A strong-willed child. When was the last time you heard a parent say they have a strong-willed child, and were happy about it? This phrase usually has negative connotations and thoughts that fill our minds. But what if it didn’t? What if upon discovering we had a strong-willed child, we rejoiced, and knew that we had the tools to teach and guide that child well, and had great hope for the kind of force and strong-willed adult they could one day be for the Lord.
Cynthia Tobias was a strong-willed child, and is now a strong-willed adult, a humble force impacting our world for God’s kingdom. In her story you will hear the deep impact her loving Father and upbringing made on her life, and how the Lord she has trusted in from youth, has shaped who she is and how she ministers now, with her dear husband of 14 years, Jack Talley, in Bonney Lake, Washington.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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Topics Shared:
A STRONG-WILLED CHILD, BELOVED BY HER FATHER
Nazarene holiness preacher dad
Admiring and watching her parents
Pastoring in Reno and Vegas
At 16, she spoke at the rescue mission
Strong-willed child, beloved
Church pianist, organist and janitor
Learned to work hard and meet the need
My father modeled for me as a strong-willed child how I could one day be, as a strong-willed godly adult
Putting Chic Tracts on the desks in middle school
Working at the Christian Supply Center Las Vegas Nevada
PREPARATION TO SPEAK TO A ROUGHER AUDIENCE
Teaching high school
Becoming a female cop
Working with first responders and military
High School drug bust undercover agent
BECOMING A STRONG-WILLED MOM
Twins with vastly different personalities
Focus on the Family reached out to her
Authored 14 books
How she helped her strong-willed and her compliant twin boys
Bonus Tips: FIVE THINGS THAT DON’T WORK WITH STRONG-WILLED CHILDREN
Around min 40(Trigger phrases that will cause us to both go down in flames)
UNEXPECTED DIVORCE, BROKENNESS & REMARRIAGE
Lies and a crumbling foundation
Blindsided and completely unanticipated
Counseling and great effort to save her marriage
Struggling single Mom raising 12 year old twins
Never closer to her Abba Father
Working with Focus on The Family, Kings Schools, Family Life Today
Varying ministry responses to her divorce
Overall she was supported
Always speaking well of her ex
After 4 years, began dating
Dating and marrying Jack Tally, a wonderful Christian man, now 14 years married
Apple Street Business and Ministry, growth and provision
An international ministry
THE P.S.
Cynthia answers these questions and More:
How can we see revival in our churches in America?
What would you say to Christians who are struggling with motivation post-pandemic?
What can you say to people that are going through the most difficult time of their lives?
Guest Links:
Sign up for Cynthia’s Weekly Video Blog! http://cynthiatobias.com/
Click here for a free sample! http://cynthiatobias.com/a-matter-of-style-no-labels
Join Cynthia on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/CynthiaUlrichTobias
A Peek at Cynthia’s newest book: https://vimeo.com/164488692
Guest Quotes:
“In the city of sin, I was surrounded and grounded, and focused on Christ. The Jesus music coming in, the ‘honk if you love Jesus’, The Way, The Living Bible, all the music groups that came through, I got in on that part. It would have been so easy to fall away into the secular part God had a plan, and that is where he kept me, in the hollow of his hand, right there at Christian Supply Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.”
“I heard them pray out loud for us every day. Morning and night they had devotions, on their own, as well as with us. My dad would very quickly if we had an issue or a problem he would say, ‘let’s pray about this. Let’s find out what God wants us to do.” I grew up believing that’s what you did, that if you didn’t have any idea what to do, you always went to God. My dad reflected that constantly. You cannot underestimate the power of your parents, especially your dad, and the power of example.”
“I found out that you get hired for all of the things you get in trouble for at school. That was eye opening. Employers are looking for someone with high energy level, good social skills, critical thinking, all of the things we are trying to discourage in school. So I was able to come back and put my lessons and what I was teaching them in context.”
“I learned that you just don’t give ultimatums to strong-willed children. If you use them, you both go down in flames.”
“My favorite speakers are those, that if I walk away, I don’t remember what they wore, or exactly a lot about them, I just remember the message. And that’s what I strive to be.”
“The harder you are persecuted, the closer you come to Christ or the further you walk away. There is really not much in between.”
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