Tuesday, July 5, 2011

sunshine pictures

 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars--all the heavenly array--do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Deuteronomy 4:19 NIV


Sunshine itself isn't worth worshiping. However, I am SO VERY GRATEFUL to the God who made the sun shine this weekend! And I'm enjoying this creation SO MUCH this summer!

Since school ended two weeks ago, I've enjoyed so many beautiful people and beautiful places. God has been gracious to provide lots of sunshine as well!

Here are some pictures that tell the story better than my paragraphs:
Mom & I went to Port Gamble and then to the Silverdale Farmer's market on a day when the sun was trying to break through last week.

She bought these beautiful flowers from a local grower.

By Friday, it was beautiful and sunny again, so I drove to Mt. Rainier to renew my National Parks Pass. I love enjoying God in the beauty of His creation. Some kind German tourists offered to take my photo, but I'd already set the timer on my new camera.

The visitor center at Paradise has 290% of the average snowpack they should have this time of year. (That's three times as much as normal!!)
 
There were a LOT of people hiking to Camp Muir so I figured it was fine to join them.
It was like hiking alone... with a LOT of strangers.

So, I befriended a stranger named Gary for the trip back to the parking lot and heard all about his life and family.

Then, I spent the weekend camping with friends on Orcas Island at a hippie resort. It was beautiful, especially the wildflowers. Rhododendrons are the state flower of Washington and one of my favorites!

We drove to the top of Mt. Constitution on a sunny, sunny day. You can't see it yet in this picture, but I am very sunburned (even now, two days later!) Look at how beautiful the San Juan islands are, though. Spectacular!!!

The foxgloves are blooming. That means the fireweed will bloom soon! More favorites!

This is the ferry coming to pick us up from Orcas Island and take us back to Anacortes.

And these are my friends Chelsey & Al playing cards on the second ferry, from Coupeville to Port Townsend. We made up a few different card games over the weekend. The best one was called "Fourth of July" and included firework sound effects each time you discarded.
There have been even more sunshine-y moments this week. Today, I met with Joy to share hope and peace in life right now. Then, I had the honor of picking up Megan from the airport after her 3-week adventure to Sierra Leone with Children of the Nations (www.cotni.org). I tried to be good and stay out of the sun because of my sunburn, so I ended up at the climbing gym for a few hours planning for my first day of work tomorrow! Finally, we had a nacho party at my house tonight. Build-your-own-nachos are such a great meal to bring people together (Thanks, Kristen for the great idea!)

Here's another verse that helps me keep a right perspective on the sunshine: The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelations 21:23


Being a citizen of Heaven, I know that I can look forward to living in a city that doesn't even NEED sunshine. God's glory is far greater. Still, I plan to appreciate all of the sunshine we receive this summer!

1 comment:

  1. Pom PomJuly 6, 2011 at 6:24 AM

    Oh, I love this post! The San Juan island photo is gorgeous! I love the photo of your mom, too. I love her. She's an awesome field trip guide, isn't she? The mention of your hikes, your appreciation for creation, well, I'm feeling so smiley about YOU!

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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

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