Love, Love, and More Love

“To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
Jude 1:1b-2

 

Born King of the Jews

Each year we’re reminded of the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth. Born in a stable, laid in a manger. But oh, He was so much more than just another baby born that night or any other night. (And by the way, why do babies love to come in the middle of the night?!)

That very night would begin the proclamation of who this Child really was as angels gathered in a holy chorus of praise glorifying His name, and shepherds ran to see for themselves this baby who was the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord.  

And not too long after, the truth of who He was began to spread.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’”
Matthew 2:1-3

“And this was his (John the baptist’s) message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life…’”
John 6:35

“I am the light of the world…”
John 8:12

“Jesus said again, ‘I am the door…”
John 10:7

“I am the good shepherd…”
John 10:11

“I am the resurrection and the life…”
John 11:25

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
John 14:6

“I am the true vine..”
John 15:1

“So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:28

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 
John 8:58

“…He was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
John 5:18b

“Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you say.’”
Matthew 27:11

At the beginning of His life, wise men called Him the King of the Jews.

And at the end of His life (well, a very temporary end!), Pilate called Him the King of the Jews.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus – the Son of God, the Word of God, the Creator, the Healer, the Anointed One, the Prince of Peace, the Beginning and the End…let us also remember that He is the King of Israel.

He sits on His throne in a place we can’t yet see, but He is there nonetheless, reigning over all. And someday soon He will return in full regalia as Judge and King. 

May we keep our hope and faith in Him who is not only full of grace and mercy, but is also faithful, righteous, and just. Praise His Name! 

Merry Christmas, everyone!
Dorci

A Taste of Heaven

With every passing year (week? day?), every hurdle I face, every body part that breaks down, every headline I thought I’d never see, I find myself longing more and more for my heavenly home.

This world holds less of what I want, but heaven…the home of my LORD, my Savior, my Friend…that is where my heart is. And I know I’m not alone.

 

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved.”

Romans 8:22-24

Ah, childbirth. In those moments of some of the most intense, blinding, delirium-inducing pain I’ve ever had, I never thought I’d be able to look back and smile. Even chuckle. I barely remember the pain now, but oh, the tremendous blessing I received afterward – now that I remember, and am still blessed with today.

And I can say yes, it was all worth it. The morning sickness, the cravings, the water retention, the back pain, all worth it. I can even cherish it now knowing the beauty that came from it.

And yes, no matter the pain in this life, it’ll all be worth it someday. The day will come when not only our adoption is complete, but we’ll see how the Lord used the trials in this life to mature our faith, to grow us closer to Him, and to receive those treasures we’ve laid up there, treasures greater than we can ever imagine.

For now, we continue to groan inwardly, to wait, patiently, for our time to come. There is a way, though, to experience a taste right now of the future reward for our labor.

Call up an old friend, a brother or sister in the Lord you haven’t seen in while, and invite him or her to lunch, dinner, coffee.

Laugh over old times, eagerly share what’s happened in your lives, how the Lord’s been faithful to always be there in the tough times, and what He’s taught you along the way.

As your heart is filled with the joy of the reunion, let it be a reminder of joy we’ll experience at the great feast in heaven as we join untold numbers of loved ones, those we sorely miss and those we have yet to meet, with our King at the head, and rejoice forever.

Until then, let us hold onto our Hope.

Diamonds in the Darkness

I looked down and it was gone. I had no idea when or where, if I’d been at home or out in the great big world, but the diamond from my wedding ring was gone. Had it been sucked up by the vacuum? Had a bird snatched it from the lawn? Had it been kicked under shelving at the grocery? Only God knew.

I walked around the house, searching with laser-like vision.

Nothing.

I asked a few friends if they would pray for me, with me, that the Lord would lead me to it. And for the next number of weeks my normal walking position became with my head down, eyes furiously scouring every inch.

Still nothing.

I started to think I might have to get a new diamond.

Then one Wednesday night I walked into the darkened garage to go to the mid-week service, opened the car door which turned on the dome light, and started to slide into the driver’s seat. I looked down to make sure where I was placing my foot, and I saw something glimmer.

Could it be?

I moved my foot, reached down and picked up the shiny object.

It was.

My diamond had been resting on the dirty floor of the car all that time. Who knows how many miles it had languished there, how many times my foot had stepped there, but God knew.

I’ve had the prongs checked and tightened a couple of times (and once replaced) in the years since.

And I’ve thought about the allegory it represents for all of us in Christ.

Yes, we were all lost until Christ called us found.

And because of Him, by Him, through Him, we were made into precious gems. And still, He is constantly fashioning in us, by the chiseling of our trials, even more facets to reflect His beautiful light. And while we always shine, we reflect Him best in the darkness.

 

“You are the light (phōs) of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 
Matthew 5:14-16

 

That Greek word phōs means to shine, or make manifest, especially by rays; luminousness, fire, light.

The more Jesus becomes our passion, the more our hearts are on fire for Him and Him alone, the more we’re going to shine with the eternal Light the world needs and is desperately searching for.

As dusk turns into night on this world, we can shine brightly for Him on the stand He’s given us.

Wherever He takes us, whomever He gives us, with whatever gifts He’s given us, may we shine.

Through our works, our speech, our fruit, may we shine.

With His triumphant truth, His compassion, His gentleness, His kindness, His forgiveness, His sacrificial, all-encompassing, grace- and mercy-filled love, may we shine like the Son.

 

Heavenly Father, may we shine with the Light of your Son through the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

15 Years!


Hello!

I’m doing a little bit of celebrating today. It’s been 15 years since I started God Treasure, four and half years first on Blogspot, and ten and half here.

I was encouraged to write by a couple of friends years ago. Then when my health took a dive and I wasn’t able to serve Him in other ways, I finally took the plunge into devotional writing.  I’m so thankful He’s allowed me to serve Him this way. Or maybe, (just maybe!) that was His plan all along.

Nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows the beginning from the end and vice versa.  He knew what my life held, all its craziness, before Christ and after, and I’m sure this was His plan from the beginning, and why He began planting seeds through those friends so long ago.  

And maybe that’s what this has been about, a way for Him to bring healing to my heart, a heart that’s held more pain than a heart should be able to hold, but for Him. Only He could heal a heart like that.

Even though I delve into scripture, I still sit here every time in front of a blank screen, not knowing exactly where the Lord and I are going.  But I pray, and the Holy Spirit gives me direction.

He’s always showing me things I didn’t know, having given me more “aha!” moments than I can count that have led me down a fifteen-year path of tears and joys. He teaches me first, bringing healing to my own heart, and through that, He’s equipped me with understanding and compassion to help show others how faithful our God is.  

I hope and pray the Lord’s brought hope and bit more understanding to even a few through my own discoveries, and maybe a bit of comfort that whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, in so many ways, over and over again.

So, from my healed, and healing, heart to yours, thank you for reading. I hope you’ve found something to take away for yourself. l hope you’ve grown deeper in love with Jesus, learning you can trust Him more and more, and then taken Him out into the world as salt and light for others.

It’s been my story, and maybe yours, too.

 

As always, if you ever need prayer, or you’d like me (and the Holy Spirit!) to attempt a particular subject, I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a comment here, email me, or message me on the blog’s Facebook or Twitter pages.  

His,
Dorci

 

 

For the Joy Set Before Him

 

Though innocent, He endured it all to do His Father’s will, standing in an impossibly large gap, taking on the debts of our blackest sins with His own death, a death on a cross, and reconciled us to God. 

That joy set before Him was you and me. 

 

Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy
that was set before Him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down
at the right hand
of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Saturday Song – I Will Carry You

Much of my life I seemed to walk alone. Or so I thought. Through more difficult days I can count, more trials, more stumbling and reaching out in the darkness for someone to help me up and thinking no one was there, now I see Jesus was.

It was He who led me, He who protected me, He who lifted me up again and again, and He who loved me through it all, and I know He always will. 

I pray you know He’s there for you, too. I pray you know He carried your sins on the cross, even when He knew the sins that would stumble you, and He loved you still.

I pray you know when you’re in need He’ll provide for you; when you fall He’ll pick you up; when you’re empty He’ll fill you; when you’re lost He’ll come after you; when you’re broken He’ll weep with you, and then He’ll heal your heart, as many times as it takes.  

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

 

 

I Will Carry You
by Ellie Holcomb
 
I know you’re tired, I see it in your eyesAll that anxiety that rules your mindI’ll be your shield when you don’t feel likeYou’ve got strength enough to fightI’ll stand by your side
 
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry youWhen the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
 
You are not the sum of your mistakesYou don’t have to hide the parts of you that acheI choose you as you are a million times‘Cause I am not ashamed of youI won’t walk away from you
 
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry youWhen the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
 
Up and over the mountainsValley deep as the oceanWhen you can’t keep goingI will shoulder your burdensUp and over the mountainsValley deep as the oceanWhen you can’t keep goingI will shoulder your burdens
 
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry you (carry you)When the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
 
I will carry you, carry youThrough the darkest night (you)When you’re terrified(I will shoulder your burdens)I will carry you, carry youWhen the waters rise (you)I will carry you

The Light of the World

 

Darkness filled the earth. It had been 400 years since God had spoken, the last time through the prophet Malachi. 

“‘Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:1

Generations had come and gone since then and the silence persisted; the darkness remained. People came and went, having no idea when, or perhaps even if, God would speak again. 

Then one night, as some lonely shepherds in a field kept watch over their sheep, the light of the glory of God pierced the darkness. An angel stood before them with this announcement:

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 
Luke 2:10-11

And before they could catch their breath, a host of angels appeared before them, too, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, 
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14



God had broken the silence. His Word, the Messenger of the covenant (spoken of in Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:26-27) was born among them, and with Him an everlasting hope.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

God’s love shone into the world that unsuspecting night. He’d come! The long-awaited Savior, born as a humble babe in a manger, sent that all who believed in Him would be born anew, filling each heart with a never-ending peace and joy, and the promised light of His presence shining in and through us, forever piercing the darkness. 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Things!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! May we ever be aware of the blessings continually coming from our precious Heavenly Father, and never fail to give Him thanks.

 

The Lord has done
GREAT
things for us, and we
are filled with
JOY!

Ps 126:3

 

 
 
 

Saturday Song – Give Me Jesus

 

 



Give Me Jesus
by Jeremy Camp

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I riseIn the morning, when I rise
 
Give me JesusGive me JesusGive me Jesus
You can have all this worldJust give me Jesus
 
When I am aloneWhen I am alone, oohWhen I am aloneGive me Jesus
 
Give me JesusGive me JesusYou can have all this worldJust give me Jesus (Jesus)
 
When I come to dieWhen I come to dieOoh, when I come to dieGive me Jesus
 
Give me JesusGive me JesusYou can have all this worldJust give me Jesus
Give me JesusGive me Jesus
You can have all this worldYou can have all this worldYou can have all this world
Just give me Jesus