|
"I enjoy a close, personal and totally dependent relationship with God, by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ: His life, death and resurrection. Jesus now sits by the Father and intercedes for me while the Holy Spirit lives inside and flows through me, for the glory of God." Marnie Swedberg
|
Marnie's Statement of Faith
I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the only inspired, authoritative Word of God, and are completely truthful and without error. I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that man, created in the image of God, sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and that those who reach moral responsibility become sinners in thought, word, and deed.
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
I believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.
Marnie's Journey of Faith
I was raised in a Christian home by parents who loved and served God. My daddy, who was in so many ways a picture image of his Heavenly Father, went home to heaven on January 21, 2007. My Mom joined him in 2019. I miss them!
I spent my childhood attending Assembly of God churches (just two - the change came after a move to a different city). At nineteen I met Dave Swedberg at a singles event at Edina Baptist. After our marriage in 1983, and simultaneous move to a new state, we joined an Evangelical Free Church. After another move, while living in Warroad, MN from 1986-2018, we belonged to a Bible Church. Upon moving to St. Petersburg, FL, we attended a Calvary Chapel, a church for the homeless, for two years until it closed its doors on June 1, 2020. We are now attending Bay Side Christian Chapel.
In each of these churches, regardless of denomination, I have sat under Biblical teaching and have met wonderful Christian people who truly love God. I have learned from them all!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 I had saddened 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 was "bad" - a sinner, and I needed Him to forgive me and help me live His way for the rest of my life. This was, by far, the most important and life-changing decision I have ever made.
Since then, I have grown to love God more and more. I talk to Him all the time: I get up breathing His name and fall into bed each night doing the same. I kick through each day, like a dolphin, having a splashin' good time, but surfacing for air often, through prayer. God keeps me going!
And 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 Jesus Christ. He passionately loves you and He 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.
"I’ve known Marnie, for over 20 years, as one of the most unique people I have ever met. She multi-tasks like no one I have ever met before! She always is 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 25 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 (1Peter 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