God's Greenhouse

10/13/2024

Tom's book In God's Courtroom: The Righteous Judge Rules! is now available on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle.

09/05/2024

We appreciate all of the prayers, comments, and messages, and continue to ask that you keep us in your prayers and thoughts.

Arrangements have been made and are linked below.

- Lindsay

View Tom Swartzwelder's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

09/04/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net. Sep 4, 2024 – On September 3, 2024, Tom Swartzwelder completed the race that God had set before him. He is now with Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith.

09/03/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net. Sep 3, 2024 – “Get to know my God.” David is turning over the reins (and the reign) to his son, Solomon. David will soon die. For all intents and purposes, his life and mission in life are both coming to an end.

What does he discuss with Solomon? What wisdom does he impart? This text is a great text for a king’s ordination service or for you to impart your final words of instruction to your children. What is David’s admonition? It can be summarized in five words, “Get to know my God.”

David says,

“Know Him. Know the God that I know. This God is the God of your father. He has been tested and proven throughout my life. He’s brought me through valley after valley. There is no one like my Shepherd. My songs (called Psalms) reflect my time with my God. We’ve enjoyed a personal relationship. I want it to be a personal relationship for you, too. So take the time to know Him.

“Serve Him. Your purpose in life is not to serve yourself or even serve the people. As King, you will be in position to be served by so many. If you’re not careful, you may become pompous and see yourself as the King. But you are not. You must acknowledge God as the King and you as His prince. Israel will still belong to Him after you follow me into the dust of the grave. Therefore, make Him your King and submit yourself before Him.

“Whole heart. Not half-hearted. Not a divided heart either. But a whole heart. Give Him your best, give Him your everything. “Bless the Lord, ALL of my soul and heart and being. Praise His name!”

“Willing mind. It will be easy for you, my son, to think you know it all because you’re incredibly smart. But you’re not smart enough. You need help. More help than you now know. Make your mind willing to listen to our God. Force your mind to be open to His direction. Don’t allow your strong will to go a separate direction. Concentrate your thoughts on Him. Acknowledge Him IN YOUR MIND as being wiser and smarter than you. Come before Him and say, ‘Teach me.’ Be teachable and you will be taught.”

So the old man David gives wise counsel to his own son. May we do the same for those we love.

09/02/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net provides spiritual growth resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ.

09/02/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net. Sep 2, 2024 – Four huge beasts! That phrase may seem to run contrary to this devotional’s goal but read on! Daniel’s vision is about the power that will belong to the four most dominating Gentile powers in the history of the world.

The fourth beast (probably a reference to Rome) is described as, “frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left.” These beasts are described in nightmarish terms. Frightening! They are not household pets nor even zoo pets. But the world does not visualize them in that way.

One unknown preacher comments, “In these wild beasts we see that God does not see as man sees. When man looks at ‘the times or the reigns of the Gentiles,’ he sees great academic, industrial and military accomplishments; but when God looks at the ‘times of the Gentiles,’ He sees four wild beasts, with the fourth being dreadfully terrible. Man sees the concentration of wealth, majesty, and power; God sees a succession of ravenous wild beasts devouring one another.”

Here is the point: God sees the world much differently. His viewpoint is radically different.

In order to be better ministers, we must ask ourselves, “How do I see the world? Do I see it through the eyes of God or the eyes of the world? Am I somehow being deceived into accepting worldly values rather than heavenly values? Are my goals worldly or biblical? Are my affections set on things above or on things below?”

The best cure for seeing the world right is by rightly dividing the Word of TRUTH on a continual basis. The longer one spends time in God’s Word the more his mind will be renewed and he will begin to see things as God views them.

Do not worry about God being too radical. God is not a nut nor a conspiracist who sees a demon behind every tree; rather God is honest. Let Him renew your mind that you may see more clearly!

08/31/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net. Aug 31-Sep 1, 2024 - As a little boy, I referred to “Independence Day” (July 4) as “fireworks day.” We experienced fireworks only once a year because that was all we could afford. But, oh, the splendor and excitement of fireworks!

My grandfather was a farmer; he wore overalls everywhere. One July 4th he was holding a Roman Candle firework when it began its eruption. It was more than he could handle; Grandpa Bill dropped the Roman Candle and it slid inside his overalls! They say he lit up the whole place!

Perhaps you can relate to a special fireworks display in your past. But, unfortunately, fireworks don’t last. One of the ironies of life is that people want to live in the presence of fireworks but fireworks are usually a once-a-year thing. If we did the uncommon every day, the uncommon would soon become common.

July 4th though, comes only once a year as does Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays, and anniversaries. But “Blue” Monday comes 52 times more often. And individual days come 365 times more often. Our lives are not measured by the fireworks but by the completed tasks of the individual days. This is true of marriages, relationships, finances, corporate work, etc.

Jesus spoke of the Christian life in the same way. “Daily take up your cross and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Fulfilling the daily processes is what makes us or breaks us. We must make it past the event driven stage and become process driven. The everyday stuff may be mundane, but that is the stuff life is made of.

How good are you at the daily processes, doing God’s will day after day after day? Or are you a fireworks person? The question is important because fireworks don’t last.

08/30/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net provides spiritual growth resources including books, devotionals, downloadable files for the disciples of Jesus Christ.

08/30/2024

Godsgreenhouse.net. Aug 30, 2024 – A tavern was being built in a small town. The Christians from the church opposed the tavern and began an all-night prayer meeting in which they asked God to intervene and stop the tavern from being completed.

During the night a horrible storm came. Lightning struck the tavern and burned it to the ground. The tavern’s owner sued the church for damages. The church hired a lawyer; the lawyer claimed the church was not responsible. Both sides presented their argument to the court.

The judge then said, “No matter how this case comes out, one thing is clear. The tavern owner believes in the power of prayer and the Christians don’t.”

The greatest power in the universe is God. God manifests that power through His Word and prayer.

We know that prayer changes things because prayer, first and foremost, changes us when we pray. But, let’s be honest, it’s hard to pray. What did Jesus say? “The flesh is weak.” Sometimes it is as if we are praying with one hand tied behind our back. It’s not easy. It’s hard. That’s why so few succeed in prayer. And many don’t even try beyond a pitiful effort.

A pastor recently shared that it often takes him fifteen minutes of praying to get into a prayerful attitude. That is occasionally my experience, too. The mind MUST become uncluttered. Prayer is nigh impossible when our mind is engaged in multiple conversations or activities with either people or things. Jesus faced the same challenge and He shares His solution in today’s text.

The Amplified Bible correctly captures the idea of an uncluttered mind with these expressions: “slip away” and “in seclusion.” It worked for Jesus; it will also work for you and me.

I encourage you to imitate Jesus at least twice a week. Set aside a block of time…how about thirty minutes to be alone with God, not in Bible study but in prayer?

You may be thinking, “What would I talk about for thirty minutes?” Start by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Count your blessings. Then begin talking to Him about people and situations. Call out people’s names to Him. What does each one of them need? Also, confess your sins and seek His will. “Bring your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.”

Learn to pray! It is a truly life-changing experience with Him.

08/29/2024

My new book will be released October 1 on Amazon, Apple, B & N, Walmart, Kobo, etc. This book explains why we must be saved from our sins, how we are saved and what happens if we reject God's salvation.

How much preaching is being done about these subjects? Very little.

You may read much more about this book by clicking here: https://godsgreenhouse.net/new-book-info-in-gods-courtroom