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

Christmas and The Gift of Prayer

Christmas and The Gift of Prayer

 It is said in the Bible that the only thing that is saved in Heaven from earth is our tears and our prayers.

Love, Hope (whose name is Jesus) and prayers is something I sign off with often on Facebook or in letters to others. It’s not something I can wrap up, or you can see visibly but I have to believe the gift of prayer is worthy of giving this Christmas and throughout the year.

Maybe you think it doesn’t take much effort, but the time involved in taking your needs, hurts and family situations before the Lord each morning may involve more than you realize. I was so blessed this year when a noted author, speaker and benefactor of scholarships to many told me that he would commit to pray for a member of my family for one year. I am touched with his gift to me, someone he barely knows, yet he could see that the burden I had for this one needed sharing. I am very grateful that he was so willing to be a part of my life in this way. Tears fill my eyes each time I think of this gift to me. Yes, it is priceless.

Things got even worse during the year for many months and I so wished the mercy of the Lord would come and make all things good for the one we were praying for. It hasn’t happened totally but I can now write this prayer partner and say, “Thank you for the gift of prayer you gave me for my brother. Things are better."

When I first walked into the Port Orange Winning Women Bible study taught by Anita Smith over 20 years ago, I was desperate for help and fellowship.  I had one child holding onto my pants and one in my arms and I sat in the back as my kids weren’t used to going to a nursery. I was so welcomed that day that I knew I had found my home, “my tribe.” During this time I felt that these women held my arms up as helpers held Moses’ arms during times that his own strength was failing. By prayer and fellowship my battles have been won as I listened to the Word of the Lord and acted on it.

It could be said that we are never so tall as when we are before the Lord on our knees. One reason I believe the gift of prayer is so important is I know there were many than prayed for me though-out the years. And sometimes I get prayer requests from others that I can literally feel the pain of the one reaching out for prayer. As a mother, I can feel a mother’s pain as she weeps for her children, as a daughter I can relate to how someone such as me can fail so miserably at life yet be extended mercy from the Lord. One thing I have asked the Lord to do is to remind me often of where I have walked in my life and remember to think of the painful shoes that others may be walking in. Shoes that He, my savior walked in first that we might have life and love

So this year my gift to you will be the gift that I treasure the most from others. Prayer. It is the gift that keeps on giving as we all pay it forward for Christmas.

May your Christmas be full of Jesus and love!

Blessings, Donna Collins Tinsley 2011

A Decidedly Different Christmas Message: “You’re Such a Mother!” Will be posted on http://thornrose7.blogspot.com/, Somebody’s Mother Online Prayer Support Group, The Addict’s Mom, Fractured Families, Friendshipline Ministries, GRG, Women United in Prayer, Prodigal Hope and my other support groups that I treasure probably tomorrow.