Author: Cindy Dawson

Christian

When God Interrupts Our Plans

Cindy Dawson

2-minute devotion for 12/29/25

“Security Alert! Missing patient! Adult female, small build, wearing a red hoodie, brown hair.” (Message repeats over and over)

This announcement did nothing to calm my nerves as I sat with my father in his hospital room, watching him sleep. This hospital, like many others, was short-staffed due to COVID. And apparently, they have started losing their patients! (Yes, patients!)

There’s a Spanish lady in the hallway trying to escape. She’s yelling, “No quiero!” (I don’t want to!)

The man in the next bed keeps asking me where he is. A man in the hall is shouting, “They stole all my $#*#!”

The hospital can be a crazy place!

During COVID, having a loved one in the hospital was stressful and difficult because of all the rules and regulations. This hospital allowed only 1 visitor per day. They would not permit my sister to visit when she got off work. If I left, no one else would be able to visit him that day. I stayed with my dad for about 9 hours each day so he wouldn’t be all alone.

Finally, at the end of visiting hours, I said goodnight to my dad and headed home. All I wanted to do was go home, relax, and rest. But God had a different idea!

When I entered the elevator, a young woman was standing there, her hands covering her face, and crying. I tried to comfort her, and she opened up to me. We stood outside, and she told me that her boyfriend was very sick. She didn’t have a car, so she had to hitchhike to the hospital to see him. She had no money, it was dark, and she had no way to get home.

You can probably guess what happened. I took her home, and on the way, I prayed for her and told her about Jesus. She listened attentively. We stopped at a gas station, and I gave her a little money to buy something she needed. When we arrived at her home, I promised her I would keep praying for her.

I never saw her again. But I’m pretty sure God had a purpose when He interrupted my plans!

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

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

Children’s Ministry is More Important Than You Think

Cindy Dawson

3-minute devotion for Sunday, 12/28/25

“Whoever receives and welcomes one child such as this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not [only] Me, but Him who sent Me.” Mark 9:37 AMP

There may be children in your church who will accept Jesus as their Savior because they went to Sunday School and had a teacher who told them about Jesus. Many times, I have taught children in Sunday School whose parents did not attend church.

It takes a lot of caring Christians to properly support the children who come to your church. I’ve been praying for God to send more Sunday School teachers and nursery workers. There never seems to be enough. Do you find this to be true in your local church?

When I consider the words of Jesus, I am amazed that we don’t have enough workers. After all, it is a privilege to serve the Lord in this way, and it honors God. To welcome a little child is to welcome Jesus and the Father.

There is another reason Children’s Ministry is so important. Consider this,

“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:13-15 (emphasis mine)

“Certainly these verses should impress the servant of the Lord with the importance of reaching little ones with the Word of God. The minds of children are most plastic and most receptive. W. Graham Scroggie said, “Be your best and give your best to the children.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Children are important to God. We must take care of them and teach them about our Lord.

There is almost always an opportunity to serve in Children’s Ministry.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:10

I met Jesus when I was only 6 years old. I am so grateful for the Sunday School teachers who taught me about Him. And I am thankful for those who serve our Lord in this way today.

Is God calling you to serve in this vitally important ministry?

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

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

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.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

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.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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

Christian

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

Christian

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

Christian

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

Christian

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