Daily Bible Reading “Christmas Overload” (Luke 10:38-42)

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Deborah H. Bateman

Christmas Overload

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Luke 10:38-42. I love Christmas and all the things we do to celebrate Christmas. It is one of my favorite times of year. I enjoy decorating. I like buying gifts for those I love and wrapping them up in pretty paper, decorating them with ribbons and bows and putting them under the tree. I love the excitement of the holiday season. I love watching my children and grandchildren open their presents and waiting to see their reaction. I love fixing a good meal, special goodies, and dessert for my family and seeing them enjoy it.

I love celebrating Jesus’ birth and my love for Him. Sometimes I feel like all the other things we do at Christmas takes precedence over the true meaning of Christmas. The business of the season sometimes causes us to put other, more important things, on the back burner, due to lack of time. This scenario reminds me of the Mary and Martha story in the Bible where Martha is busy running around doing things to prepare for Jesus’ visit while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet enjoying spending time with Him.

We may think that Martha is the industrious one and Mary is being lazy, but Jesus says that Mary chose the more important thing. How often are we busy doing things that are not necessarily the most important thing?

By the time Christmas is over I am usually exhausted from doing all the things that we call Christmas traditions. I have been so busy preparing for Christmas that I have worn myself out. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. Do you ever feel like you’re the one doing everything, while someone else is enjoying the holiday season?

How can we change this syndrome and make it more enjoyable and relaxing for all of us? Maybe if we start earlier and spread the things we need to do over a longer period of time it wouldn’t be so stressful. Maybe we could get most of what has to do done earlier we could really enjoy the Christmas season. Then, we may be able to spend more time with friends and family and reflecting on Jesus and the love that God showed toward us when He sent Jesus to be born as our Savior. Wouldn’t that be better than working ourselves to death right up to the last-minute?

Daily Bible Reading:

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Things to think about:

How do you feel after Christmas? Are you tired and exhausted or are you refreshed and excited?
Have you ever thought maybe we try to do too much for the holidays?
What can you do in the future to change how you feel during the Christmas holidays and after Christmas?
Are you like Mary or are you more of a Martha?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we reflect on the Christmas season and our response to it, help us to do as Mary and choose the good part. Help us to realize the changes we need to make in order not to overwhelm or exhaust ourselves from all the activity that we have made part of our Christmas celebration. Help us to spend more time reflecting on Jesus and the love that God shared with us by sending Him to earth to become our Savior. Help us to show our love and gratitude for all You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and …

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troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:41-42

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Featured Book:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

The Book of Matthew also goes into Jesus’ ministry on earth, including the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ parables, and Jesus’ final days, including His death, burial, and resurrection. The book concludes with the great commission.

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ includes fifty-seven daily devotionals which contain a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer of the day. It is a great book for individual daily devotions or a group Bible study.

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May God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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PS. I will be taking some time off this week for the holidays. My husband is on vacation and my grandchildren are out of school, so I’m taking some time off so we can have some family time and I can get some rest. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Daily Bible Reading “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” Matthew 2:11

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Deborah H. Bateman

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 2:11. It’s that time of year again, the time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I don’t know about you, but as for me, by this time of the holiday season I have about worn myself out. How did we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all?

We spend weeks or even months getting ready for the big day. We decorate our houses with Christmas trees, nativity scenes, wreaths, garlands, angels, and other Christmas decorations.

We go all over town looking for the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Then, we wrap all the gifts and place them under the tree and wait for the day when we get to open all the gifts we have purchased and prepared for our loved ones.

We spend hours planning, shopping, and cooking our family’s favorite Christmas goodies and meals.

We do all this and wear ourselves out to the point of exhaustion.

During the holiday season, do we really take the time that we should to reflect on the real reason for the Christmas season?

It is Jesus’ birth we are celebrating. How do you suppose He would like us to celebrate His birthday?

Do you think He would enjoy us spending time with Him?

I know on my birthday I enjoy my friends and family spending time with me acknowledging the celebration of my birthday, don’t you?

In Matthew 2:11 we learn that the wise men traveled to see baby Jesus. When they found Jesus, we are told that they bowed down and worshiped Him. They brought gifts to Him of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The celebration wasn’t about the wise men, or Joseph and Mary. It was focused solely on Jesus.

What are some ways that we can worship Jesus during the Christmas holiday season? We might attend church worship services, Christian Christmas programs, listen to Christian Christmas songs, or read the Christmas story from the Bible and reflect on the glory, majesty, and precious gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

How do you plan to worship Jesus during the Christmas holiday season?

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 2:11

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Things to think about:

In what ways do you worship Jesus during the Christmas holidays?
What are some ways that we can teach our children and grandchildren the true meaning of Christmas?
How can we focus more on Him and not as much on the other things that we have made Christmas about?
What are some ways we can share the love of Jesus with others during the Christmas season?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Him to this world to be born of a virgin and to die on the cross for our sins. Help us during this Christmas season to focus more on celebrating His birth and less on all the other traditions that we have during this holiday season. Forgive us of the ways that we have made this time of year more about us and what we want and less about Him. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
By Deborah H. Bateman

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Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Blessings of Giving Thanks” (Psalm 100:1-5)

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Deborah H. Bateman

Blessings of Giving Thanks

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Psalm 100. This post was written by my friend, Janet Harllee.

I can already smell Mamma’s Russian tea, and taste her pumpkin pie and persimmon pudding. You cannot have Thanksgiving without them.

Thanksgiving always brings a flood of great memories to me. My parents would rent tables and set them up in our basement. Then neighbors, family, and friends were invited to bring a dish of their favorite food and join us for a Thanksgiving meal. There were friends and family we had not seen since the last Thanksgiving Day. It was a time to catch up on each other, to share hugs, laughter, and music. Psalm 100 is one of my favorite Psalms!

Daily Bible Reading:

Psalm 100:1-5

1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands. (Acknowledge Him.)

2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. (Praise Him; be joyful.)

3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (Know that God is our creator. He is the good Shepherd who loves and cares for His people.)

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. (We are all invited to praise the Lord. We are dependent on Him.)

5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. (He is faithful to all generations.)

The Pilgrims gave thanks to God for their bountiful harvest. Giving thanks to God is pleasing to Him. In praising Him, you will experience great joy!

Things to think about:

Are you truly giving Him thanks for blessing you?
Do you acknowledge God and give Him praise?
For what are you thankful?
Do we have to wait for Thanksgiving to give thanks to God?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that You will open our hearts to be truly thankful for all your blessings. Thank You, most of all, for Your grace. Teach us Lord to be more like You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. – Psalm 100:4

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Featured Book:

Give Thanks

by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

About the book:

Give Thanks is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends. Give Thanks contains 21 daily Bible lessons that remind us to have an attitude of gratitude.

Each lesson contains a brief commentary, coordinating Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer for the day. Give Thanks is a great Bible study for individual or group Bible studies.

Four of Deborah’s friends contributed to the book and one of her friends contributed pictures of nature to remind us to be thankful for God’s creation. May God bless you as you read this book and remember all the things you have to be grateful for and to “Give Thanks” with a grateful heart.

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Daily Bible Reading “Give Thanks to the LORD for His Deliverance” (Psalm 140:1-13)

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Deborah H. Bateman

Give Thanks to the LORD for His Deliverance

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Psalm 140:1-13. Psalm 140 is a Psalm of David where he is asking the LORD to deliver him from the evil and violent man. David begs God to keep him and protect him from his enemies. He asks God for some pretty harsh punishment for his enemies.

We all, at one time or the other, need to be delivered from the hand of the enemy. No matter what the circumstances of your life are, God is able to deliver you from those circumstances and set your feet on the solid rock of His salvation. Thank God for His deliverance. Call out to the King of Kings and the LORD of Lords, as David did. God is there for you. He loves you. He cares about you and what you are going through.

If you are a Christian, you’ve been delivered from a life of sin. Some of us may have been deeper in sin than others, but in God’s eyes, there is no big sin and little sin. If we are disobedient, and rebel against God, that is considered sin.

David ends this Psalm by saying, “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” Once God has delivered us from sin and covered our sins with the blood of Jesus our past sins are forgiven. Forgiveness is something for which we can give thanks every day.

Daily Bible Reading:

Psalm 140:1-13

1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.]] Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Things to think about:

In what ways have you been delivered from the enemy?
How do you thank the LORD for His deliverance?
Have you ever prayed and asked the LORD to deliver you from your enemies? If so, how did He answer your prayers?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray today, LORD, that You would deliver us and keep us from the hands of our enemy. We ask that You hear our supplications to You. For You, O LORD, are the strength of our salvation and we give thanks to Your holy name. Help us to dwell continuously in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. – Psalm 140:13

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This is an excerpt from The Book of Psalms: Part 5 Chapters 120-150.

Click the link above to get your copy now!

For the study of Psalm 119 see my book: Psalm 119: Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet.

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

The Book of Psalms: Part 5 Chapters 120-150
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Psalms: Part 5 Chapters 120-150 by Deborah H. Bateman is the 30th book in the Daily Bible Reading Series. The book of Psalms contains 150 chapters. Deborah divided The Book of Psalms into five books to make it easier to read and study. Each book contains approximately thirty chapters from the book of Psalms.

Psalm 119 has already been published in a book called: Psalm 119: Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet. The book of Psalms is one of Deborah’s favorite books of the Bible. It is a great book to read if you’re ever feeling down or need to renew your relationship with Christ. King David went through a lot of tough times in his lifetime, but he loved God and trusted God to protect him from his enemies.

The book of Psalms was written by various people. About half of it was attributed to King David, whether they were written by David or for David is questioned by some biblical scholars. Some of the Psalms were written by Asaph and some say they were written for the sons of Korah and even Moses and Solomon were writers of the Psalms. The Psalms consists of poetry that was primarily meant to be used as songs of praise to the Lord.

This part of the book of Psalms contains fifteen of the Songs of degrees. They were the songs or chants that the people of Israel sang as they journeyed to Jerusalem. It also contains some of the Psalms of David.

The Book of Psalms: Part 5 Chapters 120-150 contains thirty-eight Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individuals or group studies.

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Daily Bible Reading “In Every Thing Give Thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Deborah H. Bateman

In Every Thing Give Thanks

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Paul reminds us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Sometimes this is hard to do. It is easy to give thanks and be happy in Christ when everything is going good and all is well. It is much harder sometimes for us to remember to give thanks when things are going wrong or something bad happens in our lives.

There are things like deaths in the family, divorces, and tragedies of all kinds. How are we supposed to give thanks in these times? I have noticed in some of the darkest times of my life, that when I looked I saw blessings from God even then.

For instance, when my husband wrecked his truck and broke his back, it was a terrible time in our lives. But, there were so many blessings. There was a nurse right behind him who stopped to help him and called me. She got her husband to get all of my husband’s belongings out of the truck and took them to their house for safekeeping until my husband’s friend could go pick them up for him.

People were so kind and generous to us. People brought meals. They came and sat with my husband while I went to see my mama, who was in the nursing home at the time. His company filed all the paperwork for him to get paid.

One of the young men from our church came over to cut the grass the whole time my husband was out of work. He even surprised me and planted flower beds in front of my house while I was at the hospital with my husband. When I came home and saw my grass cut and all those flowers in front of my house, it was like God saying to me, I can take care of you.

As hard as the whole situation was, it was actually a time in our marriage when we grew closer to one another. My husband had to learn to depend on me and I had to learn to take care of him. If you take time to notice you will see that God takes care of you even in the bad times.

Sometimes it is not what is going on in our lives that matters as much as how we respond to what is going on in our lives. If we remember to find something to give thanks to God for every day it will lighten our mood and change our attitude into an attitude of gratitude.

Things to think about:

How can you be able to give thanks for everything?

Why does this Scripture say we should give thanks in everything?

What can we do to help us to be able to give thanks in everything?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture from 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It reminds us to give thanks in everything. It’s not always easy for us to do that, but help us to remember that is Your will for us. Help us to find the blessings in whatever we’re going through. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. -1 Thessalonians 5:18

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This is an excerpt from Give Thanks by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

Give Thanks

by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

About the book:

Give Thanks is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends. Give Thanks contains 21 Daily Bible Reading lessons that remind us to have an attitude of gratitude and to be thankful and grateful for everything.

Each lesson contains a brief commentary, Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer for the day. Give Thanks is a great Bible study for individual or group Bible studies.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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