Treasures in

TEXAS

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

(Matthew 6: 21, NIV)

I treasure everything about Texas, from the dusty landscapes and the humid, hot weather in summer, to the quarter horses, working cattle ranches, and the cowboy lifestyle.  So, why am I still living in Tennessee? Hmmm... 

My body lives in Tennessee, but my heart is really in Texas. How can that be? Let me explain myself. I was born in what is commonly known as the foothills of the great Smoky Mountains, and that is where I grew up. It was, and still is, beautiful country that is colored with amazing shades of green, and the smell of wild growing honey suckles permeates the air when you're driving down one of the many two-lane highways that still criss-cross this amazing state. My folks were blue collar workers, and although we lived within a stone's throw of the mountains, they preferred to be city dwellers just to be near work, grocery stores, etc. They were comfortable in their surroundings. In fact, I cannot recall a single time in my childhood having heard my mom or dad speak of living anywhere else other than where they were. On the flip side, that's all I talked about.

"When I grow up, I'm moving away!' I would boast to my mom. "Well, of course you are. You'll grow up and get married, move away and buy a house of your own here in town." she would reply. Something inside me would just cringe. "No, you don't understand, mom. I'm really moving away, - far away. I'm moving where the horses are, and I'm going to be a cowgirl!" I would reply with boldness, in spite of the fact that I didn't know where any horses were at that time, and I didn't even own a pair of cowgirl boots! What I did know (even as a child) was that my body was there in the city, held captive as it were, but my heart was somewhere else. Somewhere, where I believed my favorite treasures were being stored up and waiting just for me.    

Some Of My

FAVORITE TREASURES

Are In Texas

Whether in Tennessee, or Texas, a good-minded working horse is always

a treasure.  

Perhaps you're wondering just what constitutes being a "treasure". To me, a treasure is something that ignites one's passion, and holds their heart strings. A treasure can be the place you want to be, the things you hold dear, or even those you love. It's all these things, and more. We can have treasures right where we are, or our treasures might be somewhere else, or both. I treasure so many things that God has given me right where I am, - my husband, family, friends, and my life with horses. But that doesn't mean that there aren't more treasures that I cherish, - treasures that are somewhere else I have yet to be.  

Oftentimes when I tell someone that many of my "favorite earthly treasures" can be found in Texas, they look at me with that deer in the headlights look. "Duhhh, you're kidding, right? To which I respond, "Nope, as a matter of fact, I'm not. I would love to call Texas my earthly home!" And then I begin my countdown of things I treasure about the lone star state, albeit, from afar. First, there's those amazing quarter horses, and reining champions, being bred out in Texas by superb horsemen like Tim McQuay and Tom McCutcheon. Then there's those awesome clinicians like Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox, and Craig Cameron. And of course, there's the romance of the west, as dust flies from the hooves of well-trained working horses moving down the trail, cowboys and cowgirls with mud caked to their boots working cattle in the hot summer sun, and the reflection in the watering hole of a dozen head of long-horn steer taking a long drink on a sweltering hot day. If I close my eyes, I can even smell the searing hot branding iron, and hear the sound of dogs barking in the distance as they give chase to a coyote across an open field.

Okay, let's take it up a notch. Don't I always? Did I mention that I treasure those anointed Texas preachers and ministers? I treasure John Hagee for boldly teaching the unadulterated Word of God without apology. And I treasure T. D. Jakes, Marcus and Joni Lamb, and Joel and Victoria Osteen, just to name a few And finally, did I mention that I treasure the smell of good ol', slow cooked Texas BBQ that simply melts in your mouth? What more can I say? Probably a lot, but suffice to say there's a lot to treasure (and love) in Texas! So, having said all this, does Texas hold my ultimate and best treasure? You can bet your fancy Dan Post Boots, it does not! So, where is this special treasure? It's in the exact same place where your special treasure is. It's in the place of our true citizenship - a place called Heaven. Come on, let's tighten up our cinches, go a little further down the trail, and take a look at some of it's incredible treasures!

"Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah."

(Philippians 3: 20, ISV)

WE HAVE TREASURES ON THIS EARTH, - BUT OUR REAL AND LASTING TREASURES ARE IN HEAVEN

'But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him."

(1 Corinthians 2: 9, ISV)  

Have you ever stopped to think about the things you love and treasure here on earth? What are those thing? Do you know why you love and treasure them? In this newsletter, I've candidly shared with you some of the personal things (and people) I treasure about the great state of Texas. But let me be clear, lest anyone misunderstand or misconstrue what I've said so far. Up until this point, I've only shared with you some of the "earthly treasures" of this life that are dear to my heart. Amazingly, many of those things are in a place I've never lived, and yet, my heart has been there all along. Can I tell you that there is also another place that I have never lived, and yet, it is a miraculous storehouse of all that I really treasure? It is a place called Heaven where glorious treasure is being stored up for the children of God, and for those who are called by His name. Since God has already told you and me that our minds can't possibly imagine all that He has prepared for us there, it seems only fitting to take a peep at just a few of the treasures we do know will be there. Alas, I think you'll agree, - not even Texas can hold a candle to Heaven!

JUST A FEW OF THE

TREASURES  AWAITING

US IN HEAVEN:

*OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

*JESUS, THE MESSIAH

*LOVED ONES

*SPECIAL FRIENDS WE'VE KNOWN

*AMAZING PEOPLE 

*ANGELS

*ETERNAL PRAISE TO GOD

*OUR ETERNAL REWARD

*INFINITE KNOWLEDGE

*INFINITE WISDOM

*TO KNOW AND BE KNOWN

*OUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE 

*GOD'S CONSTANT PRESENCE

*STREETS OF GOLD

*A MANSION BUILT FOR US

*DISEASE FREE BODIES

*CITIZENSHIP

*ANIMALS

*TRUE PRAISE

*HEALTH

*NO SICKNESS

*JOY

*NO SORROW

*LIFE

*NO DEATH

 *HOPE

*NO REGRETS

*PEACE

*NO WAR

*A NEW, AGELESS BODY

*EVERASTING LIFE

(and the list of treasures goes on,

and on, and on...forever) 

So...

WHERE'S THE REAL TREASURE?

YOU GOT IT - 

HEAVEN!

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(Teaching biblical faith using horses)

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