by Coach Tina | Jul 18, 2019 | Bible Challenge, Growth, purpose
Sometimes I think I do too much!! I tell too much! I think it comes off as complaining or attention seeking! THEN I will hear from one of you and how my story has given you courage to fight another day. Given you permission to say NO. Encouraged you to try again. Reminded you that you are not alone.
That’s what your story should do! It should encourage others to want to be better, to do better, and to help others. You didn’t go through what you went through just to experience it. You went through it to show up as a survivor, as a warrior. To show up victoriously!
God allowed you to survive because HE knew HE could trust you with what you learned.
Truth of the matter – wanting to shy away from my story and hide behind the mask is exactly what my abusers want me to do. Speaking out meant they can no longer control me. Speaking out meant I can heal from what afflicted me.
Every time I share my story I get stronger. A link in the chain of bondage breaks. Every time I speak on abuse or encourage another woman, I’m reminded I’m no longer in that situation and I have something to celebrate.
I’m not going to lie; it’s not easy telling it! I tend to shy away from the parts that haunt me at night. There are times I look in the mirror and can see that woman who didn’t believe she was enough. Every now and then I see that woman that believed she did something to deserve what happened to her. But then I look myself in the eyes and say:
YOU MADE IT! YOU SURVIVED! YOU ARE AMAZING! YOU ARE ENOUGH! YOU DESERVE HAPPINESS!
YES, I talk to myself! It helps erase the memories of being told I wasn’t enough. That I would never be enough. That something was wrong with me. I get through the dark by remembering to be the light!
You are called to be a light in this world. (Matthew 5:14) I’ve never seen a light shrink or fade because someone didn’t like it. Do you think the sun would hide because someone said it was too bright? Do you think a light bulb would cut itself off because someone didn’t like its color? Girl, please! Remember the ones that are tired of hearing your voice, are the ones that tried to silence it in the first place. Speak louder! Let them know they can’t control you or your healing.
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Nov 1, 2018 | Bible Challenge
Let me tell you about a friend of mine….
She knows there’s more to life but finds it hard to wrap her mind around it because she is so busy being mother, girlfriend/wife, employee, daughter, friend, sister…. She tries to make time for herself but fall short. She’s getting by but she’s tired. She’s overwhelmed and seems no one understands. Everyone keeps telling her “you got this” “keep going, don’t quit”, “it gets easier”. But she just can’t see it and some days giving up seems like the only option until she looks in the eyes of her child and realizes, she can’t give up; at least not now.
Does this sound familiar? Can you relate? Are you tired of giving everything you have yet it seems so unappreciated? You go over and above, but it seems it’s just not enough sometimes. Do you feel if someone asks one more thing of you, you will explode? Does your overwhelmed feeling make you uneasy because you asked for these things, yet they seem more than you can handle? Do your friends rant and rave about how wonderful your life is because you’ve covered up the things that suck with a smile that you painted on with your pretty makeup. 
Girl… I’ve been there! I wanted to give up so many times. I wanted to yell “I can’t take this anymore”. I would sit in the shower and cry because it seemed so overwhelming. I felt so alone. I felt no one understood. I would put on a smile, but I felt like everything inside of me was falling apart. I questioned every relationship I ever had and somehow determined I was the reason they weren’t working. I felt I dare not say anything because I didn’t want to sound ungrateful. It had to be a better way but what was it? Where could I find it? Who could I ask? My friends had this image that everything in my life was great, so I couldn’t confide in them. They looked for me for help.
This month’s Bible Challenge will address all those concerns. Don’t worry it’s not that kind of study. You don’t have to be some bible scholar to join in (because I’m not) and I won’t be beating you down with Bible stuff! (I hate when people try to make me believe what they believe). We are all here learning from each other.
Here’s what happens. Here are the scriptures. I will make a weekly blog post about them so make sure to check for it. But also read the scriptures for yourself and see what you get out them (I really want to know). I will give my thoughts about the different verses, you chime in with yours and we have an open dialogue. If you are following me on Facebook you can post your responses there otherwise drop it below!
I don’t have all the answers and the thoughts I leave are just that my thoughts, my opinions. I am in no way pushing you to believe what I believe but I am giving you resources to help you push past this moment in time and see things in a different way. It was willingness to see myself the way God saw me instead of living up to the expectations forced on me by what I thought or what the world thought that allowed me to start liking myself again.
Remember there is no right or wrong – it’s more of a continued effort to become better and to accept that YOU WERE CREATED FOR THIS!!
Until Next Time,
by Coach Tina | Feb 28, 2018 | Bible Challenge
If you look at some of the post on social media, you would think certain people live a perfect life, their children do no wrong, their marriages are great, they have already arrived in their abundance and well life is PERFECTO!
Let me help you, we all have struggles. We all have difficulties. We all have issues that tug on our hearts. The challenge is not to allow your issues to have you.
We must dig deep inside ourselves, be reminded of who God says we are, and walk according to the promises HE gave us. Does that mean everything is going to be great? NOPE!!! But it does mean we know where our help comes from. It does mean we can call on HIM for help when we need it. It does mean we will come through this stronger than we went in.
This month’s Bible Challenge talks about knowing who you are in Christ.
“You are Who God Says You Are!” #selfworth
There are going to be days you may not “feel” like royalty or a conqueror. That’s okay! It’s not about your feelings, it’s about your knowing. God is asking us to believe who He says He is, believe who He says we are and live a life that helps others to see it as well. Every day is not going to be perfect. Every day the sun will not shine. But on those imperfect days when the storms have rolled in, you can find shelter if you seek it and sometimes it’s sitting quietly inside of you.
Get the bible challenge scriptures here. Then join me on facebook as we look at each scripture and see who GOD SAYS we are.
Until Next Time,
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,
