Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Aliene

No More Holding Back

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The Widow Who Didn’t Hold Back

No more holding back.

I wonder if the widow in the temple heard those words whispered in her soul as she clutched the warm coins in her hand. Pressing the precious metal into her perspiring palm, she held them tightly for the last time. They were all she had to live on—dropping the coins would declare her dependence on God.

Was she tempted to pull back?

Did insecurity or intimidation grab her thoughts as she was surrounded by the well-to-do?

Did they even notice her?

Her two tiny copper coins were so small compared with the heaps of money the wealthy religious placed in the offering as they paraded by.

But Jesus noticed and asked his disciples to study this wise woman. Through his eyes—the only eyes that mattered—her offering was far greater than the vast amounts of money given for show.

The widow was getting ready to give her all—no holding back.

As she dropped her coins to be captured by the treasure table, the tapping and clinking must have rang out in heaven like a symphony. Jesus watched and beheld the beauty of a woman giving her heart without reservation to him, for where her treasure was, her heart was also (Matthew 6:21).

The widow’s giving was a picture of the principle Jesus had recently taught to a teacher of the law asking which of the commandments was the most important. Pulling in words spoken to the Israelites in the wilderness on the brink of their Promised Land arrival, Jesus captured the essence of following God: no holding back.

‘”Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:29-31, emphasis mine).

Giving Jesus Our All

Jesus said the widow in the temple truly gave because she gave all she had. No holding back. Anyone can give out of abundance, but how much more precious is our offering when we are giving Jesus our all. It’s easy to give out of a harvest, but it takes faith to give our last seed when the harvest is yet to come.

As the Bridegroom beheld this sacrificial offering, notice he did not stand in the way of her giving. He did not run toward her, grab her hand, and say, “Are you crazy? This is your very last—your very last! Hold back some to see you through the coming days!”

This passage has always caused me to pause. If our Bridegroom loved the widow, why would he stand back and watch her give everything she had to the temple treasury?

Christine Cain, founder of A21 Ministries, helped me understand why Jesus did not prevent the widow from giving her all in a podcast she recorded. As I listened I learned that it was not that he did not want her needs to be met. Jesus knew her true needs would be met through her giving. Christine Cain said this “her need was met through her seed.” I love that – don’t you?

If Jesus can make money come from the mouth of a fish, he can provide for us in creative ways when there seems to be no way (Matthew 17:27).

Jesus knew the widow’s giving was not about money. It was about her heart. Jesus did not stand in her way because he knew that those who choose to live for the Lord with no holding back are blessed beyond measure.

Often when we have nothing – we discover He is our everything.

She trusted him with all her heart…her brave heart.

When I am down to my last mite of money, my last mite of strength, my last mite of time – let me not pull back in fear but press in to trust you with everything.

Nourish Scripture: Mark 12:29-40

Connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life. Discover how by downloading Nourishing Your Heart today!

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Walking by Faith

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Our senses gather evidence from our surroundings to reason what is right. However, our conclusions may be true, but not necessarily God’s truth. Reasoning vs. relying on the Holy Spirit often left me feeling powerless, depressed, angry and all alone to figure out life. But when Jesus invited me to live differently by seeing differently, everything changed. (BTW -this did not mean throwing my brains out the window!)

In today’s podcast, braving a broken world by redirecting your reasoning to rely on the Holy Spirit to walk by faith and not by sight. Use your grit to see with eyes of faith and boldly become the woman, God created you to be one grace-filled step at a time. #graceovergrit #followingjesusfindinglife.

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Great Lengths for Just One

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He went to great lengths to reach her. Jesus crossed all cultural boundaries and social norms to journey to the well at Samaria and wait to speak with just one woman. He was weary from his long trip, but she was worth his journey (John 4:4-8).

Great lengths just for one. I just love this about Jesus—don’t you?

 “Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:8–10, emphasis mine).

Going to Great Lengths for Just One

Sometimes when we make great efforts but reach only one, we may become weary from our journey. We might even question if we are really making a difference.

Are all our efforts worth so much time and energy?

The world would say success is found only in the fulfillment of great numbers. However, Jesus found fulfillment in just being faithful to do his Father’s will (John 4:34). Sometimes this meant going to great lengths for just one.

Do you feel defeated because you don’t see the results you expected? Take heart today by considering his heart. Jesus went to great lengths for just one. And now He calls you and me to do the same.

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Nothing you do for the Lord is useless, brave heart. Nothing!

Measuring Results According to the Heart of Jesus

If you measure results with the world’s value system of numbers, you may become frustrated and feel defeated. When you are tempted to lose heart, remember the heart of Jesus, who went to great lengths to go after one.

Focus on being faithful and let Jesus take care of the fruit.

Your labor to share his love with others is never wasted—even if it reaches just one. Remain strong and immovable in your calling by remembering the heart of Jesus, who went to great lengths for just one.

In our world where success is measured by amounts and numbers, isn’t it refreshing to look through the heart of Jesus to find fresh wind for our sails?

True success is never determined by numbers but by knowing and fulfilling God’s will for your life.

When you are tempted to lose heart in your labor to share his love, remember the heart of Jesus, who went to great lengths to go after ONE.

Onward!

Nourish Scripture: John 4:4–34

Discover how to dive deeper into God’s Word by downloading Nourishing Your Heart today!

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Words Like Stones

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Brave hearts beware – Modern Day Pharisees are alive and well. They no longer throw stones but hurl judgmental words that can wound the soul. Who is your modern-day Pharisee? What words feel like stones against your soul causing shame? Honestly, as much as I try to use my grit to rise above what others say, sometimes it’s not enough. Ahh, but Jesus has something better. His grace is more powerful than my grit. His words have the power to make those words-like-stones fall.

In today’s podcast, using grace to handle a modern-day Pharisee so they don’t and hinder your God given right to shine! NEVER let a modern day Pharisee dull your sparkle. #graceovergrit #follwingjesusfindinglife

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Our Salvation, HIS Delight

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The call that we hear to come to Jesus, to taste freedom, and to lay our burdens down is persistent through every stage of life. Often times the voice of the Father seems drowned out by the burdens we carry, it’s hard to hear the call of freedom when we allow chains, already broken, to hang to us.

The call to Jesus is as persistent as the burdens on our backs, but the call of the Father, when answered, is faithful in breaking the burdens every time.

His Eyes Found Her

In Luke 13:10-17 we see Jesus, surrounded by the “righteous” calling to the woman “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.” It was a room full of the “perfect” and His eyes found her.

“When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”  Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Luke 13:12-13

Jesus did not see her, doubled over in darkness, and turn away to rather look to the perfect. He saw her, and he called. This is a perfect God, persistently facing our imperfections throughout His life, and reaching out to them.

He did not stop at calling her and speaking freedom over her life, He reached to her and touched her. He loved with His words, with His deliverance, and with His touch. She had no doubt been left aside by the righteous and abandoned by religion. All too fearful of her burdens, and here she is, being called out to among those who had left her behind, by the King of Kings. 

There was no shame or condemnation attached to the voice that called to her, there was only the intention to see her freed of her pain.

 After healing her, the leader of the synagogue was ready to cast judgement on both Jesus and the woman for the act of healing taking place on the Sabbath.

 “The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Luke 13:15-16

Saving Us Is His Delight

Notice that Jesus did not see breaking her free as work, but rather as a given. To rescue us is his delight. It’s what He came to do, it’s what He wants to do, to see His beloved free. He freed her and brought her to stand straight and look Him in the face, allowed her to worship freely.

Notice also that Jesus’ FIRST identification of her was not her burdens, but rather her lineage and identity in relation to Abraham. Christ sees through our burdens to who He has created us to be. He calls to the identity that He has placed in our hearts to be free and then deals with the burdens that are covering our hearts.

When our hearts are weighed down with the burdens of the enemy it can be hard to hear his voice calling to us. It takes faith to believe that the call to us from Him is still there. The promise he gave to us is that it is.

The question is not whether we are being called to freedom, but if we are walking toward the voice that is calling us. Are we letting the call reach our ears? Are we letting ourselves be held or are we too burdened to even look him in the face?

Nourish Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Discover how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms the way you live. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

By Millicent Phillips. Millicent is part of the Treasured Ministries writing team. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Prayer That Persists

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Ever notice how it’s easy to pray bold prayers for others, but when it comes to praying for ourselves we can be timid? Yeah – me too. Ahhh – but our bold personal prayers matter. This act of faith brings us closer to Jesus, nourishes our hearts AND creates a harvest to nurture others.

In today’s podcast, removing religious barriers that sabotage our personal prayer life to revitalize this great privilege as a child of God so you can live and give to others as God intended.  #graceovergrit #followingjesusfindinglife

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He Sees You

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You’ll make it through this—oh yes you will. One step of courage at a time.

His eyes are on you. Jesus knows the hairs on your head. He sees the tears fall. He knows the storm in your life.

He knows—his eyes are on you and he will fill you with courage and strength.

His Eyes Are on You

  • They are the eyes that watched Mary when she walked forward to anoint her King.

As the disciples bombarded her with insults and condemnation for her extravagant offering, she continued her focus on Jesus, honoring him above all else. He silenced her accusers and spoke highly of her offering. Her bravery, born from the steady endearing gaze of her Savior, propelled her forward.

  • They are the eyes that waited patiently for the Samaritan woman by the well.

Jesus knew everything about her and loved her anyway. His eyes saw right through her defenses, her cycles of unhealthy relationships—to her heart and soul. He knew everything about her. He understood her and saw great potential in her. Because his eyes looked at her differently, she began to see herself and others through his eyes of love.

  • They are the eyes that saw Hagar in the desert.

Alone. Afraid. Abandoned. No husband to protect and provide for her. One greater was watching with divine protection and provision. He saw her. He knew the whole story. Hagar exclaimed, “You are the God who sees me!” His eyes were enough to prompt her to let go of her past and move into her future.

  • They are the eyes that traced the steady stream of tears that fell from Mary Magdalene’s anxious eyes.

Her heart searched for her security. “Where is my Jesus?” Although he stood before her, at first she did not recognize him. With his words, he wiped those tears away, opening her eyes to see him and gain the security that stilled her soul.

You Must Press On

 Press On when others don’t believe in your calling. . . . His eyes are on your every move and are a conduit of His strength. What you have to offer is needed and necessary to this world.

Press On when you are alone, afraid, and abandoned. . . . His eyes are on your every move. His provision and protection are perfect.

 Press On to see yourself the way he sees you. . . . He wants to direct you into truth to set you and those around you free.

 Press On in trials—better yet, embrace them. . . . Faith trusts when we can’t see and looks for his Word to wipe our tears away.

He sees you, brave heart. He knows you, beloved. He hears your cries, beautiful. Praise his name. The King of Glory sees you. Nothing in all creation is hidden from his sight (Hebrews 4:13). Keep your eyes locked on his through worship and prayer. Keep moving even in trials, one step at a time.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Nourish Scripture:  John 20:1-18

Discover how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms the way you live. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

Pursuing Jesus

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Grace surpasses grit. But often we are taught behavior modification instead of inner transformation, and our self-reliance resurfaces after our salvation which leaves us frustrated instead of fruitful. Jesus invites you to live differently by redirecting your grit to tap into grace.

In today’s podcast discover the blessings of the new covenant as you follow Jesus and find the life you were created to live.

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