Hopes and Dreams

When I was in high school, we had to write an essay in Senior English in order to graduate.
Is that still required?
We chose our topic, got the teacher's approval, then proceeded to research for our paper. There were a lot of rules we were required to follow to write the paper so that we could receive that passing grade. We had to have our cover sheet and it had to be spaced just so, and we had to list all of our references.
That was THIRTY-SIX years ago!!!
Do you know how hard that is to believe?!?!?!
It truly doesn't seem like it was that long ago....but, yes, I graduated from high school 36 years ago this coming May/June!!!

Guess what the topic of my essay was.....
"Dreams"!!!

Here are two definitions of "dream" at Merriam-Webster on-line:

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
(this is the one I wrote my paper on)
and
A strongly desired goal or purpose

Let's look at some examples of the different definitions of dreams:

Dream - a strongly desired goal or purpose

Do you have a dream???
What I'm asking is....do you have the hope of something happening, or doing something, in the future....examples are getting married, retiring, building a house, buying a car, having children, or grandchildren...things such as these!!!
This thought came to me just the other day.....
"I am living my dream"!!!
"My dreams have come true"!!!
I remember a few years ago (going on 7 years to be exact)....Pappy and I went to Sullivan's Island, SC for our 25th wedding anniversary. When we came home, I spent the entire day on Friday working out in the yard. I remember to this day thinking that I wish I could be home and do that all the time. Little did I know at the time that God was going to make that dream come true. He saw fit to allow me to be able to quit my job and stay home....and I've been able to spend lots of time with our grandsons and with Jess!!!
(another dream come true....having GRAND-sons!!!)
I hope that He continues to allow me to stay home....but, if it should end, I will still praise Him for this time He's blessed me with!!!

Here's what Ruth said to Naomi and Orpha concerning the dream of possibly finding another husband:

Ruth 1:12 (NIV)
Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons (continued in verse 13)

Here's what Job had to say when he lost all that he had and his dreams died:
(read yesterday's post):

Job 6:11 (NLT)
But I don’t have the strength to endure.
I have nothing to live for.

And, even Herod had a dream....a dream of getting to see Jesus perform a miracle:

Luke 23:8 (NLT)
Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle.

But....Herod's dream of getting to see Jesus perform a miracle was for the wrong reason:

Luke 23:11-12 (NLT)
Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus.
Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
(Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)

Dream - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep


Many of you know who I'm talking about when I mention
Dr. Liner.
He was our interim pastor at church for a while. I've heard him say that sometimes God works out our problems thru our dreams. That's happened to me. I would have a problem related to something that I was struggling with, and in the dream it would be worked out, and I know in my heart that it was God showing me how to handle the situation!!!

Here are a few "famous" dreams mentioned in the Bible:

Jacob's Ladder
Genesis 28:12 (KJV)

Joseph's Dreams
Genesis 37:5-10

According to my research, there are 4 types of dreams recorded in the Bible:

1) Blessings
For instance, blessings given to Jacob, Joseph, the cupbearer, and King Solomon

2) Warnings
Gideon's enemies, Nebuchadnezzar, Joseph (Jesus' earthly father), the Magi

3) Information or Commands
Joseph concerning Mary's child, and also to return to Israel from Egypt

4) Visions
Daniel and also John on the Isle of Patmos

I love, love, love Bible stories!!!

I love researching the Bible about certain topics!!!!
I love the fact that the people in the Bible had hopes and dreams and feelings and emotions....just like we do.
I get so excited sometimes when I'm writing this little blog....I just fill up and want to shout give praise to my precious Lord, and sometimes I do just that!!!
I love God's word....I love how it makes me feel...I love hearing it taught and preached...I love being able to see how it applies to me and my life and what I'm going thru...and oh, how it helps to understand that people thousands of years ago felt the very same feelings and had the very same thoughts...and they, too, had
HOPES and DREAMS!!!!

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In His Love...and with mine!!!