Category Archives: Family

Lo, A Light Approaches!

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They couldn’t remember the last time they felt safe. Each monstrous wave threatened to upend the very ship they sailed upon, they relied on for their survival. The wind had long since shredded their sails and torn their anchoring ropes. They had not eaten for so long that they forgot they were hungry.

Would this series of storms ever end? They wished they had never signed up for this voyage. It had been one storm after another. For weeks, or had it been months? Time was not relevant anymore.

Each sailor tried to sleep when they weren’t on watch, holding on to whatever they could find that seemed relatively solid. Except for the two watchmen, drenched and huddled on deck, gripping the railings with all they had left.

The dawn approached, and a weak light pushed through the clouds. One sailor wearily strained his eyes to see what he could see. What was that? Brightness? A mirage to taunt him? No, it was definitely light. Beautiful, beautiful light. Ahead in the darkness.

Invigorated, he holds the wheel a little tighter and makes for the direction of this glorious thing. Light. Hope. Future. Salvation.

They are saved.

Whatever you are facing, whatever storms come your way, look for the light. Wait for it, as watchmen wait for the morning. It is coming, it has come, it will always come.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I Am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ ” – John 8:12

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning…” – Psalm 130:5-6

This song….ahhh, perfect! Enjoy Mary Dillon and Deanta’s version of this wonderful tune.

Blessings, Lisa

True Peace

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We all say we want peace. We all say we want a happy life. But it is hard. Life hits all of us hard with hard things that seem to produce the opposite of peace.

It all drives me running back to God’s Word to see what peace is. What it really is. What God tells us about how to achieve this elusive thing. All these verses encouraged my heart this morning, and I hope they do for you as well. There are so many wonderful ones that I had trouble selecting my favorites. Praise God for his perfect wisdom! Blessings, Lisa

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:6

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. -Isaiah 26:3

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. – Psalm 34:14

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. – 2Corinthians 13:11

Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. – Isaiah 48:18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. -1 Thessalonians 5:23

Photo -one of Killarney lakes, 2001. Ed Lyons

Dusting Off

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Old friend rediscovered

The dust is off

The hands are rusty

But the strings are true.

How many times we lose track of something in the crazy busy pace of life. The dust accumulates, and we forget. There is such joy in the rediscovering of something that was lost.

Be it friend, family, hobby, faith. The dusting off reveals the beauty of the once was and still can be.

“You have forsaken your first love…..repent and do the things you did at first.”- Revelation 2:4-5b

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ” – Luke 15:4-6

Blessings, Lisa

The Romantic Now

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The knight rides his white steed over impossibly green hills. He rides toward the hard stone of the castle’s protection, but mostly, he rides to see his love. He needs to make sure she is safe before the battle. His horse senses his need; his hooves seem to fly over the soft ground.

Aaahhh….the romance of the past. As I think of scenes such as this, it is all glory and grandeur and amazingness. In reality, the knight was probably cold, exhausted, and underfed. His body hurt from the hard days on horseback. The castle would be very cold and dark when he arrived. But his love…..that is the same as in my daydreams.

Love has the ability to transcend conditions, circumstance, history.

People of the past had no idea that their reality would be romanticized in the future. They just knew they were living and doing the best they could.

Challenge to myself? To live today as if it were a movie. Glory, grandeur, drama, love. Because life does have all of that. If I will just open up my eyes to see it.

Our home is our castle, now. The romantic now.

The saying, “Write your story well” comes to mind. So true. Let your character soar today.

Blessings, Lisa

Images: Donegal Castle, Ireland. 2015 Ed Lyons

The Beauty of the Unexpected

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A sudden shift in melody, an unexpected pause

The change in light at daylight’s end that brings a sudden thrill

A new taste swirling ’round the mouth

The wakening pulse with travel

The unexpected brings with it refreshing change of perspective

c2022 Lisa Lyons

I am challenging myself to embrace the unexpected this weekend. To not react to it with anxiety and trepidation, but with openness and excitement. Something different. Something exciting. A new challenge. An obstacle to figure a workaround. A change in my too stubborn mindset.

Here is a treasured photo of my son at age 7 embracing the unexpected, circa 2001. We were doing the tourist thing at the Cliffs of Moher, and a kind musician saw his interest in his accordion. He immediately offered Joshua a go at it. Better yet, Joshua jumped right in and went for it, with little knowledge of the instrument. Beautiful memory, wonderful encouragement and joy for all of us.

Blessings to you as you embrace your unexpected surprises this weekend, Lisa