Baby bird looks out from her lofty nest
Wonders what she will do next
Her other siblings have all flown
But she is just scared and alone
She feels a gentle nudge above
A mother’s beak, her father’s call
She hears her siblings singing loud
Soaring upwards towards the clouds
She feels the sun, she feels her wings
Begin to open, stretch, and then
She knows that she is not alone
The love, the leading cheers her on.
Stepping out, she feels the air
Beneath her wings, she rises there.
c2021 Lisa Lyons
Which is stronger? The mighty ocean, crashing upon the immovable rocks?
Or the humble sheep, trusting in his shepherd to lead him to pasture and water?
I would argue both are strong. Trust and faith take great strength. Strength only comes from the power of the only truly strong One. The Lord Jesus Christ.
My dad once told me, “You’re being strong. Keep being strong.” I can tell you that I do not feel like a strong person. I have many anxieties, physical weaknesses and chronic disability. But his faith in my strength helps me to remember that true strength resides within. It comes from relying, moment by moment, on Christ.
” ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me….For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
“Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” – Ephesians 6:10-11
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:29, 31
Keep being strong. Love, Lisa
I noticed something this morning. The dear hummingbirds, which we adore and feed and watch daily, do not share well. There has been major fighting and buzz-by dive bombing, bird bullying, and intimidation tactics this morning over the newly filled feeder. As always, God uses his creation to show me things in myself. When I am worried about me, about what I get, about what I deserve, things turn ugly. I become filled with anxiety, anger, entitlement, and arguments.
If the dear little birds just realized that we will continue to fill this feeder faithfully for them, that there is plenty for all, that the sugar water will keep on coming…..they could surrender and drink and be filled. Peace.
That is what I need also. Surrender control. Trust without knowing. Peace that passes understanding.
“”Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you.” – Psalm 55:22
Love, Lisa
Around the unseen corner, lead me.
Down the steep hill, lead me.
Across the rocky path, lead me.
To peaceful green pasture.
To blue sea.
To sky and heaven above.
Lord, You lead me every moment.
Thank You.
Love, Lisa
*Hornhead Loop, near Dunfanaghy, Ireland
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.
Think About These Things 