And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: – Acts 2:17
I have a dream, do you? Many people have dreams, not only old men. They have dreams of different things. I believe many dreams are God given. Having a dream gives your life a sense of purpose.
You may have had a dream your whole life, a strong desire to be or do something special. Some people have many dreams.
Maybe your dream is to be successful in some way. Some may want to be a professional athlete, an actress or actor, a best-selling author, a doctor, nurse, or lawyer.
Some may have dreams of finding that special person to share your life with, having a family, or buying a home.
Some may want to build a business, or to become financially secure. There are endless things that people can build dreams around.
Some people’s dreams may be to change the world in some way, while other people’s dreams are personal.
Some dreams may take a short time to accomplish, while some may take years, or even a life time to see them come to fruition.
Some may start a movement, invent a product or service, or do something renowned to change the whole world and the way we live in the world.
Having a dream and seeing it come to pass can take a lot of hard work, determination, and passion. Just having a dream is not enough; you have to be willing to do what it takes to make it happen.
You may have to set goals to reach steps along the way to see your dreams come true. You may have to take some classes or other special training to learn to do the things you need to do to see your dream fulfilled.
Many times there will be opposition. You have to work through the opposition to see your dreams come to pass. Sometimes you may have to hang on for the ride, while other times it may seem like smooth sailing.
Whatever your dream is, dream big and do what it takes to make it happen.
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 2:1-11. I find it interesting to see what other people do as some of their family Christmas traditions. What are some of your Christmas Traditions? In this post, I am going to share some of my family’s Christmas traditions and a family favorite recipe that we fix every year during the Christmas holidays.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Probably at the top of the list as one of our favorite family Christmas traditions over the years has been being involved in our church’s Christmas drama that was called, “This Man Called Jesus,” and was performed for twenty-five years at the church.
My husband, children, grandchildren all played parts in the drama throughout the years. There are many people in our community and throughout the world who attended the drama and some came back every year to see it as part of their family traditions. The drama is no longer done at our church, but has become a community project that my family is still involved in. It is now called “Jesus Is His Name.”
At home, we decorate our tree and home in a festive manner as I am sure a lot of you do as well. It is always a fun family time of putting up the tree and getting the house ready for the Christmas holidays.
This year we started a new Christmas tradition of giving the children and grandchildren an ornament that they could keep and hang on their tree in the future as something to remember us by. I also wrote them a Christmas letter introducing the new tradition and reminding them to always celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
When our children were growing up we always opened presents on Christmas morning, but now that they are grown and have children of their own, we open our presents on Christmas Eve. That way they are able to celebrate Christmas with their children on Christmas morning. We also have a nice Christmas dinner as part of our Christmas celebration. Over the past several years we have gone to our daughter’s house to have breakfast with her and watch her children open their presents. Then, we may drop by and visit other relatives and friends in the area.
We also have a big family party usually after Christmas with all of my extended family. Our house was the meeting place after my parents went to be with the Lord. Now that we have outgrown our house we started meeting at a community center. My brother, sisters, and their children and grandchildren all gather together for a meal and fellowship. Everybody brings finger foods, appetizers, or a covered dish and we all enjoy another day of celebrating together. Each family group represented at the party has their picture taken in front of the Christmas tree. We usually have about thirty or thirty-five people for this day of celebration. Of course that number continues to grow as the family grows.
We have special treats that we cook only during the holiday season. Over the years I have taught my daughters and now my grandchildren how to cook. One of our favorite things to make every year is Peanut Butter Balls. I only fix these during the holidays, so it gives my family something to look forward to. One of my granddaughters asked me if we could make them in the summer, and I told her she would have to wait until Christmas. I will share that recipe with you at the end of this post.
The wise men gave gifts at the birth of Jesus. Maybe this is where we developed the tradition of exchanging gifts.
Daily Bible Reading:
Matthew 2:1-11
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
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:
What are your family traditions?
Which of your family traditions do you feel honor Jesus’ birth?
Are there any of your family traditions that does not honor the birth of Jesus?
How can we make our family traditions more about celebrating the birth of Jesus and less commercialized?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this Scripture where the wise men’s visit at the birth of Jesus is recorded. Help us as we go through the holiday season to always remember the true meaning of Christmas. Help us to center our celebrations around the birth of Christ. Help us to honor You in all that we do. Thank You for giving the precious gift of Your Son, Jesus, to be born into this world in order to save us from our sins. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Christian Music Video:
PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. We will continue to study God’s Word together.
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.
This is a recipe my family usually makes every year for Christmas. However, I haven’t gotten around to it yet this year. I usually make three or four recipes, so we can have plenty for all our Christmas gatherings.
Peanut Butter Balls
1 lb. confectioners sugar
2 sticks margarine or butter, melted
1 cup crushed graham crackers (I run mine through the salad shooter w/ the grate blade)
1 cup peanut butter-you can use crunchy or creamy whichever you prefer, I prefer crunchy, but the grandchildren prefer creamy.
1 tsp vanilla
Melt butter, stir in peanut butter until melted, add sugar, vanilla, and graham crackers crumbs. The mixture will be very thick. Form into balls. Melt 6 oz. chocolate chips with 1/4 bar paraffin wax over low heat in double boiler. Use a toothpick or spoon to dip balls into chocolate. Put on wax paper until set.
* Each recipe will make about 100 bite-size Peanut Butter Balls.
I like to mix the chocolate chips, using some semi-sweet and some milk chocolate.
You can do only milk chocolate, or only semi-sweet, or half of each, or I prefer 3 semi-sweet to 1 milk chocolate.
If you would like to see some of our other family favorite recipes please stop by my blog called Recipe for Life at: http://www.deborah-bateman.blogspot.com
May God bless you and your family throughout the holiday season and through the next year.
I wanted to share with you about one of the trials of my life. I started praying for a Christian husband when I was a teenager, even though I was much too young to get married. I actually dated my husband for the first time when I was sixteen and he was twenty. I was too young and immature so we just had one date and that was it.
About two years later he called me and we started dating and six months later we got married. Things have not always been easy. With our love for each other, our faith in God and our determination to stay together we have now been married for over fifty years.
We were only been married for a few months when we decided we wanted to have children, but that was not God’s plan for us at the time.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, “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.”
It took us two years to get pregnant. We were so excited. We had been trying to get pregnant for two years and now we finally were expecting a baby. At three months we had a miscarriage. We were heartbroken.
I experienced so much emotion. I felt like there had been a death in the family and there was, except I felt like I was the only one mourning it. It was a very sad time for me. I would get upset when I found out other people were pregnant, especially if I thought they did not deserve to be. I acted like I was a judge. Who was I to judge who did or did not get pregnant? It was not up to me. God is the giver of life.
The doctor told us to wait a few months before trying to get pregnant again. We did, but had no idea that it would take so long. I went through all kinds of emotions over the next few years. It took us four years to get pregnant the second time. We were excited this time too, but a little apprehensive. We were scared we would miscarry again. Sure enough after three months we miscarried for the second time. We were heartbroken all over again.
We will always love and remember those two little ones. We lost both of them in the month of March, so every year we talk about how old they would be if they had lived. They will have a place in our hearts and lives forever.
This time the doctor did not tell us we had to wait. I am sure he thought that he did not have anything to worry about since it took so long before. The next month we got pregnant for the third time. We were scared the whole time. We were afraid to get excited. We had been hurt before and did not want to get hurt again. Once we passed the three-month time-table we started to relax a little.
We finally gave birth to our first daughter after eight years of being married and trying to get pregnant most of that time. God finally blessed us with a child. Four years later we had our second daughter. God completed our little family. Our two daughters are both grown now and God has blessed us with five grandchildren. God makes everything beautiful in His time.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”
I would love to tell you that life has been a basket of roses since that time, but we have had other trials to face. One thing I can tell you for sure, that no matter what trials we had to face, God has always been there to see us through them all.
We have learned so many lessons over the years. We learned that things don’t always happen when we want them to happen. We learned that God’s plans are not always the same as our plans. We have learned that God is faithful to His children.
We learned that God works all things together for good in our lives.
Romans 8:28, KJV, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
If you have experienced infertility and miscarriage as we did, ask God to help you with all the emotions that come along with a loss of this kind. Ask God to comfort your heart. He loves you and only wants the best for you. I know it might not seem like it at the time, but He does love you. Give the situation over to God and ask Him to help you deal with it. Ask God to show you His will in your life. Ask God to help you accept His timing for your life.
My prayer for you is the same as Paul’s prayer for the Philippians in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
I pray that God will meet the need that you have in your heart to have a child. I realize that this is a desire that most women have in their lives, even though not everyone is able to have children. But, there are other options such as adoption and foster care for those who want to make a difference in a child’s life while filling their need to have a child to love in their home.
May God richly bless you!
Maybe this is not the need you have in your life. Maybe you have a need in another area. Remember the same principles apply, God love you and wants the best for you in your life. Turn your cares and concerns over to Him and let Him carry you through this time in your life.
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 18:1-9. In this Scripture, we are told that through selfish desire a person, who separates themselves, seeks and rages against all wisdom.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but that their heart may discover itself.
When the wicked comes, then comes contempt, and with shame reproach.
The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
A fool’s lips enter into controversy, and their mouth calls for blows.
A fool’s mouth is their destruction, and their mouth is the lure of their soul.
The words of a gossipers are like wounds that are swallowed deep into the belly.
Those who are lazy in their work are kin to those who are great wasters.
“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.
Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
As believers we are told to separate ourselves from unbelievers and from their ungodly ways.
Have you ever had someone wound you with their words like this Scripture talks about? We need to refrain from being a part of gossipers’ conversations. We need to realize that our words can both lift people up and encourage them or our words can harm people by cutting them down and discouraging them. Lord, help us to use our words as tools of encouragement to others.
Daily Bible Reading:
Proverbs 18:1-9
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Things to think about:
What do our selfish desires cause?
Why do the words of a talebearer pierce us so deeply?
What usually causes a fool to get into trouble?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As we read this Scripture in the book of Proverbs help us to see all of the examples in this Scripture and examine ourselves to see if any of these apply to us. Examine our hearts and lives. Examine our motives and intents. Help us to be what You would have us to be. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.
Jesus asks his disciples the question, “Who do men say that I am?” Then, through different metaphors, He describes who He is.
In I AM: Jesus, the Son of God, Deborah H. Bateman shares biblical illustrations on each of these topics and includes the reason God sent Jesus to the world. This book will help you more fully grasp who Jesus is and His purpose in your life.
I AM: Jesus, the Son of God is the thirty-third book in the Daily Bible Reading Series. The book contains ten Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for consideration or discussion, a prayer, and a Bible Verse to journal or memorize. This book is great as a personal devotional or a group Bible Study. Get your copy today. You will be glad you did.
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Psalm 146. The Bible warns us not to put our trust in princes. Even as believers, we have a tendency to put our faith in people in authority and are many times disappointed because of it.
We put people who are in leadership positions on pedestals and expect perfection from them, only to be let down when they can’t live up to our expectations.
Some of the people we may put our trust in includes pastors, religious leaders, government officials, celebrities, friends, and even our own family members. This particular Scripture warns us about putting our confidence in people who are in authority over us in the government such as princes, kings, and presidents.
As verse four warns us, we need to realize that like us, they are all human and despite our best efforts at times we all fail those whom we care about most, due to our lack of good judgement.
My focus in this particular lesson is on verses 3 and 4, but if you go on to read the rest of this chapter, which I have included for you, you will see that when we put our faith and trust in LORD God and the Lord Jesus Christ, instead of people, we won’t be disappointed. They will never fail us. They will never leave us or forsake us.
Daily Bible Reading:
Psalm 146:1-10
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Things to think about:
Who does this Scripture warn us about putting our trust in?
Why does it say we shouldn’t trust in them?
Who should we put our trust in and why?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for this Scripture that warns us about putting our faith and trust in princes. Help us to realize that they are only human, as we are, and despite their best efforts, at times they will make bad decisions and disappoint us. Help us to put our faith and trust in You and Your Son, instead of people. Help us to realize that You are the only one who will never leave us or forsake us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Christian Music Video:
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.
The Book of Psalms: Part 5 Chapters 120-150 by Deborah H. Bateman is 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 will not be included in The Book of Psalms since Deborah has already published a book about it 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.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn