Category Archives: Life Lessons

February 14, 2019 · 6:53 pm

If Only Love Was Treated as the Great Commandment It Is.

Happy Valentine’s Day Friends!  I wanted to share a beautiful story that has gone viral on Facebook because this story exemplifies the true meaning of what it means to LOVE.  Indeed, everything in life depends on our ability to love.

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus was asked

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

 This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus replied.

 Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

Recently on Facebook there was a touching video from Bronson, Florida that brought tears to my eyes.  Three beautiful young men, who looked to possibly be in their early twenties, helping an elderly and very vulnerable couple.  The husband, himself barely capable of walking on his own, was trying to help his physically unstable wife get into their car but could no longer offer the strong arms he once had.  These young men came Continue reading →

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July 2, 2015 · 9:22 pm

Weighty Luggage

When our lifetime of baggage becomes heavy clutter, it’s time to take inventory of what to keep, what to give away, and what to discard. Continue reading →

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Filed under Everythingelse, Faith, Following Christ Has Changed My Life, Inner Sruggles and Heartache, Life and Relationships, Life Lessons

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June 18, 2015 · 1:22 am

Be the First to Smile!

So many of my smiles begin with youA few days ago I stopped at Fred Meyer’s, my favorite grocery store. It was so crowded some of the aisles were impenetrable. People were rushing their carts about everywhere I looked. It took an awful lot of patience to finally get the items I needed. Continue reading →

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May 9, 2015 · 4:23 pm

Mother’s Day, Not So Happy for Everyone

grandma adn babyMother’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 →

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April 17, 2015 · 10:32 am

God’s Laws, Fence or Guardrail?

We tend to believe God’s commandments exist to restrict joy out of our life but in reality they exist to keep joy in our lives by restricting heartbreak and tragedy.

I wish I’d known and understood this pearl of wisdom when I was much younger.

By ~ Elizabeth Yalian 2013-2015 ©http://hiseyeisonthissparrow.com. ♛

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March 26, 2015 · 4:05 pm

Stunted Faith

Yesterday I wrote God’s Delay on Answering Prayers is no Delay , and discussed that when we pray mightily over something we want, and God seems to be procrastinating on the answers to those prayers, it doesn’t mean that His delay is a mistake.  The more I thought about that, the more a new concept came to life for me. Do we stunt answers to our prayers thinking we know better?  Yes God, I want you to answer this prayer but you really have to go about it THIS WAY!  Do we expect answers with only partial faith?

The concept of our expectations from God and how often they intermingle with our incomplete trust in Him floored me as I examined Lazarus’ death closer.

In the death of Lazarus, his sisters’ (Mary and Martha) discuss their frustration with Jesus that He had shown up too late to heal their dying brother.

 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

Martha didn’t quite get what Jesus meant when He said to her:  “Your brother will rise again” 11:23. She thought Jesus was referring to the end of time resurrection.  Yet her words show she expected Jesus to do something about her brother’s death when she said,

“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 11:22 Continue reading →

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November 10, 2014 · 12:14 am

It’s From the Pile of Ashes that Diamond Dust Sparkles Best

imageDear Sweet Girl,

There’s so much I wish someone had been there to tell you when you were a small child, and in your teens. Since no one seemed to care much what went on in your life then, I decided to write to you to tell you what I would have told you at eighteen years of age. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.

First of all, you aren’t worthless and you aren’t a failure. No. You. Are. Not.

You are lovable, you are lovely, you are loved! Continue reading →

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Filed under A Broken Childhood, Child Abuse and Neglect, God and Jesus, Hope, Inner Sruggles and Heartache, Life Lessons, Living for Jesus

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November 5, 2014 · 10:07 pm

The University of Higher Learning

Off and on I have shared with you a few of the hardships I have experienced the last 3 years.

The death of my son. Then immediately after his death I needed more emotional support than ever, but instead was further alienated and impacted by terrible family drama, followed by the estrangement of a precious family member. Shortly after that I experienced an ankle injury that took 8 months to fully heal. I thought I was out of the woods once my ankle healed, but no. Sitting around waiting for my ankle to heal led to my back atrophying and further caused issues with a previously existing back injury, which then led to over six months of sciatica (also referred to as psychotica because of its ability to drive a reasonable person to utter insanity).

After some time I could commiserate with Job’s predicament.

Throughout the hard times I asked, begged, and sometimes in frustration demanded healing and relief. I cried buckets of tears. I wanted, needed, an escape from the agony and the heartache. I wanted a speedy recovery, a prompt delivery, anything, to get me past the immediate pain. Continue reading →

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September 12, 2014 · 5:10 pm

Wounds of a True Friend

imageMy friend Karen and I are “scrounging” friends, as she calls it. We both enjoy going to second-hand stores in search of treasures. I often smile inwardly when I get a compliment on something I bought at a thrift store and think, I only paid 99 cents for that.

Our scavenger hunts are therapeutic and fun. As we rummage we talk about things we value such as God, life, purpose, family, cooking, ethics, we offer each other a word of counsel when needed, and we share fun tidbits and our latest epiphanies with each other.

Yesterday, I told her I thought of her as my What-would-you-do-if you-were-me? buddy when I need a word of wisdom. Continue reading →

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September 4, 2014 · 5:38 pm

It’s Much Too Easy to Assume

imageI married into a retail merchant processing business that takes my husband, and sometimes me, to various types of merchants.

Beauty and nail salons, dental and doctor offices, accounting offices, car dealerships, auto shops, from sophisticated restaurants to ma-and-pa places, specialty stores, an antique mall, gas stations, a family owned grocery store, and many more merchants. Thankfully, my husband reviews and passes on providing services to merchants with questionable standards.

Just yesterday, he asked me to pick up some paperwork from an upscale lounge in a very popular area of town. I was grateful to find a parking place only two blocks up. As I turned the busy corner where the lounge is located and opened its etched glass door, I couldn’t help but think that if any of the passersby saw me going in there at one in the afternoon, or come out the door five minutes later, or perhaps even happen to be in the lounge themselves, they would most likely question my sincerity as a believer.

So often we assume we know what someone is doing when we judge from afar, when in fact we have no clue of what really is going on.

Let us not be hasty in judgment lest we are judged the same way. 

imageMatthew 7:1-2

By ~ Elizabeth Yalian 2013-2014 ©http://hiseyeisonthissparrow.com. ♛

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