HE CAN MAKE YOU GLAD!

Sometimes, I go back and reread things that I wrote that shows me where I was at a certain season or timeframe of life, or helps me to press on. This is part of a 2010 message with a verse that has given me much encouragement.

Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,
The years in which we have seen evil.
Psalm 90:14-15 (New King James Version)

I love these verses in Psalm 90, I was so astounded that the Lord would actually take the days of pain and affliction that we have gone through and make us happy according to them.

Is it possible that He would give joy as He allowed sorrow? Isn't that the premise of Romans 8:28 when it is said that He will work all things to our good? He can make us glad! He not only makes us glad but in proportion to how much we’ve been afflicted with pain and suffering.

What encouraging words and what a wonderful prayer to pray; make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. (ASV)

Oh that the Lord would fill us with love and joy as we seek Him in the morning. It truly would give us a song to sing and a story to tell to our families and friends. How many of us want to proclaim His greatness to our children and grandchildren? Most of us do and we can by reminding them of these precious words from the Psalms.

It’s okay to ask the Lord to treat us well and give us success. In my life I have felt afflicted with abuses, hurt and losses but I can prevail by focusing on the good that will come eventually. If I had not endured these things, I would not be the person I am today. I was on the road to being a spoiled brat as a young girl and then my world was rocked by pain and I learned to look outside of myself.

 I learned that others are more important than myself, early on. I learned about self-sacrifice from a mother who worked so many hours a week at forty-five cents an hour for years just to feed her children as my sweet Mama did. I learned that my brothers and sister were overcomers in life, as they just did what they could to enjoy what little we had. We all learned that we had a lot more than many others. We learned to share what we had and that it is not material things that count but strength, maturity and kindness that will prevail all the days the Lord gives us. We learned family and friends are more important than having a perfect life.

I know my message may be different than most people's, but I guess the slant He gives me fits some families. You know: the dysfunctional, but trying ones, the funny, but forgiven ones, and the once hopeless but now Hope-filled ones! To God be the Glory! Affliction to gladness; it's the way of the Cross and the way our own Savior took. I believe it is the answer to the question that I ask often of the Lord; “Show me how to live?” This day and every day satisfy us early with Your mercy,

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

Donna Collins Tinsley

Two songs concerning gladness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqkW19B0d3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytE8um04l24

Display Windows

“Beware how you take away hope from another human being.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].” ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

I heard a sermon about the book of Job that explained the verse, “The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”

It went on to say that the Lord put Job under the spotlight or on display, as a man of integrity who would not turn away from God because of personal pain and trauma. He had a lot of that. He lost EVERYTHING right down to ALL his children. And I feel for his wife, whose main quote was “Curse God and die!” We sometimes forget that she is going through this with him, feeling his pain, losing her children, too. She was probably beyond bewildered at their life.

I want to focus on being in the spotlight. I’ve told some of my children and grandchildren, that they are in the spotlight. They may have not asked to be or wanted to be, but their lives are, good or bad. If things aren’t going well at the moment the Lord may want to spotlight how HE CAN MAKE GOOD FROM BAD. That goes along with the scripture in Romans 8:28 where we read that God will make all things work together for our good because of being called by Him.



The definition of display means to show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention; stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

The definition of spotlight means a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage; public notice or attention. a light designed to direct a narrow intense beam of light on a small area, something that illuminates brilliantly.



Many of us hate to be in the spotlight, especially when we proclaim the Word of the Lord over our families and instead of a shining example of good things, it seems that things are going from bad to worse. FOR THIS WE HAVE JESUS! And we’re not giving up on Him, as the apostles said, “Where can we go, You have the words of life?” When our family’s lives seems messed up, we definitely don’t want to be on display. But on the other hand, when you shop and something is on display, it can be a beautiful thing. Years ago, as a little girl, I remember beautiful display windows with only the best things featured. Walking downtown near Christmas there would be such display windows, that it would take your breath away.

May I say it’s possible that the Lord may want to brilliantly illuminate and bring attention to what He wants to do with your life. It’s all a matter of giving yourself over to Him and His purposes. I can think of several women right now, that the Lord has displayed, from tragedy to triumph, their lives a miracle. As I think of these sisters among us, I have hope. I press on. I pray through. Be a hope hustler today. Your life is on display.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! But MERCY IS EVEN MORE REAL!

I hesitated to share this honor but also wanted to remind everyone that the struggle is real and continues for families. I have in no way arrived and also on the totem pole of people doing great things in our community, I’d probably be at the bottom.

On the very week of this honor some of the greatest pain continues in our family with situations that would be totally unbearable without the Lord. Sometimes I’m amazed at how low someone’s bottom must get. I’m equally amazed at the grace of our Lord.  Something that is on my heart is concerning yielding to the Lord. Sometimes we, as humans, hold on so tight to the very thing that is hindering the blessing of the Lord. I’ve always said that I don’t want to be clenching my hands closed, so that the Lord has to rip things from me, but I open my hands up each day and release those things to Him. I put those I love on His altar and try to release to His plan their lives. He sees so much clearer than I do. I can’t figure it out, but He already has.

So I share this as part of my journey and that you may know me better. Also, that you would know that you what do matters. You are unique and have unique offerings to give to the world. Shine on.

From the Facebook page for Volusia Recovery Alliance

October 4 at 7:15 AM · 

It's that day again where we celebrate Local Recovery Heroes, including Allies and Family Members.
We are so grateful for today's Hero and thank her for all the work she's done to help our community and so much more!
Please help us celebrate Donna!!

What is your name and how long have you been involved in the Recovery Community?

Hi, I’m Donna Collins Tinsley and I became involved with the Recovery Community on a personal note when I attended an Al-Anon meeting over eleven years ago. The only reason I went there was because, after years of watching my beautiful daughter self-destruct, I did the only thing I thought I could do; I Marchman Acted her.* To be able to visit her at treatment I had to attend Al-anon and get someone to sign a paper for each visit. After the first visit to the Gentle Journey Group, I knew I wanted to go back for “me” whether I visited her or not. “Keep coming back” and “It works if you work it,” were slogans that became part of my life.

What inspired you to become involved in the Recovery Community?

I really wanted to educate myself and become part of the solution and not part of the problem. There wasn’t as much help available back then and a lot of stigma to families and within families. I always thought, this is “Somebody’s daughter, son or family member.” What if it were yours? Wouldn’t you want someone to care about them and not look down upon them? As a mother, I also wanted to help ease the load of hurting moms and children. The pain is real but the healing can be just as real, if we embrace recovery. My daughter was 41 at the time I Marchman Acted her and although she’d been in and out of treatment a few times, she wasn’t able to stay clean. Her lifestyle had stolen the joy of life and family from her. I think by this time we were both desperate! What I didn’t know at the time was the Marchman Act spelled love to her. A conversation we’d had on the phone, beforehand, went like this,
“You need to go into a drug treatment program!”
“Mom, you could always “Marchman Act” me,” she replied.

Although I thought at her age, she should be doing it herself, I didn’t realize that she thought no one loved her enough to do it. That was not true, I was just torn between detaching and letting natural consequences come about and doing what I wanted to do, as a mom.

By the time she was served the papers, she decided she didn’t like the idea of me doing it. But I decided to follow through as in the Serenity Prayer, “Accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can.” A friend in Recovery says, “Do what you can live with.” (John H.) Some days I can live with detachment, other days not. Some days I may offer a ride, or help in some form. Other days, I may have a check in my heart about helping. She since has embraced recovery and has been working a program, and serving the Recovery Community also. We now have several family members in recovery. Yet as one child got better, another one started down the slippery slope of pain. I didn’t even see it coming as I was too focused on the addict. The struggle is real for families.

What has being involved in the Recovery Community taught you about yourself?

The Recovery Community has taught me that it’s a family disease and we ALL need help. Recovery teaches that we who are affected by addiction are also sick, and keeping secrets keeps us sicker. It has taught me that we need the help of a loving God to help restore our insane lives back to sanity. For me, Jesus and recovery groups are what gets me through the day. And the long nights.

"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. But Recovery also taught me that I can’t “fix” anyone but myself and to “Mind My Own Business.” That’s a hard one for me but I’m learning to make quick amends if I get off the path. I love the Al-anon slogans and certain devotionals that enhance my recovery walk. It’s taught me to have compassion and reminds me that there is HOPE!

What ways have you found to be of service in the Recovery Community?

I’m honored to be a very small part of the Recovery Community and feel that there are SO MANY other people doing so much more than I do. One of the first things I did was create a Facebook page to pray for mothers and their loved ones, called Somebody’s Mother Online Prayer Support Group. If substance use disorder in any form has hit your family you need to know that someone is holding you up in prayer. It is a closed page, so the public can’t see the prayer requests. We’ve had some victories as well as losses, but together we are strong.

I’ve attended Al-anon events and seminars and serve as secretary for my home group right now. I help as one of the administrators on the Substance Abuse Community Force and try to keep Recovery topics there online. I try to encourage people of faith to join with us on this journey. I blog to encourage people to press on. I hope one day to do more service work, but since life gets in the way of living sometimes, I’m just doing what I can. I want it to be said of me when I die, “She lived well and she loved well.” Love never fails.
Let your light shine, people! Recovery is alive and well in our area!

*THE MARCHMAN ACT: The Marchman Act is a Florida statute that is also known as the "Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993" and simply referred by its abbreviated name "The Marchman Act". It provides a means of involuntary and voluntary assessment & stabilization and treatment of a person allegedly abusing alcohol or drugs.

#NationalRecoverymovement #VolusiaRecoveryAlliance #Volusiarecovers #Community #Recovery #RecoveryCommunityHero #FacesandVoicesofRecovery

https://thornrose7.blogspot.com/2014/02/thank-you-beth-patch-and-cbn.html