The
Women'sBible Study Expois coming up in just a few days.
Have you ever heard of it?
First of all, let me tell you about all of the people
involved in it this year. This year, 2016, will actually be my first year
participating in it. I am one of ten blog partners that are helping out
by posting about this event. There are also eleven Facebook and Twitter
hostesses who are getting the word out through the two separate social media
networks. Then, there are eight book authors who will speak about one of
their recent books during the expo.
Unfortunately, Sarah Youngis not able to participate in this
event at this time. However, she is providing a few books for the
giveaways.
The other authors will also be providing books for the
giveaways. You need to register ahead of time for these giveaways
though. There will also be on-line parties for Facebook friends and Twitter followers.
Marnie
Swedbergis the hostess for
this expo. Have you heard of her before? She is an author, speaker,
and international leadership mentor. She has been hosting this special
event for awhile.
ThisBible Study Expobegins this Thursday, March 17.
As of now, it is scheduled to be from 2pm until 4pm CST.
There will be a few ways that you can connect for this free
event. Either through the internet or the phone.
Please don't miss this annual expo and share this information
with all of your friends. Thanks!
Copyright
2016 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Many years ago now while
growing up in West Tennessee, there were a few boys who were throwing rocks on
top of a big pile of gravel rocks near a new home construction site. My
sister and I were both in elementary school back then. At the time, we
were also both there with the young boys. I am currently not sure of the
reason. However, one of the boys was a neighborhood kid that we both knew
and played with sometimes. Anyway, my younger sister got hit in
the mouth with one of the gravel rocks by the boy we both knew then. While my sister stood there
crying on top of the big rock pile, I ran down the road about a block away to
get my Daddy who was at home. We both went back to the new construction
site where some of the kids were still playing there including the neighborhood
boy. I had already told my Daddy that my sister was hurt. I then
pointed to the little boy who had thrown a gravel rock and hit
my younger sister with it. She was still crying and one of her
lips was bleeding from the injury. I remember my Daddy scolding the boy
about the incident. He was upset that someone had hurt his child.
Afterwards, all three of us headed back home together to nurture
and care for my sister. When we or others we love are
hurt by other people, we can run for our Daddy. We can run to our Father.
He will console and comfort us. He will discipline or chastise the
people for us if they are His children (See Hebrews 12:4-11). We do not
have to do it ourselves. He will nurture and care for us. We can
trust that He loves us. He will take care of the situation for us.
We can rest in His love for us. He is for us! Therefore, who
dare be against us (See Romans 8:31-39)?!?!
Copyright
2016 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
"Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated
him all the more." (v 5)
He told them to listen to his dream and he proceeded to share it with
them. "We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when
suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around
mine and bowed down to it." (v 7)
Afterwards, his brothers asked him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will
you actually rule us?” They hated him even more because of his dream and what
he had told them about it. (v 8)
He later had another dream, and he also shared it with his older
brothers. He told them to "listen" and said, “I had another
dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to
me.” (v 9)
After he told his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him and said,
“What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually
come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of
him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (v 10-11)
Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker also received dreams from God.
“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret
them.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me
your dreams.” (v 8)
The chief cupbearer proceeded to tell Joseph his dream. He told him, “In my
dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon
as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.
Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into
Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.” (v 9-11)
Have you ever been confused about a dream? Have you ever had a dream
that you needed interpreted for you?
Joseph told the cupbearer, “The three branches are three days. Within
three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and
you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were
his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me
kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was
forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done
nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” (v 12-15)
There are some dreams which are interpreted well. They are favorable
to us.
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation,
he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of
bread. In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but
the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” (v 16-17)
Sometimes, dreams are so confusing to us. They may not be initially
understood by us.
Joseph shared with the baker what his dream meant and said, “The three
baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head
and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”
(v 18-19)
There are some dreams which may not be interpreted the way we would like
them to be either.
Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his
officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in
the presence of his officials: He restored the chief cupbearer to his
position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— but he impaled
the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
(v 20-22)
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
(v 23)
Joseph must have had a very close
and personal relationship with the Lord. He not only received a couple of
dreams from God, but he was also given the ability by Him to interpret dreams
for others.
Therefore, we need to truly know
Him before being able to receive all of the dreams He has for us and also be
able to interpret them well. We must always remember though that
ultimately God is the only dream giver and the dream interpreter. (See Genesis 37:5-7, 9; 40:8)
Copyright 2016 by Dawn Freeman. All rights
reserved.
“Like the woman at the well…I was seeking for things that
could not satisfy…And, then I heard my Savior speaking…Draw from that well that
never shall run dry…Fill my cup, Lord…I lift it up Lord…Come and quench this
thirsting of my soul…Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more…Fill my cup,
fill it up and make me whole…” (song
lyrics from Fill My Cup, Lord)
There are many people in this world who are like the
Samaritan woman. Perhaps, you can identify with her. Maybe, you
know someone like her. Or, she may have even been you at one time in the
past.
This woman was minding her own business when Jesus came up
to her during the day. He initially asked her, "Will you give me a
drink?" (v 8)
She didn't understand the reason He would even talk with
her. She was a Samaritan woman, and He was a Jewish man. Back in
those days, the Jews did not associate with the Samaritans. (v 9)
However, after talking with Him for some time, she realized
that He knew more about her than she knew about Him. How could that be at
that particular time? She didn't even know Him. He was a complete
stranger to her. Yet, He knew her and told her everything about herself during
that daytime encounter at the well.
Let's read part of their conversation for a moment.
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it
is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given
you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and
the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater
than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did
also his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be
thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in
them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I
won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
“I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no
husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now
have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the
place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when
you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know,
for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and
his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is
coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
(John 4:10-26, NIV – emphasis added mine)
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Everything that you have gone through in your life is used for your good and God's purpose (See Romans 8:28).
Think about Joseph for a moment. He is a great example for the purpose of this lesson.
After everything he went through in his life, God not only brought him through all of it but brought him out better than before.
Joseph had God-given dreams. Perhaps, he was very young and naive at the time because he prematurely shared those dreams with his family specifically his earthly father and older brothers.
As a result, his brothers caused all kinds of problems for him. They were initially jealous of him and his big dreams that he shared with them. They made fun of him and treated him poorly.
They threw him in a deep pit. Then, they sold him into slavery. Lastly, they made it look like he had been killed by a violent animal by tearing up his prized robe and putting animal blood on it (See Genesis 37).
What the devil meant for Joseph's harm though, God turned around and used for His purpose and plan (See Genesis 50:20; Jeremiah 29:11).
Even though Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, he came out better off in the end. God promoted him and increased him over the years afterwards. He became ruler over a successful and prosperous land. His biological family experienced hardship and suffered during a famine in their particular region. Since they were in the midst of a crisis, they came looking for assistance. They wound up in the land where Joseph was in charge of everything. At first, they didn't even recognize their own younger brother after all of the years had passed since he was sold into slavery. However, Joseph had the opportunity to meet and speak with them during their time there (See Genesis 38-50).
He told them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20, NIV)."
Joseph recognized that his older brothers were used by the devil to hurt him, but now God was using it for his good to save many people in the land.
The same is true for you. All of the hardships, trials, challenges, and struggles that you have endured may have been meant for your harm by the devil, but God is going to use them for your good as well as for His purpose and plan. Many people will be saved as a result of everything that you have gone through in life. You will also come out better and stronger in the end.
God has great plans for you. Do not allow your temporary circumstances in life to make you forget that truth. His plans are better for you than you may even physically see with your own eyes right now. His plans are for you to have a hope and a good, successful, and prosperous future (See Jeremiah 29:11).
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights
reserved.
God told Abraham to take his one and only son, Isaac, and
sacrifice the boy to Him. Abraham had wood, a knife, the fire, and Isaac
with him. He took all of the necessary items to perform the sacrifice on
the altar.
His young son questioned his father beforehand. Isaac
asked Abraham, "...Where is the lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:7b,
NKJV)?"
Abraham answered his son, "...God will provide for
Himself the lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:8a, NKJV)."
When they got to the physical place, Abraham began all of
the preparations for the offering. He built the altar and put down all of
the wood in an orderly fashion. Then, he got his son and bound him up.
He placed him on top of the wood on the altar. Lastly, Abraham took
his knife and got ready to physically sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
However, an angel of the Lord called to Abraham from
heaven. Abraham answered, "Here I am (Genesis 22:11b, NKJV)."
Then, He told Abraham not to harm his son. He now
knew that he feared the Lord, since he was going to sacrifice his one young
son.
Abraham turned around and saw a ram in the bush. He
sacrificed the animal that the Lord provided in place of his son, Isaac.
The angel of the Lord again called out to Abraham. He
said, "Because you have not withheld your son, I will bless you and
multiply your descendants. Your descendants will possess the gates of
their enemies. All the nations will be blessed, because you have obeyed
my voice (Genesis 22:16-18 - paraphrase mine)."
Could you
do it? Would you do it? If God specifically asked you to sacrifice
a prized possession, would you be able to do it? Out of obedience to God,
could you do it?
There are many people and/or things that get in the way of
our personal relationships with God every single day in this world. He
desires to have all of us to Himself and for Himself for His purpose and plan.
He is a jealous God---a consuming fire (See 2 Corinthians 11:2)!
Often He
blesses us with people and material possessions in our lives. However, He never wants them to personally take
the place of Himself nor our personal relationships with Him. He never wants anything or anyone else to
consume us or possess us. He desires to
be the only one who possesses and consumes us.
What is
currently possessing you? What is now
consuming you in life? Is it material
possessions? Houses? Cars? Money? People?
Work? A position? Another relationship? A calling?
A ministry? A Life Group? Another small group?
Whatever
it is, make sure that it does not take precedence over God and a personal
relationship with Him. Otherwise, He may
ask you to lay it down. At any moment, He
can request that you sacrifice that other person or thing on the altar.
Know that
it is always for your best though. He
wants you---totally, completely, wholeheartedly. He desires a personal relationship with you
over anyone or anything else.
Depending
on the version, the specific phrase, ‘fear the Lord,’ is listed in the Bible
over 100 times. Therefore, it is very
important to Him that everyone fear Him in a holy way. He always wants us to revere and honor Him
above all (See Exodus 20:3; Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11).
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
"Or what man is
there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or
if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! Therefore,
whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and
the Prophets (Matthew 7:9-12, NKJV)."
In this particular
passage of scripture, the author of Matthew primarily spoke about prayer and
the answers to prayer. When you really think about it though, it also
applies to other aspects of our Christian lives.
For example...
If someone comes up to
you and asks for you to specifically help them in a certain way, then you
decide to do it your own way. How does that really help the person?
A person must really
make themselves available to others. In order to truly be disciples of
Jesus Christ, we must live like He lived and give like He gave---fully, completely,
wholeheartedly---without holding anything back and certainly not giving in a
way that is not helpful to the other person.
In the book of Romans,
the author talks about all believers being living sacrifices. What is a
living sacrifice? Jesus was the prime example of a living sacrifice (See
Romans 12:1). He gave of Himself, His time, His talents, and His other
resources.
If we are also to be
living sacrifices, doesn't that mean we also give of ourselves? We also
give of our time, our talents, and any other resources.
To be a living sacrifice
is to be "holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1, NIV)." That
particular verse also says that it is our "true and proper worship (Romans
12:1, NIV)." God desires true worshipers--true worshipers who worship
the Father in Spirit and in Truth (See John 4:23-24).
Therefore, true
worshipers are living sacrifices. Living sacrifices are true worshipers.
They worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. They generously
give of themselves, their gifts, their time, their talents, their money, and
any other resources.
Consequently, when
people generously give, they also make sure that the receivers are truly ready
to receive the gifts. They also make sure they are sending the gifts to
the correct physical location. Because in order for it to be a true gift,
they are sent not only in the right spirit but with the right mindset and heart
for the receiver.
Memorable Quotes:
"True gifts of
God's Grace are not sent into outer space while the receiver is here waiting on
earth."
"People must be
able to physically and/or spiritually receive gifts in order for them to truly
be gifts of God's grace."
"It is not a true gift
of God's grace when you send the gift into outer space while the person
who is to receive the gift is actually here on earth."
Copyright 2015 by Dawn
Freeman. All rights reserved.
