The worst insult you can give someone is to call them a snake. In slang, a snake is a backstabber who acts friendly to your face but undermines you behind your back. He is treacherous, deceitful, and manipulative.
The biggest snake of all time is Satan. He is a sneaky, silver-tongued liar. He hasn’t changed his schemes since he tricked Eve into taking a bite of the apple.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:1-6 NIV Read full chapter
The Hebrew word Ārûm, translated as crafty in verse 1, means shrewd, cunning, crafty. It suggests a high level of intelligence, cleverness, or subtlety. It highlights the serpent’s deceptive cunning.
Notice what the snake does and how he tricks her. He makes her think that what he’s tempting her to do isn’t a sin and, in fact, it will be beneficial for her. I would guess she probably wanted that to be true, and so she is easy to trick. (People are often tricked into believing a lie because they want it to be true.)
My advice: Don’t listen to the snake. Don’t be deceived.
I spoke to a Christian friend who expressed concern about the punishment she might receive for her past sins.
But does God punish those whom Christ has redeemed? Let’s examine the Scriptures that answer that question.
“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:7 NIV
Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37b NIV
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
Do these Scriptures apply even though I have committed terrible sins? What if I had an abortion? What if I killed someone? What if I committed adultery? What if I engaged in homosexual acts? Will God forgive these sins?
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NLT
“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased]” Acts 3:19 AMP (emphasis mine)
“… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 NIV
“And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].” Hebrews 10:17 AMP
Let God’s Word answer your questions. He wants you to know how great is His mercy and love!
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV Read full chapter
To affirm transgenderism or homosexual behavior is not love. Sin brings pain and heartache. It always does. That’s why God warns us against it.
Pastor David Jeremiah says, “This is the way sin works: it comes covered in an attractive veneer that hides its evil and hideous consequences.”
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth … ” Romans 1:18 See Romans 1:18-32.
The following video describes the painful experience of a 12-year-old girl who was encouraged to undergo trans surgery and immediately regretted it. If you know of a child who is considering doing this, watch this video.
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11 NIV Read full chapter
May our hearts be a storehouse of God’s Word so that the Holy Spirit can bring to mind the verses necessary for our guidance.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Romans 4:7-8 NLT
Those who trust and follow Jesus can have this immeasurable joy!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
We must not affirm sinful behavior because it has become acceptable in our culture. If you aren’t sure about which behaviors are evil and/or dangerous, the truth can be found in the Bible. God’s Word is Truth and the final authority. The Word says,
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV
Going along with anything and everything is not love. Sin brings pain and heartache. It always does. That’s why God warns us against it.
“This is the way sin works: it comes covered in an attractive veneer that hides its evil and hideous consequences.” Pastor David Jeremiah
Speaking the truth protects the innocent.Truth is the antidote for deception and deception is the enemy of mankind.
Standing for truth isn’t hard to do when evil is something society detests. But what about when sinful behavior is something our culture affirms? What sin does our society affirm? All you have to do is watch TV to find out. TV is filled with shows that seek to normalize sinful behaviors such as adultery, homosexuality, abortion, and transgender ideology.
I never thought I’d see the day when women would celebrate because they had won the right to murder their unborn baby. But many women in America demand abortion rights during all months of pregnancy, and they call it healthcare. That is not healthcare. It’s killing your baby for convenience. If we’re going to have this discussion, we should at least be honest about it.
There’s a reason abortion advocates call it healthcare. It’s more palatable to call it “healthcare” or “women’s rights” than to call it what it is: murder.
Abortion is just one evil that our culture affirms. There are many others. My question for you is: Will you love? Or will you affirm evil? Affirming evil is not love. It takes courage to stand up for what is right.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV
At one time, I didn’t understand this verse. Why would anyone delight in evil? Now I understand.
Engaging in sinful behavior is a very dangerous path. Will you stand up for truth to protect the innocent and/or the misinformed? It won’t be easy, but it will be loving.
The World promotes sinful behavior through propaganda and lies.
” … wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Deception is the work of Satan.
” … that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world … ” Revelation 12:9 ESV
Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 (emphasis mine)
FACT: “A new study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds that 81% of transgender adults in the U.S. have thought about suicide, 42% of transgender adults have attempted it.” UCLA School of Law
FACT: “According to Gissler et al. (2014), suicide rates for women directly after having abortions are three times higher than suicide rates for women overall.” Georgia College
FACT: LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers (Johns et al., 2019; Johns et al., 2020).
We do not stand for truth because we hate. We stand for truth because we love. We love the ones who are being deceived and led astray by propaganda and lies. It’s time to speak up.
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
“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.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;” Psalm 103:8-13
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
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”.
Jesus Anointed by a 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
Footnotes
Luke 7:41 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).
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
A fascinating story about the song Amazing Grace.
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.”
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shouldersand goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:4-7 NIV
The lost sheep symbolizes just one sinner who repents. That is how valuable each person is to God! (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.”
Real Christian Women 