Relationship With God

God desires to have a relationship with all people. We are already made in His image. He wants all of us to personally know Him and love Him though. (Read Genesis 1:26-27)

If you haven't first believed in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, then repent of all your sin. Ask God to forgive you of all sin once and for all. Then, believe and receive the free gift of salvation that Jesus paid for you on the cross over 2000 years ago. (Read Isaiah 53; John 3:16; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:8-10)

For those who are already His children, He desires us to really come to know Him in a deeper and more intimate relationship. He knows us and our hearts. We can share our innermost thoughts and feelings with Him. He already knows us and them. We can be completely open and honest with Him. It doesn't change Him nor His nature. However, it can change our personal relationship with Him for the better. (See 1 Samuel 16:7; James 4:8a)

By daily spending time with Him, we become more like His only begotten Son, Jesus. That time includes seeking Him, His face, His kingdom, His righteousness. We can learn more about Him not only in His word but through experience with Him in life. Plus, by praying with Him, we not only communicate with Him but agree with Him and His will. (See Matthew 6:33, 18:19; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:2-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 John 5:14-15)

Ultimately, He is the only one who informs us about our physical and spiritual identity as well as our specific purpose in His overall plan.

(Read Joshua 1:8; Jeremiah 29:11-14; Psalm 139; Matthew 4:4; Romans 12:1-2)

Copyright 2021 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

A Good Father

I recently asked a housekeeper at a hotel for a couple of extra hand towels, since there was a leak in the bathroom near the front of the bathtub.  At first, he brought me a large blue towel and asked me if it would work for me.  I told him, "No!"  I asked him to get a couple of dish towels if he couldn't find hand towels.  When he came back to my door, he passed me through the cracked door what appeared to be a blue hand towel.  However, after he left my doorway, I realized that he brought me three blue hand rags which he had been holding all folded up together.

God tells us in His word what it means when you ask for one item and you get another item instead.

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:11-13, NKJV)

Some people are wrong in their head and heart.  This particular incident reminded me though that God is not like those people at all.  He brought the above scripture to my mind then.

He calls people who give or bring us different items than what we ask for --- evil.  He goes on to say how a good father gives good gifts to his children.  Then, how much more would He give good gifts to the ones who ask Him?

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13, NKJV)

God is a good Father who knows how to give good gifts to His children!

Later the next day, another staff member not only brought me extra hand towels as I had originally asked but also extra hand rags.  My Father is really good!  He gives abundantly more than we ask and imagine according to His power within us (See Ephesians 3:20).

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

Sovereignty vs. Control

What if I told you that God is not in control?  Too many members within the body of Christ think and say that God is in control.  Being 'in control' means that a person actually makes people act against their will whether by domination, restraint, or force.  That line of thinking and speaking contradicts His character and His word though.  

He gave all people dominion over the whole earth including the creatures and land (See Genesis 1:26).  Therefore, He put all people in charge so to speak. He also gave every person a choice or "free will" dating way back to the Garden of Eden, when both Adam and Eve chose to sin against Almighty God --- the Creator of the universe (Read Genesis 1-3). 

Of course, He uses every person's "free will" or choices altogether for His purpose in the earth.  It's known as His sovereignty which is totally different than Him being in control of everyone and everything.  His children are led by His spirit within them (See Romans 8:14).  As they surrender, submit, obey Him; He uses them and their choices according to His will for them.  And, we know that all things work for the good of those who love Him which are called according to His purpose (See Romans 8:28).



Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

Counting the Cost

Have you truly counted the cost of your decisions?  

For yourself?  For others?

We all suffer and endure at the expense of not only our decisions but also other people's decisions within the body of Christ.  Why?  We are all connected both spiritually, physically, and/or otherwise.  We are ultimately affected as a part of the spiritual body though.

"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."  (1 Corinthians 12:26, NKJV)

However, there is another way.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."  (Matthew 16:24, NKJV)

'The world' would have you to think and believe that you are just on your own here.  You have to do it all by yourself.  Just pick yourself up by your boot straps so to speak.  You are old enough, educated enough, pretty enough, etc.  After all, it's all about you and your own selfish thoughts and ways.  You should be self-sufficient.  Just do it as the Nike commercial said many years ago.

Well, that kind of thinking is contrary to God and His word.  

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ."  (1 Corinthians 12:12, NKJV)

"For in fact the body is not one member but many."  (1 Corinthians 12:14, NKJV)

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,  but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  (1 Corinthians 12:20-25, NKJV)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  (1 Corinthians 12:27-30, NKJV)

We all need not only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  We all need each other spiritually, physically, and/or otherwise.  

The Apostle Paul not only recognized his weaknesses but he boasted about them.  That is usually contrary to the world's view which doesn't want you to know your weakness, show your weakness, or talk about your weakness.  He knew that it wasn't about him but about Jesus Christ though.  

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NKJV)

I too like the Apostle Paul recognize my weaknesses.  Therefore, I know my absolute need for my Savior on a daily basis.  It's through His Grace that He strengthens me, empowers me, and more.  

What is Grace?  For one, Grace is the person of Jesus Christ.  Grace is also a gift which cannot be earned nor worked for either.  We are not only saved by Grace through faith in Jesus, but we also live by Grace through faith in Jesus.  (See Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9)  

We are not only made in God's image, but we are His children which is all by Grace through faith in Jesus.  He loves all of us unconditionally.  (See Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 8:31-39)  He not only modeled His love for us but tells us about His love for us.  (See Isaiah 53; John 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."  (1 John 3:16, NKJV)

What does that look like?

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."  (1 John 3:18, NKJV)

What is the truth?

God's word.  It is the absolute and eternal truth.

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32, NKJV)

That freedom is not to indulge the flesh --- the old, sinful nature --- but to serve one another in love --- His perfect love.  (See Galatians 5:13-14, 16)

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

God's Calling

God's calling for each one of His children is unique, specific, irrevocable.

"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, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16, NKJV)

When God personally calls you into a particular aspect of ministry, He never changes that specific calling throughout your life. He may give you different assignments throughout your life but never a different calling. If He has equipped you and called you to be an evangelist, you will always be an evangelist. For example, Billy Graham is probably the most well-known evangelist in this world. He traveled, spoke, and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world for many decades. He founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association which consists of television, radio, film productions; the Billy Graham Library; as well as the Rapid Response team. As He got older, He didn't travel and preach as much but He was still an evangelist. He wrote and published books including his memoir.

Therefore, know and remember that your specific calling never changes but your assignments will vary throughout your life in this world.


[Also, see 1 Corinthians 12]

Copyright 2019 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Que Sera Sera

"...Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be..."

Source: YouTube

There are many people in this world even within the body of Christ today that actually believe those particular lyrics from the old song, Que Sera Sera, which was originally sang by Doris Day in 1956.

What if I told you that those specific song lyrics and those kinds of attitudes and outlooks are not biblical nor scriptural?

Those type of perspectives are partly to blame for the passivity and defeated mindsets of people including some unknowledgeable and unpowerful Christians. As a result, they do not live the abundant life that Jesus Christ died to give them here and now in this world.

Not only can we know God's will for us as His children, but we can also actively participate in His purpose, plan, and will for us. We can take captive those thoughts which are disobedient to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We can intentionally fight the good fight of faith. And, we can proactively win battles along the way in our individual races.

(See Jeremiah 29:11-13; John 10:10; Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7)

Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Love is Not Rude

Have you ever seen ABC's Full House? It was a half-hour sitcom in the 1990's. There was this one young character, Stephanie Tanner, who had a two-word phrase that she used often when referring to other people.

Just click on the web link below.  Then, briefly watch and listen.

Stephanie Tanner

Source: YouTube

I have been thinking, observing, and experiencing the rudeness of other people in my path as well as in my life lately. Maybe, I should begin saying to them, "How Rude!" Do you think they would get the point? Perhaps. Probably not though.

Anyway, I remember a specific part in scripture where it mentions that kind of inappropriate and unrighteous behavior.

Let's pick up with this scripture reference now.

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NKJV)

Did you specifically notice verse 5 of that part of scripture? "does not behave rudely..." (v5)

Love does not behave rudely. It is not rude.

There are many people in this world who are downright rude and inconsiderate of other people. They only think of themselves. They are just selfish and self-centered people. They are not loving people.

However, God tells us in His word---The Holy Bible---the way we should think of others. He talks about the appropriate and righteous behavior of His legitimate children.

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, NKJV)

We are not supposed to look and act like the rest of the world. We are to think of others which means not being selfish, self-centered, nor ultimately rude or inconsiderate of other people.

When people begin getting their minds off of themselves and onto other people, then it will be a much better world. It also helps out the individuals.

Jesus is the ultimate example for all of us. He thought of others. He considered people. He helped them. He didn't hurt them by being rude, selfish, self-centered, nor inconsiderate of them. He loved them. He spoke the truth to people. (See John 8:2-11)

How can we be more like Jesus? How can we help other people? What is one task we can do for someone else?


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Leaving the Past Behind

Please first read Genesis 19:14-26.

"But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."  (Genesis 19:26, NKJV)

Lot received word from some men that the Lord was going to destroy the city.  He was told to take all of his family and get out of the the region immediately.

They all obeyed the orders they received from the Lord.  He destroyed the cities where they had left earlier.  Everyone and everything was destroyed there.

Then, Lot's wife looked back behind and she became a pillar of salt.  She was destroyed for looking back.

Lot's wife looked back and was destroyed for doing so.

What can we learn from this part of scripture?

For one, we need to obey the Lord because He has our best interest at heart.  Also, it does not do us any good to look back behind us.  If anything, it can have tragic consequences for us and our loved ones.

There are also plenty of other lessons to learn from that particular passage.

However, in the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he talks about forgetting those things behind.

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:13-14, NKJV)  

Like Paul, he encouraged the believers there to press toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call in Jesus Christ.  He did not want them stay stuck in the past but to forget everything behind them.

In the same way, God does not want His children to be stuck in the past.  He desires all of them to forget everything behind them and move forward into the future.  He wants them to move further into their God-given purpose and plan.  Be who He has created them and called them to be for His perfect will.  Then, and only then, will God truly be honored and glorified in and through them.


Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

A New Creation

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Do you realize that you are a new creation?  That is, if you have accepted Jesus into your heart and made Him your Lord, then you are a new creation.  "...The old has gone, the new is here!"

It truly means you are no longer your old self---the old, fleshy, sinful person you were previously.  You are now a new creation.  You have been born again spiritually.  You are a totally new person. 

In one of His letters to the Corinth church, the Apostle Paul spoke about God giving us the ministry of reconciliation.  He wanted all the believers there to know that God had reconciled us to Himself through Christ.  In addition, God was reconciling the entire world to Himself...not counting people's sins against them.  

God gave all believers this ministry---the ministry of reconciliation.  Paul continued on about all believers being Christ's ambassadors and being committed to the message of reconciliation. 

Our Father God no longer sees us as our old or former selves.  Neither should we view ourselves in that way.  He sees us, His children, just like He sees His Son, Jesus. 

Pure.  Blameless.  (Philippians 2:14-16)  Holy.  (1Peter 1:15-16)  Righteous.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)   Above Reproach.  Perfect.  (Matthew 5:48)  Complete. 

We should also view ourselves the way our Father views us.  In light of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  (See Isaiah 53)

To think and/or say otherwise is to say that you don't believe what Jesus did for you.  Or...you don't believe He did enough.  Or...perhaps, you think you have to work for it.  Whatever the reason, it is enough.  It was enough.  You don't have to work for it.  It is finished!  (John 19:30)  Believe it!

When we are in Christ, we are new people.  We are in Christ, and He is in us.  As one Bible teacher has previously said…We are spiritual beings living in a body with a soul.  We are viewed by God as new creations.  We are new creations.  The old has passed away.  The new has come.

 

Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Let Jesus Out!

I have observed members of the body of Jesus Christ quenching the Spirit of God in their lives.  (1 Thessalonians 5:19)  I have also experienced the effects of it myself because of others' poor choices.  Perhaps, you also have observed it and experienced it yourself.  After all, we each affect one another when we are a part of the body of Christ.  (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Because believers do not obey God's word, they are not exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  They are not becoming more like Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, some Christians are becoming less like Him.

They choose to give into the flesh or the old sinful nature.  It's a shame.  It's disturbing.  It's sad.  Perhaps, they don't realize that they are a new creation.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Most of all, it's disobedient to God and His word.  It dishonors Him and does not glorify Him at all.  One of the main purposes is for His children to honor and glorify Him.  (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Timothy 1:17)

I want to say to those people within the body, "Let Jesus Out!"  Let Him live in and through you.  (Romans 6:1-14)  Allow Him to change you from the inside out.

Of course, it takes a daily renewal of the mind for all believers to experience the transformation.  (Romans 12:2)  We cannot be slack about being true followers and disciples of Jesus Christ.  It takes time, effort, communication, and an on-going relationship with Him. 

The more we spend time with Him---communing with Him---the more we will look and act like Him.  Make sure that you have let Jesus into your heart and life.  (Romans 10:9-10)  Then, you can definitely "Let Jesus Out!"

Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Waiting on God's Promises

Are you waiting on God’s promises to come true in your life?

Many believers hope and pray for God's promises to come to pass in their lives. Are you one who is actively pursuing the promises of God? Are you one who is waiting for the promises of God?  I am currently waiting for some of the promises of God to come true in my own life.

Hebrews 11 which is known as the faith chapter tells about many people in the Bible who faithfully obeyed God and saw the promises of God come to pass in their lives. Of course, it also tells about many others who did not see the promises of God come to fulfillment in their lives.

I, for one, want to be one of God's children who see and experience all of the promises of God come to fruition in my life. I hope you also desire to be one of the believers who see and experience the promises of God in your own life. What sets us apart from the ones who do not receive the promises of God?

For one, we have to believe God. We have to believe Him and His word. We must stand firm in our faith in God.

"But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’, but in Him it has always been ‘Yes’. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:18-22, NIV)

We must know that God is faithful to His word. He does not change His mind. He does not make a promise and not fulfill it. (Numbers 23:19)

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." (Romans 4:16-17, NIV)

God's promises to us, His children, come to us by grace. Grace is fully manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must be believers in Jesus Christ as well as Children of the living God in order to receive the promises of God.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:18-22, NIV)

Abraham who is considered the father of all nations believed God. He had great faith in Him. He did not doubt God or His promise to him. Sarah also believed God.  As a result, she received God's promise of a son in her old age.

"Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him." (Genesis 21:1-5, NIV)

Both Abraham and Sarah received the promises of God in their lives. They trusted God with the unknown. They did not worry about any of the details. They had faith in God.

Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." (Genesis 21:6-7, NIV)

Whatever God has promised you, keep persevering like Abraham. No matter how long it may take for the promises of God to come to pass in your life, do not give up. Continue running your race of faith...the one that God has prepared and planned for you. In the meantime, keep your eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Listening to God

God our Father often talks to us, His children. However, we as His children are not always listening to Him. With all of the busyness in life, sometimes we cannot hear our Father God. Oftentimes, we are too distracted or caught up in the routine and busyness of everyday life. It does not mean that our Father is not talking to us though...or, at least, trying to talk to us throughout our days. We just may not hear Him when He is talking to us.

It takes an especially attentive ear for His children to hear Him. We, as His children, must be still and listen very well to hear our Father's voice. We must also train ourselves to correctly hear His voice. There may be other voices talking to us at times. It takes much wisdom and discernment on our part when it comes to the Spirit of God. (1 John 4:1-3) Then, we must not only have the knowledge of our Father but also the experience with Him to know Him and His voice.

Of course, it is like that with anyone who is in a relationship with someone. It takes that one-on-one time with each other. It takes time to get to know one another. It certainly takes time to learn each other's voice with the tone, the inflection, and the pitch. It also takes time to distinguish that person's voice from other voices. The same is true of our relationship with our Father and the knowledge of His voice.

If we listen to the wrong voices, we can be led in the wrong direction and eventually down the wrong path. Therefore, it it very important to know our Father's voice. In addition, it is important that we really listen intently to Him. Sometimes, He may only say something once. Other times, He may try to tell us something more than once for our benefit. Either way, it is beneficial for us to listen for His still small voice. We, as His children, must be very attentive and not allow other voices to drown out His still small voice.

Your Father is talking to you. Are you listening?


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.