Christian, Jews

Finding Rest in Jesus

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Monday, 6/2/25

Jesus said to His disciples, β€œCome 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

Christian, Jews

Embrace Your Role in Ministry

Cindy Dawson

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

Christian, Jews

Must We Forgive When They Don’t Apologize?

Cindy Dawson

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,

β€œFather, 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 embodiedβ€”He did not harbor bitterness or resentment.

But when it comes to the transaction of forgivenessβ€”the restoration of relationshipβ€”that is usually tied to repentance. Jesus said in Luke 17:3–4 (NASB):

β€œIf 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, β€˜I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

This shows that the full experience of forgiveness includes repentance. Jesus’ prayer on the cross (β€œFather, forgive them…”) was not a pronouncement that all were automatically forgiven, but a plea for the Father to extend mercyβ€”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 freelyβ€”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 accountabilityβ€”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

Christian, Jews

Growing in Love and Discernment

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Friday, 5/30/25

“And this I pray, thatΒ your love may overflow still more and more inΒ real knowledge and all discernment,Β 10Β so that you mayΒ [a]discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless forΒ the day of Christ; Philippians 1:9-10 NASB Read full chapter

Footnotes

[a] Philippians 1:10Β OrΒ 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

Christian, Jews

Walking in Truth

Cindy Dawson

Verses for Meditation for 5/29/25

“It gave me great joy when some believersΒ came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.Β I have no greater joy than to hear that my childrenΒ 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

Christian, Jews

Quote of the Week, 5/28/25

Cindy Dawson

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

Christian, Jews

Hope and Confidence in God’s Love

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Tuesday, 5/27/25

β€œFor you have been my hope,Β SovereignΒ Lord,
Β Β Β Β my confidenceΒ since my youth.
From birthΒ I have relied on you;
Β Β Β Β you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
Β Β Β Β I will ever praiseΒ 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

Christian, Jews

Honoring Sacrifice: What Jesus Teaches Us

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Monday, 5/26/25

Jesus said,Β β€œGreater 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

Christian, Jews

Following Christ’s Example

Cindy Dawson

Sunday’s Memory Verse for 5/25/25

“To thisΒ you were called,Β because Christ suffered for you,Β leaving you an example,Β 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.Β 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

Christian, Jews

How to Recognize and Resist Deception

Cindy Dawson

I’ve been a fan of WW II historical fiction and biographies for decades. It started when I read Corrie ten Boom’s book, The Hiding Place. Since then, I have read more books about the events of the Holocaust than I can count.

Have you ever wondered how Hitler was able to convince people to follow him? How was that possible?

Observing our world today, I better understand how it could have happened. Propaganda is more powerful than people realize. We are all influenced by it in one way or another from grocery shopping to political views. Some people are simply afraid not to go along with the crowd. This is especially true of young minds. It’s called peer pressure or contagion.

Think about this: Someone was able to convince thousands of people to side with Hamas, a barbaric, evil terrorist organization. Thousands protested in the streets around the world. Even in America, students in our finest universities demonstrated against Israel in support of barbaric terrorists who raped women and burned babies alive!

In 2022, a male swimmer, six-foot-four Lia Thomas, claiming to be a transgender woman, left the Penn men’s swim team and began competing in women’s swimming. He was permitted to enter the 2022 Women’s Olympics and won the swimming championship. How were intelligent people persuaded to allow and support allowing men into women’s sports?

We are all vulnerable to deception. However, we can protect ourselves. We don’t have to wonder or guess what is true. Out of His mercy and love, God has given us the way. It isn’t through high-sounding philosophy or turning to the world for answers. It is by turning to God’s Word, the Holy Bible. We can know the truth.

Jesus said,Β β€œIf you hold to my teaching,Β you are really my disciples.Β Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

“The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7 NIV

“All your words are true;
Β Β Β Β all your righteous laws are eternal.” Psalm 119:160 NIV

“But when he, the Spirit of truth,Β comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:13 NIV

“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 NIV

“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.” John 4:23 NIV

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts…” Zechariah 8:16 NIV

Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:44 NIV

The Bible has warned us that in the last days there will be great deception.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:4 NIV

As I grow older, it becomes more and more obvious to me that people believe what they have been influenced to believe, and in some cases, actually brainwashed. For example, did you know that children in Gaza are brainwashed to hate Jews?

If what you believe contradicts God’s Holy Word, the Bible, then you have been misled.

How were your beliefs formed?

We can know the truth.

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