We Are Treasures of God

Do you remember being a child and having favorite toy as a friend?  All the love you shared and how much you cherished it?  How about a special pet?  Or an irreplaceable friend?  A family member, your spouse, your child... all of these are treasures in our hearts.  Treasures we would defend and love like they were a part of us.  Here are two passages about God describing his people as his treasures.

1.  Deuteronomy 26:18-19  "The LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has
declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised."

In Context: Moses' sermon is renewing the Israelites' promise to obey God, and God's promise to treasure the Israelites as his people.  The covenant was first made about ten years prior when the Israelites were rescued from slavery in Egypt.  (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, Deuteronomy 14:2)

Contemporary Connection: Do I remember the day I committed myself to God's commands?  Do I remember the things he promised me?  Do I acknowledge the fact that I am God's treasured possession?  Do I say thank you for all the ways he treasures me?  Do I have faith in his promises about my future?

2. Zechariah 9:16 "The LORD their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown."

 In Context: God is prophesying through Zechariah that the Jews will be attacked by Greece, but they will miraculously defeat them.  And they will prosper and shine like crowned jewels.  This did happen, and is celebrated in the present-day holiday Hanukkah.

Contemporary Connection: It's inevitable that there are dangerous things and people in life that can harm us.  Do I believe that God is strong enough to protect me from being overcome?  Do I believe that he values me like the most beautiful part of his royal attire?  That he wants to be the one to lead me, and save me, and present me as a sparkling jewel...?

I hope this helps you in your understanding that God wants you to be his Treasure. <3

The Beautiful Season of Gratitude

It's the first day of the most colorful season of the year- Autumn, the season of gratitude.

I imagine God smiling down as he watches his most beautiful children jumping around in bouts of colorful leaves.  Or the wind blowing a woman's long locks and suddenly- ah!  A flower has landed in your hair.~

As this season begins, I hope you will take the path of gratitude.  It will open doors to joy you never knew were there.  It brings a warmth from within- a glowing peace that makes a face soft, bright and pretty.  Have you ever seen the most gorgeous child with an ungrateful look on her face?  It ruins all the beauty God intended for her to have!  Here are a few points to help you open up this season on a path to a more grateful, and beautiful heart.

1. See the Positive Things

~There is a delicate balance between hoping for more and being content with what we have.  Being angry about how "little" we have may be a sign of greed or fear that God is unable to care of us.  Desiring more is okay as long as it doesn't take over our thoughts and make us bitter.   Being able to focus on our current blessings and take joy from God's generosity is key.  But how do we do this?


 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:8

"...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -1Thessalonians 5:18 


Praticals to try:

*Try taking a prayer walk only saying thank you.  Don't stop until your walk is over!

* Find a song of praise and sing it.  This often changes my mood when I'm upset and I don't know what to say.

*Take time at the the end of each day to write down 3 things you were grateful for from that day.  I did this for a while, and no matter how negatively I may have seen my life at times, reading over that list always made me feel better.

2. Resolve Any Bitterness

~This is a command of God.  Bitterness is a huge killer of joy and gratitude. 

 "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." -Hebrews 12:14-15

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:12-15

~Depending on the types of hurts we may have, further bible study on this subject may be necessary.

3. Let it Shine!

~Allow your gratitude to shine throughout your day as a form of worship to God!  This fruit was meant to be savored. 

~Be careful not to get distracted from the proper times to grieve and have compassion for yourself and others.  Remember, there is "a time to weep and a time to dance." (Ecc 4:4)  And "like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart." (Prov 25:20) Usually however, there is a need for more gratitude in our lives.

I hope you enjoyed this Bible Study.  May the Fall season bring you more beautiful smiles of gratitude than ever.

And remember to say...

"I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made!   I worship in adoration—what a creation." -Psalm 139:14 msg