Christian, Christians and Jews

Love in a Hate-Filled World

Cindy Dawson

Reposted from January 2024

The photo above is of Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage taken into Gaza by Hamas terrorists. His first birthday was not celebrated with his mother and father. No, little Kfir had his first birthday in captivity.

I cannot imagine the unbearable pain and horror his parents and family are experiencing right now. Pray for them and all the hostages and their families.

The savage attack on Israel on October 7th portrayed human depravity at its worst. But in spite of this reality, terror organizations are influencing people all over the world to protest against Israel! They are easily manipulated to hate the Jews because they are ignorant of the truth. This is evil and is inspired by Satan.

Similarly, when protestors chanted and held signs that said “From the River to the Sea. Palestine will be free”, they were asked what river? and what sea? They didn’t know. Nor did they know that the chant implicitly advocates for the dismantling of Israel and a call for the removal or extermination of the Jewish population of the region.

Map showing Israel and the Palestinian Territories as outlined by the Oslo Accords. The Jordan River is on the right, and the Mediterranean Sea is on the left.

Anti-semitism is at an all-time high. Pro-Hamas protests are occurring in cities all over the world! It is unthinkable, but it is happening nonetheless, even in U.S. cities.

Thousands of Pro-Hamas Protesters in London

Do you know what else is at an all-time high? DECEPTION! Ignorance of the truth is widespread and deception is rampant.

In a world often characterized by intolerance and hate, God has called His people to love. The Woke crowd hates anyone who won’t get on board with their agenda. They will curse you and call you a racist, transphobic, or a Nazi. Protestors try to shut down free speech when the speaker is pro-life. Speaking the Truth takes courage and many Christians stay silent because speaking out may cause them to be hated. They could even lose their job.

The following verse takes on new significance in today’s world.

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV

Christ-followers are to be identified by the way they love one another. Just think of it. Some groups are identified by their head covering. Some are identified by the color of their skin, their language, their food, their flag, or their culture. Of all the ways we might identify a particular group of people, only Christ-followers are identified by their love. That’s amazing when you think about it.

Our human perspective is limited. Paul said,

“We see through a glass darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)

But God’s perspective is without limitations. He is all-knowing. That’s why we must trust and follow Jesus, even when we don’t understand His ways. How do we do that? By obeying His Word.

Jesus prayed, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:14-17 NIV (emphasis mine)

There is already tremendous pressure to accept an unbiblical worldview. But if you read your Bible, you know this pressure is only going to get worse.

The Apostle John warns us that a time is coming when people won’t be able to buy or sell unless they worship the Antichrist, and have a specific mark on their hand or forehead. That’s a lot of pressure to conform! Revelation 13:16-17 NIV

Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 14:1 NASB

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…” Ephesians 6:14 NIV

“Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 NASB (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page: Who Is Jesus? A Message For the Skeptic

Pray for Israel

RealChristianWomen.blog  

Sources:

Amir Tsarfati, Telegram

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_river_to_the_sea

Sky News

Christian, Christians and Jews

Remember October 7

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, October 7, 2026

“October 7 was not merely a massacre of Jews. It was also an assault on common sense, decency, truth, and history. For some, “Free Palestine” has become a new religion, invoked to justify violence and extreme cruelty. It has become an identity for those who feel alienated, offering a cause to embrace while rejecting the love of the truth that could save them.”

Amir Tsarfati, from his Telegram page

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

Did you know? The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

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Christian, Christians and Jews

A Shepherd’s Perspective on Psalm 23

Cindy Dawson

Devotion for Tuesday, 10/6/26

“I have concluded based on my years of experience that sheep are stupid. Not just stupid but mind-numbingly stupid— sometimes I wonder how they manage to breath and eat.” Glenn Brunkow, Rancher¹

Somehow, that quote from Brunkow gives me comfort. God wants to lead us, feed us, and guide us. Our responsibility is to just obey.

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I’m re-reading a fascinating book by Phillip Keller called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.² Keller was a shepherd for years and explains many things about sheep that most people don’t know.The book is eye-opening and provides a deeper understanding of our relationship with the Lord, the Great Shepherd.

I memorized Psalm 23 as a young child and received a glow-in-the-dark cross for a reward. I can still recite it after all these years! I am thankful for my Sunday School teachers who required it and my grandmother who helped me learn it. I consider it a great blessing in my life. (If you haven’t memorized it, I highly recommend that you do!)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV

The shepherd watches over his sheep day and night. They cannot take care of themselves, and they get into all kinds of trouble. They will drink polluted water, wander off and be attacked by a wild animal, get stuck in the same fence repeatedly, etc.

” … he who watches over you will not slumber” Psalm 121:3 NIV

Sheep are fearful, timid, and skittish. A rabbit hopping by suddenly can send them into a panic. But they calm down when the shepherd walks into view, and they are comforted. So many times in my life, when I was in a panic, the Lord has comforted me and calmed my fears. That’s when I wonder how people who don’t know Him get through tough times.

We do not “want” because Jesus is always with us, in good times and in bad.  Our joy and peace come from His presence in our life, not in what we have or the way life goes. We are content to be led by Him, doing His will.

One thing I found interesting is the fact that, like humans, some sheep refuse to follow the shepherd and instead do their own thing. This can result in lots of serious problems for the sheep, problems they would have never experienced – if only they had followed the shepherd. (I could write a book about all the times I did my own thing instead of following the Good Shepherd. It never turned out well!)

Without a shepherd, the sheep blindly follow other sheep. When one walks over a cliff, the others follow right behind him!

Keller tells how he would lead his sheep to a clean, clear stream and a stubborn ewe would go off and drink from a polluted, parasite-infested puddle instead. Isn’t that what some people do when they choose the unclean ways of the world instead of the ways of God?

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38 NIV

A good shepherd provides good forage for the sheep, lush green vegetation, so that the sheep can have plenty to eat, grow, and thrive. However, some sheep will wander off and eat from barren, dry brush instead. Sometimes, people prefer to feed on the barren ground of the world instead of walking in His steps.

The final parallel I want to share is the most extraordinary. Sheep must have plenty of pure clean water. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to lead them to a lush green field heavy with morning dew.

The sheep can keep fit and hydrated for months just by grazing right before dawn when the field is heavy with dew. The sheep feed heavily and are most content at this time of day. A good shepherd will make sure his sheep have this opportunity to drink in the “still waters” of dew.

“In the Christian life it is of more than passing significance to observe that those who are often the most serene, most confident and able to cope with life’s complexities are those who rise early each day to feed on God’s Word.” (Keller)

These are just a few of the many insights from A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller.

I don’t know about you, but it gives me great comfort to know that I don’t have to be smart to thrive. I need only to follow Jesus, the Great Shepherd. He leads us by His Word.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:12-14 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

¹https://www.agupdate.com/midwestmessenger/opinion/columnists/glenn_brunkow/the-questionable-intelligence-of-sheep/article_69540f07-7577-5559-bfde-a31ea95acc0c.html

²ISBN 0-310-26790-0 available on Amazon

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Forgiving Can Be Hard

Cindy Dawson

Monday’s Meditation, 10/5/26

“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIV

Getting you to hold unforgiveness toward someone is one of Satan’s dirty tricks. I know it can be hard. I’ve had to forgive some big things myself, but God has forgiven me of some big things as well.

There is only one way to forgive the unforgivable, and that is with God’s help. Ask Him for help. He will not turn you away.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Sangia on Unsplash

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Christian, Christians and Jews

What Is a False Premise?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 10/4/26

I have to confess, when Job popped up in my Bible Reading Plan again the other day, my first thought was, Oh no! Not Job again! So, after seeking God’s forgiveness, I dug right in.

There is so much to learn from the book of Job! In fact in January of this year, I wrote a series of articles called Treasures From Job.

But you know what? Like He always does, God is teaching me some new things, things that apply to my life right now!

To briefly review, Job was a man who suffered terrible loss. He was a righteous man who lost everything: his wealth, his health, and his children. His suffering was great and his friends came to visit him.

Job’s friends are famous for being terrible comforters. They accused Job of being a wicked man. On and on they chastised him. Through these chapters, we learn how NOT to comfort people!

This is the new thing I learned (new to me, that is): Job’s friends based their beliefs about why Job was suffering on a false premise.

They believed that when bad things happen in someone’s life, it means God is punishing them. Therefore, Job must be wicked and needs to repent. But this was not true, because the premise was not true.

In the same way, someone can interpret Scripture incorrectly based on a false premise. If you can’t understand how someone could believe a certain thing, perhaps they are basing it on a false premise. You may not know what that false premise is. If you did, you would understand how they came to their false interpretation of Scripture.

I have a friend I disagree with on a certain Scripture. I keep thinking, How can you believe that? After reading through Job, I realized that there may be a false premise at play. But what is it?

That isn’t the only reason someone might misinterpret Scripture, but it is one possibility to consider. Please share your thoughts.

“Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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Christian

Working in the Dark

Cindy Dawson

A Message from Patty at He Said What?!

A couple months ago I looked out our kitchen window above our sink.  And there, to my dismay, was a tunnel web built by a hard-working spider.  The web was between our window and the screen.

Now spiders and I don’t get along too well.  Yet, despite my instinct to get rid of that spider and his web, I had a degree of respect for his hard work and so I let him stay. 

He was very industrious.  He built his web larger and longer as time went by.  One recent day, as Gary worked outside, he decided to use his blower to get rid of the web and hopefully the spider.  Good-bye spider.  Time to go!

But the next morning I went to the window and there was a fresh new web.  That spider had worked during the dark night to rebuild his web and start over.  Impressive, I must say.

I thought of this as I remembered a devotional I had read not long ago from Streams in the Desert.  The author talked about how the children of Israel came to the Red Sea after God led them out of Egypt.  Their situation seemed hopeless at that point.

But God sent a strong east wind all that night and caused the sea to part.  He gave a cloud that provided light and led the Israelites through the sea on dry land.

All seemed lost, but God worked in the night.  The dark didn’t stop Him.

Our dark times don’t stop God, either.  We may not see what He is doing but He has not quit working His best in our lives during the dark times.

In fact, it’s during those times when I can’t see Him working that my trust in Him has grown. 

I don’t have to see His work to trust that He IS working. 

If my trust depends on my sight, then I’m not trusting Him.  I’m trusting what I can see. 

In the morning, I saw how hard our spider worked during the night.

Likewise, someday I’ll see how hard God has worked in my dark times.

“For You light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.”   (Psalm 18:28)

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I liked this post so much, I had to repost it! Thanks, Patty!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

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Christian, Christians and Jews

Trusting God’s Will

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Friday, 10/2/26

“There will be times when God’s will is not what we would naturally choose.
There will be times when obedience costs us something.
There will be times when we do not understand why God has permitted the road before us to take the direction it has.

Gethsemane reminds us that submission to God does not require pretending that the cup is easy.
Nor does trusting God require us to understand why the cup has been permitted.

It means trusting the Father enough to say:


“Yet not my will, but Yours be done.”

Bruce Cooper, from Yet Not My Will; But Your Will Be Done

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Love Your Enemies

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 10/1/26

Sometimes, people change God’s Word just a little to make it say what they want it to say.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Matthew 5:43-46

This correction came as a result of the Jews changing Leviticus 19:18 from

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” to “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

Because they had suffered so much oppression from their enemies, they decided it was God’s will to love Jews but hate everybody else!

But God said what He meant and meant what He said. God’s Word is true. You can put complete trust in His Word.

“May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;
 then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.” Psalm 119:41-42

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

All Scriptures from the NIV. Emphasis mine.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Seek God With Diligence

Cindy Dawson

Wednesday’s Wisdom for 9/30/26

“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.” Proverbs 8:17 NASB

“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. ” Charles Spurgeon

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Worshae on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

What Does It Mean to Forsake Your First Love?

Cindy Dawson

Bible Study for Tuesday, 9/29/26

The exact meaning of a Scripture is not always crystal clear. In fact, the Bible says,

“For now we see through a glass, darkly;” 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

Sometimes Scripture requires more than a quick overview. Sometimes it requires study and prayer. The book of Revelation is no exception. Chapters two and three are letters to the seven churches from Jesus Christ, delivered by the Apostle John. We can and must learn from these letters still today.

The first letter is written to the church at Ephesus. Jesus said, “Repent and do the things you did at first.“

I have studied this letter often, and the question that hounds me is this: What did they do at first that they stopped doing?

Jesus said,

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Revelation 2:2-6 NIV (emphasis mine)

So what were they doing at first that they were no longer doing? The text doesn’t explain exactly what those actions were. We only know they had forsaken the love they had at first. The word translated as love is agape. Was He referring to their emotional response to Him? Maybe not. And here’s why.

1 Corinthians 13 provides a detailed definition of agape love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 8 Love never fails.”

Agape love is not a feeling. It is action. Perhaps these are the things they no longer did. Is it possible to work hard, persevere, and have no tolerance for false teachers or wicked people, and yet forsake the agape love they once showed one another?

Had they become impatient with one another and easily angered? Perhaps they had become unkind and looked out only for themselves instead of others. Perhaps they had become envious and boastful. Perhaps they had forgotten how to love one another like they once did. The NLT says it like this,

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Revelation 2:4 NLT

The connection between love for Jesus and obedience to His commands is a recurring theme in the Apostle John’s writings. Jesus said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 NASB

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV

Loving God is not merely a feeling; it is an active, ongoing relationship of following and obeying Jesus.

What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “You have forsaken the love you had at first?” I could be wrong, but it’s something to think about.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Esther Vexler on Unsplash

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