SHINE YOUR LIGHT

I like to save things. It’s always hard for me to throw away things or even sometimes to give them away, because it seems like we may need it for something down the road and not have it. I’ve recently learned the hard way, that saving my writings for a better day to send out, a better edit or a better market was perhaps not the best thing. When even THE GEEK SQUAD couldn’t help us, I’ve had to accept what I cannot change, that at least six years of work is lost. I feel like a part of me is lost, many times, as some things just can’t be recreated, especially poetry.

Not that I didn’t give away a lot of it but a lot sat in my computer, waiting until it was good enough to share or send out.





This is one thing that I’ve learned: Don’t hide, save or store away your gifts, no matter how small they seem to you.



Bill and I both have this thing about looking around, seeing the people with REAL giftings, talents and yes, at times even beauty, and thinking that we perhaps got overlooked. We have most of the time felt to be the “least of these” and that’s not always a bad thing, as it keeps us from being haughty.



When I was a little girl, I could play piano “by ear” or “by heart”. When there was a painful trauma in my childhood, I let the enemy quieten that gift; a gift that could’ve been honed for the Lord. It is to my shame I admit this; I have many pictures of me, age five, at my grandmother’s recitals, playing before a whole church of people. In rereading THE CREATIVE CALL by Janice Elsheimer, I’m tempted to retry playing. But as life seems to continually get in the way of living, my time is really not my own, even more so, lately.



The words to the children’s song, THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, were running through my head as I wrote this. Hide it under a bushel. No! I’m going to let it shine.



So today I’m having some regrets but I can’t live there. I will focus on things that I can change, focus on the WORD OF THE LORD, try to find what my new season is, and BE GRATEFUL. I will try my best not to hide my gifts under a bushel. I will try to live better and along the way, one of the best things I’ve found that I am good at, is encouraging YOU and your beautiful giftings. While I can’t be your personal cheerleader, I do say, go out there and SHINE, people. You are unique, you are SPECIAL, you are CALLED OF GOD. Use your gifts.





Let your light shine. Today!



Beautiful, new version of song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVeB7ACVgO0



Older version; gospel version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx3nTsFJEQE



Kid’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki5CA4oXL7w

A Letter to Somebody’s Mother, or Sister or Daughter

A Letter to Somebody’s Mother, or Sister or Daughter 

Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let bitterness steal your sweetness.  

IAIN S. THOMAS  from TENDING DANDELIONS

“If it’s not kind or helpful, I won’t say it. If I can’t make the world and the people around me a better place, I can, at least, not make it worse."

 SANDY SWENSON from TENDING DANDELIONS

Today as I thought about many mothers, sisters, or daughters among us, thoughts of so many of y’all nearly overwhelmed me. I so wish sometimes when we pray, that we would always have the perfect answer in the way that makes everyone happy. Sadly, we don’t always get that “happily ever after” answer but we can always pray that the Lord do what He knows is the very best for the person. 


I thought back to when I felt led to create the Somebody’s Mother Online Prayer Support Group, and how it was just me and one other mother, Beverly Collins. Look what the Lord has done! It was created only as a prayer support group, because that’s what the Lord called me to do. Pray and whenever possible to walk alongside with those hurting mothers, sisters or daughters. 


At some point if you’re a woman, you’ve been one of those, maybe all three. We want to hold you up before the Lord when you think you can’t put one foot in front of the other to do the next best thing. We want you to find the peace that passes all understanding. We want you to find Jesus as your source and answer.


As a little girl, I was drawn early to the Lord. He has always been with me, even when I wasn’t always fully with Him. A few years back someone asked my brother, Charles, “How’s your sister, the rock?” Trust me, I’m not the rock but He is THE ROCK. He rocks my world with lovingkindness in the very worst situations because only HE CAN!


I guess the reason I’m writing this today is to say, I’m feeling you, sisters and moms. I’m feeling the mom who lost a child, I’m feeling the mom who can’t provide for her children, I’m feeling the mom who thinks she’s failed her child and that things are really bad right now. I wish I could make all things new. I can only point you to Jesus. He will be all things to you, when no one else can give that word of comfort. His Word will revive you; His word will guide you; His love renews you.


So, it’s Friday and as we pray for the unspoken requests today, the ones we can’t articulate to others; the Lord knows the desires of our hearts as we lay them before Him.  


“You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
      You have recorded each one in your book. “(NLT) Psalm 56:8


Yes, we will cry on this earth. HE SEES! He will not forget you. He will wipe away all tears one day. Tears and prayers are precious to Him. So are you! LOVE, HOPE AND PRAYERS, DONNA COLLINS TINSLEY, A SISTER AMONG YOU

BLOGGING ABOUT BOOKS TODAY

Today I was thinking about my top favorite books for helping families who have recovery, family pain and addiction issues. These books, in particular I’m thinking of, and I’m posting these in no particular order, although most recently I’ve read Pam's and Sandy’s book daily, as they are so relevant to what I’m going through right now. I’ve actually read these all more than once. And each was for “such a time as this.”


PRAYING OUR LOVED ONE HOME by Pam Lanhart



She had me at the introduction, “The summer of brokenness. That is what I call the season of the darkest days of my life.” For me, I call it the “year of the greatest heartbreak.”

I’m on my second reading of this book, and I fully believe I’ll probably use it with my Bible and several other devotional books, every day of my life. For as long as I live.

I was already a fan of Pam’s devotions as she has been so faithful to post on our Facebook group page, Somebody’s Mother Online Prayer Support Group. The opening scripture is a promise: His love will lead them home. Exodus 15:13


https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Our-Loved-One-Home/dp/B07NWZZS16/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=Pam+Jones+Lanhart&qid=1566561999&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0



Sandy Swenson’s Tending Dandelions: https://www.amazon.com/Tending-Dandelions-Meditations-Addicted-Children/dp/1616497203/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NWA1FAAE65HN&keywords=sandy+swenson&qid=1553526482&s=gateway&sprefix=Sandy+Swens%2Caps%2C305&sr=8-1
Not only did I feel Sandy’s pain I was pretty sure she feels mine and a host of other people’s, too. The subtitle, HONEST MEDITATIONS FOR MOTHERS WITH ADDICTED CHILDREN, is true but it can also be used and pondered by most anyone, especially if you feel like you are or have been codependent.

Some of the titles of the meditations were poignant, such as: THE LAND OF TEARS, TO LOVE AN ADDICT, TOUGHEST LOVE OF ALL, and BETTER, NOT BITTER.

Sandy poured her experience, strength and hope into these pages and this quote had her name written all over it:

"Some people make your laugh a little louder, your smile a little brighter, and your life a little better. Try to be one of those people. (ANONYMOUS) from TENDING DANDELIONS




I'm not sure if this is my most recent review or not; lost some files on the computer. I was thinking about books that have helped me along the way. My review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2OYXZFXC7EJMH/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0692631704

Why Don't They JUST QUIT?: Hope for families struggling with addiction. 5th Edition

by Joe Herzanek (Author), Judy Herzanek (Contributor)

 Joe covers it all and is a "must have" for your library and a great resource to recommend. I can't say enough about this book and their website.

 "Addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer" was the most profound quote written by Joe Herzanek in "Why Don't They Just Quit?" If you are a parent of an addict you will relate to that quote profoundly. This book should be in every home if addiction has challenged your family in any way. "Why Don't They Just Quit?" is a family education course in a very easy to read book with bold subtitles, questions and answers and others stories at the end. Hope is woven all through it. There are contemporary quotes throughout, and scripture is interwoven as well as comments from the family who went through the trenches with Joe Herzanek. He has paid his dues in addiction and recovery and has gone on to be a blessing to others through his work as an addictions counselor, as a chaplain at the Boulder County Jail and the president and founder of Changing Lives Foundation.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Dont-They-JUST-QUIT/dp/0692631704/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8&utm_content=buffer7bdb0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR3MlCwbrEf5-60CnGQ2ldC0bQvmKo2cuhGVsDD4Ap7yRakRi0ttPX3YNLI


Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 

by Sharron Cosby (Author)

This was one of my first “go to” books that was a comfort to my soul. I know Sharron and I always say, she’s the “Real deal and total package!” Her journey is unique but her focus on bible study and prayer are strong and powerful. https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Your-Addicted-Loved-One-ebook/dp/B00EXUE12Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=Sharron+Knight+Cosby&qid=1553527273&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-fkmr0



Another book I love for different reasons is: When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances. I can’t say enough about Carol’s faith and the love and hope she spreads is nothing short of a miracle of God. She glows with the Spirit’s enabling on her life. I recommend all her books but this one and A New Kind of Normal: Hope-Filled Choices When Life Turns Upside Down, are my favorites.

https://www.amazon.com/When-Lay-Isaac-Down-Circumstances/dp/161291442X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23NGMMDB08W6J&keywords=carol+kent+books&qid=1554810777&s=books&sprefix=carol+kent%2Cstripbooks%2C169&sr=1-1



I also love The Power of a Praying Parent in the mini-books size. I wasn’t able to find the link to that one,  but here is one:


 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736957677?aaxitk=uBduH2oV.66Xd-WTjo0s-Q&pd_rd_i=0736957677&pf_rd_p=9420597b-7dad-4cbd-a28d-7d676ac67378&hsa_cr_id=6450710550401&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F612lxbfpCtL.jpg&sb-ci-a=0736957677

All these books are unique and awesome and meet a need for information, wisdom and all-around sanity for living. Even if your addicted (or mentally ill/or fill in the blanks) loved one doesn’t live with you it can still affect your life strongly. You may even see signs that are similar in your sober relatives, codependency and what they call in programs, “isms”.  


I love these books, love these authors, I hope to have my devotion book right up there with them one day.



Come join with us over at Somebody’s Mother Online Prayer Support Group. We’ll hold you up in prayer.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/