i-minute read for Tuesday, 6/3/25
“The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:3 NIV
Write down all the wonderful things the Lord has done for you, and you will be filled with joy. Remember them in times of distress. You will be divinely encouraged!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read for Monday, 6/2/25
Jesus said to His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 NIV Read full chapter
When the disciples returned from their ministry trip and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught, Jesus told them to come with Him and rest. This stood out to me today because sometimes that’s exactly what we need to do.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read – Sunday’s Memory Verse for 6/1/25
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV
Recently, my pastor emailed a message to our local church body. It encouraged me so much I decided to share it with you. I pray that you will be encouraged to embrace God’s plan for your ministry, whatever that may be.
“One of the greatest deceptions to grip the church of Jesus Christ has been that ministry is for the professionals. We’ve mistakenly come to think that ministry is supposed to be done solely by those who have been licensed, ordained, employed, or otherwise set apart by a church or religious organization, and in embracing that belief, so many Christians have taken their place on the sidelines of ministry when God expects them to be in the game!” Dr. Jeff Reynolds, Pastor First Baptist Church Bowling Green, KY
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
Has anyone ever done something to you that was really hard to forgive? Have you wondered if you were required to forgive those who didn’t repent of their wrongdoing? What if someone has hurt you deeply, but they aren’t sorry? Maybe they don’t even think they did anything wrong! Must we forgive those people, too?
I’ve experienced some traumatic things in my life, the kinds of things that are hard to forgive.
After reading Bruce Cooper’s excellent post, To Forgive – When and How Often, I asked him about forgiving someone who isn’t sorry about their crime. His answer was helpful to me, and I thought it might help some of you, too.
Bruce’s response: In Luke 23:34, Jesus, in the midst of unimaginable suffering, prays,
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus expresses a posture of mercy even toward those who hadn’t repented.
However, it’s important to distinguish between the willingness to forgive and the actual bestowal of forgiveness, especially as Jesus taught it. Throughout Scripture, we are called to always maintain a heart ready to forgive, even before the other person repents. This is the spirit Jesus embodied—He did not harbor bitterness or resentment.
But when it comes to the transaction of forgiveness—the restoration of relationship—that is usually tied to repentance. Jesus said in Luke 17:3–4 (NASB):
“If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
This shows that the full experience of forgiveness includes repentance. Jesus’ prayer on the cross (“Father, forgive them…”) was not a pronouncement that all were automatically forgiven, but a plea for the Father to extend mercy—possibly opening the door for their eventual repentance (as some would later come to believe, like the Roman centurion in Luke 23:47 and many Jews at Pentecost in Acts 2:37–41).
So yes, we are indeed called to release bitterness and be willing to forgive even when the other person doesn’t see their wrong. But this doesn’t mean we minimize sin or pretend reconciliation has occurred when it hasn’t. Forgiveness, like love, is offered freely—but reconciliation requires truth and repentance.
In short:
We forgive from the heart (Mark 11:25) so that bitterness doesn’t take root.
We remain open to reconciliation, praying that others come to repentance.
We do not take revenge but entrust justice to God (Romans 12:19).
Your insight about people not knowing the harm they cause is often true, and this makes compassion even more needed. But biblical forgiveness, in its fullest sense, doesn’t deny the need for accountability—it simply refuses to let offense rule our hearts. Hope this helps to answer your question. Blessings – Bruce
To Forgive – When and How Often by Bruce Cooper. Read it HERE.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read for Friday, 5/30/25
“And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may [a]discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; Philippians 1:9-10 NASB Read full chapter
[a] Philippians 1:10 Or approve the things that matter
Comments: Even though Paul is writing this letter from prison, his concern for his beloved church in Philippi is that they would grow in love and discernment.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
Verses for Meditation for 5/29/25
“It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 3-4 NIV
Comments: The Apostle John emphasized the importance of walking in the truth. In his Gospel and three epistles, he mentions truth 69 times. If we walk in the truth, the time always comes when we will have to defend it from those who would distort it.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God’s will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill – something that any person can develop and improve…”
Tim Challies, Canadian Blogger and Author
For more see my post The Skill of Discernment HERE.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read for Tuesday, 5/27/25
“For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.” Psalm 71:5-6 NIV Read full chapter
Comments: Even while you were in your mother’s womb, God loved you.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read for Monday, 5/26/25
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
I watched a WW II movie yesterday about the battle of Guadalcanal. Many soldiers died in the attempt to take a hill. Many went forward knowing they had a slim chance of making it alive, but they went anyway. The movie showed the terror of the brave men who gave their lives for our country and our freedom.
On the way to church this morning, I saw a sign that said this:
All gave some. Some gave all.
May we honor our troops and veterans today in appreciation for their willingness to serve our country.
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
In His Love, Cindy
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Photo by Polina M on Unsplash Arlington National Cemetery
RealChristianWomen.blog
Sunday’s Memory Verse for 5/25/25
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 Read full chapter
What does it mean to follow in his steps? Someone could write a book on that! And someone did. First published in 1896, the book In His Steps, by Pastor Charles Sheldon, has sold more than 50 million copies and ranks as one of the bestselling books of all time. His book popularized the saying “What Would Jesus Do?”.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
Real Christian Women 