DEAR GOD: Your Will Be Done And I Praise You Through it All~

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a woman in a white dress with her hands in the air

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

Praising Your Name Always~
by C D Swanson~

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42, NKJV) and similarly in Matthew 26:39, He expressed His willingness to follow God’s plan despite the suffering ahead. This demonstrates ultimate obedience and trust in God’s purpose, even in moments of deep anguish.

Going through life not one of us can remain unscathed by situations that can be troubling, life changing, or circumspect of issues that surround us.  And the older one gets, the more exposure to these events is apparent.  We lose loved ones, we have to say goodbye to friends, our pets, and yet life goes on.  It is a veritable potpourri of alternating moments in our days spent on earth.

Jesus came to earth to accomplish a mission.  He came to save us and redeem us – and through the days he was here, He faced angry crowds, non-believers, religious jealousy from the “higher up” so called Bible scholars, Pharisees, Sadducees, and scorn from his own people in his own town.

Yet, His Father’s will had to be done and He obeyed willingly, lovingly, and taught us along the way. He wasn’t immune to hatred, or people wanting to harm Him.  He knew it was part of the scriptures to be fulfilled in order to save us, and to adhere to His Father’s will and purpose.

We all have a purpose, and God’s hand will be the divine course in which we should follow and acquiesce to all of His plans for us. And some of those plans can be uncomfortable because we can’t see the future or the outcome as God does. We can only trust and pray and wait.  So many things get in the way of “life.”

Whether it be selling your home due to financial strains and a dire necessity in order to survive, or perhaps some of you are going through a divorce and one is hurting because only one wanted to leave, maybe there was a diagnosis of illness suddenly revealed, for yourself or a loved one, and some of you may have recently lost a loved one and are suffocating from the grief.   God is with you through it all.  He knows your heart, your mind, your thoughts, and He is holding you up with His right hand of righteousness.

When we stay on the path of His word and follow the light and His voice, these times will not necessarily be “easier” but you will be able to endure it through His strength and His love.  Even when you can’t feel Him- he is working – and even when you can’t “see Him” He is working. Always for you, for me for us!

Never ask “why?”  Instead ask, “God strengthen me during this trial and heal my pain and heart.”  Praise Him through it all.  There is a beautiful song called “Prase His Name” I will include it in the bottom of this post.  It is so true, just as Paul did when he was in prison. He praised God and the chains fell off and the doors opened.  We can be free the same way, just praise Him through it all.

Continue to love, honor and cherish God and praise Him through it all. Your life will reflect His light, and you will be able to grow in Spirit and depth resulting in a different thought process than you had prior to “finding Christ.”

“LORD we just want to glorify You today and always, and we give You thanks for all You are and all You do,  We love you beyond comprehension, and we lift You high and exalt You always, in Jesus name Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: Sitting Waiting on You~

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woman praying beside tree

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

🌿   — Endurance & Patience in the Everyday and the Hard Days
by C D Swanson

Patience is not simply waiting. It is how we wait — the posture of our heart while life moves slowly, unevenly, or painfully around us. Scripture shows us that patience is not passive; it is a spiritual discipline, a quiet strength formed in the presence of God.

Life brings trials, setbacks, delays, and frustrations — sometimes small, sometimes overwhelming. But God calls us to a deeper endurance: a steady trust that He is working even when we cannot see movement. Patience is the soul’s way of saying, “Lord, I trust Your timing more than my own.”

God speaks often about patience because He knows how easily our hearts grow restless. He knows how anxiety rises when life feels stuck. He knows how discouragement whispers when prayers seem unanswered. Yet He reminds us that His timing is perfect, His wisdom is complete, and His Presence is constant.

To be patient is to surrender the urge to control outcomes. It is choosing peace over panic, trust over turmoil, and stillness over striving. It is remembering that God is not slow — He is thorough. He is shaping us, strengthening us, and preparing us through every delay and every detour.

Endurance grows when we stay anchored in His Word. Patience deepens when we listen for His voice. Strength rises when we choose to walk with Him instead of rushing ahead. And peace settles when we remember that He is God — and we are held.

Reflective Questions

  • Where in my life am I rushing ahead instead of trusting God’s timing?
  • What does patience look like for me today — in real, practical ways?
  • How can I anchor myself more deeply in God’s Word during seasons of waiting?

🙏  Lord, teach me to wait with trust, to endure with grace, and to rest in Your timing. Help me quiet my heart, steady my thoughts, and follow Your guidance in every season of life.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

DEAR GOD: All Seasons With You Forever~

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View of a sunset on a rocky beach, with birds and the ocean in view, 1990. (Photo by Tom Kelley/Getty Images) (Photo by Tom Kelley/Getty Images)

 

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

 

All Seasons Forever His
C D Swanson~

There is a peculiar ache that comes with human disappointment — not merely the sting of the moment, but the philosophical weight of realizing how fragile human constancy truly is. People change. Circumstances shift. Promises evaporate. Even our own hearts contradict themselves.

But God does not.

In the intellectual landscape of faith, this is the most profound truth: the only unbroken connection in the universe is the one between the soul and its Creator. Every earthly bond is subject to erosion, but the divine bond is immune to decay. When life uproots you — whether through a move, a loss, or a revelation of human frailty — you are not drifting; you are being repositioned closer to the One who cannot fail you.

The wit of faith is this: while humanity fluctuates, God remains the same. While life rearranges itself, God remains the same. While your emotions rise and fall, God remains the same. The constancy of Christ is not merely theological — it is existential. It is the one truth that stabilizes every other truth.

So, when you find yourself in the middle of transition, remember you are not losing connection. You are rediscovering the only connection that was ever truly secure.

Lord, thank You for being the same in every season of my life.
Help me cling to Your unchanging love when everything else shifts. In Jesus name, Amen.

  faith, constancy, devotion, trust, surrender, hope, renewal, courage, grace, wisdom, peace

DEAR GOD: Through it All You Are With Me~

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two people standing in front of a cross at sunset

Psalm 121:5 (KJV) The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The Joy of Loving Christ and His Protective Presence

There is a quiet joy that rises in the heart when you realize Christ is not only your Savior, but your Keeper. He does not watch you from a distance. He stands so close that Scripture says He is “thy shade upon thy right hand.” Shade touches you. Shade covers you. Shade moves with you. Shade never leaves you.

To love Christ is to live under this gentle covering — a protection that follows you through every hour, every fear, every unknown. His keeping is not fragile; it is strong, steady, and deeply personal. He guards your steps, your thoughts, your nights, your worries, and your future. Nothing approaches you without passing through His presence first.

And in that truth, joy blooms. Not loud joy — but quiet, anchored joy. Joy that whispers, “You are safe. You are held. You are Mine.”

Christ’s protection is not something you earn; it is something He gives because He loves you. Loving Him opens your eyes to see it, feel it, and rest in it. His keeping is constant. His covering is gentle. His nearness is unbreakable.

You are never walking alone. You are never unshielded. You are never outside His watchful care.

The Lord is your Keeper — and that is the deepest joy of all.

“LORD keep me close beneath Your gentle covering and steady my heart in Your Presence.Let Your protection surround me and Your love guide every step I take.In Jesus name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: You Are My Comfort

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the sun is shining through the clouds in the sky

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” — Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

Love That Lives Beyond the Moment

Grief is one of the deepest journeys a heart can walk. It comes with waves that rise without warning, moments that feel too heavy, and days when the absence feels louder than anything else. Yet even in this tender place, God offers a promise — not of forgetting, but of reunion, restoration, and peace.

The memories we carry are sacred. They remind us of the love that shaped us, the joy that filled our days, and the presence that made life sweeter. These memories are not meant to hurt us; they are meant to sustain us. They are reminders that love is eternal, because God Himself is love.

When we grieve, we are not grieving alone. God walks with us, steadying our steps, calming our hearts, and reminding us that the story continues beyond what we can see. The ones we love are held in His perfect care, whole, healed, and waiting in the place where sorrow cannot enter.

One day — in God’s time — every tear will be wiped away. Every ache will be healed. And the reunion we long for will be more beautiful than anything we can imagine. Until then, we carry the love forward, knowing it is a gift that never dies.

Reflection Questions

  • What memory brings both ache and gratitude to your heart today?
  • How can you invite God into the places where grief still feels heavy?
  • What promise of Scripture brings you comfort as you wait for reunion?

Lord, thank You for the love that continues even after goodbye. Hold me close as I walk through grief, and let Your promises steady my heart. Help me cherish the memories, honor the love, and trust that reunion awaits in Your perfect time. Surround me with Your peace and remind me that You are near. In Jesus name Amen.

DER GOD: I Exist Only Because of You

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Waves crashing against dark volcanic rocks under a warm orange sky

Psalm 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.”

I Exist Only Because of YOU

This verse captures the heart of every follower –  I exist only because of You. It is the cry of someone who knows their life, breath, identity, and purpose flow from the Lord alone.

There is a sacred truth hidden inside this title — a truth the world often forgets. You are not an accident. You are not self‑made. You are not sustained by your own strength.

You exist because God willed you into being, breathed life into you, and continues to uphold you moment by moment. Your existence is not random — it is intentional, chosen, loved, and sustained.

Psalm 73:25 is the voice of a heart that has discovered this: When everything else fades, when strength fails, when circumstances shake, God remains the One who defines your existence.

You are here because He wanted you here. You are held because He chooses to hold you. You are loved because He cannot deny His own nature.

The title is a confession of dependence — not weakness — but holy belonging. It is the recognition that life is rooted in Someone eternal, Someone faithful, Someone who has never once let go of you!

Where in your life right now do you most feel the truth that you exist only because of Him?

“Lord, You are the One who gives me breath and purpose. Hold me close and steady my heart in Your presence. Let my life reflect the truth that I exist only because of You. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are So Deeply Loved

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Large rock formations on a mountain ridge under a warm low sun

 “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.” Jeremiah 2:32 (KJV)

The God Who Is Loved… and Forgotten
by C D Swanson

There is a tender ache in this verse. God speaks as One who knows the depth of love offered by His faithful children — those who cling to Him, honor Him, and treasure His presence. Their devotion rises to Him like a sweet offering, warming His heart and glorifying His name.

Yet He also speaks with sorrow: many forget Him entirely. Not because He is unworthy, but because the world distracts, deceives, and dulls the soul. The One who created, sustained, protected, and redeemed is often pushed aside, ignored, or remembered only in moments of need.

Still, God waits. Still, He calls. Still, He loves with a depth beyond measure. This verse reveals both the beauty of those who remain devoted and the heartbreak of a Father whose children wander far from Him. It is a reminder that love for God matters — deeply — and that He treasures every heart that remembers Him.

Lord, keep Your people close, never drifting, never forgetting. Let their love be a steady offering to the God who never stops loving. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: May We Be Instruments For Your Glory~

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smiling woman

 

 

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18

 

Actions For God Through God
by C D Swanson

Today I watched my husband live out the Gospel in the most ordinary aisle of a store. An elderly woman, 87 years old and moving slowly in her motorized cart, struggled to reach even the simplest items. Without hesitation, he stepped beside her, becoming her strength where hers had faded. He lifted what she could not lift, reached what she could not reach, and walked patiently with her until every need was met.

He didn’t do it for recognition. He didn’t do it for praise. He did it because kindness is part of who he is — and because Christ lives in him.

Scripture reminds us that real love is not just spoken; it is shown. My husband showed it today. In a world that often rushes past the elderly, he slowed down. In a world that overlooks the weak, he noticed. In a world that forgets gentleness, he carried her bags to her car with care.

This is the kind of love that heaven sees. This is the kind of love that pleases God. This is the kind of love that turns an ordinary moment into holy ground.

His simple act of compassion became a quiet sermon — a reminder that Christ is revealed not only in churches, but in grocery aisles, parking lots, and everyday encounters where mercy is needed.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for the privilege of serving in Your name. Thank You for the gentle moments where kindness becomes worship and simple acts become reflections of Your heart. Bless my husband for the compassion he showed today. Bless the woman whose burden he lifted. And bless us, Lord, that we may continue to be instruments of Your love — ready to help, ready to notice, ready to serve. May our hands be Your hands, and our actions be Your truth lived out in the world. Amen.

⭐ Reflective Question

Whom can I quietly serve today, so that Christ’s love becomes visible through my actions?

 

 

DEAR GOD: We Love You So Much~

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“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” — Colossians 3:17

❤️ Being in Love With Christ & Offering All You Do for Him
by C D Swanson~

To be in love with Christ is to let His presence shape your motives, soften your heart, and guide your actions. It’s not just believing in Him — it’s living for Him. When your work, your choices, your service, and even your quiet moments are offered to Jesus, they become worship.

Love for Christ transforms ordinary tasks into holy devotion. Folding laundry becomes gratitude. Helping someone becomes ministry. Choosing kindness becomes obedience. And every sacrifice becomes a gift laid at His feet.

What does offering “all you do” to Christ look like in your daily life?

Lord Jesus, teach me to love You with my whole heart and to offer every action, every word, and every quiet thought for Your glory. Let my life be a living offering of devotion, shaped by Your Spirit and anchored in Your love. In Your holy name, amen.

 

DEAR GOD: Healing Under Your Wings~

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sun setting over the mountains

Malachi 4:2 (KJV)

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”

Malachi 4:2 — “Healing in His Wings”
by C D Swanson~

 The Rising That Changes Everything

Malachi paints one of the most breathtaking images in Scripture: the Sun of righteousness rising. Not a weak glow. Not a flicker. A sunrise that breaks through every cold night of fear, sickness, discouragement, and heaviness.

When God rises over your life, He doesn’t rise halfway. He rises with healing in His wings — healing that covers, warms, restores, and renews. Wings are shelter. Wings are protection. Wings are closeness. Wings are the sign that God is not far away; He is hovering over you with mercy.

This healing is not rushed. It is not frantic. It is not fragile. It is steady, gentle, and powerful — like sunlight slowly warming a frozen field until life begins to move again.

And when His healing touches you, you go forth. You don’t stay stuck. You don’t stay wounded. You don’t stay broken. You rise, strengthened by the warmth of His presence, carried by the wings of His compassion.

The Sun of righteousness rises for you. For your home. For your peace. For your future. For every place that has felt cold or shaken. His wings are over you, and His healing is already on the way.

Lord, let Your healing rise over every weary place in my life. Cover me with Your wings, restore my strength, and lead me forward in Your light. In Jesus name, Amen.