Thursday, September 26, 2013

My Heart Cries out for the Breath of Heaven


My heart cries out today, for me, for you and for our children and grandchildren.

I find myself doing it all over again. Looking to something or someone to do what only the Lord my God can do for me and in me and in my family.

I see that I still want my own timetable for healing and relief and that peace that only comes from the Lord. In my mind, I can fix it. As the firstborn daughter that was part of my job description for so long, fixer/caretaker of the family. When the fixer got weary, things needed to change, I needed to pull back; I need to pull back even now. No fixer or caretaker lives forever. Sometimes as with the case with my mama, the Lord seemed to have taken her early, perhaps to spare her from some acute pain, both physically and emotionally in her life. The Bible even has a verse that says He takes those early to spare them. It is His mercy yet we at home still grieve the loss of her love, her humor and her hearty laugh.

I repent once again Jesus. I repent of wanting a counselor to fix my family. I repent of looking to the world for what only You can do. I repent of getting weary in praying and wondering if You hear me? Do You see me still? Will You send an angel as You sent to Hagar; she named You the “God who sees.” See me, Jesus; see my hopes, dreams and aspirations. See my children that I love and have failed in so many ways, but yet I am blessed to have had the privilege to bring them forth for You and give them back to You. Thank you for each one and for some wonderful grandchildren. As I look to this day, knowing I have given it over to Your hands, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will rise up strong in me, that I can face the day, future and even the dreaded hour, that I can get through anything by Your strength and power. The old song, “Where Can we go, but to the Lord” has been in my heart since I was a young girl and knew I needed a savior so much. One thing I have always known is You are the one who holds the words of life, the only one I can constantly go to, my source of peace. You are the One who holds me. You will get all glory and praise. You are my heart’s desire. Live through me this day.

The lyrics to this song can apply to others than Mary, “Breath of Heaven”

I am waiting in a silent prayer

 I am frightened by the load I bear

 In a world as cold as stone

 Must I walk this path alone?

 Be with me now, be with me now



Breath of Heaven, hold me together

 Be forever near me, breath of Heaven

 Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

 Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

 Breath of Heaven

(Read more: Amy Grant - Breath Of Heaven Lyrics | MetroLyrics)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW2OBT-5qfc

Monday, September 23, 2013

The Good Upscale Doctor, This is dedicated to the members of the Substance Abuse Task Force (Daytona) and all Addict's Moms groups

As we talked about painkillers on Friday at the Substance Abuse Task Force meeting, I still struggle with the good, upscale doctors who prescribe heavy painkillers so frequently. Now we find out they are making it easy for the elderly to become addicted. May the Lord have mercy on the families who have lost loved ones because of these issues. I pray for them daily.

I am doing a repeat of this blog today. This is dedicated to the faithful members of the Substance Abuse Task Force.


The Good, Upscale Doctor

"18-year-old son died of overdose, Grieving mother pushing Oxy ban,


RX for trouble: Painkiller abuse plagues society, Falling short in fighting addiction," these all were either headlines or editorials recently in our local newspaper. They say in the State of Florida 7 people die daily from overdoses of prescription meds.


Until it hits home in your own family, headlines like these will not affect you. It will be somebody else's child, not your own; it doesn't affect you. You can put down people like that, thinking they may be the scum of the earth, not even realizing that some of those children started off like your own kids. Just living their life, going to school, thinking about college and their careers. Then the tragedy of addiction hits the family.
It may have been a legitimate pain issue, they may have had surgeries young and pain issues that seemed beyond control. You as a parent may have questioned the expensive upscale doctor, wondering aloud to him your concerns. "Why such high pain killers so soon? Aren't morphine patches something given to hospice patients? Will my child still need these medications if they have surgery? "
He immediately tried to pacify you, "It isn't addictive, and it is something they can take their whole life through if necessary."


You weren't convinced, yet who were you? Did you have as many degrees as this doctor? Isn't he noted in the community for his work? Wouldn't he do the same for his own daughter or son if in your shoes? It wasn't long before the teen that was in pain was of legal age to continue with the doctor without your consent. And sooner than later the things you were concerned with came about. That is why we have painkiller abuse in our society. I don't have to name names; there are legions in our State and country that are writing prescriptions with no concern for the long-term outcome, which in most cases is addiction.


Prescription medicine addiction is a real dilemma in our society and it isn't getting any easier to decide who is right and who is wrong. Of course, I can understand when someone is in dire need of medications that they shouldn't be denied. I am not against doctors who truly must help those who suffer with chronic pain; I am all for good medical care. Yet the utmost scrutiny should be given to doctors that write painkiller prescriptions, too many, too soon. Look at the recent celebrity deaths and the doctors that were a part of each one! We have become such a drugged up nation; sometimes I wonder if anyone knows real people anymore or are they just someone either doped up or a facade of that person you used to know and love.

Addiction itself has been described as cunning, baffling, and powerful by AA and Al-anon groups. That means to me that the person becomes so cunning in taking care of their addiction that it is second nature to them to use any form of manipulation to get their source of relief. It baffles the ordinary person to find this such a powerful influence in our loved one. The person you once knew and loved seems to be gone from you forever and you can only hand the problem over to a loving God who alone can bring help for the true pain; the pain that painkillers will never cover
Try not to judge harshly; statistics say addiction hits all families and social-economic groups before long. You wouldn't want to walk a mile in the shoes or the grieving mother or father, rehash in your mind what you could've or should've done, or be in the body of the addict who became addicted following doctor's orders. Yes, the good, upscale expensive doctor is of no help now. Only the healing hand of the Great Physician can have mercy on this kind of hurt.


We go to the Word of God for help and comfort.


Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,


for his compassions never fail.


They are new every morning;


great is your faithfulness.


I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;


therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 (New International Version, ©2010)


I see in this verse that God truly started the “One day at a time” movement long before Bill W. came up with it. We wait on His compassions and healing for our families!


Another version that might help:
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,


the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.


I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—


the feeling of hitting the bottom.


But there's one other thing I remember,


and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:


God's loyal love couldn't have run out,


his merciful love couldn't have dried up.


They're created new every morning.


How great your faithfulness!


I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).


He's all I've got left.


God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,


to the woman who diligently seeks.


It's a good thing to quietly hope,


quietly hope for help from God.


It's a good thing when you're young


to stick it out through the hard times.


When life is heavy and hard to take,


go off by yourself. Enter the silence.


Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:


Wait for hope to appear.


Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.


The "worst" is never the worst.


Why? Because the Master won't ever


walk out and fail to return.


Lamentations 3:19-33 (The Message)
We have a faithful God to whom we can trust our family’s problems and issues. But as mothers, it still hurts. And good upscale doctors may be the ones that help bring about the hurt.


By Donna Collins Tinsley

This is dedicated to the faithful members of the Substance Abuse Task Force and all the Addict's Moms groups.

Please send your prayer requests to the Somebody's Mother Online Prayer Support Group:)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/?id=281112801918851

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Jericho Project and praying for single moms and their kids

Sometimes life just gets too hectic to blog. So today I will just blog some of my facebook posts and try to put a video about a great, new project in South Daytona that Bob Langford and some volunteers and churches are sponsoring. The cute redhead in the video is our Isaiah:)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QwZneXkfdA
Today my prayer burden is for single parents. I was one for a few years and it brings many challenges to the table. I only had one daughter at the time and even though it was hard, there were some good memories of that time alone with her. Many in our groups have three and four children, mothers raising them alone and my heart goes out to you. The Lord steps in to be a father to there fatherless; lean on Him for wisdom.
I pray that all who are discouraged today will find their peace in the Lord and we ask that a blood covering be over all our loved ones in Jesus name.

Do you have a fractured family? Is your family tree messed up? You are in good company then and Jesus is our hope. Sometimes it may not seem that way but we have to get our eyes off our circumstances, look up to the Lord, find a Word from Him and claim it. Then pray, pray, pray! Prayer is a true working tool to peace and acceptance. A lot of our turmoil in life is not accepting the things we can't change; We sometimes have to accept that things are the way they are for a reason. I'm sure Joseph, during his days in prison and slavery felt forgotten by God as well as his family but he went ahead being the best he could be in those circumstances. The Lord caused him to rise above them and to rise in favor. Don't look at things the way they are but look at them through eyes of hope.

Jesus is the answer to all our problems and our strong help and that will always be the case. His ear is open to our prayers for help and hope. He is such a creative God that He brings forth beauty and grace and gifts within us that we never thought were there. He can bring the dormant seed to life. We praise His name and ask that He cover our families today. We thank You, Lord Jesus ahead of time for Your great blessing and favor towards our loved ones.

A song and a prayer about the Family Tree:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opi1Qre8Cc

Family Tree
You didn't ask for this
Nobody ever would
Caught in the middle of this dysfunction
It's your sad reality
It's your messed up family tree
And now you're left with all these questions
Are you gonna be like your father was and his father was
Do you have to carry what they handed down?

No, this is not your legacy
This is not your destiny
Yesterday does not define you
No, this is not your legacy
This is not your meant to be
I can break the chains that bind you

I have a dream for you
It's better than where've you've been
It's bigger than your imagination
You're gonna find real love
And you're gonna hold your kids
You'll change the course of generations

Oh, this is not your legacy
This is not your destiny
Yesterday does not define you
No, this is not your legacy
This is not your meant to be
I can break the chains that bind you

'Cause you're my child
You're my chosen
You are loved
You are loved
And I will restore
All that was broken
You are loved
You are loved

And just like the seasons change
Winter into spring
You're bringing new life to your family tree now
Yes you are, you are

Oh, this will be your legacy
This is will be your destiny
Yesterday did not define you
Oh, this will be your legacy
This will be your meant to be
I can break the chains that bind you

And just like the seasons change
Winter into spring
You're bringing new life to your family tree now
(Matthew West)

May you have a peaceful day filled with love:)

Monday, September 2, 2013

Paying it Forward

I admire people who take the pain of life and pay it forward in wonderful ways to help others. I have always said one woman can make a difference; in this case it is four wonderful women, check out:
"Family charities keep memories of loved ones alive"

http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130901/news/130839857