God is a Treasure Seeker who pursues a relationship with us, His lost treasure. We, the searchers, are looking for the one priceless thing that makes life meaningful. Once we discover and enter this relationship, God assumes the role of Master Jeweler who lovingly shapes, refines, polishes, and incorporates our flaws, transforming us into the beautiful jewels we are meant to be. The Treasure Seeker speaks especially to women, helping them feel valued while incorporating scripture for life application. Unique accompaniments include the “lost” parables: lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son, pearl of great price, and lost treasure in the field. The Treasure Seeker is enriched with folklore of lost treasure tales, treasure and gemstone trivia clips, and points to ponder at the end of each chapter. Women have the opportunity to identify their gemstone makeup including their flaws. Ideal for women longing to deepen their relationship with Christ, and for spiritual seekers trying to grasp the message of the cross. Excellent for independent readership or small group study. Revised edition 2018.
This book is an excellent resource for how God relate to us by pursuing us, his lost treasure.
The Good -I really enjoyed every chapter I read. -Knowledge given is tied to the Bible -Great source for a person struggling to find their worth. -An especially wonderful source for women. -Although, as a man, I gathered much from this book as well. -Easy to understand chapters with a lot of clarity -Helpful stories -Neat nuggets found at the end of each chapter (Treasure and Gemstone Trivia) -"Points to Ponder" sections -Questions to think about based on each chapter.
The Bad -N/A
The Unsure* -N/A *My opinion: what I didn't care for or do not prefer. This will not lower a rating unless it overly distracts from the story.
I really enjoyed reading this because each chapter had interesting stories to help clarify the message. The Bible was also often referenced, especially stories from the Gospels. You can find this book on Amazon to learn more.
Teena understands firsthand what it means to go from something of seemingly little value to a beautiful and valuable treasure in God’s eyes.
Q: Why Did You Write The Treasure Seeker? A: I guess you could say I discovered hidden treasure I wanted to share. As I studied the Bible I couldn’t help but see a treasure theme that reoccurs. It’s all through the old and new testaments. We see it in Jesus’ teachings and especially in what I call the “lost” parables. But as I studied these I realized that in some of the parables, such as the lost coin, the lost sheep and lost son, that we are the thing of great worth that is lost. God sees us as something very valuable and he’s earnestly trying to recover what he’s lost because it’s so precious to him. In two other parables, (the pearl of great price and treasure hidden in the field) we are the treasure seeker who needs to recognize a lost treasure of great value-- a relationship with God to be had-- if we will just grasp that.
So, there’s this mutual seeking. When we understand just how important it is to be in this relationship with God it is life altering. Imagine in your mind a scene played out in slow motion like in a movie where two people in love have been separated from each other for a long time. They run toward each other and meet in an embrace and passionately unite.
That’s what it’s like but it doesn’t end there.
Once we unite with God, he moves into the role of a Master Jeweler who takes us in all our roughness, and shapes and reworks us into something even more remarkable. To really realize our true worth we have to stay in that relationship and allow him to refine us. So, to answer the question, why did I write the book? I want everyone to know they can have this incredible relationship that will make them feel treasured and valued and that by having it they will become even more so.
Q: Who is Your Target Audience? A: I wrote it with women in mind—women who are spiritually seeking and Christian women who want to grow more mature spiritually. I consider it a Christian Living book.
Q: Is it Meant for Individuals or Groups? A: I originally wrote it for self-study, in fact, I include Points to Ponder at the end of each chapter to help readers reflect on the main theme of that chapter and consider where they might need to grow. But I’ve had people who read the book tell me they think it would make a great group Bible study.
Q: What are Some Unique Features that Set it Apart from Other Books? Well, first, the treasure stories, other than the parables, that I include. That was another thing that made me want to write the book. Over time I’ve heard and collected some intriguing stories about lost treasure and I wanted to share those, but I do so to tie into a point.
The book also has gemstone trivia just for fun and I included a section on specific gemstones and a bit of their history. Readers have the opportunity to decide what gemstone they think they are most like and what their strengths and weaknesses are. The back of the book includes a spiritual gifts assessment because I want readers to understand a bit more about who God made them to be and how they can use that “gemstone” package to serve themselves and God best.
I also created a Treasure Seeker jewelry line and have designed necklaces and earrings based on these particular gemstones. Those who purchase my book can also order these handmade—for a 10% discount when they purchase my book. More info on that at http://serendipitini.com/
Q: If There is One Message You Want Reader to Come Away With From This Book, What Would You Say That Is? A: The importance of a deep relationship with God & Christ. It will be the most fulfilling thing they have ever been a part of.
Q: What is the exact book title and where can people purchase it? A: It is called The Treasure Seeker: Finding Love and Value in the Arms of Your Loving Heavenly Father. It comes in paperback or ebook version and is available on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/a8j2okw and through my website www.teenastewart.com and most bookstores.
A Gem for Christians Liz and Felix Bearden's Review of Treasure Seeker By Teena Stewart
At first glance my reaction was "Oh no. Another shallow Christian study guide!". I must confess that I am attracted to deeper theological discussions, that, in the end, really don't do that much to attract and feed the Christian flock. However, I was interested enough in the representation of God as a "Treasure Seeker" and his people as "Treasures" that I kept reading. I was rewarded by finding a scenario that made the relationship of God and his people clearer. The depiction of God as a master jeweler and his people as jewels in the rough is particularly helpful in explaining the refinement process required for His light to be reflected in them.
Teena Stewart gives us a wealth of real life stories that illustrate that refinement process. Gemstones are never perfect. Her story about refinishing a table that had cigarette burns is an illustration that trying to remove a blemish that, at that point, was an underlying defect in the piece. Actually, veneer presents an opportunity to hide the true nature of some with a thin cover of something of quality and/or beauty. She also helps us understand that all of us are not necessarily diamonds. We all have a job in God's kingdom whether it is to direct his light, like a diamond, the colors of his kingdom, like mother of pearl, or an instrument in the refinement process, like mothers and dads. Even the janitors are necessary. Who else would clean up the mess left from the refinement process?
Another "facet" of this gem is the references Teena has included. Too often authors quote the Bible or authors without giving the reader a clue as to where it can be found. Because she is well read and is willing to do the research, the book speaks with more authority.
To readers I recommend you read thoughtfully ... not quickly. To churches, I recommend you purchase a copy for the library and consider a study session using this book for the text.
An extremely enjoyable read that seems to lift your spirits within every page. Often times, women may may a feeling of worthlessness and this well defined book sets the mind in motion for a much more positive attitude to overcoming life's obstacles with 'The Treasure Seekers'. Teena's teachings help us find value within ourselves and love which guides our relationship towards God even more so. I certainly view life in a much more positive light. The stories she tells throughout are very spiritual and uplifting that mixes both historical fiction and non fiction. The compassion of God and how he treats us all as treasures are truly encouraging. Enhanced by well written chapters, we can all think of ourselves blessed by the great gift he created. 'US'.
In this inspirational book, Teena retells the scripture stories comparing the kingdom of heaven and God’s followers to precious jewels. Teena weaves in potent examples of these scriptural truths from a vast variety of literature. I was very moved by the examples she gave and found myself understanding the Biblical stories at a deeper level than I ever had before. Using the theme of precious jewels, Teena gives fascinating facts about many kinds of precious stones and their uses throughout history. Each chapter ends with a thoughtful discussion guide that would work well for a small group study. The Treasure Seeker is perfect for anyone who is struggling with the value they have in Christ, wants to know more about what the Bible teaches, or wants to grow in their faith.
Teena Stewart's the new age spiritual book is divided into several segments under specific titles. Even those like me, who are more philosophical in their views of God rather than religious will find her style and technique of writing quite captivating This is a well researched book that has attempted to describe Jesus, Christianity and what they stand for. Finding God in a nutshell is to love Him dearly and that is what Jesus's teachings encompass. The writer vehemently argues that this is what people should be focused on as this is what will keep them from going 'Off course' and out of sin.. In today's turbulent times of self indulgence, putting aside a bit of kindness for all creatures great or small is not such a bad idea and Christianity purports.
"Each one of us is valuable, even if we think we are not." I love that quote!! As a Christian, I believe this book is quite inspirational and thoughtful. This is a very good reading for those who are lost and need direction in life. You will feel like God is sitting next to you while you are reading. The sense of comfort overwhelm me when I finished the last page. This is not the kind of reading that will entertain you, but definitely the kind of reading that will make you say that "Everything is going to be just fine." At least, it is for me.
This book has a lot of gems to be found in it. Comparing God to a Treasure Seeker and us to be his gems is an interesting premise. The author also compares him to the Master Jeweler. This book has questions at the end of each chapter that makes it good for a Bible study group. The personal stories and the parables are some of the gems to be found. The list of gems and their character traits and finding which one you are like is also alluring (I think most people have a few of these gems in their crown).
The secret desire for every woman is to love and be loved. For a while now we've heard teachings on God’s judgement and anger towards his people but Teena speaks as God would speak to any daughter of his. She beautifully displays the love that God has for his daughters, how he regards each and every woman as a treasure because he knows the potential he locked in each one of us. This book is a good read and I would recommend it to all women in all spheres of life.