Graduation Night can be Deadly

I was disappointed I couldn't get this into a newspaper by today; a version may appear next week, but to me that is a little too late for parents to get the word out. Since I don't have a huge following on my blog and it is not the same word count I am posting here:

Will your Child Survive Graduation Day?

Is there any family in the area or country that has not been affected by addictions or recreational drug use? I know my own has and because of this I seek education at The Substance Abuse Task Force meetings. There you will find people from every sector of the community, medical, educational, DCF, NOPE (The Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education) and people of the Faith community, but the ones that have gripped my heart are the parents who have lost children.

One man introduces himself as the father of a dead child; in this case it was not an addiction problem but kids celebrating their graduation last year. How heartbreaking, and yet how many of us can say, "There but by the grace of God go I?"

When I met the grieving father after the meeting the only comfort I could give was to say I would pray for him, give him a hug and these words:

"I know when your son woke up the morning before he didn't think or plan, 'Tonight I will break my father's heart.'"

Although that was what happened, it was a horrible accident, of kids using one drug, one time too many. Young people are not thinking when they use recreational drugs; they are just doing it to fit in with their friends. In some small way, please get the word out, "One time may be one time too many."


Parents please talk to your children especially with Graduation Day approaching; I liken this conversation to being a watchman on the wall as portrayed here:
“Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen all the day, and all the night, they shall never hold their peace. You that are mindful of the Lord, hold not your peace.” (Isaiah 62:6 Douay-Rheims Bible)


Many of us try to prepare ourselves for the possibility of loss in our families, with recreational pills so prevalent in the younger generation. The statistics show that the national average is 50 people die a day in our country; we need to acknowledge we have a problem here, people, and educate our families. Common things in your home such as Pam, Nyquil and aerosol whipping cream can also be a source of misuse. I’ve learned about Pharma or Skittles parties where kids take medicines from their parent’s and grandparent’s medicine cabinets and throw them all in a bowl. The bowl is then passed around and the kids take some, not knowing what exactly they are taking. The potential for danger in the wrong drugs interacting is incredible!

Parents, friends and youth workers in the community be aware and take the time to talk to the youth that you love.

Their heart cried out to the Lord,
“O wall of the daughter of Zion,
Let tears run down like a river day and night;
Give yourself no relief;
Give your eyes no rest.
“Arise, cry out in the night,
At the beginning of the watches;
Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.
Lift your hands toward Him
For the life of your young children…(NKJV) Lamentations 2:18-19

Join me in praying that the upcoming Graduation Days will be full of family joy instead of the truama of substance abuse.

This was written in memory of someone's son, Morgan Andrew Denney, who was taken off the life-support respirator on June 1st 2011.

Mother's Day 2013

So, Mother's Day is here again and for many people it is painful, especially if your mother has already passed from this world to glory. Plans for many have changed as sickness doesn't look at a calendar. I am grateful that Bill had some things in his heart to do for me, but gave those plans up to help in another way:) Because of the death of my precious father-in-law this week, I have not been able to post much. Death, also doesn't note calendar days, it seems:) Another repost of a thought I am calling Donna's Daily Dose:
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.

Who loves what some deem unlovable and forgives and wraps us in His righteousness. I can relate to what Paul says, when he said he was chief of sinners. I’ve asked the Lord to remind me so that I can remember that others hurt too and have gone through much loss and pain. I have many regrets as a mother; maybe there are some others here that do, also. But He has promised to make all things work to my good, not because I’m good, I am not, but because I love Him. He loved me first and drew me with cords of love and redemption.

If He can do it for such that I am, watch out! He will be Your strong support today, if you will give it over to Him. That’s what I am trying to do, when I can’t do anything else. 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: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0

The Apostle Paul, A Do-Over and a Letter to Somebody’s Mother Prayer Support Group

Today in honor of National Day of Prayer, I scanned through our member’s pictures, praying for each one. We are a beautiful, sometimes motley, crew. I say that with the same love I use describing some of my own family pictures.

There are a few brave men among us, but mostly we are just mothers praying, loving, and living as best as we can for the Lord. We stand on His Word, always. We try to love as He does; sometimes it isn’t always relayed as that. I was thinking of the Apostle Paul this morning and how when he had blinders on, before the Lord truly blinded him on the road to Damascus, he thought he was doing the right thing, by murdering Christians. No one could tell him different. He was doing justice in his own eyes. He was living his life in a way that he thought was the plan of God when the Lord’s plan was different. It was a way to make a Romans 8:28 life, a life where all things work together for good.

“ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:1-6 (NIV)

When Saul (Paul) was blinded he didn’t know if he would ever get his sight back, he was at the mercy of the Lord and all those who would guide him where he needed to go. He had no idea that his path would soon be to proclaim Jesus, every day in every way. He had no idea that Christians down the centuries would read his writings and be encouraged. Only the Holy Spirit can open eyes the way that Paul’s eyes needed to be opened.

Many of us have blind spots. We pray that the Holy Spirit open our eyes and the eyes of our loved ones. Then the true power will come and chains will be broken and families healed. Yes, it is true that the Lord creates families in many different ways, some by birth, some by blood and some by adoption. He is the one who places us. I wanted a daddy like on “Father Knows Best” or “Little House on the Prairie.” That didn’t happen. I am grateful the Lord chose to adopt me, as I never really felt a father’s love. I melt into my true Father’s arms of love, not being able to get close enough, stay long enough or sing loud enough about that love.

I know that for many people it was hard to trust Paul and that he had changed. Don’t you know that he had a past to live down a past that in his mind, I’m sure many times, he would ponder? He may have said, “Oh Lord, how could I have watched them stone dear Stephen, Your beloved child, and think that was a good thing?”

“Lord, I have killed families of people who loved you!”

“Lord, I wish that I hadn’t done those things. I wish I hadn’t lived that way for so long. I wish I could do it over!”

Later on we read that Paul was a chosen vessel to bear the Lord’s name. And perhaps his thorn in the flesh was bearing the pain of the things he had done in his past. I hope that he was able to accept that the Lord looks at the heart. That is the only way I can get over regrets is thinking that if someone could just look into my heart, they would know that I would never intentionally hurt anyone.



Many of us live with regrets; acceptance is the only thing that will get us through the day. The Lord knew our futures when we were walking in our past. He knew the plans He had for us for hope. He knew He loved us. He has a plan. Sometimes I admit, I don’t like His plan because it has been painful. I want to wave a magic wand and make everyone well, happy and whole. Life doesn’t work that way, dear ones. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, it is for sure, as my Mama would say. Think Corrie ten Boom, (“There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still”) think Joni Eareckson Tada, think Joan of Arc, (“Hold the cross high so I may see it through the flames!”) think perhaps even yourself, a survivor finding your way on this journey. Maybe you are like me, and wish you had done something better as a mother, wishing you could be like the perfect ones you see around you. I always come back to this:

All our stories will not be the same; they don’t all end “happily ever after.” What does that woman do, when all the Christian books end with a happy ending, and her life seems full of pain? Where is the comfort for that daughter of God?

What do you do when everything you dreamed for your family seems to fall apart? What do you do when your heart keeps getting broken, yet you want to glorify the Lord in your circumstances? Even though there are some good things in your life, emotional pain and trauma seems to follow you. It sometimes is all you can do to literally place one foot in front of the other and do the next thing.

The refreshing that you long for in the Lord just does not come. And the breaking seems to come faster without much relief in between. You sometimes wonder if you will have the strength to go on. Not everyone will get their “happy ending” perhaps in the way they dreamed it. But life can still be good and we can still look for good regardless of our circumstances. I started off this blog as I surveyed the pictures of our prayer group, thinking how different each person is, but they are loved.

Some have lost children, husbands, parents, some have children in prison, some are living with addictions, and some are just fellow sojourners bonded by prayer. Remember today, if you don’t remember anything else from the blog that Jesus is our answer for everything. And together we are strong.

Keep praying and keep loving.

I encourage you to read Acts, especially chapter nine where some of these verses are found.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/

Donna Collins Tinsley

Tombstones, Hope and Joel Osteen

I have let this blog go way too long, so here's a post:


Just write on my tombstone, "She was a prisoner of Hope." Not a prisoner of  her past or living another day would be much too hard. Not of a prisoner of her accomplishments as only the Lord Jesus can take credit for those, not a prisoner of her beautiful children, grandchildren, husband or family for they are what they are by God's grace and mercy. I am a prisoner of Hope in Jesus that He takes all things and works them to my good, He takes flawed things and makes them beautiful.
Joel Osteen says this:

"Return to your fortress, o prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you" (Zechariah 9:12, NIV) Zechariah 9:12 says that we should be prisoners of hope. It's easy to give up. It's easy to get discouraged. But God wants us to be so full of hope, so full of expectancy, that we just can't help believing for the best.

When you're a prisoner of something, it's like you're chained to it. You can't get away from it. I know people who are prisoners of fear, prisoners of worry, prisoners of doubt. You've heard them. "Nothing good ever happens to me." "It's never changing, Joel. It's just been too long."

They are chained to despair and discouragement. Break those chains. Become a prisoner of hope. No matter how long it takes, no matter how impossible it looks, your attitude should be: "I just can't help it. I know it will work out. I know I will overcome. It may be taking a long time, but I know this too shall pass. It may be difficult, but I know that means I'm close to my victory." Joel Osteen

The Dance, by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley (My review before the review)

I may have to interrupt this regularly scheduled program to finish Dan and Gary's book, The Dance.
Yes, it's Sunday morning and I thought I had my make-up on, ready for church but no, I couldn't resist another chapter from Dan Walsh's (Word Weaver of Volusia County Group) book that he wrote with none other than Gary Smalley. Well, of course the tears fell and now I am recommending that we all just stop and take a "fiction vacation." Let the world go away and read this book!
I had wondered how Dan was going to intermingle the lessons that Gary wanted to portray in a novel, and I must say he did it in a wonderful way. A way that is making me want to read some of Gary Smalley's books on marriage that I missed along the way.

Of course the picture in my mind of Uncle Henry could only look like Gary and the hunkie dance instructor,(sorry Dan it isn't you:)) well I don't know his name but he was on Dancing With the Stars one season.
I am loving Miss Audrey and finally by page 254, Jim is starting to grow on me. I know that this book will bring healing to many people.

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-The-Novel-Restoration-Series/dp/0800721489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365939871&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dance

Amazon describes it in this way and I describe it as a must read:

Jim Anderson is a successful businessman, and his wife, Marilyn, is the perfect wife. And why wouldn't she be? He gives her everything she needs. That's why Jim never expected to come home one day and find Marilyn gone.

After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn has had enough of feeling unloved and neglected. She wants to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it, even signing up for dance lessons, something Jim would never do. What will it take for Jim to finally become the man Marilyn needs him to be?



Combining the literary talents of bestselling author Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of bestselling author Gary Smalley, The Dance is the first novel in The Restoration Series. Readers will get caught up in these flawed but sincere members of the Anderson family as they rediscover genuine love and start a transformation that ultimately affects all of them.

A two milkshake week and Tenth Avenue North

It may have been a two-milkshake week. When the week has been especially hard, I sometime feel like I have to treat myself to a second Chick Fila chocolate milkshake. With Easter being a day where Amber ended up in the ER for about eight hours I had a feeling it might be one of those weeks. It did continue to be an up and down week although Easter and the Lord rising to new life should’ve been enough to get me through. Regardless of how our day starts off we can always end it with Jesus. Amber ended up being in the ER again yesterday for the third time; if she isn’t on the IV she is throwing up and nauseous. Finally they gave her a referral to a specialist so we pray that this is the very best for her in Jesus name.


Zechariah 2:5 "For I," says the Lord, "will be to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her."

Got troubles? Remember these verses, Romans 8:28 and of course my new favorite: “He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.” Isaiah 42:3

Many families and mothers especially will identify with the words to this song by Tenth Ave. North; they have done it again. Put the cries of many hearts to music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zulKcYItKIA

I’m Tired, I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left


Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

My prayers are wearing thin
And I’m worn
Even before the day begins
I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
Heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn

Though I’m worn
Yeah I’m worn. (Song by Tenth Avenue North)

Guess I’ll be having another milkshake soon.

Good Friday, TGIF Devo

It's Friday, TGIF, people! Good Friday is a time to reflect on our Savior and what he gave up for us; how He suffered for us and what a great love He has for us.


I have a lot of devotionals that haven't been published, so at times I will post them online:
Here is one as my Easter gift to you:

A Constant Image
For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Galatians 6:14 The Message

In the front of my mind

In the back of my mind,

To the left and to the right,

There’s an image of a man on a cross.
Dallas Holm

These are the words to a song written by Dallas Holm that really moved my spirit. This is how I want to live my life, with the Lord in the front of my mind and in the back of my mind. As I go to the left or the right, may His image never leave me. May this picture in my mind help me to walk differently in the world I live in. I need to walk worthy of the calling God has put on me. Let me walk in a way that would not shame the one who is my Lord and Master. Jesus was born in a stable---yet He is the King of Glory.

He lived a simple life. He amazed His mother, confounded his neighborhood, (could anything good come from Nazareth?) called together a group of outcasts to disciple and write about His story.
He carried a heavy cross on which He was crucified for my sins and yours, years before we were ever conceived. He knew what pain was like. He understood how it felt to be rejected by friends and family alike. He wept. He understood what it was like to lose a loved one. But for the joy set before Him, he endured the cross. That joy was giving life to us.
Prayer: Lord, please keep the picture of what You did on the cross for us, ever before us.

Thought: What I allow myself to think on may control my day for good.

Focus: The Cross of Christ and his compassion towards His body of believers.
Donna Collins Tinsley



Wisdom to Know; A great resource for Crisis Pregnancy Centers!

Wisdom to Know by Elizabeth Maddrey may be the best book I have ever read through a Book Crash promotion. It was very well written, the characters were engaging, and the storyline drew me in immediately.

The issues, concerning abortion, addictions and forgiveness are issues that so many families wrestle with right now. There was a lot of education concerning Crisis Pregnancy Centers and the resources they have to give to the community. This is the first book in a series of books, evidently called the "Grant Us Grace" series. I can't wait to read the next one.

I do really relate to reality fiction and as far as something I would've liked included in the story, was more about the emptiness she felt after having the abortion and also the pain that her parents felt, knowing that their grandchild was aborted. The time spent in rehab was not portrayed very in-depth and I would really like to know more about what goes on in rehab. That seemed a bit brief but all in all especially with the surprise ending, I loved it. I also think with the title, there was a place that The Serenity Prayer could have been expounded on. It was because of the title and what that phrase means to me as I pray it so often that I ordered the book for review. I especially love the whole version of the prayer, by Reinhold Niebuhr:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.


Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

This book really portrayed a person trying to live by asking for the wisdom to know. Elizabeth Maddrey I am now a big fan of your work. Keep writing. I would love to be a pre-reader for the rest of the series.

*I received this book from BookCrash and the publisher in

exchange for my honest and fair review.

I Became a Zumba Mama Yesterday!

After attending Florida Christian Writer’s Conference I am finding it hard to get back on a blogging track. A lot of little dilemmas just seem to keep me playing catch up. Yesterday was a wild and crazy day with an opportunity to present a Bible Study, picking up my daughter and granddaughter afterwards for some errands, taking the van for a transmission check and ending with (at nearly 62 years of age,) my first Zumba class! Yay! I made it through without falling down or stepping on anyone else’s feet. Jacquee is a great teacher and uses it as an outreach ministry for FWC. So until I get to blogging better here is my introduction to the Bible Study I did yesterday, titled, “God’s Waiting Room.”


"Return to your fortress, o prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you" (Zechariah 9:12, NIV)

Have you ever pondered this verse about being a prisoner of Hope? It is such a beautiful verse and the book of Zechariah has so much in it concerning hope. I want to talk about being a prisoner of Hope and also about being in "God’s Waiting Room." Many of us are in various waiting rooms of life.

I’ll never forget the day my friend called me “the mother of dreams.” We were talking on the phone at that time; I was discouraged. She was cheering me up. She meant it in a special way, as if I was the mother of her dreams, a prayer warrior, faithful and kind. Yet I, knowing myself as I do, struggling at times just keep my sanity, heard it as what I truly am, a mother who dreams.

I dream of the day when my family will be whole and delivered from all dysfunctions and addictions. I dream of sanity in our lives instead of chaos. I dream of peace and right standing with God for all my children and grandchildren. I dream of testimonies given of overcoming by God’s grace and the mercy He lavishes upon us each day. I dream of happiness, wholeness and health. I dream of restored relationships. I dream of learning to go down a different path and being happy to stay on it, instead of falling in the dark pits of familiarity. And I dream of the day that all my children will be taught of the Lord and great will be the peace of my children.
“Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed." Isaiah 49:23

I’m praying that you will find being in a prison of hope is a good place to be.

"Unconditional" a book and movie you want to see!

I had a great time at Florida Christian Writer's Conference. Totally awesome classes, speakers, sermons, VIP breakfasts, Banquet and of course the icing on the cake was when our Word Weaver of Volusia County Group took home the"Word Weaver's Americas Cup" for having most members attending.

My sweet roommate, Sharron Knight Cosby gave me the gift of the book by Eva Marie Everson, "Unconditional" and after having some minor work done at the doctors's Friday, I gave myself a gift of taking time for myself. Not only did I finish the whole book, but then found the movie at the library and shared this powerful story with my family. You don't want to miss either of these, the book or the movie. I absolutely loved them both but I am partial to books and our lovely Eva Marie.

I promise I will get back on the blogging ball this week:) I'll be giving something away for those who sign up to follow my blog.