Hello, my name is...

  

Hello, my name is Child of the One True King:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJWQzjfU3o

Sometimes when I think about my life and how good God is to me, I really wonder, why me? At times I am amazed at the awesome people the Lord has surrounded me with. I am amazed at the greatness that I am allowed to participate among when I meet people of wonderful character starting back many years ago with the prophet, the late C. L. Moore, Steve Scheffler, authors Calvin Miller, Cec Murphey, all of our Word Weaver authors and more people than I can name. I realize that as a daughter of the King, the One High God, Jesus, who is my Hope and Deliverer, it is pure grace to me. I am a child of the One True King. 

Lately I have been involved with some really cool things, many having a common thread. Actually I must back up over six years when I joined a support group. I fell in love with the people and have been faithful to that family meeting that helps me get through the day. Then two years ago I was blessed when I participated in a small degree with the Let's Go Ministry's Motel Church.

My main ministry involvement is Word Weavers Volusia County and I am constantly amazed at the talent among our group and I do admit they are well loved by me. They truly enhance my life and give me something to look forward to each month. When I am able to attend the Florida Christian Writer's Conference at Lake Yale, FL I am even more joyful. Eva Marie Everson and Mark Hancock as well as many other workers put on a great conference. Link: http://www.floridacwc.net/

The blessing of the Lord came to me in September when I was privileged to join with many others at the Daytona Beach Bandshell and give a voice of Recovery hope at Recovery Month Events. All those who participated in booths and onstage were a blessing to our area.

I especially thank Pastor Monzell Ford who looked at my heart instead of my life and allowed me to read a poem dedicated to my daughter, Regina, who is over six years in recovery now. At a time that I felt very low, this Godly man encouraged me and gave me a strong hope to press on. Then the next thing that I was so privileged to participate in was the God Belongs in My City walk. What a joyful, powerful event that ended on the steps of City Hall in Daytona with many prayers, proclamations, songs and testimonies to the glory of Jesus. His name was proclaimed and He was honored that day by the vision Pastor Monzell had and the organization that he and many other godly people including his first lady, instituted. A walk by people of all walks of life came forth in our city and it was a powerful event.

I also have been participating in some awesome workshops at Family Worship Center with the series by Pastor Ray called Transform U. Body, soul and spirit help at the best and the workshop by Russell Holloway and then the one by Pastor John and Pastor Cathy bringing Marc Mero here was of the utmost in help for families. Transforming for sure! Bill was so impressed with Marc that he is taking Isaiah to meet him soon.

The next event that I am doing some behind the scenes work for is the Freedom Experience sponsored by the Lets Go Ministry on November 14th and 15th at 5:00 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJWQzjfU3o

My goal in life is to live well, speaking well of others, learning to walk in the Holy Spirit always and learning to have the wisdom of God. I want to pay forward help and healing even if my own family isn't completely healed yet, I believe. I keep on believing it is coming, I believe we will be a modern day Joseph story, that where things were meant for evil, the Lord will bring it full circle to good. Hello, my name is Child of the One True King and your name can be that also.

You can also find me at Somebody's Mother online Prayer Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/

and The Substance Abuse Task Force 

What Follows After by Dan Walsh, it just doesn't get any better than this

Dan Walsh is fast becoming my favorite author and has written a very poignant, challenging and intense book called "What Follows After." I find with Dan's books I usually just devour them the first time I read them. They draw me in so quickly that I make excuses to read at times that I normally would be doing something else. What Follows After made me want to read more and then as I neared the ending, I tried to slow down as suddenly I didn't want the book to end. I'll be going back to reread this book as I do with all of Dan's books to savor the story and take the lesson that he teaches well within my soul.

As a Floridian I love reading books that are based on cities that I either live in or have visited. Dan took us on a journey around the state in this book and it was more of a mystery than his other novels. I love the research and the history aspect that Dan is known for and also that it was story within a story.

What Follows After also made me think back to what I was doing in 1962; I was the older child, Colt's age back then. The suspense at times was nearly unbearable so it made me keep turning the pages and I added extra reading time at night to my schedule. What Follows After is a good history lesson for younger readers as it followed the timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the reaction of people in our country.

Dan weaves as only he can a story of family dysfunction, total breakdown and then redemption in a beautiful way. It is hard to believe that the parents in the story would have their children live a lie, especially in the time frame of the story, but maybe it was because of the time frame... the "Camelot years," when families were supposed to be like the Cleavers or the Anderson's from "Father Knows Best" that they felt they had to pretend. Dan always puts an important life lesson in his books on how a strongly dysfunctional family can learn to be a healthy family.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was the church scene with Mamie Lee, who was a mother figure in the book. Reminiscent of "The Help" it was a pivotal chapter and was beautifully portrayed as the people prayed and took action to be on the alert.

I have to say that Dan's last sentence from the book summed it all up so well. What follows after just doesn't get any better than that.

Donna Collins Tinsley

Word Weavers Volusia County Group