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Apr 14
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Journey with Jesus: Good Friday

By Easter, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Love, Love God

JESUS DIES (John 19:  28-37, Matthew 27: 50)

THOUGHT   Jesus emptied every piece of humanity into this world for us and he expresses his last words;  “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”  Luke 23:34“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43  “Dear woman, here is your son.” John 19:26 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mark 15:34 “I am thirsty.” John 19:28“It is finished!” John 19:30 “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” Luke 23:46

REMINDER   This is the most memorable day for the world to know that Jesus died for us.  God put his Son here on this earth so we may be reminded we are human and therefore we are not perfect but we can always turn to God with each and every fall or failure. We can’t depend on the earthly world but we can always depend on our spiritual life.  Depend on Christ.

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN  (John 19: 38-40, Psalm 22: 14-15)

  THOUGHT   The sacrifice is over and done.  His mother cradles him in his arms just as the day he was born and now she cradles a man, weeping thinking humanly….. what has been done.  We need to be reminded of her sacrifice of her Son. Think about sacrificing your child.  Every mother can feel her sorrow and pain.

REMINDER   This is a true reminder, we will lose a loved one on our journey in this world, we will need to pray for grace during the times of despair knowing that God has control and His will is what will be done.  Pray for the grace of God during these times and He will prevail.

 

JESUS IS BURIED (Mark 15: 46-47, Matthew 27: 57-61)

THOUGHT   Jesus’ mortal life ended, his human life is done.
REMINDER   Jesus’ death is a true reminder that we are human and we are weak but we can have the spirit of Jesus in everything we do.  This teaching of suffering and love showed us how his short ride of his life will never be forgotten. He gave his life for us to have eternal love here on this earth and have eternal life after our mortality.

Dear Heavenly Father,  Your only son you gave us, the suffering and the wounds were taken so that we may be healed and the gates of eternal life was open.  Lord, please help us to be reminded each and everyday that the gift of eternal love and life was done on this day.  We thank you and praise you for all you have given us. By your wounds we are healed.  In your name, Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen 

Humbly riding up to Easter, until then!

Much love,

Tina

Apr 14
Love0

Journey with Jesus: Day 4

By Easter, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Love, Love God

JESUS CONSOLES THE WOMEN (Luke 23: 27-31, Matthew 7:21)

THOUGHT   Jesus sees the women weeping for him as he is carrying the cross and he see their sadness, he stops to console them.

REMINDER   What a reminder how compassionate Jesus was, even during his suffering he could hardly bear their sadness and he consoled them.  We want to remember that even during our suffering to turn to help others and not just focus on ourselves.  To endure pain and suffering but not to be grumpy or complaining during those times but turn it around by consoling others.

Lord, please teach us to wear the cloak of compassion and kindness even during our tough times.

JESUS FALLS FOR THE THIRD TIME (Psalm 37:23-24, Hebrews 4:14-15)

THOUGHT Jesus collapsed again, he is exhausted, broken and has no strength.  He falls and lies on the ground, in such a humanly form of exhaustion.

REMINDER How often do we feel we have no more strength to move on?  We become exhausted with the stress of our world, remember on our heavenly Father to carry us and to rescue us during this time of stress.  Carry on, Jesus took all sins away so we can carry on and have a beautiful ride of our lives.  He endured all the suffering so we can live a full life of grace because we are always granted forgiveness.

JESUS IS STRIPPED (John 19:23-24, Psalm 22:16-18)

THOUGHT   The King of all Kings is stripped of his clothes, he has nothing, yet he has everything.  The Love of his Father.

REMINDER   This is a tough reminder, that we need nothing but God’s eternal love to get us through this life.  His precious love, yet we get wrapped up with the material things in this world.  We need to remember try to wipe away the sins, of pride, prestige, wealth, or envy.  Dear Heavenly Father, please strip me of these sins and forgive me for the days I have walked in these sins.  You were stripped down to nothing yet knew you had everything.  Keep us focused on the Love of God daily.

JESUS IS CRUCIFIED (Luke 23:33-43, John 19:1)

THOUGHT   My heart and mind can’t even image this scene.  The executioners stretch his arms out and held his hands out then hammered a nail in each hand, then they raised his knees ups so the his feet are flat against the wood and hammered them fast into the cross.

REMINDER  What a reminder when we look at the cross that Jesus endured all of this for each and everyone, for our souls, for our souls! How can we ever repay him for this sacrifice? Remember when you have your crosses to bear they are so minor to what Jesus did for you and I, Jesus was our co-redeemer of humanity.

Please Pray!  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your sacrifice of your only Son, we are reminded each Easter about the suffering Jesus did for us and we pray that we can release all of our suffering and sins to you and to be redeemed by your everlasting merciful forgiveness and eternal love.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Until tomorrow,

Tina

Apr 13
Love1

Journey with Jesus: Day 3

By Easter, Faith, Grace, Gratitude

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS  (Isaiah 53:2-3, Matthew 25:40)

THOUGHT  Veronica takes a cloth and wipes the face of Jesus, but it wasn’t just the sweat and tears, it was blood too.  The very blood that he shed for us.    REMINDER   Pain and suffering are still very real in our lives, our love ones and this world.  Remember to help people who are suffering around us.  Invite our Lord to live in you and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to know who to reach out to, not just the needy but even someone who is suffering from a broken heart. Ask God, please help me to do this because I need courage and self-sacrifice and I am weak with out you.

 

JESUS FALLS AGAIN (Psalm 38:6-22, Isaiah 63:9)

THOUGHT  Jesus falls again, how hard must that have been to see him suffer and fall.  But think about this… God knows we will fall again and again.  Jesus continues to persevere in order to do God, our Fathers will.

REMINDER   Remember that we are human and we will fall again and again, make wrong turns on our ride.  Some may be simple failures, bumps in the road and some may be big blow outs,  but be reminded that Jesus fell for us.  Reach out to ask for help in prayer always.  Do not give up, persevere like Jesus did and continue to do God’s work.  Remember we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Until tomorrow, be blessed

Tina

Apr 12
Love0

Journey with Jesus: Day 2

By Easter, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Learning From Others, Love, Love God, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian, When Bad Things Happen

DAY 2

JESUS SEES HIS MOTHER    (Luke 2:25-40, Lamentations 1:12, John 19:26-27)

THOUGHT   Jesus sees his Mother, can you even image when their eyes met?  She has seen him whipped and you know she feels his suffering.  Jesus gives her the look knowing this is his Father’s will, so nothing is spoken from Mary’s lips.  I can only believe that the pain and the tears were overwhelming for both.

REMINDER   We too have to endure pain around us with loved ones and the suffering of this world. It is harder to watch the ones you love suffer more so than your own suffering but we know with suffering producers endurance.  Roman 5:3-5 reminds us,  “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”  Hope that when we suffer we come together in love and we know when love comes in all things work together.

PRAYER   Dear Heavenly Father, you know my heart and all my pain, please help me to know that I will gain character and hope through every struggle. I know perseverance builds character and with a relationship with you will help me find the way.  Amen

SIMON HELPS JESUS   (Mark 15:21, Mark 8:34, 2 Timothy 2:3)

REMINDER   How often do we try to carrier our own burdens (cross)? Be reminded when someone helps you, they are given the chance to be a Simon and to carry some of your burdens through love and prayer.  Every time you help others, feed the hungry, lend a helping hand or give a simple smile, you too are being a Simon in this world.

THOUGHT  Again, God shows Jesus as a human; his strength is gone and he needs help because he can’t bear this cross alone.  Even Jesus needed help.

PRAYER  Dear Heavenly Father, Please let me allow people to help me in during my struggles, that I may be able to ask for help even if it is in just prayer.  Please take away the shame or  guilt when asking for help, allow me to receive it with your grace. Father, please show me who I need to help in time of need even during my own suffering.  Amen.

Keep moving forward on your ride!

Until tomorrow, blessings

Tina

Apr 10
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Journey with Jesus: Ride Up to Easter

By Easter, Faith

As we ride through this week, join me in a little special moment to remember the Easter season.   Every day until Easter I will share a thought, reminder to ponder and a prayer.

JESUS IS CONDEMNED Jesus is judged by Pilate (Luke 23:13-25)  Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns (Luke 22:63-65; John 19:2-3)

THOUGHT    Think about the fact our perfect Lamb of God, Jesus was condemned.  Jesus realizes that Pilate is unjust and how Pilate followed the will of the people and that Pilate had power over Jesus.  Jesus the Son of God obeys the earthly law but Jesus knows it is his Father’s will.

REMINDER   This is a great reminder that we should try to obey our Lord and really think….. What is His will for me? Do we often listen to much to the earthly will and to our peers and not silence ourselves to really hear God’s will for us.

PRAYER   Jesus, I love you.  Please help me to recognize my faults and to fully submit to doing your will in all I do.

 

 

JESUS IS GIVEN HIS CROSS Jesus takes up the cross (Mark 15:20)

THOUGHT   The cross is real to Jesus and He knows that this is what his Father chose for him.  He receives it with grace.

REMINDER How often do we complain or feel that our life is so painful and we have discomforts that seem unfair.  Let’s be reminded that we have our little crosses to carry and Jesus carries our crosses for us each and every day.  Be grateful in all situations.

PRAYER   Jesus, I love you.  Please help me to recognize that you suffered for me and that I need to remember that my burdens little or big need to be laid at your feet.

 

 

JESUS FALLS 

THOUGHT   God shows us again the human side of Jesus and how he falls and how often we can fall.

REMINDER   We need to try to accept our weaknesses and be reminded that God sees no weakness in us.  He will give us strength to get up after each and every fall. We shouldn’t give up for He is with us in all we do.  Trust that he can help carry your crosses.

PRAYER   Jesus, I love you.  Please give me the strength to understand my own weaknesses in order to learn and grow closer to you, knowing you are the great “I AM”.

 

 

Until tomorrow,

Blessings

Tina

Nov 23
Love0

Love Thy Neighbor

By Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Learning From Others, Love, Love God, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian, Soul, Thanksgiving
My traditional Thanksgiving prayer ~ wishing you all the warmest season with your loved ones!

When I started to pray about this, one thought came to mind loud and clear; our second commandment. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” With all that is going on in our nation and the world, this prayer is about gratitude, grace and giving but with a cry out to pray for us all to love thy neighbor.

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD Leviticus 19:18

But first we need to understand to love thy neighbor we need to love ourselves first. God loves us so much ~ he is ginormous, we need to open our hearts and truly love ourselves through His gracious love. Quietly seek His love through His living word. Here are a few verses that I find helpful.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10N (NIV)

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. Song of Solomon 4:7 (ESV)

“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 (NIV)

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving

Tina

THANKSGIVING PRAYER 2016 by Tina E. Boyd

Dear Heavenly Father,

We give you thanks for your love and your grace, we truly thank you for the family and friends here with us and the living memory in our hearts with the ones who are in heaven with you. We ask that you open up our heart and mind to give us the wisdom and grace of the commandment, “love thy neighbor as yourself.” We are so ever blessed with your deep and eternal love. Teach us to stop to see your image and feel your love all around us… in the beauty of nature, the deep navy skies with the diamond sparkles of a star, the falling of crystal pure white snow, the sunrise, the rain storms, the rainbows and the all glorious sunsets. You are the love that is around us, through our family and friends. We give you thanks! Help us Lord to love unconditionally as you did for us by giving us your only Son.

We pray for your presence to be shown to us in our inner being so we may love ourselves to love thy neighbor. Lord please protect our loved ones and we thank you for our country and all the men and women continuing to serve you and our freedom. Show us your will Lord, we are ever grateful for our journey that is before us, we know you have our way, let us depend on you. We praise and love you in your name as the Trinity, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Amen

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27 (NIV)

Sep 08
Love0

The Smile Game

By Beliefs, Faith, Grace, Learning From Others, Love, Love God, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian

As I sit here early at the airport, yeah early, I am catching up on all my personal and inspirational emails that I get very little time to read, I came upon an email about Mother Teresa, the homily Pope Francis did this past Sunday to celebrated the Rite of Canonization for Mother Teresa of Calcutta, at a Solemn Mass offered in St Peter’s Square. Something struck me when I read  this email.  The smile game I play,  when I am at airports which is weekly these days,  I always like to play the smile game, people are coming and going so fast and they bury their heads in the phone and they all have a serious face on, look around next time.   Well, my game is no matter how many bags I have and how loaded down I am I SMILE, big, strong and genuine one to everyone I have eye contact with.  I want to change their mood, share happiness and be love, you would be surprised how many people smile back, more than not. Even boarding the plane and exiting the plane and one time the pilot said, “gosh it is nice to see a smiling passenger, it warms my heart.”  That gets 100 points!  It does make a difference. Pope Francis shared what Mother Teresa loved to say, “Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile”. Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey.  Mother Teresa was a true example of the best volunteer but even if you don’t have the time or the money right now to give remember smiling is free and you get less wrinkles than a frown but more importantly it is sharing God’s love.

Play the smile game next time you are out and share what happens

“Many people say, ‘Who will show us better times?’ Let your face smile on us, LORD”  Psalm 4:6

Aug 19
Love0

Tears of Joy and Loss ~ Have a Child Leaving You? Read!

By Back to School, Beliefs, Faith, Grace, Love, Love God, Mom, Prayer, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian, Soul

Andrew moved to California in March for his career with excitement and joy. Brigette just left this past Wednesday for her last year of college finishing her mining degree and now my little one, Olivia, all of 5′ 11″  is leaving for her first year of college in Florida. Tears of joy and loss come over me. Andrew, Brigette and Olivia I love you all and thank God for you everyday.  I will work on letting you go. (wink, happy face, sad face)

I wrote this for all the mom’s out there letting their children go, whether it is kindergarten, high school, college or off to start an independent life, this is for you……………………

 

Being a mother is such a gift from God. The intense nature of mothering, we nurture, protect, pray and release them different ways on their journey. When it is time to release them; even if that means seeing them walk into kindergarten a little bit of independence is given to them. We get a glimpse of release but they come back, this slow release happens over and over throughout the years. When they go off to college or to live on their own is a crucial time in a mother’s life……….. as they move from total dependence to independence. The battle and fight begins in our head trying to grasp the conflicting forces and ever-changing alterations in roles we are entering in. What develops is the true understanding of release and the changes with the mother-child dynamic from that moment on.

Letting go is something I feel is very difficult for a mother, we were brought into this world to nurture, to be a caregiver, to teach and that even means encouraging them to be independent.   Enable your child to be independent is the long term goal and guiding them to realize their own potential in this world. The heart is full of joy of accomplishments and then full of loss, “letting go.” The transition feels like watching a tree branch sway back and forth, the pendulum sways, from joy to loss, excitement for them and scared for what they may face, happy for their wide eyed dreams, sad for the trials they may endure. This motherhood feeling continues no matter what age or stage we are in. These feelings of joy and loss are an essential part of this evolution.  Embrace your faith and depend on God and through his grace we can always move forward in this transition, remembering they are not our children to begin with. Tears of joy and loss continues.

Great verse for all the moms to remember as they walk in faith letting their children go.

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he”  Deuteronomy 32:4

Great verse to share with your children as they go off.

“My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.”

Proverbs 3:1-4

Jun 19
Love0

5 Second Conversation

By Beliefs, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Love, Love God, Prayer, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian, Soul

I hung up the phone today after only a 5 second conversation and said, “Thank you God”. Do you ever get that feeling after talking to someone even for a few seconds that you are so grateful that they are in your life? I felt that way after the short talk with my husband. Now, I am not telling you it is always that way and we have bumps and blow outs on our ride in marriage, but those blow outs are what makes the gratitude so powerful and the feeling so true. You might think, wow, what did he say in that 5 second conversation? If you know me you might think, he said, he loved her and that she was a great wife and mother and hung up. No, he shared that he was on his way to another appointment and that his mother would be joining us for our nephew’s, her grandson’s graduation party. Just communication, yes, that simple.
Have a heart of gratitude no matter what you have in life, it is that simple to have a thought come across your mind after any conversation. Gratitude is a practice we should walk in.
In honor of father’s day I wanted to share how grateful I am for a father’s love, husband’s love and the love of our Heavenly Father. Whatever your journey may be with your husband, your father or a father figure, God gives us the most important Fatherly love, His eternal love on this earth. We need to remember, He wants us to communicate with him on all thoughts that come in our mind. If we do this and become grateful for the little things imagine the grace of the big things that may come our way.
Communication is the key and I miss my conversations with my dad, but I am so ever grateful for the loved he shared with me, my mom and all my siblings. Missing him reminds me how grateful I am to have a husband that has been a beautiful loving father to our children and I am grateful for even a 5 second conversation. I remind myself never to take anytime for granted and to think gratitude.
Our words are so powerful, be aware of your words and try not to think too deeply into others people’s words. We get so caught up with our wants and needs we try to change the meaning of the conversation, just be in the moment. Stop to ponder the gratitude in all we have, as simple as a communication.

Happy Father’s day to all the men that are fathers or share a role as a father, thank you for your love!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18