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Wednesday,
March
24,
2021
Boxcar Rocks
Whalehead
"Climbing Up
Sunshine Mountain"
Message
summary: The
lifelong climb up sunshine mountain begins when we
make our decision to follow Christ. At times the
path is relatively smooth and easy. Sometimes it's
the grade is steep and it's quite an incline. And
sometimes it's like a rock climbing scramble!
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights" (Psalm 18:31-33).
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights" (Psalm 18:31-33).
Yesterday
in a remote part of
northern Lebanon County we
visited an interesting geological formation known
as "Boxcar Rocks". It's a long line of huge
boulders on a mountain ridge and was given the
name Boxcar Rocks when Harry
D. Lentz, described the
rocks as a "Railroad Wreck of Boxcars", and the
description caught on. It's also known as the
China Wall after the Great Wall of China, although
this formation is entirely natural.We hiked in from Gold Mine Road back to the formation and then up and around it, at times scrambling (climbing up steep terrain involving the use of one's hands) on the boulders. We enjoyed ourselves but were sure glad to get back on firm ground as we both became keenly aware that our days of enjoying this type of activity are waning! It's a good thing we didn't have other hikers nearby to hear our moans and groans as our forced knee crunches during the ascending and descending of large rocks brought about the pain we usually try to avoid. We felt the physical stress the rest of the day and even still this morning!
We recall an old song from childhood, "Climb Up Sunshine Mountain" which we haven't heard in years. But we just started to sing it and the words still come back.
Climb,
climb up sunshine mountain
Heavenly breezes blow;
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
Faces all aglow.
Turn, turn from sin and doubting,
Look to God on high,
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
You and I.
Heavenly breezes blow;
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
Faces all aglow.
Turn, turn from sin and doubting,
Look to God on high,
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
You and I.
Well,
many, many years have passed since we sang that as
children in Sunday School, VBS or in the Booster
Band as Brooksyne's country church called it. We
were reminded yesterday that our days of physical
climbing are diminishing but we will never
discontinue the climbing quest spiritually.
Hinds' Feet on High Places is an allegorical novel by English author Hannah Hurnard. It was written the year Brooksyne was born (1955) and is a very successful work of Christian fiction. It takes the imagery from our daily text.
The
lifelong climb up sunshine mountain begins when we
make our decision to follow Christ. At times the
path is relatively smooth and easy. Sometimes the
grade is steep and it's quite an incline. And
sometimes it's like a rock climbing scramble!
"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights." A deer is able to move quickly and easily across the rocks of a mountain, leaping from one rock to another without ever losing its footing. Thus the biblical verse means that God has enabled and empowered His followers to overcome the obstacles of life which we will most certainly confront and doing things that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without divine aid.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Hinds' Feet on High Places is an allegorical novel by English author Hannah Hurnard. It was written the year Brooksyne was born (1955) and is a very successful work of Christian fiction. It takes the imagery from our daily text.
The
lifelong climb up sunshine mountain begins when we
make our decision to follow Christ. At times the
path is relatively smooth and easy. Sometimes the
grade is steep and it's quite an incline. And
sometimes it's like a rock climbing scramble!"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights." A deer is able to move quickly and easily across the rocks of a mountain, leaping from one rock to another without ever losing its footing. Thus the biblical verse means that God has enabled and empowered His followers to overcome the obstacles of life which we will most certainly confront and doing things that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without divine aid.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, I know that many of the
mountains I face are not just blown away by a simple
prayer of faith, but these mountains are often the
very essence of how You work through my life to
reveal Your faithfulness and Your power in the midst
of my struggles. You develop godly character as I am
challenged to remain steadfast and faithful in my
Christian walk. You make my feet like hind's feet
and You make me to walk upon high places. Help me to
keep my gaze continually upward during my climb so
that I see You reigning on Your throne as I seek to
bring You glory and honor! In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
Every
promise we can make, every prayer and step
of faith,
Every difference we will make, is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind, is only by His grace.
Every difference we will make, is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind, is only by His grace.
More
photos of our hike yesterday to Boxcar
Rocks
The
Boxcar Rocks trail was a beautiful walk
through the woods.
Here's
the first view of the formation after the
hike in from the road
Brooksyne
climbed up to this notch demonstrating her
super herculean strength to support the
overhead boulders.
We
didn't climb all the way to the top but
walked along this ledge about 1/2 way up.
The
north side of Boxcar Rocks appeared to be
covered with what looked like burnt leaves
plastered against the wall. Perhaps a
forester would identify it as some type of
fungi or lichen.
Boxcar Rocks (Chinese
Wall) Description and
directions
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a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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