What a wonderful graduation ceremony for Chris from Men of Destiny Ministries in St. Cloud, FL. The Spirit of the Lord was strong as family and friends celebrated the victory of a one-year program of discipleship. There is a strong call on Chris’ life and as he said, with his past experiences he will be able to reach those that a lot of mainstream pastors will never relate to. He shines as light of Christ wherever he goes, as mentioned by a worker from McDonald’s that he encouraged one day when she felt she couldn’t go on. Jesus was glorified by the founder, Pastor George Shafter, the director, Pastor Vincent Kendall and my husband Pastor Bill (prefers to go by Brother Bill) Tinsley. The message that you can be a new creation in Christ and not go by old tags of addict or alcoholic is a true and needed word and Bill delivered it with intensity.
If you know a man struggling with addictions or life issues have them call the office at 407 957-4292. It isn’t for the weak or fainthearted as it truly is a discipleship program but a real man with Christ abiding can come out with true direction for his life. It makes a family proud!
Donna Collins Tinsley is a sister among you, a sojourner, who writes a word of hope for mothers who have been affected by the pain of addiction in their loved ones lives. She prays for them also through Somebody's Mother Online Prayer Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/. She lives in Port Orange, FL and has been included in 20 book compilations, several magazines and online. She is a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Showing posts with label graduations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graduations. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Graduating from the school of life’s addictions
My oldest daughter celebrated 18 months of sobriety on Jan. 21st.
I will give her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt (her addictions). Hosea 2:15
A ceremony and a big party usually mark Graduation Day as someone graduates from High School or College. But what if you daughter has taken the long road of education in the “school of life’s addictions”?
My oldest daughter has wrestled with a drug and cocaine addiction that her own father started her on as a child. It has been a stronghold that caused much pain to her and our family. Even though I had divorced her father his influence lived on in the pain of her lifestyle. Finally, at age 42 she took the steps to stay in a Treatment Facility for long enough to be able to come out from the grip of these bondages and begin to live a normal life.
So what do you say at a different sort of commencement ceremony?
In a letter I wrote her, I rephrased the words to an old blessing to fit the occasion
Dear Sweet Regina,
I am very proud and happy that this day of commencement has come for you. It is an example of God working all things for good once more in your life. He is the God of second (third, fourth and more) chances, as you well know.
I pray the Lord be your helper and protect you from harm and addictions that call.
I pray the Lord save up from your affliction and have mercy on your lowliness
I pray the Lord raise you up from where you had fallen
I pray the Lord come to your neediness
Heal what needs to be healed
Restore where you have wandered from Him
Feed your spirit
Ransom what has been lost
Help you to rise up from the sickbed of the past and walk
Straight, firmly and with His strength
So that you may teach the weak and faint-hearted about the
True comfort of His love for you.
(My version of a prayer written by Clement of Rome 1st Century)
Welcome, honey to your new life. And know I will always love you.
A daughter is your child no matter how old she is and how far she strays and I am truly grateful the Lord has given her a new start
Donna Collins Tinsley
This scripture sums up my feelings about the subject:
My heart rejoices in the LORD!
The LORD has made me strong.
Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the LORD!
There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.1 Samuel 2:1-2
I will give her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt (her addictions). Hosea 2:15
A ceremony and a big party usually mark Graduation Day as someone graduates from High School or College. But what if you daughter has taken the long road of education in the “school of life’s addictions”?
My oldest daughter has wrestled with a drug and cocaine addiction that her own father started her on as a child. It has been a stronghold that caused much pain to her and our family. Even though I had divorced her father his influence lived on in the pain of her lifestyle. Finally, at age 42 she took the steps to stay in a Treatment Facility for long enough to be able to come out from the grip of these bondages and begin to live a normal life.
So what do you say at a different sort of commencement ceremony?
In a letter I wrote her, I rephrased the words to an old blessing to fit the occasion
Dear Sweet Regina,
I am very proud and happy that this day of commencement has come for you. It is an example of God working all things for good once more in your life. He is the God of second (third, fourth and more) chances, as you well know.
I pray the Lord be your helper and protect you from harm and addictions that call.
I pray the Lord save up from your affliction and have mercy on your lowliness
I pray the Lord raise you up from where you had fallen
I pray the Lord come to your neediness
Heal what needs to be healed
Restore where you have wandered from Him
Feed your spirit
Ransom what has been lost
Help you to rise up from the sickbed of the past and walk
Straight, firmly and with His strength
So that you may teach the weak and faint-hearted about the
True comfort of His love for you.
(My version of a prayer written by Clement of Rome 1st Century)
Welcome, honey to your new life. And know I will always love you.
A daughter is your child no matter how old she is and how far she strays and I am truly grateful the Lord has given her a new start
Donna Collins Tinsley
This scripture sums up my feelings about the subject:
My heart rejoices in the LORD!
The LORD has made me strong.
Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the LORD!
There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.1 Samuel 2:1-2
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