Judging Other People

What people see in others also exists in them. Yet, so many times, people are too eager
to point their hypocritical fingers at others instead of realizing there is another finger on
their hand pointing back at them.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be
judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you
look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look,
a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and
then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5, NKJV)

In this particular passage from Matthew, God tells us that with the measure you use for others...it will be measured back to you. It is also evident when the judgment comes
back on the people who are originally pointing their fingers at others. Therefore, look at
yourself and judge yourself before even attempting to point out what you think you see
in other people. Know and remember that the condemnation you receive from the
judgment only comes for the devil---the accuser of the brethren---and not from our
heavenly Father.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not
walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV)

Our Father never points out our weaknesses, imperfections, flaws, struggles because
He already took care of all of it on the cross for us. He lovingly convicts us of knowing
better and doing better because of our righteousness in Christ. He already sees us as
He sees His son, Jesus. Pure. Blameless. Above reproach. Righteous. Holy.
Complete. Perfect.

So, don't believe nor receive the lies from the enemy of people's souls. Only believe and receive the truth from God and His word. It is absolute and eternal. And, the only word
that truly matters at all.

(See Isaiah 53; Matthew 5:48; John 8:44; Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 2:9-10;
Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 1 John 3:2-3)

Copyright 2019 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Write the Vision

Then the Lord answered me and said:

"Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry."

(Habakkuk 2:2-3, NKJV)

What's the vision God has given you? 

My vision consists of making disciples of all nations; preaching the Gospel; proclaiming the Good News to the poor; setting the captives free. 

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  (Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

(See Isaiah 61:1-3, NKJV)

What exactly does it involve for you?

It involves speaking, teaching, preaching God's word all over the world whether in person and/or on-line via social media pages, blogs, podcasts, and other media.  You can listen to a couple of my biblical messages on the Church for Entrepreneurs' website --- The Believers True Identity in Christ and Jesus in the Wilderness. 

I have so far written and published 3 prayer journals which are located both on Amazon and CreateSpace eStore.  I also have 3 digital versions of the prayer journals available through my Etsy shop and PayHip.  I have written numerous articles, notes, blog posts which are available through LinkedIn's Pulse, Facebook's Notes, this In Spirit and In Truth blog, and the Clothed in His Righteousness blog.

I am available for speaking engagements at conferences, seminars, churches, retreats, luncheons.  I am also available for leading, facilitating, teaching Bible studies at your church or in your home.  Additionally, I am available for writing opportunities whether as a contributor, author, blogger.
  

Copyright 2019 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

10th Annual Bible Study Expo

The 10th Annual Bible Study Expo kicked off earlier this week.  It runs through next Thursday, March 14.

There are plenty of guests who are authors for the remainder of this free online event. The founder, Marnie Swedberg, who is also the host will be interviewing the guests as well as giving away books during this annual Bible Study Expo.  As a registered participant, you have the opportunity to learn more about different Bible studies available through the special guests; win books; and attend social media parties.

For more information and to register for this online event, just go to the website at www.biblestudyexpo.com.  Be sure to tell all of your friends and family members to join you for the free event.


Copyright 2019 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

The songstress Tina Turner, sang "What's Love Got to Do With It?" in the 80's.  In the song, she sings about love just being a second-hand emotion.  

Therefore, "What's Love Got to Do With It?"

Plenty.

The world's view of love is quite different than God's view of love.  According to God and His word, love is not just a second-hand emotion.  In biblical truth, it is not really an emotion at all.  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  (John 3:16-17, NKJV)

God loved the whole world so very much that He thought of all of us first before anything else.  It was not any second-hand emotion.  It was a choice.  He chose to give up His only begotten Son, so everyone else in the world would have the opportunity to live eternally with Him.  He wanted every person to be saved from the eternal punishment of the fiery pit of hell which results in total separation from Him forever.

That's how much He really loves all of us in this world.  He doesn't force anyone to love Him though.  He woos each one of us to Himself.

How does He do that?

Well, for one, by His true nature.  In His word, He tells us that, "...God [He] is love."  (See 1 John 4:8)

Additionally, He draws each one of us to Himself through natural circumstances in life as well as in other ways.  (See James 1:2-4, 4:8a) 

As we come to truly know Him, we come to really love Him.    Then, and only then can we say that, "We love Him because He first loved us."  (1 John 4:19, NKJV)  

And, His love really changes us from the inside out!  We are transformed by His unconditional and unlimited love.  When we are truly changed, we don’t nor won’t want to hurt Him, ourselves, nor others in the ways that a lot of other people think and do others in this world.  We think of Him and His ways instead of the world and its ways.  

We then can truly know the real answer to the question, "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

What will you say the next time another person asks you that particular question?  Will you answer the way the world does in that specific song?  Or, will you answer the way God thinks and says in His word?

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Greater Works

Jesus never became friends with the devil. However, within the body of Christ, it seems that some members think and believe that we are to just tolerate sin and passively accept the works of the devil in the world. Too many Christians seem to believe that it's alright for men to think, dress, and act like women; women to think, dress, and act like men; for both men and women to have operations and procedures which change their God-created physical bodies; and so much more. It is not alright. Nowhere in God's word does it say that is alright with Almighty God either. Therefore, it should not be alright with any true believer within the body of Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons I have brought this up is due to a ministry meeting I attended a couple of months ago. This particular ministry hosts support groups for both men and women at different agencies within the community. Now, they are allowing men who identify as women to attend women support groups which not only bothers me but concerns me for the actual women within the groups who may want and need to talk confidentially about their past, their relationships, the men in their lives; and more. With so-called women now identifying themselves as women instead of actually men, it can be even more of crossed boundary lines within the support groups. As a minister, I found the whole topic of self-identified women who are still physically men allowed in women support groups to be very disturbing to me.

For those who are truly blood-bought children of God, we are in the world but not of the world. It is so very important for us to set an example as Jesus Christ was the example for us. He never condoned sin even in unbelievers such as the adulteress woman. He didn't condemn her either. However, He did tell her to go and sin no more. With the demon-possessed man, Jesus rebuked the evil spirit within the man as well as commanded him to come out and go into the swine. He didn't just accept the demonic man as he was at the time. There are also plenty of other instances in God's word where Jesus didn't tolerate the sin nor placate the sinner.

"...as He is, so are we in this world..." (1 John 4:17, NKJV - emphasis added mine)

Jesus not only tells us the works we are to do here, but He also shows us the works we are to do in God's word. Before He left this world, He told all of God's legitimate children that we do greater works than He did while He was here. (See John 14:12-14) Consequently, I not only encourage you but also strongly urge you to do all of His work in this world.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." (Isaiah 61:1-2, NIV)

Who will seriously join me?  I am looking for people to partner with me in ministry.

(See Genesis 1 - 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 5:1-20; John 8:1-11; Romans 12:1-2)

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Following God's Call

Not every person is meant to have a JOB as the world thinks and says of other people. That kind worldview is not really biblical anyway. Every person has different spiritual gifts, abilities, talents, skills, experiences, callings, paths, and journeys. Don't attempt to box other people into a very limited box.

Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but He was the Savior of the world. The Apostle Paul had a tent-making business. However, he was basically a traveling evangelist who went from house to house and church to church. In between, he went to prison while doing God's work. Peter was a fisherman. 'The Rock' as he was called was chosen by God to preach on the day of Pentecost to thousands of people.

Mary was a virgin, but she became the mother of Jesus Christ. David was a shepherd who became a king. Matthew was a tax collector by trade. Luke was a physician. Both men were disciples of Jesus Christ though. Rahab was a prostitute who became an ancestor in the lineage of Jesus.

I could go on, but I won't now. I will say this... Some people are meant to have trades. Some people are meant to have---what the world calls---jobs. Some people are meant to own businesses.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." (Ephesians 4:11-12, NKJV)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. That's the freedom to be who God has created each of us to be for His purpose and plan. So, release all of the burdens to God. Leave all the cares behind. And, allow God to do the work in and through people. He knows best for every person in this world.

(See Joshua 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 1, 4:18, 9:9-10; Acts 2:14-39, 16:1-40; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13)


Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Finding Purpose

What is your purpose? What does God want you to do for Him? What is your specific calling? How has God created you?

Numerous people in the world seem to think that people are just here to work and die afterwards. Basically, that kind of mentality believes people are only to exist in this world without any real purpose.

That is not the truth though. God has uniquely created, designed, called, and chosen every person for unique work. There is some kind of problem in this world which only you can solve for other people.

Take for instance, Martin Luther King. He was a minister, a pastor, a preacher. However, God gave him a heart and passion to bring all races together. Yes, it was specifically the white and black races beginning in the 1950's. However, he helped all races come together more through being a leader in the civil rights movement. Another person, Rosa Parks, stood up for what she believed in on a bus around the same time. They both made history. They played a tremendous part in His [God's] story.

Therefore, stand up for your beliefs. Speak out against injustices. Allow your passion to lead you to take action. Don't allow other people or circumstances to hold you back. Then, you will walk further into your God-given purpose and affect positive change for the entire world.

(See Joshua 1:8; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12-13)

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.