My New Book "You Inspire Me"

Inspirational, encouraging, and uplifting, "You Inspire Me" is a devotional straight from Tondeleya Allen's heart. An optimistic attitude and positive words are liquid gold that can benefit each of us every day. Readers will find tools to triumph struggles, overcome negative thinking, and marginalize the naysayers and dream killers in their lives. 

"You Inspire Me" explores the strength of women, our purpose in life, and steps that can be taken to transform our lives and make our dreams a reality. When we maintain hearts of gratitude and positive attitudes, there is no task we can't handle. 

Tondeleya Allen, author of "The Blessed Woman Endeavor," "You Really Do Deserve Me," and "A Good Sandwich Can Save a Marriage," believes that faith is the cure for what ails us and that women have enough grace and strength coursing through our veins to handle every ounce of pressure life sends our way.


Get your copy of You Inspire Me on Amazon.  The beautiful cover art was designed by Aristotle Allen. Stay tuned for my new novel "A Love That Breaks." Sign up for the Awesome Queen League newsletter to receive updates.  Don't worry; you'll only hear from me once a month.

Be a Blessing Every Day

As followers of Christ, we are called to be a blessing every day.  In our hearts we are royally crowned, designed to walk with character and dignity, producing harvest that makes the Lord proud.

We were created to love God with all we do, whether it’s cooking breakfast, making the bed or finding a parking space at the mall.  Whatever you do, do it well.  Each minute we breathe, we should show up and give our best effort.  Focused on giving all He said to give, there are many ways we can be a blessing every day.    

If your family had to give you a report card, what would your grade be?  Are you anticipating the needs of those in your family and making the load lighter for someone else if and when you are able?  Are you seeing the best in your family and building them up? Let’s make sure we’re not just screaming “what about me” all the time.

Genuine support is a rare find these days.  Let’s go the extra mile, even when we don’t feel up to it.  Jesus, an expert builder, wants us to build in the lives of others. Someone somewhere can benefit from what you have to offer.  Make optimism and providing answers be your calling card. Help others whenever you can.  Put forth your best effort to work well with others.

Kindness makes you beautiful.  Sow seeds of kindness, joy and love.  Realize that you may be the only one reaching out to someone.  So, keep encouraging even when others don’t.  Call people and see how they’re doing.  Check on friends you haven’t heard from in a while.  Tell someone you love them every day.  Any of us who have ever been thirsty for encouragement should appreciate the value in offering uplifting words to the people in our lives.  Sometimes a person just needs a little inspiration or a different thought to get them propelled in the right direction.  So, seize each opportunity to give away the grace God gives to us.

Giving to another person takes nothing away from us.  We truly help ourselves by blessing and supporting others.  Be a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear. Let others know that you understand what they’re going through. My grandmother Mary used to say “the person you help won’t always be the one to help you when you’re in need.”  Remember that the Lord will always make a way for you.  Those who give water will get water.  So, invest in yourself by investing in others.

Have you encouraged someone today? Think of blessing others as your mission.  Take a zest for life with you wherever you go.  Yell out and tell someone “you look pretty today,” which happens to be something my mother does often.  Girlfriends pray for one another often and ask the Lord to give the ladies in your life strength and guidance for whatever they’re facing.  Pray for the people in your life and hold someone’s hand just to let them know they are not alone.  Offer solutions and help others achieve their goals.  Share your gifts, knowledge and lessons acquired along the way.  Congratulate, compliment and cheer for others.  Be happy when others do well. The success of others is not your failure.

Let’s love our neighbors, even when their beliefs are different than ours.  Love and embrace others even when you don’t agree with their lifestyle.  Let the ears of your heart perk when you realize you are able and blessed enough to meet the immediate need of someone else.  Send out positive vibrations.  Let your joy, happiness and positivity be a good contagion.  We can all do good things.  The Lord, King of creation, has a specific plan for you.  Open your heart and allow Him to show you exactly how you can be the greatest blessing. 

“Lord, help us to be powerful prayer warriors.  We’re eager to be a part of your will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Please keep blessing us, so that we can be a blessing to your kingdom.”

The Blessed Woman Endeavor  and You Really Do Deserve Me are available now on Amazon. 

You Can't Give Up

Ever have moments in your life where everything is just so ridiculously crazy?  As Christians, we go through so much.  People all around the world are going through tough times. Pain and problems just won’t stop coming. Sometimes you don’t feel like your situation will ever improve. You’re putting forth effort.  You’re trying every day. You’re giving life the best of yourself. Still, things are so bad, you don’t know whether you want to laugh or cry.  Maybe you have talent, but few opportunities.  Nobody’s knocking on your door trying to give you a chance.  You’re even turned away whenever you try to reach out to create opportunities.  Romans 8:22 reads “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

Joseph, even after being in prison for years, didn’t give up.  Abraham, had a promise from the Lord and he didn’t give up.   Noah was entrusted with a particular mission and he didn’t give up.  Ruth endured a series of awful events, but she never gave up or grew bitter.  Paul didn’t give up.  Even as he sat in prison he remained faithful to the work that God had given him.

Well, we can’t give up and I have a couple of very good reasons why.  You only need one reason. You’re alive. A live dog is better than a dead lion.  Many possibilities lie ahead.  Good things can still happen.

You’re creating a legacy for the people you love.  They’re depending on you.  Your family, your children are depending on you to create a life that benefits them.  Your children’s children can reap the benefits of your not giving up now.

The world needs what you have to offer.  The world is screaming for more quality, something that can actually improve the lives of people.  There are so many superficial endeavors in this world that demand the bulk of the attention.  Isn’t it time that something substantial blossoms and has its place in the sun? 

You can be the one to offer something real, substantial, and lasting to life.  You have purpose.  I don’t know what it is, but you’re the only one who can get the job done.  Sure, someone else can do something similar, but no one can do exactly what the Lord called you to do.

The light of victory reaches out to people.  Other people need to see you standing in your victory.  Your victory can inspire others to keep moving forward. Your victory lets other people know that they can make it.

So, you can’t give up.  Make a promise to yourself that you won’t give up.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Keep offering one prayer after another.  No matter what you feel like or what a situation looks like, the Lord does hear you. He loves you. So, keep sending up one praise after another. Thank the Lord for everything that you have, no matter how little, no matter how far away from the dream you seem to be. Keep your eyes on the Lord.

Think about this. You could be this close to your breakthrough. You could be this close to making it happen.  You could be this close to everything lining up in your favor. You could be this close to that door opening.  You could be this close to having all your heart’s desires.

Even when you seem to lose a few rounds in life, keep fighting.  Keep getting back up. Keep your optimism. Remain enthusiastic about life. While there’s still breath in your body, stay dedicated to the purpose in your heart, the calling placed on your life, and the dream that courses through you.

I’ve been through too much to give up now. I’ve come too far to turn back.  I’ve come too far to just sit this one out.   I’ve conquered too much.  I’ve learned too much.  I’ve made promises to the Lord, to myself, and to my family.  I won’t give up and you shouldn’t give up either.

The Blessed Woman Endeavor is available on Amazon. Get a copy and share it and this post with other women of faith.

You Really Do Deserve Me is available on Amazon. 

Until next time, blessings and love!

You Can't Have My Cornbread

Don't Feel Bad

Don't allow anyone to make you feel bad about where you are in life.  Focus on everything you have right now and where God is taking you.

Please check back every Tuesday and Friday for something new.

My book The Blessed Woman Endeavor is available now on Amazon.  Get a copy and share this with other women of faith.

6 Things to Try When You Feel Discouraged

Please come back every Tuesday and Friday for something new.



The Blessed Woman Endeavor is available now on Amazon.

The Road You're Traveling

The road you’re traveling right now may be rough and have more detours than you believe one person can handle. The Lord will reward your faithfulness and strength.  Just keep the faith.  Stay dedicated to your assignment.  Trust the Lord to continue your progress.

Everyone won’t understand your decision to keep moving in the same direction.  People have ideas about how long is too long to stay engaged in one certain area.  When most people don’t see huge “measurable” amounts of success, they tend to give up.  Oftentimes, people base their level of commitment to a goal on external influences.  When they realize that others see no value in their idea, they sadly accept that as truth.  But not us.  We know how it feels to have a “yes” from the Lord take root and bloom in our hearts.

There may be times when people will fight against your process, by trying to discourage you.  They may even remind you of how little time there’s left to really make anything happen.  They may advise you to stay on the safe path and avoid anything new and uncertain. Whenever you’re feeling blah and you need someone to give you encouraging words, you may find yourself alone. You may even have to celebrate your own milestones and pat yourself on the back.

It’s all right though.  You have to know deep down inside that there’s just no other road for you to take.  The consuming fire that God has set in you is way too strong for you to turn back now.  The excitement you feel when you allow yourself to imagine the dream already being yours is too thrilling to ignore.  Walking away now and staying bound to status quo just makes no sense to you.

Reject any fear and doubt that tries to creep into the tight spaces in your mind.  Fear doesn’t pay any rent or contribute to your well-being in any way.  So, why let it stay?  Shield your heart from the noise desperately trying to pierce it.  Pray and ask the Lord to renew your mind every day and to let your dream pulsate like soothing music in your veins.

Now is the time to be braver than ever.  Now is the time for your purpose to escort you into tomorrow.  Now is the time to push comfort and complacency back. If necessary, use the biggest stick you’ve got.  Do whatever you have to do to hold on for dear life to your heart’s desire.  Now is the time to ignore dream killers.  Now is the time to meditate on everything you can gain– not your possible losses.  Now is the time to wake up every morning with victory on your mind.  Now is the time to believe you can make it, to know that this is what you were meant to do.  Now is the time to find your joy and stamp it across your heart.

Do it now.  Don’t waste your time trying to get everyone on board.  The permission or participation of others is not required.  Use every drop of energy to advance your dream.  Believing in yourself is a great idea.  Your spirit is unbreakable.  Every hurdle is conquerable.  The road may have bumps, but there are no walls.  There are no walls to box you in.  There are no walls to block your view.  You’re in God’s country now.  Your dream is achievable.  I’m hoping and praying for you.  Let’s go!

Please check back every Tuesday and Friday for something new!

The Blessed Woman Endeavor is available on Amazon.

Joy Comes in the Morning

Yesterday was a BEAR of a day. The hours and the dishes seemed to go on forever. By the end I was just exhausted.  I didn't even have enough energy to bake anything.  And I had been looking forward to it all day.  Not only was I tired, I was irritable and frustrated.  Though instead of pushing it, I listened to my body and went to bed early.

Now, today was a whole other story.  My daughter Alex had an appointment to see the eye doctor. She and I headed out early enough to swing by my mother's house for just a few minutes.  My mother and I talked, while Alex played in my mom's yard. Then we were off to see the doctor.

We were the doctor's first appointment of the day. Alex did an amazing job. She even managed to give her doctor a wonderful laugh when she referred to the  tiny "birthday cake with candles" picture as "a stack of pancakes with steam coming out." Alex even chose some really cute frames that left me with some bold ideas about my next pair of eyeglasses.

All done with Alex's appointment, we did a little grocery shopping at Kroger, which happens to be in the same building as the optometrist's office.  As we were walking down the aisle heading toward the back of Kroger, I saw my grandmother Mary.  Well, not exactly,  since she passed away in 2000, the same year (but before) my Alex was born. So she didn't have a chance to meet any of my children on this side of creation.

But there was an elderly woman who, from behind, looked just like my Granny.  She was leaning over into the meat bin, propping herself with her left arm just like I remember my grandmother doing. My heart fluttered and smiled all at once.  I tell you I was stopped in stride. I said nothing. And Alex just looked at me, trying I'm sure to figure out why we were neither moving nor picking up anything from the aisle.  The only words I can use to explain that moment are PURE JOY.

In the 14 years since I've seen Grandma Mary, I've never seen anyone else who actually looked so much like her that it gave me pause. Another aisle, a minute later, a minute too soon and this moment may not have existed at all. Then to top it all off, in the car after we had loaded the groceries, my daughter started to talk about just how much Nana (my mom) looks like her Mom (my grandma) and how she thinks they could be twins. I was just amazed. In the store, I hadn't even mentioned anything to Alex and she just casually starts a conversation about my grandmother.

The LORD does speak to us and issues out little doses of joy like much-needed medicine. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes a little. Always the proper amount. Enough to encourage us in the moment. HIS ways are mysterious, varied and undeniable.  HE loves us and reaches out, giving us hope in the most uncertain times.  HE orders our steps. And I pray to always be spiritually open for whatever the LORD wants to say. If I had to speak to all the ways I KNOW that the LORD our Father in heaven is real, I could go on and on indefinitely.  And today would definitely make the list.