Profile Picture

My profile picture was made a month ago when Malcolm, my husband of 53 years, gave me his gift for Christmas. I tore into the package and discovered a brand new laptop. Look at my smile.

Reminds me of another gift that put a big smile on my face, one someone else gave me years ago, I won't say how many, but I was 8-years-old.

The gift - eternal life.

The giver - God through Jesus Christ.



The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

What a Treasure!

Good News

Recently, I told you that I am reading the Bible through this year. My son, Pastor John, asked his church to read the New Testament through each month in 2009. That's a lot of reading! And it's reading Good News. Think of the Hidden Treasures one would find with that kind of time invested in God's Word.

Last year, instead of reading the whole Bible, I read the New Testament through once and it encouraged and spoke to me. That was a baby step compared to the giant leap of reading it through every month. If you really want to grow spiritually and learn more about Jesus take the big plunge - read the N.T. every month.

I have observed that the calmest, most relaxed and pleasant years of several people I know were the years they read their Bible daily.

Whichever plan used will bless you!

To meet Pastor John and obtain a reading guide go his website at Lighthouse Christian Center or DailyWhitt.

Order my steps in thy word. Ps. 119:133

[Photo by Jamelah from flickr]

Resolutions

Did you make a new year's resolution?
I made only one this time -to read my Bible through - again.
I know people who have read it through every year for 35 years. Wow! That's awesome. They must have it memorized by now.

When I read it I discover so many new Hidden Treasures. This year I decided to take it a step further and journal. Each day I write the scripture that speaks directly to me. Some days there are several. Other days I pray the scripture if it applies.

The day I read about the garment that God commanded the priest to wear, I saw a Hidden Treasure. God told Moses to put the twelve names of the tribes of Israel on two stones to be attached to the shoulders of Aaron, the High Priest's garment. Also, put the names on the ephod that the Priest wore on his chest.

Aaron will carry their names before the Lord as a constant reminder. Ex. 28:12 b;

If God wanted to see the names in writing maybe I should write my family members on a paper and hold it up to God when I pray for them. I know it's not our works that saves our family but faith in the blood of Jesus, yet when I wrote their names my faith grew stronger.

Read Exodus 28 for a full account.

I love sharing mine with you, but have you thought about reading the Bible through this year and find your own Hidden Treasures? You could share them with me!

QUICKSAND

I like to think of the lessons I've learned through the years as treasures. Most of them came from troublesome times. At first the treasures were hidden from me. Later they came to light.

On this blog I'd like to share those Hidden Treasures.

One of the first happened when I was six, stepped into quicksand and slowly sank to my ankles, knees and hips. Each time I put my hand down to push my body up, the earth pulled me further. When I was waist deep and it looked as if the earth would suck my body under and suffocate me in the mud, a man - a stranger - appeared, took my hand and pulled me out.

At first I saw nothing good from that terrifying experience, but later learned two lessons.

First - I should not sneak off without permission.

Second - we all need someone to come along and rescue us, pull us out of our sins that swallow us alive. We are helpless on our own and just keep sinking down in deeper despair. We've stepped into a mess of unrighteousness, can't get out and need a helping hand. For me that helping hand was Jesus Christ.

. . . Call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21