About the Book

Book: Treasures of the Wise: 30 Devotions For Storing Up Heavenly Riches

Author: Tracy L. Smoak

Genre: Pictorial Devotional

Release date: December, 2024

Stories have been written throughout the centuries about the search for gold. But the true treasure we all need is easier to find than we think. For the wise person, treasure that will not be wasted, tarnished, or stolen can only be found in God’s Word.

Join author and educator Tracy Smoak on a thirty-day journey around the world as she showcases coins to highlight the beauty of the eternal treasure given to us from God. Each devotional is short but filled with riches beyond what the world can offer, as well as photographs of unique international coins and snippets of information about them.

Start your day off as one of the wise, who seeks after priceless insights offered by our Heavenly Father.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Why did you choose to write non-fiction?
The topic of money management is on many people’s minds. Times are difficult with high interest rates and inflation.
Many are having trouble keeping up with monthly household expenses. Compound higher costs with many traumatic
incidences, such as natural disasters, and folks are stressed. I wanted to bring reassurance with God’s Word that no
matter the difficulties right now, God can be trusted to provide in the real world.

2. How do you balance writing time with other things?
My writing seems to flow best from a rich environment of good fellowship with engaging activities. If I spend too much
time alone in the writing cave, words fall flat. It is important to know what audience might benefit from the words to be
shared. With these people in mind, it is easier to phrase text to be conversational rather than preachy. If I keep my
personal life balanced with healthy involvement, then the writing goes much better. I swim a couple times weekly and
do yin yoga too. I try to walk daily. These physical outlets provide relief from hours hunched over a keyboard staring into
the blue beyond, and they clear my mind.

3. What types of research do you do?
Not only do I spend hours reading the Bible to discover special verses on the topic at hand, but I also need to know how
to find details about the coins. Google Lens provided great information about some of the money given by friends from
their travels when I had no idea the country of origin. Another aspect of research involves the production side. There’s
an incredible amount of time invested in learning how to navigate electronic images for editing and storing. I almost lost
my mind preparing raw images in the format the publisher needed to send to the printer. Another learning curve
involved studying how to create short videos for YouTube using the extra photographs with audio files for background
music.

4. How long does the researching stage usually take?
I wouldn’t say that research is a single stage. Keeping curiosity ongoing allows an open mind for new inspiration. Once I
had the idea to develop the theme of financial stewardship according to the Bible, I still had to weave together a visual
representation of a concept, plus include the coin as relevant. In some cases, the coins told their own story, like the
hands working together on the old English fifty-pence. Once I found a fact from one source, I had to verity it from others
online to ensure no bias.

5. Was there anything you found particularly interesting while researching?
When I met with a Jewish organization to get permission to use a photograph location, the director wanted to see the
coin to go along with the text. When I showed her the image of Pegasus, she said they couldn’t participate as Pegasus
represented Greek culture, which wasn’t aligned with their beliefs. I was surprised the cultural division still ran so
deeply.

(Here is a link to my YouTube channel with a short video I made to introduce the devotional and a key Bible verse about

money management: https://youtu.be/7-WsW1Qf05c. ---Tracy Smoak, tracysmoak.com)

About the Author

A native Floridian, Tracy L. Smoak grew up riding horses and climbing citrus trees. Her passion is to encourage others in their faith journey. Smoak contributes to Guideposts. Ambassador International released her debut novel, Who Brought the Dog to Church?. Bold Vision published her Bible study about encouragement titled Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place.

She loves photography, and Treasures of the Wise is the third devotional with her original images. Living Water to Refresh Your Soul features tranquil lake scenes while Arranged with Love showcases floral landscapes.

Smoak holds a master’s in Education and a bachelor’s in Communication. At her church home she leads small-group Bible studies.

More from Tracy

Laying Up Treasures

The word “treasure” can send mixed messages. On one hand, that noun can bring forth images of pirates commandeering others’ gold and valuables. We all get a gleam in our eye from time to time and dream of great wealth.

The verb form of “treasure” means to hold something dear, such as a photograph of loved ones. This object may have no special worth, other than sentiment. What priceless object do you protect? Is it a leather baby shoe stored in a tiny box or a beaten-up, old baseball glove?

Either way, what we pursue—and hold—as our prized possession reveals much about our priorities. Is our contentment based upon acquisitions? If so, we find ourselves on a merry-go-round ride that leaves us dizzy. No matter how much we get, we still want more. This constant demand is damaging.

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9 NIV).

To be well off, we need to put our hope in God, who richly provides us with all that we need and more.

“The emptiness we try to fill with earthly things stems from the desire for more of God,” said author and teacher Nancy Jenkins (Bibledolls: A Panorama of 28 Biblical Women).

To live well, we are advised to complete a wealth of good deeds. We are to be generous and willing to share. “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19 NIV).

Today’s prayer:

Dear Lord, please help us act on opportunities to do good for others. We appreciate your many gifts and find contentment in this moment, just as things are, with You by our side. Amen.