Friday, May 18, 2012

Renewed Treasure

I like yard sales. I like them a lot. I like finding bargains. I like finding treasures among the trash. I’m teaching my boys to enjoy them too.

Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of going to quite a few yard sales, good ones where I’ve found plenty of cheap treasures. They may not look like much to someone else, but I love taking them home to renew them and put them to use.

Today, I stopped at a sale. I found an old wooden chair for a dollar. Nothing special. It has it’s dings, obvious wear and tear. But I love it. I sat it on my front porch. I sat an old, metal watering can on it. The watering can has a hole in it, so I filled it with potting soil and plopped in a flower.  It’s nothing special, but it is a treasure to me. It makes me smile.
   
The saying is true, one man’s trash truly is another man’s (or…ahem…woman’s) treasure!

I think this must be how God feels about us, His people. He likes to take us in, dings and all. He sees the treasure in us when others don’t. We may not look like anything special to others, but we do to Him. To Him we are special. We are His treasure. He renews us and gives us a new position…right out there where everyone can see. We’re His…and we make Him smile.

We are a lot more special than an old wooden chair and a holey watering can. He has plans for us that reach beyond our wildest dreams, if we will merely trust Him and follow His lead. When we belong to Him, and we continue to seek after Him, He just keeps renewing us!

He renews our spirit (Psalm 51:10) daily (II Corinthians 4:16).
He renews our mind (Romans 12:2).
He renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31).
He renews our whole life! (Colossians 3:1-11).

I love this verse, “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” Colossians 3:10

Although he accepts us dings and all, we don’t have to stay an old wooden chair or a holey watering can! He will make us new and just keep renewing. The more we get to know Him, the more we will want to be like Him, the more He will do in us. Isn’t that amazing?!

Do you need to be renewed today? Remember you are His treasure, dings and all. Seek after Him. Talk to Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. Remember He loves YOU. Let Him renew you today!

Thank you, Lord, for seeing the treasure in us even when others don’t. For accepting us dings and all. For loving us, and making a way for us to have new life. For renewing us daily, when we turn to You. Help us to put on our new nature, as we learn more about You and desire to become more like You. Make something beautiful out of our lives. Amen.

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Need a day of renewal?!  Join us at ReNEWED Life Women's Event featuring national speaker and author Lisa Whittle! I am thrilled to be part of the ministry team working to bring this exciting event to small town Cresco, Iowa.  I would love to see YOU there on August 11th!

P.S. See, God can use old, dinged up “treasures” like me (and you too!).   ;)