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Beliefs

Power Pushes Podcast, Episode 3, The Front Wheel Concept, first spoke “Beliefs”

By Beliefs, Encouragement, Faith, God, Grace, Learning From Others, Love God, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian, Soul
Tami Elliott Harrison

When going through life challenges we often go to our self talk ~ our belief systems.  Sometimes our beliefs are good and sometimes they need to be revamped. The first spoke of the “front wheel concept is “Beliefs.” I have a special guest on with me, my sister Tami Elliott Harrison even thou we grew up together we often handle situations differently and we were given different belief systems even with having the same parents.  You will want to listen in as the timing is perfect, she was once an Olympic hopeful and went to the Olympic trails and this year she coached a girl that went to the Olympic trails.  This picture of Tami was taken for the Commonwealth Magazine, in 1983. 

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Riding with Jesus on Spy/Holy Wednesday

By Beliefs, Easter, Faith, Holy Week, Holy Week, Faith, Easter, Ride of Your Life
May be an image of 3 people and beard
Picture by Michael Belk.

Today meditate on these questions. Have you ever denied Jesus? Have you given Him your most precious things in life? Dedicate today in thinking how you can spend more time with Him. Give Him the precious gift of time. On this Holy Wednesday Jesus continues teaching in the temple daily, He tells his disciples to find a room where they can prepare for the Passover and the Lord’s Supper. The chief priests were finalizing the plot to arrest Jesus with Judas assistance. A woman comes to Jesus with the Alabaster jar and washes Him with her most precious oil. Picture by Michael Belk.

Riding with Jesus on Holy Monday

By Beliefs, Faith, God, Holy Week, Love God, Ride of Your Life, Self Help Christian, Soul

~Today focus on your faith and the peace Jesus can bring you! On Holy Monday morning, they came from Bethany and along the way he cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God’s judgement on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel, while others believe the symbolism extends to all believers, that genuine faith comes from within, and living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person’s life. Jesus’ actions here are symbolic, reminding us about the hypocrisy of all who have the appearance they are bearing fruit (truly faithful) but in fact they are not. (Mark 11:12-14)

They went on to the Temple in Jerusalem, when Jesus went in, he found the courts full of corrupt money changers. He began to flip the tables over and told them to clear the Temple, saying, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46). In these two situations on Monday of Holy week Jesus tells us two important lessons. First, have true worship of our Lord, be truly faithful from deep in our hearts and authentically love your neighbor as ourselves and spread the Gospel throughout your relationships. Secondly, remember Jesus cleansed the Temple just has He can cleanse you; Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Be reminded of His power today He brings a supernatural peace; He gives us peace that the world cannot give to you, a peace that you cannot find without Him. He will bring peace to you and to the world. Picture done by Michael Belk from the book, Journeys with the Messiah.

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

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

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

Love In His Name – Happy Easter

By Beliefs, Faith, Grace, Gratitude

As I sit a ponder about Easter and the glorious meaning, I start thinking, how can we really thank God for sending His one and only Son. How can we be ever grateful?  We have forgiveness for every sin and He has given us eternal life and eternal love.   I will see my Heavenly Father one day and I will see my earthly father again, wow!

One true heartfelt thought comes bubbling up and that is Love but love differently,  love in His name.   Think about how we truly love and how we use the word, “oh I love this or I love that.” We toss the word around like we are adding an ingredient in our salad.    I have taken the word, “love” on for my word for 2016, trying really hard not to say, “oh I love those shoes, I loved that movie, or I love my car,” you get the picture.  Trust me when you start listening to how often and when you say it you may be shocked.  My daughter keeps me in check often! Using the word so freely, is that really loving in His name and is it glorifying the true meaning of love?

We often put conditions on sharing our love that we give to others, setting up conditions even thou you don’t realize you are doing it. Wouldn’t be nice if we could always live in the Spiritual world.    How about loving just where you are in life, loving your family and friends for not only their precious gifts but loving them for their imperfections; meeting them right where they are and not expecting anything!  Jesus loved this way and he left His legend in the glorious stories in the bible, the Good News teaches us how to love, learn and grow.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV

Easter morning arise and think, “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Luke 24:6-7 NIV

How can we repay this back?  Love in His name, give your heart freely and that means to all, without any expectations.  Be humble and kind just as Jesus did.  He left the Holy Spirit to guide us, call on Him, reflect… “This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118: 24 NLT

Remember …  “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”  1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIV

Happy Easter & I love in His name,

Tina

Roadside Assistance Needed!

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

During our ride in life we often get confused, which way to go and get frustrated when we have a blow out or a wrong turn. As I mention, over and over again when the ride goes wrong we go to our belief system with in our mind and heart.  Sometimes that is not the right system to lean on. We need to revamp and rethink the thoughts and beliefs. Faith only becomes an outward reality when we hit these potholes on our ride. Now what? Discipline is the first word that comes to my mind, do you have the discipline to choose faith and have Christ’s presence in your life at all times? What does that look like? How do I do that?

What does that look like?  The discipline to stop get off your ride and sit in stillness with your thoughts and your beliefs, asking for God’s helper, the Holy Spirit, to be the roadside assistance we need.  When we take the time to reflect on the wrong turn or the surprise blow out, the beliefs and thoughts may become quite different with the power of the Holy Spirit. I think about Jesus’ words, “I have to leave you and my Father will give you another helper.” He is talking about the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit resides in you, you know you can have victory at any and all levels, the Holy Spirit enables you to triumph over all sin, to guide you to the right path.

How do I do that?  Prayer, study his word, fellowship with other believers to attain a discipline. Learning to use your roadside assistance, the Holy Spirit.   He is always with you and will lead you to optimistic living and vibrant faith.

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 NIV

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,  I know that you have plans for me and sometimes the plans are not easy and they are challenging.  I pray to have the discipline to stop and listen to the helper you have provide to reside in me through you, Lord.  Give me the wisdom and knowledge to ask for assistance always.  In your precious name, of the risen Christ we pray.  Amen.