The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Hidden Treasure" for Saturday, 14 March 2015 - Scripture: Isaiah 54:9-12

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Hidden Treasure" for Saturday, 14 March 2015 - Scripture: Isaiah 54:9 “For me this is like Noach’s flood.
Just as I swore that no flood like Noach’s
would ever again cover the earth,
so now I swear that never again
will I be angry with you or rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may leave and the hills be removed,
but my grace will never leave you,
and my covenant of peace will not be removed,”
says Adonai, who has compassion on you.
11 “Storm-ravaged [city], unconsoled,
I will set your stones in the finest way,
lay your foundations with sapphires,
12 make your windows shine with rubies,
your gates with garnet, your walls with gemstones.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.[Romans 5:8 (NIV)]
A heavy ceramic crock with a wooden cover sits on our front porch. Recently, my husband was working on the porch and moved the crock out of the way. He heard something clatter, removed the cover, and found an old tin can filled with stones. A note inside the can read, “To Dad, with love from Jenna.”
Our daughter, Jenna, is now 27 years old. When I told her what her father had found, she said she had no memory of writing the note or placing the can of stones inside the crock. But the handwriting was definitely hers. We wondered what had led her to hide her treasure in the crock. Whatever Jenna’s reason, finding the treasure brought joy to my husband. He could picture Jenna searching for perfect stones and carefully writing the note to him. Her note was a sweet reminder of her love for him.
In a similar way, we can find sweet reminders in the Bible, treasures God has placed there for us. If we don’t open our Bibles, we never find those treasures. But when we do and a verse speaks to us in a deep way, we know we have found a love note from our Father.
Read more from the author, here."More from Valerie"

As I write this, the air outside is frigid. The thermometer on our front porch read -22 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. Our house creaks and groans from the cold. Yet, inside I am warm and safe. From here I can appreciate the beauty of this season: pristine white snow sparkles as if sprinkled with diamonds, barebrown trees cast blue grey shadows across the snow. The shadows dance and sway as wind blows through the trees.
There is beauty in every season of life, if I open my eyes to see it. In my devotion, HIDDEN TREASURE, I wrote about God’s amazing love for us. It is always there, always waiting, but unless we open the Bible, and read his love letters to us, we may never fully know it.
I am awed by how much God the creator of the universe cares about us! He calls us his children and continues to love us, and teach us through scripture. Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is living and active. I have found that to be true. If only I am open to hearing what God has to say to me through payer, and I am faithful in reading and studying his word, God will provide what I need. I may not always like it (especially when I am doing what I want, not what God wants me to do), but as a good parent, God calls me back and points me in the right direction.

When I was growing up and woke up early, or came downstairs for a drink of water in the middle of the night, I would often see my mother sitting at the kitchen table reading her Bible. Her faithfulness left a lasting impression in me. I am grateful for her faithfulness, even though I didn’t appreciate it at the time. My mother and father became parents at a young age. This can be a recipe for a difficult life. But, my mother’s faithfulness in reading the Bible, gave her the wisdom, and strength she needed. And, they successfully raised six children. In spite of her example, I didn’t start reading the Bible regularly myself until years later, when I had my own children.
Just like the seasons of the year, I continueto change and grow through the seasons of life. There have been seasons of the darkness of winter and seasons of the renewal of spring. There have been bountiful seasons of summer and seasons of the beauty of fall. But, no matter what season I am in I can trust that God and his word are constant and, like a loving parent, present to guide, encourage, correct and teach me. Because God is faithful, I trust that spring will eventually come! As I grow in my relationship with God, I learn to lean more on him and less on my own strength. I have learned that I still have a lot to learn! Thankfully, God hasn’t given up on me, and continues to love me and nurture me through scripture and the people he places in my life.[Valerie A. Foster]
The Author: Valerie A. Foster (New York, USA)
Thought for the Day: God knows me and loves me.
Prayer: Holy Father, as we read your word, open our hearts so that we may know your love for us. Instill your words in our hearts so that we may share your treasure with others. Amen.
Prayer focus: Bible Study Groups
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