Loved by God

Many people in the world do not know that they are loved by God.  Believe it or not...There are many believers today within the body of Christ that do not truly know that they are loved by God.

Not too long ago, I completed a Bible study with a group of ladies at my local church.  In one of the video lessons, the Bible teacher wanted everyone to know that they were loved by God.  In fact, she had us to do an exercise where we would tell each other in our small group..."You are loved by God."

The Apostle Paul was one of the most bold, courageous believers in Biblical times.  In some of his letters to different churches, he wrote and spoke about being loved by God.  He also encouraged other believers to know that they were loved by God.

Let's take a look at specific portions of some of those letters to other believers in a few of the churches back then.

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  (Galatians 2:19-20, NIV)

Paul understood that God not only loved him but gave Himself up for him.  Because of that revelation, this apostle knew that he wasn't his own.  He put his faith in Jesus and lived for God.

In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul spoke about the Father's love for them.

"To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be His holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."  (Romans 1:7, NIV)

Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled together throughout the region of Thessalonica.

In their letters to fellow believers, they also spoke about God's love for them. 

"For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, NIV) 

"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.  He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."  (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, NIV) 

"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, NIV)

Do you know that you are loved by God?  Believe and receive the Father's love for you.  You are loved by God!

Repeat after me, "I am loved by God."

Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

The Greatest Love Story

You may think that you have already heard about the greatest love story. Most likely, you have not heard about it on your local radio station. You have not necessarily seen it on television or on the big movie screen. You probably have not read about it in the local newspaper or in a magazine.

“The Greatest Love Story” began over 2000 years ago. It was not widely known at the time. The usual ways of communicating today were not the same ways back then. Most of the news was found out about through other people. It was primarily done by word of mouth.

Now, it is my turn to share it with you on here. With this being the celebrated Valentine’s Day, it seemed more important to tell you now about “The Greatest Love Story” of all time.

A Father loved His one and only Son very much. He asked His Son to do something that most fathers today would not ask of anyone. However, this Father was not the usual father. The Son definitely was not the normal kind of son. That is where this story begins now.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

My Father God loved you sooo much that He gave up His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you.

Why did He do it?

He did it to show His unconditional love for you. He also wanted to give you everlasting life.

What does that mean?

When you accept or receive His Son, Jesus, into your heart, you can have life not only now but afterwards.

How do you accept Him?

Just ask Him to come into your heart and life. After asking Him, believe that you have received Him into your heart. (Matt 21:22, Mark 11:24) Then, confess Him as your Lord and Savior.

God’s Son, Jesus Christ, accepted His Father's will for Him. He did not have to do it, but He chose to follow His Father's instructions. He loved His Father very much, so He was obedient to Him.

Therefore, He laid down His life for you. (1 John 3:16)

Would you do the same? Would you lay down your life for someone you did not even know yet?

He had not met you in a personal interview. He had not talked to you on the phone. He had not even run into you on the street. However before even seeing you, talking to you, or meeting you face-to-face, He paid the ultimate price for you. He laid down His life for you. (1 John 3:16)

He let people torture Him. He allowed them to beat Him. He submitted to nails being pierced in His sides, a thorn crown being placed on His head, and His body being hung on a cross.

Would you do the same? Would you die for someone else so that he or she may live? More specifically, would you die so he or she may live for an eternity?

Therefore, the next time that you tell someone those three little words…I love you. First, ask yourself this question. Would I lay down my life for this person? If so, then that is closer to the kind of love, which makes for a great love story.

However, this one is “The Greatest Love Story” of all time.


Copyright 2011 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

God's Love

“Who will love me for me not for what I have done or what I will become…who will love me for me because nobody has shown me what love…what love really means…”

Those are just a few of the words to JJ Heller’s Christian music song, “What Love Really Means”. I really enjoy hearing and singing that song on occasion. The words just ring true to my heart…to the very depths of my soul and spirit. That is what love really means…God’s love.

I am sure that you have heard or read 1 Corinthians 13, known as the love chapter, in the Bible. Just in case, you have not or not in awhile, let me share a few verses with you now.

“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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Now, how great is that passage in God’s word describing Him and His love. God is love, and His love is pure, perfect, and complete. (1 John 4:16-18)

I have found myself comparing man’s love to God’s love more over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, man’s love or human love falls short much of the time. So much so that I came to a point in my life where I did not want anyone to tell me that they loved me especially certain people. To me, it was just words. There was not any real meaning behind those words, because I knew that their love was imperfect. I knew that they and their love would disappoint me as it had so many times before. That is only one reason that I now say…human love definitely pales in comparison to God’s love.

Oh…to love as God loves! Oh…to receive God’s kind of love from humans more often! How great would that be?

First, in order to give that kind of love, we need to “know and rely on the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16) As His word tells us, “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

So, when we recognize and receive His love, we are more willing and able to give His love to others. “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete…” (1 John 4:16b-17a)

John goes on to say that, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

Remember that ‘God is love.’ Where God is, there is no fear…only love…God’s love. His love is pure, perfect, and complete.

Therefore, let us choose and strive to give God’s love to others more often. We have already received His love, when He gave His one and only Son. (John 3:16a) In addition, His spirit and His love lives on the inside of us. We have the ability to reach deep down inside and love, as He loves us.

I know that it may be hard at times. There are people who make it difficult for one reason or another. Perhaps also, we have not received His kind of love from humans as often as we would like or need to up until now. However, with His help, we can do anything.

In God’s word, it says that we cannot love Him without loving other humans. That includes our brothers and sisters. (1 John 4:20-21) As we choose to give His kind of love away, we will receive that kind of love back from others.

We have first received His love, so we need to give His love away as well.



Copyright 2011 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

"Train a child..."

I have heard the old proverb..."Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV)

However, I was recently reminded, the extreme importance of this proverb.

When I was sitting outside and finishing my lunch in a shopping center area, I saw the mother of a little girl wanting to take a photo of her young daughter by a huge water fountain nearby. In and of itself, it seemed harmless.

Then, I got to thinking that the mother was exploiting her own daughter. As I watched them together, it made me feel sick. The mother, perhaps unknowingly or unintentionally, was training her child to "look pretty for the camera". It reminded me of this world's ways. This world views females as the weaker sex and exploits them in the media and advertising…treating them like a piece of flesh. Instead of thinking what it could be doing to her daughter, the mother was just thinking of what she wanted at the time.  It was not something good for the little girl and her overall well-being either.

I continued to watch the mother and young daughter together. The little girl appeared to begin getting into the short “photo shoot”. All of a sudden, she seemingly appeared to hike up her foot and knee in a model-type pose. I could not believe it! She looked like that she was only about 5 years old!

It somewhat reminded me of little Jon Benet Ramsay who was thrust into the media spotlight after her tragic death many years ago now. After her death, photos and video portrayed made-up little Jon Benet to look like a little woman. However, she was only a little girl in a lot of make-up modeling in beauty pageants.

What had this little girl in front of the large water fountain been taught? What had she been learning? Where did she learn it?

My guess is that she learned that type of behavior or pose from society...from this world's view of females...even at a very young age! With all of the suggestive-type marketing and advertising in magazines and on television, unfortunately, all girls...especially young impressionable ones...become accustomed to seeing it. They begin to think that kind of behavior is acceptable. They, in turn, learn to mimic the same type of behavior that they see as well.

Here is an example...

Have you ever played with a baby or a small toddler? What do they do? Every time, you say or do something, they try to say or do it too. At the time, you may think that it is cute or funny. However, every time you laugh at it, you are just perpetuating it. In turn, they learn to think that it is cute or funny. If there are no consequences for their behavior, they start believing that it is acceptable behavior...whether it is or is not.

It is very important to "Train a child in the way he should go..." (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV) Take it one step further, and train up a child in the way she should not go as well! Condemn the action, behavior, or sin that is not in-line with God's view of your daughter. Make sure that you do not condemn the child but the behavior. There is a difference.

You want your child to know God’s love and your love for her. At the same time, you want her to know the acceptable behavior as well. You do this by teaching your child God's view of her and His ways...not this world's view and its ways.

Get in God's word! Renew your mind! (See Romans 12:2) Learn His ways and His views of you and your daughter! Then train your child in the way she should go, and when she is old she will not turn from it. (See Proverbs 22:6)


Copyright 2010 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.