytime

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Not of This World~
by C D Swanson

Paul’s words are not a call to isolation — they are a call to inner revolution. The world presses, molds, and shapes with relentless force, but the Spirit reshapes us from the inside out. To refuse conformity is not arrogance; it is allegiance. To be transformed is not withdrawal; it is worship.

We walk among people, systems, and cultures — yet our compass points elsewhere. We participate in life, but we do not bow to its patterns. We work, love, serve, and build — but we do so with a mind continually renewed by the Word, not by the world.

This is the paradox of Christian living: We are present but not patterned. Engaged, but not entangled. Visible, but not absorbed. We live here, but we belong elsewhere.

The world is loud, but the Spirit is louder. The world is persuasive, but Christ is transforming. The world is temporary, but our identity is eternal.

May your life be a testimony of quiet resistance — a mind renewed daily, a heart guarded fiercely, and a soul anchored deeply in the One who calls you His own.

 

DEAR GOD: You Are So Good~

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Sunlight shines through the clouds onto the water.

“Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee…” Psalm 31:19 (KJV)

The Goodness That Waits for You
by C D Swanson

There are verses that whisper comfort, and then there are verses that wrap themselves around your heart like a warm blanket. Psalm 31:19 is one of those verses. It doesn’t just talk about God’s goodness — it announces it, celebrates it, and reveals something deeply personal about the Father’s heart.

David isn’t describing a goodness that is random or occasional. He is describing a goodness that is stored up, set aside, prepared, and reserved for God’s children. That means God’s goodness toward you is not accidental — it is intentional. It is not leftover — it is planned. It is not scarce — it is abundant.

Think about that: God has goodness with your name on it. Goodness that has been waiting for you. Goodness that has been preserved through every season, every storm, every setback, every tear.

Sometimes life makes you feel like you’ve run out of blessings, out of strength, out of options. But God says, “No, My child — I have goodness laid up for you. I’ve been saving it. I’ve been holding it. I’ve been preparing it.”

And the beauty of this verse is that His goodness is not dependent on your perfection — it is rooted in His character. His goodness is steady when life is shaky. His goodness is faithful when people are not. His goodness is present even when you can’t feel it.

You may not see the goodness yet. You may not understand the timing. You may not know how God is going to turn things around. But this verse reminds you that He already has goodness stored up for you, waiting for the exact moment when you need it most.

God’s goodness is not just something He gives — it is something He is. And because He is good, you will see His goodness in your life again. Not maybe. Not hopefully. You will.

“Father, thank You for the goodness You have stored up for me. Even when I cannot see it, I trust that You are working, preparing, and providing. Let Your goodness meet me in the places where I feel empty, tired, or uncertain. Fill my heart with peace, hope, and confidence in Your unfailing love. In Jesus name Amen.”

DEAR GOD: I’m Steady in Your Hand~

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“Held in His Hand” — Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 When God Steadies the Shaking Heart
by C D Swanson~

There are moments in life when the soul trembles — not because we lack faith, but because we are human. Fear rises, uncertainty whispers, and the weight of responsibility presses down. Yet into that very place of trembling, God speaks a word that does not merely comfort — it anchors.

“Fear thou not.” He does not say, Try not to fear. He does not say, You shouldn’t fear. He simply says, Do not fear — because I am with you.

The power of this verse is not in what we can do, but in what He promises to do. God does not ask you to hold yourself together. He does not ask you to be strong on your own. He does not ask you to figure everything out. Instead, He steps into the center of your worry and declares:

  • I will strengthen you.
  • I will help you.
  • I will uphold you.

This is not a distant God speaking from the heavens. This is the God who bends low, who takes your shaking hand in His steady one, who lifts your chin when your eyes fall to the ground. He does not shame your fear — He answers it.

When life feels overwhelming, when decisions weigh heavy, when the future feels uncertain, this verse becomes a holy reminder: You are not walking alone. You are not carrying this by yourself. You are not expected to be stronger than you feel.

God Himself is your strength. God Himself is your help. God Himself is your upholding.

And when God holds you, nothing can pull you from His grasp.

Lord, steady my heart with Your strength and surround me with Your peace. Hold me close, lift me up, and guide my steps with Your loving hand.

DEAR GOD: Your Love Is Rooted Firmly In Us~

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That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…” — Ephesians 3:17

When His Love Becomes the Center of Everything
by C D Swanson~

To be in love with Christ is not a momentary emotion — it is the slow, holy awakening of the soul to the One who has loved you since before you took your first breath. It is the discovery that Jesus is not simply a figure in Scripture, but the Living Presence who steps into your real life, your real struggles, your real fears, and your real hopes.

Loving Christ is not about perfection. It is about Presence — His Presence in you, and your presence before Him. It is the quiet realization that He is the One who has walked with you through every valley, even the ones you didn’t think you would survive. It is the moment you understand that His love is not fragile, not conditional, not dependent on your performance. His love is rooted, eternal, and unshakeable.

When Christ becomes the center of your life, everything shifts:

  • Your wounds become places where His healing light enters
  • Your fears become invitations to trust
  • Your failures become testimonies of His mercy
  • Your loneliness becomes a doorway to His companionship
  • Your identity becomes anchored in who He says you are

To love Christ is to finally breathe. To finally rest. To finally know that you are fully seen and fully held.

It is the daily choice to say, “Lord, I am Yours,” even when life feels heavy. It is the quiet courage to believe that His love is stronger than your past, deeper than your pain, and more faithful than your doubts.

And in that love — that deep, steady, unchanging love — you find who you truly are.

🌼 Reflective Question

Where in your life do you most need to let Christ’s love steady you today?

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” — Jeremiah 31:3

LORD ,let Your love take root in the deepest places of my heart. Teach me to walk in the truth of who You are — faithful, gentle, and unchanging. Let Your presence steady my steps, quiet my fears, and shape my life. Draw me closer to You each day, until loving You becomes the truest thing about me. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Drawing Near To You Daily

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How Do I Draw Near To God

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18

Drawing Near to You
by C D Swanson~

  There are moments when the nearness of God feels like a quiet breath against the heart — gentle, steady, unmistakable. He does not wait for us to be perfect, polished, or strong. He draws near because He loves, and His love is not fragile. When life feels uncertain, His Presence becomes the anchor that steadies the soul. He steps into the room of our thoughts, calms the noise, and reminds us that we are never navigating anything alone. His nearness is not earned; it is given. And when we call on Him sincerely, He answers with peace that settles deeper than words.

 “LORD, thank You for drawing near even when I feel far away. Teach my heart to rest in Your Presence and trust Your steady hand. Let Your nearness be my comfort, my clarity, and my courage today. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: Your Love is All I Need~

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“As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.” — Jesus –John 15:9 (KJV)

The Love That Holds Us Steady
by C D Swanson~

When Jesus speaks of love, He is not offering a concept, a feeling, or a poetic idea. He is revealing the very heartbeat of God — a love that begins in eternity, flows through Christ, and rests upon us with the same strength, purity, and permanence that the Father has for the Son.

To be loved by Jesus is to be held by something unbreakable. It is to be known fully and still chosen. It is to be carried, guided, forgiven, restored, and welcomed into a relationship that does not depend on our perfection, but on His.

And when we live inside that love — when we “continue” in it, as Jesus says — life begins to shift. Not all at once, not always dramatically, but steadily, like dawn spreading across a dark horizon. His love becomes the anchor that steadies our fears, the compass that directs our choices, the warmth that softens our hearts, and the strength that carries us through seasons we never thought we could endure.

Living in love with the Lord creates a quiet domino effect:

  • Gratitude grows.
  • Peace deepens.
  • Compassion expands.
  • Priorities realign.
  • Joy becomes less fragile.
  • Hope becomes more stubborn.

And how do we pay tribute to such a love during our time on earth? Not by grand gestures or flawless devotion, but by small, faithful acts of the heart:

  • Choosing kindness when it costs us something.
  • Forgiving because we have been forgiven.
  • Speaking gently because He speaks gently to us.
  • Serving quietly because He served us first.
  • Trusting Him in the unseen places.
  • Loving others with the overflow of the love He pours into us.

Our tribute is not perfection — it is continuance. Continuing in His love. Continuing in His Presence. Continuing in the daily, humble “yes” to the One who loved us first and loves us still.

Lord Jesus, let every reader feel the depth of Your love today. Teach us to walk in that love and reflect it gently into the world.

DEAR GOD: You Are All I Need -Forever~

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"Sensing the Need for God" - Sunday May 31, 2020 - Blue Ridge Chapel ...

Psalm 73:25 — “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

My Only Desire, Forever
by C D Swanson~

Full Essay Commentary & Intellectual Tribute

There are verses that whisper, and there are verses that thunder softly across the centuries. Psalm 73:25 is one of those rare declarations that stands outside of time — a soul’s cry that is as relevant today as it was the moment it was first breathed into existence.

“Whom have I in heaven but thee?” This is not a question of curiosity; it is a confession of allegiance. The psalmist is not merely acknowledging God’s supremacy — he is acknowledging God’s exclusivity. Heaven itself, with all its glory, would be empty without the Lord. The verse strips away every lesser affection and reveals the core truth of the human soul: we were made for God, and God alone satisfies.

“And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” This is the earthly echo of the heavenly cry. It is the heart saying, “Everything else fades. Everything else shifts. Everything else disappoints. But You — You remain.” This is not isolation; it is devotion. Not withdrawal; but anchoring. Not rejecting the world; but recognizing that nothing in the world can take the place of the One who formed it.

In a world of noise, distraction, and relentless demands, this verse becomes a compass. It calls us back to the center — to the One who is not merely part of our life, but the very source of it. It reminds us that spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know, but by how deeply we desire Him.

And today, in an age of fractured attention and divided loyalties, this ancient cry becomes even more radical. To say “I desire none beside Thee” is to reclaim your soul from the world’s endless tug-of-war. It is to guard your time, your mind, your devotion, and your quiet hours with a holy fierceness. It is to say:

“Lord, You are not an addition to my life — You are my life.”

This longing is not weakness; it is wisdom. This devotion is not outdated; it is eternal. This desire is not unrealistic; it is the very design of the human heart.

And when you say, “I need God only,” you are not rejecting the world — you are placing everything in its proper order. You are choosing the One who never changes, never leaves, never fails, and never stops drawing you closer.

Reflective Thought

What would shift in your life if you truly lived as though God were your only lasting desire — the One you return to, the One you guard time for, the One your soul leans toward in every season?

Prayer for All

Lord, teach us to desire You above all else. Quiet every competing voice, steady every wandering thought, and draw our hearts back to the place where You alone are enough. Let our days be shaped by Your Presence and our lives anchored in Your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: I See The Window Opening~

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How to reduce your home's indoor air pollution : Life Kit : NPR

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11

 When Doors Close, God Makes a Way
by C D Swanson~

Life has a way of surprising us with sudden endings—doors that shut without warning, opportunities that slip away, seasons that shift before we feel ready. But the truth woven through Scripture is this: God is never caught off guard, and He never leaves His children stranded in the hallway.

Jeremiah 29:11 is more than a comforting verse; it is a declaration of God’s heart toward us. His thoughts are intentional, peaceful, and good. Even when a door closes, it is not rejection—it is redirection. God sees what we cannot. He knows the dangers behind certain doors, the delays behind others, and the blessings waiting in places we haven’t even imagined.

Sometimes He opens another door quickly. Other times, when every door seems sealed shut, He opens a window—an unexpected path, a fresh breath of hope, a way that only His hands could carve out. Windows represent creativity, surprise, and divine intervention. They remind us that God is not limited to the options we see. He is the God of “another way.”

And in every transition, every disappointment, every closed chapter, He is with us. Not watching from a distance, but walking beside us, guiding us, strengthening us, and preparing us for what’s next. His goodness is not dependent on circumstances; it is rooted in His character. And His character is faithful.

 Where in your life does it feel like a door has closed? What if that very place is where God is preparing a window of blessing, clarity, or new direction?

Lord, thank You for being the God who guides our steps and guards our hearts. When doors close, help us trust that You are still working, still leading, still opening new ways for us. Give us peace in the waiting and faith in the unfolding. Amen.