June 13, 2024 • 34 mins
When life throws curveballs, where do you find the strength to catch them? Dr. Tyra Hodge joins host, Lyvita to share her awe-inspiring narrative of life's struggles and the need to keep her faith in God. It’s clear that her journey is a testament to the belief that our biggest challenges can lead to our greatest victories. She shares insights about her non-profit 'Parenting Connections', and the innovation behind a streaming channel for teens—by teens—that promises a trustworthy haven for our young ones to thrive.
Resources Mentioned on the Episode and suggested reading & social media handles:
- Dr. Tyra Hodge
- A ReWritten Story: Survival, Strip Clubs and Salvation - includes "A Wounded Daughter's Diary" and "Out of the Ashes” by Dr. Hodge
- Social Media Dr. Hodge frequents
- Parenting Connections
- Lyvitabrooks.com/contact
Calls to Action:
· Sign up for The Me Project Academy Newsletter for resources on decluttering your mind in order to grow in Christ, academy news and new releases of the podcast.
· Website: www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com
· @themeprojectacademy (Pinterest)
· support@themeprojectacademy.com (for comments)
YouTube Channel: Hanging Out With Jesus Podcast
Thanks for listening. I pray this episode was a blessing to you. Leave a comment or rate this episode . Then pass it on. Share this link: https://lyvitabrooks.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lyvita (00:01):
Saints, have you ever felt like God was not with you?
Have you ever thought that Godcould not possibly get you out
of this mess?
What about praying forblessings?
That, but all you see are moreproblems showing up than they
are blessings.
Where is God in all thisblessings?
(00:24):
Why is God in all this?
Sometimes, saints, our problems, our issues, our heartaches,
our disappointments can be sodevastating, so overbearing,
until we can't see that God isin the blessing.
That's why I brought a guest onthe podcast today to help us
(00:44):
out.
She's been in a place where theproblems seem bigger than God
and yet she realized that it wasall smoke screens trying to get
her to give up.
Get off course, saints.
You're going to meet Dr TyraHodge after the intro, so let's
(01:07):
get started.
Welcome to Hanging Out withJesus podcast, the podcast that
teaches you how to spend timewith God in order to declutter
your self-talk intentionally.
Hey, thanks for listening andwelcome.
I'm LaVita, author, bibleteacher and speaker on a mission
(01:28):
with the purpose to help thesaints break free from the
things that distract us fromdoing what God's designed us to
do, and one of those things isallowing our problems to
override our trust in God.
This is episode 102.
Saves me, the made it past thehundred mark.
(01:48):
I pray this episode awakensyour senses to the truth of who
you are and whom you belong to,so you can go and do what God's
called you to do as you let goof the lies and embrace him.
Now on to the discussion.
Welcome Dr Tyra Hodge toHanging Out With Jesus.
(02:17):
Podcast.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (02:18):
Thank you so much, ms Brooks, for inviting me
on.
This is such a blessing.
It is a blessing, thank you.
Lyvita (02:27):
You have such an amazing story.
I just want the saints to getto know who you are now before
we get into what has occurred inyour life to bring you here,
because your story is one thatwill allow the saints to see
(02:47):
that, no matter where we are, wecan go higher, just as long as
we put our trust in the Lord.
So so can you tell us a littlebit about where you are now and,
and please talk to us a littlebit about your nonprofit called
Parenting Connections?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (03:05):
Absolutely, absolutely, thank you.
So I am Dr Tyra Hodge.
I am a graduate.
My first degree is in biblicalcounseling from College of
Biblical Studies.
My second degree is a master'sin education from Concordia
University and my doctorate isfrom Concordia University in
(03:27):
Chicago.
I am by trade.
I am an educator.
I am the director of socialemotional learning for our
district in Texas, but I alsohave a nonprofit, which was
started in 2018.
But before it was ParentingConnections.
(03:48):
It was actually Mothers RaisingChildren Alone.
That was started in 2009.
, and so we changed the name soit could be more inclusive of
fathers that may have beenraising children alone, that may
have been raising childrenalone, and then I just realized
there was a need for all.
Parents, you know, sometimes gothrough things and parents are
(04:12):
stressed out, they don't knowwhat to do, and we've noticed
the tide changed.
You know from when childrenlisten to parents, and now
children are listening to socialmedia, and so we are battling a
culture, and so ParentingConnections comes alongside
(04:36):
parents that may need parentingclasses or that just may need
support.
There was a time when we werecrowned single parents of the
year, and so that was fun.
We haven't done that in a while, but most recently, parenting
Connections will soon belaunching a streaming channel
(04:58):
for teens, by teens.
It's a channel where teens willbe creating the content.
At least 50% of the contentmade will be made by teens and
um it'll be safe content withrestrictions, that um parents
and parents can trust, um thattheir uh children will be
(05:20):
watching, and so I'm lookingforward to that.
It should launch in a couple ofweeks.
It will be limited content inthe beginning, but we'll be
reaching out to schools anddifferent school districts for
students to create content andthey'll also win awards based on
(05:41):
the contents they create, sothey'll have their own little
media awards, and so it's goingto be fun.
Lyvita (05:48):
It's going to be fun I'm excited oh, so is there going
to be a special link on yourwebsite, because I want to make
sure I connect that in the shownotes once.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (05:58):
Once it um releases, it'll be on Roku,
it'll be on Apple TV and it'llbe on Fire TV, and so hopefully
we'll be able to have a link onthe Parenting Connections
website that'sparentingconnectionsnet.
(06:20):
Hopefully there should be a weblink so people can check it out
there as well.
Lyvita (06:28):
All right.
So I'm just curious did thischange of idea come out or
evolve within the last couple ofyears?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (06:39):
It absolutely did.
It absolutely did.
It's funny about 2020.
2020 was very traumatic in manyways for people, but during that
time I felt like the Lord,before everything shut down, I
felt like the whole year beforethe Lord had been really working
(07:02):
on me and preparing me forsomething.
You know, I remember that song,waymaker, and at the time I was
a DAP teacher, which is adisciplinary alternative
education program, and Iremember playing that morning
that song over and over again,you know, and I just couldn't
(07:22):
understand it.
I couldn't understand you know,what was the Lord that was
taking some things out of me.
I was still, I was goingthrough some deliverance, you
know, and deliverance, you know,can happen.
You know years of being withthe Lord and so, and I just you
know when, when everything shutdown in 2020, the Lord opened up
doors for me to be a radio.
(07:43):
So I was a radio host for acouple of years in Houston on a
gospel radio station, and thenmedia opened up and I was on TV
for a couple of years in Houston.
Just recently I had to kind ofstep down because I kept getting
promotions at work, and so thisidea of creating content and
(08:05):
allow students or teenagers tocreate content that's safe,
because we can't trust thecontent now that you know that's
being watched.
You have places like Pure FlixI'm a big fan of Pure Flix, um,
(08:28):
and there's other, you know, umstreaming channels where, uh,
young people can watch contentor parents can watch content,
but there's not a lot of contentcreated just for teens and so
for teens, by teens, kind ofwants to fill in that gap and
make it safe, because media you,because media, you know media
is consumed a lot all day.
Yes, for hours and hours a day,and it's been a great
(08:50):
babysitter, but it has changedthe culture of our kids and what
they feel is acceptable, andthese things that we've accepted
in our culture are notacceptable to God.
Lyvita (09:04):
You are so right about that, so so say, I just want you
to.
I want to emphasize that Tyrajust said it came out of a
pandemic, and I've been talkingto you a lot about how God has
talked to you about so muchduring that time and it's time
(09:26):
to come out.
It's time to let those giftsand talents and the things that
the Lord has placed on yourheart to come out.
Yeah, you got a perfect exampleright here, right in front of
you.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (09:41):
So you know, miss Brooks, even now, even now
I'm I I'm very cautious to seekthe Lord to make sure that I'm
moving in the right directionand that I'm in, that my
footsteps are ordered by theLord.
Yes, he's talking, he's talkingall the time, but sometimes it
can be 20 years before,sometimes that you're quiet
(10:05):
enough to actually be able tohear the whisper of the Lord in
guidance.
And so during those other times, we have to make sure that
we're still following, we'restill following the unctions of
the Holy Spirit and that we'restill able to pick up on the
other ways that he speaks.
And so you know he, just likewith the talents, you know, he,
(10:27):
he, he gives us some things and,and sometimes we're afraid to
step forth with him, I don'tknow how for teens by teens is
going to turn out I really don'tbut the opportunity was there
to do it and so we use thosegifts.
It just like you know, youinvite me on your show.
(10:47):
The opportunity was there, andso you know you can take those
opportunities.
But sometimes people arefearful, and we can't be fearful
with those talents that he'sgiven us, and then often not
just for they're, not for us tobring him glory and for them to
(11:08):
help others.
Lyvita (11:09):
But, but you're so right , and and that that's a part of
what this podcast is about,because it's those fears.
I always say that God gives usopportunities, we are the
opportunities, and that God isgoing to bring about the
increase.
But we got to make that stepand it's that step, there's that
(11:32):
first step.
That is so hard.
It's so hard to just say I'mgoing to do it.
Even with starting this podcast, it was like God you sure, for
real, come on seriously.
So once we take those firststeps, we have no idea what God
(11:56):
will do.
None, none.
Now you also wrote a couple ofbooks, and one of them is called
A Wounded Daughter's Diary andanother one is called Out of the
.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (12:11):
Ashes.
Yeah, so big secret about thosebooks A Wounded Daughter's
Diary, this, okay, this is arewritten story, this is those
stories in this book.
And so, um, out of the ashes, awounded daughter's diary, that
is all the beginning of thestory, of the story of my story
(12:34):
and it.
They both kind of stop where Ifinished my bachelor's degree,
and so a rewritten storyfinishes all the way up until I
get my doctorate degree and so.
So that's why, um, I neverreally promoted.
It was funny that you found ata, uh, a wounded daughter's,
(12:56):
daughtery from um home tohappiness, because I'd never
really promoted it.
And so I just kind of kind ofput it out there, didn't promote
it out of the ashes.
I didn't do a lot of promotingon that because I knew
eventually that I was going tohave to finish the story.
And so in a rewritten story thestory is completed, and so and
(13:20):
also not just that, there's adocumentary on Tubi TV which is
free for streaming, and it'salso on Rebuild TV and Amazon
Fire TV.
You can see the documentary ofthis book, and so it'll give you
a deeper insight of theinterview me being interviewed
(13:42):
in this documentary and someother people, and it'll give you
a little insight on.
You know what the book is about, and so right now the story's
been pitched to some producersfor a possible movie.
We'll see what happens withthat.
The scripts there's been twodifferent scripts written, one
(14:05):
for a limited series and one fora feature movie, and so god is
good, he, he, he, he really isgood.
I don't know, nothing may comeof them, but, um, it'll really
start by if there's enoughtraction to the doc uh, people
watching the documentaries, andso if there's an interest, and
(14:25):
then that could possibly pushthis into seeing it on the big
screen or seeing it on a placelike Netflix or something like
that.
Lyvita (14:36):
Oh see, that's a blessing.
We never know what God has instore.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (14:40):
And he does, he absolutely does, and I try to
make sure that I don't getdistracted with all these
different things, because I wantto make sure that I'm in his
perfect will and that myfootsteps are being ordered by
him and I'm not going off to theleft or to the right, and
because distractions can come.
(15:01):
And I know that I've beencalled to pray for the youth of
this generation, to continue towork with the youth of this
generation, and, of course, youknow I feel called to ministry
and I'm hoping that one day, youknow, god will open up the door
for me to speak, to go and tellmy story and to bring hope to
(15:21):
people of the world.
And so we'll just see how thatgoes.
Lyvita (15:27):
So what are some spiritual disciplines or
practices that you do now tohelp you stay focused?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (15:36):
One thing I do do I get to work a couple of
hours early, so we are actuallywhere I work is one of the
fastest growing school districtsin Texas and within the school
district we have the fastestgrowing subdivision in our area
in the nation, and so a lot ofprayer needs to happen because
(16:02):
there's a lot of things that goon that are not godly.
But you know, sometimes we'vebeen called for such a time as
this, so I get to work a coupleof hours early in the morning
and I'm praying my praise andworship music and the idea is to
really focus on the Lord andthe tasks at hand and prayer for
(16:24):
these students.
Now, do I get distracted?
I do, I do.
I do sometimes and probablymore than not, but the idea is
to get there and to get centeredin his will and to be able to
hear from him and to be able topray for this school district
that I love and I love thestudents.
(16:46):
Large Hispanic community, youknow first generation immigrants
and they need our prayerbecause so much they have been
through so much.
I mean, you know there's theworld with the cartel and with
the MS-13, that's behind thescenes, but to really pray for
(17:07):
salvation, because that's ournext generation and I believe
that an army of the Lord will becoming out of these students.
But you know what I've seen?
Students make better decisions,some come to the Lord, some
(17:28):
change, but you know, it allbegan with prayer.
So, no matter what, we're allcalled to pray.
Oh yeah, that's how we communewith the Lord.
And so without that prayer,without that worship because
battles are won in worship,worship, because battles are won
(17:48):
in worship.
And so we have to do that, wehave to set that time aside and
I believe that I probablywouldn't have been able to make
it this far in education without, because that's something I've
done from the beginning, notjust in the last couple of years
, the promotions, but when I wasa class, when I was an aide,
you know, almost 20 years ago,you know I began that day with
worship and prayer and prayerthrough, you know, walking those
(18:09):
halls.
I've always had work behavior.
Before I started gettingpromotions, I walked those halls
and praying and worshiping theLord.
And then, you know, when Ibecame a teacher, it was still I
needed to begin those days inthe worship to the Lord, because
(18:30):
nothing I have did I obtainwithout the Lord's favor.
And so I try to keep that onthe forefront.
Because if you read the book,then you'll see that my past is
not, it's not a perfect one atall.
I made bad choices, but God,and but for his grace and but
(18:53):
for his mercy, he still had aplan for me.
You know, you look at people inthe Bible like Joseph.
Joseph didn't do anything wrong, but yet he had to go through.
He had to go through crazy, butultimately it was to save a
nation, ultimately to save apeople.
(19:14):
Now, the choices I made in thepast were not because no, no, no
, some things happened that wereout of my control, that they
were not my fault.
Yes, you'll see that kind ofstuff in the book, but some
things were definitely theresult of my bad decisions.
(19:35):
But the Lord used that stuff todirect me and back then, never
did he ever let me know that Iwould be in education.
Matter of fact, I struggledhard through school and so never
, you know.
But there was a moment when Iasked him, you know, years ago,
in 2020, matter of fact, I meannot in 2020, in 2000.
(19:57):
In 2000, I asked him you know,now that I'm living for you and
I know that I can't work inclubs, you know that I, you know
, I feel like you don't want meworking in restaurants late at
night because I have these kids.
What do you want me to do withmy life?
And there was a whisper thattold me to go to school.
And I wasn't expecting thatbecause I didn't think I was
(20:17):
good at school or fit to go toschool.
And then years later he puts mein in education, and that was
the cosmic joke.
But he called me to a set ofstudents that were behaviorally
(20:38):
challenged and that into where Icouldn't judge them because in
the past I had my own littlebehavior challenges, you know,
in my early 20s and so.
But he called me to pray forthem and to guide them and to
help them make better choices.
And so, no matter where we are,we can be used with God.
If you're a nurse, god's calledyou to pray over those bedpans.
(20:59):
You know, if you're cleaningthose schools, you know you're
mopping and you're praying tothe Lord, praying over the feet
that are walking.
You know that path.
And so, no matter what you aredoing or what you are called to
do, it's not insignificant,because he's called you to be
(21:23):
there at that moment for such atime as this, whether it's to
pray, whether it's to have anencounter with somebody, whether
it's to speak hope intosomebody, and so you know so.
So it all matters, it allmatters.
Lyvita (21:39):
Saints just wanted to make this announcement because,
if you are enjoying this episode, please rate, review and
subscribe to this podcast rightin the app you're listening to
now.
You can do this while listening.
It helps with moving it forwardso more believers can hang out
with jesus while others learn.
Why is it important to do so?
(22:01):
We are now going to be onYouTube, so check out Hanging
Out with Jesus podcast onYouTube.
Thanks for supporting thispodcast and YouTube channel.
Now back to the episode.
All right, tyra, we have hearda lot about where you are now,
but I want the listeners to knowa little bit about where you
(22:25):
came from, what you came out of,what you are the victor of, and
you know because, let me ask itthis way has there ever been a
time in your life where theproblem looked bigger than God?
Right?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (22:48):
Hmm, wow.
So there's a lot of those, a lotof those, you know, being
raised in a home, unwanted, youknow, and feeling unloved, and
so just struggling throughschool, not knowing that I had
dyslexia, struggling learning toread, and now I'm an avid
(23:12):
reader, struggling in life,being homeless, often on chronic
homelessness, because, you know, nobody, nobody wanted me, I
didn't have a place to stay attimes, and so these things can
kind of leave a mark on you.
But what I figured out, thedecisions that you, that, that
(23:35):
you, you make in the future.
Yes, I worked in the clubs.
(23:59):
I worked in the strip clubs.
Yes, I were, you know, I worked, you know, waited tables and
cocktail waitressing and andstuff like that, trying to
figure out who I was and how tosurvive, and a lot of it had to
do with survival.
When I had my children, I knewthat that's not what I wanted
for them.
(24:19):
The struggle I didn't want tohave to be on welfare, I didn't
want to have to continue to beon food stamps, and so I had to
cry out to God.
I had to cry out to Him for Hishelp and, as a matter of fact,
that doesn't ever stop.
You know, if I'm going throughsomething and I don't know what
(24:42):
to do, I have to cry out to theLord, because he's the one,
ultimately, that has the answers.
Even when we feel like we'renot getting the answer or the
response that we want, he guidesus and he'll guide us and he'll
guide you, and when we feellike we've been treated unfairly
(25:04):
, I've been arrested.
One time I got arrested formistaken identity and for 10
years, even though it wasdismissed, it still showed up on
my background check, and sothat was something that I did
not do wrong and but yet, justlike Joseph, it was there, but
it's still, you know, andthrough prayer and some guidance
(25:26):
, you know, I was able to getthat off my record, and then I
was arrested for some stuff thatI did do wrong.
So you know they weren'tfelonies, but enough to really
make a mark, and so so, you know, there were mistakes back then,
mistakes I don't make now.
And you know, and I remember,you know, after I graduated with
my doctorate, you know, Ireached out to the governor of
(25:49):
Texas and he gave me a pardonfor that, and so so it's white,
plain, as did.
I'd never done it.
Lyvita (25:57):
And so you know that is good.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (25:59):
And so you know I want to bring people hope.
So, cause nobody's perfect.
No, I'm not perfect.
You know I love the Lord and Itry to be guided by him.
My children are not perfect,but my kids love the Lord and
they the one thing I have taughtthem.
And as they become adults.
I have four children, I haveone more at home that's
graduating this year.
(26:21):
There's times when my kids hadto cry out to God for themselves
, and so if anything that I'veinstilled into them, and I want
to instill into the studentsthat I work with, is that when
that point comes, don't ever getashamed to fall on your face to
the Lord, because he will guideyou.
(26:43):
And so I watched that in myolder two kids.
There came times when they hadto fall on their face and cry
out to the Lord, and the Lordguided them and spoke to them.
There was nothing that mom did.
It was them going to the Lordbecause he knows their destinies
.
I don't.
I try to, and I let them knowthat I had one graduate last
(27:05):
year and my youngest.
I said I don't know what God'splan is for your life.
He has not told that to me anda lot of times he's not going to
tell it to your parent.
You got to hear him first andall I can do is confirm, maybe,
what the Lord has said, oranother prophet can confirm what
the Lord is telling you to do.
(27:26):
And so, because we live in aday and age where the Lord will
speak to us If we reach out tohim, we don't have to worry
about somebody else telling uswhat the Lord wants us to do.
They'll confirm it, but we havethat door now.
Lyvita (27:41):
So, during this time, what was your mindset like?
Were you, uh, were youdepressed doing this?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (27:52):
yes, because the very first time, um, I want to
say, was back in 2010.
I had applied and the board ofpartisan parole recommended me
for a pardon, and so that's abig deal in itself.
You're talking about a thousandapplications, and then they may
(28:12):
pull 10 to maybe 40 and say,hey, we're going to recommend
these and we're going to sendthem to the governor, and so
usually around in Texas aboutChristmas time, that's when you
get that prison.
And so I didn't get it thatfirst time from the governor and
I was so and I saw in thenewspaper where these other
(28:35):
people had been pardoned and myheart was so I mean, it just
destroyed my Christmas.
I was depressed, I was sad andyou know I never really cry
about things, but I think theremay have been some tears because
, you know, I just wasn't chosen.
And then, the second time I wasrecommended for a full pardon,
(29:00):
we were changing governors andcome to find out, the Board of
Partners in Parole recommendedme for a pardon and parole
recommended me for a pardon.
Lyvita (29:16):
And then.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (29:16):
But the governor pardoned people as he was going
out of office, and so myapplication just sat at the
governor's office for anotheryear, and so I couldn't even
apply for it again.
So you can apply every twoyears, I think, and so the last
time I was like you know what?
I know what it takes to atleast get a recommendation for
(29:39):
the board of partners, but I'mgoing to make sure this man sees
me, and so this time, you know,I let my senators know.
I was relentless, and so I hadgraduated from my.
I waited until I had graduatedwith my doctorate and so in 2019
(30:00):
, the governor pardoned me.
So this is kind of new, and sothat was new and he pardoned me,
and so, matter of fact, afriend showed me before I was
even pardoned.
And so, and the governorconnected with me on Instagram
and I thought it was fake.
I thought it was fake.
(30:22):
Tell me, how do you know?
Give me proof that you'rereally the governor, me proof
that you're really the governor.
So that's right.
But and so in his office thatcalled me to let me know, hey,
we just want to let you knowthat the you know, the governor
of texas, um, he's, he's, youknow.
Lyvita (30:40):
So it was wow, it was amazing it was really amazing
and so and I know that justchanged the trajectory of
everything that was occurringwithin your life.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (30:53):
It really did.
You know now, it really did.
And so, like I said, that wasjust a few years ago and the end
of 2019.
And so we went into 2020.
And so, with everything beingshut down, the expungement took
longer than it should have,because the government offices
(31:14):
weren't working and everythingwas being done through email,
and so it's clean.
Lyvita (31:21):
Miss Levita I gotta go back to work.
I gotta go to work.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (31:25):
Thank you so much for inviting me on.
Y'all can reach me on Facebook,Instagram, my YouTube channel
could use some subscribers andsome likes, and it's Tyra Hodge.
Be Dr Tyra Hodge and so andfind me on social media.
I'll follow you back and seewhat y'all are doing.
Lyvita (31:46):
And Ms Labita, thank you so much and be blessed, please
be blessed in the name of jesus,all of you and your viewers
well, saints, that's a first.
We ran out of time.
Thank you, dr tara hodge, forbeing on this episode.
Saint.
She truly is a blessing.
(32:08):
We've learned from her todaythat, no matter what life throws
at you, you keep moving forward.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (32:21):
You never give up.
Lyvita (32:23):
Just keep moving forward .
Put your trust in the Lord andhe will show you how to get out
(32:45):
so that you can be thatopportunity for Him to bring
about an increase like you havenever seen before.
So, saints, never give up onyour dreams, never give up on
what God has placed in yourheart.
Just take that first step,y'all, the first step.
Let's pray.
Thank you, father, for thisopportunity to have a podcast
(33:05):
episode with Dr Tyra Hodge.
Blessed is she.
Keep a watch over her, father,and let her light so shine so
that others will know that youare real, father.
I pray that the saints who arelistening are touched by
something that we've said, thatit sparks them, and it sparks
(33:30):
that flame within them to justgo and do what you called them
to do by simply doing theirfirst step.
It was in Jesus' name we prayAmen, saints.
Thanks for tuning in.
If you enjoyed this episode,then get your free weekly
newsletter to help you declutteryour mind, make sense of your
(33:54):
heartaches and improve yourself-talk, so you can go and do
what God's called you to do.
All this and more can be found,including my contact
information, onhangingoutwithjesuspodcastcom or
the show notes.
So, until we meet again overthe airwaves On
hangingoutwithjesuspodcastcom orthe show notes.
So Until we meet again over theairwaves, intentionally and
(34:16):
daily, hang out with Jesus,shalom you.
Saints, have you ever felt like God was not with you?
Have you ever thought that Godcould not possibly get you out
of this mess?
What about praying forblessings?
That, but all you see are moreproblems showing up than they
are blessings.
Where is God in all thisblessings?
(00:24):
Why is God in all this?
Sometimes, saints, our problems, our issues, our heartaches,
our disappointments can be sodevastating, so overbearing,
until we can't see that God isin the blessing.
That's why I brought a guest onthe podcast today to help us
(00:44):
out.
She's been in a place where theproblems seem bigger than God
and yet she realized that it wasall smoke screens trying to get
her to give up.
Get off course, saints.
You're going to meet Dr TyraHodge after the intro, so let's
(01:07):
get started.
Welcome to Hanging Out withJesus podcast, the podcast that
teaches you how to spend timewith God in order to declutter
your self-talk intentionally.
Hey, thanks for listening andwelcome.
I'm LaVita, author, bibleteacher and speaker on a mission
(01:28):
with the purpose to help thesaints break free from the
things that distract us fromdoing what God's designed us to
do, and one of those things isallowing our problems to
override our trust in God.
This is episode 102.
Saves me, the made it past thehundred mark.
(01:48):
I pray this episode awakensyour senses to the truth of who
you are and whom you belong to,so you can go and do what God's
called you to do as you let goof the lies and embrace him.
Now on to the discussion.
Welcome Dr Tyra Hodge toHanging Out With Jesus.
(02:17):
Podcast.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (02:18):
Thank you so much, ms Brooks, for inviting me
on.
This is such a blessing.
It is a blessing, thank you.
Lyvita (02:27):
You have such an amazing story.
I just want the saints to getto know who you are now before
we get into what has occurred inyour life to bring you here,
because your story is one thatwill allow the saints to see
(02:47):
that, no matter where we are, wecan go higher, just as long as
we put our trust in the Lord.
So so can you tell us a littlebit about where you are now and,
and please talk to us a littlebit about your nonprofit called
Parenting Connections?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (03:05):
Absolutely, absolutely, thank you.
So I am Dr Tyra Hodge.
I am a graduate.
My first degree is in biblicalcounseling from College of
Biblical Studies.
My second degree is a master'sin education from Concordia
University and my doctorate isfrom Concordia University in
(03:27):
Chicago.
I am by trade.
I am an educator.
I am the director of socialemotional learning for our
district in Texas, but I alsohave a nonprofit, which was
started in 2018.
But before it was ParentingConnections.
(03:48):
It was actually Mothers RaisingChildren Alone.
That was started in 2009.
, and so we changed the name soit could be more inclusive of
fathers that may have beenraising children alone, that may
have been raising childrenalone, and then I just realized
there was a need for all.
Parents, you know, sometimes gothrough things and parents are
(04:12):
stressed out, they don't knowwhat to do, and we've noticed
the tide changed.
You know from when childrenlisten to parents, and now
children are listening to socialmedia, and so we are battling a
culture, and so ParentingConnections comes alongside
(04:36):
parents that may need parentingclasses or that just may need
support.
There was a time when we werecrowned single parents of the
year, and so that was fun.
We haven't done that in a while, but most recently, parenting
Connections will soon belaunching a streaming channel
(04:58):
for teens, by teens.
It's a channel where teens willbe creating the content.
At least 50% of the contentmade will be made by teens and
um it'll be safe content withrestrictions, that um parents
and parents can trust, um thattheir uh children will be
(05:20):
watching, and so I'm lookingforward to that.
It should launch in a couple ofweeks.
It will be limited content inthe beginning, but we'll be
reaching out to schools anddifferent school districts for
students to create content andthey'll also win awards based on
(05:41):
the contents they create, sothey'll have their own little
media awards, and so it's goingto be fun.
Lyvita (05:48):
It's going to be fun I'm excited oh, so is there going
to be a special link on yourwebsite, because I want to make
sure I connect that in the shownotes once.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (05:58):
Once it um releases, it'll be on Roku,
it'll be on Apple TV and it'llbe on Fire TV, and so hopefully
we'll be able to have a link onthe Parenting Connections
website that'sparentingconnectionsnet.
(06:20):
Hopefully there should be a weblink so people can check it out
there as well.
Lyvita (06:28):
All right.
So I'm just curious did thischange of idea come out or
evolve within the last couple ofyears?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (06:39):
It absolutely did.
It absolutely did.
It's funny about 2020.
2020 was very traumatic in manyways for people, but during that
time I felt like the Lord,before everything shut down, I
felt like the whole year beforethe Lord had been really working
(07:02):
on me and preparing me forsomething.
You know, I remember that song,waymaker, and at the time I was
a DAP teacher, which is adisciplinary alternative
education program, and Iremember playing that morning
that song over and over again,you know, and I just couldn't
(07:22):
understand it.
I couldn't understand you know,what was the Lord that was
taking some things out of me.
I was still, I was goingthrough some deliverance, you
know, and deliverance, you know,can happen.
You know years of being withthe Lord and so, and I just you
know when, when everything shutdown in 2020, the Lord opened up
doors for me to be a radio.
(07:43):
So I was a radio host for acouple of years in Houston on a
gospel radio station, and thenmedia opened up and I was on TV
for a couple of years in Houston.
Just recently I had to kind ofstep down because I kept getting
promotions at work, and so thisidea of creating content and
(08:05):
allow students or teenagers tocreate content that's safe,
because we can't trust thecontent now that you know that's
being watched.
You have places like Pure FlixI'm a big fan of Pure Flix, um,
(08:28):
and there's other, you know, umstreaming channels where, uh,
young people can watch contentor parents can watch content,
but there's not a lot of contentcreated just for teens and so
for teens, by teens, kind ofwants to fill in that gap and
make it safe, because media you,because media, you know media
is consumed a lot all day.
Yes, for hours and hours a day,and it's been a great
(08:50):
babysitter, but it has changedthe culture of our kids and what
they feel is acceptable, andthese things that we've accepted
in our culture are notacceptable to God.
Lyvita (09:04):
You are so right about that, so so say, I just want you
to.
I want to emphasize that Tyrajust said it came out of a
pandemic, and I've been talkingto you a lot about how God has
talked to you about so muchduring that time and it's time
(09:26):
to come out.
It's time to let those giftsand talents and the things that
the Lord has placed on yourheart to come out.
Yeah, you got a perfect exampleright here, right in front of
you.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (09:41):
So you know, miss Brooks, even now, even now
I'm I I'm very cautious to seekthe Lord to make sure that I'm
moving in the right directionand that I'm in, that my
footsteps are ordered by theLord.
Yes, he's talking, he's talkingall the time, but sometimes it
can be 20 years before,sometimes that you're quiet
(10:05):
enough to actually be able tohear the whisper of the Lord in
guidance.
And so during those other times, we have to make sure that
we're still following, we'restill following the unctions of
the Holy Spirit and that we'restill able to pick up on the
other ways that he speaks.
And so you know he, just likewith the talents, you know, he,
(10:27):
he, he gives us some things and,and sometimes we're afraid to
step forth with him, I don'tknow how for teens by teens is
going to turn out I really don'tbut the opportunity was there
to do it and so we use thosegifts.
It just like you know, youinvite me on your show.
(10:47):
The opportunity was there, andso you know you can take those
opportunities.
But sometimes people arefearful, and we can't be fearful
with those talents that he'sgiven us, and then often not
just for they're, not for us tobring him glory and for them to
(11:08):
help others.
Lyvita (11:09):
But, but you're so right , and and that that's a part of
what this podcast is about,because it's those fears.
I always say that God gives usopportunities, we are the
opportunities, and that God isgoing to bring about the
increase.
But we got to make that stepand it's that step, there's that
(11:32):
first step.
That is so hard.
It's so hard to just say I'mgoing to do it.
Even with starting this podcast, it was like God you sure, for
real, come on seriously.
So once we take those firststeps, we have no idea what God
(11:56):
will do.
None, none.
Now you also wrote a couple ofbooks, and one of them is called
A Wounded Daughter's Diary andanother one is called Out of the
.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (12:11):
Ashes.
Yeah, so big secret about thosebooks A Wounded Daughter's
Diary, this, okay, this is arewritten story, this is those
stories in this book.
And so, um, out of the ashes, awounded daughter's diary, that
is all the beginning of thestory, of the story of my story
(12:34):
and it.
They both kind of stop where Ifinished my bachelor's degree,
and so a rewritten storyfinishes all the way up until I
get my doctorate degree and so.
So that's why, um, I neverreally promoted.
It was funny that you found ata, uh, a wounded daughter's,
(12:56):
daughtery from um home tohappiness, because I'd never
really promoted it.
And so I just kind of kind ofput it out there, didn't promote
it out of the ashes.
I didn't do a lot of promotingon that because I knew
eventually that I was going tohave to finish the story.
And so in a rewritten story thestory is completed, and so and
(13:20):
also not just that, there's adocumentary on Tubi TV which is
free for streaming, and it'salso on Rebuild TV and Amazon
Fire TV.
You can see the documentary ofthis book, and so it'll give you
a deeper insight of theinterview me being interviewed
(13:42):
in this documentary and someother people, and it'll give you
a little insight on.
You know what the book is about, and so right now the story's
been pitched to some producersfor a possible movie.
We'll see what happens withthat.
The scripts there's been twodifferent scripts written, one
(14:05):
for a limited series and one fora feature movie, and so god is
good, he, he, he, he really isgood.
I don't know, nothing may comeof them, but, um, it'll really
start by if there's enoughtraction to the doc uh, people
watching the documentaries, andso if there's an interest, and
(14:25):
then that could possibly pushthis into seeing it on the big
screen or seeing it on a placelike Netflix or something like
that.
Lyvita (14:36):
Oh see, that's a blessing.
We never know what God has instore.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (14:40):
And he does, he absolutely does, and I try to
make sure that I don't getdistracted with all these
different things, because I wantto make sure that I'm in his
perfect will and that myfootsteps are being ordered by
him and I'm not going off to theleft or to the right, and
because distractions can come.
(15:01):
And I know that I've beencalled to pray for the youth of
this generation, to continue towork with the youth of this
generation, and, of course, youknow I feel called to ministry
and I'm hoping that one day, youknow, god will open up the door
for me to speak, to go and tellmy story and to bring hope to
(15:21):
people of the world.
And so we'll just see how thatgoes.
Lyvita (15:27):
So what are some spiritual disciplines or
practices that you do now tohelp you stay focused?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (15:36):
One thing I do do I get to work a couple of
hours early, so we are actuallywhere I work is one of the
fastest growing school districtsin Texas and within the school
district we have the fastestgrowing subdivision in our area
in the nation, and so a lot ofprayer needs to happen because
(16:02):
there's a lot of things that goon that are not godly.
But you know, sometimes we'vebeen called for such a time as
this, so I get to work a coupleof hours early in the morning
and I'm praying my praise andworship music and the idea is to
really focus on the Lord andthe tasks at hand and prayer for
(16:24):
these students.
Now, do I get distracted?
I do, I do.
I do sometimes and probablymore than not, but the idea is
to get there and to get centeredin his will and to be able to
hear from him and to be able topray for this school district
that I love and I love thestudents.
(16:46):
Large Hispanic community, youknow first generation immigrants
and they need our prayerbecause so much they have been
through so much.
I mean, you know there's theworld with the cartel and with
the MS-13, that's behind thescenes, but to really pray for
(17:07):
salvation, because that's ournext generation and I believe
that an army of the Lord will becoming out of these students.
But you know what I've seen?
Students make better decisions,some come to the Lord, some
(17:28):
change, but you know, it allbegan with prayer.
So, no matter what, we're allcalled to pray.
Oh yeah, that's how we communewith the Lord.
And so without that prayer,without that worship because
battles are won in worship,worship, because battles are won
(17:48):
in worship.
And so we have to do that, wehave to set that time aside and
I believe that I probablywouldn't have been able to make
it this far in education without, because that's something I've
done from the beginning, notjust in the last couple of years
, the promotions, but when I wasa class, when I was an aide,
you know, almost 20 years ago,you know I began that day with
worship and prayer and prayerthrough, you know, walking those
(18:09):
halls.
I've always had work behavior.
Before I started gettingpromotions, I walked those halls
and praying and worshiping theLord.
And then, you know, when Ibecame a teacher, it was still I
needed to begin those days inthe worship to the Lord, because
(18:30):
nothing I have did I obtainwithout the Lord's favor.
And so I try to keep that onthe forefront.
Because if you read the book,then you'll see that my past is
not, it's not a perfect one atall.
I made bad choices, but God,and but for his grace and but
(18:53):
for his mercy, he still had aplan for me.
You know, you look at people inthe Bible like Joseph.
Joseph didn't do anything wrong, but yet he had to go through.
He had to go through crazy, butultimately it was to save a
nation, ultimately to save apeople.
(19:14):
Now, the choices I made in thepast were not because no, no, no
, some things happened that wereout of my control, that they
were not my fault.
Yes, you'll see that kind ofstuff in the book, but some
things were definitely theresult of my bad decisions.
(19:35):
But the Lord used that stuff todirect me and back then, never
did he ever let me know that Iwould be in education.
Matter of fact, I struggledhard through school and so never
, you know.
But there was a moment when Iasked him, you know, years ago,
in 2020, matter of fact, I meannot in 2020, in 2000.
(19:57):
In 2000, I asked him you know,now that I'm living for you and
I know that I can't work inclubs, you know that I, you know
, I feel like you don't want meworking in restaurants late at
night because I have these kids.
What do you want me to do withmy life?
And there was a whisper thattold me to go to school.
And I wasn't expecting thatbecause I didn't think I was
(20:17):
good at school or fit to go toschool.
And then years later he puts mein in education, and that was
the cosmic joke.
But he called me to a set ofstudents that were behaviorally
(20:38):
challenged and that into where Icouldn't judge them because in
the past I had my own littlebehavior challenges, you know,
in my early 20s and so.
But he called me to pray forthem and to guide them and to
help them make better choices.
And so, no matter where we are,we can be used with God.
If you're a nurse, god's calledyou to pray over those bedpans.
(20:59):
You know, if you're cleaningthose schools, you know you're
mopping and you're praying tothe Lord, praying over the feet
that are walking.
You know that path.
And so, no matter what you aredoing or what you are called to
do, it's not insignificant,because he's called you to be
(21:23):
there at that moment for such atime as this, whether it's to
pray, whether it's to have anencounter with somebody, whether
it's to speak hope intosomebody, and so you know so.
So it all matters, it allmatters.
Lyvita (21:39):
Saints just wanted to make this announcement because,
if you are enjoying this episode, please rate, review and
subscribe to this podcast rightin the app you're listening to
now.
You can do this while listening.
It helps with moving it forwardso more believers can hang out
with jesus while others learn.
Why is it important to do so?
(22:01):
We are now going to be onYouTube, so check out Hanging
Out with Jesus podcast onYouTube.
Thanks for supporting thispodcast and YouTube channel.
Now back to the episode.
All right, tyra, we have hearda lot about where you are now,
but I want the listeners to knowa little bit about where you
(22:25):
came from, what you came out of,what you are the victor of, and
you know because, let me ask itthis way has there ever been a
time in your life where theproblem looked bigger than God?
Right?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (22:48):
Hmm, wow.
So there's a lot of those, a lotof those, you know, being
raised in a home, unwanted, youknow, and feeling unloved, and
so just struggling throughschool, not knowing that I had
dyslexia, struggling learning toread, and now I'm an avid
(23:12):
reader, struggling in life,being homeless, often on chronic
homelessness, because, you know, nobody, nobody wanted me, I
didn't have a place to stay attimes, and so these things can
kind of leave a mark on you.
But what I figured out, thedecisions that you, that, that
(23:35):
you, you make in the future.
Yes, I worked in the clubs.
(23:59):
I worked in the strip clubs.
Yes, I were, you know, I worked, you know, waited tables and
cocktail waitressing and andstuff like that, trying to
figure out who I was and how tosurvive, and a lot of it had to
do with survival.
When I had my children, I knewthat that's not what I wanted
for them.
(24:19):
The struggle I didn't want tohave to be on welfare, I didn't
want to have to continue to beon food stamps, and so I had to
cry out to God.
I had to cry out to Him for Hishelp and, as a matter of fact,
that doesn't ever stop.
You know, if I'm going throughsomething and I don't know what
(24:42):
to do, I have to cry out to theLord, because he's the one,
ultimately, that has the answers.
Even when we feel like we'renot getting the answer or the
response that we want, he guidesus and he'll guide us and he'll
guide you, and when we feellike we've been treated unfairly
(25:04):
, I've been arrested.
One time I got arrested formistaken identity and for 10
years, even though it wasdismissed, it still showed up on
my background check, and sothat was something that I did
not do wrong and but yet, justlike Joseph, it was there, but
it's still, you know, andthrough prayer and some guidance
(25:26):
, you know, I was able to getthat off my record, and then I
was arrested for some stuff thatI did do wrong.
So you know they weren'tfelonies, but enough to really
make a mark, and so so, you know, there were mistakes back then,
mistakes I don't make now.
And you know, and I remember,you know, after I graduated with
my doctorate, you know, Ireached out to the governor of
(25:49):
Texas and he gave me a pardonfor that, and so so it's white,
plain, as did.
I'd never done it.
Lyvita (25:57):
And so you know that is good.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (25:59):
And so you know I want to bring people hope.
So, cause nobody's perfect.
No, I'm not perfect.
You know I love the Lord and Itry to be guided by him.
My children are not perfect,but my kids love the Lord and
they the one thing I have taughtthem.
And as they become adults.
I have four children, I haveone more at home that's
graduating this year.
(26:21):
There's times when my kids hadto cry out to God for themselves
, and so if anything that I'veinstilled into them, and I want
to instill into the studentsthat I work with, is that when
that point comes, don't ever getashamed to fall on your face to
the Lord, because he will guideyou.
(26:43):
And so I watched that in myolder two kids.
There came times when they hadto fall on their face and cry
out to the Lord, and the Lordguided them and spoke to them.
There was nothing that mom did.
It was them going to the Lordbecause he knows their destinies
.
I don't.
I try to, and I let them knowthat I had one graduate last
(27:05):
year and my youngest.
I said I don't know what God'splan is for your life.
He has not told that to me anda lot of times he's not going to
tell it to your parent.
You got to hear him first andall I can do is confirm, maybe,
what the Lord has said, oranother prophet can confirm what
the Lord is telling you to do.
(27:26):
And so, because we live in aday and age where the Lord will
speak to us If we reach out tohim, we don't have to worry
about somebody else telling uswhat the Lord wants us to do.
They'll confirm it, but we havethat door now.
Lyvita (27:41):
So, during this time, what was your mindset like?
Were you, uh, were youdepressed doing this?
Dr. Tyra Hodge (27:52):
yes, because the very first time, um, I want to
say, was back in 2010.
I had applied and the board ofpartisan parole recommended me
for a pardon, and so that's abig deal in itself.
You're talking about a thousandapplications, and then they may
(28:12):
pull 10 to maybe 40 and say,hey, we're going to recommend
these and we're going to sendthem to the governor, and so
usually around in Texas aboutChristmas time, that's when you
get that prison.
And so I didn't get it thatfirst time from the governor and
I was so and I saw in thenewspaper where these other
(28:35):
people had been pardoned and myheart was so I mean, it just
destroyed my Christmas.
I was depressed, I was sad andyou know I never really cry
about things, but I think theremay have been some tears because
, you know, I just wasn't chosen.
And then, the second time I wasrecommended for a full pardon,
(29:00):
we were changing governors andcome to find out, the Board of
Partners in Parole recommendedme for a pardon and parole
recommended me for a pardon.
Lyvita (29:16):
And then.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (29:16):
But the governor pardoned people as he was going
out of office, and so myapplication just sat at the
governor's office for anotheryear, and so I couldn't even
apply for it again.
So you can apply every twoyears, I think, and so the last
time I was like you know what?
I know what it takes to atleast get a recommendation for
(29:39):
the board of partners, but I'mgoing to make sure this man sees
me, and so this time, you know,I let my senators know.
I was relentless, and so I hadgraduated from my.
I waited until I had graduatedwith my doctorate and so in 2019
(30:00):
, the governor pardoned me.
So this is kind of new, and sothat was new and he pardoned me,
and so, matter of fact, afriend showed me before I was
even pardoned.
And so, and the governorconnected with me on Instagram
and I thought it was fake.
I thought it was fake.
(30:22):
Tell me, how do you know?
Give me proof that you'rereally the governor, me proof
that you're really the governor.
So that's right.
But and so in his office thatcalled me to let me know, hey,
we just want to let you knowthat the you know, the governor
of texas, um, he's, he's, youknow.
Lyvita (30:40):
So it was wow, it was amazing it was really amazing
and so and I know that justchanged the trajectory of
everything that was occurringwithin your life.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (30:53):
It really did.
You know now, it really did.
And so, like I said, that wasjust a few years ago and the end
of 2019.
And so we went into 2020.
And so, with everything beingshut down, the expungement took
longer than it should have,because the government offices
(31:14):
weren't working and everythingwas being done through email,
and so it's clean.
Lyvita (31:21):
Miss Levita I gotta go back to work.
I gotta go to work.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (31:25):
Thank you so much for inviting me on.
Y'all can reach me on Facebook,Instagram, my YouTube channel
could use some subscribers andsome likes, and it's Tyra Hodge.
Be Dr Tyra Hodge and so andfind me on social media.
I'll follow you back and seewhat y'all are doing.
Lyvita (31:46):
And Ms Labita, thank you so much and be blessed, please
be blessed in the name of jesus,all of you and your viewers
well, saints, that's a first.
We ran out of time.
Thank you, dr tara hodge, forbeing on this episode.
Saint.
She truly is a blessing.
(32:08):
We've learned from her todaythat, no matter what life throws
at you, you keep moving forward.
Dr. Tyra Hodge (32:21):
You never give up.
Lyvita (32:23):
Just keep moving forward .
Put your trust in the Lord andhe will show you how to get out
(32:45):
so that you can be thatopportunity for Him to bring
about an increase like you havenever seen before.
So, saints, never give up onyour dreams, never give up on
what God has placed in yourheart.
Just take that first step,y'all, the first step.
Let's pray.
Thank you, father, for thisopportunity to have a podcast
(33:05):
episode with Dr Tyra Hodge.
Blessed is she.
Keep a watch over her, father,and let her light so shine so
that others will know that youare real, father.
I pray that the saints who arelistening are touched by
something that we've said, thatit sparks them, and it sparks
(33:30):
that flame within them to justgo and do what you called them
to do by simply doing theirfirst step.
It was in Jesus' name we prayAmen, saints.
Thanks for tuning in.
If you enjoyed this episode,then get your free weekly
newsletter to help you declutteryour mind, make sense of your
(33:54):
heartaches and improve yourself-talk, so you can go and do
what God's called you to do.
All this and more can be found,including my contact
information, onhangingoutwithjesuspodcastcom or
the show notes.
So, until we meet again overthe airwaves On
hangingoutwithjesuspodcastcom orthe show notes.
So Until we meet again over theairwaves, intentionally and
(34:16):
daily, hang out with Jesus,shalom you.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.