Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Life of Jesus

How To Stop Codependency’s Confusion

by

Saying “No” with Confidence

Listen to the podcast or watch on YouTube.

Saying “no” carries its difficulties for everyone.

If you are a codependent, then saying no is especially challenging.

Codependency causes you to become externally referenced, meaning that you look to outside sources to navigate life, find your identity and validate your worth. Seeking this outside input causes a lot of static that can distract you from the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.

These distractions are like waves that turn your eyes away from the Way Maker. 

Idolatry creates indecision that can impact your confidence to set boundaries. 

The enemy will use your idolatry of man to create confusion and doubt with these racing thoughts…  

  • What will people think?
  • Am I a bad person for saying no?
  • I feel like I should do this… God, are you sure?

Are you sinking in thinking instead of soaring by putting God first? 

God wants to be first in your life. The real you will SHINE out of that relationship!

In today’s teaching message, discover how idolatry brings indecision. Intimacy with God brings confidence in EVERY area of your life, including your confidence to say “no”, so you can put God first! 

It’s time to put God back in the center and live with the joy that flows from putting Him first and becoming who He created you to be. 

ONWARD!

Aliene

▶️ To watch today’s teaching message, click HERE.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Spotify | More

What Does God Say About Boundaries?

by

God’s Boundary System Explained

Listen to the podcast or watch on YouTube

You matter. Your life matters.

And when you own that truth, you can live treasured and walk in the light, to be a light, so that others can live cherished too (Exodus 19:4-5, Peter 2:9).  

God has a perfect boundary system designed to protect what is precious to his heart and this includes YOU! But what is precious to God, Satan loves to attack with his destructive lies.

Do you ever hear thoughts like: 

  • You’re a disappointment to God. How could he forgive THAT?
  • You can’t trust God to take care of you. You must fend and fight for yourself. 
  • God’s ways don’t bring freedom; they confine you.

I have heard all of these lies…and they reinforced my codependency!  Why would I want to depend on God if I believed these lies deep in my heart?  

When I started spending time in God’s Word for myself, I saw everything differently….. because I was looking through the lens of truth with eyes of faith. Here’s what the Holy Spirit has written and sealed so strongly in my heart is that I can live in confidence, security and best of all GOD-DEPENDENCY!

  • God delights in caring for me.
  • God is my defender.
  • God is for me and is behind me.
  • God wants to liberate me to live a fulfilled life!

God’s boundary system puts me in the security of his care and protection but most of all, it LIBERATES me to live a fulfilled life and become the woman he created me to be. 

Do you want to live in this freedom too?  

Listen to today’s teaching message and open the gift of God’s boundary system to live in freedom as God intended.

ONWARD!

Aliene

▶️To watch today’s teaching message, click HERE

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Spotify | More

Breaking Generational Patterns

by

How to Break Free from Your Past

Listen to the podcast or watch on YouTube.

We do not have to live our lives stuck in patterns we may not even fully understand. We aren’t alone in the search for the root of our pain, and we don’t have to go into what can be a painful experience alone. 

Christ is before us, behind us, and with us. Ask Him to lead you to the pain of your past to allow for genuine and real healing. As we seek Him, we can understand our own hearts and the triggers they have.

We have a lot to relearn, a lifetime of lies and deep-rooted pain, but the power of the cross transcends through time to right those wrongs and confront those lies. 

God’s love is not afraid of where you’ve come from. 

No matter how toxic, He does not see you as too far gone… 

You are simply and wonderfully HIS. 

In today’s teaching message, discover how to let God’s love reclaim your heart and mind to break generational patterns. One day at a time, one step at a time, you can leave blessings in your wake for generations to come. 

ONWARD!

Aliene

▶️To watch today’s teaching message, click here.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Spotify | More

Podcast (lead-podcast): Play in new window

Hope After Loss

by

How To Find Confidence After Loss

Hello friend,

Losing means starting over again. It takes courage to see a blank canvas with hope. But as God’s child, life always follows loss. 

Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. He watches over his word to perform it. He is the ultimate promise keeper… The problem is that faith can fade when faced with loss and trauma.

Have you lost your hope and confidence?

Life brings burdens; those burdens cannot break you when you fix your eyes on Jesus. There you will find hope to remain undaunted to see your redemption. 

You cannot change your past, but you can ask your Abba Father for a step of faith today to change your tomorrow. 

In today’s message on Ruth, we will gain biblical steps of faith to go towards your new beginning.  You’ll find that small steps will lead to larger ones and create a pathway to your next chapter. Just like Naomi and Ruth, you too have a Kinsman Redeemer who is far greater than any Boaz and will bring you into a living hope. 

“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”

Psalm 126:5–6 NLT

Your new chapter is right around the corner. 

ONWARD!

????Watch this week’s lesson HERE or listen to our podcast above!

You are not alone.

Do you want to connect to God’s Word in such a way that you feel the Holy Spirit guide your every step?  As women, we can put the brakes on our spiritual journey because of our busy schedules. This is why Treasured Ministries helps women from all over the world learn how to cultivate a deeper connection with the Word of God regardless of their schedule. We need God to lead us through every season of our faith journey—every day. Join the Treasured Tribe and discover how daily truth and a tribe by your side can become a beacon of hope on your faith journey! 

JOIN THE TREASURED TRIBE HERE

Want to make a difference? Here are three ways you can help our ministry grow at no cost to you: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast. 

2. Write a review of the podcast. 

3. Forward the episode to a friend.

Redemption

by

Codependency and Grieving Loss

Hello there beautiful soul,

While all loss is difficult; loss as the result of someone going outside of God’s design to meet their needs to the detriment of yours, is devastating. This is because when you are left holding the consequences of someone else’s choices – the loss is compounded. 

And the damage that gets dumped into your lap is not fair…

You didn’t ask for these empty hands. 

You didn’t deserve the loss.

And now you feel vulnerable, powerless, and insecure. 

While it’s unfair, God stands ready to restore the loss so you can move forward. But you must take his hand. For God, not the person who caused the loss, is the healer. You are a child of God and loss is never the end of your story. Jesus is your Kinsman redeemer; his restoration goes beyond what you could have imagined.

Today, we begin a three-part series on God’s restoration from the first chapter of Ruth. Naomi loved deeply and lost greatly but eventually found hope and saw a harvest of restoration. 

And with God’s help, you can find hope and see restoration as well.

So listen to today’s message, discover the first courageous choice to begin redemption, and prepare to heal and move forward.  

ONWARD!

Love,

Aliene

▶️Watch today’s Learning Message or listen to the podcast below.

Walk with Jesus. Walk with Others. Find strength to flourish.

At Treasured Ministries, we believe the remedy for codependency is a healthy connection with God and others. But often, knowing how to do this God’s way can be confusing when we are so used to “people dependency”. The Treasured Tribe offers a biblical healing process through the Nourish Method alongside a safe, private and authentic online community for women to cheer you on as you grow.  

JOIN US

Want to make a difference? Here are three ways you can help our ministry grow at no cost to you:

  1. Subscribe to our podcast.
  2. Write a review of the podcast.
  3. Forward the episode to a friend.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Spotify | More

How to Set Boundaries with Love – Like Jesus

by

We’ve all been in relationships in which we look back at situations and see where a boundary could’ve been set. We can walk away feeling hurt. The problem is that the enemy tells us lies about how to set boundaries. He pulls us into a place of exhaustion, shame, guilt, and even avoidance. 

This is not where God wants us to be. He has a purpose and plan for each of us. And to discover that plan, we need to know how to set boundaries with love. 

Why Setting Boundaries Is Hard

Setting boundaries isn’t easy. Ephesians 6:12 tells us why setting boundaries is hard…

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

Satan’s lies keep us in the dark. He places condemning words on us to keep us from connecting to God’s Word. He knows that God’s Word is our guide that gives us wisdom and confidence about how to set boundaries—healthy ones that lead us into our purposes. 

Satan magnifies rejection from our pasts so that all we remember is the pain instead of the future of our God-given purposes. However, when we take our pain to God, he will use it for good!

The voice of our Almighty God bids us near so that we can step out of the darkness and into his all-encompassing light. He wants to reveal his ways of setting boundaries with love. 

When we set boundaries using God’s Word, it intercepts the condemning words of our pasts and frees us to love and live the way in which we were created. 

2 Lies About Setting Boundaries

1. You must be nice.

As little girls, we are often told to “be nice.” These words can plant seeds within our hearts that Satan begins to manipulate. Those seeds don’t produce a harvest of joy but of fear and shame—two of the enemy’s greatest tactics against our souls.  In a previous blog, What Does the Bible Say about Setting Personal Boundaries, we discovered that God’s will is not that that we are nice, but instead that we make a difference and stand in his strength and share the truth. 

2. If you say no, you are being selfish.

Have you ever thought that if something is asked of you, then you must do it? I know I have. Many women are people pleasers. We are nurturers by nature, and the enemy loves to exploit that God-given trait. So, he tells us we must say yes whenever we are asked to do something. As a result, we can run ragged and feel guilty. Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:30). He doesn’t want us to be burdened and burned out. Instead, his voice gives us renewed minds and nourished souls.

How Jesus Set Boundaries

So, how did Jesus do it? Thinking about the life of Jesus, I realized he set boundaries… with love. He had limitations. He needed nourishment—both spiritual and physical. He rested, and he was aware that some people could not be trusted. 

  • “Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.”—John 2:23-25

But he still loved. 

3 Ways Jesus Set Boundaries

1. Jesus established prayer as a priority. He understood the importance of having quiet time with the Father. He withdrew from crowds to pray, even when he was in the active ministry of teaching and healing. 

“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”—Luke 5:16

 2. Jesus taught to be confident in your “yeses” and “nos.” In Matthew 5, Jesus explained that when we sway in our yeses and nos, our characters can be questioned. Because our identity is in him, when we seek him for guidance, we can be confident in our yeses and nos. 

“’Just say a simple, “Yes, I will,” or “No, I won’t.” Anything beyond this is from the evil one.’”—Matthew 5:37

3. Jesus expected others to state their needs. In Matthew 20, Jesus’s question to the blind men was relational. He wanted to be invited into their journey. Because of his perfect love, he doesn’t force us to choose him. 

We can take this principle and apply it to our relationships. Others can ask for help and we don’t need to feel guilty for “not reading their minds.” Likewise, we can feel free to invite others into our lives and ask for support when we need it. 

“Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’… When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’”—Matthew 20:30, 32

There are a number of other ways Jesus set boundaries, from confronting wrong behavior (Matthew 16:23, Matthew 21:23-27) to knowing the need for rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).

What Boundaries Do You Need to Set?

There are times in our lives when boundaries need to be set. If we have been hurt, we can often say things such as, “I will never open myself up again.” Although this is a boundary, we need to ask ourselves if this is a boundary that has been set due to fear or one that comes from the Holy Spirit. 

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future” (John 16:13). 

When we seek the Spirit’s guidance, he will reveal how to set boundaries and which ones should be set. 

3 Ways to Get Started Setting Boundaries

1. Prayerfully ask God to guide you in this boundary-setting journey. God’s Word reminds us that we are to examine our ways (Lamentations 3:40). Come to the feet of Jesus and honestly share what is on your heart. If you are struggling with exhaustion, or feel as though you are walking on eggshells in a relationship, you can “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

2. State your core identity in Christ. As you begin to set boundaries, the enemy’s words will press in, causing you to question your core identity in Christ. As the Spirit begins revealing areas for which to set boundaries, it’s equally important to record and recite your core identity in Christ. Write down scriptures that remind you that he gives you strength when you are weak. 

3. Keep connecting to the Word and record your boundaries. God is faithful. As we seek him through this journey, he will start revealing needed boundaries. But distractions often pop up, causing us to retract from our time in his Word. This is a time we must retreat into God’s presence. Write down how God is leading you to set boundaries. As you read more scripture, you’ll notice something—God will continue to connect his Word to your personal situations. 

If you want to hear more of my teaching about how to set boundaries, click HERE for my podcast Setting Boundaries: Letting Go of Being Nice to Learn How to Say No.

Discover how nourishing your heart with God’s Word will transform the way you live HERE.

Why Your Story Matters

by

You made it! Today we close out our Sweet Sixteen Series with the final chapter in the gospel of Mark. I am so glad you took this journey with us and pray you were blessed as you pondered over the life of Jesus. 

Chapter Sixteen of the Gospel of Mark

What is so fascinating about chapter sixteen is that Mark’s ending is not neat and tidy. Not only are there tricky aspects within the text to reconcile, but there is a “longer ending” and a “shorter ending” depending on which translation you read.   

Difficult Bible passages can create confusion if our faith rests in understanding every Bible passage instead of a Living Savior. Our minds are drawn to clarity and away from confusion.

This human reality is why we embrace a good movie or book with a neat and tidy ending. Happily-ever-after, all is well with our soul. 

However, the gospel of Mark was not a make-believe story – it is the real eye witness account of the life of Jesus as he left the perfection of heaven to walk in a broken world.  

Life’s Loose Ends

Life is not a neat and tidy story. For every woman, we all have aspects of our life that are loose ends we don’t understand. Our difficulties may cause confusion, and we might draw away from living the abundant life and settle on the shore of uncertainty. But it is in our loose ends that Jesus writes his story of redemption.  

Our lives are the very parchment paper upon which Jesus continues to write his story. 

And your testimony matters. Your real-life authentic story matters! Because sharing your eyewitness account to your experience, with Jesus is the best way to evangelize. No one can argue with a changed life.  

The end of the gospel of Mark is not the end of Jesus’s story. It lives on through you as you share the good news. 

“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone”(Mark 16:15). 

How did Jesus impact your life through the gospel of Mark during our Sweet Sixteen study?

Let Mark’s ending be your beginning – as if Mark is passing the pen to you. Who will you “go and tell” about Jesus? 

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15). 

May the Perfect Love of Jesus give you the courage to shine by sharing with others how he has changed your life. ONWARD! 

Nourish Scripture: Mark 16

Are you eager to discover the IMPACT God wants to make on your life? Download Nourishing Your Heart!

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.

The Power of the Cross

by

Many fled before the first lash tore open Jesus’ back…

The disciples abandoned him.

Judas betrayed him.

Peter denied him.

Where were the thousands, he had fed with the five loaves and two fish? Where were those who had been astounded by his miracles and crowded him with such fervor that he had to slip away? Were the people who yelled “crucify him” some of the same ones who had received healing from his hands?

But not everyone fled. The gospel of Mark records this beautiful, breathtaking detail.

“Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there” (Mark 15:40-41).

The Women Who Stayed

They stood at a distance. Mary Magdalene, Mary, Salome, and others from Jerusalem who had ministered to Jesus stopped and stood at a distance to survey the cross.

The cross . . . Calvary . . . the place where love and sorrow kissed and intertwined. Pain and passion intersected.

Yeshua—how sweet the name. Jesus. He was their Teacher, their Healer, their Bridegroom. He captured their hearts. They encountered the love of God through Jesus and they were never the same. He exalted them, he liberated them, he restored them, and he loved them. His love was extravagant.

And as Jesus ministered to others, these women ministered to his needs (Luke 8:1-3). They moved to the beat of his grace. After caring for the One they loved, how could they leave him now? And so, they watched—from a distance.

Imagine how the women felt as they looked on and yet were powerless to stop the insanity before them. Eyes wide and brimming with tears, throats thick and heavy with sorrow. I feel certain the women were silent, stunned, and scared as they witnessed the suffering their Savior was enduring.

Did they have to hold each other up or hold each other back from trying to stop the madness? Perhaps they were a bit confused. Jesus had delivered them from demons, saved them, and healed their sickness, and yet he was not stopping his own death.

  • What is going on in your life that you wish Jesus would stop?
  • What does not make sense?
  • How do we reconcile life when the bottom drops out and our faith hangs by a thread?

I’ve been there – how about you?

Devastating disappointments can tempt the most devout faith to doubt God’s goodness. The enemy wants you to flee – not just from God but from others. But it is in these times, you need Jesus the most. Standing together with Christ we can find the strength to remain steadfast in our faith.

How the Cross Serves as a Reminder

The cross reminds us that God’s love is real and that we can trust him when we don’t understand. When Jesus took the nails and the blows, it was his love for you that carried Jesus through the cross. It was a love so deep and intimate; he gave his life for you.

I have the incredible privilege of hearing stories from women who love Jesus. I close my eyes and tears fall as I think of those who have seen appalling suffering in their life: sexual abuse, divorce, abusive husbands, betrayal, cancer, rejection, adultery, alcoholic fathers, and more.

Like the women who surveyed the cross, they could have turned away from their faith, but instead, they remain steadfast with Jesus. Often their very place of pain is now their passion for ministry.

Trust is born out of love. Don’t let the enemy of your soul use the disappointment of life to dilute your faith.

This week as you dive into the Nourish Scripture see the passionate love Jesus had for you on the cross. Come closer to the one who is passionate about you and find the strength to carry on.

Nourish Scripture: Mark 15

Are you experiencing weakness and starvation in your soul? Download Nourishing Your Heart and discover a way to connect with the nourishment you need!

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.