“If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:9-10
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Someone close to me recently told me she was selling everything she owns and moving to a 3rd World country to help orphaned and abandoned children. I was shocked and speechless. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. (Your moving where?)
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” Proverbs 3:27 NLT
She explained that God had called her and had confirmed it over and over. What could I say? I didn’t want to encourage her. What if it wasn’t God? But I didn’t want to discourage her either. What if it was? I could only listen quietly.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV
Does God really call us to sell all and follow Him? That’s okay for “missionaries”, but when it’s someone you love, well, that’s different. I didn’t realize how different until it confronted me head-on. I doubt you will be able to understand the impact of my experience unless you experience it for yourself.
“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.” Psalm 41:1 NLT
My faith is being tested to the core. As long as I focus on God’s Word, I’m not in a panic. But to stay strong, I have had to continually stay focused on the Lord and stay in the Word. By immersing myself in the Word over the last few weeks, I have gone from “numb and shock” to peace. It has been an amazing process.
“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.” Psalm 41:1 NLT
How easily we can be swept up in our personal lives and never give thought to the plight of so many living in poverty and despair. For the most part, many American Christians live in a bubble. They don’t even observe the poor in their own town or city that may be only a few miles away.
“But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him—how can God’s love be within him?” 1 John 3:17 TLB
You won’t see them at Dillards or Chicos. You won’t see them in a nice restaurant or your favorite nail salon. You won’t even see them in your neighborhood. They may be hidden away, but they aren’t far away.
“Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.” Proverbs 28:27
Dear Heavenly Father, Soften our hearts. Create in us compassion and kindness. Forgive us for being selfish. Show us your will and lead us. Strengthen our faith in you. Guide and direct our way every single day. For you are our God, the Holy One, worthy to be praised. Amen
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photos by Unsplash
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13: 34–35 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
I proclaim that I trust God. I urge others to trust Him, too. But what if God asks me to do something I don’t want to do, something really difficult? Is God testing my faith? Will I pass the test?
Charles Stanley said, “The only way to know how much faith you have is to have it tested.”
But suddenly, doubt shows its ugly head and you think, “Is this really God’s will? I need an angelic visit to know for sure.”
But will God send an angel? Probably not. So can we trust the witness of the Holy Spirit within us?
Jesus said,
“ … I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth … you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
Questions of doubt will wreak havoc in your mind if you let them. Instead, we must depend on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to strengthen our spirit.
The key word in faith is focus.
Dr. Charles Stanley
Where is our focus? Are we focused on God? Or, are we focused on what brings more doubt? When the disciples were in the storm, what was their focus? Was it on Jesus or was it on circumstances? Jesus had just healed all the sick when they set out in a boat. When a storm arose, the disciples woke Jesus and said, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!”
Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He rebuked the wind and the waves and it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:24-26)
They had been focused on the winds and waves, not on Jesus who was right there with them.
Abraham may have had similar doubts when God told him to sacrifice Isaac on the altar. But,
“(Abraham) said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 NIV
Abraham believed that God would provide the sacrifice and He and Issac would both return. And they did.
Is your faith being tested? Is God asking you to trust Him? Will you trust Him to guide you? To protect you? Do you have faith in His faithfulness?
“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Hebrews 11:11 NIV
“Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
as enduring as the earth you created.” Psalm 119:90 NLT
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV
“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” Proverbs 16:9 AMPC
“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 NIV
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 NIV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
He promises to guide us. Will we believe that promise even when it’s difficult? Jesus said,
” … when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 NIV
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
“The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” Psalm 138:8 NLT
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.‘” Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV
“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid …” Hebrews 11:23 NIV
“By faith (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the King’s anger …” Hebrews 11:27 NIV
“For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” 2 Timothy 1:7 TLB
My Prayer Your love, O God, Will hold us near. It shields us from our darkest fears. In times of darkness Where I can't see, Your loving eye Will watch for me. When I can't see What lies ahead, I'll trust you, Lord, And what You've said. Your promises Are my delight. They guide my way. They are my light. With my whole heart I trust in you. Your loving hands Will see us through. Your faithful love Forever watches Your precious child In all Earth's places.
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
1st Photo by Alex Radelich on Unsplash
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
12 For you bless the godly, O Lord;
you surround them with your shield of love.” Psalm 5:11-12 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Keagan Henman on Unsplash
What started out as pleasant conversation ended in hurt feelings, tears, misunderstanding, and a chill between myself and someone I dearly love. Oh, how I wished I could take back my words!
I apologized, but the damage was already done. A heated theological discussion got out of hand and it was my fault. It wasn’t as much what I said, but how I presented it.
My harsh comments about a popular preacher with whom I disagree did more harm than good. My friend was hurt by what I said about someone she liked and learned from. I realized I had approached it all wrong. And now I couldn’t get out of my mess.
The next day, quite by “accident”, I stumbled across something written by Hannah Anderson. Her words stung. I want to share them with you.
Discerning people use their insight to serve those around them . . . They use knowledge to build up and unify – not tear down or create division . . . Sometimes this means having the patience to wait while others think through what you already know . . . Sometimes it means foregoing your preferences for the good of others. Sometimes it might even mean being misunderstood precisely because others can’t yet see what you do . . . They resist the temptation to flaunt knowledge or prove themselves right.”
Hannah Anderson, All That’s Good
All I can say is, “Ouch!”
(Side note: It always amazes me how God will put something I need to know right before my eyes even though I wasn’t looking for it!)
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:2 NIV
Yes, God pruned the branches that needed pruning so that I would bear more fruit. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.
We must learn what it means to love one another in every form it might take. Even in speaking Truth, we must think of others above ourselves. We must always ask ourselves, “Am I walking in love?”
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 ESV
I think of the Apostle Paul who said,
“Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” 1 Corinthians 8:1 NIV
Am I saying we shouldn’t speak the Truth? Not at all! The Bible teaches us to correct and rebuke.
“Instead, 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
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 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 4:2-4 NIV
What I Learned
May the Lord speak to our hearts and teach us how to interact with one another in love. May we become more like Him everyday, overflowing with humility, gentleness, respect, patience and kindness.
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash
