Tag Archives: trees

The Glorious Groaning

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On a day like today, even the trees seem to be groaning, yearning, reaching, stretching for Heaven. It’s like they can’t get close enough to the beauty of what God has created.

I have been filled with a strange and strong longing this week. Yearning for something. The weather has been so gorgeous, and you would think this would produce the opposite effect. Yet this kind of jaw-dropping beauty stands in stark juxtaposition to the ugliness I am seeing on the news. It illuminates the difference between the Here and the What Will Be so clearly. I love being alive on days like this, love experiencing all the amazing blues, and greens, and bird songs. Yet I know that so much better is waiting in God’s Heaven, where there is no more pain, no more weeping, no more conflict. Thus, the groaning.

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” – Romans 8:22-24a

I am truly thankful that Jesus will make all things right and new when He returns. I am waiting eagerly. 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

Writing When I Don’t Want To

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Sometimes I feel just like this tree.  Stoic and strong. But I begin to wonder if the tree could think, if he would sometimes feel blah, uninspired, boring in his sameness.  But then just when you think the tree doesn’t change, it begins.  The green leaves turn yellow, orange, red, brown.  The wind moves the branches to and fro, changing the silhouette on the horizon.  The tree is inspired, inspiring, moving, changing, new.

When I don’t feel like writing, it is usually because I feel blah, uninspired, the same old Lisa, the same old day.  But God is always doing something new in me.  Even if I am unaware sometimes, he is making me slowly into the image of His Son.  My leaves are turning, the Spirit wind is blowing me in different directions.  

Sometimes just doing something, even if I don’t feel like it, is a good thing.  I feel better since I wrote this, and I’m not even sure why.  I guess I’m just reminding myself that God is always at work, things are not as static as I feel they are, and that moving into action can keep me propelled in that direction.

Thanks for listening to the rambling writer.  

Love, Lisa

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