This world likes to scare us. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us power, love, and a sound mind. I thought I would find some of my very favorite journey photos my husband and I have taken over the years to try and replace the fear with the good God things this morning. Have fun thinking of your good God things this morning also. Love, Lisa
I have a very special guest blogger today….our fourteen year old daughter, Amy. Here is her beautiful poem. Enjoy.
A crystal, clear as water, fine as granulated sand…pure
Think about these things
Wind blowing softly through the pines, at the highest peak on the mountain
Think about these things
Waves crashing against majestic cliffs amidst a rising sun
Think about these things
Rain pattering gently onto the grass helping to nurture and tame
While the sun’s rays pull every blade higher and higher out of its secure underground
home
Think about these things
Think about what is worthy to be praised
The Lord should give us you every reason to feel a little dazed
For the Lamb is our love and our light
If He is in us, than we shall shine bright
Let us share these things with others
So that they may tell all their sisters and brothers
Rejoice in His name
And His blessings you will obtain
If anything is good or excellent, commendable or pure
Think about these things
c2020 Amy Lyons
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
God’s love for us is written in the skies all the time. Look up.
Here are just a few of our love letters in the skies above our mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Lisa
Ben Bulben, close by
Ben Bulben, just a few moments later and few hundred feet down the road
Sometimes when we are too close to something, it loses all perspective.
Clouded, muddy, overwhelming.
Distance and time usually help.
Taking a step back, or two or ten.
Waiting for a day or a year.
The clouds will pass, and the beauty of the mountain revealed.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” – Psalm 130:6
Love, Lisa
