Category Archives: Life

True Confessions of Pandemic Endeavors

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Ok, I am a little late on the bandwagon, but the first months of the pandemic had me rather stunned. Like a small rabbit who is scared, I just sat, stayed very still, and waited for it to hopefully pass quickly.

The months passed, and by May, I did something I said I would never, ever do. I went and bought houseplants! Any houseplant that had ever had the misfortune of crossing our threshold before COVID19 met its untimely death shortly thereafter. But….I was overcome with the urge for green living things in our home, even if it would be just a temporary gladness. Miracle of miracles…..all seven of them are still alive at this writing. Even poor little Niamh, our African violet. (Yes, we named them all. 🙂 ) She is not looking too grand, but I have great faith that she will pull through…..just make it to the springtime!

We then passed into the “let’s try to cook from scratch” phase, which is another thing that I am the very worst at. Let’s just say….that phase has passed, sadly for my long-suffering husband. We are back to the “walking to the refrigerator/freezer stage, holding the doors open for far too long, whilst we pray for something amazing, different, and easy to present itself for dinner.”

I also decided about summer time 2020 that I needed to learn new things, to stimulate my languishing/stressed out brain. Enter Duolingo Russian. All was going well until I needed to type Cyrillic on my nonCyrillic keyboard, use much copy/pasting from a Russian typing site, and you guessed it….it’s over. I have now decided that Swedish might be the way to go, but I will keep you posted. haha

I keep toying with the idea of learning to sew on a real sewing machine. But I have no sewing machine, and seeing the above patterns of my language learning and cooking, I have no desire to see an expensive purchase sit around my house unused. Any of you sew out there? How hard is it to learn how to use the machine from a YouTube video? (I think I just answered my own question. lol)

Anyway…..just wanted to document this Pandemic journey a bit. To talk about what is the elephant in the room for all of us.

Thankfully, God has made us to be creative creatures, like He is. He will keep us going, day by day, until this time in our history has passed. Enjoy whatever is keeping you interested today.

Write below…..tell me what has been your best/worst pandemic endeavors and experiments.

Love, Lisa

Never-Ending

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Kerry Cliff Walk, near Portmagee, Co. Kerry, 2011, Lisa Lyons

Never-Ending….

Synonyms: continuous, unceasing, constant, continual, perpetual, unfaltering, permanent, steady, relentless, persistent, endless

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [never-ending].” – Revelation 22:13

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal [never-ending] life.” – John 3:16

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting [never-ending] love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” – Jeremiah 31:3


“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away [never-ending].” – Matthew 24:35

I am thinking of permanence, of unchanging, of persistent, of everlasting love this morning. Long after this earth has passed away, God and God alone will remain. The wonderful, beautiful Jesus Christ will be the shining city on the hill.

Love Him more…..that is the only thing that will bring my heart contentment and rest. Not the vacation, not the new clothes, not the fake “happy” smile. Just Him.

Never-Ending.

Love, Lisa

Uphill

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At the top of Bray Hill, Valentia Island, 2011. Photo-Ed Lyons

“When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.” -Unknown

“When you don’t feel like doing anything, just do something.” – Lisa Lyons, on a sleepy Monday morning 😉

Yes, it’s Monday. And regardless of how I feel, how tired I am, etc……this is the only chance I have to live this day. So I am writing, and looking out my kitchen window. The sun is very bright. Good thing. Yesterday’s snow is melting, yet glistening. Good thing. I have a warm house and had food for my breakfast, and lots of good Irish tea. Good thing.

Thanks be to God, who puts up with my tired, unmotivated self, and lets me begin to see something good and true in the day. Very good thing.

However you are feeling this morning, be kind to yourself. And I am praying that your day goes as smoothly as it can, that you have good tea at your disposal, and a fair view to look upon. Also, that tonight’s sleep will be better than the last. 🙂 Love, Lisa

Being

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Belvedere Gardens, County Westmeath, Ireland, 2015

What is life? the young one asked

And why are we all here?

What is life? the old one asked

How is the purpose clear?

In Him we live and move and have our being

The sum of all our lives

Is found in knowing, loving Him

Who made us, formed us, created life

And breathed us into being

c2021 Lisa Lyons

My daughter is taking biology this semester. They discussed the question, “What is life?” I realize that there are valid observational qualifications for life. I don’t negate that. But all I kept thinking over and over again in my mind was, “Life is God. In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

What a comforting thought to be held together, to be created by Almighty God, who has made all things. Beautiful things….oceans, mountains, waterfalls, pine trees laden with snow, hummingbirds, cuddly puppies.

Praise God for life and for being our entire being.

Love, Lisa

Keep Being Strong

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Which is stronger? The mighty ocean, crashing upon the immovable rocks?

Or the humble sheep, trusting in his shepherd to lead him to pasture and water?

I would argue both are strong. Trust and faith take great strength. Strength only comes from the power of the only truly strong One. The Lord Jesus Christ.

My dad once told me, “You’re being strong. Keep being strong.” I can tell you that I do not feel like a strong person. I have many anxieties, physical weaknesses and chronic disability. But his faith in my strength helps me to remember that true strength resides within. It comes from relying, moment by moment, on Christ.

” ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me….For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

“Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” – Ephesians 6:10-11

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:29, 31

Keep being strong. Love, Lisa