Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Have you Got My 1st Published Book?

At the age of fourteen, I made up in my mind that I would never do drugs, never become a whore, nor would I loose my mind and I would be a success. Why did I make such an affirmation? Well, a very significant occurrence happened at fourteen, actually several life changing events happened. The first being, I told my mother that a man we trusted had molested me for seven years. As my mother looked at me, I saw the light dim in her eyes. Not only had she failed me as a nurturer and a protector, she knew how I was feeling because she too as a child had been molested. For the first time in my life, I saw a strong woman wonder, how she could rectify this situation without worse making matters. You see, she had sensed things were not right but did not want to cause trouble by planting ideas, if she was wrong. She did not want to make the same mistakes as her mother. So this is a message to mothers, if you sense something is wrong with your child you are probably right. It is better to be safe and protect your child than to be too lenient. As I watched my mother struggled with the idea that this matter could not continue, I felt her pain. However, I wanted to be free of the horror, I had lived with for so many years, the shame that I had felt and the sheer hatred and anger that would boil out of me at the most inappropriate times. I found myself fighting for the sake of fighting. It was almost as if I was trying to control others because I had to surrender control in the still of the night to him. I remember my first fistfight in the sixth grade. I felt liberated with every blow, at this point, I realized that all my anger, my stress, and even rage could be let out on the person I was fighting. The great part about it, to me, was I did not lose, and I walked away with some sense of power. But did I really?


Order your copy directly from me today. (209) 910-4055. 11.99 plus s/h and taxes.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T

I came across this and thought I would share this with my readers. I hope you all enjoy it, because this is something I would have said too. - Linda
I’m not one to know the latest pop or R&B songs, but I do know that a popular theme these days is independence. I overheard someone talking about a song entitled, “Independent” and thought I’d look up the lyrics out of curiosity. The only thing was that the lyrics were so profane that I couldn’t even read through them all. Still, it’s the in thing to be independent for those in the world. Many women tout that they don’t need men, and there are loads of men who admire women who don’t need them. We won’t even discuss how many men want to be independent of the responsibility of having wives and children. So, it’s no surprise that many children feel that they don’t need their parents. Finally, there are far too many people who feel like they don’t need God.

While independence does have attributes in the right context, for the most part, glamorizing it has many pitfalls. The Bible instructs us over and over again to depend on God. Yet, when life is going according to our plans and feels easy, we tend to lose our dependence on Him. We can slip into the attitude that says, “That’s okay, I got this one, God.”

However, we must depend on God for everything at all times. Making the decision to depend on Him isn’t a sign of weakness but true strength. As believers, we don’t live by life’s changing circumstances. In the face of possible death, Paul passes on comfort and advice to other believers. He explains in II Corinthians 1:8-9, “we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” Even in the midst of struggle and suffering, Paul reminds us not to trust in ourselves, but God.

Why should we depend on Him? We should depend on Him because He won’t fail us like people, plans, and things often do. Psalm 121:2 says, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” God created us out of His image, and He knows us. He knows our hurts and understands our burdens. In fact, Matthew 8:17 says that Jesus, “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sickness.” It doesn’t matter what the problem is, He can handle it. We just have to trust Him and cast our cares on Him.

We should depend on God because His love for us is constant and never changes. David says, “for all that is in heaven and earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest overall; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all” (II Chron. 29:11-12). He loves us. He created us, and we should acknowledge His power, might, and greatness.

Depending on God means that we need Him, not just when the going gets rough but just like the air we breathe, we need Him to survive. We must have faith in Him and trust Him with everything. Furthermore, when we depend on God, we submit our will and desires to His authority and His Word. We have to submit to Him and obey Him. We can’t just trust Him with things we feel comfortable letting Him have. He wants us to have total and complete dependence on Him, so we have to let Him have everything.

On a final note, I do want to add that we also need one another. God created Adam and said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). As believers, we make up the body of Christ. In chapter twelve in I Corinthians, Paul says that just as the body has many members but is one, so is the body of Christ. We all need each other to complete the work that God has for us to do and to draw others to Him.

When I hear people say that they don’t need anyone, a red flag goes up. I wonder who has hurt or let that person down. We may avoid some hurt and rejection by being independent, but we morph those negatives into an abyss of selfishness, anger, depression, loneliness, and a host of other problems. God has shown me that when I completely depend on Him, my life is filled with peace and joy. I can then reach out freely to others, knowing that just as I am not perfect, no one else is either. I am not tossed to and fro by life’s ups and downs because my total dependence is on Him, the One who holds my future and the world in the palm of His hands.

Depend on Him for that very thing that you’ve been holding onto, refusing to give to Him. Trust Him with it, and watch Him perform a miracle. Your decision to trust Him will empower you with supernatural strength to overcome any obstacle Satan throws your way.

Drop me a line on the Abiding in the Vine FB group page or on www.MaRitaTeague.blogspot.com

Blessings,MaRita

Wicked Linda Is Dead, But Who Is That?

Okay three weeks ago...

I thought I really need to make money or else I have to get a real job. So, I got real determined to do...nothing! Well that is not true but it should be because in the end that is what I did. A big flat nothing. I allowed opportunities to pass me by. I did not ask for what I wanted and I allowed myself to think negatively. This is all contrary to who I say that I am. SO, why would I, Coach Linda Hillman, Empowerment Coach Guru slip back into self destructive habits. Why would I allow myself to give up on me? So many times I tell others "Don't give up on you because I wont" but yet I was not practicing what I preached.

Then it came to me, the struggle is not in the fight but my thoughts. I was willing to fight but had lost sight of what I was fighting for. I want to help people to be the best they can be but that does not come without obstacles on their part and MINE! The things I was facing was I was attracting the people who were interested but not ready to make the change. I was attracting those that said it sounds good, and wow I see why I need your services but were not tired of living in the current situations. I was attracting those similar to myself. WOW that hurts.

What I mean is that I was willing to look in the mirror of life and see the discomfort, I was even willing to acknowledge that change was  needed but I was not willing to make the necessary changes. I was not willing to step out of my comfort zone no matter how much that comfort zone was costing me. I was not willing to invest in me like I was telling my clients to do. So as long as things were free to me I would go full force but as soon as you ask for financial commitment, I was ready to back away stating all  kinds of excuses. Now listen, we find time to do what we want to do. IF we really want something we will do whatever it takes to get that. I understand there are some real issues in this world. I have been self employed for two years going on my third year. So, I know what it means to have NO MONEY. So what am I really willing to do at this point.

Here's the deal, I am willing at this point to stop the MADNESS!! no more games and especially no more lies to my clients or anyone else especially me. Well, I have not told a dishonest thing to anyone. I have just not told everything. Withholding truth is just like lying to me. I think well, they don't need to know this or they don't need to know that but in the course of what I am trying to accomplish, people, my clients need to see the real deal. So I made a pledge.. ONLY the Truth. No more holding back and making excuses.

I hope that you will join me on my journey of self transformation. Let's grow together and make our lives better. So, now a more honest Coach Linda and hopefully my clients will appreciate the transformation in my techniques to coach them to success and those of you that are okay with who you are not achieving your goals, sitting in the same comfort zone that has you standing still and not moving forward, waiting for your next big break that you will allow to pass you by because you are not committed to investing in your life, and those of you that say that sounds good but... I leave your world now...I am off to love me, care for me and accept all that is right for me. I am no longer willing to stand idly by and let my life run it's course with no direction. I am taking matters into my own hands, taking responsibility and hold myself accountable.

So I will see you at the top... or will I? Let me put it this way...I'll be at the top, will you? Time is running out what will you do with the time you have remaining?

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Today I wonder

Today I wonder why there are so many people out there saying and doing things that are causing others to falter. I wonder why, when someone truly cares for an individual, they get slapped in the face with obstacles and hangups. On the other hand, when someone is only trying to make a fast buck, they get all the attention.Today, I struggle with my own heart. Should I continue to try to care for others when they clearly want me to only say in word I care but my deeds are far from it. I can not give up but my heart seems to be overwhlemed today with worry.

I want so badly to help those that can benefit from my knowledge but how do I get it to the ones that really need and not just the ones coming to toss it aside. Who am I trying to reach? Who even cares? Well, of course I do but how do I tell them I do?

That's all. That's my hear for today. But who cares?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Excerpts from the Upcoming Book Talitha Cumi: Girl Get Up!

Getting Passed the Past
by Andrea L. Dudley

I sat in the driveway of my home in car, softly crying and asking God when our circumstances would change. When would this hole in my heart be filled? Where was the end to this long dark tunnel? It seemed as though we had been in this place, all too long. The place where you feel alone, vulnerable, tired, fatigued and frustrated! The intense pain that I was feeling felt so foreign. It was almost crippling. I am by no means a cry baby but a person can only take so much, right? He won’t give us more than we can bear, right? He understands, right? Hello God, I’m here, I thought. Is this what we’ve been reduced to?

We had moved back to Michigan after having lived in Wisconsin for 16 years. We had originally moved to Wisconsin in 1987 so that my husband could join the staff of Parklawn Assembly of God church. For 3 years he served as the director of Christian education and for 3 years he served as the senior pastor. After leaving Parklawn, we started our own ministry, Capital Christian Center. We were a cutting edge church doing innovative, aggressive and power packed ministry. We brought in the best ministers and speakers, men & women of God, to teach and train our people. We wanted to expose them to the best of everything. Our time in Milwaukee was very fruitful and we loved being pastors. Being a pastor is very challenging and having the responsibility of the spiritual development of people is a heavy load, but we loved it. I feel that I was groomed for this as my father was a pastor for 25 years and I was pretty much born in church.

So why was I crying and what was wrong? What had brought me to this place of despair & anguish? Anytime there is severe change in your life, there will be pain. P A I N! Many times almost unbearable! I was in mourning. I missed my friends, my church, my surroundings, my favorite restaurants and even the pond in my backyard! I missed the comfort of familiarity. I had received a word from a prophet a few years prior about God getting ready to change my environment but I had no idea that it would be to this extent. I had also missed the comradery of my preacher “friends”, those who we brought in to preach at our church who we went to great lengths to accommodate. Those that we thought were our “friends”. I missed it all, the all day services with Sun Fannin, Sister Bernice’s Red Velvet Cake, the Glory & the Fire, Donis’ Greens & Hot Water Corn Bread, those deep and intense worship experiences where we would weep and worship, Brenda’s Chicken Spaghetti, watching Carl jump off the keyboard in a praise fit, (with James right behind him) and I missed the little kids in the neighborhood saying, “Hey Pastor A”! I missed it all and I missed them all. Even now, as I write, tears well up in my eyes. When you love so deeply, as we loved the members of our church, that love doesn’t stop because you have left them. True love remains forever. We had sown our blood, sweat and tears into the soil of the land and into the lives of people.

and ...

What Matter Most Is How Come

By Linda A. Hillman

Many of us say this phrase after we have come out of a trial or hardship, “What the Devil meant for evil...” However, do we really believe this? What if you are still in the midst of your trial, can you say this phrase? Can you claim the victory even then? Do you ask “Why” me, why did I have to suffer? Do you harbor bitterness and unforgiveness? I know I did too, listen to my testimony and be set free.

I was going through a time of just feeling empty. I had a good life, if I say so myself. I was working, had transportation, a roof over my head, a good church family, and people who cared for and loved me but I could not enjoy it because I was too busy wondering about all the negative things going on in my life. I was dealing with emotional scarring that had taken over my life. I remember falling into deep depressions and having manic mood swings. One day I would be higher than a kite feeling good about life and next I would be lower than the grave. I had lived this way for most of my life. I felt hopeless and lost, even with Christ in my life. My question was always, “Why did God allow this in my life? Why would He allow the test and trials to happen to me, His child?” I had tried to overcome them on my own. I had tried to do what the Bible said but to no avail. The reason being it was done in my own strength. I could not do it and the sad thing was I was not willing to give it over to God either. In many ways, you can say that I was content to live miserably saved. Now what kind of salvation is that?

In your situation, you may be on the brink of your breakthrough and you need to understand that forgiveness for those that tried to take you out IS needed. Let God be God and let Him handle your enemies. You love them and pray for them. You stand firm on God's promises and GET UP! Though you may be down however, you are not out, GET UP! You may be hurting, GET UP! You may be questioning “Why”, GET UP! This is not the time for giving up but for getting up. God has not forgotten His promises to you and He is faithful to complete and bring them to fruition. Get up girl; your destiny is calling you!

Look for Talitha Cumi: Girl Get Up coming soon.