March 13, 2025 • 44 mins
Welcome to a transformative journey on Yahweh's Money, where faith meets finances!
In this episode, my guest Tanisha Allen and I delve into conquering fear with faith to unlock financial freedom, career growth, and personal development. We share inspiring stories of taking bold financial risks, from selling homes to investing in personal growth. Embrace stewardship over ownership and trust God’s plan, even amidst life’s uncertainties.
Whether it’s transforming your mindset or building a family legacy, it’s time to stop letting fear control your decisions and start living abundantly.
🎙️ Here are 3 key takeaways from their insightful conversation:
- Acknowledge Fear, but Overcome It with Faith: Fear is a natural human emotion that can impact financial decisions. Shay and Tanisha encouraged listeners to acknowledge their fears but reminded them that God provides the strength to overcome these fears through faith.
- Stewardship Over Ownership: Everything we have is a gift from God. Shay and Tanisha emphasize the importance of viewing our resources as God's provisions, helping us to release the pressure of ownership and to focus on being good stewards of what's been entrusted to us.
- Planning and Trust Go Hand-in-Hand: Understanding your financial situation—your income, expenses, and goals—provides a foundation for informed decision-making. Combining this awareness with trust in God's plan leads to peace and confidence in financial journeys.
Did we leave anything out regarding college expenses? Let us know at yahweh@crusaders4change.org.
Episode Sources
- 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind."
- Yahweh's Money: Managing Money in a Marriage
- Psalm 19
- Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."
- Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Follow Tanisha in these spaces:
Instagram - instagram.com/financialtheologian
Facebook - Facebook.com/financialtheologian
💸⛪🕍📿💵
Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!
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Music by:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tanisha Allen (00:02):
Be able to enjoy the parts of pregnancy that as
being an older, especially Blackwoman being pregnant for the
first time there were so manydifferent stressors and so many
different things that put a lotof, honestly, fear in my heart,
and being able to have that nestegg and do things.
Like you know, get massages.
Do acupuncture change how wereceived care from the military
(00:24):
caring for us to a midwife aBlack?
Midwife?
! oh amen, amen, taking care ofme and then, you know, helping
me give birth, and the team thatwe were able to hire.
I would not have been able todo any of that if we hadn't sold
our house and sold it for theamount of money that God had
allowed us to sell it for.
That's crazy.
Sold it for the amount of moneythat God had allowed us to sell
it for.
That's crazy.
Shay Cook (00:45):
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and
money come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an accreditedfinancial counselor and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
(01:07):
saving, and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Hey everyone, welcome back toanother episode of Yahweh's
Money.
Today, we're going to be talkingabout faith over fear.
What will 2025 bring?
This year has already beencrazy, and I'm just excited to
see what God has in store,because we really don't have any
(01:28):
control over what's going on.
So in this episode, we're goingto talk about, like I said,
faith over fear.
Fear can hold us back from thelife God has planned for us, but
, as 2 Timothy 1-7 reminds us,for God has not given us a
spirit of fear, but a power andof love and a sound mind.
(01:48):
Today we're talking about howfaith over fear can transform
your finances, help build awonderful career and guide your
personal growth and beyond.
So stop letting fear controlyour decisions and start
trusting God's plan for yourlife.
So now I'm going to introducethe amazing Tanisha.
A friend, a mentee, FINRAFoundation military spouse,
(02:11):
fellow child of God, mostimportantly, a new mama, a wife,
an accredited financialcounselor.
She's just a wonderful, smart,amazing child of God, woman
outspoken.
I just love her and welcomeTanisha Allen.
Oh, thank you.
Tanisha Allen (02:27):
I love you too.
I'm excited to be here.
It's been a long time, so I'mhappy to be here with you.
Shay Cook (02:33):
It's been a long time .
You were in our first seasonand your episode is still one of
the most downloaded episodes, Ihave to say.
I know you're like one of ourcelebrities, and so I'm really
excited to have you back on theshow.
Tell us more about you.
Tanisha Allen (02:48):
Oh, okay.
So, like you said, first andforemost I am a child of God, a
follower of Christ.
That is something that leads mywhole life.
Honestly, my next bestaccomplishment is I am a new
mama.
Had my son last year and it wasone of the best things that
I've ever done outside offollowing Christ.
He is my whole heart on theoutside, so just loving to death
(03:10):
.
And then you said an accreditedfinancial counselor.
So last time I was just acandidate.
Yes, I'm an accreditedfinancial counselor.
And I'm, like you said, a wife,a military spouse.
I think those are all of thethings that I'm most proud of
yeah, and she should be.
Shay Cook (03:29):
I mean, serving God is just wonderful and then
having those kids, that God Ialways told my daughter since
she was born she is the bestthing ever and the best blessing
and just my favorite girl inthe whole wide world and I've
been telling her that since shewas a little girl.
And even at 24, when she'd geton my nerves, I'd be like I
still love you.
Okay, even though I miss athree-year-old Alana, because
she was just so adorable, soadorable I still got pictures of
(03:51):
the three-year-old Alana allaround my bedroom.
She was just so cute.
She's so cute now, but sheactually kept her room clean
when she was three.
Now that's a good start.
So how did we meet each other?
Let's talk about how we meteach other.
Tanisha Allen (04:07):
Wow, I know right .
I think it was my first yearattending a FINRA symposium, if
I'm not mistaken.
Shay Cook (04:12):
Yeah, what was it?
AFCPE symposium, and then youhad, yeah, a reception.
Tanisha Allen (04:18):
You sent me a message to reach out because
there was some a little bit ofdrama, and you reached out in
order to see what was going onand what I needed, and you were
amazing with handling that.
And then it was like okay, well, you're also a military spouse,
you're also a woman of faith,you have your own business.
(04:40):
You, you were who I wanted tobe years ahead of me, and I was
just like I need her, and so westarted a mentor-mentee
relationship.
It was like just keepingcontact every so often, and that
was in 2020.
Shay Cook (04:58):
And I'd known that so long ago.
Tanisha Allen (05:01):
Yeah, that was five years ago.
That's crazy, yeah.
Shay Cook (05:05):
And I remember them asking me to reach out to you
and I was more than happy tobecause I just love the military
spouse community.
And then, of course, like yousaid, to find out you're a woman
of God and the pure person ofcolor, a black woman I mean,
come on, black girl magic.
And so, just talking to you,and we met like every month for
those first few years, justgetting to know each other and
honestly, I learned so much fromyou.
(05:26):
You know I love when you mentorsomebody and they become your
mentee.
You eventually may become theirmentee and then they mentor you
.
So I learned a lot.
You were just really knew theword of God and I was just so
proud of you having your babyboy and staying the course of
motherhood and even being a wife, which is not always easy.
I know I've been married for along time and so I looked
(05:48):
forward to our calls, because Iremember our calls being like
six, seven at night and I feltlike it was a time where I
didn't have to like take notesand it was just be in this
moment with you.
It was just a blessing becauseyour light is so bright and so I
really just enjoyed you.
Tanisha Allen (06:05):
Yeah, I think I was just mirroring what I was
receiving.
Aw thank you.
Yeah, our friendship hasblessed me tremendously.
Like every time we catch up,and even our most recent
conversation of after a gap,because I am in the throes of
motherhood right now, it waslike there was no time at all.
No time at all, god is good.
Shay Cook (06:26):
He love how he bring us together.
It's all him.
It's all him.
He gets all the credit.
So well, like I said in ourlast episode, we got a new
section now of our show where wedo these rapid fire questions
and I love.
So we're going to get intothese questions and then we'll
get into topic.
So let's go.
What's one financial risk youtook that paid off?
Tanisha Allen (06:46):
It was for sure, selling our home.
So we built our first home inFlorida and we built it in 2015.
And when we PCS and had toleave Florida, the question was
do we keep our house and rent itout or do we sell it?
It was 2022.
So it was like, right, when themarket was just changing, the
(07:09):
market had gotten to a pointwhere it was like you can sell
your house and almost makedouble.
Then it was like we werestarting to see a turn where it
was like, okay, starting to getback normal, but interest rates
were crazy, so a lot of peopleweren't really buying.
So like, okay, what, what do wedo?
But we moved to Hawaii and we Ireally knew that managing a
property this far away probablywasn't the best choice, so we
(07:33):
decided to sell it.
And then the way that God workedin that was phenomenal and I
was nervous and I was scared.
I didn't think we were gonnamake any money.
I thought we were gonna losemoney and I was scared.
I didn't think we were going tomake any money.
I thought we were going to losemoney and God was like no, I
got you.
You are going to be abundantlyblessed and we are still being
blessed by that money.
It helped us transition toHawaii, which is one of the
(07:55):
which is the highest cost ofliving state in the United
States, and we have beencomfortable.
Do not discount the fact thatwe have been extremely blessed
since we've been here and thatmoney has allowed me to just be
able to get over here and nothave any worries.
Pcsing most of the time isexpensive.
Pcsing to Hawaii is crazy.
(08:18):
Your hotel stays are $300, $400a night.
We couldn't get into housingfor over 60 days, so we were in
a hotel for over two months, soyou do the math on that, and so
it was very expensive.
And we had that nest egg thatwe could fall back on, because
the military doesn't give youany money up front.
(08:39):
Well, they give you like alittle bit of money up front,
but it's nowhere near enough,yeah, and you got to go through
so many hoops to even get themoney paid back.
And you don't get the fullamount, it's just it's.
It was a lot and I was nervousand I was running the numbers
almost every day Like how dopeople survive this?
Yeah, so that nest egg allowedus to do that comfortably.
(09:09):
It allowed us to just be ableto get here and enjoy Hawaii.
It allowed me to be able todecide that I didn't want to
work for another employer at thetime which I was still doing.
moving to Hawaii, I decided toyou know what I'm going to go
ahead and just quit and enjoyour time here in Hawaii.
And then it allowed me to beable to enjoy my pregnancy,
which happened the day after Iresigned my job.
Shay Cook (09:30):
I remember that man.
That was crazy.
Look how God works.
Tanisha Allen (09:36):
But be able to enjoy the parts of pregnancy
that as being an older,especially Black woman being
pregnant for the first timethere were so many different
stressors and so many differentthings that put a lot of,
honestly, fear in my heart andbeing able to have that nest egg
and do things.
Like you know, get massages.
Do acupuncture change how wereceived care from the military
(09:59):
caring for us to a midwife, aBlack?
Shay Cook (10:03):
midwife.
Tanisha Allen (10:03):
Amen, amen, taking care of me and then, you
know, helping me give birth, andthe team that we were able to
hire.
I would not have been able todo any of that if we hadn't sold
our house and sold it for theamount of money that God had
allowed us to sell it for.
That's crazy, so yeah, so thatwas my biggest risk.
That is still paying off tothis day.
Shay Cook (10:24):
So, thank God for it.
I so that's my.
That was my biggest risk.
Yeah, still paying off to thisday.
So, yeah, thank God for it.
I love that.
Wow, that's so great.
That's a lot too, because a lotof women you know they talk
about how black maternal deathis so high and people don't
advocate for us the doctors andstuff.
So you being able to have that,you know, have the money to
take care of you, the self-careand all that lowered your risk.
Tanisha Allen (10:45):
It did because we should not have been able to
have the birth that we had.
I was actively told very earlyon in pregnancy that I was not
going to be able to give birththe way that I wanted to give
birth.
You know I stayed with themilitary hospital and the
doctors all the way up and soprobably, like I think, my last
appointment with them was maybeat 36 weeks and I got my midwife
earlier on, like I think,before I even hit 20 weeks and I
(11:08):
was just gonna do both.
It helps to have an advocate,have somebody in your corner,
yeah.
But the closer we got, god waslike nope, you were not giving
birth with these doctors.
Yeah, this is the birth that Iwant you to have and you're
gonna have it, and I had it andhad to pay for it out of pocket
but, but it was well worth it.
Shay Cook (11:26):
So yeah.
So not only did you have the,the fine and the money to take
care of, you also were obedient,because some of us have the
money sitting in account andwe're like, okay, lord, I don't
want to do that.
So, and it'd be like, man, Igive you all the resources and
tools you need and you're nottaking heat.
Wow, congratulations for beingobedient, cause a lot of us
don't be that way and that'swhere I.
My goal is for this year isobedience, cause my financial
(11:48):
risk was taking out uh, you know, getting support and debt or a
loan for the business.
So it's still, I'm stillwaiting for it to pay off.
So there's a financial riskthat I took and I'm like, lord,
I questioned that over and overand over, cause when everybody
was getting the PPP loan, likeand I over and over and over,
because when everybody wasgetting the PPP loan, like I was
qualified, I'm like, I'm notdoing it, not doing it.
And then somebody was like youneed nope, I'm not doing that,
not doing, I don't want no debt.
(12:08):
And my guy's like if you wantto take my business not my Shea,
but my guy's business to thenext level, you need financing,
you need money and you'reresponsible and guess what?
Every month and hopefully I'llpay it off way sooner than I
have to.
And you know, but I'm stillwaiting for it to be paid off.
But guys like it's paying offshit.
You just not seeing it.
So if fear wasn't a factor,what's one thing you would do
(12:36):
with your money today?
Tanisha Allen (12:37):
I will build a family compound.
Shay Cook (12:39):
Oh, yes, I love that idea.
Tanisha Allen (12:41):
Yeah, I will build a family compound.
Being in my first year ofmotherhood, my family has showed
up in ways that I was notexpecting, especially because we
are all the way across theocean.
It made me realize howimportant community is and how
important family is.
While I've always been somebodythat's like I don't want
anybody in my space, like I canbarely survive living with Chris
, it has been such a blessing tohave my family in and out for
(13:04):
the past year.
You know I've always had adream of like if we could at
least live like super close thatwould be great Like or like in
a multi-generational home.
that would be great.
But if I didn't have to worryabout money, I would for sure
build a family compound where weall have our own houses but
that I can let my son just outthe door and know like he's.
(13:26):
I'm obviously gonna keep an eyeon him still, but like being
able to run down the street tomy house and know that he's safe
.
My parents wanna come over fordinner or somebody needs to
borrow some eggs, like I.
Just I love that, and so if Ididn't have to worry about money
, that would be it.
It's on my dream board for meto continue to pray over and
(13:47):
allow God to hopefully make ithappen if it's his will.
Shay Cook (13:49):
And we need more Black-owned and Brown-owned
communities like that that areself-sustaining too, not only
like a community compound whereyour family's together, but then
we own the grocery stores andthe doctors and dentist offices
and all that.
That would be great.
I mean, people always go backto like Black Wall Street, but,
yeah, similar to that inOklahoma, which were in so many
other places other than Oklahoma.
That's one of the famous ones.
(14:10):
But we need more of those kindof Black-owned.
I know compounds or locationswhere my dad's from in Pocomoke
City area.
When I go down there, most ofthe people and his mom's side
and his dad's side own the land.
They own that, like most peopleknow my family down there,
because that's what they had todo after slavery is come
together and tend to the landand take care of everything, and
(14:32):
they still own that, and Ithink that's a beautiful thing.
I was just gonna say I want togift that to future generations.
Yes, yes, pass that legacy on.
I love that.
Yeah, fear wasn't a factor forme.
I don't know.
The first thing that came tomind is I would travel more and
just take a break.
I would put enough money intothe business for it to continue
to grow, to continue to supportthe communities that we do, but
then be able to slow my behinddown, because that's what my mom
(14:55):
I was gonna say my mama, butit's really my husband, my
daughter, like you, work toomuch, but the thing is I like to
work, but I also like to havefun, and I haven't been having
as much fun and self-care as Ishould.
So I would definitely spendmore time with God and doing
that kind of thing.
All right, last rapid firequestion what's your favorite
Bible verse about trusting God?
Tanisha Allen (15:17):
It's not a verse, but it's Psalm 19.
So it's not super, super longand I'm probably not going to
read it all because.
Shay Cook (15:25):
You can't go ahead, girl.
We need that.
Yeah, go ahead.
Tanisha Allen (15:28):
Sure, okay.
The heavens declare the gloryof God.
The skies proclaim the work ofhis hands.
Day after day, they pour forthspeech.
Night after night, they revealknowledge.
They have no speech.
They use no words.
No sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out intoall the earth, their words to
the ends of the world.
In the heavens, god has pitcheda tent for the sun.
(15:49):
It is like a bridegroom comingout of his chamber, like a
champion rejoicing to run hiscourse.
It rises at one end of theheavens and make it circuits to
the other.
Nothing is deprived of itswarmth.
The law of the Lord is perfect,refreshing the soul.
The statues of the Lord aretrustworthy, making wise the
simple.
The precepts of the Lord areright, giving joy to the heart.
(16:10):
The commands of the Lord areradiant, giving light to the
eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,enduring forever.
The degrees of the Lord arefirm and all of them are
righteous.
They are more precious thangold, than much pure gold.
They are sweeter than honey,than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warnedAmen.
Transgression.
(16:45):
May these words of my mouth andthis meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight.
Lord, my rock and my redeemer,amen.
And the reason that verse isthe one that sticks out for me
as far as about trusting God andlike fear right, is because and
this is something that I'vereally grasped since coming to
Hawaii the beginning of thatchapter talks a lot about how
(17:05):
nature shows us God and whatnature talks about to us about
God.
It's also one of the versesthat they use when people talk
about like if somebody has neverbeen evangelized or talked to
about God, how do they know thatGod is real?
It's because I can look out mywindow right now and see
mountains and trees and the skyand this tells me about God.
(17:29):
I see this every single day andall that's happening in the
world and I sit there and I'mlike I don't have to worry about
breathing, I don't have toworry about food, because of all
that God provides us.
The way that this world works isall because of God and how God
has given us this planet and itallows us to just do things that
(17:50):
we don't have to think aboutanymore.
So that helps me trust God.
And then also the fact thatwhat it talks about when it
talks about his word and I cango to the Bible and I can go to
his word and I can constantly bereminded of what God has done
for his people, what God plansto do for his people, and I know
that I don't have to have anyfear at all, as we're,
(18:11):
especially here in this country,going through so many different
things.
And we're kind of I feel like Ihear every other day like are we
dealing with the Antichrist?
Shay Cook (18:20):
Yes, Like what are we dealing with?
Tanisha Allen (18:24):
And I have to remind myself constantly I don't
have to worry because God hadall of this planned out.
He knew all of this was goingto happen and, as crazy as it is
now, it is going to get worse.
My job is to stay into God'sword, to stay plugged into Jesus
, to stay plugged into the HolySpirit and knowing that God has
all of this taken care of, andand making sure that my son
(18:46):
grows up knowing who he cancount on and where he should go,
and not really counting on whatthe country or the world has
told us we need to focus on,because the goal is to be
distracted right now, and that'snot what God has given us as
our goal, not at all, Not at all.
Shay Cook (19:08):
The focus on him, ourselves and our families and
our community.
That's it, yeah, and it seemslike the word every time I see a
devotion.
Now it comes back.
God has overcome the world.
Y'all Like he is.
You just stay close to him,stay in a line with him.
You know, and I love that withthe beauty of nature.
I remember when I went toHawaii the best trip ever, 2018,
I turned, it was for my 40thbirthday.
(19:28):
That place is beyond gorgeous,termed it for my 40th birthday.
That place is beyond gorgeous.
It's like heaven on earth to me, and I know there's other
places around the world are justas beautiful or if not more.
But man, Hawaii just spoke tome and I know a lot of people
say it, but it's so true.
When you get into the ocean man, something about connecting
with God and his body of waterit's just like man.
(19:48):
It's so massive and it's justso beautiful and even just the
sound of it it shows power andGod, yeah, but Hawaii, man, lush
, beautiful, just so gorgeous sogorgeous.
But you're right.
Just looking outside and seeinga bird or seeing flowers, or
like I got all these flowersgrowing around in my house and
I'm like, oh my God, this is allGod.
You know, this is all God.
(20:10):
Yes, and for me, my favoriteBible verses, one of the famous
ones, another Psalm of poemsfrom the Psalms is Psalm 4610.
So be still and know I am God.
And it's really a call to trustin God and find peace in his
present, even when life ischaotic.
And because, I'm just chaotic bynature, a little crazy, a
(20:30):
little touch.
You know I have to remindmyself to be still.
So, literally in my office,here, in my meditation room, in
my foyer, I like have that verseall around my house because I
need to be reminded, justbecause I'm a little just all
over the place, that I have tobe still and rooted in God.
Staying rooted in him is veryimportant.
Tanisha Allen (20:51):
It is.
Shay Cook (20:51):
So we could talk about this all day.
That was supposed to be rapidfire, but that was not no rapid
fire, but that's fine, becauseGod is in the room.
Y'all.
Let's talk about faith andfinances from either the careers
perspective, personal growthperspective or finances.
Honestly, I want to focus onthe financial piece because I
know that people and I'm sure,as you worked with clients as an
(21:12):
AFC and accredited financialcounselor and I do as well that
people are scared to invest,especially in this time.
I'm like people are pullingtheir money out because they're
just scared.
What am I having with the banks?
They're scared to tithe becausethey're like I got to save for
my family, or they're justoverall scared.
There's shame, there's stigmaall around money.
I mean, how do we deal withthis from the faith and the
finances piece when people outhere are just scared?
(21:35):
Denisha.
Tanisha Allen (21:36):
I think first and foremost is to acknowledge
their fear and let them knowlike fear is going to happen.
Right, I realize that thereason God tells us over and
over again in his word not tofear or do not be afraid is
because it's expected it isexpected.
It's going to happen.
We need to now figure out, okay, why is it happening?
(21:59):
And then, what can we do toovercome it?
Like, what is it that we can doto kind of remind us that we
don't need to be afraid?
It's the reminders of be stilland know around the house.
That way, you know, the secondyou look up, you see that and
it's like, okay, I know thatthis is God talking to me, this
is God reminding me of this, andthis is why, you know, God
tells us to put his word on thedoorframes and everywhere.
(22:22):
Right, Because we need thoseconstant reminders.
You know, from a financialstandpoint, it's also like being
aware of your money, knowingwhat you have coming in and what
you have going out.
If you have a budget thatyou're comfortable with and if
you, you know, consistentlyreview your goals and your plan
(22:43):
financially, then you willprovide yourself with a little
bit more comfort.
Right, You're not shocked bywhat's happening.
I know a lot of times what Iwould see from clients as we're
walking through their bankstatements or what they actually
spend.
The fear or the anxiousness isbecause they have no clue what's
happening.
(23:04):
And I'm sitting there like youswiped your card, you put in
your debit card information,your credit card information.
Like you started all of thesetransactions somehow some way.
You may not remember whathappened, but you initiated this
and because of that we reallyshouldn't be surprised.
But I've noticed that a lot ofpeople are surprised by what
(23:24):
they're spending, and the way tofix that is reviewing it,
looking it over, like makingsure you're comfortable.
You know exactly how much moneyyou have coming in.
You know exactly how much moneyyou go out and then, even if
something happens right, likeyou were talking about, as far
as, like, the stock market andpeople want to pull their money
out, you can make an informeddecision because you know where
(23:45):
you stand.
You know not knowing where youstand and then making a decision
out of fear could mess you upand put you in a worse situation
than you could have ever beenin if you just kind of like took
a step back.
I mean review what's happeningand what's going on, but knowing
what you, what you're doingwith your money right now and
where you are reviewing yourgoals and then making informed
(24:05):
decisions, are my top three.
Shay Cook (24:09):
Yeah, I agree with that.
And just going back whereyou're saying, acknowledging
that we're human, this is flesh.
This flesh is all jacked up onmany different levels, right,
and that's okay.
Like you said, it says in theword, over and over and over do
not be afraid.
Because, god knows, that's anemotion that we will feel as
humans from the time you're born.
When you come out of the womb,you you're like, oh my god, what
(24:37):
is this?
I want to go back in right, goback in that and build that, the
sack of my mother together, andthen you know, the cold hits
you and all that, and then calmdown.
But then, as you go throughlife, there's going to be fear,
there's gonna.
You're gonna be afraid andthat's okay.
You know, let's not, let's justbe real, it's okay.
You're gonna be afraid.
How you deal with it?
yeah what do you do with thatfear?
Yeah, you just cower it up oryou just be like or I'm just
going to spend all my moneybecause tomorrow's not promised
which it's not but you stillneed to prepare for tomorrow.
(24:58):
So you got to find that balancebecause it can be hard and I
know, like you said, so manyclients.
They do not know what's comingin, what's going out.
They out here buying a lot offood, a lot of drinking, a lot
of marijuana, a lot of stuff.
Because fear take over, youstart doing some crazy stuff.
Yeah, and I try not to shame myclients when they are like well,
I want to build in, you know,certain things in my budget
(25:19):
because you know it's how I getthrough the day.
I ain't mad at you If you haveto have your wine or your drink
or your marijuana or whatever,as long as it's not no ecstasy
or cocaine I mean, they ain'ttelling me that but and if they
are, hey, to each his own.
As long as you ain't going towork drunk and you ain't putting
nobody else at risk, I don't.
I'm not condoning that, right,but try not to have that shame.
(25:39):
You know no judgment zone,right, and that's what we're
taught as AFCs Like there's nojudgment.
You know, let's try to make itwork for you.
Everybody's different, but thereis some real fear going on
before the election, afterelection, just just in life.
It's just, I mean, and I alwaysblame it on social media,
because everybody's on there andtrying to keep up with the
Joneses, the Kardashians, theCarters, and they're just
(26:01):
struggling because, you know,and then they're like I'm not
having fear of looking likesomebody else, I don't look good
enough, because, no, stop thecomparison Like that's all leads
to more fear and anxiety andall the other crap that we don't
need to be feeling.
But I'm there, I know how thatfeels.
Tanisha Allen (26:17):
Yeah, yeah, and that's the thing I mean.
I feel like I've seen moresuccess when we build into our
clients the things that they areworried about us cutting right.
Like obviously we know, likethere's usually like one like
you have to cut out everythingextra.
Anything that brings youpleasure has to go right, and
it's like you got to suffer fora couple of years in order to
(26:40):
pay off your debt or save andall this stuff.
And we see the fail rate withthat right.
Like a lot of people don'tsucceed with that plan, whereas
what I've seen people succeedwith is okay, you say that you
like to have a glass of wineevery night before you go to bed
.
Okay, let's figure out how mucha bottle is that you like to
buy.
(27:00):
Let's put that in your budgetso you know exactly how much
you're spending, and then gofrom there and then if you spend
over that, then we have to havea conversation.
But at least you know.
Okay, this is something that Iwant my money to go towards, and
you're also choosing to do that, Right?
So you're you're also sayinglike I don't know how much wine
costs, because I haven't had anyin like over a year.
Shay Cook (27:23):
It could be anywhere from like ten dollar bottle to
hundreds of dollars.
Tanisha Allen (27:27):
If you say, ok, I want to buy, let's say, $200 of
wine every month, you areacknowledging that you're
deciding to take that $200 andthen get on this for this month
instead of putting that $200 insavings instead.
Can't tell you, as yourfinancial counselor, that that's
the wrong decision to make.
(27:54):
I don't know if that one bottleof wine or that glass of wine
every night is what's saving youor kind of pushing you into the
next hour or pushing next dayto allow you to be able to get
through the day or get throughthe night or whatever, and I
can't take that away from you.
But as long as you are okay andyou've decided like I'm making
(28:14):
this choice and you know, I'veseen clients where they've made
that choice for a couple ofweeks or a couple months and
then they realize that they'renot getting where they want to
be with their goal and guesswhat?
They cut out Whatever thatself-care item was or that vice
was for a little bit.
It's like oh, I can hold off onit.
For a couple of months I'vedone that myself where it's like
(28:37):
I had gotten in the habit ofgetting my nails done every so
often and my hair done every sooften and really built this
self-care bubble for myself towhere I was truly taking care of
myself and I was enjoying thesethings.
Then, when it came time to justreally like, go over some goals,
especially towards the end ofmy pregnancy of, like, okay, we
(28:58):
need to start shifting somemoney around because once the
baby is born, I'm going to wantto have investments for him.
I'm going to want to have asavings account for him.
You know what's the easiest wayto get this money?
And for me it was didn't evenhave a second thought, like I
don't need to get my nails done,I invested into sister locks as
soon as I could and I was justlike these, I can cut these
expenses that before used tobring me so much joy.
(29:21):
But because I've entered in adifferent season, I can now put
that money somewhere else.
That still brings me joy as amoney nerd.
So it's like I can do somethingdifferent with this.
It's okay to do that.
It's okay to make those changes.
It's okay to make thoseadjustments.
It's okay to admit that you'rewrong and be like okay, you know
(29:42):
what.
I actually don't need to keepthis money going towards this,
because I can see how much I canpay off on debt.
I can see how much I'm givingthem an interest and I don't
like it.
But if I put $200, you knowtowards this each month, now I'm
paying less interest and thisis what I want to do Exactly.
Shay Cook (30:05):
Exactly, it comes back to self-control, discipline
and then sacrifice.
I'm one I go if they say zeroto 100, I am on one side of the
spectrum Like either I'll if I'mgoing to go in and I'll go I go
all the way in, like I cansacrifice everything, Like I'm
just like that.
Not a lot of people can do thatand I have learned through
almost 20 years of counselingthat people can't not.
Like you said, a lot of peoplecan't do that.
A lot of people need that bephased into it.
Or just like you said, buildingthe fund, building the vice, so
(30:27):
they can still have that.
But then eventually, when theyget really motivated to
accomplish that goal, nowthey're like, ok, maybe I can't
take one hundred dollars fromthis wine or from this traveling
or from these shoes or whateverit may be, and put over here
and to pay off this debt or tosave more and meet whatever
financial goals.
So I see that happen a lot.
But me personally, man, when Iwas in Germany, I was in my 20s
(30:50):
and I had so much credit carddebt it was from college, like
going to the club, a lot andstuff and I just got into the
mindset like it's time to paythis stuff off.
I stopped shopping Like I ain'tbuying no clothes.
I did my own hair.
I didn't get my nails done, Ididn't get my eyebrow, all that.
I stopped all that and I didthat for like two or three years
, like just paying, and I paidall my credit card out Because I
(31:10):
was just like I don't want tokeep living like that.
And so I go through the seasons, like you say, in the stages
where I have not.
I'm not letting up on everagain, because these locs are.
I try to do it during thepandemic and girl, trying to
wash these things and they wereeven shorter then and then
trying to lock.
I was like I'll call myloctician during the pandemic.
(31:33):
I need to meet you.
It's a lot.
We just got to put some maskson.
I paid her an extra hundreddollars, girl, because I was
like you need to come back forme, even though I think she was
still doing people's hair.
But so, but that's like mysacrifice.
It's like I build my budgetaround my lock budget.
And it ain't cheap to be ablack girl rocking locks, as you
(31:53):
know, because these things costa lot of money, but she's
amazing.
But outside of that, yeah, Iain't buy clothes in a while, in
a while and my husband's likebut you choose that Exactly.
I choose that because I haveother goals.
My car is almost 10 years old.
It's been paid off for five,six years.
I'm trying to keep that foranother five, 10 years.
I ain't trying to buy anothercar.
So these are the kind of thingsthat I have sacrificed to make
(32:16):
sure that I can meet other goalsand so teaching that to clients
to overcome that fear ofwhatever they may be going
through and shift their mindsetfrom scarcity to moving into
abundance, which I reallybelieve.
God really wants us to haveabundance and be prosperous, but
, you know, not at the detrimentof your spirit.
Tanisha Allen (32:33):
Yeah for sure, and giving people a glimpse into
that abundance is somethingthat kind of helps them as well.
Like you know, explaining like,okay, how do you feel right now
?
Like you're, you're notcomfortable most of the time
because you're coming to see afinancial counselor.
You know, something isbothering you when it comes to
your finances and your money andit's like we can slip you into
(32:55):
abundance with these differentplans and these different ways.
And what would you do with anextra $100 a month, or an extra
$1,000 a month?
Showing them like, okay, hereis how we can make this happen
and this is what your life willlook like at this point in time.
Talking to them about thesacrifices that they have to
make, in the timeframe thatthey'll have to make those
(33:16):
sacrifices, and making sure thatthey're aware and knowing, like
, okay, this time might be alittle bit uncomfortable for you
if you are making moresacrifices in order to hit this
goal, but how will you feel whenyou accomplish this goal?
You are you know, let's use ittaking a trip to Hawaii and
you're saving for that.
How will it feel to get offthat plane knowing that you are
(33:39):
100% debt-free and you got abuku amount of money in your
savings account to spend inHawaii.
Those are the things that youare 100% debt free and you got a
buku amount of money in yoursavings account to spend in
Hawaii.
Those are the things that youcan then call on when you're
going through the sacrifices andyou're ready to quit and you're
ready to struggle.
What has God put in your heartthat you desire to make happen?
And you know what has God saidto you about kind of getting
(34:02):
through the journey.
So you know kind of goingthrough maybe some of the Psalms
and kind of reading those whereit talks about you know how.
You know you may be frustratedand upset and feeling all of
these emotions because you'renot able to do these things that
you've set up for yourself.
But then you know, seeing howsome of the Psalms will then
flip and we'll talk about thegoodness of God and what he's
(34:23):
blessed you with and all ofthese things.
It's like, okay, that's goingto happen, you're going to get
to that point.
It just takes a little, while ittakes time.
Shay Cook (34:31):
Yeah.
Tanisha Allen (34:32):
Yeah.
So it's like there's plenty ofexamples, especially of the
different people in the Biblethat speak of abundance, and you
know, it's just kind of callingon those and reminding yourself
like, okay, this is what God'splan is for me, this is what
he's put in my heart, this iswhat he's told me.
You know he wants us to do andI know I have to make it happen.
(34:53):
I know I have to go through atrial or I have to go through a
struggle and, truthfully, it'susually the things that you
struggle with the most, and thetrials that you've gone through
that have been really hard, thatmake the reward so much sweeter
.
Shay Cook (35:07):
So much better.
Yeah, and God uses it all foryour good.
And I have to mention, it tookyou a while to get to that.
So you say I got to take threeyears to pay off debt.
It took you five, three, sixyears to accumulate that debt.
So it takes time.
That same when you're losingweight or whatever you're going
through, it takes time.
That same when you lose weightor whatever you're going through
, it takes time.
Once you built up to that pointand now you got to rectify it
(35:27):
or whatever, fix it.
Now it takes time to fix thatand people need to understand
that and I love that analogy.
Or for me, as a fact, you knowit took me 10 years to save for
my 40th birthday trip to Hawaiiand when I went, I went all the
way in girl, and it was sobeautiful not having any debt,
no credit cards, none of that.
It was all cash.
(35:48):
You know I use my credit cardto get my points, but I was able
to pay it off.
So, yeah, it was just abeautiful thing.
And you're right, it's just,it's so, so beautiful when
you're saving and you just likeyou said, it's something that's
really challenging and then thebeautifulness that comes from it
all, you're like it was worthit.
It was worth it.
It was worth it.
Yeah, oh, my God, you know.
(36:09):
And saving isn't about fear,it's about stewardship.
That's the word that I've beenusing a lot in the last few
months because I just realizedGod is very clear that I don't
own any of this, and so why evenhave fear about something I
don't own and that is somethingthat's given to me from him?
So it's like he's like really,you don't own none of this.
And to me it's like, yeah,you're right.
(36:29):
So then there's the whole egoversus spirit thing.
You got going on there.
Tanisha Allen (36:33):
Yeah, it takes a lot of pressure off of you too
when you realize that you don'town anything.
You're just a steward.
I think the way that we couldkind of make this real for a lot
of folks is, when we talk abouthome ownership, we talk about
renting.
There is some relief that comesfrom renting when it comes to
the fact that you're notresponsible for anything.
So we decided to rent here inHawaii.
(36:55):
The fact that if something goeswrong, I can just call a
maintenance person and they cometake care of it.
Oh my God, I miss those daysit's such a relief compared to a
couple years ago, a few yearsago, when we were owning and it
was like not only am I having to, you know, call possibly
insurance or a warranty people,I'm now having to call like a
(37:16):
plumber or an electrician orsomebody.
I have to make sure you knowwhat you're doing.
I have to make sure youactually fix it, that I have to
make sure there's nothing elsethat goes wrong, and then I got
to pay for all of that.
Home ownership is beautiful,but there's also, like this
relief that comes from when youdon't have to do that and when
you don't have to be responsiblefor something.
When we flip that to think ofall of our material things, or
(37:42):
even not material things.
I absolutely love and adore myson, but he's not mine, he's
mine because he came from mybody but, he belongs to God.
So I am stewarding him in hislife while God has given me him
for however long that is.
It's my responsibility tosteward him in the way that God
(38:05):
wants him to be stewarded.
It takes a lot of pressure offbecause I don't have to be
perfect because I know whateverGod's will for my son is is his
will and it's going to happenand I just ask that God help me
live in that.
Will you know?
When it comes to owning a home,or you know you were talking
about like cars I bought my carin 2009.
(38:26):
I still have my car.
It's going to be with me untilthe wheels fall off.
And we've had, like, somerecent car issues and we have
really had to face the fact that, like, because both of our cars
have been paid off for a verylong time, since 15, when we
built our house, and we reallyhad to face the fact that, like
because both of our cars havebeen paid off for a very long
time, since 15, when we builtour house and we were faced with
(38:48):
the fact that, like, not onlywould we potentially have to buy
a new car, we might have to buya new car over here in Hawaii.
Shay Cook (38:56):
Yes, oh, my God.
Tanisha Allen (38:58):
I was just like I don't want to do it.
God, whatever you got planned,I'm gonna need you to fix this,
because this is not happening.
And then, you know, I kind ofwalked through what I had to
walk through, right, like okay,god, sorry, whatever you have
planned, I'm here for it.
Like it's not, like we can'tafford a car if you need to get
one, even here in Hawaii.
(39:19):
Like you've blessed us to beable to do that.
Whatever your plan is with this, let it happen Right Then
miraculously, because that'swhat it was.
You know, whatever happenedwith the car, not only were they
able to fix it, but it wascovered by the car manufacturer.
Oh, wow.
For whatever reason, like it.
Just I was like okay, god,thank you.
Shay Cook (39:41):
Yes, amen.
Tanisha Allen (39:43):
Our responsibility was stewarding
the car to make sure we weretaking care of the car and doing
the oil changes and all of that.
And then this thing happened andI just knew it was.
The engine had seized up.
So I knew.
I was just like.
I knew we were going to have toget a new car and God was like
no, I'm going to take care of it.
Like you've surrendered it tome, because it makes them
surrendering.
You go through the stress, theplanning, and then I'm like why
(40:05):
am I doing any of this?
God, whatever you need tohappen, allow it to happen.
And then he took care of it.
It's the reminder of evensomething as simple as a car is
not mine.
God gifted this to me.
I'm supposed to be a goodsteward and therefore he will
allow whatever to happen to thatcar.
(40:25):
If we need a new car, he'sgoing to gift me with another
one.
And I don't want to negate thefact that we also have to work
hard for it, right?
So, like I know that we'veworked hard for the money that
we had to put into the house, weworked hard for the money that
we continue to put in thesavings, we work hard for all of
that, but we're doing it forGod's glory and as long as we
(40:48):
are stewarding our work andstewarding our money and all of
that God is going to allow us tobe able to steward other things
and so much more, and it's theBible where it talks about.
You know, as long as we takecare of the little, he'll bless
us with more.
So yeah, exactly exactly.
Shay Cook (41:02):
As long as we take care of the little, he'll bless
us with more Exactly, Exactly.
I love that.
Thank you for sharing that.
You know, in Isaiah 41.10, itsays so do not fear, for I am
with you.
Do not be dismayed, for I amyour God.
I will strengthen you and helpyou, and I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.
So God got us y'all.
You just got to believe and beobedient and surrender and be a
(41:25):
good steward, like Tanisha and Iare talking about here.
This was great, Tanisha.
Any last thoughts?
Tanisha Allen (41:31):
Just continue to rely on God for everything.
I mean financially, family-wise, relationally, all of those
things.
God is not surprised byanything that we deal with or
that we go through, and soacknowledge your fear, take your
fear to him and talk to himabout it, and you know be real.
(41:53):
Like you know, I'm experiencingthis, I'm going through this,
I'm scared, I'm terrified orwhatever, and God will bring you
comfort.
And not only will he bring youcomfort.
I'm a firm believer that he'llturn your fear into a fear of
God and switch the meaning ofthat word into reverence.
Reverence yes, I love that so ifwe're able to, you know, take
(42:15):
the energy that we're puttinginto fear of whatever and switch
it to a reverence and a fearfor God, we will truly feel his
comfort and I'm a believer thatwe'll feel it tangibly as well.
So, like you'll start to feelthat peace and you know all of
those things that are oppositeof the anxiety and the panic for
being afraid of things here onearth.
Shay Cook (42:35):
Yeah, ditto that part .
That's exactly right, I know,and I need to practice that more
.
But I know, when I get up and Ispend time with God first and
then read the word anddevotionals and praise him
throughout the day, it's just adifferent vibe in my day versus
(42:58):
if I try to do this on my own.
I mean, I'm worried, I'm liketight, I'm just like ready to
fight, you know, and it's likeI'm like.
Tanisha Allen (43:02):
Why, like I got you?
Why are you afraid you know youserve?
He waits for us, like I got you.
Why are you afraid you know youserve an eye for us?
He does Like we do go throughthose moments and we're like
trying to do it on our own.
He's just waiting.
He's like I'm still here.
When you're ready, I will stillbe here.
Shay Cook (43:11):
He's like for me it was Shay though.
He's like child, I don't toldyou.
What is wrong with you?
No, but he still loves me andcomes through.
Thank you, Tanisha, for joiningus.
I look forward to recordingmore episodes with you in the
future and I hope everyone has agreat day.
See you soon.
Bye y'all.
Bye.
(43:32):
A big thank you for listeningto this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Hit that subscribe button orfollow the podcast, and please
feel free to leave us a review.
For the latest Yahweh's Moneycontent, visit us at Crusaders
4Change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
(43:56):
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired and remember it'salways better Yahweh's way.
Be able to enjoy the parts of pregnancy that as
being an older, especially Blackwoman being pregnant for the
first time there were so manydifferent stressors and so many
different things that put a lotof, honestly, fear in my heart,
and being able to have that nestegg and do things.
Like you know, get massages.
Do acupuncture change how wereceived care from the military
(00:24):
caring for us to a midwife aBlack?
Midwife?
! oh amen, amen, taking care ofme and then, you know, helping
me give birth, and the team thatwe were able to hire.
I would not have been able todo any of that if we hadn't sold
our house and sold it for theamount of money that God had
allowed us to sell it for.
That's crazy.
Sold it for the amount of moneythat God had allowed us to sell
it for.
That's crazy.
Shay Cook (00:45):
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and
money come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an accreditedfinancial counselor and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
(01:07):
saving, and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Hey everyone, welcome back toanother episode of Yahweh's
Money.
Today, we're going to be talkingabout faith over fear.
What will 2025 bring?
This year has already beencrazy, and I'm just excited to
see what God has in store,because we really don't have any
(01:28):
control over what's going on.
So in this episode, we're goingto talk about, like I said,
faith over fear.
Fear can hold us back from thelife God has planned for us, but
, as 2 Timothy 1-7 reminds us,for God has not given us a
spirit of fear, but a power andof love and a sound mind.
(01:48):
Today we're talking about howfaith over fear can transform
your finances, help build awonderful career and guide your
personal growth and beyond.
So stop letting fear controlyour decisions and start
trusting God's plan for yourlife.
So now I'm going to introducethe amazing Tanisha.
A friend, a mentee, FINRAFoundation military spouse,
(02:11):
fellow child of God, mostimportantly, a new mama, a wife,
an accredited financialcounselor.
She's just a wonderful, smart,amazing child of God, woman
outspoken.
I just love her and welcomeTanisha Allen.
Oh, thank you.
Tanisha Allen (02:27):
I love you too.
I'm excited to be here.
It's been a long time, so I'mhappy to be here with you.
Shay Cook (02:33):
It's been a long time .
You were in our first seasonand your episode is still one of
the most downloaded episodes, Ihave to say.
I know you're like one of ourcelebrities, and so I'm really
excited to have you back on theshow.
Tell us more about you.
Tanisha Allen (02:48):
Oh, okay.
So, like you said, first andforemost I am a child of God, a
follower of Christ.
That is something that leads mywhole life.
Honestly, my next bestaccomplishment is I am a new
mama.
Had my son last year and it wasone of the best things that
I've ever done outside offollowing Christ.
He is my whole heart on theoutside, so just loving to death
(03:10):
.
And then you said an accreditedfinancial counselor.
So last time I was just acandidate.
Yes, I'm an accreditedfinancial counselor.
And I'm, like you said, a wife,a military spouse.
I think those are all of thethings that I'm most proud of
yeah, and she should be.
Shay Cook (03:29):
I mean, serving God is just wonderful and then
having those kids, that God Ialways told my daughter since
she was born she is the bestthing ever and the best blessing
and just my favorite girl inthe whole wide world and I've
been telling her that since shewas a little girl.
And even at 24, when she'd geton my nerves, I'd be like I
still love you.
Okay, even though I miss athree-year-old Alana, because
she was just so adorable, soadorable I still got pictures of
(03:51):
the three-year-old Alana allaround my bedroom.
She was just so cute.
She's so cute now, but sheactually kept her room clean
when she was three.
Now that's a good start.
So how did we meet each other?
Let's talk about how we meteach other.
Tanisha Allen (04:07):
Wow, I know right .
I think it was my first yearattending a FINRA symposium, if
I'm not mistaken.
Shay Cook (04:12):
Yeah, what was it?
AFCPE symposium, and then youhad, yeah, a reception.
Tanisha Allen (04:18):
You sent me a message to reach out because
there was some a little bit ofdrama, and you reached out in
order to see what was going onand what I needed, and you were
amazing with handling that.
And then it was like okay, well, you're also a military spouse,
you're also a woman of faith,you have your own business.
(04:40):
You, you were who I wanted tobe years ahead of me, and I was
just like I need her, and so westarted a mentor-mentee
relationship.
It was like just keepingcontact every so often, and that
was in 2020.
Shay Cook (04:58):
And I'd known that so long ago.
Tanisha Allen (05:01):
Yeah, that was five years ago.
That's crazy, yeah.
Shay Cook (05:05):
And I remember them asking me to reach out to you
and I was more than happy tobecause I just love the military
spouse community.
And then, of course, like yousaid, to find out you're a woman
of God and the pure person ofcolor, a black woman I mean,
come on, black girl magic.
And so, just talking to you,and we met like every month for
those first few years, justgetting to know each other and
honestly, I learned so much fromyou.
(05:26):
You know I love when you mentorsomebody and they become your
mentee.
You eventually may become theirmentee and then they mentor you
.
So I learned a lot.
You were just really knew theword of God and I was just so
proud of you having your babyboy and staying the course of
motherhood and even being a wife, which is not always easy.
I know I've been married for along time and so I looked
(05:48):
forward to our calls, because Iremember our calls being like
six, seven at night and I feltlike it was a time where I
didn't have to like take notesand it was just be in this
moment with you.
It was just a blessing becauseyour light is so bright and so I
really just enjoyed you.
Tanisha Allen (06:05):
Yeah, I think I was just mirroring what I was
receiving.
Aw thank you.
Yeah, our friendship hasblessed me tremendously.
Like every time we catch up,and even our most recent
conversation of after a gap,because I am in the throes of
motherhood right now, it waslike there was no time at all.
No time at all, god is good.
Shay Cook (06:26):
He love how he bring us together.
It's all him.
It's all him.
He gets all the credit.
So well, like I said in ourlast episode, we got a new
section now of our show where wedo these rapid fire questions
and I love.
So we're going to get intothese questions and then we'll
get into topic.
So let's go.
What's one financial risk youtook that paid off?
Tanisha Allen (06:46):
It was for sure, selling our home.
So we built our first home inFlorida and we built it in 2015.
And when we PCS and had toleave Florida, the question was
do we keep our house and rent itout or do we sell it?
It was 2022.
So it was like, right, when themarket was just changing, the
(07:09):
market had gotten to a pointwhere it was like you can sell
your house and almost makedouble.
Then it was like we werestarting to see a turn where it
was like, okay, starting to getback normal, but interest rates
were crazy, so a lot of peopleweren't really buying.
So like, okay, what, what do wedo?
But we moved to Hawaii and we Ireally knew that managing a
property this far away probablywasn't the best choice, so we
(07:33):
decided to sell it.
And then the way that God workedin that was phenomenal and I
was nervous and I was scared.
I didn't think we were gonnamake any money.
I thought we were gonna losemoney and I was scared.
I didn't think we were going tomake any money.
I thought we were going to losemoney and God was like no, I
got you.
You are going to be abundantlyblessed and we are still being
blessed by that money.
It helped us transition toHawaii, which is one of the
(07:55):
which is the highest cost ofliving state in the United
States, and we have beencomfortable.
Do not discount the fact thatwe have been extremely blessed
since we've been here and thatmoney has allowed me to just be
able to get over here and nothave any worries.
Pcsing most of the time isexpensive.
Pcsing to Hawaii is crazy.
(08:18):
Your hotel stays are $300, $400a night.
We couldn't get into housingfor over 60 days, so we were in
a hotel for over two months, soyou do the math on that, and so
it was very expensive.
And we had that nest egg thatwe could fall back on, because
the military doesn't give youany money up front.
(08:39):
Well, they give you like alittle bit of money up front,
but it's nowhere near enough,yeah, and you got to go through
so many hoops to even get themoney paid back.
And you don't get the fullamount, it's just it's.
It was a lot and I was nervousand I was running the numbers
almost every day Like how dopeople survive this?
Yeah, so that nest egg allowedus to do that comfortably.
(09:09):
It allowed us to just be ableto get here and enjoy Hawaii.
It allowed me to be able todecide that I didn't want to
work for another employer at thetime which I was still doing.
moving to Hawaii, I decided toyou know what I'm going to go
ahead and just quit and enjoyour time here in Hawaii.
And then it allowed me to beable to enjoy my pregnancy,
which happened the day after Iresigned my job.
Shay Cook (09:30):
I remember that man.
That was crazy.
Look how God works.
Tanisha Allen (09:36):
But be able to enjoy the parts of pregnancy
that as being an older,especially Black woman being
pregnant for the first timethere were so many different
stressors and so many differentthings that put a lot of,
honestly, fear in my heart andbeing able to have that nest egg
and do things.
Like you know, get massages.
Do acupuncture change how wereceived care from the military
(09:59):
caring for us to a midwife, aBlack?
Shay Cook (10:03):
midwife.
Tanisha Allen (10:03):
Amen, amen, taking care of me and then, you
know, helping me give birth, andthe team that we were able to
hire.
I would not have been able todo any of that if we hadn't sold
our house and sold it for theamount of money that God had
allowed us to sell it for.
That's crazy, so yeah, so thatwas my biggest risk.
That is still paying off tothis day.
Shay Cook (10:24):
So, thank God for it.
I so that's my.
That was my biggest risk.
Yeah, still paying off to thisday.
So, yeah, thank God for it.
I love that.
Wow, that's so great.
That's a lot too, because a lotof women you know they talk
about how black maternal deathis so high and people don't
advocate for us the doctors andstuff.
So you being able to have that,you know, have the money to
take care of you, the self-careand all that lowered your risk.
Tanisha Allen (10:45):
It did because we should not have been able to
have the birth that we had.
I was actively told very earlyon in pregnancy that I was not
going to be able to give birththe way that I wanted to give
birth.
You know I stayed with themilitary hospital and the
doctors all the way up and soprobably, like I think, my last
appointment with them was maybeat 36 weeks and I got my midwife
earlier on, like I think,before I even hit 20 weeks and I
(11:08):
was just gonna do both.
It helps to have an advocate,have somebody in your corner,
yeah.
But the closer we got, god waslike nope, you were not giving
birth with these doctors.
Yeah, this is the birth that Iwant you to have and you're
gonna have it, and I had it andhad to pay for it out of pocket
but, but it was well worth it.
Shay Cook (11:26):
So yeah.
So not only did you have the,the fine and the money to take
care of, you also were obedient,because some of us have the
money sitting in account andwe're like, okay, lord, I don't
want to do that.
So, and it'd be like, man, Igive you all the resources and
tools you need and you're nottaking heat.
Wow, congratulations for beingobedient, cause a lot of us
don't be that way and that'swhere I.
My goal is for this year isobedience, cause my financial
(11:48):
risk was taking out uh, you know, getting support and debt or a
loan for the business.
So it's still, I'm stillwaiting for it to pay off.
So there's a financial riskthat I took and I'm like, lord,
I questioned that over and overand over, cause when everybody
was getting the PPP loan, likeand I over and over and over,
because when everybody wasgetting the PPP loan, like I was
qualified, I'm like, I'm notdoing it, not doing it.
And then somebody was like youneed nope, I'm not doing that,
not doing, I don't want no debt.
(12:08):
And my guy's like if you wantto take my business not my Shea,
but my guy's business to thenext level, you need financing,
you need money and you'reresponsible and guess what?
Every month and hopefully I'llpay it off way sooner than I
have to.
And you know, but I'm stillwaiting for it to be paid off.
But guys like it's paying offshit.
You just not seeing it.
So if fear wasn't a factor,what's one thing you would do
(12:36):
with your money today?
Tanisha Allen (12:37):
I will build a family compound.
Shay Cook (12:39):
Oh, yes, I love that idea.
Tanisha Allen (12:41):
Yeah, I will build a family compound.
Being in my first year ofmotherhood, my family has showed
up in ways that I was notexpecting, especially because we
are all the way across theocean.
It made me realize howimportant community is and how
important family is.
While I've always been somebodythat's like I don't want
anybody in my space, like I canbarely survive living with Chris
, it has been such a blessing tohave my family in and out for
(13:04):
the past year.
You know I've always had adream of like if we could at
least live like super close thatwould be great Like or like in
a multi-generational home.
that would be great.
But if I didn't have to worryabout money, I would for sure
build a family compound where weall have our own houses but
that I can let my son just outthe door and know like he's.
(13:26):
I'm obviously gonna keep an eyeon him still, but like being
able to run down the street tomy house and know that he's safe
.
My parents wanna come over fordinner or somebody needs to
borrow some eggs, like I.
Just I love that, and so if Ididn't have to worry about money
, that would be it.
It's on my dream board for meto continue to pray over and
(13:47):
allow God to hopefully make ithappen if it's his will.
Shay Cook (13:49):
And we need more Black-owned and Brown-owned
communities like that that areself-sustaining too, not only
like a community compound whereyour family's together, but then
we own the grocery stores andthe doctors and dentist offices
and all that.
That would be great.
I mean, people always go backto like Black Wall Street, but,
yeah, similar to that inOklahoma, which were in so many
other places other than Oklahoma.
That's one of the famous ones.
(14:10):
But we need more of those kindof Black-owned.
I know compounds or locationswhere my dad's from in Pocomoke
City area.
When I go down there, most ofthe people and his mom's side
and his dad's side own the land.
They own that, like most peopleknow my family down there,
because that's what they had todo after slavery is come
together and tend to the landand take care of everything, and
(14:32):
they still own that, and Ithink that's a beautiful thing.
I was just gonna say I want togift that to future generations.
Yes, yes, pass that legacy on.
I love that.
Yeah, fear wasn't a factor forme.
I don't know.
The first thing that came tomind is I would travel more and
just take a break.
I would put enough money intothe business for it to continue
to grow, to continue to supportthe communities that we do, but
then be able to slow my behinddown, because that's what my mom
(14:55):
I was gonna say my mama, butit's really my husband, my
daughter, like you, work toomuch, but the thing is I like to
work, but I also like to havefun, and I haven't been having
as much fun and self-care as Ishould.
So I would definitely spendmore time with God and doing
that kind of thing.
All right, last rapid firequestion what's your favorite
Bible verse about trusting God?
Tanisha Allen (15:17):
It's not a verse, but it's Psalm 19.
So it's not super, super longand I'm probably not going to
read it all because.
Shay Cook (15:25):
You can't go ahead, girl.
We need that.
Yeah, go ahead.
Tanisha Allen (15:28):
Sure, okay.
The heavens declare the gloryof God.
The skies proclaim the work ofhis hands.
Day after day, they pour forthspeech.
Night after night, they revealknowledge.
They have no speech.
They use no words.
No sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out intoall the earth, their words to
the ends of the world.
In the heavens, god has pitcheda tent for the sun.
(15:49):
It is like a bridegroom comingout of his chamber, like a
champion rejoicing to run hiscourse.
It rises at one end of theheavens and make it circuits to
the other.
Nothing is deprived of itswarmth.
The law of the Lord is perfect,refreshing the soul.
The statues of the Lord aretrustworthy, making wise the
simple.
The precepts of the Lord areright, giving joy to the heart.
(16:10):
The commands of the Lord areradiant, giving light to the
eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,enduring forever.
The degrees of the Lord arefirm and all of them are
righteous.
They are more precious thangold, than much pure gold.
They are sweeter than honey,than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warnedAmen.
Transgression.
(16:45):
May these words of my mouth andthis meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight.
Lord, my rock and my redeemer,amen.
And the reason that verse isthe one that sticks out for me
as far as about trusting God andlike fear right, is because and
this is something that I'vereally grasped since coming to
Hawaii the beginning of thatchapter talks a lot about how
(17:05):
nature shows us God and whatnature talks about to us about
God.
It's also one of the versesthat they use when people talk
about like if somebody has neverbeen evangelized or talked to
about God, how do they know thatGod is real?
It's because I can look out mywindow right now and see
mountains and trees and the skyand this tells me about God.
(17:29):
I see this every single day andall that's happening in the
world and I sit there and I'mlike I don't have to worry about
breathing, I don't have toworry about food, because of all
that God provides us.
The way that this world works isall because of God and how God
has given us this planet and itallows us to just do things that
(17:50):
we don't have to think aboutanymore.
So that helps me trust God.
And then also the fact thatwhat it talks about when it
talks about his word and I cango to the Bible and I can go to
his word and I can constantly bereminded of what God has done
for his people, what God plansto do for his people, and I know
that I don't have to have anyfear at all, as we're,
(18:11):
especially here in this country,going through so many different
things.
And we're kind of I feel like Ihear every other day like are we
dealing with the Antichrist?
Shay Cook (18:20):
Yes, Like what are we dealing with?
Tanisha Allen (18:24):
And I have to remind myself constantly I don't
have to worry because God hadall of this planned out.
He knew all of this was goingto happen and, as crazy as it is
now, it is going to get worse.
My job is to stay into God'sword, to stay plugged into Jesus
, to stay plugged into the HolySpirit and knowing that God has
all of this taken care of, andand making sure that my son
(18:46):
grows up knowing who he cancount on and where he should go,
and not really counting on whatthe country or the world has
told us we need to focus on,because the goal is to be
distracted right now, and that'snot what God has given us as
our goal, not at all, Not at all.
Shay Cook (19:08):
The focus on him, ourselves and our families and
our community.
That's it, yeah, and it seemslike the word every time I see a
devotion.
Now it comes back.
God has overcome the world.
Y'all Like he is.
You just stay close to him,stay in a line with him.
You know, and I love that withthe beauty of nature.
I remember when I went toHawaii the best trip ever, 2018,
I turned, it was for my 40thbirthday.
(19:28):
That place is beyond gorgeous,termed it for my 40th birthday.
That place is beyond gorgeous.
It's like heaven on earth to me, and I know there's other
places around the world are justas beautiful or if not more.
But man, Hawaii just spoke tome and I know a lot of people
say it, but it's so true.
When you get into the ocean man, something about connecting
with God and his body of waterit's just like man.
(19:48):
It's so massive and it's justso beautiful and even just the
sound of it it shows power andGod, yeah, but Hawaii, man, lush
, beautiful, just so gorgeous sogorgeous.
But you're right.
Just looking outside and seeinga bird or seeing flowers, or
like I got all these flowersgrowing around in my house and
I'm like, oh my God, this is allGod.
You know, this is all God.
(20:10):
Yes, and for me, my favoriteBible verses, one of the famous
ones, another Psalm of poemsfrom the Psalms is Psalm 4610.
So be still and know I am God.
And it's really a call to trustin God and find peace in his
present, even when life ischaotic.
And because, I'm just chaotic bynature, a little crazy, a
(20:30):
little touch.
You know I have to remindmyself to be still.
So, literally in my office,here, in my meditation room, in
my foyer, I like have that verseall around my house because I
need to be reminded, justbecause I'm a little just all
over the place, that I have tobe still and rooted in God.
Staying rooted in him is veryimportant.
Tanisha Allen (20:51):
It is.
Shay Cook (20:51):
So we could talk about this all day.
That was supposed to be rapidfire, but that was not no rapid
fire, but that's fine, becauseGod is in the room.
Y'all.
Let's talk about faith andfinances from either the careers
perspective, personal growthperspective or finances.
Honestly, I want to focus onthe financial piece because I
know that people and I'm sure,as you worked with clients as an
(21:12):
AFC and accredited financialcounselor and I do as well that
people are scared to invest,especially in this time.
I'm like people are pullingtheir money out because they're
just scared.
What am I having with the banks?
They're scared to tithe becausethey're like I got to save for
my family, or they're justoverall scared.
There's shame, there's stigmaall around money.
I mean, how do we deal withthis from the faith and the
finances piece when people outhere are just scared?
(21:35):
Denisha.
Tanisha Allen (21:36):
I think first and foremost is to acknowledge
their fear and let them knowlike fear is going to happen.
Right, I realize that thereason God tells us over and
over again in his word not tofear or do not be afraid is
because it's expected it isexpected.
It's going to happen.
We need to now figure out, okay, why is it happening?
(21:59):
And then, what can we do toovercome it?
Like, what is it that we can doto kind of remind us that we
don't need to be afraid?
It's the reminders of be stilland know around the house.
That way, you know, the secondyou look up, you see that and
it's like, okay, I know thatthis is God talking to me, this
is God reminding me of this, andthis is why, you know, God
tells us to put his word on thedoorframes and everywhere.
(22:22):
Right, Because we need thoseconstant reminders.
You know, from a financialstandpoint, it's also like being
aware of your money, knowingwhat you have coming in and what
you have going out.
If you have a budget thatyou're comfortable with and if
you, you know, consistentlyreview your goals and your plan
(22:43):
financially, then you willprovide yourself with a little
bit more comfort.
Right, You're not shocked bywhat's happening.
I know a lot of times what Iwould see from clients as we're
walking through their bankstatements or what they actually
spend.
The fear or the anxiousness isbecause they have no clue what's
happening.
(23:04):
And I'm sitting there like youswiped your card, you put in
your debit card information,your credit card information.
Like you started all of thesetransactions somehow some way.
You may not remember whathappened, but you initiated this
and because of that we reallyshouldn't be surprised.
But I've noticed that a lot ofpeople are surprised by what
(23:24):
they're spending, and the way tofix that is reviewing it,
looking it over, like makingsure you're comfortable.
You know exactly how much moneyyou have coming in.
You know exactly how much moneyyou go out and then, even if
something happens right, likeyou were talking about, as far
as, like, the stock market andpeople want to pull their money
out, you can make an informeddecision because you know where
(23:45):
you stand.
You know not knowing where youstand and then making a decision
out of fear could mess you upand put you in a worse situation
than you could have ever beenin if you just kind of like took
a step back.
I mean review what's happeningand what's going on, but knowing
what you, what you're doingwith your money right now and
where you are reviewing yourgoals and then making informed
(24:05):
decisions, are my top three.
Shay Cook (24:09):
Yeah, I agree with that.
And just going back whereyou're saying, acknowledging
that we're human, this is flesh.
This flesh is all jacked up onmany different levels, right,
and that's okay.
Like you said, it says in theword, over and over and over do
not be afraid.
Because, god knows, that's anemotion that we will feel as
humans from the time you're born.
When you come out of the womb,you you're like, oh my god, what
(24:37):
is this?
I want to go back in right, goback in that and build that, the
sack of my mother together, andthen you know, the cold hits
you and all that, and then calmdown.
But then, as you go throughlife, there's going to be fear,
there's gonna.
You're gonna be afraid andthat's okay.
You know, let's not, let's justbe real, it's okay.
You're gonna be afraid.
How you deal with it?
yeah what do you do with thatfear?
Yeah, you just cower it up oryou just be like or I'm just
going to spend all my moneybecause tomorrow's not promised
which it's not but you stillneed to prepare for tomorrow.
(24:58):
So you got to find that balancebecause it can be hard and I
know, like you said, so manyclients.
They do not know what's comingin, what's going out.
They out here buying a lot offood, a lot of drinking, a lot
of marijuana, a lot of stuff.
Because fear take over, youstart doing some crazy stuff.
Yeah, and I try not to shame myclients when they are like well,
I want to build in, you know,certain things in my budget
(25:19):
because you know it's how I getthrough the day.
I ain't mad at you If you haveto have your wine or your drink
or your marijuana or whatever,as long as it's not no ecstasy
or cocaine I mean, they ain'ttelling me that but and if they
are, hey, to each his own.
As long as you ain't going towork drunk and you ain't putting
nobody else at risk, I don't.
I'm not condoning that, right,but try not to have that shame.
(25:39):
You know no judgment zone,right, and that's what we're
taught as AFCs Like there's nojudgment.
You know, let's try to make itwork for you.
Everybody's different, but thereis some real fear going on
before the election, afterelection, just just in life.
It's just, I mean, and I alwaysblame it on social media,
because everybody's on there andtrying to keep up with the
Joneses, the Kardashians, theCarters, and they're just
(26:01):
struggling because, you know,and then they're like I'm not
having fear of looking likesomebody else, I don't look good
enough, because, no, stop thecomparison Like that's all leads
to more fear and anxiety andall the other crap that we don't
need to be feeling.
But I'm there, I know how thatfeels.
Tanisha Allen (26:17):
Yeah, yeah, and that's the thing I mean.
I feel like I've seen moresuccess when we build into our
clients the things that they areworried about us cutting right.
Like obviously we know, likethere's usually like one like
you have to cut out everythingextra.
Anything that brings youpleasure has to go right, and
it's like you got to suffer fora couple of years in order to
(26:40):
pay off your debt or save andall this stuff.
And we see the fail rate withthat right.
Like a lot of people don'tsucceed with that plan, whereas
what I've seen people succeedwith is okay, you say that you
like to have a glass of wineevery night before you go to bed
.
Okay, let's figure out how mucha bottle is that you like to
buy.
(27:00):
Let's put that in your budgetso you know exactly how much
you're spending, and then gofrom there and then if you spend
over that, then we have to havea conversation.
But at least you know.
Okay, this is something that Iwant my money to go towards, and
you're also choosing to do that, Right?
So you're you're also sayinglike I don't know how much wine
costs, because I haven't had anyin like over a year.
Shay Cook (27:23):
It could be anywhere from like ten dollar bottle to
hundreds of dollars.
Tanisha Allen (27:27):
If you say, ok, I want to buy, let's say, $200 of
wine every month, you areacknowledging that you're
deciding to take that $200 andthen get on this for this month
instead of putting that $200 insavings instead.
Can't tell you, as yourfinancial counselor, that that's
the wrong decision to make.
(27:54):
I don't know if that one bottleof wine or that glass of wine
every night is what's saving youor kind of pushing you into the
next hour or pushing next dayto allow you to be able to get
through the day or get throughthe night or whatever, and I
can't take that away from you.
But as long as you are okay andyou've decided like I'm making
(28:14):
this choice and you know, I'veseen clients where they've made
that choice for a couple ofweeks or a couple months and
then they realize that they'renot getting where they want to
be with their goal and guesswhat?
They cut out Whatever thatself-care item was or that vice
was for a little bit.
It's like oh, I can hold off onit.
For a couple of months I'vedone that myself where it's like
(28:37):
I had gotten in the habit ofgetting my nails done every so
often and my hair done every sooften and really built this
self-care bubble for myself towhere I was truly taking care of
myself and I was enjoying thesethings.
Then, when it came time to justreally like, go over some goals,
especially towards the end ofmy pregnancy of, like, okay, we
(28:58):
need to start shifting somemoney around because once the
baby is born, I'm going to wantto have investments for him.
I'm going to want to have asavings account for him.
You know what's the easiest wayto get this money?
And for me it was didn't evenhave a second thought, like I
don't need to get my nails done,I invested into sister locks as
soon as I could and I was justlike these, I can cut these
expenses that before used tobring me so much joy.
(29:21):
But because I've entered in adifferent season, I can now put
that money somewhere else.
That still brings me joy as amoney nerd.
So it's like I can do somethingdifferent with this.
It's okay to do that.
It's okay to make those changes.
It's okay to make thoseadjustments.
It's okay to admit that you'rewrong and be like okay, you know
(29:42):
what.
I actually don't need to keepthis money going towards this,
because I can see how much I canpay off on debt.
I can see how much I'm givingthem an interest and I don't
like it.
But if I put $200, you knowtowards this each month, now I'm
paying less interest and thisis what I want to do Exactly.
Shay Cook (30:05):
Exactly, it comes back to self-control, discipline
and then sacrifice.
I'm one I go if they say zeroto 100, I am on one side of the
spectrum Like either I'll if I'mgoing to go in and I'll go I go
all the way in, like I cansacrifice everything, Like I'm
just like that.
Not a lot of people can do thatand I have learned through
almost 20 years of counselingthat people can't not.
Like you said, a lot of peoplecan't do that.
A lot of people need that bephased into it.
Or just like you said, buildingthe fund, building the vice, so
(30:27):
they can still have that.
But then eventually, when theyget really motivated to
accomplish that goal, nowthey're like, ok, maybe I can't
take one hundred dollars fromthis wine or from this traveling
or from these shoes or whateverit may be, and put over here
and to pay off this debt or tosave more and meet whatever
financial goals.
So I see that happen a lot.
But me personally, man, when Iwas in Germany, I was in my 20s
(30:50):
and I had so much credit carddebt it was from college, like
going to the club, a lot andstuff and I just got into the
mindset like it's time to paythis stuff off.
I stopped shopping Like I ain'tbuying no clothes.
I did my own hair.
I didn't get my nails done, Ididn't get my eyebrow, all that.
I stopped all that and I didthat for like two or three years
, like just paying, and I paidall my credit card out Because I
(31:10):
was just like I don't want tokeep living like that.
And so I go through the seasons, like you say, in the stages
where I have not.
I'm not letting up on everagain, because these locs are.
I try to do it during thepandemic and girl, trying to
wash these things and they wereeven shorter then and then
trying to lock.
I was like I'll call myloctician during the pandemic.
(31:33):
I need to meet you.
It's a lot.
We just got to put some maskson.
I paid her an extra hundreddollars, girl, because I was
like you need to come back forme, even though I think she was
still doing people's hair.
But so, but that's like mysacrifice.
It's like I build my budgetaround my lock budget.
And it ain't cheap to be ablack girl rocking locks, as you
(31:53):
know, because these things costa lot of money, but she's
amazing.
But outside of that, yeah, Iain't buy clothes in a while, in
a while and my husband's likebut you choose that Exactly.
I choose that because I haveother goals.
My car is almost 10 years old.
It's been paid off for five,six years.
I'm trying to keep that foranother five, 10 years.
I ain't trying to buy anothercar.
So these are the kind of thingsthat I have sacrificed to make
(32:16):
sure that I can meet other goalsand so teaching that to clients
to overcome that fear ofwhatever they may be going
through and shift their mindsetfrom scarcity to moving into
abundance, which I reallybelieve.
God really wants us to haveabundance and be prosperous, but
, you know, not at the detrimentof your spirit.
Tanisha Allen (32:33):
Yeah for sure, and giving people a glimpse into
that abundance is somethingthat kind of helps them as well.
Like you know, explaining like,okay, how do you feel right now
?
Like you're, you're notcomfortable most of the time
because you're coming to see afinancial counselor.
You know, something isbothering you when it comes to
your finances and your money andit's like we can slip you into
(32:55):
abundance with these differentplans and these different ways.
And what would you do with anextra $100 a month, or an extra
$1,000 a month?
Showing them like, okay, hereis how we can make this happen
and this is what your life willlook like at this point in time.
Talking to them about thesacrifices that they have to
make, in the timeframe thatthey'll have to make those
(33:16):
sacrifices, and making sure thatthey're aware and knowing, like
, okay, this time might be alittle bit uncomfortable for you
if you are making moresacrifices in order to hit this
goal, but how will you feel whenyou accomplish this goal?
You are you know, let's use ittaking a trip to Hawaii and
you're saving for that.
How will it feel to get offthat plane knowing that you are
(33:39):
100% debt-free and you got abuku amount of money in your
savings account to spend inHawaii.
Those are the things that youare 100% debt free and you got a
buku amount of money in yoursavings account to spend in
Hawaii.
Those are the things that youcan then call on when you're
going through the sacrifices andyou're ready to quit and you're
ready to struggle.
What has God put in your heartthat you desire to make happen?
And you know what has God saidto you about kind of getting
(34:02):
through the journey.
So you know kind of goingthrough maybe some of the Psalms
and kind of reading those whereit talks about you know how.
You know you may be frustratedand upset and feeling all of
these emotions because you'renot able to do these things that
you've set up for yourself.
But then you know, seeing howsome of the Psalms will then
flip and we'll talk about thegoodness of God and what he's
(34:23):
blessed you with and all ofthese things.
It's like, okay, that's goingto happen, you're going to get
to that point.
It just takes a little, while ittakes time.
Shay Cook (34:31):
Yeah.
Tanisha Allen (34:32):
Yeah.
So it's like there's plenty ofexamples, especially of the
different people in the Biblethat speak of abundance, and you
know, it's just kind of callingon those and reminding yourself
like, okay, this is what God'splan is for me, this is what
he's put in my heart, this iswhat he's told me.
You know he wants us to do andI know I have to make it happen.
(34:53):
I know I have to go through atrial or I have to go through a
struggle and, truthfully, it'susually the things that you
struggle with the most, and thetrials that you've gone through
that have been really hard, thatmake the reward so much sweeter
.
Shay Cook (35:07):
So much better.
Yeah, and God uses it all foryour good.
And I have to mention, it tookyou a while to get to that.
So you say I got to take threeyears to pay off debt.
It took you five, three, sixyears to accumulate that debt.
So it takes time.
That same when you're losingweight or whatever you're going
through, it takes time.
That same when you lose weightor whatever you're going through
, it takes time.
Once you built up to that pointand now you got to rectify it
(35:27):
or whatever, fix it.
Now it takes time to fix thatand people need to understand
that and I love that analogy.
Or for me, as a fact, you knowit took me 10 years to save for
my 40th birthday trip to Hawaiiand when I went, I went all the
way in girl, and it was sobeautiful not having any debt,
no credit cards, none of that.
It was all cash.
(35:48):
You know I use my credit cardto get my points, but I was able
to pay it off.
So, yeah, it was just abeautiful thing.
And you're right, it's just,it's so, so beautiful when
you're saving and you just likeyou said, it's something that's
really challenging and then thebeautifulness that comes from it
all, you're like it was worthit.
It was worth it.
It was worth it.
Yeah, oh, my God, you know.
(36:09):
And saving isn't about fear,it's about stewardship.
That's the word that I've beenusing a lot in the last few
months because I just realizedGod is very clear that I don't
own any of this, and so why evenhave fear about something I
don't own and that is somethingthat's given to me from him?
So it's like he's like really,you don't own none of this.
And to me it's like, yeah,you're right.
(36:29):
So then there's the whole egoversus spirit thing.
You got going on there.
Tanisha Allen (36:33):
Yeah, it takes a lot of pressure off of you too
when you realize that you don'town anything.
You're just a steward.
I think the way that we couldkind of make this real for a lot
of folks is, when we talk abouthome ownership, we talk about
renting.
There is some relief that comesfrom renting when it comes to
the fact that you're notresponsible for anything.
So we decided to rent here inHawaii.
(36:55):
The fact that if something goeswrong, I can just call a
maintenance person and they cometake care of it.
Oh my God, I miss those daysit's such a relief compared to a
couple years ago, a few yearsago, when we were owning and it
was like not only am I having to, you know, call possibly
insurance or a warranty people,I'm now having to call like a
(37:16):
plumber or an electrician orsomebody.
I have to make sure you knowwhat you're doing.
I have to make sure youactually fix it, that I have to
make sure there's nothing elsethat goes wrong, and then I got
to pay for all of that.
Home ownership is beautiful,but there's also, like this
relief that comes from when youdon't have to do that and when
you don't have to be responsiblefor something.
When we flip that to think ofall of our material things, or
(37:42):
even not material things.
I absolutely love and adore myson, but he's not mine, he's
mine because he came from mybody but, he belongs to God.
So I am stewarding him in hislife while God has given me him
for however long that is.
It's my responsibility tosteward him in the way that God
(38:05):
wants him to be stewarded.
It takes a lot of pressure offbecause I don't have to be
perfect because I know whateverGod's will for my son is is his
will and it's going to happenand I just ask that God help me
live in that.
Will you know?
When it comes to owning a home,or you know you were talking
about like cars I bought my carin 2009.
(38:26):
I still have my car.
It's going to be with me untilthe wheels fall off.
And we've had, like, somerecent car issues and we have
really had to face the fact that, like, because both of our cars
have been paid off for a verylong time, since 15, when we
built our house, and we reallyhad to face the fact that, like
because both of our cars havebeen paid off for a very long
time, since 15, when we builtour house and we were faced with
(38:48):
the fact that, like, not onlywould we potentially have to buy
a new car, we might have to buya new car over here in Hawaii.
Shay Cook (38:56):
Yes, oh, my God.
Tanisha Allen (38:58):
I was just like I don't want to do it.
God, whatever you got planned,I'm gonna need you to fix this,
because this is not happening.
And then, you know, I kind ofwalked through what I had to
walk through, right, like okay,god, sorry, whatever you have
planned, I'm here for it.
Like it's not, like we can'tafford a car if you need to get
one, even here in Hawaii.
(39:19):
Like you've blessed us to beable to do that.
Whatever your plan is with this, let it happen Right Then
miraculously, because that'swhat it was.
You know, whatever happenedwith the car, not only were they
able to fix it, but it wascovered by the car manufacturer.
Oh, wow.
For whatever reason, like it.
Just I was like okay, god,thank you.
Shay Cook (39:41):
Yes, amen.
Tanisha Allen (39:43):
Our responsibility was stewarding
the car to make sure we weretaking care of the car and doing
the oil changes and all of that.
And then this thing happened andI just knew it was.
The engine had seized up.
So I knew.
I was just like.
I knew we were going to have toget a new car and God was like
no, I'm going to take care of it.
Like you've surrendered it tome, because it makes them
surrendering.
You go through the stress, theplanning, and then I'm like why
(40:05):
am I doing any of this?
God, whatever you need tohappen, allow it to happen.
And then he took care of it.
It's the reminder of evensomething as simple as a car is
not mine.
God gifted this to me.
I'm supposed to be a goodsteward and therefore he will
allow whatever to happen to thatcar.
(40:25):
If we need a new car, he'sgoing to gift me with another
one.
And I don't want to negate thefact that we also have to work
hard for it, right?
So, like I know that we'veworked hard for the money that
we had to put into the house, weworked hard for the money that
we continue to put in thesavings, we work hard for all of
that, but we're doing it forGod's glory and as long as we
(40:48):
are stewarding our work andstewarding our money and all of
that God is going to allow us tobe able to steward other things
and so much more, and it's theBible where it talks about.
You know, as long as we takecare of the little, he'll bless
us with more.
So yeah, exactly exactly.
Shay Cook (41:02):
As long as we take care of the little, he'll bless
us with more Exactly, Exactly.
I love that.
Thank you for sharing that.
You know, in Isaiah 41.10, itsays so do not fear, for I am
with you.
Do not be dismayed, for I amyour God.
I will strengthen you and helpyou, and I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.
So God got us y'all.
You just got to believe and beobedient and surrender and be a
(41:25):
good steward, like Tanisha and Iare talking about here.
This was great, Tanisha.
Any last thoughts?
Tanisha Allen (41:31):
Just continue to rely on God for everything.
I mean financially, family-wise, relationally, all of those
things.
God is not surprised byanything that we deal with or
that we go through, and soacknowledge your fear, take your
fear to him and talk to himabout it, and you know be real.
(41:53):
Like you know, I'm experiencingthis, I'm going through this,
I'm scared, I'm terrified orwhatever, and God will bring you
comfort.
And not only will he bring youcomfort.
I'm a firm believer that he'llturn your fear into a fear of
God and switch the meaning ofthat word into reverence.
Reverence yes, I love that so ifwe're able to, you know, take
(42:15):
the energy that we're puttinginto fear of whatever and switch
it to a reverence and a fearfor God, we will truly feel his
comfort and I'm a believer thatwe'll feel it tangibly as well.
So, like you'll start to feelthat peace and you know all of
those things that are oppositeof the anxiety and the panic for
being afraid of things here onearth.
Shay Cook (42:35):
Yeah, ditto that part .
That's exactly right, I know,and I need to practice that more
.
But I know, when I get up and Ispend time with God first and
then read the word anddevotionals and praise him
throughout the day, it's just adifferent vibe in my day versus
(42:58):
if I try to do this on my own.
I mean, I'm worried, I'm liketight, I'm just like ready to
fight, you know, and it's likeI'm like.
Tanisha Allen (43:02):
Why, like I got you?
Why are you afraid you know youserve?
He waits for us, like I got you.
Why are you afraid you know youserve an eye for us?
He does Like we do go throughthose moments and we're like
trying to do it on our own.
He's just waiting.
He's like I'm still here.
When you're ready, I will stillbe here.
Shay Cook (43:11):
He's like for me it was Shay though.
He's like child, I don't toldyou.
What is wrong with you?
No, but he still loves me andcomes through.
Thank you, Tanisha, for joiningus.
I look forward to recordingmore episodes with you in the
future and I hope everyone has agreat day.
See you soon.
Bye y'all.
Bye.
(43:32):
A big thank you for listeningto this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Hit that subscribe button orfollow the podcast, and please
feel free to leave us a review.
For the latest Yahweh's Moneycontent, visit us at Crusaders
4Change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
(43:56):
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired and remember it'salways better Yahweh's way.
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