Category: Bible

Bible, Christian

Love is Patient

Cindy Dawson

“Love is patient.” I Corinthians 13:4

Slow to anger toward others: this is patience. Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is a characteristic of God. The Greek word for patience is makrothumia. It is also translated as patience in 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord … is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” We are exhorted to “be patient, bearing with one another in love.”Ephesians 4:2

We say we want others to see Jesus in us. When we are patient with others, even when provoked, they will see Jesus. Opportunities will arise when you can show God’s love through patience. When we love, they will see Jesus in us.

Righteous Anger: There may be times when our anger is justified and it is not wrong to be angry. After all, Scripture tells us that God can be angry, yet He does not sin. But what we do in that anger is important. The Scripture says,

“In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. … Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. “Ephesians 4:26, 27, 29-32

With Love, Cindy

This is My Journey Unscripted.

Do you know Jesus?

If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.

“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.”   ROMANS 10:9-11

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Bible, Christian

How Important Is Love?

Cindy Dawson

If you’re the most eloquent speaker on the planet and thousands attend your conferences and buy your books, but you don’t show God’s love to people, God says you are an “annoying distraction”!

If you have such strong faith that you can perform miracles, but you don’t love your fellow man, you’re just a “nobody”.

If you sell everything you own and give it all to feed the poor, but you don’t spread God’s love, it does you no good at all.

Let that sink in for a minute!

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].

And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.

If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.” I Corinthians 13:1-3 AMP

Several years ago, I was questioning something being taught at the church I was attending. It seemed to me like too much emphasis was being put on money and prosperity. I decided to re-read the New Testament. I read it three times in a row, looking for what God considered most important.

I kept track of the number of times each topic was presented in the Word of God. Every time faith was taught, I tallied it. I did the same for every topic that came up including healing, prayer, prosperity, hope, joy, mercy, love, and many other topics.

Do you know what I discovered? Overwhelmingly, the most frequently mentioned topic of the New Testament was love! If love was the most talked about topic, it must be really important! I knew that if I understood nothing else, I needed to understand what matters most to God – love.  I began to study it in depth.

“As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” 2 John 6

It was like God was teaching me that this is what He wanted me to study. This is what He wanted me to learn.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

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. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV

Did you show God’s love today?

With Love, 

Cindy

This is My Journey Unscripted.

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

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Christian

How To Walk With Jesus

Cindy Dawson

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Discovering the promises of God is one of the most exciting things you can do as a Christian. The better you know the Scriptures, the easier it is to receive God’s guidance. Psalm 119 is a treasure that teaches us the value of God’s word. Study it and meditate on the  truths it reveals. Here are just a few verses from the longest chapter in the Bible.

“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord…    I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  I will not neglect your word…    Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law…    Your statutes are my delight. They are my counselors…    Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will mediate on your wonders…    

My soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to your word…    Teach me knowledge and good judgement, for I believe in your commands…    If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

Verses 99 through 102 are thrilling. Meditate on these verses. The author says,

“I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts… I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.”  

That is the desire of our hearts, to be taught by the Lord, through the Holy Scriptures, by the very Spirit of God, that we might walk with Jesus everyday and know His will.

“You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in your word…    I am your servant. Give me discernment that I may understand your statutes…    The unfolding of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple…    Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

Psalm 125:4-5  “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 125:9 “He guides the humble in what is right and he teaches them his way.”

Father, Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the precious Word of God that guides us. Help us to walk in love that we might bring glory to your name.

With Love,

Cindy

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

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

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Christian

Lord, Help Me Forgive

Cindy Dawson

Are you struggling to forgive someone? Does it seem impossible?  You can do it. But before we begin, remember this: Unforgiveness will destroy you, not them.

There is only one way to forgive the unforgivable. These Scriptures will strengthen and empower you to do it, as they did for me. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart so that you can receive what He has for you.

They crucified him and Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”    And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”    The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar. Luke 23: 34-36

We can forgive others when we understand the depth of His forgiveness of our own sins. Crucifixion is the most brutal kind of execution. Yet Jesus pleaded with the Father to forgive them. He suffered heart-breaking rejection at the cross, yet He loved and forgave those responsible.

Nothing we have to forgive can compare to His example of forgiveness. He suffered and died so that we would be forgiven for all the sins we have ever committed and even the ones we will commit in the future; He asks us to forgive others in return.

The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians, “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)

Paul knew that the sin of unforgiveness would give the devil a foothold. Satan is a genuine enemy of every Christian. The Bible is clear about this.

In Ephesians 6:10, Paul exhorts God’s people: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Our obedience to Christ protects us from the devil’s schemes.  You may not find the power to forgive within yourself, but through Christ, you can. Forgive as an act of your will. Your feelings will eventually change. The first step is to tell God that you forgive this person.

Meditate on God’s promises, instead of meditating on the injustice. The more time you spend in His presence, in His Word, in prayer and meditation, the less that injustice will have power to hurt you.

Whenever something I have already forgiven crosses my mind, I refuse to think about it. I consciously begin to think about something else. Sometimes that can be difficult. Just do it! Take control over your thoughts.

Thank Jesus for what He has done for you. It will destroy the power of the wrong to upset you. Peace and joy is already given to the child of God; God’s Word reveals how to live in it. We must trust and obey.

A Story About Forgiveness

21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

22 Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

23-25 “The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27 “The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28 “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’

29-31 “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35 “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”  Matthew 18:21-35 The Message (MSG)

 

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  

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