Tag Archives: Ireland

Just To Be Faithful

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There are not always answers to our never ending “why’s”.  Sometimes things just happen.  Not so good things.  Very, very hard, never ending things.  Physical as well as emotional.  My first instinct is to ask “why?”, but over the past few years of seemingly constant injury and surgeries, I have learned that maybe God just wants me to be faithful.  To trust Him, no matter what.  Just to be…..to breathe…..to stay quietly in His green pastures beside His still waters.  To praise Him, because He knows what He is doing.  He is making me more like Him.  He is strengthening me.   He made me, He sustains me, He loves me.  No matter what.

It is so freeing……I don’t have to figure out the why’s.  I don’t have to do anything spectacular.  I just have to be faithful.

Praying for you, because I know all of you are probably going through something hard right now as you read this.  Big hugs.  Love, Lisa

 

Photo:  Sheep quietly trusting and abiding on a cliff edge in Donegal, Ireland.

Joy in the Midst

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This is one of very favorite pictures of my husband and me.

What you see:  Laughter, happiness, joy, beauty of the Slieve League cliffs in Donegal.

What you also see:  our new acquaintance’s thumb, which showed up in every single photo he took of us, until we were all beside ourselves with laughter.

What you don’t see:  a walking cane that took me from point A to point B, the pain of walking that it took to get to that photo taking spot, my husband’s stress from lovingly taking such good care to get me to this spot.

And this is why I love it.  In pain, in hard times, in difficulties, there can be great joy.  There can be great beauty.  Great strength.  Great determination.  Great hope.

And a Great God over it all.

I am glad to be back, sharing with you all.  God is doing a new thing in my heart, and renewing my spirit.  Let me hear from you!  I have missed you.  Love, Lisa

Up and Out

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One of the reasons I love Ireland so much is that there are so many things that direct your eye upwards and outwards.  For example, in this photo my husband took near Carrick-a-Rede Bridge in County Antrim:  Upwards – dark cliffs in the distance shadowed by the overhead approaching storm clouds, white and gray and steel and blue and green.  Outwards – water, cliffs, beach, pathways, green pasture, hikers, buildings, adventure, etc.   My mind clears, I feel free and almost weightless.

I don’t know about you, but I spend far too much time looking inward instead of upward and outward.  What to do about this problem or that problem, or who am I, what am I supposed to be doing, what is my purpose?  Things are much, much better when I focus up and see Jesus’ face….who He is and what He does, and how He is over all.  And then focus out and see others, their needs, their hurts, their joys.  Writing this in a blog makes it seem easy and very tidy, but it’s not.  It’s hard business.  I’m so glad that God is stronger than me and more patient than me.  He patiently keeps redirecting my gaze, and amazingly never gives up on me.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  ~Hebrews 12:2-3

“…’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:30-31

Love, Lisa