Tonya Ferguson's Blog, page 43

little inspirations

"When you Pray for an answer, be Thankful when you get it.

Even if it isn't what "YOU THOUGHT" it should be.

HIS Answer is THE Answer ."     ~tf

practical life lessons

Come Broken



I am proudly described as Real, Relevant, and Relatable. That's who I am personally, and professionally. Most importantly, that's who I am when I speak, write my books and write my songs.



One of the Real, Relevant, and Relatable songs that I wrote comes from a very frustrated place in my heart.  That song is what is generating this blog.



The fact that many people think they have to be perfect before they can come to Jesus is WRONG!  They think their lives have to be without sin BEFORE they can enter into a relationship with Him. Thinking they have to have their lives, bad habits, language and thoughts all cleaned up and perfect BEFORE they are worthy of His Love is so utterly SAD, and frankly makes me hopping mad.  It's not their fault they think that way.  It's not them that I'm upset with.  I blame the very small handful of “Christians,” that just don't know any better, for putting that thought into the minds of those that are hurting the most. Those are the same people that don't think you should be in “their” church unless you are sparkling clean, smell nice, wear a 3 piece suit or a fancy dress, don't have tattoos or piercings, don't have a funky hair color or hair style, don't have addictions, haven't been divorced, and haven't fought any demons in battle. The fact is, if we had to meet "their" criteria, NONE OF US would ever KNOW Jesus, because NONE OF US would ever be GOOD ENOUGH.



That is not the way it is at all, and that's NOT the message that MOST Christians are trying to share with the world.  It's only BECAUSE of all those things in our life that we WANT to change, that we come to the point in our life of wanting something better.  That's what makes us WANT to know Jesus.  And THAT is when He's right there to meet you WHERE YOU ARE, just the WAY YOU ARE, with NO STIPULATIONS, and NO CONDITIONS.  It's with His help that you will overcome the things in your life you need to change.  It's AFTER you have a relationship with Him that you WILL change, because you will WANT to change. 



Think of it this way.....

You don't repair your engine BEFORE you take it to the mechanic. You don't set your broken arm BEFORE you go to the doctor. You don't run BEFORE you learn to crawl, you don't pick your vegetables BEFORE you plant your garden, you don't get dressed BEFORE you take your shower, and you don't have to make your life perfect BEFORE you believe and receive Jesus into your heart. 







So, like my song will tell you.......



“You come as you are. Covered in battle scars.

Come to Him broken, battered, confused.

Come to Him shaken, shattered, abused.

Come damaged. Come imperfect. Come tattered. “Come Broken.”






Until the next time we talk......Stand firm on Philippians 4:13.

Love, Hugs, & Prayers,

~tf

little inspirations

"It breaks my heart to see PARENTS that are

FINANCIALLY, but not EMOTIONALLY

invested in their CHILDREN.



There's more to raising children to

adulthood than just throwing money

at them."     ~tf

little inspirations

"There's ALWAYS enough room in our hearts for just a little more LOVE."     ~tf

little inspirations

"Care + Giving = Unconditional Love.

Now, THAT my Friends, is MATH!"     ~tf

little inspirations

"You already have everything inside you that you will ever need.

You just have to reach down deep enough to get a hold of it."     ~tf

practical life lessons

Do You Need The Key?



"If you're feeling overwhelmed with the "JUNK" of Life, Grief, Depression, Loss, Sorrow, or Caregiving, HOPE IS THE KEY!




If you're feeling completely cut-off from the world, lost and alone, beaten up and forgotten, HOPE IS THE KEY!



If you're feeling like you've been thrown away like yesterday's garbage, that no one cares if you live or die, that there's no knot at the end of your rope to hold onto, HOPE IS THE KEY!



I can tell you after living ALL of the things I listed here and coming out of the other side of them ALL...HOPE IS THE KEY!







Beyond what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears, HOPE IS THE KEY! 



The ultimate message on the pages of my book, "to remember love," is, HOPE IS THE KEY!




HOPE IS THE KEY that will unlock the door of your PRISON.  No matter what your PRISON may be, no bars can hold you once you have the KEY OF HOPE.  I'm here to give you that KEY.  It's waiting for you between the front and back cover of "to remember love."



Until the next time we talk......Stand firm on Philippians 4:13.

Love, Hugs, & Prayers,

~tf

practical life lessons

What's Your Billboard Advertising?



Did you know that your FACE is your Billboard ?  Yes, you heard me right, I said your FACE is your Billboard .  That's what I call it anyway. 



We all know that Billboards are created to place advertisement on, and we all "LOOK" at the advertisments that are on the Billboards.  We may never get to actually go to the store the billboard is advertising, buy the item the billboard is advertising, see the celebrity the billboard is advertising, or visit the destination the billboard is advertising.  We do, however, look at what they're advertising.  So, if you think about it, the only thing we have to judge that "THING" that's being advertised on the billboard is, by what we "SEE" on the Billboard.  No more and no less.  Just by what our eyes can see.



For some people this is a VERY SCAREY concept.  Have you seen some of the expressions on people's faces as you pass by them?  Now, I'm not talking about someone that is sitting at a funeral or in an emergency room waiting to see if a loved one is going to be ok or not.  I'm talking about people at a concert, walking through a store, on a cruise ship, looking at a newborn baby, sitting in church, who just got a raise, who's been told they DON'T have cancer, who are walking in a beautiful garden, or any other number of things that should put a happy expression on their face.  Yet, they look like they just took a great big bite of an unripe persimmon, or ate half a lemon.



It's horribly sad, that living in such a privileged nation, we can't "SHOW" on our faces the "Attitude of Gratitude" that should be prevalent in each of our hearts.  No matter what we may go through, we still should hold on to our "Attitude of Gratitude," and display it freely and with pride to everyone we come in contact with.



If you've never thought much of what your face looks like when you are out amongst people, look in a mirror as you're walking through the store or the reflection in a window.  You need to "SEE" what everyone else "SEES" when they look at you.  YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED AT WHAT YOU SEE LOOKING BACK AT YOU!



Your "Billboard" might be the only one they will have a chance to see that day.  Do you want them to see you advertising grumpy, grouchy, whoa is me, hatefulness, miserableness, unhappiness, and depression?  Or do you want them to see you advertising happiness, joyfulness, peacefulness, encouragement, comfort, postiveness, love, cheerfulness, and kindness?  Either way, people will "SEE" what you're advertising whether you want them to or not.



You have a CHOICE  as to what you advertise on your Billboard.  Just like everyone does.  Who knows, if you CHOOSE to change your Billboard's advertisement, others around you might do the same thing.  It could become contagious.  We need to constantly ask ourself in ALL situations, "WHAT'S MY BILLBOARD ADVERTISING RIGHT NOW?"          

little inspirations

"You have to first be moldable, before you can

be placed on the Potter's Wheel."     ~tf

my life in words

I'm in the Studio recording some new songs today. 

We have one more done.  It is being mixed and

mastered right now.  Boy, I'm sure glad I don't have

to do that part.  My part is to Live the songs, Write

the songs, Record the music with all the

instruments, and Record the vocal.  Then I get to

take a break while the magic is made.



I love the way the words make a movie in my mind

when I sing this song.  I Loved Living it, and I Loved

Writing it.  



Be on the look-out for the newest addition to our

family on my website before too long.  The name

of my 2nd. NEW Single is, "Free-Fall Of Love."