Welcome to the New

It is a new season here, a new title, a new look and a fresh start. I quit writing in August for a variety of reasons including the fact that I looked around and found so many great sites discussing many of the things I am interested in talking about. However, with some time off and prayerful consideration I realized that there are never too many opportunities to learn. Why? We all learn differently. Some people need to hear words spoken to understand them thoroughly. Some need to see things, tangible things. Others need to “do” what they are learning about. Some people want highly educated people teach and others want to hear from the “common Joe”. I am a processor. I need to think and flesh out what I am learning with others. I love learning. So much that sometimes I have to intentionally quit exploring new thoughts for a time and put into practice what I am learning about. That is what I want to do here. Let’s talk about what we are learning. Let’s challenge each other to be brave and bold, to try to live out what we are learning. Then let’s share our experiences. As the saying goes why should we have to “re-invent the wheel”? Let’s learn with and from one another. Treasure to Treasure is to be a place where no matter where you are in life, in your faith or even if you question that you have a faith we can learn from one another. We can talk honestly and respectfully even if we disagree.

So here we go! I met God when I was just a child. I’ve been learning about Him my whole life. However, like many people I’ve met, it is usually easier to believe that the God of the universe is concerned with only the very major points of my life or more interested in others than in me. It may be easier to believe that but it is not true. God created and loves each and every person in the universe. I really believe that. He cares about us. Why? Because He thinks of us as treasures.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:7 NIV

There are multiple references to treasures in the Bible. (Check out Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 26;18 for example) Did you know that more than 50% of those references are refering to people? It’s true. God thinks people are treasures. God thinks of you as a treasure. Take just a moment and think about that. Would anything change in your life if you realized that you are a treasure? You are valuable just as you are. You do not need to be smarter, smaller, stronger, richer, have a better job or different last name. You are a treasure. If that is hard for you to imagine think about the person you love most in this world. You “treasure” them. God treasures you. God treasures me.

I live in the Midwest. We have seasons. I am so grateful for the seasons. Everytime a new season rolls around it is like a fresh start. Each new season brings changes. It’s a new season in my life and I am inviting you to join me. Let’s explore what everyday life is like when we realize that the God of the universe treasures us. Let’s do this together, learning from one another.

What does it mean to you that God thinks of you as a Treasure?

*Music by Mercy Me, “Welcome to the New”