Volume Four

From the desk of Debbie Swindell

Looking Ahead With an Eternal Perspective

Anticipation of turning 65 this month has prompted prayerful long‑term planning, and the Lord is reshaping how I steward my time. With an eternal perspective, weighing choices not just by how they look in 30 days, but by how they matter 300 years from now (and beyond). I’m making a few important transitions.

August 28 will be my final blog post.
If you would like to stay connected to my life and ministry updates, please be sure to subscribe to my website so you can continue receiving the subscriber‑exclusive newsletter. Note: this one is the last to be public.

What Do I Mean by “Eternal Perspective”?

Many rarely pause to ask how today’s decisions echo in eternity. Yet Scripture repeatedly directs our eyes “beyond the sun.” An eternal perspective means we evaluate choices—time, energy, resources—by their enduring impact before Christ.

“Train yourself for godliness, for bodily training is of some value, but godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7–8)

Paul’s counsel to Timothy is wonderfully balanced: godliness blesses now and then. That balance calibrates our priorities. Jesus sharpened it further:

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Anticipating more face-to-face conversations, I’m struck again by this truth: half-hearted, short-term discipleship will never carry the weight of kingdom work.

Why It’s Hard

Our culture rewards quick wins and instant gratification. “Short‑term” thinking (anything confined to this side of eternity) often brings faster applause. But God has “put eternity into man’s heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and He calls us to build on Christ alone:

“…each one’s work will become manifest… the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” (See 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

When we train our minds to look through the lens of eternity, our calendars, conversations, and commitments begin to realign. The fruit may ripen more slowly, but it endures.

Upcoming Resources for Subscribers

As a thank you to faithful subscribers, you will receive early access to my new studies on Ruth and Esther. Subscribe no later than August 5th, and these studies will hit your inbox on August 6th. These are drawn from my live teaching notes. They will not read like pre‑packaged, commercially authored women’s studies; instead they will:

• Model how to study Scripture (observation, interpretation, application)
• Provide theological depth with clear explanation
• Offer a window into our Wednesday evening class dynamics
• List my key resources for further study

My prayer is that they help you dig, not just dip, into the Word.

How You Can Partner

1. Subscribe (if you haven’t yet) so you don’t miss the shift from blog to exclusive newsletters after August 28.
2. Share the final blog posts and the website with friends who hunger for Scripture‑anchored encouragement.
3. Pray as I prepare to lead fall classes, and that every new project would magnify Christ and form Christlikeness in His people.

Grateful

I’m still savoring God’s goodness following this past Saturday’s summer seminar. Every seat was filled, and the encouraging feedback has been such a blessing. Since launching in 2019, these summer seminars have become a meaningful part of my ministry, and I look forward to continuing this annual tradition with the same impactful format in the years to come.

I deeply thank God for past, present, and future opportunities to serve, and I thank Him for you. Your prayers, readership, and encouragement have been instruments of grace. Let’s keep our hands to the plow with eyes fixed on “the life to come.”

“Therefore, my beloved… be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

With gratitude and hope in Christ,

Debbie