Christian

How Can I Gain Wisdom?

1-minute devotion for Sunday, 12/14/25

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 NIV

My Thoughts: To fear the Lord means you wouldn’t dare exalt your own opinions and desires above God’s Word. Trusting God’s Word is the secret to this treasure.

In His Love, Cindy

Christian

The Responsibility of an Older Woman

1-minute devotion for Friday, 12/12/25

“Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good, so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children, to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5 AMP

My Thoughts: Older Christian women have a lot of wisdom to share. I hope you have an older woman to look up to and turn to for advice. My grandmothers have gone on to be with the Lord. They were wise women, and I miss them so much!

In His Love, Cindy

Christian

Words of Wisdom From History

Quote of the Week for 12/10/25

 A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”

Theodore Roosevelt

While most people living in 19th-century America were familiar with the King James Bible, few laypeople knew the Scriptures as well as TR. Thomas Kidd

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

Are You Waiting for God to Answer Your Prayers?

God always answers our prayers. He may say yes, no, or wait. Wait does not mean no. It means wait.

If God says, “Wait,” He has a purpose in your wait.

If you are waiting for an answer to prayer, God does not want you to give up! Jesus explains this in The Parable of the Persistent Widow.

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8

So, does God sometimes make us wait? Yes!

  • Abraham waited 25 years for the birth of his son, Isaac. (Genesis)
  • Joseph waited 13 years before becoming the 2nd-in-command in Egypt. (Genesis 15-30)
  • Moses wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. (Numbers 14:33-35)
  • David waited 15 years from the time he was anointed until he became king. (1 Samuel 16 through 2 Samuel 2)

God used this time of waiting to teach them perseverance. Romans 5:4 tells us that perseverance forges character, and character produces hope. Hope is essential because it gives us strength. When the time was right, God answered their prayer.

(The Greek word in verse 1 for “give up” is enkakeō. It means to give up, become discouraged, or lose heart.)

Jesus ended the lesson with this question:

When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (v. 8)

If Jesus returns today, will He find you giving up and losing heart? Or will He find you persisting in prayer, no matter how long you’ve been waiting? Do you trust God to answer your prayer when the time is right?

You may have been waiting 20 years, but your answer could come today! If not, remember this: your answer will come when the time is right.

In His Love, Cindy

(This post was inspired by my pastor’s Sunday sermon.)

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian, women

Overcoming Setbacks: A Spiritual Journey

Quote of the Week for 11/26/25

In His Love, Cindy

 

Christian

Love In Action

1-minute devotion for Friday, 11/21/25

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:35-40

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

 

Christian

Do You Need God’s Favor?

1-minute devotion for Thursday, 11/20/25

“Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12 NIV

Psalm 5 is a psalm of David, used in worship. David expresses trust in the Lord’s protection. May we do likewise.

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

 

Christian, women

Are You Fearful or Will You Trust God?

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 11/19/25

“Basically, there are two paths you can walk: faith or fear. It’s impossible to simultaneously trust God and not trust God.”

Charles Stanley

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

Can I Understand the Bible?

In my adult Sunday School class recently, someone made a statement that completely took me off guard. I said, “That’s not right.” The person informed me that what I believed was a theory that many theologians disagreed with. It made me feel like because I had not studied all the theological viewpoints, I couldn’t possibly know what was right on this subject.

So the next day, I spent several hours researching the topic. The consequence of this “debate” caused me to question my ability to understand the Bible.

Theologians debate Biblical truths. Theologians often disagree. How can we know which theories are right and which ones are wrong? After all, theologians are a lot smarter than me and they can’t even agree.

That lead me to my next question. If I haven’t been to seminary, can I understand the Bible correctly? What if I haven’t studied the theological theories which have guided denominations for years? I was challenged by these questions and left a bit shaken.

I thought, I don’t think the Bible says that the common person needs someone to interpret the Bible for them. In fact, it says just the opposite.

Jesus said that we need the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible.

Jesus said, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:12

“The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26: 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16 (emphasis mine)

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105

“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2: 12

This doesn’t mean that everything is easy to understand. Not at all!

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

“Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” 2 Timothy 2:7 ESV

“Now, to say that we can understand everything in the Bible is not to suggest that we will understand everything immediately and fully. We won’t — and certainly not the first (or second or even tenth) time through. God can give us understanding in every passage without giving us understanding of every part of a passage. He also often chooses to give understanding, not immediately, but over years or even decades. As we keep reading (and living), familiar verses will emerge with new or deeper meaning and relevance. Some questions will be answered slowly. So don’t expect to understand everything now, but expect to understand something now — and then more tomorrow.” Marshall Segal President of Desiring God

(P.S. Coming up, we will look at How to study the Bible the right way.)

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

Honoring God Through Kindness to the Needy

1-minute devotion for Friday, 11/14/25

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31

My thoughts: Let us honor God by giving to those in need, especially when we know we actually live in abundance.

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.