“But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.” 1 Corinthians 8:1b NLT
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Tuesday’s Verse, 5/4/21
Tag: encouragement
Monday’s Verse, 5/3/21
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Sunday’s Memory Verse, 5/2/21
” And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Friday’s Verse, 4/30/21
“Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs 10:12 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Adrian Pereira on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
A Verse for Meditation, 4/29/21
“Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Andrea Ferrario on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Quote of the Week, 4/28/21
I’ve noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born.”
President Ronald Reagan
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Tuesday’s Verse, 4/27/21
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Monday’s Verse, 4/26/21
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18: 16-19 NV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Leighton Smith on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Sunday’s Memory Verse, 4/25/21
“Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Can We Really Love Like Jesus?
God’s Word says we must love like Jesus. Is that even possible? How do we do that? As I searched this out, I came across something that was very helpful. I want to share it with you.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
Dr. Les Parrott, in his book, Love Like That, describes “5 Actionable Ways to Love Like Jesus”.
- Be mindful. We need to connect more deeply with our lives and the people in them, rather than living a detached, disconnected existence.
- Be approachable. It’s important for people to feel safe approaching us; in other words, we must become less exclusive in our interactions with others and more welcoming to those who seek us out.
- Be full of grace. We must be willing to relate to others in a less judgmental way.
- Be bold. We have to shed our fears, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).
- Be self-giving. We need to become less self-absorbed and more invested in those around us.
These guidelines helped me immensely, especially the first, “Be Mindful”. I am quiet and somewhat shy. I guess that’s why I like to write. It’s the easiest way for me to share my thoughts with others.
Over 40 years ago someone said to me, “You’re really nice. I used to think you were a snob.” I will never forget those words. They are imprinted on my brain forever. I was so shocked that anyone would think that about me!
As I look back on my life, I can see why someone might think that. I’m quiet and don’t readily express what I’m thinking. I may have something helpful to share in a conversation, but keep it to myself. I think this is because I’m afraid of what they will think. (But we’ll save that for another post!)
Dr. Parrott encourages us to connect more deeply with people rather than living a detached existence. It is so easy to become detached when you are shy, especially if you have found an outlet like writing to fill your need for expression. Honestly, I thought this was just the way it is and would always be. But now, I believe God is doing something new in me.
As I shared these thoughts with my daughter Christina, she reminded me that the world needs listeners as well as talkers. (I hadn’t really thought of that!) She told me that I am a good listener.
I share that because it’s easy to get down on yourself and see all your weaknesses and faults. Don’t do that. God loves you and knows you very well. Trust Him to make you the person He wants you to be, a person more like Christ.
I am going to pray that I become more mindful and more involved in the lives of persons I see on a regular basis as well as the ones I don’t. This won’t be easy for me, but I plan to give consideration to how I can become more involved in other lives. Then I plan to take specific steps to accomplish my goal.
By doing this, I hope to learn how to love like Jesus. Won’t you join me in this quest?
With Love, Cindy
P.S. The photo is of my daughter, Christina, who spent 6 months last year working at a children’s hospital in Africa.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Real Christian Women 