This song was written as I journeyed through a difficult passage of life. I pray it encourages your soul this morning, no matter what you are traveling through. Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us. He will come in glory in the clouds someday soon, and we will see Him. And every tear will be wiped away. Praise God! If you need prayer, let me know. I would love to pray for you. Blessings, Lisa
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, or other streaming platforms. Lisa Lyons, An Unexpected Journey.
Life is hitting us all hard these days. Everyone I know is going through some majorly stressful and difficult challenges. Call it escapism, call it avoidance, but I have found something that helps me like nothing else.
I look up. I focus on Christ, the author and perfector of my faith.
I look out. I see the trees, the sky, the animals, the things that He has made.
I breathe deeply, if I can. Sometimes the stress is too much, and I get a pitifully shallow breath, but I refocus on God’s things, and try again. Breathe, and breathe again.
Find the things you love. Clouds, birds, your pet, your best friend, your parents, a delicious cup of tea, a piece of homemade carrot cake. Relish it. Sit in the moment of enjoying it for as long as it takes.
Here is a photograph of a jet-lagged, pain-weary me arriving in Ireland a few years ago. It had been a hard journey, and my ankle was hurting. But my husband stopped the car by the ocean on the side of the road. I got out, and the unmistakable smell of Ireland overtook me. The clean strong wind cleansed all the gunk out. I could breathe. The look you see in those tired eyes is pure joy and relief. Look for your Ireland today, wherever it may be, whatever form it takes. God never leaves you, never forsakes you, ever.
Looking up, looking out, breathing deep.
Blessings, Lisa
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
Yellow and red are two very different colors. They also have two very different meanings when driving. Yellow means to slow down, take caution, proceed when safe. Red means to come to a complete and full stop.
Too many times in my life, I have come to a yellow light, a temporary roadblock, and I let it completely stop me. Something in my life that should only briefly curtail me, derails me.
Yellow is not red. Proceed when the way is clear.
As my morning inspiration, I include a video of little Timmy from Donegal Donkey Sanctuary in Ireland, which I have shared before.. He was born with two severely deformed back legs, but now, due to wonderful care and vet expertise, good hoof orthotics, and lots of God’s grace, he is four years old and doing wonderfully. Timmy didn’t let the yellows in his life derail him. He is full out green.❤
Yellow is not red. Love, Lisa
P.S. If you feel so inclined, http://www.donegaldonkeysanc.com is a wonderful place of healing and rest for neglected and abandoned donkeys. We “adopted” Timmy this year, and I know they would appreciate any help you could give them during this challenging Covid season..
Honesty morning. Hard night sleep, pain in ankle. Feeling sorry for myself more than a little. But then the soft warm nose comes nudging close beside me. The big brown eyes look at me, asking, “Are you alright?” The curly warm hair on his back presses into my side as if to support me if he could.
Finnegan. My wonderful cockapoo dog.
Something good and true and admirable to think about this morning.
Thanks, buddy. 🙂 Love, Lisa
Think About These Things 