You Have Choices…

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 you 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

How in the World Did I Get HERE???

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 with 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

Why Are You Complaining?

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

Are You Judgmental?

by Coach Tina | Aug 20, 2015 | Growth

I will be the first to admit that I don’t do everything right and there are times that I find myself judging others. In fact, I probably have a tendency of doing more things wrong than I do right. Another fact is I probably judge more than I would like to admit. But I’m so thankful for grace and mercy.

Anyone that knows me, know I love quotes and get inspired by them.  Well, here is one for you.

“Anyone can find the dirt on someone, but very few can wipe it from their own shoes.” ― Shannon L. Alder

It’s so easy to find the wrong in other people but struggle to find our own faults. But if we are honest with ourselves, the faults we see in others, symbolizes the things in ourselves that we don’t like or the things in life that we wish we could have. So instead of passing judgement on others, try looking at yourself and ask why does this really bother me? Could it be that you are a bit jealous of what you see? Could it be that you wish you were more like that person? We have to get out of this thing of judging others. The fact is, we don’t know what it took for that person to be where they are right now nor do we know what they have to do to maintain where they are right now.

We also need to realize we are capable of having anything we desire but we have to put in the work to achieve it.  Many times we want the fame, the hype, the status but we don’t want the pain and struggle that go with it. Okay, here is another quote for you.

“Most people like mirrors; what they do not like, is people, who are mirrors.” ― Justin K. McFarlane Beau

I’ve always been one to shy away from mirrors because I didn’t like the reflection that stared back at me. But the truth of the matter the person staring back at me was ME and what I didn’t like was what that person symbolized. There was a time I looked at that reflection and saw all the hurt and pain. I saw weakness and lack.  It was a picture of everything I didn’t like about myself. But instead of working on what I didn’t like, I would look to find someone else to blame for what I was feeling. But the truth is that hurt and pain was there because I allowed it to be there.  When you see things in others that you don’t like is it because it reflects what you don’t like in yourself. Have you ever said “she is selfish”? That’s a judgement you don’t know what that person is really feeling or why they are doing what they are doing. But could it actually be that you have selfish tendencies and God is showing you a reflection so you can change it. What about “she thinks she’s cute”? Could it be that you are jealous of the confidence she has and wish you could have just a little of that for yourself?  When you find yourself passing judgement, ask yourself “what is this bringing up inside of me that I feel a need to criticize my brother or my sister?” It’s easier to see fault or character flaws in others but hard to see them in ourselves; therefore sometimes God has to show us a reflection to get our attention of the things He need us to get rid of.

Until next time,

Tina