by Coach Tina | Feb 9, 2018 | Encouragement, Fear, Growth
Last night during a meeting I heard a quote ** “nothing changes, if nothing changes”. This quote not only sums up the last year of my life but could possibly be the mantra for my life.
Sometimes change requires you to do some thing drastic. Something that scares you a little bit or a whole lot!! Something that challenges everything you’ve ever known. Exactly a year ago today, I decided to make such a change. A change that would not only change life as I knew it but change the entire view of what life was. I remember the day like it was yesterday. In fact, sitting earlier this week, it was hard for me to believe it has been a year. Where did the time go?
On this day a year ago, I jumped. I mean really jumped!! I jumped into an unknown area. An area I’d never experienced before. An area that not only made my heart beat a little faster but made me excited and queasy at the same time. An area I’d wanted for a long time but was too afraid to move into. An area that I knew was necessary but was willing to avoid if possible. An area that would change not only my life but the lives of everyone connected to me. I knew by making this jump, I would not be able to go back or things would be worse than ever before. It took me three years to gather the courage to make this jump.
I prayed. I fasted. I sought help from people I trusted. Yet even though I knew what I had to do, the thought of doing it scared me! I would even say paralyzed me.
Iyanla Vanzant quoted – “if your dreams don’t make you pee on yourself just a little bit, they aren’t big enough”. Big dreams are scary. They require you to dig into a place unknown.
What was my dream? To build a life I loved and to love the life I live. I dreamed of a life full of peace and tranquility. A life where I was loved and not tolerated. A life where I wasn’t afraid to be me. A life where I could laugh and be genuine about it. A life where I was truly happy. A life where my dreams mattered. A life where I slept in peace. A life where I looked forward to waking up because I had something to look forward to. But that life also scared me because I knew it would require me to make changes that I didn’t know how to make.
After three long years, lots of prayer, hours of counseling, repeated signs that the situation was not going to change unless I made a change, I jumped. I moved out of my house into an apartment. I left my comfort zone. I leaped – fear attached but I leaped! I said good-bye to drama, chaos, turmoil and lies. I made a conscious decision to live MY life not the life someone else felt was appropriate for me.
I remember the first night in the apartment, everybody had left and I was laying in my bed looking up at the ceiling. With tears rolling down my face, my heart pounding uncontrollably, feeling confused yet excited, I asked myself “what the hell did you do?”
The next few months were full of queasy stomachaches, rapid heartbeats and lots of praying but today I can say. I have it all!!! I love the life I’m building. It’s full of peace and tranquility. I laugh from a place I didn’t know existed. I am surrounded by people that love me and not just tolerate me. I look forward to each day knowing something great is going to happen. I am no long afraid to live. I actually look forward to living.
It’s been hard for me to celebrate the last 365 days because I felt it would be wrong. I felt it would make the last 30 years of my life a waste. But that’s the furthest thing from the truth. I can celebrate the person I have become, realizing the things I learned over the last 30 years have been a part of the awesomeness that is developing. I can look at the last year and see how much I’ve grown. How much I’ve learned to trust myself. How it’s okay to say “no” when I need to and “yes” when I want to. How taking the time to care for myself has made me a better mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend. How making that original jump has given me courage to continue to make jumps.
So today I celebrate my one-year anniversary. Not with balloons or cake. But with honor and respect for who I am and who I am becoming.
Until Next Time,
**I would love to give credit to the person who originally made this quote but I couldn’t find it on the internet. So, if you know who it was drop it in the comments below.
by Coach Tina | Dec 22, 2017 | Bible Challenge
It’s easy to get caught up in “facts” and forget the “truths” that God promised us. Many would say trust the facts; they are verifiable. But facts keep us bound to the ways of the world and the beliefs of our past. God’s promises set us free from those things. When you find yourself weighed down by what you see. Ask yourself, “are you focusing on facts or truths?”
Today’s passage reminds us to look for truth not facts.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32
Let’s look at some facts vs truth
There is a lot of heartbreak in the world
TRUTH: God is close to the broken hearted.
Sometimes we feel lonely.
TRUTH: God will never leave you and never forsake you.
Finances can be challenging at times.
TRUTH: God will supply ALL your needs.
Think about the “facts” in your life. What “truths” can you replace them with?
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Dec 19, 2017 | Bible Challenge
This month we are looking at how we deal with the “battles” that arise in our lives. We have looked at how we are not required to fight every battle. In fact, we should NOT fight every battle. Some things are to be ignored or are just opportunities for growth and knowledge.
Then we look at battles we do need to fight, we need to fight from a place of victory. To fight from a place of victory, we must take God with us to the fight and fight according to his instructions.
Today’s passage reminds us to be careful about how we handle people that mistreat us.
Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Romans 12:21 MSG
There have been some situations where I decided to “take matters in my own hand” and ended up being the one that got hurt. Then there were times when I allowed God to handle the situation and I found myself in a place of victory. God knows the outcome. He knows the best way to handle the situation. We have to learn to take our hands off of it and allow HIM to handle it.
When we handle things on our own it always comes back to us. Scripture tells us you reap what you sow. Galatians 6:7-9
Don’t let people take you to a place of no return. Don’t get caught up in their issues and insecurities.
Remember hurt people hurt people.
When you find yourself constantly “battling” with people, stop and re-evaluate the situation. Many times, its they are crying out for love, you need love, or God is trying to teach you to love.
Be the one to offer the olive branch. Be the one to make things right. Be the one to walk away in love. Be the one to forgive. Be the one who makes God smile.
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Dec 18, 2017 | Bible Challenge
We’ve all heard the scripture resist the devil and he will flee! (James 4:7) But we fail to look at the beginning of that scripture “Submit yourself to the Lord”. There are things you must do for the devil to leave you alone. Submit (surrender) to God then resist (turn away from).
Today’s passage reminds us that God will defeat the enemies and have them running from you. But just like in James there’s some things you must do to make that happen. 
GOD will defeat your enemies who attack you. They’ll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads. Deuteronomy 28:7
You cannot keep entertaining the tricks of the enemy and expect the blessings of God. Are you keeping company with people who are always seeing the glass half full yet you want to live in abundance?
You cannot live life on the fence and expect to reap the harvest that was planted. Are you sitting waiting for God to make your dreams come true but not following ALL the instructions he gave you to pursue them?
Are you complaining about the toxic relationships in your life but ignoring the truths God reveals about them?
God provides you all the resources you need to defeat the enemies in your life. But you must be willing to use them. The enemy come at you but when you follow God’s instructions, they will run. They will run fast. Because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
God is bigger than anything the enemy can throw at you. Stop making the enemies in your life bigger than God. What you feed will grow.
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Dec 15, 2017 | Bible Challenge
The lines in the stores are ridiculous! Didn’t that woman see me about to pick up that sweater? Oh no, I forgot to get a present for little Johnny!
Aunt Betsy just called to see if she can bring the cat with her to the family dinner. NO!! I’m allergic to cats – you know that!
If the holidays could just come and go already!
We are all feeling the pressure this time of the year. You are not alone!
Today’s passage reminds us to stay calm! The enemy is waiting for you to let your guard down so he can pounce on your emotions. Refuse to give in to it. Refuse to lose your focus. The holidays are about love and family. Let that be your focus! LOVE and FAMILY!!
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:9
The holidays only come once a year. Soon they will be over and life will be full of other hectic schedules and deadlines. Sorry but I must be honest!
Stay focused on God, he will keep you from falling. He will help you through it. He will help you maneuver what appears to be chaos. Truth is…. Your life is NOT chaotic! Your faith is just being stretched. Hang in there!
Until Next Time,
Sometimes change requires you to do some thing drastic. Something that scares you a little bit or a whole lot!! Something that challenges everything you’ve ever known. Exactly a year ago today, I decided to make such a change. A change that would not only change life as I knew it but change the entire view of what life was. I remember the day like it was yesterday. In fact, sitting earlier this week, it was hard for me to believe it has been a year. Where did the time go?
