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.

Judging Other People

What people see in others also exists in them. Yet, so many times, people are too eager to point their hypocritical fingers at others instead of realizing there is another finger on their hand pointing back at them.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5, NKJV)

In this particular passage from Matthew, God tells us that with the measure you use for others...it will be measured back to you. It is also evident when the judgment comes back on the people who are originally pointing their fingers at others. Therefore, look at yourself and judge yourself before even attempting to point out what you think you see in other people. Know and remember that the condemnation you receive from the judgment only comes for the devil---the accuser of the brethren---and not from our heavenly Father.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV)

Our Father never points out our weaknesses, imperfections, flaws, struggles because He already took care of all of it on the cross for us. He lovingly convicts us of knowing better and doing better because of our righteousness in Christ. He already sees us as He sees His son, Jesus. Pure. Blameless. Above reproach. Righteous. Holy. Complete. Perfect.

So, don't believe nor receive the lies from the enemy of people's souls. Only believe and receive the truth from God and His word. It is absolute and eternal. And, the only word that truly matters at all.

(See Isaiah 53; Matthew 5:48; John 8:44; Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 2:9-10; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 1 John 3:2-3)


Copyright 2019 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Greater Works

Jesus never became friends with the devil. However, within the body of Christ, it seems that some members think and believe that we are to just tolerate sin and passively accept the works of the devil in the world. Too many Christians seem to believe that it's alright for men to think, dress, and act like women; women to think, dress, and act like men; for both men and women to have operations and procedures which change their God-created physical bodies; and so much more. It is not alright. Nowhere in God's word does it say that is alright with Almighty God either. Therefore, it should not be alright with any true believer within the body of Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons I have brought this up is due to a ministry meeting I attended a couple of months ago. This particular ministry hosts support groups for both men and women at different agencies within the community. Now, they are allowing men who identify as women to attend women support groups which not only bothers me but concerns me for the actual women within the groups who may want and need to talk confidentially about their past, their relationships, the men in their lives; and more. With so-called women now identifying themselves as women instead of actually men, it can be even more of crossed boundary lines within the support groups. As a minister, I found the whole topic of self-identified women who are still physically men allowed in women support groups to be very disturbing to me.

For those who are truly blood-bought children of God, we are in the world but not of the world. It is so very important for us to set an example as Jesus Christ was the example for us. He never condoned sin even in unbelievers such as the adulteress woman. He didn't condemn her either. However, He did tell her to go and sin no more. With the demon-possessed man, Jesus rebuked the evil spirit within the man as well as commanded him to come out and go into the swine. He didn't just accept the demonic man as he was at the time. There are also plenty of other instances in God's word where Jesus didn't tolerate the sin nor placate the sinner.

"...as He is, so are we in this world..." (1 John 4:17, NKJV - emphasis added mine)

Jesus not only tells us the works we are to do here, but He also shows us the works we are to do in God's word. Before He left this world, He told all of God's legitimate children that we do greater works than He did while He was here. (See John 14:12-14) Consequently, I not only encourage you but also strongly urge you to do all of His work in this world.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." (Isaiah 61:1-2, NIV)

Who will seriously join me?  I am looking for people to partner with me in ministry.

(See Genesis 1 - 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 5:1-20; John 8:1-11; Romans 12:1-2)

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Mind Your Business

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop."  Perhaps, you have heard that particular saying before.  Though it is not found in scripture, there is truth found in the statement.  The Apostle Paul warned believers specifically in the book of 2 Thessalonians about idleness.

He begins, "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6, ESV)

There are reasons for his warning.  For one, no person should be lazy when it comes to the Lord's work.  However, the devil is also more able to tempt people when they are not staying productive within the Kingdom of God.  So, idle hands can be the way the devil uses them.  In addition, God does not want any person to be a burden on any one person.  We all need to be responsible for our individual selves.  God does not want any person to be a stumbling block for anyone else, nor does he want any person to be a hindrance to the true Gospel.  (See Isaiah 53; John 19; Romans 14:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10)   

Unfortunately, there are members within the body of Christ today who are too idle.  Consequently, the enemy uses them.  They gossip, meddle, and more because they are not truly being productive.  Therefore, they are busy bodies in other people's lives.  

The Apostle Paul heard about this same issue within the church at Thessalonica.

"For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."  (2 Thessalonians 3:11, ESV)

He knew and understood the reason there were some people who were being busy bodies.  At the same time, he encouraged the members of the church.

"Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living."  (2 Thessalonians 3:12, ESV)

He goes on to say, "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.  If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.  Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother."  (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15, ESV)

And, in the words of Will Smith...

[Source: YouTube]

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Jesus in the Wilderness - Part 1

We do not want to be like the children of Israel who wandered around the wilderness for 40 years. What should have taken them only days took them way too many years! They also ended up dying in the wilderness, so they still did not come out of the wilderness after all of those years. (See Exodus 13:17-22; Joshua 5:6)

Whereas it took the children of Israel wandering around the wilderness for 40 years and they still did not come out of the wilderness…It only took Jesus 40 days and 40 nights to come out of the wilderness.

In this world we are like Jesus. (1 John 4:17, NIV)

Therefore, let’s now take a look at Jesus’ wilderness experience in God’s word.

Looking back in verse 3…when the devil spoke with Jesus…he said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Then in verse 6, the devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.”

Notice the way the devil said, “If…” in both of those previous verses. “If…” is not a concrete word. When someone uses the word ‘If…’ that person does not believe part or all of their own statement. That particular person doubts and does not believe that their statement is true. So is the case with the devil, he doubted and did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. The devil also tried to make Jesus doubt His own true identity. Satan questioned Jesus’ identity by saying…”If you are the Son of God…” before each of the previous statements.

Jesus knew who He was though. He was the Son of God. Jesus also knew whose He was. He was His Father’s Son. Jesus was strong and firm in His true identity. Therefore, He did not waver in His faith during any of the devil’s temptations.

Jesus answered Satan the first time with “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (v 4)

The next time, Jesus said, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “ (v 7)

With each of these two answers from Jesus, He told the devil what His Father had told Him to tell the devil. He listened to His Father and obeyed His Father. Jesus’ obedience came from His close relationship with His Father.

With the very last temptation, the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and the splendor. He told Jesus that He could have it all if He bowed down and worshiped him. (v 8-9)

However, Jesus resisted the devil and told him, “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (v 10)

Then, the devil left Jesus and the angels came and took care of Jesus. (v 11)

Did you notice with each temptation from the devil that Jesus resisted the devil and the temptation?

At every single temptation, Jesus resisted the devil. Jesus submitted to His Father and resisted the devil each and every time.

Jesus submitted to God and resisted the devil. Submitted to God and resisted the devil. Submitted to God. Resisted the devil.

[Note: This post is only Part 1.  Please see Part 2 for the continuation of this biblical lesson...Jesus in the Wilderness]


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Bought at a Price

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV)

When you accept Jesus into your heart and into your life, you are not your own.  You were bought at a price.  It wasn't just any price.  It was a high price---the price of Jesus' life.   (1 John 3:16)

Any believer who considers or calls themselves a Christian which means 'Little Christ' does not have the right or option to choose to dishonor Jesus Christ in any way with their body---God's temple.  That particularly means being sexually intimate and active with anyone other than the person God has chosen for you and also within a marital union which comes from the Lord.  [*Note:  More on this particular topic in a future blog posting...]

"The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."  (1 Corinthians 6:13, NIV) 

One way to prevent the temptation of sexual immorality is to first guard your eyes and then your heart.  (Proverbs 4:23)  Solomon, a very wise man, spoke on this subject.  "Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes." (Proverbs 6:25, NIV)

The Apostle Paul warns the church at Corinth, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”  But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit."  (1 Corinthians 6:15-17, NIV)

This biblical truth still applies today to the church as a whole.  This message is for the entire body of Jesus Christ.

Some people within the body of Christ may think and/or say that they have the right to do anything they want to do with their bodies.  However, if they have really made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives, then that way of thinking is far from the truth. 

Paul talks about it in his letter to the church at Corinth.  “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.   (1 Corinthians 6:12, NIV)

In other words, you cannot give even a small portion of yourselves over to that way of thinking.  You cannot give in even a little to temptation from the devil.  If you do, then you give the devil a foothold into you and into your life.  (Ephesians 4:27) 

John tells us where all of temptations come from too.  "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world."  (1 John 2:16, NIV)

The Apostle Paul instructs believers to, "Flee from sexual immorality..."  (1 Corinthians 6:18a, NIV)  Leave that person.  Remove yourself from that situation.  Whatever you need to do in order to obey God, do it.

He goes on to say, "...All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."  (1 Corinthians 6:18b, NIV)  That is not completely true though.  If you have accepted Jesus into your heart and into your life, you are also sinning against Him. 

"...But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit."  (1 Corinthians 6:17, NIV)  Therefore, choose to obey and honor God with your body---His temple.  You were bought at a price---a very high price.

(*Additional Scripture References:  Proverbs 6:26-29, 32-33; Proverbs 7:25-27)

Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Honoring God With Our Bodies

Read Genesis 39:6-12. 

Did you notice?  Joseph was a very morally upright man.  He made righteous choices in the midst of the advances from another man's wife.  He didn't cave into temptation.  He obeyed God! 

God instructs all of His children to "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."  (1 Corinthians 6:18, NIV)  

Not only do you sin against your own body but you also sin against God [if you have accepted Him into your heart and life].  Depending on the situation, you sin against others as well.  For example:  If Joseph had given into the temptation; he would have sinned against Potiphar, Potiphar's wife, and God. 

However, Joseph got out of there.  He knew what was right in the situation with Potiphar's wife.  Every born-again believer knows the right thing to do in any similar situation.  They must take action though just like Joseph did in his situation. 

Read Genesis 39:13-23.

Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife wasn't as honorable as Joseph in this case.  She lied to her husband about the situation with Joseph.  She framed Joseph even though he hadn't done anything wrong.  Of course, Potiphar believed his wife's lies.  What spouse wouldn't believe their own spouse over someone else!  The result:  Potiphar took Joseph and put him prison. 

Look at v 21.  Though, Joseph was initially mistreated and betrayed by Potiphar's wife and Potiphar himself..."the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden." (Genesis 39:21, NIV) 

Now, look back at Genesis 39:20-23. 

Isn't that awesome?!?!  It not only shows God's unconditional love, kindness, and goodness to Joseph but even when everything was going in the wrong direction for him---God still took care of him.  Joseph was obedient to God.  He made wise choices in the midst of a terrible circumstance.  God looked out for him though. 

God is faithful!  And, Joseph honored God by being obedient and making right choices.  Therefore, Joseph ultimately honored God in everything that he said and did with his body.  (Colossians 3:17)  As Children of God, let's also choose to honor God with our bodies in every way. 

[This story is only one prime example from God's word about His provision and blessings for our obedience.]


Copyright 2014 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.

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.