Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps

by Leigh McLeroy

Cigar boxes. Refrigerator doors. Scrapbooks and sock drawers and top shelves. These are the places we store our treasures–the keepsakes that tell the story of whom and what we’ve loved, how we’ve lived, and what matters most to us.

God is a collector, too, whose treasures are tucked securely into the pages of his a golden bell here, an olive leaf there, a scarlet thread, a blood-stained cloth, a few grains of barley. Each of these saved artifacts reveals a facet of his heart and tells the story of a Father whose most precious possession is…us.

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of his attentive love.

Genres: Christianity

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Leigh McLeroy writes and speaks with a passion for God and a keen eye for His presence in everyday life. A former ghostwriter with seven books to her credit, Leigh's first solo effort, Moments for Singles, was published in 2004. She was a contributor to Rebecca St. James's Sister Freaks in 2006, and is the author of The Beautiful Ache (2007), The Sacred Ordinary (2008) and God's Cigar Box (2009). Leigh is also the creator of Wednesday words, an email devotional with a life of its own. She makes her home in Houston, Texas, where she is raising Owen - who may be the most adorable spaniel ever named after an Inkling, a John Irving character, and a Puritan preacher.

Reviews

[Leslie Yong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s quite an interesting read, that gives the reader another perspective into seeing and understanding the scriptures to help us know God more truly and intimately. It does help to encourage those readers to pursue a more deeper walk with God.
It’s a well written wonderful and encouraging book.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bible study class summer 2019

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working on the preface that God keeps things he treasures in a box, similar to the one the author received when her Grandfather passed away, Leigh McLeroy, brings us a small inspirational book, full of descriptions of the things that she has imagined that God has treasured over the years.


An enjoyable book, with thirteen chapters of inspirational writing, describing the reasons that God would perhaps treasure these things she has used, for example the fig leaves that Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness with, or perhaps the bloodstained wood, from the Israelites putting the blood on the doorposts to protect them from the death angel. Twelve chapters with treasures of God, the final chapter includes a list of things that the author has treasured, that have been milestones, and momentos of her walk with Christ. Then end note is a discussion guide and questions about what you would place in your box.


A lovely book that is easy to read and is delightful. 202 pages $14.99 US 4 stars

Available at Random House


This book was provided for review purposes only, no cash or payment was received for this review.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps, by Leigh McLeroy is one of those books you will want to read over again and again. Keepsakes do tell our story, so God must have them too. Each chapter goes over a keepsake of God’s you can find in the Bible that tells not only His story but some of yours. This book gave me Biblical insight that I may not have has with out it. McLeroy tells of each keepsake in not only a Biblical sense, but in such a wonderfully modern voice that you will not set down this book wishing that she had delved deeper. At the end of the book there is a little bonus, if you had not already related to each of God’s treasures, here’s a chance for you to grow a little more. See there is a theme to each keepsake, and McLeroy asks questions that will help you explore each of those pieces of your life story and create your own little treasure chest of your walk with God. She lives by example, telling you of her own treasures. The next time you tell someone about your relationship with God, you will find yourself thinking in terms of those moments you treasure.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

[logankstewart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Treasured, by Leigh McLeroy, is a book about finding God in everyday things. From the simple, routine checkout lines of grocery stores to the harrowing apartment fire, God is there in everything. Leigh offers personal stories and anecdotes from her own life to the reader, inviting them to learn with her. She shares her pains and her joys and how she sees God in them all.

This book serves as a reminder that in everything we do with our lives, God is there, watching and weaving His will. Leigh has no answers for the tough times of life (why do good people suffer?), but only reliance on God. I found her stories interesting and poignant and easy to relate to. The only real problem I had with the book was that I felt that it was more targeted towards women, which isn't really a problem, but that I was in the wrong audience. Overall, this small book helps the reader realize God's presence in the everyday life, and that is a good thing.

[Christy Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treasured by Leigh McLeroy is an amazing book that poses the question: what would God keep in a treasure box as mementos of His love story with humanity? By focusing in on pivotal moments in the Bible, like the fig leaf, Abraham's knife, and Balaam's riding crop, she creates new understanding about who God is and just how much He loves us. It also adds subtext to each story making them richer and meaningful for today's readers. She takes everyday items and made them seem almost sacred because of their context. Each chapter is easily read in a few minutes daily making it a terrific addition to readers' time with God. She ends the book discussing the items that would be in her own treasure box of faith and encourages readers to consider the contents of theirs as well.

[Scott Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter is bite sized and easy to read, starting with an anecdotal story from the authors life in most cases then moving on to a time in the Bible where God interacted with our ancestors making the connection that He still interacts with us the same way today. While the book doesn't actually talk about the things God keeps as in items that God actually has, like the author's cigar box. Rather the book is about what God, invisible and non-physical, holds tight to; what He treasures. This is a book about us, of course. Reading this book reminded me that we are His treasure and He is our portion. Highly recommended.

The full review is posted at my blog, http://ashertopia.blogspot.com. This book was provided free of charge by the publisher as a review copy.

[Jen Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book. It was based upon Leigh receiving an old cigar box of items, little trinkets, that her grandfather kept, which she received after he passed away. It talks about what the items we keep (or just remember) say about a person, about God. What would God keep is the question asked. In Treasured, Leigh does her best at trying to answer this question and bring it to an every day level. I really enjoy the study guide in the back of the book because it allows the reader to figure out for themselves what it is that really makes up their walk with God - What are the things you would put in a treasure box?

[Amy Kannel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend loved this a while back, so I bought it for my mother-in-law last Christmas. She loved it so much, she gave me a copy for my birthday. The author’s knowledge of God, both experiential love and intellectual understanding through Scripture, are obvious. It’s a simple but lovely collection of meditations on familiar Bible stories, laid against the author’s own life stories and teaching about what these stories reveal of God’s character.

[Kimberly Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still working my way through this book by one of my favorite authors. I love her honesty and passion for following Christ. McLeroy has a wonderful way of painting a picture with words, and has an artist's eye for beauty in all things, even the unlovely. If you haven't read anything by Leigh, I can't recommend her writing highly enough.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!!!!!