by Coach Tina | Dec 5, 2017 | Bible Challenge
Deuteronomy 20:4 for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you, against your enemies, to save you.
Growing up, I was never fighter but I have always had a mouth and I used it often. As I’ve shared many times, I was bullied as a child but one day I found
my voice and well… let’s just say I gave those bullies a piece of my mind! Of course, I would only speak up for myself when certain people was around, I had to make sure I had some back up in case things didn’t go the way I planned. I wasn’t afraid of anyone doing anything to me because I had back up.
Now imagine what kind of confidence you would have if you brought God to the battle with you!! Can you imagine the look on the face of your enemy?
Today’s passage reminds us that not only does God go with us, HE fights for us! We don’t have to do the fighting HE does. He loves us just that much. And then on top of that HE’S fighting to save us. One translation even says HE “fights to win”.
I don’t know about you but when I know I’m going to win, my confidence is large and in charge. I don’t sweat it. I walk with my head up, poke my chest out and I’m loud! (Well maybe we don’t need to be loud and boastful) Nah I’m going to be loud and boastful! I’m putting the devil in his place. He cannot win! God is fighting my battles from now on a I’m winning.
So when life throws things at you, remember God is there ready to fight that battle! Just give it to him. Take God with you to the fight and WIN!! There is nothing impossible for the Lord our God!
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Dec 4, 2017 | Bible Challenge
Have you ever wondered why one day things can be going really good and then all of sudden all hell breaks loose in your life?
I mean the kids are doing well, there is an abundance of attention from the husband (you know we love that), the work is getting done and all your clothes in your closet fit! Then suddenly, it’s like the case of the body snatchers. All the kids have an attitude about something, the husband is walking around with his undies in a bunch. On your way out the door, you spill coffee on the only pair of pants that didn’t give you the indication the button would pop at any moment. Once you finally get to work, you find pile of work on your desk that must be completed by noon and it’s already 10:00 am. 
Okay what happened to the serenity? What happen to the peace that was roaming through my life less than 24 hours ago? I want it back! I want it back NOW!
We get so weighed down with life’s mishaps that we fail to stop and say thank you! Thank you for those kids even though they don’t act right every day. Thank you for that husband and all his little quirks. Thank you for the job that allows me opportunities to help provide for my family. Thank you that even though my clothes fit a little snug, it reminds me that I have an abundance of food to eat.
Today’s bible challenge is James 4:7 – Resist the devil and he must flee. Don’t allow life’s hang-ups or inconveniences to distract you. These things are attempts from the enemy to cause you to lose focus on your purpose. To give up. To battle things that are not of concern. God promised to fight the battle for us. Let him!!!
Don’t give any attention to the distractions thrown at you today! Don’t entertain the enemy at all! In fact, resist him! Stay focused. You are VICTORIOUS! You are a CONQUEROR! You are an OVERCOMER! Now watch God fight that battle for you!
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Dec 1, 2017 | Encouragement, Growth
December is here! Can you tell I’m excited?
December is one of my favorite months of the year! Maybe because it’s the month we celebrate Christmas (my favorite holiday). Maybe it’s because of all the lights and sparkles. Maybe it’s because people tend to be nicer this time of year (hoping St. Nick would drop off something nice) Maybe it’s because I get to spend a little more money without feeling guilty. Maybe it’s because I get a chance to sip on my favorite cappuccino while listening to Christmas songs. I’m not sure what it is but I love December!
Well this year, I’m excited and a little scared because December will forever mark an even bigger significance in my life. It’s the beginning of a new beginning. It’s the start of a new chapter. It’s an opportunity for me to do something I’ve never done before. It’s a chance for me to explore an area of life I’ve never explored. It’s a chance for me to redefine ME!
After 30 years of marriage, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of smiles and tears, I am a single woman (it feels funny typing that)! I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. It’s still fairly new (it’s only been 14 days since I signed the paperwork). I’m sure there will be blogs were I’m excited, happy, pissed off, and downright angry and I intend to embrace each of those feelings and grow from them.
I must admit at first, I was in shock! I couldn’t believe it actually happened. I mean I had been with the same man for over 30 years and in a matter of 6 minutes (yes 6 minutes) it was over. The day of the hearing I was devastated! I left the courthouse and couldn’t remember where I parked my car. Imagine me walking around downtown looking for my car!! For the first time since the separation I felt tears roll down my face (I want to think it was because I couldn’t find my car). I couldn’t understand why I was crying now. Shouldn’t I be happy? Shouldn’t I be celebrating?
Well it wasn’t a time of celebration for me. I went through all the emotions: guilt, fear, anger, pity. Then I was in disbelief and shock. This had to be a bad dream and we were going to wake up, my kids would be young again, my marriage would be full of love and sparkle and everyone would be in their proper place. Well I woke up and everyone was in their proper place!!
I took a deep breath and released all the self-doubt, all the mental anguish, all the hurt and pain. I released all the anger that I felt over the infidelity and abuse. I released the desire of trying to change someone into what I wanted them to be instead of allowing them to be who they wanted to be. I released my hope of making it right. I released my desire to hide the inevitable. Basically, I released.
So, help me say goodbye to November and welcome in December with all its thrills and excitement. Let it bring happiness and freshness. Laughter and joy. Hope and tranquility. Peace and a whole lot of love.
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Nov 20, 2017 | Focus, Gratitude, Growth
Most people get excited around the holidays. The time with family, shopping, eating, music, festivities, parties. You name it they like it ALL! But not everyone! For many the holiday seasons bring up memories of heartbreak, disappointment and loss. If you are reading this blog, it’s probably because you lay somewhere between hating the holidays or looking for strategies that will help you tolerate them.
Maybe the holidays remind you of a lost loved one or a relationship gone bad. Maybe it’s a reminder of the financial burden that’s imposed behind trying to live outside of your means. Well let’s make this year different. Let’s focus on what we have to be thankful for. Let’s focus on the things that made us smile this year instead of the things that made us cry.
This year I’m excited to be healthy both physically and mentally. My young adults are doing well and living life in harmony with me and each other. I have a job that I love and a business that is thriving. My 2nd book has been published and is doing extremely well. I’ve replaced the toxic relationships in my life with those that nurture and serve me. Life is turning around and for the first time in few years, I’m excited about where I’m headed.
See what I mean! You can do the same. Find the things to be thankful for. Don’t get caught up in what was wrong. There are so many things you can be thankful for!
But how do you deal with those family functions that can strip holiday cheer from Ole St. Nick himself. Or the family dinners that make being in the room with the Grinch a welcome excursion. The holidays are moments to celebration NOT punishment!
Here are four (4) tips that could make it a little easier:
1. Have Intentions not Expectations. Most disappointments are the result of setting expectations that are out of your control. But setting an intention allows you to create the environment you desire. Expectation says Aunt Martha is going to come to the family dinner and complain about all her physical ailments. Uncle Joe is going to get drunk and curse everyone out. The newlyweds are going to trigger the thoughts that you are spending this holiday alone again. Intention say as each person arrives have them write down two things they are grateful for and place them in a cup by the front door. If the dinner starts going south, pull out the jar and read the things you as a family have to be grateful for. Because as a family, what affects one affects ALL.
2. Set Boundaries. If being around Aunt Martha’s complaining and Uncle Joe’s intoxication is offensive, channel the discussions and eliminate the alcohol this year. It’s your party you can do what you want to! If you know sitting directly across from the newlyweds will cause you issues. Arrange to be in a seat that prevents them from being in your direct point of view. When Cousin Betty starts the conversation of how great your ex is doing. Kindly let her know you don’t want to discuss him and change the subject to something uplifting. Control conversations that are directed to you. Set boundaries of things that are a trigger to you. Remember your priority is to get through these holidays intentionally and with your sanity.
3. Be Present. Many of our issues surrounding the holidays come from “remembering when” or “wondering what if”. This year stay in the moment. You cannot enjoy the wonderful meal you’ve prepared this year wondering when your mother-in-law is going to bring up the turkey you burned three years ago. You are setting yourself up for failure looking at what was. And if she is so petty as to bring it up, laugh and say “I’ve come a long way. Isn’t the turkey this year divine!!”
4. Have an Exit Plan. Sometimes regardless how much intention you have, the toxicity of family can take a toll on you. Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t torture yourself by sitting through all the negativity. This holiday is about giving thanks and if you have to remove yourself from the negative energy – DO SO! If you know your tolerance for certain family members come to an end after about 2 hours, plan to have a friend call your phone. Then kindly excuse yourself letting the family know you have other plans. If you are not able to leave (because well you are hosting the event) create a place in your house you can retreat to for a few minutes to rejuvenate. Maybe have a stress candle in the upstairs bathroom burning and excuse yourself for a moment. (I plan to have them burning all over my house – just in case!) An associate of mine elected to create an affirmation board that would remind her to stay calm. This allows her a place to retreat should things become more than she could bear.
Don’t become bitter make your life better. Remember the holidays are about celebrating your accomplishments for the year. Don’t sabotage all your hard work trying to impress people you’ve worked hard all year to heal from.
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Oct 26, 2017 | Growth
It’s easy to get caught up in the way we want things to go. I mean we all want a good life; you know where we don’t worry about money, everybody loves us, the kids are healthy and happy, the marriage is full of harmony, and everybody and everything is on one accord. We can hope, right?
Well I must admit that’s not how my life goes! My savings account is not where I want it, I still have those darn student loans, I have my share of haters (I mean motivators), my kids are healthy but often complain about things out of our control, and every so often I have flash backs of the turmoil and dysfunction that ruled my life.
But when it’s all said and done I can put a smile on my face and say, “THY WILL BE DONE” and mean it. Is allowing God to have complete control easy? From a person that battles with relinquishing control, I would say NO!! But I’ve learned when I don’t surrender and turn it over to God, it makes things harder. 
Thy will be done does not mean everything is going to be great! It does not mean you will not get hurt. It does not mean you won’t have heartache. What it means is trusting God in the midst of it ALL. It means realizing you don’t have all the answers but HE does. It means some days will be harder than others but it will work out in the end.
It does not mean never worrying about tomorrow. It does mean trusting tomorrow will take care of itself and living in the blessings of today.
It does not mean I can’t voice my opinion. It does mean I can go to God boldly asking what I desire and believing HE will give me what I need.
It does not mean money will always be available. It does mean all my needs will be supplied and I will always have an abundance of what I need.
It does not mean people aren’t going to walk away. It does mean trusting God to put the ones in my life that need to be there.
It does not mean every day will be sunny. It does mean that I can dance in the rain and rejoice knowing it is growing me into a better person.
So even when life is hard and things don’t seem to be going the way I want them to go. I’m reminded those trials are molding me into the person God needs me to be. So, thy will be done, Lord! Thy will be done!
Until Next Time,
Have you ordered your copy of God, Deliver Me from Me: Removing the Obstacles that Keep Us Stuck? This is Tina’s latest book available now at Amazon.com, or Barnesandnoble.com at the conference!
Have you purchased your ticket for this year’s H.E.L.P. Conference? You don’t want to miss it. Get tickets here bit.ly/2017HELP.
my voice and well… let’s just say I gave those bullies a piece of my mind! Of course, I would only speak up for myself when certain people was around, I had to make sure I had some back up in case things didn’t go the way I planned. I wasn’t afraid of anyone doing anything to me because I had back up.
