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.

Jesus is Our Light

What do you do when you are in the dark?  You turn on the light.  If you are entering a dark room, a dark house, or a dark building; then, you turn on a light.

The same is true in our spiritual lives.  If you are in the dark about an issue or situation in your life, you turn on the light---the light of God's word. 

Jesus was in the temple courts teaching a group of people.  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law brought in a woman who had been caught in adultery and placed her before the group.  They told Jesus and asked Him, "...Now what do you say?"  (John 8:5b, NIV)  He calmly responded to their accusation.  "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."  (John 8:7b, NIV)  Each of the woman's accusers left one by one until only Jesus and the woman were left standing there.  Then, He turns to the woman and asks her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"  (John 8:10b, NIV)  "No one, sir," she said.  "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."  (John 8:11, NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12, NIV)

Another time, Jesus predicted His death before a crowd of people.  He was referring to Himself as the light.

 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.  Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When He had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid Himself from them.  (John 12:35-36, NIV)

John spoke about God being light. 

"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.  (1 John 5-7, NIV)

In Matthew's account, he talked about the believers in Jesus being the light. 

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

When we spend time in God's word (in the presence of Jesus), we are able to shed more light on matters in our lives.  Jesus is our light.  When we spend time with Him, we have more light in ourselves as well as in our lives.  Then, we can truly be light in this dark world. 

Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

And God said...

Have you really read and observed the very beginning of this world in God's word?

God who is the ultimate, superior, spirit being in the universe created this world. He has been around longer than anything or anyone else. He will continue to exist after everyone and everything is gone. (Revelation 22:13)

What really intrigues me though is the creation of the world---the way God created it---found in Genesis 1.

Please read along with me either on-line or in your Bible.

Let's pick up in v 3.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (v 3)

Did you notice the way God first created light? He first spoke it. Then, what He spoke came into existence. It became reality.

Let's take a look back later in the same chapter and pick up with v 6-7.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. (v 6-7)

He spoke it out first. Time passed. And, then what He spoke became reality.

Now, let's look at v 9.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. (v 9)

The Creator spoke. Then, it happened.

You can do this with the rest of this chapter picking up in v 14-15.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. (v 14-15)

Isn't that great?!?! Those three words---And God said---are powerful. When we receive revelation or heart knowledge, it makes a difference.

We are made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) He is the ultimate Creator. However, we also are creators.

God was speaking His faith. He was calling those things that were not into being. (Romans 4:17) Then, they manifested in the physical world.

In the same way, we speak our faith. Whether we realize it or not, we create our own world---our own reality.

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

That's the reason it's very important to guard our mouths. (Psalm 141:3) Be careful what you say and don't say with your mouth. We speak those things into their existence.

We certainly do not want to call those things that are as they are. We don't want to agree with this world's view of us. We don't need to agree with anybody else's view of us, our temporary circumstances, or our lives.

We need to only say what God says about us. Therefore, begin speaking those things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17) Start calling forth all of the hopes, dreams, purposes, and plans that God has for you. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) It will make all the difference---not only to you, but to others, and ultimately to this world.

 
Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.