It's Beyond Me

Dear sister in the faith,



Welcome to the Radiant Blog! Whatever led you led to this page at this moment, I am so glad you are here! And while you’re here, I’d love to share with you a few things that are on my heart today. 

But let me introduce myself first! I’m Tina Sumpter. I’m a Christian counselor, Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom in Birmingham, Alabama. Let me tell you, this is very new to me! Having a website is new to me. Writing and publishing a Bible study is new to me. And now I am writing my very first Radiant Blog post too!? It feels like I’m literally SWIMMING in grace! As I shared with a dear friend this morning, this process has been such an adventure! This whole writing adventure was His idea. I have felt the Lord leading me, and I have experienced His provision every step of the way! It’s as if He asked me to start writing, then when I said, “yes,” He picked me up and put me on His shoulders and has been carrying me ever since. The things I’ve experienced along the way are only explained by His presence, His providence, and His power. It’s all been 100% BEYOND ME! In fact, just today I realized that it’s beyond me in at least three ways.

This writing adventure is Beyond Me because, it’s far more than I had been asking or imagining (Ephesians 3:20-21). I jokingly told someone the other day that I tend to “dream small.” God’s thoughts are so much greater than mine! For example, during the pandemic, I did a lot of prayer walking. During that time my desire was just to cover as many people in prayer as I could. And as I was walking, on more than one occasion, I felt compelled to read the book of Ecclesiastes. As I read it for the second time, I realized the Lord was leading me to write a devotional Bible study based on the seasons of Ecclesiastes 3. I never would have imagined doing that! (Especially Ecclesiastes!? Lol) So I began writing. And as I wrote the Lord gave me direction and encouragement. I enjoyed that time with Him so much. As a result of that part of the adventure, Through Seasons of Beauty is now available to women throughout the country.

When I finished, I thought it would be wise for me to have a group of women to go through the study with me just to make sure there weren’t any big problems with the study. So I created a Facebook post inviting local friends to go through the Bible study with me at my local church. I was blown away by the response. I ended up with about 50 women in 6 different states who wanted to join me for the adventure! So we did a hybrid group together! That was a new experience for me too! :-) I’m still overwhelmed by how the Lord didn’t just show us things that needed changed in the book; He changed us! Our lives were literally being changed each week! He worked out so many details that only He could have worked out (Ephesians 1:11). It was all Beyond Me! 

This adventure is also Beyond Me, because I don’t even know where I’m headed! Quite honestly, I feel like I can relate to Abram and Sarai in some small way in this moment! As I already shared, I felt the Lord nudging me to write a Bible study, I’ve moved forward under His direction, and He has faithfully provided every step of the way. But along this journey, I have never really known where we are headed! All I’ve really known is the same thing the Lord told Abram. I know these steps of obedience are leading me to the place that He will show me (Genesis 12:1). He’s been leading me through this adventure just one step at a time. This blog is certainly one of those steps! I am trusting Him completely to show me what’s next, and I hope you’ll join me by continuing to visit this blog or even by reading Through Seasons of Beauty.

This adventure has also been Beyond Me, because it's not even about me. I once wrestled with thoughts like, “Who am I to get to ride around on His shoulders like this and watch Him do amazing things in other people’s lives?” “What qualifies me to write a Bible study?” Well, it’s not about any of that! This is just how it works to be part of the Body of Christ. He puts gifts in each one of us that He uses to bless other parts of the Body. This adventure I get to be part of is primarily about HIM. And overall, it’s about YOU and Him! I’m just tagging along for the ride…on His shoulders! None of this has ever rested on my shoulders - I am resting on His! I’m leaning into Him and enjoying the journey with a heart full of awe and wonder!

That’s all for today. Please enjoy this Christmas holiday! Please, please remember Jesus. Jesus is in the middle of it all! 

Living Beyond Myself - with Jesus in the Middle of it all,

Tina