Category: Christians and Jews

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.

*********

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, 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

RealChristianWomen.blog

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

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Finding the Narrow Gate

Cindy Dawson

Meditation for Monday, 9/28/26

Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 AMP

These words of Jesus are from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew, chapters 5-7. Read the entire sermon for insight into these two verses.

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)

Featured image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

What’s in an Eagle’s Egg?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Friday, 9/25/26

“I would like to introduce the eagle’s egg. Is whatever that is inside that egg a clump of cells? It can’t be an eagle can it? You may know that destroying an eagle’s egg is against the law in the U.S. Why is that? As it turns out, eagles are an endangered species. So, as unbelievable as it seems, if one were to destroy an eagle’s egg, he would be destroying an eagle. Stunning reality, isn’t it? Why can’t people understand that “clump of cells” in a woman’s womb is a baby? It is astounding that people use that as a reason to kill innocent children. Dark times.”

You can read Jim Thomson’s excellent article here: Killing Babies, Sexual Identity, And The Truth by Jim Thomson

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

FACT: An estimated 1,126,000 babies were murdered by US clinicians in 2025.

What can we do? I support Pregnancy Help Centers, such as Preborn!, that show expectant mothers an ultrasound of their baby. PreBorn! exists to meet abortion-vulnerable women before it’s too late with life-saving ultrasounds, compassionate care, practical support, and the hope of the gospel.

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 from Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

How to Trust God in Challenging Times

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 9/24/26

We don’t really know how strong our faith is until it’s tested. And it’s hard to be joyful about our testing, but the Bible says,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2 NIV

My faith has been tested. It was so hard not to give in to fear and worry. Once, my daughter went to Kenya to help in a children’s hospital. Another time was when my son had to undergo back surgery. (You can read these stories at the links below.)

As mothers, it’s really hard not to worry about our children, even when they’re adults! So I had to ask myself, Will I choose faith or fear? It can’t be both.

I didn’t want my faith tested again. I didn’t care if it would make me mature and complete. I didn’t say it to God, but He knows what we’re thinking.

I knew I had to choose to trust God in both of these situations. It wasn’t easy because if I was worried and afraid, I wasn’t trusting God. But I was determined to not be afraid. I wrote out every Scripture that encouraged me to trust the Lord and to be unafraid. God’s Word strengthened me as I read these verses every day.

You have to CHOOSE faith! Refuse to be fearful. Pray and ask the Lord to help you.

This post was inspired by Alan Kearns’ post, Unshakable Faith on Devotional Treasures.

Choose Faith Over Fear
The Father’s Love: A Deeper Look at Sacrifice

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 Max Omen on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog