Tag Archives: God

Fix My Eyes, Lie Down, and Rest

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The storm came out of nowhere. The waves which once gently lapped the edges of the wooden boat were now crashing wildly over the sides. The wind ripped one of the sails, rendering it useless. We knew there was no hope, and began crying. Some calling for help to the heavens. Some weeping quietly inside.

Then we saw Jesus. He was sleeping, so quietly in the corner of the boat, totally unconcerned with the storm. We awoke him, terrified. He saw our fear, heard our cries. He had mercy on our unbelief. Peace, be still! The waves were quiet instantly at His command. The wind ceased without a moment’s hesitation. The boat ceased its rocking. We fixed our eyes firmly on this One who controls all things. Hope, rest, peace all found in One Person, this Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. We laid down and rested. He did the same, and we knew we would always be safe with Him.

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The prescription I am ordering for myself for this week and the weeks to come: fix your eyes on Jesus, lie down, and rest. He is always in control. Praise to God! Love, Lisa

Golden Glory

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Moments before this photograph was taken, our skies were dark and turbulent. The remnants of what was Hurricane Zeta were exiting to the east. Then, in a blinding second of golden glory, the sun illuminated the trees. God is His excellent wisdom left the black clouds behind the mountains for dramatic effect.

What was dark became light.

The ash tree, which sadly is dying and must be removed soon, looked amazingly vibrant.

Golden light bathed all in its path, and all was breathtakingly beautiful.

This is what Christ does. He makes all things new. He turns darkness into light. He can make what is dying in you come to life in a beautiful way. In a blinding second of golden glory. Love, Lisa

Weightless Moment

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Close my eyes, think, feel, wonder

Begin to type without fear of failing

Pressure inside starts to crumble

As the words appear upon the screen

Praying You are pleased with me

The One who loves me unconditionally

Laughing, I imagine Your smile

And I let the words continue a bit more

Until I can rest and be and breathe

c 2020 Lisa Lyons

Express or Impress?

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As a recovering lifelong people pleaser, I have always had a great need to impress others. I attempted to gain approval and love and attention by means of good behavior or well-played music or a good grade. One of the great freedoms and releases of my life was after becoming a born-again Christian. I realized that Jesus loves me unconditionally, not based on what I have done or not done. He loves me simply because I am His.

Now that I am writing more, I find myself grappling with my old struggle with pleasing. Or to phrase it differently, impressing. Impressing my blog readers with a clever or especially inspirational blog. Impressing some future publisher with the novel that I’m working on currently. Impressing my family with how hard I’m working on my writing. On and on and on.

Any form of art, whether it be writing, music, drama, dance, etc., requires honesty, truth, and expression. Expressing the truth of what I’m thinking and feeling is sometimes difficult. What will my family and friends think? What will my fellow church members think of this character? What will the readers think when I leave my normal pattern to explore a different line of expression? And then, as soon as these dangerous questions arise, you are stuck. Paralyzed. Trapped in the sad and useless web of people pleasing.

Expression or impression? I am striving, with God’s help, for more of the former. Because we all struggle with the same struggles, more or less. My weaknesses, struggles, honesty, and truths are undoubtedly someone else’s also. No one is encouraged by a perfect person with no foibles. I am the most encouraged by seeing a person who struggles, falls sometimes, but by the grace of God, gets back up again and keeps going.

I want to write to express what is churning inside me. Words and thoughts and feelings.

Write your life well and true, fellow artists. Love, Lisa

Voice

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As a writer, I have two voices. The one that is my best or aspirational self, the one that tries to encourage and uplift. But I also have another writing voice. My brutally honest, venting, cathartic voice, that doesn’t hide the difficulties of life. Outside of this blog, this is the one I have been needing to use lately in my writing.

I have been struggling to write, because these two voices are fighting. Trying to find my real voice, while not being a Debbie Downer, is a challenge. Because writing, or art, or music, is nothing if it is not honest. But all of us, including me, need to be encouraged and lifted up with words, not dragged down.

Where is the truth and honesty and cohesiveness in all this? I think by acknowledging that we are complex creatures created by God to have many different emotions. Happy, sad, confused, excited, angry, hopeful, distant, loving. We have good days, bad days.

So here it is today….just words that are grasping for honesty. Words that are saying that I don’t know all the answers to anything, but I know the God who does. Words that are attempting to lift up someone else who is struggling to stay positive during all this mess, just by stating something that maybe they are feeling.

Truth. Honesty. There is beauty in that, even if it is hard beauty.

Love, Lisa