Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Beautiful Dust


There is a rich dichotomy in faith.

We are beautiful.

We are dust.
~~We ought never to think too highly of ourselves. We ought never to forget the price Jesus paid to define us beautiful.




Does this make your head spin? My head is whirling at the equal truths. I am no one without my Savior. Dust. Here today, gone tomorrow. I am also a vessel of immeasurable worth, one who is to let my light shine before men (and women). Any and all my worth is because of Jesus. I’m shimmery dust.

I’m telling you, this one baffles. It keeps me exactly where I need to be--humble before the throne. Any glory I receive I aim to direct it back to the Lord. To shine my light heavenward.

Ascension of illuminating, radiant dust in the sky.

Many of us are on the path to publication. We want our books and/or our writing to be successful. By navigating the slippery rocks in Pride Waters we need to evaluate our motives, our insecurities and our trust in God. We all fall prey to puffing ourselves up while promoting our work. We are vulnerable to forgetting who gave us the mind, passion and giftedness to write. There’s a shifty bridge between selfish ambition and writing for God’s glory. We have to choose a side. We are misguided to remain confused wobbling in the middle of that bridge.

I found the insight in this Novel Journey post to be invaluable, honest, and fascinating. It spurred the thoughts for my post today.




What do you think about being beautiful dust?



*photos by flickr
**My music is still there. No worries. I decided to take it off autoplayer. But it’s still there waiting for you to click play.

13 comments:

  1. I love the images of snow, because it's a sort of dust, but it's what we become after Jesus forgives us - white as snow. "Beautiful dust"...lovely thought to start my day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shimmery dust. It's a lovely thought! Important, too.

    Thanks for sharing this, Wendy. And you're right. We have to keep our thoughts and faith in the right place, humble, seeking, guided.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The photo of radiant dust in the sky really brings the two together so effectively - beauty and dust. I think part of the beauty is the pure sense of wonder looking at that sight.

    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Wendy, with wishes for a wonderful New Year Year too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. For a minute I thought you were referring to the "His Dark Materials" series. :0) Gotta check the post out at Novel Journey. Thanks for making me think, Wendy!

    Have a merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful dust--I like that. You're right, all we have and are is God-given.

    Have a very Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's a good message to remember at this time of year.

    Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful post. It is so true! I love that we are shimmery dust. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What an interesting concept Wendy! I think it all comes down to humility. If we realize that all we have comes from God, there is no place for pride--only gratitude. Beautiful thought.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Most definitely it makes my head spin.

    Why would the Lord choose vessels of clay to display Light? Not logical. Wouldn't Light shine more beautifully through etched crystal, not clay?

    But when a vessel of clay is broken, that Light shines out in ways crystal would never convey—in an artful and unique array of cracks that makes the Light, and not the vessel, what is most visible.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow to have your brain! Thank you for reminding us all to put God first.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sarah, That's what I was going for with the pictures. I'm glad I helped start your day with a lovely thought.

    Janna, Humble, seeking, guided. What a mantra.

    Joanne, Merry Christmas to you. It is such a pure wonder, isn't it?

    Kristen, Loved learning new things from you today. I'm not familiar with that series.

    Jill, I shall see you soon. Looking forward to it!

    Patti, I found it especially resonated with me at this time.

    Nisa, I thought on it, flipped it over like a pancake and decided both were equally true. Thanks for your words.

    Natalie, Gratitude sprung from humility. How right you are. That is the way it works.

    Anne, I'm certained a cracked pot. My husband says this in small groups and people always think he's calling himself a crack pot. :D

    I love the takeaway from your imagery. I have plenty of places for God's light to leak through. Your vision is so clear...it amazes. Thanks for the Biblical clay example.

    Kristin, Painful, eh? I remind myself in these posts as much as anyone else. Glad to have you around here. Keep writing.

    I've become somewhat of a Twitter fool. I like it. I shall not lie. It is good to be here Mon, Wed, and Fridays too.

    I'm grateful for those who continue to read and offer insight in the comments. I have so much to learn, so many ways to grow and you know what...that excites me beyond belief!

    Rest well. He is coming soon.

    ~ Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wendy, your words always have life and a spirit about them. Lovely. Can I call the dust in my house beautiful? Seriously, I want my dusty self to be beautiful for Him.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the word dichotomy! Love these thoughts and how they make me think. Have an awesome Christmas Wendy!

    ReplyDelete

Taking Time

college applications                 homecoming                            flag football                basketball             SATs   ...