Category: Christian

Christian

Why Should I Memorize Scripture?

Cindy Dawson

Memorizing Scripture may have more benefits than you think!

It renews your mind, enabling you to know God’s will.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

I had never connected this verse to memorizing Scripture until now. But, how better to renew our mind than by memorizing Scripture! That is filling our mind with God’s Word, not something we read once, but something we know by heart! Reading the Bible is important, but memorizing Scripture is important, too!

The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance the Scripture you need at a particular time.

Dallas Willard, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California wrote,

“Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs.“

For example, when people have hurt my feelings by what they said or what they did, the Holy Spirit has brought to my remembrance a verse memorized long ago.

 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11 NIV*

it has practical advantages

Chuck Swindoll stated, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends!”

Do you ever have trouble going to sleep because you can’t quiet your mind, and you can’t stop thinking about all you have to do? I still remember the 23rd Psalm from memorizing it in childhood, 60 years ago! Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I recite it and meditate on the verses. Nothing is more calming and quiets your mind like reciting and meditating on the 23rd Psalm. I bet many of you learned it as a child, too.

Sometimes the KJV is easier to learn and easier to remember, too. I was just trying to remember Psalm 119:105 and realized that I remember it in the KJV, but not in the NIV. As soon as I said, “Thy word”, it all came back to me!

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV

Another Scripture I rely on when I’m worried or afraid is Psalm 91. (It really isn’t that hard to memorize!)

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91 NIV (1984 edition)

My Top 5 Tips for Memorizing Scripture

  1. Write it and doodle while you repeat it out loud several times. (I like this idea!)
  2. Learn one verse, and then add another verse to it. Keep adding on one more verse. Always go back to the beginning and recite everything you have learned so far. You can learn long passages this way. (This is how I memorized Psalm 91.)
  3. Play a memory game. Using dry-erase markers, write the verse on a dry-erase board. Read the verse a few times, then erase 2 words at a time. Keep saying the verse until all the words are erased. 
  4. Go for a walk and recite all the verses you have learned so far.
  5. Make the wallpaper on your phone the verse you are learning.

Well, I hope you’ve been motivated to start memorizing. I know I have!

Some passages to memorize:

  • Philippians 4:6-8
  • John 7:37-38
  • John 8:31
  • Romans 10:9-11
  • Psalm 56:3-4
  • Psalm 86:11

Do you have any memorization tips?

What passages do you recommend memorizing? Please share!

With Love, 

AA55AA1F-EA36-49A9-92BE-41FD67348618

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

realchristianwomen.blog  

Photo by Jenny Smith on Unsplash

*Some NIV references are from the 1985 edition and may read a little differently than the latest NIV edition.

Christian

Do Christians Today Have Idols?

Cindy Dawson

As I read through 1 Kings, I was stunned when I read these words about King Solomon:

 “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.” 1 Kings 11: 3-6

Notice that Solomon started doing what “everyone else” was doing. He probably thought, “All the kings have lots of wives and concubines. All the kings have idols. I’m just doing what all the kings do. Things are different now from when my father was king.”

We can do the same thing today by accepting what the world puts forth as truth rather than holding on to God’s Word, which is the real Truth.

Ashtoreth was the pagan goddess of war and sexual love. How is that any different from the sexual freedom found in today’s world?

Molek was an Ammonite god who required propitiatory child sacrifice. A couple sacrificed their firstborn by burning the child on a metal idol of Molech, believing that Molech would ensure financial prosperity for the family and future children. (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) How is that any different from the abortion industry, which is really all about money, not women’s rights?

Idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than God as if it were God.

So what do we worship as if it were God? It doesn’t have to be a pagan statue. The Apostle Paul tells us more.

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” Colossians 3:5-6

Here the Apostle Paul plainly states that idolatry doesn’t only refer to a golden calf.

“Idolatry starts in the heart: craving, wanting, enjoying, being satisfied by anything that you treasure more than God. That is an idol. If we find God to be so boring or so negligible that we must put other things in his place that really satisfy us more than he does, then we not only offend him, but we also destroy ourselves.” John Piper

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Romans 1:25-27

“Since the fall, the hearts of humans have been inclined toward idolatry” Dr. Jeff Reynolds

Things like a job, money, a car, or any number of created things could become an idol. But don’t let the devil condemn you, saying this is your idol and that is your idol. Ask the Lord with a sincere heart to show you if you have any idols. The Holy Spirit will bring conviction, but not condemnation. Conviction makes you want to change, but condemnation makes you want to give up.

“Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel . . . For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret;” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 AMP

With Love, 

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This Is My Journey Unscripted.

Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

realchristianwomen.blog  

Christian

We Are The Temple of God

Cindy Dawson

We don’t have to visit a temple made by man to be in the presence of God, as the Israelites did. As a Christ Follower, we are the temple of God and He dwells within us. Isn’t that an amazing thought? As I read about the building of the Temple, I was struck by the great wealth and incredible planning that went into it. It took Solomon seven years to build the temple. (See 1 Kings 5-8)

Solomon used 8,100,187.5 pounds of gold and 76,275,000 pounds of silver. The gold and silver alone was worth $216,603,576,000. This does not include all the precious metals, bronze, iron, ivory, or cedar wood used in the temple. Extrapolating from the number, the total cost of Solomon’s temple including the labor costs (153,000 forced laborers) would have been well over half a billion dollars! Pure gold was everywhere! Even the wick trimmers were made of pure gold! No detail was overlooked.

The Living God doesn’t live in a building. If you are a Christ Follower, He is literally living in your body! Take a moment to let that soak in.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

You may think the temple that Solomon built came at an incredible price, and it did. But God purchased you at an even greater cost, the precious, priceless blood of Jesus Christ. So what does that mean to us today?

We must recognize that we are the temple of God and that we belong to God. He has a plan for us. We have been commissioned to go out and make disciples. We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. This is obedience to the One who owns us, to love one another. We must examine ourselves to see if we are honoring the price He paid.

Just as the Lord paid careful attention to how His people treated His temple, so He takes note of the choices we make, our priorities, and the directions we pursue. Our bodies are no longer “our own” because we no longer belong to ourselves but wholly and completely to God. This is the single most important truth about our lives.”

dr. David Jeremiah

“. . . the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 NIV

“Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:14 NLT

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3: 14-17 NIV

We may look around at our world and blame our problems on the culture, drugs, TV, violent video games, and any number of evils in the world. But we must remember that revival doesn’t start in the world, it starts in the hearts of God’s people, the Church.

What would happen in our world today if all Christ followers in this generation chose to be Christ-centered instead of self-centered?

With Love, 

Cindy

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

realchristianwomen.blog  

Jeremiah Study Bible

Photos by Center for Online Judaic Studies

Rdchamberlain.com (cost of temple)

Christian

David and Bathsheba, Repentance Brings Forgiveness For Even the Vilest Sin

Cindy Dawson

This is the story of a man who lusted for what he should not have seen. It is a story of sin that spiraled out of control.

King David was a man after God’s own heart, a good man who trusted God in all situations. He was surrendered to God’s will. He was a musician and wrote songs praising the Lord. Yet he lusted after a woman he should not look upon – Bathsheba, a beautiful woman married to one of his elite military commanders, Uriah the Hittite. David saw her bathing, and he sent for her, committed adultery with her, and she became pregnant.

David tried to cover his tracks by summoning her husband Uriah, who was away at war. He assumed Uriah would sleep with Bathsheba, and it would look like he was the father of the child.

However, Uriah refused to go home while the soldiers under his command were at war, and he slept outside the palace instead. David was so desperate to cover up his sin that he had Uriah sent to the front lines, where the battle was fiercest, so that he would be killed. And so he was. The sin of “lust of the eyes” spiraled down and down, and ended in murder.

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16

Yet God called David “a man after my own heart.” How could he do this? How could this man of God fall to such depths of sin?

“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” Acts 13:22b

There is no limit to the depths of sin a person is capable of once once he or she starts to walk away from God. Committing just one sin often makes people callous to bigger sins, until they find themselves doing things they never imagined they would do.” Dr. David Jeremiah

Dr. David Jeremiah

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David. He said,

“There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle,  but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.”

Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.  

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die!  He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!“ (2 Samuel 12:1-7a)

The consequences of David’s sin were severe. The child born to him by Bathsheba became sick and died; and calamity never left David’s household.

Broken-hearted over what he had done, David cried out to the Lord, repented of his sins, and was forgiven. In his sorrow, David wrote Psalm 51.

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” (vs. 7)

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (vs. 10-11)

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (vs. 17)

Once forgiven, and the weight of his sin lifted, David wrote this Psalm:

 “The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:8-12

David experienced the overwhelming power of God’s forgiveness and mercy – forgiveness for sins which were evil in the sight of the Lord. That forgiveness is an indescribable experience that leaves one changed forever. It brings with it a deep understanding of God’s mercy and love. It brings relief from shame, relief from guilt that is too heavy to carry. And it is available to us today.

The Apostle Paul said, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift”. 2 Corinthians 9:15

May we forever praise Him and bring glory to His Name.

Read the whole story from 2 Samuel here.

With Love, 

AA55AA1F-EA36-49A9-92BE-41FD67348618

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

realchristianwomen.blog  

Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link:  Who Is Jesus?

Christian

My Bible, My Life

Cindy Dawson

Thy Word

Thy Word I love, O Lord. 
Tis my greatest delight.  
Early I rise to seek you 
And wait for the morning light. 

Thy Word I receive, O Lord.
Tis my daily bread.  
It feeds my broken heart  
And prepares for the day ahead.  

Thy Word I will keep, O Lord.
Tis my strength for each day,   
You are the solid rock.
I will follow all your ways.  
  
Thy Word I need, O Lord.
Tis the joy of my heart. 
You draw me closer to You, 
To teach and Thy Truth to impart .  

I give thanks for this wonderful gift.
More precious than silver and gold
A treasure of promise and love, 
My Bible, whose worth is untold.

How shall I know my own heart, if I do not read God’s Word?

“For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. . . . exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 AMP

How shall I learn, if I do not read God’s Word?

“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 NIV

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 ESV

How shall I have faith, if I do not read God’s Word?

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 ESV

How shall I be obedient, if I do not read God’s Word?

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” Joshua 1:8 ESV

How shall I find my way, if I do not read God’s Word?

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 ESV

How shall I fight the devil, if I do not read God’s Word?

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  But he answered, “It is written . . . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:1-4 ESV

How shall I keep myself from sin, if I do not read God’s Word?

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

How shall I have peace, if I do not read God’s Word?

“Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165

My Prayer

Lord, Give us a love for your Word. May we hunger for it more every day, that we may serve our family and answer our calling in truth and love.

“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:16

With Love, 

Cindy

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

realchristianwomen.blog  

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Rachel Lynette French on Unsplash

Christian

Hope For My Friend

Cindy Dawson 
My heart is overwhelmed with sorrow.
My hope is fading away.
No rainbows are coming tomorrow.
Only storms are coming my way.

Jesus, carry my burden.
It is much too heavy for me.
But your Word, O Lord, is certain.
With faith, please help me to see.

Thank you for what you are doing,
The works that I can not see.
For if I could see and know them, 
I would think it was done by me.

Only You shall receive the glory
And that is how it should be.
You alone are able
All glory I give to thee.

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 NIV

With Love, 

AA55AA1F-EA36-49A9-92BE-41FD67348618

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

realchristianwomen.blog  

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

Christian

How A Prayer Journal Can Enhance Your Blog

Cindy Dawson

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 NLT

I love to write my prayers in a Prayer Journal, and I’ve noticed that doing this has many benefits including making my posts more personal and timely. As a Christian blogger, there is nothing sweeter to our ears than these four words: “I needed that today!”

Because isn’t that what we desire? – to move our blog to a higher level of ministry – to touch hearts and encourage our friends, new and old?

“A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.”

Unknown

Benefits of a Prayer Journal

  1. I hear God’s still small voice more easily when I’m writing in my Prayer Journal. I begin by reading my Bible. Usually, something I read sparks a specific prayer and I follow that leading. Sometimes it turns into a blog post.

2. When I write my prayers, they are more conversational and informal. They get right to what’s on my heart. For example, writing in my Prayer Journal one morning, I prayed, “Lord, I am so excited about my new Study Bible!” I wouldn’t have said that if I were speaking my prayers, which tend to be more formal and structured.

3. That intimacy sometimes leads me to understand what God wants me to write about. For example, on 7/29/19 something I read in my Bible reminded me of Barnabas (whose name means Encourager). I wrote in my Prayer Journal, “Teach me, O Lord, to be an encourager like Barnabas.” When I looked back at my blog posts today, I saw that on 7/30/19 ( the next day), I posted the blog, How To Write An Encouraging Blog. It has already moved up to #2 on my Top Ten Most Popular Posts!

4. Another day, I went outside to pray early in the morning. I don’t consider myself a poet, but watching the birds stirred my heart to write a little poem that I jotted down in my Prayer Journal. That prayer became the inspiration for my 6-29-19 post, My Morning Prayer of Thanks. I think the Lord likes it when we write Him poetry! In Psalms, it is written,

My heart is stirred by a noble theme
    as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. Psalm 45:1 NIV

5. One time a Blogger Friend of mine shared a personal need. That need was heavy on my heart and I prayed for her. In turn, that led to a specific post meant especially for my friend: BITTERNESS: This Heart Condition is Worse Than You Think

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a writer, too. Do you write your prayers in a journal? If not, try it, and see if it leads to better, more personal writing. Let me know. My prayer is that we all become better writers and ministers of the Gospel, encouraging one another daily!

Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you, today. Comments are welcomed and appreciated.

With Love, Cindy

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

realchristianwomen.blog  

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?


		


			
		
	








			

			
							
		

	
	

		Christian
Abundant Life is Relationship With God
	


	

							

			 Cindy Dawson		
		
		

			

I have a very specific reason for writing this post.  A friend wrote to me and said she didn’t understand why God had not answered her desperate prayer. This post is for her. 





Teach me about your love
   the gift that's from above.
When sorrow fills my heart,
   your comfort alone can part
      the sea of pain.
You lead me on dry ground
   to the Promise Land.
In this life, you will provide
   the manna and the quail.
That nourishes my soul
   until I see
      the Promise Land.










” . . . as for me, I trust in the Lord.
 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction
    and knew the anguish of my soul.” Psalm 31:6-7





“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.“Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV





“Every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” refers to spiritual food. It is your relationship with God through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things.





Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV





Abundant life is relationship with God. It is knowing the Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, the King of King and Lord of Lords. It is being able to talk to Him at any time and in any place. It is the privilege of saying, “My Father” and knowing He is listening intently. It is for now and forever.





“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV





A relationship with God should never be trivialized. Nothing can compare to such a glorious blessing, certainly not things (cars, houses, etc.). Our God is not Amazon.com. He isn’t here to be our Cosmic Santa Claus. Jesus didn’t sacrifice His life in order for us to prosper materially here on Earth. He didn’t have to die to accomplish that. He died to give us eternal life through a right relationship with the Living God which will last forever. May we know the true gift of God.  





“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18 NIV





“You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
  Psalm 73:24-25 NIV





Sometimes, God does not do things the way we want. Why? We may never know while here on Earth. But many times, we understand later, even years later. God is more interested in our character development than in giving us a cushy life here on Earth. We must trust Him.





I had a friend once who was desperate to save his marriage. He was convinced that by going to church and “believing” God, by having enough faith, God would save his marriage. He gave it his all. 





But God did not save his marriage. No matter how hard he tried to “just have faith”, it didn’t happen.





Guess what happened to him? He left the church and was never seen again. From his perspective, God and faith didn’t work. That’s because he saw God and faith as a way to get what he wanted. He didn’t understand the true gift of God.





Do you see the disillusionment this can bring and why it causes people to abandon their faith in God? And this is the point! Truth is vital. That’s why we must be like the Bereans, who . . . 





“received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11





Jesus said, We must “worship God in Spirit and in truth”.  As you read the familiar passage below about the Samaritan woman, I want you to notice four things. 





  1. Jesus reveals to her the “gift of God”. (v. 10)
  2. She thinks Jesus is talking about natural things, but he is talking about spiritual things. (v.11)
  3. Jesus shows her the superiority of a spiritual gift compared to a natural gift. (v.13-14)
  4. Jesus reveals to her the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. (v.23-24)










“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4 NIV





Lord,      Help us to study your Word daily and love the Truth. Help us to appreciate our relationship with you and to understand your love.










 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV





With Love, 





AA55AA1F-EA36-49A9-92BE-41FD67348618










This Is My Journey Unscripted.





Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?





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realchristianwomen.blog  






		


			
		
	






			

			
							
		

	
	

		Christian
Sunshine Blogger Award
	


	

							

			 Cindy Dawson		
		
		

			

I want to thank  Vivian for this nomination! This is her blog.  https://godswhispersoftruth.wordpress.com





If you haven’t visited Vivian’s blog, you’re missing out! Not only will you love the blog, you will love her as well! Vivian is a TBI warrior whose hope and strength comes from God.





” . . . the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NIV





“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV





Viv’s Questions for Me:





1) What is the bible verse/passage which you turn to the most for comfort?





(This one is easy.) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV





2) What are you most thankful for today?





In addition to my wonderful family, I am thankful for the dear friends I have come to know through Blogging. Ya’ll are my BBF’s (Best Blogger Friends)! These are just a few. I like to print out your pics so I can see you when I read your blog! I think it will be so exciting when we all meet in Heaven! Hugs all around!















3) What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon as a child?










I loved Popeye! But I hated The Three Stooges because they hit each other! They were both on the same program, The Sally Starr Show. I would go outside while the Three Stooges were on. When Popeye came on, my mom would call me from the window. One day I met Sally Starr and she gave me an autographed picture! (Don’t be jealous, now!)















3) When did you last clean out your closet? (hehehe, I tagged my daughter on this post)





2 weeks ago! (Sort of, kind of)





4) What is your primary love language ie, acts of service, words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, or gift giving?





See for yourself:  “Your Results: Physical Touch” (Hmmmm, That’s not right. I said I like it when somebody cleans my condo!)





“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV





5) Which Bible character can you relate to because of what they went through?





Joseph, because even though life wasn’t fair, God turned it around for good. And God will do that for every one who looks to Him! Joseph said to his brothers, 





“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 NIV





6) What is your favorite board game?





I love most board games, but not Monopoly because I never win! I like Scrabble and Ticket To Ride. I also love Sudoku. We used to have Bible Trivia when my kids were growing up. It’s a great family game!










7) What is or was your favorite subject in school?





My favorite subject was math because it made sense (unlike things like poetry). I didn’t develop a love for writing until I was a young adult. (Good thing I did my homework and listened to my teachers anyway!)















8) What do you enjoy doing during your down time?










Reading, and reading. I also like to read.




















9) What major obstacle in your life has God helped you overcome?





Alcohol. It was nothing but trouble. Trust me.





10) What musical instrument(s) can you play?





 A Recorder, you know, the one all kids in America learn to play in music class. However, I haven’t picked one up in about 60 years. (Does that count?)





11) If you could go back 10 years, what major decisions would you change?





The one thing I would change is this: I would live close to the Lord all the days of my life. I would have never wandered.





And now my nominations!! (In no special order)





  1. Yari    https://yarigarciawrites.com   She has great writing tips!
  2. Brenda   http://becominghistapestry.com   She makes me smile!
  3. Evette   https://evettecollins.net   She is a strong writer!
  4. Jennifer   https://jenniferbrownjones.com   You will learn a lot from Jen!
  5. Kate   https://hisencouraginggrace.wordpress.com   She has great insight.
  6. Annonymous writer   https://faithfood.blog I call her Perth! She has a heart for God.
  7. Siphe   https://godsanointedprincesses.wordpress.com   Most wise for a teenage girl!
  8. Born Again   https://bornagain732.wordpress.com/blog/ She has a lot to share.
  9. Lisa   https://wordpress13730.wordpress.com   She loves Jesus!
  10. Deborah Ann   https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/27294617 Beautiful poetry!
  11.  Emma   https://myredemptionforhisglory.wordpress.com   Her desire is to honor God!





My Questions For Nominees 





  1. Name a blogger who makes you laugh. Include a link. (Because we all need to laugh more!)
  2. Do you know a pet that thinks he’s a person? (I know several.) Tell us about it! 
  3. Give between 1 and 5 blogging tips that have helped you.
  4. What is the first word that comes to your mind when I say “JESUS”.
  5. What is your favorite book (besides the Bible), and in 3 sentences or less, tell why.
  6. What is your favorite “first sentence” from a book you read? You can give more than one answer. I love this question! (I stole it from Yari!!)
  7. What is your favorite book ending? (Searching for answers to 6 & 7 will make you a better writer.)
  8. What is a Scripture that you have memorized? 
  9. If you were going to be the speaker at a Christian conference, what would be your topic?
  10. What part of God’s creation do you love the most?
  11. Quote a Psalm that you love.





This award is given to creative, positive and cheerful bloggers by other bloggers as a token of appreciation and admiration. Please do not feel pressured to accept this award. I just want to show my appreciation for you and tell a little something about you. Thank you and God bless you all!





Here are the rules:





• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to him/her.





• Answer the 11 questions provided by the blogger who nominated you.





• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.





• Notify the nominees by commenting on one of their blog posts.





• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post.





THANK YOU!





With Love, 





AA55AA1F-EA36-49A9-92BE-41FD67348618










This Is My Journey Unscripted.





Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?





Photo 





realchristianwomen.blog