Tag: Bible

Christian

Why Reading the Bible Matters

Cindy Dawson

Years ago, when I left the Word of Faith movement, I was looking for the real truth, so I read the New Testament three times in a row. Before this, I had based what I believed mostly on books recommended to me by church leaders, books available in our church bookstore.

On reflection, I would say that many Christians who follow false teaching do so because of books they read about the Bible, which are often based largely on the author’s experiences and less on Bible study. These teachers often take verses out of context.

In case you’re wondering, the first teaching that I questioned was what is often called the prosperity gospel. It teaches that God wants you to be rich, and if you give enough money, you’ll get back at least ten times as much money. These preachers are living extravagant lives. For more about this, read my post, What Does the Bible Say About the Prosperity Gospel? HERE

As I read and reread the New Testament, I learned that, more than anything else, the Bible emphasized loving others. These are some of the verses that stood out to me:

“The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another.” (1 John 3:11)

“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

“Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

“Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law.” (Romans 13:8)

“My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)

“No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)

“Do all your work in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

“Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)

“To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)

“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. 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.  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.

 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. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

Friends, READ YOUR BIBLE every day.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Scriptures are from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Photo by Brooke Cable on Unsplash+

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Did the Holocaust Really Happen?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 6/3/26

“The same day [April 12, 1945] I saw my first horror camp. It was near the town of Gotha. I have never felt able to describe my emotional reactions when I first came face to face with indisputable evidence of Nazi brutality and ruthless disregard of every shred of decency. Up to that time I had known about it only generally or through secondary sources. I am certain, however that I have never at any other time experienced an equal sense of shock.”

 “I visited every nook and cranny of the [concentration] camp because I felt it my duty to be in a position from then on to testify firsthand about these things in case there ever grew up at home the belief or assumption that the stories of Nazi brutality were just propaganda. I sent communications to both Washington and London, urging the two governments to send instantly to Germany a random group of newspaper editors and representative groups from the national legislatures. I felt that the evidence should be immediately placed before the American and British publics in a fashion that would leave no room for cynical doubt.”

Of all these [Displaced Persons] the Jews were in the most deplorable condition. For years they had been beaten, starved, and tortured.”

General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, WWII

General Eisenhower foresaw a day when the horrors of the Holocaust might be denied. He invited the media to document the scene. He compelled Germans living in the surrounding towns and any soldier not fighting at the front to witness the atrocities for themselves. They did.

The proof is readily available.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Christian

Finding Faith in Life’s Journey

Cindy Dawson
Henry and I walk by this 200-year-old tree every day. It inspires me to ponder life’s mysteries. If you look closely, you can see my granddaughter standing in front of the tree.
Oh Mighty Tree

Oh mighty tree!
The stories you could tell.
You've seen many mighty stotms.
And yet you never fell.

I strive to be like you,
Strong in every way
With roots that grow deep down,
I will firmly stand.

I keep my hurts within.
But they can never win.
For God is on my side.
From Him I cannot hide.

He knows my every thought,
And yet He loves me still.
He holds my shaking hand.
He knows what He has planned.

I put my trust in Jesus.
He has never let me down.
His Word forever leads me.
And someday I’ll wear a crown!

I pray that you will trust Him.
He is worthy of our praise.
He will lead and guide you,
forever and always!

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 NIV

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Oh God, I Need You

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Monday, 6/1/26

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV (emphasis mine)

When I feel too weak to do what God has called me to do, there is only one thing to do. I approach the throne of grace to find help in my time of need.

May God bless you abundantly as you seek Him.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Fear No Evil

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 5/31/26

“Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me” Psalm 23:4a NIV

Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, said,

“Now, I know in my experience that Jesus’ light is stronger than the biggest darkness.”

She would know. She survived Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, where her father and sister were killed. May Corrie’s testimony give you courage.

“God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Are You Considering Homeschool?

Cindy Dawson

A lot of people assume that homeschooled children receive an inferior education compared to public school children, but that is not true.

Research indicates that homeschooled children frequently outperform their peers academically, often scoring 15 to 30 percentile points higher on standardized tests, regardless of their parents’ income or education level. They typically demonstrate strong social, emotional, and psychological development, and often achieve higher GPAs in college. 

“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:6-7 NIV

“Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 AMP

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NIV (emphasis mine)

If you are considering homeschooling, these messages from some of my readers might help you decide.

Comments from Readers:

“Our children have all graduated from homeschool, and we now have grandchildren being home-schooled. But the lessons we all learned during that time have stuck with us. It was a wonderful time of exploring God’s wisdom. God had opened up so many doors for our children to explore so many venues in the industry, arts, crafts, etc. But the greatest blessing was the growth in relationships with the Lord. Watching our children’s faith bloom and now our grandchildren discovering God’s world and wonders was and is such a blessing.”

“We started homeschooling in 1984 because our son was put on suspension for questioning evolution in the 1st grade. We knew then that we did not want our children under the influence of the public school system. We tried to get the creation curriculum in, but we were not able to get any of the other parents at that time to see the handwriting on the wall for public schools.”

“DCHS gave us so much trouble for pulling our son out of school, but praise God, we knew our rights and were able to stand up against them. Our vindication was that by the time both of our children were in 8th grade, they were doing college-level work because they were learning with God’s ways, not the world’s.”

For more information and statistics, see this post:

Is It Time To Dump Public School Education? A Look at Homeschool Data

******************

Resources and Information:

Advocates for Homeschooling, https://hslda.org/

National Home Education Research Institute:

Fast Facts on Homeschooling

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

“Never Give Up: A Lesson From Elijah

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 5/28/26

Have you ever felt like giving up? Did you ever feel like you had all you could take? I felt like that once when the Bible Study I attended started using a popular new book written by a false teacher.

I started searching the websites of other local churches. When I checked the Women’s Ministries tab, guess what? I couldn’t find a Women’s Bible Study that was actually studying the Bible itself. That’s when I felt like giving up.

Then, God reminded me of Elijah’s troubles with Ahab and Jezebel, who were killing all of God’s prophets. You can read about it in 1 Kings 19. Elijah told the Lord,

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4

Elijah thought he was the only prophet left who had not bowed his knee to pagan idols.

Feeling all alone in your misery is very hard. There is no one to talk to and no one to encourage you. But the situation wasn’t as bad as Elijah thought. God said,

“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (vs. 18)

Not only that, but Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves and provided them with food. (1 Kings 18:4) Elijah was not alone in his faithfulness to God!

Maybe my situation isn’t that bad after all. No one is trying to kill me! Maybe your situation isn’t that bad after all, either!

When you’re discouraged, remember: You don’t know everything God is doing. You have a limited perspective. God is working all the time, and He will always accomplish His will.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Is Satan Really Around?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 5/27

“Because we too often walk by sight and not by faith — thinking we can live our Christian lives by some sort of spiritual inertia — we fall into Satan’s trap of thinking he’s not really there, or at least as if he’s not very active. It does seem, after all, to be a much more pleasant thought to believe that he’s not around or, at least, that we’re really not a significant enough target for him to spend his time on.”

Burk Parsons, Pastor, Sanford, Florida

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Ahmed Galal on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

The Lord Opened Her Heart

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 5/24/26

The Apostle Paul and his companions traveled to Philippi and stayed there several days. On the Sabbath, they went looking for a place of prayer by the river. They began to speak to the women there about Jesus.

“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:14-15 NIV

It wasn’t Paul’s preaching alone that convinced her to believe. The Lord Himself opened her heart!

Pray that God will open the hearts of those you know who have not believed the Gospel. Then share the Good News!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Dillon Groves on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Redemption: Lessons from Ruth

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 5/21/26

The Book of Ruth is a deeply moving account of love and redemption. You will see God’s tender care for women as He eases the burdens of two homeless widows. In his generous redemptive actions, Boaz becomes a forerunner of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

“The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:5 NIV

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7 NIV

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

Although only 4 chapters long, the Book of Ruth has long been recognized as a literary masterpiece. Read it now, and you will see why.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Kingdom Bloggers on Google

RealChristianWomen.blog