Category Archives: blog

It Is

Posted on by
1
There are many ways to get where you’re going…..down the road or through the hedge.

One of the best things about blogging is getting the chance to put the things that are flying around in your mind into a concrete form. Writing something makes it seem more lasting.

As someone who deals with a permanently dodgy ankle, there are times when I am confronted with things I have trouble doing. I have found that focusing on the things I can do, rather than what I can’t do, is an infinitely better way to live. But sometimes circumstances or needs come up and force my attention onto the can’ts.

My sister said a very wise thing to me as she saw my struggle and guilt over my can’ts. She said, “It’s an it is. You can’t worry over something you cannot change.”

Read that again: “It’s an it is.“

Instead of ruminating endlessly of how to change my ankle and its oddities, I have been accepting it better since she said this. My completely fused ankle is a fact. Unable to be changed. Not my fault. I have been looking for accommodations, for other solutions, for ways around the problems. And not beating myself up with guilt for things I cannot change.

Yes, I realize that this is a variation of “It is what it is.” But for some reason, just hearing the words in a different way helped me to accept it.

So, little sister, thank you. This has helped more than you know.

Also, note to self…..you never know how little things you say to people can make a difference in encouraging them along their journeys. Keep encouraging, keep loving.

It is…..well with my soul.

Love, Lisa

Rise Above the Clouds

Posted on by
1

Take a close look at this photograph taken at Silver Strand beach in Ireland. Let your gaze focus upward. The yellow flowers growing in stone, the sheep grazing above the dangerous precipice?

There are challenging situations all around the flowers and the sheep, but they have moved past them, above them, through them.

Think of an airplane approaching an angry storm, dark lightning-filled clouds. If at all possible, the plane gains altitude and flies above the clouds. It sets its path beyond or around the storm and does not fly through it.

In my life, there are many scary precipices, stony rocks, dark storm clouds. But I do not want to focus on that. I do not want to fly through them anymore. I want to rise above the clouds. I want to soar with wings like eagles. I want to fix my eyes on Jesus Christ, my Savior, my peace.

Life races by at a breakneck pace. Days turn into years at an alarming rate. I want to fly, to grow beautiful flowers, to eat delicious food. I want to laugh, to smile, to love with my whole heart, to see new things, to appreciate the old. I want to live with the best attitude that God can give me. I want to enjoy this beautiful God-given life.

Lord, let me rise above the clouds. Love, Lisa

The Miracle of Life

Posted on by
1

You have something to say.

You have great worth.

You are precious in the eyes of the One who created you.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful…..

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand.” -Psalm 139: 13-14, 17-18

God in Heaven has known you since the beginning, and He will know you at the end. He loves you so much, and yes, He cares about everything you say and do.

Be encouraged. Love, Lisa

To The King

Posted on by
2

I have been quiet, I know. To be very honest, I have been mourning. Mourning the loss of freedom of speech, thought, debate, reason. Mourning the loss of what was and what I thought things would be. This all sounds quite dour and morose, I know. But it is a real thing, and I think many of us are feeling it.

God always reaches closely when we need comforting if we are paying attention. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” -Matthew 5:4 He is gently reminding me this morning that this world is not my home. That there is a place prepared for me, and He is coming soon to take me home with Him. A much better and more beautiful place. A place with beautiful God freedom, sane thoughts, reason, harmony, peace, healing, resurrection. Praise God!

As I did 31 years ago when I accepted Christ into my heart, I am again pledging my undying allegiance to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. He is in control, He will make all that is wrong right, He will restore.

My job now is to keep hope, keep looking up, try to let others know that God is faithful and that Jesus loves them so much that He died for them. That He wants a relationship with them.

Thank you, Lord, for the comfort this morning. You alone are King. Love, Lisa

Pushing Through

Posted on by
4

Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy. That little voice inside my mind that tells me all manner of negative things.

“No one wants to hear what you are thinking/writing, so why say it?”

“You are not a good writer.”

“There are so many books in the world, why write another one?”

“What I am saying is not original/interesting/witty enough, etc.”

And on and on and on it goes. Things the devil wants me to think, to shut me down, to keep me from being the person God created me to be.

I have a choice. I can choose to listen and shut down, or remind myself and push through. Listen to lies or listen to truth. Not that I am the greatest writer in the world….I am not saying that. But all of us have something to say, some truth that God is revealing in our lives, something that might encourage someone else who is going through something similar.

Here are some things God says about me (and you):

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” -Zephaniah 3:17

” There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” -1John 4:18

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10

And on and on and on it goes. Praise God. I choose today to listen to Him and to His Word and to His love. I am so thankful.

Write well, my friends. Speak love, speak truth, speak of Christ. Love, Lisa