Tag Archives: Life Lessons

July 6, 2013 · 12:10 am

I Can Make A Big Mess All By Myself

Since the beginning of mankind, people have had a tendency to blame others. In Genesis 3:11-13, God confronts Adam and Eve after they eat of the forbidden fruit.

God said, “Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?”

Adam said, “The woman You gave me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

The LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?”

Eve said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat…”

Adam blames Eve, indirectly blaming God, “the woman You gave me.” Eve blames the serpent. There you have it. When it comes to humanity, as Solomon said in Ecclesiastics 1:9: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

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July 1, 2013 · 8:46 pm

A Matter Of Integrity

imageI walked into a room full of people at the department of motor vehicles last Thursday.  My first instinct was to turn around and walk out, but alas, it was imperative I renewed my driver’s license.  I pulled out a #2 ticket from the Take-A-Number dispenser on the wall, and looked for the “now-serving” display, but couldn’t find it.  I asked a person sitting next to the ticket dispenser what number we were on.

“Eighty-six,” she said, pointing to the display on the wall behind us, “but it’s moving very, very slow!” Several others shook their heads in mournful agreement.

“A few people have already left!” One man said disgustedly.  It was going to be a long, long wait.  I ran to the car, got a book to read, and came back.  I chose one of the three empty chairs on one side of the room, near the customer service counter. Continue reading →

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June 29, 2013 · 10:10 pm

LIVING WITH ADVERSITY!

So often we believe we are ready, we have had enough teaching, yet look at David, he needed to go through years of serious, life threatening harassment from Saul before he was ready in God’s eyes. Joseph is another excellent example. Interesting enough, these men tragically suffered through tormenting persecution they didn’t deserve. Often, I feel I have been tragically tormented and persecuted, then I am reminded of these men and God’s full purpose for them. God called that man hiding in caves and running for his life, David, ” A man after His own heart!” God used the frightened boy thrown in a well by his brothers then sold as a slave, Joseph, to save His very people, His most beloved nation! David’s psalms clearly tell of his anguish and despair. Had we been flies 0n Joseph’s walls, (whether well wall or prison wall) I am sure we would have heard similar anguish, but neither of these men lost faith! We must not lose faith, either!

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

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June 27, 2013 · 10:46 pm

Once A Liar, Not Always A Liar

I suffer from a genetic disorder.  Pride. And today I had to part with a huge chunk of it.  I thought I long dealt with this, but not so according to the Lord.

We all have our hang-ups. One of mine is a cushion I use because of a back injury. My back often feels like I’m 80 even though I am only in my fifties. The “granny” cushion embarrasses the daylights out of me.  I’ve even joked, “The Lord must think I needed a great deal of humbling.”

Whether I plan a vacation, go to a new church, visit a friend, go to a seminar, watch a kid graduate, dine at a restaurant, or even try to relax somewhere, my biggest concern is always the seat I will have to sit on. Folding chairs? Pure torture.  Unsupportive seats or soft couches won’t work either. Chairs with odd angles, lacking firmness, or without a full back cause a backache that will last for days. Continue reading →

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June 26, 2013 · 2:03 pm

Will You Only Be Remembered By Your BIG BUT?

imageThis gorgeous hunk of flower blossomed in my front yard, but I almost missed it.  It was too heavy to support itself, and ended up faced down, nearly on the ground.  The peony’s rich color seemed almost artificial, especially because of its size, nearly seven inches in diameter.  Its wonderful fragrance was unbelievable.

I usually try not to bring garden flowers in the house.  They just don’t last long.  Earlier this spring, I made myself a beautiful bouquet of fragrant, purple lilacs.  Within minutes, my counter top was crawling with tiny black bugs.  Yikes!  I wasted no time getting that bouquet out on the porch.  I carefully examined the peony before I even thought of cutting it.  Not a bug!  The flower pedals felt soft, cool, and somewhat squishy; in a good sort of way. Continue reading →

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June 22, 2013 · 2:12 pm

Why Are You Doing This To Us?

My kids still talk about the time I was the meanest mom ever. And around Christmas even.  My daughters were just reaching their tween years and my son was about eight.

I had already proven myself to be a cruel mother by policing television programs, and limiting their TV and video time to two hours a day. I made them have reflective quiet times spent reading or writing in their journals.  In the summer, I extended the TV-movie time to four hours, after much begging.  We had a large supply of what I called clean movies. Any movie encouraging good morals, respect for parents, caring for others, and loving God, qualified.

But this time, I really outdid myself. I was “forcing” them to almost entirely go off TV and videos, cold turkey, for a month.

“It will be our Christmas present to Jesus. God gave us a part of Himself, in the best present ever: the baby Messiah in the manger.  We give Christmas gifts to each other each year. This year, let’s give God a part of ourselves.  The time we would spend watching TV or movies that exclude Him, let’s instead give to Him as a thank-you and birthday gift.” I said. Continue reading →

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June 21, 2013 · 1:17 am

Mistaken Identity

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After years of wandering through sullen shadows,

And stretched, somber avenues of abandonment,

Of wearing masks, and living empty echoes of life,

She knew little more than to follow the crowd.

She explored unhealthy places that whispered contentment.

She believed in the hollow promises she sought within.

Singed and torn by unfriendly competition,

She longed to believe that there was something

Of value, one thing, anything, worthy inside of her.

She found no identity to call her very own.

By nineteen, she was overcome by this world.

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June 18, 2013 · 12:29 am

My Graham Cracker Assistant

With 3 children born in 3 1/2 years, my life was busy in the 1980s.  I had no nearby family to help with childcare, so I learned to improvise.

Rachel, 5 years old, was a good natured child. Once in a while, I let her be a big–girl.  She could stay up and watch a video or we could have together-time, but only if she was quiet while the others napped.  Rachel loved to be up with Mommy.

One day, I dared myself to paint the bathroom while the kids napped.  I found a can of pretty miss-mixed paint for only a couple of dollars.  Desperate for a change, I couldn’t pass up it up.

It took me longer than I thought to paint the small bathroom walls. Of course, as Murphy’s Law would have it, Jonathan, then 1 ½, woke up much earlier than usual. I heard him fussing in his crib and decided this would be a great time to let Rachel, who’d been watching a movie, be an even bigger girl. I needed our only bathroom to be usable before Hannah woke up. Continue reading →

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June 14, 2013 · 12:16 am

The Good, The Bad, And The Forever

Last Friday evening, my bank account went overdrawn by a couple of dollars. Since I hadn’t used my debit card in a few days, and had no outstanding checks; this was a definite red flag alert. I found an unsolicited $93 charge from Oxyfresh Cleansers. I called the phone number associated with the charge on my bank statement, but my call immediately went to this recording. “You have reached customer service. Someone will be with you in 34 minutes.”

You’ve. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Not only had I not ordered anything from Oxyfresh, but I was supposed to wait 34 minutes before, maybe, I would be able to speak to someone, who may or may not, be able or willing to help me. I wasn’t going to go there! I had been scammed.

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June 7, 2013 · 5:01 pm

Is The Grass Really Greener On That Side?

Annie

Annie

I think half of every kid in America has had a grey bunny they named Thumper. My daughter Rachel wasn’t any different. Her Thumper was the sweetest bunny. With a little nudging, Rachel was good about keeping his food and water supply filled. She often gave him vegetable treats. Under her watchful eye, Thumper even got to run loose in a small section of our backyard sometimes. She cuddled him and dressed him in baby doll clothes. But Thumper wasn’t satisfied with what he had. He constantly scratched at the corners of his hutch, in a desperate effort to get out. I couldn’t blame him; he was confined to a small space.

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