Christian

Who Unwrapped All the Presents?!

Cindy Dawson

My mom used to decorate for Christmas with lots of elegantly wrapped empty boxes tied with the most exquisite bows. She would carefully store them in her basement after the holidays for the next year.

When my son was a little boy, he had a friend who lived next door to my parents. We called him “Little Greg”. Even though he is now a lawyer in his 40s, I still think of him as “Little Greg”. His mom and my sister were good friends, and they used to take the boys to all the fun places in the city.

One day, when my son and Little Greg were playing in my mom’s basement. They had been quiet for a long time, so my mom went down to check on them. What she saw shocked her!

Wrapping paper and bows covered the floor! The boys had unwrapped all the “fake” Christmas packages, looking for toys!

This is one of our favorite family stories that never gets old. No matter how many times it’s told, this story always makes us laugh. My son, Zack, and his friend Little Greg were looking for presents, but all they got were empty boxes! They were looking for gifts in all the wrong places.

This Christmas, let us seek the real gift of Christmas, Jesus our Savior and Lord. There are lots of beautifully wrapped packages that are really just empty boxes. But Jesus is the real gift of Christmas. Merry Christmas and God bless you all!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NIV Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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The Waiting Season

Cindy Dawson

Devotion for Friday, 12/26/25

The following deeply insightful post is about waiting on God. If you are in a season of waiting for God to answer your prayer, this post will encourage you and provide understanding.

Walk Well Through the Open Door

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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Christian

Holiday Blues?

Cindy Dawson

2-minute devotion for Thursday, 12/25/25

Do the holidays trigger thoughts about what should have been instead of what is? Are you feeling lonely? The strange thing about depression is that it seems to take your mind captive. You may think you can’t stop the downward spiral.

The next thing you know, you’re driving to the grocery store to buy food for the holidays, and tears begin to well up in your eyes. You hate it. You don’t want to be sad!

I know all about it because I experienced this one day.

I prayed. I asked the Lord to help me.

Just a few minutes later, my daughter called. (You should know, she loves to cook. I mean really cook, like they do on TV Cooking Shows. I, on the other hand, look for the easiest and quickest recipe possible.)

Christina: “Mom, would you get me a butternut squash while you’re at the store?”

Me: “Do you mean like a real vegetable butternut squash?” (I’m thinking, does that come in a package?)

Christina: (starts laughing hilariously) “Yes! A real vegetable butternut squash!!”

We both cracked up and had a good belly laugh! It felt so good to laugh!

Guess what? My mood completely changed right then. 

I learned a valuable yet simple lesson about holiday blues.

  1. Always go to the Lord in prayer.
  2. Find a way to laugh!

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Mathew 6:8

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 17:22

A book could be written on this subject, and I know that, but this is what happened to me. Sometimes a person needs a word of encouragement, not the whole book.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving . . . Psalm 25:1-2

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Find a way to laugh a little today!

(I hesitated to post this message again because I have posted it several times in the past, but every time it has been posted, many readers say, “I needed this today.” Christmas can be hard for many reasons. Let us pray for and encourage one another.)

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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The Magnitude of God’s Grace.

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 12/24/25

“God desires that His children not only receive His grace but understand why it is precious. Through the Son, believers learn to value mercy because they see what it cost…
In Christ’s submission to the Father’s will, the depth of divine mercy is revealed. The Father’s justice and compassion meet perfectly in the cross. In that sacred union, the believer learns both the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of grace.”

bruce cooper, reasoned cases for christ

See Bruce’s excellent post, Knowing the Father Through the Son: The Door That Never Closes HERE.

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Do You Love Animals, Too?

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Tuesday, 12/23/25

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
   How precious is your unfailing love, O God!“
Psalm 36:5-7a NLT (emphasis mine)

Here are a few of my favorite pets and animals:

My sister’s dog, SHADOW
My daughter’s dog, SELAH
My daughter holding a SLOTH!
HENRY and SELAH
Karla’s dog, FINLEY

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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Finding True Contentment

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Monday, 12/22/25

“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” Hebrews 13:5 NASB (emphasis mine)

“We can grow content as we learn to express gratitude for what we have, rather than complain about what we’re missing … God already has blessed us with so much. Satan schemes to redirect our focus to what eludes us, thus fostering a malignant virus of discontent. Instead, why not take inventory of all that God has blessed you with and thank Him for each and every blessing you note?” NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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Training Children with Love

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Sunday, 12/21/25

“He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love].” Proverbs 13:24 AMP

“Parents are counseled to discipline their children so that they do not persist in foolish ways (22:15) that can only lead to their destruction (19:18; 23:13–14). Discipline “imparts wisdom” (29:15) and promotes a healthy and happy family (29:17). It is rooted in love (see 3:11–12 and note). rod. A concrete figure of speech for caring discipline of any kind.” NIV Case for Christ Study Bible

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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Are We Compromising God’s Word for Popularity and Acceptance?

Cindy Dawson

2-minute devotion for Saturday, 12/20/25

The 15th chapter of 1 Samuel teaches us a crucial lesson about obeying God. The Lord instructed King Saul to wipe out the Amalekites completely, including all that belonged to them. But Saul spared Agag and the best of the cattle and other animals.

Not only that, but after the battle, Saul set up a monument in his own honor. (v. 12)

The prophet Samuel confronted Saul, saying,

“Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” (v. 19

Saul blamed the soldiers, saying,

“The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder … in order to sacrifice them to the Lord” (v. 21)

But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.” (v.v 22-23) (emphasis mine)

What was Saul’s excuse?

“I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” 1 Samuel 15:22-24 Read full chapter HERE

There we have it in a nutshell! Saul was an arrogant leader who thought he knew better than God. He gave in to the will of the people instead of obeying the Word of the Lord.

My question to you is this: Do we do the same in our churches today? Are we ignoring some of God’s commands to appease the people?

Do we neglect to teach what the Bible says on topics like: Eschatology, the nation of Israel, false teachers, abortion, and/or the sins of homosexuality and transgender ideology?

Jesus said, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

The Bible says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (emphasis mine)

And the Apostle Paul states, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (emphasis mine)

Is it because, like Saul, we are afraid of the people? Do we avoid controversial topics and give in to a world view that is in conflict with Biblical teaching?

Saul faced the consequences of his actions:

“You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel.” (v. 26) Read full chapter

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.”― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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Spread the Good News

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Friday, 12/19/25

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?”

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:3-4a and 3:8-9 NLT Read full chapter

My thoughts: Now is the time to spread the Good News, while Jesus tarries.

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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Until Christ Returns

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Thursday, 12/18/25

“Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
” James 5:7-8 NASB

James urges his readers to “stand firm” (lit., “strengthen your hearts”). This expression has the idea of providing solid support, of establishing a person, and thus of enabling one to stand unmoved by trouble. The reason given for standing firm is again that “the Lord’s coming is near.” The day when things will be set right is imminent. This confident expectation will make the faint heart strong. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog