June 2, 2019
Welcome to Summer Sundays-Sunshine for the Soul…
Summer Challenge!
You are invited to take some time to embark on a journey, alone, or with your spouse, with your children, or your grands…a journey where you don’t have to pack a suitcase, or a duffle bag, or a diaper bag, or toys, or snacks, or pillows or blankets. The journey does not require you to load your car, or purchase airline tickets, or travel. Your journey will be in your own home, or wherever you choose, and instead of packing, you will unpack and enjoy the ‘now’ moments, and discover for yourself the Treasures in your own life…
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 (NLT)
The Treasure Hunt
There are many voices calling out to you this summer, especially if your children or other PRECIOUS ONES are home! Those are the ones you expect to hear, and need to hear. However, as we all know, there are a myriad of voices and messages actively and aggressively engaging in home invasions, and ‘thought’ invasions. One recent report suggests that every second, 6,000 messages are tweeted, 350,000 per minute, 500 million per day. This statistic alone is exhausting! Then add the 2.38 billion monthly active Facebook users and the 1.56 billion daily users, with an average of 20 minutes spent per Facebook visit. And, let’s be honest, most people, if they engage on FB, visit more than once a day.
Instagram is boasting of the projected number of users surpassing 111 million this year. Pinterest claims to have over 250 million users, with women representing over 80% of the usage. The use of social media results in an astronomical amount of time being spent in the ‘social media community’, with billions actively working to create their ‘digital identity’. And, this does not include screen time for mass media and the reporting of news and editorializing…Voices-voices everywhere!
This past December 31, our daughter, Christie made a profound change in her life. She embarked on a journey to capture the ‘now’ moments in her family life, those irreplaceable moments she realized she was missing. She began to intentionally filter ‘information and inspiration’ she allowed into her life. Consequently she chose to take a sabbatical from social media, other than what was necessary for her work.
When asked about her decision, she determined she was wasting a great deal of her time, both mental and physical, “scrolling mindlessly and not engaging in the moment”. She found herself struggling to be content, always tempted to ‘want more’ or ‘to do more’ in order to ‘keep up’. Christie concluded:
“After being off of social media for months, I enjoy actually talking to people, face-to-face, engaging with them, and asking about their lives, instead of just observing it on social media. I am more intentional about making time to be with friends. I also have less anxiety and dopamine rushes caused from extended social media use. But the greatest advantage is that the real world I live in, my life, is much more valuable to me than the moments I would create in my posting. Now, I am intentional to use self-control, guarding my time when I do access social media. The purpose is to get necessary information and then to get off. I do not want to miss any more ‘now’ moments.”
We in no way want to suggest for all people, for you, to remove yourself from social media. But, the research is in! When balanced and used appropriately, the world of tech is beneficial and provides invaluable resources of information, connection, and inspiration. However, when it becomes a distraction, valuable resources and treasures in life are overlooked and missed.
Summer Challenge…The Treasure Hunt
What if? What if, we took time to embark on a journey, alone, with our spouse, or with our children, or our grands, where we didn’t have to pack a suitcase, or a duffle bag, or a diaper bag, or toys, or snacks. Rather, we would spend some of our extra time, 15 or 20 minutes a day unpacking. Perhaps, we could lessen screen time and any other distractions. Instead of listening to the other voices surrounding us, to what other people have to say, we would take a bit of time to sit and unpack some of what our family members have to say. We could sit and build relationships with those who are closest to us. We could be still and listen to what they have to say…
The Greatest Treasure…
And, rather than listening only to what other people have to say about God, we could take time to open God’s Word, and unpack, page by page, word by word, what God has to say about Himself. We could explore and discover for ourselves what God wants us to know about Him. The Truth…He already knows each one of us quite well! The question is…How well do we know Him?
We invite you to Journal through Summer and to embark on a Journey in Psalms to discover for yourselves, not what someone else says, but what you discover in your personal study about “Your God and Who He is”. You will engage with His Word, which is inspired, composed, and filtered by the Hand of God, through His Holy Spirit. You, my friend, will discover Treasures worthy of your time, effort, and self-discipline. You will capture your ‘now’ moments which have eternal significance for you personally, and for your loved ones as you share with them the Life and Truth you glean on your journey.
The Psalms
At least one-half of the one hundred-fifty psalms in the Book of Psalms, are attributed to the authorship of King David. There are six other named authors in addition to the anonymous contributors. Each one of the authors has identified and experienced unique character traits of the LORD, revealed through their relationship with Him. Both the Hebrew and the Gentile readers considered the Psalms to be “Songs of Praise”.
David wrote of the blessings of the faithfulness of God as He fulfilled each Promise, and protected and provided for David and for his people. David recorded characteristics of The LORD as he encountered each one in his close and intimate relationship with Him. He discovered that God’s Promises are numerous, His Blessings are countless, and His Faithfulness is flawless and perfect.
As you embark on your journey, The Treasure Hunt ,and Journal through Summer, we pray that you enjoy your ‘now’ moments and that you discover the most valuable treasures as you unpack God’s Word, page by page, and word by word.
May you enjoy your time in a new, unencumbered, undistracted way and may you be renewed, refreshed and restored as you begin your journey, your journal, unpacking as you Treasure Hunt! Summer blessings!
Love you in Jesus,
The Treasure Hunt in Psalms will continue next week! Happy Journaling!
The Treasure Hunt-Week One
“Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. “ Psalm 119:105
Read a Psalm each day and journal your answers to the questions below.
- Monday-Psalm 3:1-8
- Tuesday-Psalm 5:1-12
- Wednesday-Psalm 7:1-17
- Thursday-Psalm 8:1-9
- Friday-Psalm 9:1-20
- Saturday-Write a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for what the LORD has done in your life. Who is your God?
Questions for each day:
Record what you learn about God and His relationship with the author of the Psalm?
What do you learn about the LORD’s character?
Have you personally experienced this particular attribute or character trait of the LORD? If so, how?
What treasure have you discovered about your God? Who is your God?
Enjoy your Journey as you unpack God’s Truth and His Word. May you discover and experience The Greatest Treasure…and in the process, may you enjoy your, ‘irreplaceable Now Moments’.
Download & Print The Treasure Hunt- Week One Lesson Here
