I had the privilege of being raised in a wonderful family by parents who loved God, loved each other, and loved us kids. My daddy, who was in so many ways a picture of his Heavenly Father, passed from earth to heaven in 2007. My Mom joined him in 2019. I miss them!

I came to a personal faith in Jesus Christ at the young age of four, which spared me much grief during my teen and adult years. I can still remember the exact moment at which I realized that my "naughtiness" was keeping me from fully experiencing the love of a perfect God -- but that He had sent Jesus, His only Son, to pay for the sins I had already committed. I confessed to Him that I did "bad" things and needed Him to forgive me and help me live His way for the rest of my life. This was, by far, the most important decision I have ever made.

Since then, I have grown to love God more and more. In fact, the more I get to know Him, the more I find to love about Him.

Unlike lies you may have been led to believe, God is not angry or vengeful. He personifies perfect love which includes protection and justice. He is the best dad you could ever imagine (and I should know!). He is exactly who He claims to be: pure good, pure love, pure light, the real God. I invite you to trust Him!

Because of what Jesus did for me when He came and died on the cross, we get to approach God directly. It's amazing! I can't get to my governor, let alone the President of the United States, but because of Jesus, I get to talk directly to the God of the Universe, and I do! All the time.

I wake up breathing His name and fall into bed each night doing the same. I swim through each day, like a dolphin, having a splashing good time, and surfacing for air often, through prayer. Even when times are tough, the joy of the Lord is my strength, and God keeps me going!

Lest you think I have it all together, no such fantasy! I am a work in progress. Yet, in all of my imperfections, I am loved perfectly by a perfect God Who has forgiven me completely for all my offenses toward Him and Who refuses to quit working on me. I am so blessed!

My prayer is that you, too, may come into a deeply personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He passionately loves you and proved it by dying for you. He extends to you a one-on-one, living and vital relationship. His arms are open to you right now as He invites you to accept Him as your Savior and Lord.

God exists as One God in three persons, and there isn't male or female in heaven. So, this is just the start of how we get to know God:
- The Father is the original expression of a loving father.
- The Spirit is the original expression of a loving mother.
- Jesus is the original expression of a loving child.

This is what we are designed to experience and God's invitation to us.
We are created in the image of God and invited into the family of God.

All of this is explained in the Bible which is the historical record of HIS-story from beginning to end.

The Bible claims to be inspired by God and the facts verify it. The Bible tells one cohesive story from beginning to end, despite it being written by over 40 authors, over nearly 2000 years, on three continents by people in every walk of life from kings to shepherds, and scholars to fishermen, many of whom never got to read any other portion of the book. 

The Bible tells of a loving God who created the world and people to have individual relationships with each of us. It pleased God to create us so we could all get to know each other, love each other, and even become friends.

Early on, we rejected God's love in exchange for a temporary pleasure. This choice, which every human since has made for themself, was the inauguration of not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.

In God’s great love for us, Jesus came to earth as the perfect God-man, died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and was buried and rose again on the third day, fulfilling every prophecy from the Old Testament about Him. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the Father's right hand, interceding for us. Upon leaving earth, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and gave us the authority and power to live like He lived, doing God’s work, like He did, except even greater works than His.

By faith, a gift of God’s grace, we hear this good news, believe it, and receive it for ourselves–being redeemed by Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

We are saved from separation by His life-blood (the greatest gift anyone could give to another), healed by His body (beaten and bruised for us), and infilled with His Spirit (the power and authority of God infused into us). WOW!

In day-to-day living, the Holy Spirit of God dwells inside me and, to the degree I choose, flows freely through me. 

God set it up so we cannot give away what we do not have. His plan involves blessing us first so we can experience and enjoy Him. Then, from the overflow of that loving relationship, we get to bless others.

There is no greater joy than knowing and loving God, and being His vessel of honor to glorify Him. If you don't know Jesus personally yet, invite Him into your life today!

I spent my childhood attending Assembly of God churches in Minneapolis (just two - the change came after a move to a different suburb). At nineteen, I met Dave Swedberg at a single's event at Edina Baptist. After our marriage in 1983, and simultaneous move to North Dakota, we joined an Evangelical Free Church. After another move, while living in Warroad, MN from 1986-2018, we belonged to Woodland Bible Church. Upon moving to Florida, we attended a Calvary Chapel Church for the homeless for two years until it closed its doors on June 1, 2020. We are now members of Bay Point Christian Church where I serve as worship leader on the Sundays I'm in town.

In each of these churches, regardless of denomination, I have sat under Biblical teaching and met wonderful people who truly love God.

The important thing is to find a church that believes, teaches, and lives what the Bible says. You can quickly identify churches like this by their love for God and others.

"I’ve known Marnie, for over 30 years, as one of the most unique people I have ever met. She is always thinking outside of the box and coming up with creative ways to accomplish goals. Aside from these talents that have impressed me, what has impacted me in the most significant way is her deep faith in God’s dealings in her life. Marnie always looks to God knowing He is sovereign and has a plan in everything that happens in her life. I’ve seen her meet large and small obstacles with absolute confidence in a loving God who is orchestrating everything He allows into her life for her good. Her steadfast faith has been a big inspiration to me as I’ve observed her over many years. She also was such an encourager to me when I worked for her on a short-term project. I couldn’t have asked for a better boss to train and encourage me along the way. What an example she was to me of Godly patience!" Nancy Peterson

"Marnie invited me and led a Bible study one summer, that prepared me for an incredible journey a couple months later when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She strengthened my faith, encouraged me, loved me, and supported me in my spiritual walk during this time. An amazing witness for our Lord!" Rosie Rygh

"I have known Marnie for 30 years. She is my sweet and treasured spiritual sister! She has a loving, compassionate, empathetic heart and is never judgmental no matter what my family is going through. She is an imitator of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:1)! Her testimonies and songs encourage me! I love the songs she has personally written! They glorify the LORD, which they are meant to do (1 Peter 4:10-11)! She is salt and light to those around her (Matthew 5:13-16). To her, I echo Hebrews 6:10 and Philippians 1:3-7a! What an honor it is to know her! 'Pat Hanson