“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 AMP
Up until I was 8 years old, I lived with my grandmother in a very dangerous part of St. Louis. I was not allowed to play with other children. I skipped kindergarten but had to go to school for first grade. (As you can see, I was very protected.) My mother went to a Luthern school and pleaded with them to accept me if she would give “what she could”. They agreed. It was during these years that I learned about Jesus and asked Him into my heart. It is amazing how God can take any circumstances and work them together for good!
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
The Bible has a lot to say about “the signs of the times”. Yet how much do we study it? How often do we even think about it? Knowing the signs of the times enables us to be wise to the devil’s schemes. God has warned us ahead of time.
“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:1-3 NIV (Emphasis mine)
There are many “signs of the times” today. Do we interpret them? Do we even see them? Following are a few Scriptures to consider:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.” 2 Timothy 3:1-8 NIV (Emphasis mine)
“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:5-8 NIV
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1 NIV (Emphasis mine)
“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 4:3-4 NIV (Emphasis mine)
“They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ” 2 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV (Emphasis mine)
Consider these comments from GotQuestions.org:
“Cult leaders often attract their victims by presenting themselves as Bible-believing Christians. Groups such as the Mormons, Scientist, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses all claim to be Christian, but they all deny the deity and work of Jesus, the Son of God, as our only path to forgiveness and eternal life (see John 14:6).
Closer to home, a proliferation of false christs has arisen in unexpected places: Christian church pulpits. When a teaching reinvents Jesus as someone other than He is or intentionally minimizes the more difficult truths of His gospel, it presents a false christ. With the surge of hyper-grace teaching and Your Best Life Now theology, the glory of Jesus Christ has been minimized in favor of self-worship. Jesus, when mentioned at all, is often presented as merely the ticket to receiving God’s blessings.
In this generation of biblical illiteracy, many hearers eagerly swallow this man-made version of Christ, never challenging the twisted doctrine that conceived it. Even when people are given an opportunity to “make a decision” for Jesus, one must wonder: to what Christ are they committing themselves? … As the days grow darker and sin escalates, a more palatable christ becomes attractive to those who “loved the darkness rather than the light”.
There is only one way to know for sure what is true: The Bible, God’s Holy Word. Read it every day.
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:6-9 NIV Read full chapter
The strategy of the enemy has not changed: he comes when God’s servants are weary, tempting and discouraging them in hopes that they will give up. Fatigue, frustration, failure, and fear are common enemies whenever believers undertake a work for God. But this is precisely when Yahweh steps in and strengthens His people.”
David Jeremiah Study Bible Notes
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Google Images
realchristianwomen.blog
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:8-12 NIV
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 NIV
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Earl Wilcox on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world. (Colossians 2:8, NIV 1984)
My Musings – Where do you go for the truth, when there is so much misinformation that masquerades as the truth? What “authority” can you rely on, when the authority’s credentials are often fabricated? It is way too easy to be taken “captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy.” One does need a standard to measure the people and information that self-proclaims the “truth.” A standard that has never varied with “human tradition and the basic principles of this world.”
Here’s a hint: it’s not google. There is some gold out there, but how can one distinguish it from the “fool’s” gold? Often, it is not even the latest scientific “findings.” You cannot follow the science, when the science is following the money. And even if it is not following the money, it’s all too often following a pre-conceived bias. Sometimes unintentional, but frequently intentionally. The news sources. It not hard to see which way the wind is blowing (from the left or the right). Political leaders? Puh-leeze! So many have lost all credibility.
My Advice – Turn to God. But you have to open your Bible. You have to spend some time on your “knees.” You have to spend time with other like-minded believers. Not just socially, but in church and in small groups. You need to be discipled by a trustworthy disciple-maker.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:14–15, NIV 1984). Correctly handling the word of truth will enable you discern what are “deceptive [philosophies], which [depend] on human tradition and the basic principles of this world.” No longer to be taken captive by them.
Today’s post was written by Steve Brewer, one of my favorite bloggers. Visit thebrewisamusing.com for daily inspiration from God’s Word. You’ll be glad you did!
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV Read full chapter
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
“The Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11 NIV
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Marivi Pazos on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:6-7 NIV
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Photo by Erriko Boccia on Unsplash
realchristianwomen.blog
Real Christian Women 