Being Released From Quarantine

[Photo credit: Sa Ka miezekieze on Pixabay]

Is it safe to come out now?

A lot of us have been in quarantine for over a year until the last couple of months when restrictions have been lifted off more in certain parts of the country. Unfortunately with those restrictions being lifted off in some states; there have been more incidences of destruction, violence, and deaths which are all works of the devil and his demons. (See John 10:10) Sad to say, but it's true, that some people should have never been allowed out of quarantine at all.

I personally have been enjoying my time inside more, especially over the last few months. There's a lot less stress and more peace. Plus, I have had more time with my Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to learn and grow more spiritually and otherwise. I have learned to cook and bake more often using a couple of home delivery services which include the recipes for the meals. One of the services even sends all of the ingredients including the seasonings, spices, condiments. It's a great way to be more creative in the kitchen as well as eat more healthy at times.

Now, I am wondering... Is it really safe for people to resume some of their normal activities in this dark world? Some of the places have been in some everyday establishments, businesses, companies where people have experienced violence, destruction, and death.

Father God, help us! Help us to be salt and light whenever and wherever we go out in this world. Put a hedge of protection over and around us always. Help us to love as you love, forgive as you forgive, and heal as you heal... In Jesus' name. Amen!

(Read Matthew 4:23-24, 5:13-16, 6:12, 14-15, 8:1-17, 22:37-40; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24; 3 John 2)

Copyright 2021 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

Life or Death

I am not a political person but a biblical person. The upcoming Presidential election is very important to the health, life, and well-being of the United States of America. One candidate represents life, and the other candidate represents death.

I am reminded of God's word to all people.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

(Deuteronomy 30:15-20, NKJV)

I encourage you to choose life not just in this Presidential election but always in every area of life.

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Source: YouTube

"...Tell me the story of Jesus...Write on my heart every word...Tell me the story most precious...Sweetest that ever was heard..."

The above song lyrics of the old hymn, Tell Me the Story of Jesus, has been on my heart and mind for some time now. It has really been resonating with me lately.

I have been reminded that everybody in this world has a story to tell others. Most importantly, every believer of Jesus Christ has a story to tell other people in this world. What is the reason?

Everybody has been through challenges, obstacles, hardships, and trials in life. (See James 1:2-4) What is most important though is this... Who got them through those difficulties? What brought them out on the other side of those downfalls? How did they come out of those so-called pits in life?

Whether a person has yet accepted Him into their hearts and lives or not, it was Jesus---the name above all names. (See Romans 10:9-10) He is the author and finisher of our faith. (See Hebrews 12:1-2) He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end---who is, who was, and who is to come. (See Revelation 1:8, 22:13)

Jesus has a story. Briefly, His story is the true Gospel---His death, burial, and resurrection. (See Isaiah 53; Matthew 26-28; John 3:16-17, 19:30; Romans 10:9-10) Everyone has a story. He wants all of us to share our stories with others. Most importantly, He desires that we tell His story.

What is His story in your life? How has He loved you? What has He done for you? How has He changed you? Additionally, the list goes on... Therefore, I encourage you and challenge you today and every day thereafter. Share your story and tell people the story of Jesus.


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Confessing God's Word

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  (Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

Whatever you are confessing with your mouth will produce either life or death in your life.  You will either experience life, health, peace, so on or so forth.  Or...you will experience death, disease, destruction, and the like.

We have been given word power by God.  In the same way, He created the universe with His words.  (See Genesis 1.)  We create our world with our words.  Therefore, it's very important that we use our words carefully and wisely. 

What are you confessing?  What are you speaking by faith?

When we confess God's word, it helps all of us---believers in Jesus Christ---to get into agreement and alignment with Him and His word.  

According to Dictionary.com; confess is defined as "to own or admit as true; to acknowledge one's belief or faith in; declare adherence to; to declare or acknowledge"...Confession is defined as "acknowledgment; avowal; admission; acknowledgment or disclosure of sin or sinfulness, especially to a priest to obtain absolution...Also called confession of faith. A formal profession of belief and acceptance of doctrines, as before being admitted to church membership."

Therefore, confessing God's word is basically confessing or declaring your faith. 

If you aren't already confessing His word, you can begin now.  It's never too late to start developing a new spiritual discipline or practice.  Confessing God's word is only one of the spiritual practices in the life of a believer.  (See Spiritual Disciplines.)

You can begin confessing His word in a specific area of your life.  For instance, perhaps, you need divine health and healing in your body. 

Well, then, go to the word and find scripture verses to back it up.  To give you an example, see 3 John 1:2.  "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."  (NKJV)

Another scripture reference for healing and health would be 1 Peter 2:24.  “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (NIV)

You also can do that kind of topical search in the Bible for other specific areas in your life.  Finances.  Relationships.  Jobs.  Family.  Children.  Grandchildren.

Of course, you can confess God's word for all areas of your life as well.  In general or overall.

What are you confessing for the New Year?  What will you confess during 2015?

Check out my ministry website for a list of confessions from God's word. 

 

Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

God's Plans

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

God's plans are always good.  They are filled with hope, prosperity, and a future.

I hear and read almost on a daily basis these days people say something like..."Well, God had other plans."  "God changed His plans."  "God had different plans."  Those "other plans" or "different plans" never include anything that is really good, hopeful, or prosperous.  They usually include being sick, ill, dying too soon---basically anything you can think of that is destructive or tragic.

God never has "other plans" or "different plans" though.  His plans are always to prosper us.  His plans are always hopeful.  His plans are always good.  His plans are always to give us a future.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..."  (John 10:10b, NIV)  The devil is the only one whose plans are to hurt us or harm us.  The father of lies is the only one whose plans are to destroy us or kill us.  (John 8:44)

God never never changes His plans.  He allows everyone to choose life or death.  He allows everyone to choose blessings or curses.  (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19)  He allows everyone to choose Him or the devil.  (James 4:7)

Unfortunately, when people give the devil a foothold into them, then the enemy is able to work his plans into their lives.  (Ephesians 4:26-27)  A stronghold is formed in people when they continue sinning without repenting of it.  True repentance means that a person stops sinning and turns toward God.  (2 Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 3:8)

One of the best ways to turn towards God is to read His word on a daily basis.  (Romans 12:2)  Then, people will be able to better understand and know God's true nature.  [*Note: Read my blog post, The True Nature of God]  Only when everyone truly gets to know God and His true nature will they be able to know the difference between God's ways and the ways of the enemy.  (Hebrews 5:14)

God's ways are always higher, better, positive, encouraging, good, and hopeful.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)  Therefore, God's plans are always in line with His ways, His true nature, and His word.  


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

News Report

"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Sound familiar? It should. It is a quote from a nursery rhyme entitled Henny Penny. [See http://www.childrenstory.info/childrenstories/hennypenny.html for more info on the nursery rhyme.]

How many times do we hear or read quotes like that one? Except usually it is in the news whether televised, heard over the radio airwaves, or printed in newspapers, magazines, or even on billboards.

In the last year, a television reporter spoke about an expert who predicted the world coming to an end. Yet, it did not happen. We are still here. According to God's word, no one can predict the day or the hour that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back. (Matthew 25:13; Luke 12:40)

If you listen to or read the news often enough, you will hear plenty.

World topics around the globe...

Crime. Violence. Drugs. Suicide. Disease. Death. Addiction. Destruction. Shooting. Accident. Flood. Killing. Explosion. Sickness. Earthquake. Illness. Volcano. Tremor. Prostitution. Trafficking.

Many people wonder the reason that they are so anxious, worried, afraid, or fearful. Nobody can consume that much negativity, crime, death, destruction, and the list goes on...and not have those types of thoughts or feelings.

However, Christians are supposed to live in the world but not be of the world. (John 9:5) Therefore, stop watching and believing the news of this world.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17, NKJV) Please begin reading and believing God's word instead of the world's news report.

　

Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Jesus Loves You!

You just viewed a video of Whitney Houston singing 'Jesus Loves Me'. After her death earlier this year, there was a television special about her and her life. I remember part of it where Whitney was stating that Jesus loved her. However, to me, that kind of statement seems ironic and contradictory given her history of drug abuse and the coroner's ruling as to the cause of her death.

If Whitney really understood...if she got a true revelation...of Jesus' love for her, she would have had a much different and better life while she was here in this world. Her premature death would not have happened either. Her death also would not have been caused by drugs or anything similar.

You may say...How do you know? Why would you say such things?

How do I know? I know from personal experience as well as from God’s word. I know that when people get a true revelation of Jesus' love for them they live for Him. His love for them causes them to live for Him! They die to themselves! (Matt 16:24, Col 3:3) He is everything to them! Their life becomes more holy, pure, and righteous.

It is not part of a religious checklist. It is a by-product of their relationship with Him. Jesus' love for them makes people desire to live for Him. It makes them want to be more holy, pure, and righteous. As a result, their lives become more holy, pure, and righteous. Jesus also takes away any desires that are not of Him. He takes away any earthly and worldly cravings. He fills any voids in people's hearts and lives.

Unfortunately…based on Whitney's behavior, life, and death...she did not comprehend the magnitude of Jesus' love for her. It is also really unfortunate and sad that she did not understand fully His love for her because her behavior, life, and death would have all been different. Whitney would have had a much better outcome in life and ultimately in death.

However, I hope that by her example it causes everyone to look at themselves and their lives. I hope that it causes everyone to seek Him. (Matt 6:33) I hope that it causes everyone to comprehend the magnitude of His love for them. (Rom 8:38-39)

Why do I say it? Once you really understand and get a true revelation of His Love, He will ultimately change you and your life for the better.

Do you really know deep down inside of you that 'Jesus Loves You'?


Copyright 2012 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.