sunbeam living

I heard of this Scottish woman, known locally as the "Sunbeam", I know I was going to find a person who lived their faith through the lives of those of those around them. I mean think about it, how many nicknames do you know that are positive? A person's nickname usually is looking at a physical deformity, a speech impediment or limp. After that it is the habits that people see as annoying like grumpiness or angry. A long time ago I had friends called Purple Nose and Frazzles, a man with a nose the perfect hue of purple and a man who had an accident as a child and was frazzled by an electricity cable. 

Her hymns were not published until after her death and two of the eight are still sung in many churches today. She lived until 38 years of age, it is unknown if she married or had children but she was a child of God who lived by faith not by sight.

 

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,

The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,

From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

 

O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet,

O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet!

As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given,

So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.

 

There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side

The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide

And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save

A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.

 

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;

And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;

The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

 

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,

My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.