Jesus told His disciples,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV
This was Jesus’ last command to His disciples. In a world characterized by violence and hate, the world will see Christ in His followers by their love.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
4/20/25 (Previously titled What Easter Means to Me)
Easter reminds me that because Jesus paid the penalty for my sins, I am free from guilt and shame. Have you ever felt such deep guilt that you couldn’t forgive yourself?
For those of us who have been forgiven much, love for Jesus runs deep because it changes our life in an indescribable way. It can’t be explained to someone who hasn’t experienced it. Maybe you could imagine what it would be like when you hear the hymn, Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, a slave ship captain who experienced God’s merciful forgiveness.
Another example is a woman known only as “The Sinful Woman”.
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50 NIV
This woman came to hear Jesus while he dined with some religious leaders. I have often wondered, What was she doing at the party!?
“But it was acceptable in Jesus’ day for people to come to a party to watch and listen to the conversation. They were not allowed to eat, but they could observe.” (Never Thirsty Ministry)
She was there to see and hear Jesus.
I have no idea what Jesus and the Pharisees talked about. Maybe Jesus talked about the forgiveness of sins. Perhaps, as she listened, she believed He was the Messiah and experienced the joy of receiving forgiveness.
Maybe Jesus quoted Old Testament Scriptures such as Isaiah 1:18:
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Maybe He quoted Psalm 103:12:
“… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
And maybe, He looked right in her eyes as he did, not at the Pharisees, but only at her, and maybe that is why she cried so hard that she could literally wash His feet with her tears.
Verse 44 tells us that Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon,
“… her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Imagine how she felt, knowing He was talking about her.
She probably thought no one would notice her that evening. But Jesus looked right at her and spoke the words she longed to hear:
“Her many sins have been forgiven.”
To me, Easter means forgiveness and cleansing. Anyone carrying guilt can be set free from that heavy load, just like I was and just like slave ship Captain John Newton. Receive God’s gift of salvation by trusting in His son, Jesus, and giving your life to Him.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-8 KJV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
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.
Many times I have 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
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read – Verses for Meditation, 4/10/25
The Apostle Paul said, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16 NIV
Paul loved the Galatians but he would not compromise the truth to appease them. In fact, he pleaded with them to turn away from false teachers, warning them that the motives of the false teachers were evil.
Proverbs 27:6 AMP says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].
We must love the truth so that we are not seduced by a spirit of compromise. Jesus prayed for His disciples,
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read Monday’s Verse, 3/31/25
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV Read full chapter
Comments: His love is deep, reminding us that His love addresses the deepest needs of the human heart. God loves sinners no matter who they are, what they have done, or where they have been. (Jeremiah Study Bible Notes)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read
“The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel … 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. … 11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered … ” Ezekiel 34:1, 2, 4, 11, 12 NIV Read full chapter
This prophecy began to be fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus ministered to the crowds, who were like wandering sheep without a shepherd. Jesus not only cares for the sheep, He laid down His life for them. (Jeremiah Study Bible Notes)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” Colossians 1:13 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read Friday’s Verse, 3/28/25 NIV
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NIV Read full chapter
The apostle Paul articulates one of the most profoundly comforting reassurances in Scripture. He knows this is true, but he is also convinced of it!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read
I know a teacher who wrote a fictional story about the students in her 7th-grade English Class. The story took place in the future and revealed what each student did with their life.
She read a chapter every few days and the students always wanted to hear more, eager to find out who they would become. One boy (who could be a challege) became a war hero. One of the girls became the first female president of the U.S. Another boy became the town Fire Chief and saved many lives. Each student became an important contributor to society, a person who helped others and was well-respected.
The best part was each student’s reaction to the part of the story about themselves. Maybe they had never imagined themselves becoming an important person. Maybe they had never imagined their classmates would become important people. But they did now.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read
Disappointment is inevitable. But to become discouraged, there’s a choice I make. God would never discourage me. He would always point me to himself to trust him. Therefore, my discouragement is from Satan. As you go through the emotions that we have, hostility is not from God, bitterness, unforgiveness, all of these are attacks from Satan.” Charles Stanley
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
1-minute read Monday’s Verse, 3/17/25
“You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” Ezekiel 20:44 NIV
Comments: As I read through the book of Ezekiel, I noticed that the prophecies frequently said that God would deal with the people “for my name’s sake” and not according to what they have done. Pastor David Jeremiah explains:
“When God says that He deals with Israel for my name’s sake, He means that He interacts with the people on the basis of who He is – a holy, righteous, sovereign, patient, gracious, wise, and omnipotent God – not on the basis of who they are or according to their evil ways or corrupt practices. God shows us grace and showers us with His mercy because of His character, not because of our behavior. It is because of His unchanging character that we can place our trust in Him.” (Jeremiah Study Bible Notes)
Photo by Gary Fultz on Unsplash and https://garyfultz.com/
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
Real Christian Women 