The less familiar we are with the Scriptures, the more vulnerable we become to deception, especially if it is packaged in half-truths.”
STEVE MILLER, Foreshadows, 12 Megaclues That Jesus’ Return Is Nearer Than Ever
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
“many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” Matthew 24:11 NIV (emphasis mine) Read full chapter
I highly recommend Steve Miller’s excellent book. You can order it here.
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV (emphasis mine)
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
“I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22
The key to being a man or woman “after God’s own heart” is to be surrendered to His will and to put your trust in Him alone.
Stand outside tonight and ponder the stars. Those stars were scattered across the sky by God’s mighty hand. They are so far away that even though many of them are larger than the sun, they look like tiny points of light.
Did you know that our galaxy, the Milky Way, has approximately 100 billion stars? But the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in the universe… There are about 10 billion galaxies in the observable universe!¹
Just imagine the enormity of what we can’t even see! Our God is a mighty God. This is the God that we know and trust!
How can we know what God wants us to do? How can His plan be carried out if we don’t know what it is?
We must trust the Lord, study the Word ,and spend time in prayer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
God reminds me that “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3) Sheep aren’t that smart. They need endless attention and oversight. They are unable to take care of themselves. They need a shepherd. It’s not by accident that Scripture compares us to sheep.
David was a shepherd boy. He learned about God as he cared for his flocks. He knew everything about the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. He writes, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
The sheep know the shepherd’s voice. Jesus said,“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:2-5
As we spend time in the Word and in prayer, He leads us.
Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
If we are surrendered to the Lord, if our heart seeks after Him, we are doing our part. God will carry out His plan. He will do it. He will make that happen. He is the Good Shepherd. He has promised to lead us and we can trust Him.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
Imagine you are sitting in church, listening to your pastor’s message, and he says,
“By the way, a lot of people around here aren’t going to Heaven!” (Everybody perks up and starts to pay attention.)
He continues, “The door to heaven is pretty small. So, many people are going to go through the wrong door. In fact, only a few people will find the right door, only a few.”
The people are thinking, “What? Is that really true?”
He continues, “You better make sure you are studying your Bible or you won’t find the small door. Instead, you’ll follow the crowd through the big door. Some of you tend to do what sounds good, instead of carefully studying your Bible.” (People start to fidget because they don’t have time to read their Bibles. They’re really busy!)
The pastor exclaims, “Now that big door is not only the wrong door, it is the door that, once opened, will take you down a big, wide road that looks like a good road, but it isn’t! It leads to devastation and disaster!” (This isn’t what the people want to hear. They think he is too negative.)
He ends by saying, “Make sure you find the small door. Like I said, study your Bible. It is the GPS to the small door.”
Will the people start studying their Bibles, or will they dismiss the pastor’s warning?
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
That is an intriguing statement, made by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus and the Apostles gave us many warnings in the New Testament. We would do well to know what they are. We mustn’t only read and study the promises. We must read and study all of God’s Word.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 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?
We are vulnerable when we’re lonely. During this time of social isolation and quarantines, I suspect there are many people fighting the attacks of the enemy. But, as Beth Moore once said, “The devil can knock you down, but he can’t keep you down!”
We must follow Jesus’ example and speak the Word. Jesus quoted the Word of God to the devil in the wilderness. It was powerful then and it’s powerful now. Satan will flee.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he (Jesus) was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4: 2-4 NIV
I like to copy the Scriptures I pray into my journal. These verses strengthen my faith. I will list some of those verses, but you can add verses that are specific to your prayer needs. Keep them handy (or better yet, memorize them!)
“Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17 NIV
Verses for Prayer
FIRST FORGIVE:
“I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIV
GOD’S PROMISE:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:7-8a NIV
GOD’S PEACE:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
IN FAITH:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us …” Ephesians 3:20 NIV
FOR SAFETY:
“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 NIV
FOR STRENGTH:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Ephesians 8:28 NASB
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NIV
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 NIV
FORGUIDANCE:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.” Isaiah 58:11a
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
FOR ANOTHER’S SALVATION:
” … if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil …” 2 Timothy 2:25-26 NASB
“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Acts 16:14 NIV
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV
Prayer is our declaration of dependence on God.”
Dr. David Jeremiah
See how many Scriptures you can add to your prayer journal. Your faith will soar!
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22
The key to being a man or woman “after God’s own heart” is to be surrendered to His will and to put your trust in Him alone.
Stand outside tonight and ponder the stars. Those stars were scattered across the sky by God’s mighty hand. They are so far away that even though many of them are larger than the sun, they look like tiny points of light.
Did you know that our galaxy, the Milky Way, has approximately 100 billion stars? But the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in the universe… There are about 10 billion galaxies in the observable universe!¹
Just imagine the enormity of what we can’t even see! Our God is a mighty God. This is the God that we know and trust!
How can we know what God wants us to do? How can His plan be carried out if we don’t know what it is?
We must trust the Lord, study the Word ,and spend time in prayer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
God reminds me that “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3) Sheep aren’t that smart. They need endless attention and oversight. They are unable to take care of themselves. They need a shepherd. It’s not by accident that Scripture compares us to sheep.
David was a shepherd boy. He learned about God as he cared for his flocks. He knew everything about the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. He writes, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
The sheep know the shepherd’s voice. Jesus said,“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:2-5
As we spend time in the Word and in prayer, He leads us.
Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
If we are surrendered to the Lord, if our heart seeks after Him, we are doing our part. God will carry out His plan. He will do it. He will make that happen. He is the Good Shepherd. He has promised to lead us and we can trust Him.
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
Have you ever been trying to go to sleep, but negative thoughts invaded your mind? It could be something that happened to you in the past. Sometimes, for me at least, it’s about asking why. Why did they do that to me? Is there some part I don’t know? I wonder how many times he was unfaithful? Why am I so stupid and trusting?
Am I the only one this happens to? I don’t think so. In fact, research says there are very few people who have not experienced this.
So I decided to search the Scriptures and see what God has to say about it. Philippians 4:8 comes to mind right away.
“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.”
The Amplified Bible says, “if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”
That works because you can’t make yourself stop thinking about something, but you can decide to start thinking intently about something else! The Bible also says,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6&7
So if those negative thoughts are invading your mind at night, here’s what you can do.
Think about positive things that happened today. If you try, you will think of many things. Here are some positive things I experienced today. The moon has been huge, full and bright for several days. It is beautiful. The weather was sunny and warm when I walked Bella today. The receptionist at school was kind to me. Our school nurse is so sweet. We are fortunate to have her. Once you get started, you will think of more and more things that are lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy .
Mentally quote Scripture you have memorized. I can still quote Psalm 23 which I learned as a child (and that was a long time ago!) Psalm 91 is another wonderful Psalm to memorize. As you focus on trying to remember how it goes, unwanted thoughts fly away.
Think about what you are thankful for. I am thankful for my children and grandchildren. I could think of a thousand things and so could you! Before you know it, you’re asleep.
Good morning! That was amazing!
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
According to research, only 9% of Americans have read the entire Bible more than once. No wonder they don’t know what it says!
Christians need to know the Bible really well. There is great danger in relying on others to teach us what God’s Word says (no matter how famous the preacher or how big their church).
Why do we do it? Are we too lazy to study our Bible for ourselves? Is it easier to listen to great speakers telling us what God’s Word says and means?
I know this because years ago I was part of a church that gradually slid over into false teaching. The first thing I noticed was arrogance from the pulpit, a message that says, “We have revelation of the Scripture, but that church down the street, they’re religious … I used to go to one of those churches.” (chuckle, chuckle) The congregation begins to feel superior to other Christians.
The Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3
This happens because Christians do not read and study their Bible for themselves, and therefore they do not recognize false doctrine.
Proverbs 1:22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?”
Proverbs 22:3 “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 14:15 “A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step.”
Romans 16:18 “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
Ephesians 5:6 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Well, it’s certainly something for us to think about….
Do you study God’s Word?
With Love,
Cindy
This is My Journey Unscripted.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Real Christian Women 