Tag: love

Christian

Does Your Spirit Need a Lift?

Cindy Dawson

I want to share two blessings that I could have easily overlooked and taken for granted.

  1. As I write, I never tire of watching the sparrows play outside my window. It’s a special blessing because they remind me of what Jesus said.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV)

Below is a video I took from my desk. These birds bathe almost every day and I never get tired of watching them.

2. I’m also blessed to live at the top of a hill which gives me a magnificent view of the sunrise from my front porch and the sunset from my side porch.

Sunrise!
Sunset!

Of course, I could list a million more blessings. But maybe these two will serve to get you started on counting your own blessings.

“Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.” Psalm 102:2 TLB

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV 

Count Your Blessings was especially popular in the United Kingdom during the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival, the largest Christian revival in Wales during the 20th century. It is reported that this song was sung at every service! 

In addition to the upbeat, simple tune that people have found easy to remember, its message has been uplifting people for generations.

“Like a beam of sunlight,” wrote J.H. Hall, Oatman’s biographer, in “Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers, “(’Count Your Blessings’) has brightened up the dark places of the earth.”

May your spirits be lifted as you count your many blessings!

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 11/10/23

Cindy Dawson

“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 AMP (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

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Christian

Verses for Meditation, 11/9/23

Cindy Dawson

“For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than live in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. Lord of armies,
Blessed is the person who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:10-12 NASB

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Robert Garcia on Unsplash

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Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 11/7/23

Cindy Dawson

“He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4 NIV

A mother bird will spread her wings over her babies to protect them from storms and predators. She will allow herself to be wounded to protect them. She keeps them warm and sheltered, and the baby birds feel safe in her embrace. Such is God’s fierce love for humanity. From Jeremiah Study Bible Notes

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Samantha Kennedy on Unsplash

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Christian

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 11/5/23

Cindy Dawson

“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

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 11/1/23

Cindy Dawson

Fight! for your pastor by praying for him, acknowledging that “the person who is under more satanic attack than anyone else you know is your pastor. The person whose faith Satan wants to derail the most is your pastor. The person whose marriage Satan would most like to wreck, whose kids he most wants to cause to rebel, whom he most wants to discourage is your pastor. You need to fight in prayer for your pastor.”

Peter Orr, from his book, Fight For Your Pastor

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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Christian

Tuesday, 10/31/23

Cindy Dawson

 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NIV (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

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Christian

Monday’s Verse, 10/30/23

Cindy Dawson

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].” Philippians 1:6 AMP

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Veronica White on Unsplash

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Christian

Parenting Teens Isn’t For Wimps

Cindy Dawson

Do your kids have secrets they don’t share with you? Well, I don’t know about you, but I certainly didn’t tell my parents everything I did! And I was a “good” kid (well, at least until I went away to college).

In the day we live it is more important than ever to talk to your kids and build up trust so they will tell you about school and their friends. Your kids need to be unafraid of how you will respond. They need to be able to voice their concerns to someone they know loves them.

If they say something shocking, don’t overreact! Take a deep breath and try to continue the conversation calmly so that you can discuss what they said. (Kids have been known to try to shock you.)

Consider this snippet of a real conversation a mother had with her young married daughter, Jane. (Names have been changed.)

Mom: “Are you going to church?” (not the first time Jane got this question!)

Jane: “Not really.”

Mom: “You need to go to church! It’s really important. Blah, blah, blah”

Jane: “I don’t know if I even believe in God!”

Mom freaks out and starts yelling! “You’re not my daughter! I don’t have a daughter!”

Jane storms out of the house and they don’t speak to each other for over a year.

Now here’s the back story: Jane was a Christian, but she was seriously questioning her belief in God. She accepted Jesus as a child, but she never had the support she needed to grow and mature in Christ. She needed someone to voice her concerns to.

Jesus didn’t abandon Jane. He watched over her for many years until she found her way back to Him. (He is the most faithful friend you could ever have.) Not many years later, Jane did go back to church and eventually even became involved in ministry.

So, if your child says something shocking to you that makes you want to scream, consider it an opportunity for them to think through what they said with someone who loves them.

“Be merciful to those who doubt” Jude 1:22 NIV

 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

The demands on parents today can be overwhelming, especially on moms. I know what it’s like to lose my cool. We’ve all done it!

My advice is to prepare yourself ahead of time for how you will respond to some outrageous remark from your teen because it will probably happen eventually. When something comes at us out of the blue and we are caught off guard, that’s when our response may be less than stellar.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

STAND WITH ISRAEL

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 10/27/23

Cindy Dawson

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 NLT Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

Photo by Ben Vaughn on Unsplash

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