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.

Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)

Are you full of fruit?  That is, the fruit of the Spirit.

The first fruit is love. According to our Father’s word, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV)

Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit. Unlike happiness, joy is always there. Even when our temporary circumstances are not ideal, we are joyful. The joy of the Lord is our strength. (See Nehemiah 8:10)

Peace is considered the third fruit. There is a stillness, calmness, or serenity with us. "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32:17, NIV)

Next on the list is forbearance or patience which is the total opposite of impatience. “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25, HCSB) We learn patience by waiting for what we are hoping for and expecting in our temporary situations and individual lives.

Kindness comes in fifth in our line-up. It can be defined as compassion, consideration, thoughtful, or just plain nice. “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.  To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” (Hosea 11:4, NIV)

Goodness falls in at number six in the list. Badness is the opposite of this one. We cannot be good without the Lord’s help. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13, NIV)

The seventh fruit is faithfulness.  Faithfulness can be defined as loyal, dependable, devoted, or constant to the utmost degree.  “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, NIV)

Gentleness is the eighth fruit-bearing sign.  Hardness or harshness is just a couple of words that are opposites of this one.  "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."  (Philippians 4:5, NIV)

Self-control rounds up at number nine in the list of fruit. This one is usually thought of as self-discipline, self-restraint, or willpower. “…Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:5b, NIV)

By their fruit you will recognize them...  (See Matthew 7:16, 20)


Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Jesus is Our Peace

At times in my life, I haven't had peace. I have also heard people say that they don't have any peace. They can't get any peace.  Why?

Let me share a story with you...

Jesus had just finished teaching a crowd by the lake.  Afterwards, He said to His disciples...“Let us go over to the other side.”  He left the crowd behind.  His disciples took him into the boat.  A huge storm came.  The waves beat up over the boat where it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the back of the boat, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  Jesus calmly got up.  He told the wind, "Stop!"  The wind stopped.  Then, He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”  The wave became completely calm.  He turned to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”  (Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus' disciples were so afraid during the storm even with Jesus right there in their midst.  Jesus wasn't afraid though.  Even in the midst of those turbulent circumstances, Jesus was at rest.  He was calm and peaceful.  He literally calmed down those natural, physical cirumstances for them.

There are many lessons for us to learn from this story. 

First of all---when we are afraid during specific situations in our lives---we can rest assured that Jesus is right there with us. 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6, NIV)

Jesus was in the boat with His disciples then.  He is in our 'boat' with us now.

Next, He wasn't afraid during that physical storm.  When we depend on Jesus, we don't need to be fearful either.  We can put our hope and trust in Him.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3, NIV)

Thirdly, Jesus was calm and restful.  He was at peace in the midst of the violent storm. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, NIV)

We also can experience the calm even during natural circumstances.  When we depend on Jesus, He will help us to be at peace and rest---no matter what's going on around us.

Finally, we can know that we will have problems or hardships in this world. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33, NIV)

However, Jesus overcame all of the troubles that the world threw at Him.  We can also remember that we are overcomers when we rely on Him. 

Most of all, know that Jesus is our peace in the midst of every so-called storm in our lives.  He is the only one to go to whenever and wherever we are located physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.  He calms us.  He also calms down any physical circumstances around us.  We can only be at rest and peace with Him.


Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Safe in His Arms

Recently, I held a 15-month-old boy in my arms as I was rocking him to sleep for his nap time. As I was holding him and rocking him, I thought to myself that this very young little boy was safe in my arms. In the same way, as God's children, we are safe in His arms. 

We may not feel very safe in this world at times.  There may be times when this world with all of the chaos, confusion, drama, and turbulence kind of rocks our very beings or our lives.  

For instance, many people in this world did not feel safe after the recent bombings in Boston especially those who lived or worked in that local area.  They were shaken up.  They felt unsafe.  They were in fear for lives.  They were told to stay inside their homes for an entire day, because one of the bombers was still on the loose.

However, none of us has to stay in that uncertain or unsafe place in our minds or in our lives.  We do not have to allow natural circumstances to dictate our thoughts, feelings, our very beings, or our lives.

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."  (Proverbs 29:25, NIV)

We can go to the One who sees and knows the end at the beginning.  (Revelation 22:13)  He is the Great I Am!  He meets us where we are emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and even physically.  He meets all of our needs.  He fills in the gaps in us, in our hearts, in our minds, or in our lives.

With Him, we can know that no matter what...we will be alright.  It may not happen overnight.  It will happen though.  When we keep our eyes on Him, everything else fades away.  (Hebrews 12:2)

We can truly know the One to go to in the midst of this world's chaos, confusion, drama, or turbulence.  We can find His peace, comfort, and rest by going to Him...depending on Him...and trusting Him.  

Then, we can really know that we are safe in His arms.

Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.