Tag: Jesus

Christian

The Power of Love

Cindy Dawson

The Valedictorian – A True Story

John walked down the crowded high school hallway carrying all the books from his locker when some bullies intentionally knocked them out of his hands.

A bystander walked up and helped him gather the books and supplies. Seeing that the boy was almost in tears, the bystander offered a few kind words.

The boy who had been bullied later became the class valedictorian. At graduation, he gave a powerful speech that caused the auditorium to become still in silence. He told the story of how at one time he had been planning to kill himself. He cleaned out his locker so that his mother wouldn’t have to do it after his death. He told how some students knocked the books from his hands leaving him in tears.

He explained how someone stopped and helped him gather his books, taking the time to speak kindly to him for just a few minutes. This act of kindness gave him the will to keep living because it showed him that kindness existed in the world. This simple act of compassion saved his life.

“Love is … kind…” I Corinthians 13: 4

I have failed to follow God’s path many times in my life. When I reflect on God’s kindness to me in spite of my failings, I am utterly amazed.

Why is God so patient and kind to me? Do I deserve it? Definitely not! And yet, He is always there, ready to listen to my cries for help when I need Him. Always faithful to His promises, always revealing His love for me expressed in His great kindness.

If I meditate on His kindness to me, how can I be anything but kind to others? God’s love is expressed in kindness. 

There have been many times when I received a note or gift from a friend, and that person had no idea that God was using their expression of kindness to lift my heart, encourage me, and turn my eyes back on Jesus.

Even though it may seem like a small thing to us, writing a note, providing a small gift, or a random act of kindness could be just what a person needs at that time. We must not think we don’t have time or we’re too busy. May we slow down and take the time to show kindness where it is needed.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:4-5a NIV

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by darlene on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Friday’s Verse, 3/11/22

Cindy Dawson

 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Joshua Hanks on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Verses for Meditation, 3/10/22

Cindy Dawson

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” Isaiah 49:15-16 NIV
   Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Henrique Jacob on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Quote of the Week, 3/9/22

Cindy Dawson

We must mirror God’s love in the midst of a world full of hatred. We are the mirrrors of God’s love, so we may show Jesus by our lives.”

Corrie ten Boom, Holocaust Survivor

NOTE: Corrie ten Boom and her family helped Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and, by all accounts, saved nearly 800 lives. Corrie was caught and remanded to the notorious Ravensbrück concentration camp, near Berlin. On December 16, 1944, Corrie was released for reasons unknown. She began a worldwide ministry that took her to more than 60 countries where she preached forgiveness and God’s love.

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

https://www.biography.com/activist/corrie-ten-boom

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Christian, women

Tuesday’s Verse, 3/8/22

Cindy Dawson

“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!  He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NLT Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Monday’s Verse, 3/7/22

Cindy Dawson

“The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
 For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.” Psalm 103:13-14 NLT Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 3/6/22

Cindy Dawson

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

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Christian

It’s a Jungle Out There! Are You On the Right Path?

Cindy Dawson

A missionary arrived in a foreign land and was trusting a ‘guide’ to get him to his final destination. As the guide continued to wack away at all the underbrush, the missionary finally asked, “Where are we? Where are you taking me? Where is the path?” The guide simply turned to him and said, “I am the path.”

And so it is with God…He truly is our Path.

I read this story in Dori Drabek’s blog, Celebrate His Love. It reminds me of the Scripture that says,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 NASB

We are all following a path somewhere. It may be a path to wealth, popularity, knowledge, or something else. But if God’s Word (the Bible) is guiding our path, we can be sure of this:

  1. We will be blessed. Psalm 119:1-2
  2. We will have wisdom, insight, and understanding. Psalm 119:98-100
  3. We will know the truth. Psalm 119:160 and John 8:31-32
  4. We will have peace. Psalm 119:165

These are just a few of the promises to those who love God’s Word.

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:2 NIV

We must not rely on books about the Bible instead of studying the Bible itself. Or perhaps we think listening to TV preachers can replace Bible study. I know there are excellent Christian books out there, but unfortunately, many best-sellers are not sound. And many popular preachers do not present sound theology.

There is another problem, too. Many new Christians are led astray by false teaching in their eagerness to learn all they can about their new life in Christ. Those who write or recommend these books should consider the words of Jesus.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” Mark 9:42 NIV

If that doesn’t make you want to be discerning, I don’t know what will!

Every word about God or that supposedly comes from God must be carefully tested and examined in light of the Bible.”

Tim Challies

One of the wisest things I ever did was to read the Bible in a year. This was an idea presented to my church by our pastor in 2018. I highly recommend it!

You can do this easily right from your cell phone with the Bible App, YouVersion. Most of the time, I read my actual Bible and use the app to check off the chapters as I read them. Occasionally, I listen to the chapters read aloud from the app. And sometimes, I read right on my phone.

Many different Bible reading plans are available in the translation you prefer. My favorite plans are: “as it happened” – a one-year chronological walk through the Bible and “NT in a Year” from the Bible Project. I am reading them both right now.

I have to confess, I’m 6 days behind schedule but hopefully, I will catch up. But even if it takes me longer than a year, I still will have read the whole Bible (and the NT twice)! It has been easier than you would think. I hope you will join me and read the Bible in a year.

It is only through knowing God’s Word that we can be sure we are on the right path.

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from The Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.”

Abraham Lincoln

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Ivan Diaz on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Friday’s Verse, 3/4/22

Cindy Dawson

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Echo Chen on Unsplash

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Christian, women

A Verse for Meditation, 3/3/22

Cindy Dawson

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” 1 Chronicles 29:17a NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

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