Tag Archives: Peace

Castle Tunnels and Other Places to Hide

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Sometimes we all feel like we need a place to hide, to feel safe, to get away for a little while.  In my house, that tends to be my piano, or a walk outside with my sweet dog, or the bathroom.  In castle days, that place to hide took the form of an underground set of tunnels.  We got to explore Blarney Castle’s underground tunnels.

 Queen Elizabeth I wanted Blarney Castle for her own and sent her emissary, Earl of Leicester, to the castle for discussions with Cormac McCarthy, who had possession of the castle.  McCarthy kept putting the Earl off with banquets and delays; Queen Elizabeth I declared the reports to be “Blarney”.  One of Cromwell’s generals gutted the tower walls, but the castle inhabitants and defenders escaped through the underground tunnels, called Badgers Caves.

David said in the Psalms, “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  (Psalm 27:5)  The best hiding place, safe place, security that exists is God.  He can tunnel us safely away from the attackers in this life, and lead us to green pastures beside the still waters.    Slainte, Lisa

 

 

 

Peace in the Storm

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We had a huge set of thunderstorms roll through last night.  Thunder, constant lightning, rain, but mostly wind.  Wind gusts up to 70-80 mph.  After losing power and restlessly going to sleep in the hot house (Virginia was around 104 degrees yesterday), we heard a crash outside, and my husband said, “There went a tree.”  We awoke this morning to sun, blue skies, and an intact house.  There are leaves and branches down everywhere, and one small tree came down in our side yard, but God was good.  No major damage.

As I was laying in bed last night, listening to the winds howl, I felt strangely fatalistic and amazingly peaceful.  I know that God controls the winds and the rain, and I also know, I’m not sure how I know but I do, that He loves me also.  I just kept singing in my mind, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…”  and somehow I fell asleep.  Now I know compared to storms that others have gone through, this one was a small one.  But at the time, it was scary.  And Jesus was my peace, my calm, in the midst of it.  And I am thankful for that this morning.  Praying that all of you are safe and secure this morning.   Slainte, Lisa

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”  (Mark 4:39)

 

And Past the Rocks, There Was a Meadow

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When I first look at this photo, all I see are the rocks.  Maybe a little water, but mostly sharp, uncomfortable looking stones.  As I take more time, the green comes into view, and a beautiful meadow past the rocks.  If I were there in that place right now, if I was patient and creative in my pathfinding, I could make my way to that meadow and rest and sit and think.

Life is full of rocks and sharp uncomfortable things.  But life is also full of beautiful meadows.  And it constantly amazes me that sometimes it takes the sharp rocks to make me fully appreciate the meadow.  Because God works like that.  He loves me, and He knows that I tend to take life for granted, and that I need to trust Him more and know that He’s there for me no matter what rocks I stumble on.

“And if your way should stumble along the stony pass, it’s just a moment, this too shall pass.”  (U2, Stuck in a Moment)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul.”  (Psalm 23:1-3a)

Slainte, Lisa