Reading The Holy Bible

I encourage every member within the body of Christ to read The Holy Bible also known as The Word of God on a daily basis. Without regularly reading it, people revert back to their old or former selves. It becomes evident in the way people think, talk, and act in life.

God's word is meant to help people to actually live the Christian life; learn and grow in a personal relationship; walk by faith and not by sight; learn and grow in new identity; learn and know specific purpose; gain knowledge about the Kingdom; receive personal revelation; and so much more.

There are a variety of options in the goal to reading the Bible whether through personal devotionals, a Bible reading plan, Bible studies, and/or a combination of the different options. Every person needs to intentionally read God's word for your mind, your health, your life. Choose to learn and grow spiritually and otherwise. As a result, you will reap the benefits and be the best person that God has created, called, chosen you to be for His purpose and plan.

(See Joshua 1:8; Isaiah 53; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 4:4; John 19; Acts 1:8, 17:24-28; Romans 12:1-2; 3 John 2)

Copyright 2022 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

Following God's Call

Not every person is meant to have a JOB as the world thinks and says of other people. That kind worldview is not really biblical anyway. Every person has different spiritual gifts, abilities, talents, skills, experiences, callings, paths, and journeys. Don't attempt to box other people into a very limited box.

Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but He was the Savior of the world. The Apostle Paul had a tent-making business. However, he was basically a traveling evangelist who went from house to house and church to church. In between, he went to prison while doing God's work. Peter was a fisherman. 'The Rock' as he was called was chosen by God to preach on the day of Pentecost to thousands of people.

Mary was a virgin, but she became the mother of Jesus Christ. David was a shepherd who became a king. Matthew was a tax collector by trade. Luke was a physician. Both men were disciples of Jesus Christ though. Rahab was a prostitute who became an ancestor in the lineage of Jesus.

I could go on, but I won't now. I will say this... Some people are meant to have trades. Some people are meant to have---what the world calls---jobs. Some people are meant to own businesses.

"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..." (Ephesians 4:11-12, NKJV)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. That's the freedom to be who God has created each of us to be for His purpose and plan. So, release all of the burdens to God. Leave all the cares behind. And, allow God to do the work in and through people. He knows best for every person in this world.

(See Joshua 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 1, 4:18, 9:9-10; Acts 2:14-39, 16:1-40; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13)


Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Praying the Psalms

Little shepherd boy, David, was out in the field when Samuel requested his father, Jesse, to send for his youngest son.  

Samuel had received word from the Lord that David was the one He had chosen to be the next King over Israel (See 1 Samuel 16).  Out of all of his older brothers, young David was probably the least likely in the eyes of the people.  He wasn't the people's choice, but He was the Lord's choice.  However, he was the most likely in the eyes of the Lord.  That was truly all which mattered then.

David wasn't without opposition, obstacles, hardships, and trials in his life though.  As most people, he endured all of it.  Yet, he didn't let that stop him from being who Almighty God had created him and called him to be for His purpose and plan (See Jeremiah 29:11).

As David is the author of most of the Psalms, we get to know more about him through his inspired words to the Lord.  He actually pours out his heart to the One who made his heart during his challenges, hardships, and trials in his life which are captured in this particular book of the Bible.  God knew David, and he knew his God.  He was known as a man after God's own heart due to both his repentance and obedience to the Lord (See Acts 13:22).  

No matter what we go through in our own lives, we too can pour out our hearts to the only One who also made our hearts.  The 30-Day Prayer Journal: Praying the Psalms allows us to do that through our own written words to God.

Whether you are just beginning or continuing your prayer journey, this monthly prayer journal is available on both CreateSpace and Amazon.

30-Day Prayer Journal: Praying the Psalms


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Nothing is Ever Wasted

Nothing is ever wasted in God's kingdom.

Have you ever thought about it?

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.

Sacrifice on the Altar

Please first read Genesis 22:1-19.

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.  

"It Is Written..."

(Read Matthew 4:1-11)

It's interesting that when Jesus was in the wilderness being tested by the devil for 40 days and 40 nights---He used only three words before everything He said to the devil.  He didn't say anything other than what He heard His Father say too. 

Those three little words are also powerful.  "It is written..."  Think about it for a moment.  "It is written..." 

Every instance where Jesus was tempted by the devil---"It is written..." 

When the devil first tempted Jesus in the wilderness, it was concerning His power and authority.  He knew where it came from---from His Father's spoken words. 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  (Matthew 4:4, NIV)  It points to Jesus knowing only to speak what His Father spoke---nothing more, nothing less. 

The next temptation from the devil was regarding Jesus' identity.  “If you are the Son of God,” he [tempter] said, “throw yourself down...”  (Matthew 4:6a, NIV)

Jesus knew His identity, but He also knew not to test His Father.  Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”  (Matthew 4:7, NIV) 

The last temptation in the wilderness was concerning worldly power and wealth.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  (Matthew 4:9, NIV) 

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”  (Matthew 4:10, NIV)  

Only after Jesus had used His Father's words after every temptation from the devil was He able to overcome each temptation.  He had to be rooted and grounded not only in His identity but also in His relationship with His Father and in His Father's word.  He knew who He was.  He knew whose He was.  He knew God's word. 

It's a great lesson for all of us believers to be steadfastly committed to learning and growing in God's word and in our own personal relationships with God / Jesus.  We need to not only know our identity in Jesus Christ but to know God's word in order to overcome all of the temptations, tests, and trials that the devil tries to use against us in our lives.  Only then will we be the true Godly people He has created and called us to be for His purpose and plan.  (Jeremiah 29:11) 



Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.