Category Archives: Holidays and Special Days
Wondering if Celebrating Christmas is Worth it?
Filed under Christmas, Faith, Holidays and Special Days, Hope
When Gratitude Becomes Your Miracle
After a lifetime of hardships and tragedies, including the death of my only son four years ago, I’ve had to work hard to keep a positive outlook. The last couple years have taught me to try to find something worthwhile, even if only a splinter of goodness, when things go terribly wrong.
The word gratitude for me stands for: “Graceful attitude.”
I’ve learned that when our attitude includes bits of thankfulness it somehow transforms an otherwise miserable situation into gratitude, and that very gratitude can help us find a miracle in every situation.
My version of looking for the silver lining.
The Monday before Christmas a huge section of my neighborhood experienced a power outage for about an hour and a half which doesn’t sound too bad, except that I was babysitting a 2 year old child, and each power outage means no community-well water (that’s country living). The power continued to go off, then pop on as many as 8 hours later until we went completely black for good December 23rd. This time the power company predicted power outage for several days. A massive snow storm hit our heavily wooded Northwest area downing hundreds of trees, knocking down power lines, and leaving thousands of homes in the dark. Continue reading
Mother’s Day, Not So Happy for Everyone
Mother’s Day has circled the calendar once more and while for some it’s a joyful mom-honoring day, for others it’s another hurtful reminder of some kind of loss.
I’m told that Mother’s Day is the busiest restaurant day, but then I also heard that about Valentine’s Day. Perhaps it’s a tie between the two. For me, it’s one of the reasons I’m not thrilled about going out that day. There are the long waits, rushed meals, and sometimes hit-and-miss service.
So, what makes these two days so special? The celebration of love. Whether it’s celebrating couples, family, or moms, the day is truly about love. Continue reading
Happy Valentine’s Day Friends
How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ?
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge –
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19
By ~ Elizabeth Yalian 2013-2015 ©http://hiseyeisonthissparrow.com. ♛
Filed under Everythingelse, God and Jesus, Holidays and Special Days
Happy Father’s Day God!
You created me out of love. Whether I’m young and beautiful, or older and worn, you love me just the same!
He is Not There; He is Not Dead!
Here are two Gospel accounts of the resurrection.
Mark’s account:
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Continue reading
Mission Accomplished
What are the final words of a tortured, dying man who has just accomplished his great mission?
“It is finished.”
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 NIV
Those words alone should be enough to tell us that Jesus died on that cross for a planned purpose.
For 32 years I have suffered from chronic pain off and on because of multiple car accidents. Blinding migraines that give me the sensation of my skull being crushed and an icepick stabbed in my eye (usually left eye), neck aches that feel like I have a screwdriver pushed into the lower back part of my skull, and low back aches that feel anywhere from like my back is on fire to sharp sciatica Charlie horses that last for months. Too often the pain has been so excruciating, that I cannot imagine dying hurting any more. If I was to die from the torturous pain I described above, I seriously doubt “It is finished.” would be my final words.
Those were Jesus’ words because He accomplished what He was sent on earth to do. Humanity owed a debt to God we had no means with which to repay. Jesus’ assignment on earth was to be God’s redeeming payment on our behalf. And He followed through with it; Jesus paid our debt.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 Jesus’ death was the proof of God’s love for us.
Please let us remember that Jesus’ dying words were for our sakes. Let’s remember that this weekend in humble adoration to the King of kings and Lord of Lords.
Behold the Lamb John 1:29
The original Passover freed the Israelites from Egyptian Slavery.
The final Passover frees anyone willing to come to Jesus from sin and spiritual slavery.
Jesus’ death on the cross freed us. Because of ours sinful nature inherited from our original parents Adam and Eve, we owe a debt to God we have no ability to pay off. Much like when we break laws on earth we owe a debt to society. Except the debt we owe to God is way beyond our ability to repay because, well, God is God and we are not; we are simply His creation. God wanted us in Heaven, but because of that sin and that debt, we are not allowed in Heaven. Continue reading
Valentine, Don’t Settle. Accept His Love
Here is a little YouTube history of Valentines Day. Enjoy!
If you are single, God knows you feel alone and left out and that Valentines Day is a painful day.
God also wants you to know that He genuinely loves you.
God wants you to be His and for you to accept Him as yours.
God created the original valentine. He gave Himself as a gift of love and redemption so that we could have a restored relationship with Him, and be partakers with Him in Heaven. Continue reading
HIS EYE IS ON THIS SPARROW TOO Still Learning to Lean on God 