The older I get physically as well as the more mature and wise I become spiritually, the more people I have on my prayer list. How about you? My personal and private list seems to get longer as I add more people almost on a daily basis. My prayer list consists of family members, biological relatives, spiritual family, friends, acquaintances, and others.
Whether its people who have done us wrong or whatever else, we can trust that God will take care of all of the people involved and all of the situations in our lives. The prayers of the righteous are both powerful and effective (See James 5:15-17). They help all of us truly accomplish God's purpose and plan (See Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).
God tells all of us to "pray without ceasing" in His word (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
To assist you in your prayer life, two annual prayer journals are both available through CreateSpace and Amazon.
365-Day Prayer Journal: Praying Without Ceasing
366-Day Prayer Journal: Praying Without Ceasing
Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label God's purpose and plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's purpose and plan. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
"Lord, What About Him?"
Jesus finished having an important conversation with His
disciple, Simon Peter. During this particular conversation with
Peter, He asked him if he loved Him. Not once, but three
times. Peter told Jesus that he loved Him. Then, Jesus told Peter
to feed His sheep. At the very end of their conversation, Jesus said,
"Follow Me!" (See John 21:15-19 - paraphrased and
emphasis added mine)
Let's pick up now with verse 20.
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. [This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”]
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (v 21)
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (See John 21:20-25)
Let's go back up to verse 21.
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Peter asked Jesus an important question that day. One that requires a little more attention on our part at this time. "Lord, what about him?"
How often do we ask Jesus that same question? "Lord, what about him?" Or..."Lord, what about her?" "Do you seeing what he is doing?" Do you see what she is doing?" "Do you seeing what he is not doing?" Do you see what she is not doing?"
Did you notice Jesus' first response to Peter though? “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
In this particular instance, Peter is very much like many of us within the body of Christ. He seemed to care more about the other disciple's response or lack of response to Jesus. He was too concerned about the other man's response and not his own response to the Son of God. In part, he was comparing himself to the other disciple. He was too busy thinking about the other person's business and not taking care of his Father's business.
It is much more important to concentrate and focus on what Jesus is telling us than being concerned about what others are doing or not doing for Jesus. We need to pay more attention to Jesus and His instructions to us. We also need to pay less attention to whether others are listening to Him and obeying Him.
We have all been given a specific calling, assignment, and task in God's purpose and plan. We are all accountable to Him and only Him. Therefore, we need to do our own part and not concern ourselves with everyone else. We need to be about our Father's business. Allow God to take care of all the other disciples of Jesus Christ. He is very capable.
When we stand before God on judgment day, He will not ask us what others did for Him. He will only ask us about our part. He will only ask us whether we were obedient and faithful to what He had called us and equipped us to do for Him. Let's decide today to only be about our Father's business, and let Him take care of everyone else's business.
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Let's pick up now with verse 20.
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. [This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”]
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (v 21)
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (See John 21:20-25)
Let's go back up to verse 21.
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Peter asked Jesus an important question that day. One that requires a little more attention on our part at this time. "Lord, what about him?"
How often do we ask Jesus that same question? "Lord, what about him?" Or..."Lord, what about her?" "Do you seeing what he is doing?" Do you see what she is doing?" "Do you seeing what he is not doing?" Do you see what she is not doing?"
Did you notice Jesus' first response to Peter though? “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
In this particular instance, Peter is very much like many of us within the body of Christ. He seemed to care more about the other disciple's response or lack of response to Jesus. He was too concerned about the other man's response and not his own response to the Son of God. In part, he was comparing himself to the other disciple. He was too busy thinking about the other person's business and not taking care of his Father's business.
It is much more important to concentrate and focus on what Jesus is telling us than being concerned about what others are doing or not doing for Jesus. We need to pay more attention to Jesus and His instructions to us. We also need to pay less attention to whether others are listening to Him and obeying Him.
We have all been given a specific calling, assignment, and task in God's purpose and plan. We are all accountable to Him and only Him. Therefore, we need to do our own part and not concern ourselves with everyone else. We need to be about our Father's business. Allow God to take care of all the other disciples of Jesus Christ. He is very capable.
When we stand before God on judgment day, He will not ask us what others did for Him. He will only ask us about our part. He will only ask us whether we were obedient and faithful to what He had called us and equipped us to do for Him. Let's decide today to only be about our Father's business, and let Him take care of everyone else's business.
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
We Learn What We Live
Children learn what they live. I am sure that you have heard that one
before. It is actually the title of the written work, Children Learn What They Live, by Dorothy Law Nolte published in
1972.
Recently, I was reminded of specifically the title because it is also a good and true sentence.
I was working on a paper for seminary in the last couple of weeks. I was having a difficult time finishing it. It was already late. I had already missed the deadline for the on-time submission. However, as I was working on finishing it up, I heard my mother's voice inside of my head saying, "Get it done! Just get something down on paper, and get it done."
It has been more than 20 years since my mom passed away. Yet, while growing up and being in school, those kind of words came from my mother to me usually when I was working on a paper or another school assignment.
I have always been somewhat of a perfectionist and, at times, procrastinate until the last minute on projects such as research papers. My mom on the other hand was not that way. She was more of the get it done, matter of fact, straight forward, practical type of mother. Of course, I am also a lot like that in my life.
But, when it normally came to doing school work, I was not that type. I believe it helped me having her there with me telling me, "Get it done, Dawn! Get something down on paper. Get it done!"
We all need people like that in our lives. People who will motivate, challenge, and inspire us to be our best selves. People who will push us to the limits in a good way.
I am glad that I had her there with me at the time. As I mentioned earlier, I can sometimes still hear her voice after all of these years which brings me to another point.
"Train up a child in the way (s)he should go, and when (s)he is old (s)he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV - emphasis added mine)
By my mother helping me during my earlier years in school, I am able to still hear her voice in the way that she would want me to go in school---specifically during seminary now.
God is so good and amazing! He give us our parents, siblings, relatives, friends, and others in our lives. Everyone has a part to play in God's purpose and plan for us (See Jeremiah 29:11). They all help lead, guide, and direct us into the path that God has for us.
Who has influenced you in your life? Will you take the time to tell them, "Thank you!"? If they aren't still living in this world, will you then "Thank God!"? Thank Him for giving you that person, those people, whoever they may be or may have been to you for all the years they have been in your life. They influenced you. They helped mold you, make you, and shape you into the person you are today. God used them whether they acknowledge, realize, know, or understand it. You are now better for having had that person or those people in your life.
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Recently, I was reminded of specifically the title because it is also a good and true sentence.
I was working on a paper for seminary in the last couple of weeks. I was having a difficult time finishing it. It was already late. I had already missed the deadline for the on-time submission. However, as I was working on finishing it up, I heard my mother's voice inside of my head saying, "Get it done! Just get something down on paper, and get it done."
It has been more than 20 years since my mom passed away. Yet, while growing up and being in school, those kind of words came from my mother to me usually when I was working on a paper or another school assignment.
I have always been somewhat of a perfectionist and, at times, procrastinate until the last minute on projects such as research papers. My mom on the other hand was not that way. She was more of the get it done, matter of fact, straight forward, practical type of mother. Of course, I am also a lot like that in my life.
But, when it normally came to doing school work, I was not that type. I believe it helped me having her there with me telling me, "Get it done, Dawn! Get something down on paper. Get it done!"
We all need people like that in our lives. People who will motivate, challenge, and inspire us to be our best selves. People who will push us to the limits in a good way.
I am glad that I had her there with me at the time. As I mentioned earlier, I can sometimes still hear her voice after all of these years which brings me to another point.
"Train up a child in the way (s)he should go, and when (s)he is old (s)he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV - emphasis added mine)
By my mother helping me during my earlier years in school, I am able to still hear her voice in the way that she would want me to go in school---specifically during seminary now.
God is so good and amazing! He give us our parents, siblings, relatives, friends, and others in our lives. Everyone has a part to play in God's purpose and plan for us (See Jeremiah 29:11). They all help lead, guide, and direct us into the path that God has for us.
Who has influenced you in your life? Will you take the time to tell them, "Thank you!"? If they aren't still living in this world, will you then "Thank God!"? Thank Him for giving you that person, those people, whoever they may be or may have been to you for all the years they have been in your life. They influenced you. They helped mold you, make you, and shape you into the person you are today. God used them whether they acknowledge, realize, know, or understand it. You are now better for having had that person or those people in your life.
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Made in His Image
“So God created mankind in His own
image, in the image of God He created them;
male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV)
We
are made in the image of God. Have you thought about it? You are made in
the image of God. I am made in the image of God. The God of the
universe. The God that created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they
may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock
and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the
ground.” (Genesis 1:26, NIV)
Not only did God make us in His
image, but He also gave us power and dominion over
everything in the land. In addition, God
gave us a general purpose. He also gave us individual specific purposes.
God blessed them and said to them,
“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over
the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature
that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:22, NIV)
God realized that we not only needed
Him but we needed each other. We were created for companionship and
relationship.
The Lord
God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable
for him.” (Genesis 2:18, NIV)
It's in the relationship and
companionship of marriage between a man and a woman that we learn about the
true meaning of love, more about ourselves, as well as more about God and our
covenant relationship with Him.
God created a good helpmate for the
very first man. She was taken from his side. She was created to compliment him
and help him in God's purpose and plan.
The same is true for most of God's
children today. Most of us have a suitable helpmate who compliments us and was
created for us in order to help fulfill God's purpose and plan for us.
"But for Adam no
suitable helper was found. So the Lord
God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He
took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He
had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man." (Genesis
2:20b-22, NIV)
Bottom line: We are all made in His
image. We have power and dominion in Jesus Christ. We have a general purpose.
We have individual purposes in God's plan and sometimes also with a suitable
helpmate.
Copyright
2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Handling the Truth
This video clip you just viewed was part of the famous scene from 1992's movie "A Few Good Men" where the character, Colonel Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson stated to Tom Cruise's character, "You can't handle the truth!"
I believe that a lot of people can't handle the truth. In this movie, they were talking about the truth of a particular situation. However, I am talking about the truth of God’s word.
There was a significant time in my life when I couldn't handle the truth. In fact, a few years ago, I had received so much truth from God’s word that it was too much for me to handle at the time.
I had gotten a lot of revelation knowledge from my Father during this particular season of my life. All of this truth was too overwhelming for me. It was too much at once for me to take in then. I didn't know how to handle all of the knowledge of this specific truth that had been revealed to me from my Father.
You see, the truth that my Father revealed to me was concerning part of His purposes and plans for me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) He showed me bits and pieces of it through visions and dreams that He had given me. He had also spoken to me about part of His plans for me.
At the time, I compared it in my mind to the story of Mary, Jesus’ mother. God had a purpose and plan for Mary. [*Side Note: I am not saying that His purpose and plan for me is that huge. However, it was way more than I could comprehend at the time.] An angel of the Lord came to Mary and told her about God’s purpose and plan for her. I am sure that it was too much information for Mary to handle at the time. Can you imagine being told that you, a virgin, were going to give birth to a Son and His name would be Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world? For anyone, I think that would be so overwhelming to receive that kind of knowledge of the truth. (Luke 1:26-38) The same was true for me. I received so much revelation knowledge that I could not take it all in at once.
Perhaps, there has been a time in your life when you couldn't handle the truth. What was it? When was it?
There have also been a few different times in my life so far where I have tried to speak the truth to people regarding a particular situation or a person in their life at the time. However, they couldn't take the truth! Or...perhaps, they weren't ready to receive the truth yet!
Nevertheless, our Father God wants us to speak the truth to people in order to help them. He uses the spoken truth to mature people. (Ephesians 4:15) That way, they become the people He created them to be for His purposes and plans. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Therefore, continue to speak the truth to people. There may be some growing pains along the way for you and for them. There may be times when you can’t handle the truth or others can’t handle the truth. Still, God will use it for everyone’s benefit as well as for His purposes and plans. (Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11-13)
*More on my Faith Journey and Testimony will be shared at a later time and a different place or venue.
Copyright 2011 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
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