by Coach Tina | Sep 24, 2015 | Focus, Growth
It’s just not fair!!! When I was 9 years old my father died of a massive heart attack. I remember being so mad and I remained that way for years. You see my dad was my best friend. I could talk to him about anything. We had this routine where we would go to the store purchase our favorite snack items, climb up into our favorite tree, and enjoy our purchases and a long conversation about everything and anything. So when he died, I was mad. I was hurt and I declared this just “IS NOT FAIR!!!” I wanted my dad back. I wanted my friend back.
This week our family experienced a loss that opened up old wounds for some of us. I heard someone say “no one should have to deal with this (pain)”. I completely understood what she meant. Death can be hard and the pain of losing someone you love has a tendency to hurt down to the core. It’s an indescribable ache. It’s a hurt that only “It’s just not fair” can sum up.
However, there will be things that happen in our lives that just don’t make sense to us, but we have to believe that God will never make a mistake. We have to rest in the fac
t that God loves us and knows not only what the future holds but what we have to go through in order to be prepared for it. When we go through those moments of misunderstanding or feeling as if life has mistreated us, we have a choice – turn from the only one that can help or run to HIM!!
I know you are saying, “Okay, I understand all of that but how do I do that?” How do I run to God? How do I get through this pain? The Bible gives specific instructions for us to follow: It says “Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you” 1 Peter 5”7. It also says “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28.
We run to God by remembering:
- God cares for you even down to the last detail. James 5:11 Focus your attention on Him and His Love. Even when it’s hard. Even you don’t want to. FOCUS!!!!
- God promises to never leave you and He’s always near. Deuteronomy 31:6 Cry out to Him. Be honest with Him. Tell Him that it hurts. Tell Him that you need Him to help you with this pain.
- God will comfort you if you allow Him. Isaiah 49:13. Allow Him to comfort you. Remember He knows everything about you. He created you. He knows how to comfort you. He knows how to love on you. And most importantly He wants to do those things just because He loves you.
For me to say that I don’t miss my dad would be a lie. For me to say “I don’t feel like life is unfair sometimes” would be a lie. For me to say that I don’t understand the pain associated with loss, hurt and mistreatment would be a bigger lie. But I am living evidence that God can heal the hurt. I know that God is concerned with every hurt I feel and He’s able to comfort it. I know that He sees and captures every tear that falls down my cheek. Even though the pain may not go completely away – God has a way of making it tolerable and bringing you out stronger because of it. Remember although you may experience pain, God is never the cause of your pain. So during those times when life seem “unfair”, instead of running from God try running to Him. He is standing there wanting to wrap His arms around you and comfort you.
Until Next Time,
Tina
by Coach Tina | Sep 16, 2015 | Growth
Anyone that knows anything about me know that I LOVE MY CHILDREN! The love I have for my children is a love that could never be described or maybe even understood unless you are a mother. I can say that regardless of what they do, I will always love them. I may not like the things they do but I will always love them. God’s love for you is that times 100. He has this love for you that never grows old. A love that never gets tired. A love that never gives out.
The fact that we serve a God that loves us unconditionally is mind blowing and sometimes unbelievable. He allows us to live our lives according to our own desire. Doing the things that we want to do but you better believe that He has a way of gently nudging us into the direction that He desires for us. The love He has for us is too strong to allow us to stay off track for too long. Have you ever found yourself in a situation and you hear “something” telling you not to go that way or not to do that? That’s the gentle nudge of God working yo
u back to the direction He desires for your life.
There are these two “siblings” called perfect will and permissive will. The perfect will of God is when we are completely tuned in to what He is saying and moving in the direction that He wants for us. The permissive will is God allowing you to move in the direction that you choose to move in.
The problem with the permissive will is that’s how we get in trouble. When we want to do things our way, it only prolongs the inevitable. You’ve heard me say it before “what God has for you is for you”. The only one that can hinder or prolong the blessings of God in your life is you and it’s when you chose the permissive will over the perfect will.
I remember my daughter coming to me one day saying she wanted to move in with one of her friends. I knew in my heart that this was not the best choice for her but I knew that if I protested it would only make the situation that much more desirable. Needless to say the situation did not work out the way she had hoped and she decided to move out of her friend’s home. Now I could have easily said NO you are not moving in with that person and got mad when she did. But what good would that have done? NONE! Taking that stance would have only caused more issues. It would have built a wall between us and prevented an opportunity for her to feel comfortable coming to me and talking about the situation.
God does us the same way. He see us making choices (permissive will) that He know is not the best choice but He allows us to do so anyway. He loves us too much to build a wall between us that would prevent us from coming back to Him when we realize the choices we make are not working. He opens His arms and loves us back to His PERFECT will.
Regardless of which sibling you are hanging out with right now, remember God loves you and desires only the best for you. But you have to let Him help you. You have to allow Him to guide you to your destination. It’s all a matter of choice and it’s your choice to make. Remember you are never too lost to be saved.
Until Next Time,
Tina
by Coach Tina | Sep 10, 2015 | Growth
Have you ever found yourself trying to figure out “how in the world did I get here”? You know that situation is not the best choice yet you find yourself unable to let it go. You find yourself in a place that you vowed never to return again. Doing that one thing that you promised never to do again. With that person you swore you would leave alone. Feeling a way that you never thought you would ever feel again.
Okay, so maybe you don’t have those type of issues… You know you should pray more but every time you get on your knees to pray you find yourself thinking about everything else you should be doing. You think about the dishes that are in the sink. The clothes that are in the dryer and need to be folded. You think about what you plan to cook for dinner. Your mind travels to the guy that cut you off on the freeway. You find yourself unable to focus on what you were praying about because something else has your attention.
There is a scripture that says “for the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice Romans 7:19. Basically that says I find myself doing the things I don’t want to do instead of the things I do want to do. I find myself talking to that person that is no good for me. I find myself gossiping instead of speaking kind. I find myself worrying instead of praying.
And I don’t understand WHY? According to the next scripture, it’s because of the sin that dwells on the inside of us (vs 20). We all have a desire to do what’s right. A desire to be better. A desire to live a life that is pleasing to God. We were created like that. But we are also creatures of habit living in a sinful world. We do the things that have become comfortable to us. We do the things that
feel good to us. We do the things that are easy.
I don’t know about you but I’d rather have a bowl of ice cream instead of a bowl of lettuce any day. I would rather lay on the coach and watch television than go out and run two miles on the treadmill. We do what feels good. We cater to the sin that dwells on the inside of us. We nourish the flesh instead of the spirit.
Let me share something wit
h you. God knew that we were sinful and that we would have desires that would only satisfy our flesh. He knew that we needed help. That’s why he sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. You are not required to fight your desires alone. All you have to do is call out to God for help. He is so faithful! He will help you overcome all those desires but you have to ask Him.
When you find yourself doing the things you don’t want to do and you are really ready to let them go, ask God for help! He promised to never leave you or forsake you. He promised to always be there sticking closer than a brother. He knows your struggles. He know we struggle with our flesh, that’s why he sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and guide.
So when you find yourself earnestly desiring to do the right thing but struggling to do so, don’t get discouraged! Don’t give up! Ask God for help. He will help you every time.
Until next time,
Tina
by Coach Tina | Sep 2, 2015 | Fear, Growth
You cannot have fear and faith at the same time. It’s impossible. You either have fear or you have faith. Which will it be?
Fear has been defined as an unpleasant, strong emotion caused by the unknown. However faith has been defined as having complete undeniable trust or confidence in someone or something even if you cannot prove its existence.
Basically what all that means is fear comes from a lack of knowledge. It presents itself when things are unpredictable. It is scary. It is based on what you think no
t what you know.
Faith is substantial. It can be trusted. It comes from the heart. It comes from within. It is based on what you know not what you think.
Fear is a curse where faith is a gift.
Fear is disabling. If you fear something you will shy away from it and it will gain power over you. Fear has a way of controlling you and stripping you of your natural abilities. It can even paralyze you and keep you from moving towards your goals and your dreams.
Faith is empowering. When a person has faith they believe anything is possible and nothing can stop them. They move towards their goals and dreams with expectation and purpose. They have a pep in their step and an intent in their heart. Faith provides the roar in the lion!!!
When fear is all you can feel…
You must remember that God did not give you the spirit of fear. He gave you a spirit of love, power and sound judgement. 1 Timothy 1:7
Sound judgement will help you when things seem fearful. There may be a reason why you are reluctant to move forward in some things. But don’t let that stop you. Don’t let it paralyze you. Find out the reason for the reluctance and act accordingly. When fear overtakes your ability to move forward, turn to God for direction. Sometimes we a
re placed in situations where we don’t know what to do because God wants to talk to us about the situation. And sometimes it is because it’s time for our faith to grow. Your faith was never intended to remain stagnant. It must grow and in order to grow it must be tested.
How do I build my faith?
You build your faith by trusting God. We must remember there is NOTHING too big for God to handle. There is NOTHING He can’t guide you through but you must ask. God is a gentleman and He will never impose on your space or your judgement. If you present yourself as knowing, He will let you “know”. Remember fear only presents itself in the unknown. So if you find yourself fearful maybe it’s because you really don’t know. When you don’t know, seek the one that created you. He has all the answers. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be given unto you. Matthew 6:33
Until next time,
Tina
by Coach Tina | Aug 26, 2015 | Growth
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalms 118:24
So many days we take life for granted at least I know I do. I go to bed expecting to wake up the next day. Most days I already have plans of what the next day will hold. I look at my “to-do list” from the day before and make a declaration that I will take care of it “tomorrow”. Have you ever considered that you may not get up the next day? Tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
Every day that you are on this earth is a gift from God, yet we take it for granted. Many days we complain about the smallest things – what we have to wear, what we will eat, the person that didn’t speak, or the person that spoke in a way that we didn’t like. We, as humans, are constantly complaining about something, forgetting that each and every day that we are above ground is a blessing from God himself.
I’ve been on this journey to lose weight and I’m learning a lot about my body. The things it will do and the damage that I have done to it through my careless activity. The other day I was on the tread mill determined to get in a complete 10 minutes without stopping. Yes, I said 10 minutes (don’t judge me). It was so hard. I felt like my heart was going to run out of my chest just to have an opportunity to recuperate. My legs throbbed. My knees made this funny crackling sound. I began to feel dizzy. I found myself gasping for air.
I wanted to give up right then and there. But then the thought hit me. I may not be moving as fast as the person beside me. I may not be doing it perfectly. But I’m doing more than I was by sitting on the coach, eating chips and watching television. I’m at least doing something. The next thought that crossed my mind was there are people that wish they could walk on the treadmill. There are people that wish they could walk anywhere. Individuals that would love to feel a pain in their knees or legs and here I am complaining. So I pulled myself together and continued on my journey. Was it fun? NO!! Was it empowering? YES!!
That’s the way we have to be in life. When you feel like giving up and you feel that you just can’t go any further, remember your life is someone else’s fantasy. They wish they had half of what you have. What you consider your worse day, would be considered a luxury to them. So instead of looking at what you don’t have, what you have to do, think about those that would see it as a blessing just to have the opportunities you are complaining about. THIS is the DAY the LORD has made (He made this day for me) so I will REJOICE and be GLAD in it!!
Until next time,
Tina
