Daily Treasure

First We Get Up

FIRST WE GET UP…
Up from our warm and cozy beds of ease
Up from the recliner before the TV
Up from despair over world situations
Up from pettiness, resentment, competition
Up from discouragement over past failures
Up from the routine of daily living.
THEN WE GET DOWN…
Down from our lofty view of self
Down from the notion that we chart our own destiny
Down where we can see the needs of ourselves and others
Down on our knees to ask for forgiveness and guidance.
NEXT WE GET OUT…
Out, first, into our own community where people are empty, lonely, hurting, sad
Out where the good news of Jesus’ love has been lost in life’s struggles, never really heard or understood
Out to the young, to the old, the strong, the sick
Out to the rich in goods but poor in spirit as well as those lacking the necessities of daily living
Out to the addicts—whether addicted to success, pleasure, or, yes, even substance abuse
Out to those who suffer in innocence and those who have brought it on themselves.

AND WE GET IN…
In to minister to immediate physical needs
In to listen, encourage, show our love and tell of His coming, His death on the cross in payment of our sin, and the place He’s preparing for “whosoever will”—every person who will call upon Him.

My prayer for you is increased joy, peace, happiness and boldness for the work
ahead as we…

GET UP, GET DOWN, GET OUT AND GET IN,
For Jesus’ sake and in His name.

—Jean Perry
North Carolina

Praise for the Word

Psalm 56:10, 11
“In God will I praise his word, in the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid what man can do to me.”

Reading these verses reminds me of the preciousness of God’s Word in my own life. The Psalmist recognized the praiseworthiness and power of God’s Word. Interestingly, his praise for the Word accompanies his affirmation that he will trust and not fear.
I can identify. I’ve always struggled with fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of approval. And like the Psalmist, I, too, discovered the comfort of God’s Word in the context of fear.
The eerie music howling through our chimney had awakened me again. I was a young girl of eleven or twelve. Night after night, the sounds came, half like a trumpet, half like a wail. Night after night, I would lay, paralyzed with fear, waiting for the noise to cease. Sometimes I would awaken my mom and share my fears of the night. She would lovingly hug me, pray with me, and walk me back to bed. I’d resolve there was nothing to fear—it was only the wind. But the following night, the fear factor would rob my rest once again.
Then I found Psalm 4:8: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” I read and reread these words, and claimed them as my own. When the strange sounds swelled, I’d repeat this verse aloud in my bed until I knew peace and sleep.
This commenced a longtime love affair with God’s Word. Time and time again, in the midst of life’s crises, God has used a specific verse to speak directly to my need. And the power of the Word has melted my fears, and strengthened my trust.
That same powerful, praiseworthy Word can speak to your fear and your need today…and tomorrow… and throughout your days and nights, for His Word endures forever.
Yes, I praise His Word. In the LORD, I praise His Word.

—Sarah Fletcher
Tennessee

Hiding

Psalm 32
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Hiding. We all do it. Eve did. After her fateful sin, the first thing she and Adam did was hide—hide their nakedness from each other, then hide their sin from God.
Saul hid. Faced with the prospect of becoming Israel’s leader, he hid among the stuff on the day of his official kingly appointment.
David hid, too. He hid from Saul. David feared for his life at the hands of this once fearful king. David hid his sin. His secretive murderous plot eventually took the life of his own child and brought perpetual turmoil within his family.
Why do we hide? Fear. Fear of failure, fear of exposure, fear of punishment, fear of responsibility, fear of loss. Yet God reiterates throughout His Word, “Fear not.” We are to fear neither people nor possibilities. God is sovereign. But God also says, Fear Me. “Fear God and keep His commandments….”
In Psalm 32, David admits that he has been hiding. And He affirms that when we keep silent, God has a way of making us uncomfortable. Yet, when David acknowledges his sin and takes his iniquity out of hiding, he finds forgiveness and a greater covering. The very God from whom he wanted to hide, now becomes His hiding place.
When we come clean with God, who already sees and knows, He offers protection and victory over the very things we try to keep from Him. He covers our sins, surrounds us with songs of deliverance, and encompasses us with His mercy.
What are you hiding? What do you fear? Will you hide from God or in God?

Oh safe to the Rock that is higher than I
My soul in its conflicts and sorrow would fly
So sinful, so weary, Thine, thine would I be
Oh blest Rock of ages, I’m hiding in thee.

—Sarah Fletcher
Tennessee

Childlike Faith

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The boys and I were almost home from basketball practice when Levi, my eight-year-old, began complaining that his head was hurting badly. The conversation continued like this.
MOM: And?
LEVI: Is there something that will help it?”
(You have to understand a couple things. One, I don’t give my children a lot of medicines. And two, Levi has a shunt, so headaches occur from time to time.)
MOM: I don’t know about something, but I know Someone.
Silence.
MOM: Who is the greatest physician?
Silence
MOM: Who was the greatest healer to ever live?
CASEY (my seven-year-old): I know; I know.
LEVI: God and Jesus.
MOM: Yes, Levi, you’re right. Now what you can do is pray, “Jesus, I believe in you and I know you can. There is nothing you cannot do, if only I ask.”
A few moments passed. He said nothing. I asked him if he had prayed. After another pause, he replied, “Okay, Mom, I did.” We drove a short distance farther, and I asked, “Is your headache better?”
“It’s gone, ” he replied. I then explained the importance of always thanking God for answered prayers.

The next day, Levi and I said a prayer before he went in for testing. I guided him in a prayer of belief that he would do well, and that Jesus would be there to help him. Later, he went with me to a WAC district meeting. I let him have my number for the door prize drawing. His number was the first to be called. After he ran up and got the clock he wanted, he shared, “Mom, I prayed for my number to be called first so I could get the clock, and it was.” He picked the clock to share with Casey because he didn’t go.

I had been praying that God would teach me how to lead my boys to Him. Even though I was raised in church, my boys haven’t been. In just a few short prayers with Levi, he’s already got it. He knows he only needs to believe and ask. Childlike faith in action is such a wonderful thing. I now desire the same childlike faith I see in my son.
—Denice White
Arkansas

Strength for Today

Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Whether you’re beginning a new job today, doing all the errands on a normal morning, watching fearful news of the world’s happenings, or just being you, (with a cup of coffee), isn’t it wonderful to know we can trust and depend on our Lord for all the strength we need?
Thank you, Lord, for being my strength today.

—Linda Harvey
Arizona