Tag Archives: Hope

Things I See, Things I Don’t See

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Double Top mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains lies very close to our home. It stands there as a protective and reassuring figure of strength and resilience. The mountain looms large, beautiful, sometimes foreboding.

But yesterday, my daughter and I were driving in a neighboring county and saw the Blue Ridge mountains, stretching out in a long chain, ringing around our county and beyond. Absolutely beautiful, and altogether different.

There is beauty in the things we see close up and personal, things we touch and see and hear and interact with daily.

There is also beauty in things we step back from and try to see from a different and more remote perspective.

As I negotiate, try to rationalize, and grapple with the constant turbulent emotions of 2020, I realize that God used those mountains yesterday to remind me to step back. To try and see things, as best I can in this finite and limited body, with a more eternal perspective. This is not my permanent home. Someday very soon I believe, we will see Him as He is. We will be in a place where all is made new, made right. I am trying this morning to fix my eyes on Jesus, the best thing in this life that I can ever see.

Love, Lisa

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Canopy of Protection

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Lush canopy of green leaves shelter the life beneath and amidst

Mystery, beauty, relief from heat, provider of shade, web of moisture

Heavens above, trees and green, ground

Christ, heaven, redemption, souls

Under the canopy of His protection

c2020 Lisa Lyons

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” -Psalm 91:14-16

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” – Psalm 57:1

Eternal Things

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Outer Banks, NC Sound image captured by Ed Lyons

How do you write about things of which you don’t fully understand?  Writers are always told to “write what you know.”  But eternal things, heavenly things, the things of God…..how can a human being, while in this body of flesh, ever hope to know or understand or capture or write those things?

Here is what I know:

Jesus died for me.  He did this to make a way for me to be with Him forever in Heaven.

He rose again on the third day.  This was witnessed and recorded by many people.

These people were all willing to die for this report and this eyewitness event.  They never changed their stories under pressure.

He has changed my life completely since I believed in Him.  He has changed the life of my husband’s completely as well.  We are not the same as before knowing Him.  We go through struggles, but the sense of hopelessness, of despair, of meaningless existence…..totally gone.

He has rescued me from troubles and death countless times.  Miraculous rescues.  From waters, from floods, from fires.  From injuries and surgeries.  He has forgiven me my past and given me a fresh start.

He is my ever present Hope.

So I don’t need to know all the details of what I don’t know or don’t understand.  I just tell of what I do know.  Jesus is real.  He is the true Son of God.  He loves me, and He loves you…..so much.  If you are struggling to find hope, to find meaning….He is the answer.  The only answer.  And He will rescue you, no matter where you are, or what you have done.

Please reach out to me if you need help, or a listening ear, or just want to talk.

Love, Lisa

Reinvention

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Image result for images reinvention

I know of a woman who was a lifelong landscaper, active, moving, walking on all sorts of surfaces without a moment’s thought.  After an accident, several surgeries, and fusions, she was left unable to work.  She is now a self-employed custom cookie designer, and has a thriving home-based business.  Reinvention over adversity.

I know of a man who developed extreme arthritis from many years of hard physical labor.  He has now turned his talents to small wooden works of art, which he sells in local and regional art venues.  Reinvention over adversity.

I discovered today a wonderful photographer based in Donegal, Ireland.  James O’Donnell suffered an almost fatal electrocution on his London workplace fifteen years ago.  He is working and thriving today in Donegal with his faithful sidekick, Iggy, a lovely border collie.  Watch the video below to see some of his amazing photography.  Reinvention over adversity.

As long as there is life, there is hope.  As long as there is God, nothing is impossible.  As long as you have breath, praise the Lord.  🙂  Reinvention over adversity.

Love, Lisa