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/

Tickety-Boo, This and That and Pressing On

Tickety-Boo, This and That and Pressing On



I never knew what Tickety-Boo meant until today. Tickety-boo is an old British saying meaning everything is in good order, or just fine. How many of us would like to have that kind of life, one that is in good order or just fine? I’ll probably not start saying that phrase, though, or you may think I’m Mary Poppins. 


I’ve been thinking about gifts and talents, especially regarding writing, as leading a small group puts more accountability upon me, to continue to learn and grow myself. As I teach WRITING STRATEGIES, by Rosemary Upton, I’m going through the book, The Creative Call: An Artist's Response to the Way of the Spirit Book by Janice Elsheimer, one more time, myself.


Many of you know that I’ve had a computer crash that may have been the end of most of my writings. In Jesus name I say that is not true, and today we are going to THE GEEK SQUAD, and drop the computer off. But it has got me thinking about not being faithful with the many devotionals, articles and manuscripts that the Lord gave me over the years. Many things I wrote, I realize, needed to sit and be seasoned and edited. Many were just procrastinated about, and some were sent as gifts to people, hopefully to help lesson their burdens or to show them what I went through, myself. 


But these scriptures (shown in many versions here) are some that I need to take to heart. The Lord has been SO GOOD to me. I will always give JESUS credit and praise His name. 


To whom much is given much will be required.

“Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!” From Luke 12:48

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” NASB

“And those who have been entrusted with great responsibility will be held more responsible to their master.” TPT


Thinking of these verses and also the chapter about the unfaithful servant; I’d never want to be called that. I will strive to press on, with whatever writings I can retrieve, and be faithful to whatever the Lord has called me to. It’s been cool, reliving with my group, what prompted me to write in the first place, some of my blunders, and the joy and pain of sharing the realities of life with others. I’m so proud of my group; I see greatness within them and call it forth in Jesus name.


Praying we all will have a Tickety-boo life, soon.

Recognizable; My Thoughts on Florida Christian Writer’s Conference, 2019

Do you agree it’s true that we all want to be recognized in some way or the other? That isn’t always something we want to admit, but even the old television program, Cheers’ theme was “You want to go where everybody knows your name.”

It was so cool to go to the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference and see some familiar faces there that I recognized. It is nearly like being on holy ground, the beauty of nature there at Lake Yale is so abundant. 


Once, many years back, when I was in my forties, I was at the Volusia County Fair. A woman came up to me and said she’d been a nurse on duty the day I gave birth to my daughter, Regina, at Halifax Hospital. It had been over 25 years since that wonderful event and I was shocked that she’d recognized me. Maybe because I’d only been fifteen at the time and that was unusual; I hate to say I didn’t recognize her, but that she recognized me, made me feel good. 


When I walked into Carol Kent’s class and her husband Gene, walked up to me, I recognized him immediately. I follow their ministry as Carol’s story has gripped my heart and I, too, know a mother’s sorrow when things don’t work out as we’d hoped for our children.


Although we have very different stories and situations, we share the common bond; love for our children. Although their walk has been painful, Carol is always ready to share the good news of what the Lord our God, is doing in Jason’s life. 


I believe that there is a supernatural anointing upon their lives. There is no way that Gene and Carol and Jason would have the strength, energy or the great passion that they have without it. In the old days, it might’ve been called, a “Holy Unction.” It’s a work of the Holy Spirit to do what is impossible to be done on this earth. Sometimes when there is great trauma in a family, just getting up the next day and pressing on is a miracle in itself.


I really meant it when I told Carol, I registered for the one-day commute to the conference, just to give her a real, in-person hug. It was something I really felt like I needed to do, not for her, but maybe for me. I so appreciate the fact that when all things were darkest in her life, she stepped up, pressed on and did the “next best thing.”  The Lord has been magnified and I am grateful for Carol and the many unsung heroes we meet daily, moms doing what moms do best; love their children, unconditionally. I guess I could start a fan club, but really, we know she’d point us to JESUS. 


Instead of stressing because I was unable to meet all the people I wanted to meet at the conference, I decided to just enjoy what I could. I was able to have extra time with our Word Weaver’s Volusia County group president, Tania, who rode over with me. I was honored to attend Carol’s class, Julie Lavender’s class and a portion of Bob Hostetler’s class (I learned a lot in just that short time.) Keynote speaker, Liz Curtis Higgs was as awesome and funny as I’d always known she would be. Although I wasn’t able to attend Alice Klies’s class, I learned that she sends in four submissions a month to Chicken Soup for the Soul. Wow! No wonder it took me so long to finally be accepted in one. Look for my story “THE THREE MUSKETEERS” in the LIFE LESSONS FROM THE DOG book. 


To those I just saw from afar and didn’t get to spend time with, know you are in my heart and prayers. 


FCWC next conference at Lake Yale will be in October instead of March. This conference is one of the best in the country in my opinion. I have so many good memories of my times spent there. Thanks to all who gave of their time to bless us so much. And Sarah Bulls, may a special blessing come to you for making me those two awesome appointments. I had the time of my life.

What Defines Beautiful to You?

What Defines Beautiful to You?

“So if my beauty starts to fade
Well I've been held in a thousand ways
If my hearts looks broken in
Then I've been brave enough to live”

Velveteen (lyrics by Krista Wells)

We all want to be around the beautiful people. You know who they are. The ones that just seem to glow. The ones whose words we all hang on and that have what some may call the “it factor”*. The Wise Geek describes this phrase here: “In the past the “it factor” might have been defined as someone with je ne sais quoi, or the indefinable something that makes someone special.”

 I don’t mean the movie stars that think they have all political clout and knowledge and I hate to think of how many people follow them blindly. But the people among us who are the real deal. They’ve suffered pain, lost children and loved ones, had health issues and yet they take a licking and keep on ticking as was once said of a Timex watch. They are ageless, timeless, they have a beauty that is indescribable.

Tenacity can make someone beautiful. I’ve seen people with halting steps, pain in their body, yet love and joy on their faces as they go about doing good for others. Mother Teresa and Corrie Ten Boom come to my mind as I write. Their inner beauty showed forth as they poured out their lives for others daily. A friend of mine, Patricia Keough-Wilson wrote a study on women like this and she titled it, “The Call of the Ageless God on Aging Women.” It embodies one type of the beauty I’m writing about.

I’ve seen Moms who do without or take second jobs to give special things to their kids, (Regina, I’m thinking of you; working an extra job to give Aubrey a wonderful baby shower) or perhaps to give them the necessities of life as many single moms do. I’ve seen grandparents give up their lives for their grandchildren; I’ve seen dads work a job and come home and homeschool a child as Bill did when we first homeschooled Shiloh. I see people who retire and then work comparable to a full-time job volunteering or helping with the elderly. These are beautiful things before the Lord. And me. 

Music is beautiful to me, words are beautiful to me if given from a heart of tenderness and love. The oceans and mountains of the world sing of the beauty and majesty of the God who created them. Peace, quiet, innocence, purity, so many words describe beauty and are things I want my thoughts to linger on today.

Phil. 4:4-8  "Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life.  Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!  Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near.

Don't be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing.  Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude.  Tell Him every detail of your life,  then God's wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.   So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind.  And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always." THE PASSION TRANSLATION

I want to leave you with some quotes that inspire me and are beautiful to me:

My favorite quote by Corrie is: “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

This is what I want to be:

“I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” ― Mother Teresa

Donna Collins Tinsley

*https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-it-factor.htm

Saturday This and That

Today as I think about the busy week ahead, I know it will be the grace of God that gets me through. Going to Word Weaver's Volusia County Group on Monday will be a highlight as the members are my heart and soul. Then amidst a lot of family things I head off to the Florida Christian Writer's Conference for a day trip on Friday. I've heard they will be moving this conference to Georgia so I need to be amongst the group I've come to love, one last time. I'm looking forward to hugging Carol Kent in person, after praying for many, many years for her family and their son, Jason. I know all the speakers and classes will be excellent and I'm so grateful for Eva Marie Everson, Mark Hancock and the whole staff for their labor of love. 

The enemy has tried to slow me down a lot with some joint pain that makes walking uncomfortable and I guess it's true, getting old isn't for sissies. I'm asking the Lord for extreme favor and healing.

So pray for me and I'll pray for you. May we go out burning with the flame of the Holy Spirit.

It’s our most poignant and maybe important day to post and pray; I once saw a picture post that said “God bless the mother who has lost a child.” We pray blessings upon those mothers, and we pray on Saturdays for those who have lost loved ones to death. Many among us have lost loved ones, mates, children and young adult children. The most unnatural thing in the world they say is burying your child. Lord, send your strong father arms of comfort to those who are grieving. And I also say, there is more than one way to lose a child, and that is why we have so many hurting mothers, praying together on this group. 

Many of my widow friends are trying to find a new “normal.” Lord, we call out to You for them.

Some families are estranged and hurting and waiting for their miracle. They pray, they long for the “happy family” scenario that is portrayed in the media. They come to realize they are powerless and only the Lord’s power can truly show what is His perfect will. We fall down and we get up, sometimes we feel like we are smacked down and no one sees us. No one sees the heart of love, no one sees the tears, but no, the Lord has them bottled in precious urns in the heavens, not one falls that He does not notice. That’s the kind of God we serve, a savior kind, who will heal in His timing. 

He will be Your strong support today, if you will give it over to Him. Sometimes just taking the next step may be the hardest thing you can do and the bravest also. Then maybe as we walk towards His will for us (and sometimes that is not easy to understand or even know,) His Holy Spirit arrives and that wind will revive us. A prayer and a song is what I offer today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JXIEmVQi3Q

Praise the good Lord! I got back on this blog! TGIF!

After months of being locked out of this blog, I reconnected. PRAISE THE GOOD LORD! So a little update; besides being a member of WORD WEAVER’S Volusia County, as a ministry of Family Worship Center I am now leading a small group for this semester.


THE WRITER’S GATHERING FIRST MEETING WAS Wednesday!

We had an awesome group and got to know each other and hear what our members are writing or hope to write.


Those who attended were:
Gloria Gonzalez
Nancy Childs
Becky Lindsey
Jeannie Verosky
Donna Tinsley

We had a two hour meeting, beginning and ending in prayer; with me giving the vision for what I hope to do as far as teaching each time we meet in the future. I gave out some handouts and also told them the exact days I have marked for meetings. I’ll be teaching from Rosemary Upton’s WRITING STRATEGIES course. I’m also reviewing personally THE CREATIVE CALL by Janice Elsheimer and writer’s books by Cecil Murphey to pay forward their wisdom for our group. I see great things for our members. I’m honored to host this and need all the prayers I can get.
 It’s Friday! “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message (MSG)

Nothing is impossible with our Lord although most days some of us live as if everything is impossible. Our lives seem impossible, our kids seem impossible and our destiny surely seems impossible to attain. Yet the Word of God says that He can do anything! Let’s live our lives today believing Him for that impossible prayer request, that one that we can barely utter any more, it seems so unattainable. THE LORD IS ABLE! HE IS GOOD! HE IS OUR PEACE AND HOPE THIS DAY. TGIF!

Praying for that unspoken prayer request and also for those in authority over us, first responders, policemen, firemen and those who care for the sick. Adding prayers for those who feel like giving up. We are grateful for this new day in Jesus name.

Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well, sing to it! (Num 21:17)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6_BLuhr0HQ

The Bible says in Lamentations:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24(NIV)

Happy Sunday

Sunday, a day we dedicate to rest, peace and worship. Try all three, it will do your body good in more than one way:)
I read from the book, Jesus Calling, a way to focus on Him.

 "My face is shining upon you, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are Face-to-Face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of you...r burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out, "Help me Jesus!" and I will lift you up." It goes on to talk about the waves of adversity looming huge but by the time they reach you, touched by Him, they are small. Our encouragement is to smile at the future. Smile at this Sunday and lean on His favor.

 A song and a prayer that the Lord will keep you and all that concerns you in His care;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-gLdIO5G-Q

 

I just got home from Family Worship Center where David Fleming ministered. He is not getting older, he's getting better in Jesus name. Praise the good Lord! He always inspires my family.

 

 

So happy he shared the cutest pictures of his little boys with Bill and me after service. THEY ARE ADORABLE! The Lord certainly saved the best for last as in giving David the most awesome wife and sons in his later years after David serving him in the low places for years.

Review of The Miracle Worker and the Misfits by DIXIE KOCH:

 

Here is my review of The Miracle Worker and the Misfits by DIXIE KOCH:

 

I liked The Miracle Worker and the Misfits by DIXIE KOCH. I thought it had a catchy title which is why I decided to order it for review. The subtitle is "Two Supernatural Kingdom and the Clashing of Swords."

 

The play on the story from the Bible about the demons being cast out and into animals brought about a big dilemma in the story. Personally I wish Dixie had kept to the Biblical adaptation and used pigs instead of cows to send the demons into, just my preference, for some reason.

 

Some of the dialogue was extremely beautiful at times and the story was gripping and will keep you reading.

 

 

 I was very grateful to receive a Review Copy from the publisher through BookCrash. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255. My review is my honest opinion.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2O0YL2X4F951E/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B072BNTG3L

What is Your Samaria or Connection?

What is Your Samaria or Connection?

And I shall cause thee to have ministry among the sisters and I shall give thee favor. But thou shalt also wait upon thy God and I will give thee a tender heart and yea even more than thou dost even have this night. Thou shalt be broken by My word and by My presence many times but not destroyed nor cast down.

I shall fashion you again and again and each time that I mold and touch thee thou shalt rise up in more of a new transformed creation than you were before you came into the presence of your God. (Prophectic Word for Donna 1984)

 

Do you ever feel there is something in your life that you must or need to do? The scripture in John 4:4 where Jesus said, "And he must needs to go through Samaria." has been on my mind lately. He needed to go there because He knew there was someone who had need of Him. She didn't know it, at the time, but He knew well ahead of time what she needed, and it came in the form of a reality check. It also was a needed connection. She needed to connect with her creator in a way that she never had before.

How many of us need one of those connections? Can we handle them when they come in the words of a friend or loved one? A proverb says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Recently someone I know called me at the right time, the moment I felt so down, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. THE LORD’S TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHT AND TRUE.  Dealing with the “new normal” of not feeling good or having energy because of a recent health diagnosis, had gotten me down. 

But my friend had a good report on herself; the Lord had her call me before Christmas, feeling that I had a connection for her that she needed desperately that day. I didn’t know if I did have the connection, but the Lord was faithful and she was able to get the help she needed. It wasn’t me or my connection but it was JESUS ALL THE WAY.  She was able to be revived and had what she needed to get through the holidays which are very painful for her, a woman alone, at this stage in her life.

The Lord is so good! He gave back to me through her words; she was a revived and filled with the SPIRIT, SISTER/MOM/DAUGHTER.  The minute she started talking to me on the phone, I started to weep as I knew I needed what she had and what she was going to say to me. She had a prayer and prophecy somewhat about me as Anna ministering to the Lord and God’s people. Me, praying, being seen, being used of the Lord when frankly right then I didn’t FEEL that and was so tired and down that I didn’t even want to go out of the house. She said she saw me as intercessor not only for my own children but for other’s children, too. May I be faithful to the call and the leading of the Holy Spirit. I write this today knowing that many of you may feel “unseen” yet the Lord does always see and He is very acquainted with our griefs and sorrows. He is always here, so take heart if you feel down.

You, Lord, will bring to remembrance the things I need to remember at the right time, whether through YOUR WORD (Psalm 118) or through friends. You, Lord, have gifted me with such kindness and love and MERCY by allowing me to partake of prophecies given, groups that support me and friends and family who love me. YOU ARE MY CHIEF LOVE, MY SAVIOR, MY DELIGHT AND STRONG FORTRESS OF HOPE! BE THAT FOR ALL HERE WHO READ THESE WORDS.

But even after the high of a wonderful phone call and connection by Sunday there was a great hindrance to me even wanting to go to church. This is rarely ever the case as worshipping the Lord revives me. I realize now it was the enemy trying to keep me from bringing a connection to someone. When I first got to church I was blessed by watching a sister worship the Lord even though less than a week ago her husband passed away unexpectedly. The music began to revive my soul as I begged the Lord to use me and reveal my purpose here on earth. Even at this late stage and age, I’m still one of the few who most of the time feels purposeless or that I’m just not really sure of the call. As I was leaving church a sister came to me and asked “Don’t you have a prayer group?” I sat with her and started talking about our Somebody’s Mother Online Prayer Support Group but then as she started sharing her heartache, I thought, let’s not talk about praying let’s just pray. It was my honor to hold her, pray for her and her daughter, to be used in a small way by the Lord. I knew then the reason for the hindrance, the enemy did not want me to connect or be part of someone’s Samaria. But he did not win on that day.

The right connection is always Jesus.

"And he must needs to go through Samaria" Jesus not only needed to minister to that woman, but He needed to give her a reality check. She needed something to get herself out of the stupor of life where she just existed. She needed to know that there was someone who knew her better than she knew herself and loved her anyway. She needed to know that she was more than she had settled for, trying to find herself in numerous relationships instead of the one relationship that would bring her life, health and love.

"And he must needs to go through Samaria" is such a beautiful phrase even though, the wording at first sounds a bit strange. Jesus not only ministers but is ministered to by doing what He needed to do, which in this case was bring life where there was death and darkness. Where the woman normally tried to hide herself from the community she went on to become a preacher of the good news of God. The news that someone can know everything about you and still love, want and desire you.

We can't change our past, but we can make it work for us and the Lord as wonder and awe forms, when others hear what we have gone through. We give glory to the Lord who has helped us when we were too weak to help ourselves.

Many people are going through tremendous trials at this moment. Prayer requests pour in that would break your heart and the heart of the Lord. The only way we are going to make it is to cling to the Lord and listen to that small voice that tells us what we "need" to do. It might be something simple as giving a dejected person a hug, sharing some time with someone when you don't really have time of your own, calling up someone in ministry and telling them they are doing a great job.

Look around you; that person who is your "Samaria'" or connection may appear in a way or form you didn't expect. But the heart of the Lord who loves us all supremely will always go out of His way to go to your "Samaria."

 Donna Collins Tinsley

A SISTER AMONG YOU