Introducing my new book:

                            
        

A devotional book that takes you on a journey of obtaining

valuable treasures to make a part of your daily life. Each treasure described

within provides a glimpse into the generosity of the heart of God.

These treasures are much more valuable than any earthly cache.

.

Journaling pages with additional scriptures listed are also provided after

each treasure for writing devotional insights, revelations or personal prayers.

Great for individual quiet time or small group study.

Order today

and get ready to become much more

enriched because of your finds!

Book Price $15.00 USD

  EXCERPT FROM Treasures of the Kingdom

 Kingdom Treasure #2 

Identity 

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; 

male and female He created them." 

(Genesis 1:27)

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 (John 3:3)

"For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]."

(Galatians 6:15 - Amplified)

     Maybe you think your past, family values, education or life experiences have made you who you are today.  You might consider the results of those things to be the composite of your identity. Maybe you think you are what people have said they think you are (Example: "You are so stupid" or "You can be anything you want to be"). They said it so it must be true! This would be perceiving who you are, your identity, based on people's opinions and not on the reality of who you were created to be. 

    All of these things shape how you view yourself but are they really the elements that make up your true identity? In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked his disciples, "But who do you say that I am?" As a follower of Christ, you could ask: "Who do I say I am?" A more important question would be "Who does God say I am?" Maybe there would be two very different answers. However, there should be only one question with one answer. The true, revealing question should be "Who does God say I am"?

    God is the giver of true identity. As you see from the verses above, He gives us a new life as we become a new creation through Christ. All old things have and will pass away. 

    Putting on our new person can take time. We must be sure we let the old things about us, especially in our previous life, before Christ, pass away. This will allow us to embrace the new person God intends us to be-created in His image and specifically designed to see His kingdom. But wait- that's not all! Not only will we see His kingdom, we will be vessels who live within His kingdom realm who carry and impart kingdom realities as we live our daily lives!

My Dear One:

Don't let outside forces or people define who you are. They did not create you. They influenced you but they did not create you- I did! Many people define themselves by their sins and inadequacies but I define you as "fearfully and wonderfully made" created in My image. Just as people say about someone's child "He looks just like his father" that is how being created in My image works. You become a reflection of Me. You must draw near to Me to discover and know who I say you are. Don't spend a lifetime struggling with "Who am I?". Discover who I created you to be and rejoice in the journey because you are My child and I love you!

Lord:

I have spent so much time trying to figure out who I really am! I have allowed my 

actions and performance to dictate who I think I am. I have been defined by so much

except You! Lord, I ask you to give me understanding of who You created me to be. 

Through Christ I am a new person defined by You. Let all old things 

that have kept me from entering into who I really am fall away 

so I can embrace the real me created by You! 

Sample Journal Page

(actual size 8 1/2 x 11)

Devotional Insights / Revelations / Personal Prayer - Kingdom Treasure #2

Identity

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Other Scriptures: John 3:5-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 3:9-10, 1 Peter 1:22-23, 

  Romans 8:12-17, Galatians 3:26-29, Galatians 4:3-7

Copyright  © 2013

  

Book Price

Book Price $15.00 USD

  Treasures of the Kingdom Tidbits

When I wrote Treasures of the Kingdom, I felt like the Lord said there would be 19 treasures so there are 19 treasures in the book! You might ask why only 19? Why not 20?  Well, the meanings of numbers in the Bible are very significant.  

"The number 19 includes two things: faith and hearing...The number 19 in Hebrew was meant to illustrate the fact that one must have faith in Christ and His cross......

 The 19^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the kof, which literally means “the back of the head.” The word picture has to do with hearing God’s voice in “the back of your head (mind).” The Hebrew word for “voice” is kol, which begins with the kof. When God spoke to Elijah, it was not through the tempest, the earthquake, or the fire, but the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11, 12). Jewish author, Lawrence Kushner, says in his Book of Letters, p. 68, 69,

“Kof is one of the letters made by two marks. Hay is the other. The lower mark of the kof is man calling G-d. But G-d also calls man. With the upper mark of the kof He whispers very softly to see if you are really listening. kol d’mama daka. A voice which is still and small..... God’s voice, bat kol. Like an echo. Always listen."

“It is significant that this Hebrew letter is in two parts. The first pictures God reaching down to man by speaking to him; the second pictures man responding to God by faith. This is the force behind the number 19. It has two parts to it: God’s voice and faith. Hence, it requires God to make a declaration before man can respond to His voice."

(Source:  The Biblical Meaning of Numbers from One to Forty by Dr. Stephen E. Jones)

As you can see, 19 is significant for Treasures of the Kingdom because not only are faith and hearing important when reading the book, but I believe faith and hearing will develop to a deeper level as each treasure is read and deeper insights, revelations and prayers will come forth as journal pages are completed.

Bless you  as you listen to the Lord and respond to Him in faith in whatever endeavors you are doing today!

Treasures of the Kingdom Tidbits

Kingdom Treasure #1

As I wrote each treasure, I felt like they were to be put in a particular order. Each treasure is numbered starting with the number 1 and going all the way through to number 19.  We have already seen what 19 means. But let's start at the beginning. What's behind the number 1 in Kingdom Treasure #1? What does the number 1 mean biblically? 

The number 1 marks the beginning or first. It also suggests "oneness as a quality of God, as a symbol of unity and as an expression of the unique value of individual persons."  So , Kingdom Treasure #1,  is truly about beginnings - the beginning of a new bloodline and how that adds value to each individual. This new bloodline and the inheritance it offers is truly a treasure!

(Source:  Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. General Editors: Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, 

Tremper Longman III. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. 1998)

Treasures of the Kingdom Tidbits
 

Kingdom Treasure #2

What's behind the number 2 in Kingdom Treasure # 2? What does the number 2 mean biblically? 

Two has a "high occurrence in the Bible" signifying the importance of the number. "From the very start the image of two is essential in Scripture. In many ways two encompasses the basic structure of all relationships such as love or hatred...The image of two is thus part of the biblical superstructure of human choice between contrary possibilities."

 Kingdom Treasure #2 touches on a significant area in terms of "two". That area is identity. Old man versus new man, true versus false identity, opinion versus the truth of real identity, acceptance versus rejection.....and finally the relationship between God and man. God gives man his true identity because He created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27). God gives it back to man through His son Jesus Christ where it has been lost or stolen.

God really wants us to know who we are and who He created us to be!

(Source:  Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. General Editors: Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, 

Tremper Longman III. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. 1998)