Equal parts photo blog and faith walk, "Up the Sunbeam" exists to highlight moments in time that reveal something of God, His matchless character, His wondrous work, or our privileged interaction with Him. I hope it blesses your heart!
It has been a long while since I have posted anything here. I have been busy completing three years toward my B.A. in English and my senior year is underway. My current class (Creative Writing) has finally given me the space to take off the tight harness of academic writing rules, and it feels SO GOOD!! After reading my first assignment, Mom and Daddy gave it their thumbs up and suggested I make it a blog post, so here it is. It is my story and their story. It's a little longer than my usual posts, but as with everything I have ever posted here, I pray it encourages you to run "up the sunbeam to the sun" (C. S. Lewis). "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV I sat above them on the stairs. Looking down through the window-like openings in the partition between the living room and the stairway, I listened to the basketball players, football players, baseball players, wrestlers, track athletes, both the lettermen
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Treasure That Cannot Rust
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The old fence no longer holds anything in or out. Posts still stand where hard-working hands placed them . . . when? I don't know. Most of the wire is gone and with it the memory of who put it there or what treasure it kept safe. What is left is weathered, worn and rusted so heavily the wire looks sculpted rather than twisted together. Long years of exposure to water, air and sun have eaten away at what once was new 'til it is rendered useless, though still dangerous. Rusted iron, corroded metal, brittle wire showing the breakdown of its once shining strength--it speaks.
In Eden, everything broke, and the first corrosion began. Things began to fall apart, to waste away. Time became a thief, fear entered stage-left and death stalked us all. Maybe that was when we started trying to hold on to things . . . earth things. Maybe that was when we became grabbers instead of givers. Maybe that was when we first fell for fool's gold."They say that where your treasure isThere will your heart be alsoYour heart stays where You hide your greatest love"Words from the song "Treasure" by Gary Chapman
Jesus knew our faithless tendency to love the stuff of earth rather than to treasure relationship with God more than anything.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."Matthew 6:19 NIVHis warning was a loving one. He knows we lose and lose and lose when we wildly cling to material things that are subject to calamity and destruction. He wisely directed us to hold fast to things we can't lose and not to set our hearts on things we can't keep.The old fence echoes His warning, reminding me not to count on the frailty of earth things. It's silent, windswept witness cries a loud alarm--don't worry about what you have or don't have here and now--store up real treasure that cannot rust, that no one can take from you . . . treasure that is indestructible.
When I heed its message, I can joyfully, truthfully sing the words of the old hymn:
"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or goldI'd rather be His than have riches untoldI'd rather have Jesus than houses or landI'd rather be lead by His nail-scarred handThan to be a king of a vast domainOr be held in sin's dread swayI'd rather have Jesus than anythingThis world affords today."
Gracious Father, keep me true to these words! Help me to treasure You above all else!
YOU ARE MY TREASURE!!
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."Matthew 6:20 NIV
How are you learning to treasure things less and Jesus more?
Shaunie, This is one of your "many best." I love the photo images and the writing says so well the reason for our "grabbing, not giving" dilemma. You have ever deepening insights coming from the depths of your ability to connect all things to the principles of The Word, and the life circumstances you know, and through your wonderfully observant photographers soul. Keep the blogs coming--as A. Lincoln once said, "Work hard and prepare yourself, and one day your opportunity WILL COME." I know this is true for you and pray you will continue to prepare.
Oh, what a wonderful post! Thanks for sharing! Hey there! Your blog is beautiful and so is your heart for God.
Come join us this weekend over at my blog for Weekend Wisdom and Worship- Week 1! Check it out, I know you'll like it. Let us encourage the body of Christ together.
Word became flesh . INCARNATION The Flesh-wearing Word lived and breathed and moved among us, sharing our space-and-time existence, for a span of 33 years. In that mere blink of history, He spanned the chasm between divine love and human desperation. Christmas . . . His coming. We so easily envision His birth, the praising angels, the Joy to the World, the Peace on Earth, the Good Will to Men, shepherds, wise men, drummer boys--the Christmas card comes to life in our mind's eye. But do we rewind a little further, go back to the moment where He took off His glory like a glistening robe and left it hanging on a hook in Heaven's hallway? Do we envision the moment He handed His crown to His Father and said, "Don't worry--I've got this! I'll go!" Do we reckon with the sacrifice it was for Him to limit all that He had always been to the permanent wearing of humanity, just so He could rescue us from the dragon . . . and ourselves . . . and our ugly sin
Northern California is rainy this time of year. While many of you are eagerly anticipating the beauty of a white Christmas, here we get rain . Some people don't like it and can't wait for the return of the sunshine, but I like the break in the monotony of weather that doesn't have 4 distinct seasons to follow. Rain is also lovely for turning the hills an almost Irish shade of green (at least how I imagine Ireland to be). Then there's always the fact that I hate it when the powers that be talk about drought and rationing water and expecting me not to flush toilets--so yessirree, I do love the rain!! This week brought rain, really more heavy mist than rain, but so heavy you could actually hear it. It soaked and soaked and soaked into everything. For a day and a half it lingered. It gave some people all the reason they needed to complain. I just listened to the lovely soft sound it made and breathed it in. The morning it stopped, I drove up a street that is lin
I love Christmas lights!! I love the color and dazzle they bring! I love that they illustrate the truth that Jesus came as the Light of the world! Every year there are a number of houses I can't wait to see decorated! Some of them are so elaborate, I think the people must have to start around the 4th of July to get all those lights in place for the next Christmas season! I love it that there are people who will go to these lengths, but it makes me tired just to think about all that work!! Here is a video of one such magical place (I've never been there, but would love to see this in person!)--more power to 'em!! Pretty great, huh?!! I think so too! Of all the houses that I love to see decorated, there is one house I look forward to more than all the others. They came through for me just this past weekend, much to my delight!! My son called me a "creeper" for going and lurking in front of this house, quietly snapping pictures to capture it, but I LOVE
Shaunie, This is one of your "many best." I love the photo images and the writing says so well the reason for our "grabbing, not giving" dilemma. You have ever deepening insights coming from the depths of your ability to connect all things to the principles of The Word, and the life circumstances you know, and through your wonderfully observant photographers soul. Keep the blogs coming--as A. Lincoln once said, "Work hard and prepare yourself, and one day your opportunity WILL COME." I know this is true for you and pray you will continue to prepare.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a wonderful post! Thanks for sharing! Hey there! Your blog is beautiful and so is your heart for God.
ReplyDeleteCome join us this weekend over at my blog for Weekend Wisdom and Worship- Week 1! Check it out, I know you'll like it. Let us encourage the body of Christ together.
Nice to meet you new friend!