YOU {R} NOT ALONE YOU HAVE A VOICE
Patience: God Provides in His Time
If I’m being real, patience can be one of the hardest “faith muscles” to build—because it usually gets tested right when I’m already tired, stressed, or ready for God to move right now. I don’t think most of us struggle with believing God can provide. What we struggle with is the timing. We…
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Learning to Say “No” Without Feeling Guilty
There was a time in my life when I felt like saying “yes” made me a good person. Like if I kept showing up for everyone else, staying available, and never turning anything down… then people would like me, respect me, and I’d feel needed. But the truth is, being a constant “yes…
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Snowed In, But Not Shut Down
When the snow hits and the roads get ugly, being stuck inside can feel like a blessing and a curse at the same time. Part of me loves the quiet—everything slows down, the world looks clean, and it’s kind of peaceful. But the other part of me knows how fast cabin fever can…
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Snowed In, Not Spiritually Out
We didn’t have church today because of the snow, and honestly, I get it—safety first. But I also know how easy it is for a day like this to turn into a spiritual “off day.” No service, no routine, no schedule… and before you know it, the day is gone and God got…
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Verse of the Day: Revelation 3:20
Scripture: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.”— Revelation 3:20 (NIV) A Knock, Not a Kick-In One thing I love about this verse is how personal it feels.…
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The Day I Realized I Deserved Peace
I’ll never forget the day it hit me. I was lying in a hospital bed after my last suicidal episode, staring up at a ceiling that felt way too bright and way too quiet at the same time. My body was there, but my mind was exhausted. My soul felt worn out. I…
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Forgiving Myself for Who I Was in Addiction
Recovery isn’t just about staying sober—it’s also about learning how to live with yourself after the chaos, the regret, and the broken pieces. There are a lot of things people don’t talk about when it comes to recovery. They’ll talk about getting sober. They’ll talk about meetings. They’ll talk about the “new life”…
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Why I People-Please (And How I’m Learning to Stop)
People-pleasing can look like kindness, but a lot of times it’s fear in disguise. Here’s what I’m learning as I work on boundaries and healing. For a long time, I thought people-pleasing was just me being “nice.” I told myself I was easygoing, laid back, and trying to keep the peace. But the…
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When “I’m Not Good Enough” Becomes a Lie You Start Living Like It’s Truth
There’s a feeling that a lot of us carry around—especially those of us living with mental health struggles—and it’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it hides behind jokes, people-pleasing, overworking, shutting down, or trying to prove ourselves. It’s that deep, heavy belief: “I’m not good enough.” And once that…
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Shopping With Mom in Fort Wayne: A Small Win That Meant a Lot
Sometimes the best days aren’t the big, dramatic ones. Sometimes it’s just a normal day where you run an errand, laugh a little, walk around a mall, and end up going home feeling lighter than you did when you arrived. That’s what today felt like for me and my mom. We took a…
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Forgiveness From the Heart… and Learning to “Agree to Disagree”
Today’s service gave me a lot to think about. Not because I left angry. Not because I’m trying to be negative. But because it reminded me that church is real life. Sometimes you’re going to hear things that hit you right in the heart… and sometimes you’re going to hear a take you…
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Verse of the Day: Love Deeply
Today’s Verse “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 My Reflection This verse hits me in a real way because it keeps it simple: love is the priority. Not when it’s convenient. Not when people “deserve it.” But above all—love each other…
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Reaching Out for Help: The Hardest Step That Can Change Everything
There’s a moment a lot of us know too well—the moment you realize you can’t keep carrying it all by yourself. Not because you’re weak. Not because you “failed.” But because you’re human. Reaching out for help sounds simple when it’s written on a poster or said in a motivational speech. In real…
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Enjoy Today
Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop living in yesterday or stressing about tomorrow, and just enjoy today. Today is the only moment we can actually live in, and it’s a gift from God that we don’t want to rush past. I’m reminding myself that peace doesn’t always come from having…
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Loving God Looks Like Loving People
Scripture: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV) It’s easy to think loving God is mostly about spiritual routines—reading the Bible, praying, going to church, and trying to live right. All of that matters. But Jesus makes something…
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Taking a Daily Break: Prayer, Meditation, and Getting Re-Centered
A simple practice that helps me stay centered, focused, and calm throughout the day Life moves fast. Even on “normal” days, it can feel like everything is coming at you at once—work, responsibilities, phone calls, stress, emotions, and all the little things that pile up in your head. That’s why I’ve learned something…
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Taking Accountability: Owning My Past, Choosing My Next Right Step
A personal reflection on responsibility, forgiveness, and moving forward Accountability is one of those words that sounds simple until you actually try to live it. It’s easy to say, “I take responsibility.” It’s harder to sit with the truth of what we’ve done, what we’ve avoided, who we’ve hurt, and what we’ve neglected—then…
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Making Space for God: Closet Prayer, Real Fruit, and a Life Built on the Rock
Today’s sermon hit me right where I live: my life gets full fast. Not just “busy,” but packed—stuffed with plans, noise, screens, worries, errands, opinions, and a thousand little things that feel urgent. And the truth is, when my life is that full, it gets harder to hear God clearly. The pastor said…
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A Daily Schedule Saved Me: Why Staying Busy Matters
For a long time, my days ran me instead of me running my day. I’d wake up and just “wing it,” and before I knew it, the day was gone—half-finished, half-stressed, and full of that annoying feeling like I was busy but didn’t actually do anything that moved my life forward. That’s why…
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Verse of the Day (Luke): When God’s Peace Takes Over
“Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” — Luke 1:30 Some days fear shows up before my feet even hit the floor. It’s not always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet anxiety—worry about the future, stress about responsibilities, or that heavy “what if?” feeling that tries to camp out in my mind.…
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Working at the Allen County Museum: Where Lima’s Story Stays Alive
A behind-the-scenes look at why preserving history matters—and why this place is one of Lima’s best kept treasures. When people hear “museum,” they sometimes picture a quiet building full of old stuff and dusty display cases. But working at the Allen County Museum in Lima, Ohio has shown me the truth: history is…
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Trusting God and Living by His Word (Even When I Fall Short)
Trust isn’t perfection—trust is choosing God again and again. Trusting God isn’t just something I say when life is going good. Trusting God is what I’m learning to do when I’m stressed, confused, tempted, tired, or disappointed. It’s what I’m learning to do when I don’t have all the answers, and I can’t…
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Devotional for Today: Where We’re Heading
God doesn’t just show us the road—He walks it with us. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ…”— 2 Corinthians 2:14 Life has a way of putting us at crossroads. Some decisions are obvious, but a lot of them aren’t. Sometimes you’re not choosing between “good” and…
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Don’t Judge People: Respect, Boundaries, and Loving From a Distance
You can treat people with dignity without letting them disrupt your peace. It’s easy to judge people. It’s easy to look at someone’s attitude, choices, lifestyle, or mistakes and think, “I would never…” or “Why don’t they just…” But the truth is, we don’t know what someone has survived. We don’t know what…
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Today’s Sermon: Wilderness, Temptation, and the Strength to Keep Going
A reflection on Matthew 4, fasting, and learning to stand firm when temptation shows up. Today’s sermon was one of those messages that doesn’t just sound good in the moment—it follows you home. It made me think about my own life, my patterns, and my temptations… and it reminded me that the Christian…
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Letting Go of Cigarettes: 27 Days In, and I’m Still Standing
Quitting isn’t about proving toughness—it’s about choosing freedom, one day at a time. I’m going to be honest—quitting cigarettes is something I talked about doing for a long time. I’d say it. I’d mean it. I’d even plan it. But then stress would hit, routine would kick in, and next thing I knew…
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New Year 2026: The Next Right Thing
A fresh start isn’t magic—it’s a decision, made one day at a time. There’s something about a new year that feels like a clean breath of air. Not because January 1st magically fixes anything. Not because we wake up and suddenly become a brand-new person overnight. But because the calendar flipping gives us…
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Empathy, Compassion, and Trust: The Three Things That Hold People Together
A reflection on what keeps relationships strong, especially when life gets heavy. There are a lot of words we throw around like we fully understand them—empathy, compassion, and trust. But when life gets heavy, those three aren’t “nice ideas”… they’re lifelines. They’re what keep friendships from falling apart, families from breaking, and people…
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Joy That Doesn’t Depend on Stuff
Scripture:“Blessed are those who live in Your house; they are always praising You.”— Psalm 84:4 Devotional It’s easy to let my joy rise and fall with what I have—or what I don’t have. Some days I’m fine… and other days I notice what other people own, what they’ve accomplished, how “easy” their life…
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Joy in the Lord: The Life We “Lose” to Truly Find
Verse of the Day “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.” — Matthew 16:25 Devotion There’s a reason this verse can feel upside-down at first. It goes against everything our natural instincts scream at us: hold tight, protect yourself, keep…
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When God Asks You to Go Where You Don’t Want To
A reflection from church — December 28, 2025 Church this morning felt like one of those “God is setting the tone” kind of Sundays. It was the last Sunday of 2025, and you could feel that end-of-year energy in the room — grateful, reflective, and a little bit like, okay Lord… what are…
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Serve the Lord Joyously — Daily Devotion
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 There’s a certain kind of quiet that shows up when the holiday season starts winding down. The music fades, the busy days slow down, and sometimes that’s when grief tries to speak the loudest. It’s like the world gets still enough for…
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Daily Devotional — Luke 2:20
Verse (Luke 2:20, ESV) “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” There’s something powerful about the last part of the Christmas story that people don’t always talk about: the shepherds didn’t stay in the moment. They didn’t build a…
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Happy Holidays (A Quick Note From the Heart)
Happy Holidays, everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to say I’m grateful for each and every person who takes time to read my posts, share them, or reach out—whether you’re doing amazing right now or you’re barely holding it together. Either way, you matter, and you’re not alone. The holidays can…
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Today’s AA Daily Reflection
RECOVERY, UNITY, SERVICE December 23 Our Twelfth Step—carrying the message—is the basic service that AA’s Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence. THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 160 I thank God for those who came before me, those who told me not to forget the…
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Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt: Embracing Your Inner Strength, Divine Support, and a Life of Purpose
Fear and self-doubt can be loud. Sometimes they show up as a shaky voice in your head that says, “You’re not ready.” Sometimes they come as a heavy feeling in your chest that says, “Don’t even try.” And sometimes they’re sneakier—disguised as “being realistic,” “not wanting to fail,” or “waiting for the perfect…
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Bible Study Notes That Hit Home
“Radical Healing” and the Fight for Your Mind, Will, and Emotions Tonight in Bible study, we didn’t even get deep into the chapters yet—and still, it felt like something important was already happening. We started with the foreword and the endorsements in Radical Healing: Winning the Battle for Your Mind, Will, and Emotions…
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Verse of the Day (Hebrews)
Today’s Verse:Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Running Your Race When Life Feels Heavy This verse hits me because…
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Asking God for Forgiveness (and Letting It Count)
Guilt has a way of replaying our worst moments like they’re who we are. But the Bible doesn’t describe God’s forgiveness as “temporary” or “maybe.” It describes it as real, complete, and life-changing. God isn’t asking you to perform for forgiveness—He’s asking you to come honestly. “If we confess our sins, He is…
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Finding a Hobby When Life Feels Heavy (or Just Boring)
There’s this funny thing about being an adult: you can wake up one day and realize your life is basically work, responsibilities, sleep (hopefully), and trying to keep your head above water. Somewhere along the way, the fun stuff gets pushed to the side. That’s why finding a hobby isn’t just “something to…
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God, Family, Country — In That Order
Charlie Kirk’s quote, “God. Family. Country. In that order.” is short, but it carries a whole blueprint for how to live when life gets loud, confusing, or stressful. God first means your foundation isn’t based on moods, opinions, or whatever chaos is trending this week. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t supposed to…
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Verse of the Day: “Be Strong and Courageous” (Joshua 1:9)
Scripture (Joshua 1:9): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Some days don’t feel like a “fresh start.” They feel like a fight just to get moving. A fight to face…
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Self-Respect Comes First: Learning to Love Yourself So You Can Love Others
For a long time, I thought loving other people meant putting myself last. I thought it meant saying yes when I wanted to say no.It meant accepting disrespect because I didn’t want conflict.It meant over-explaining, over-giving, and over-apologizing… even when I wasn’t the one in the wrong. But eventually I learned something that…
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Joy When You’re Misunderstood
A Reflection From Today’s Church Service There’s a kind of joy that feels easy to talk about—joy when life is going well, when prayers get answered fast, when the calendar is calm, when your heart feels light. And then there’s the other kind of joy. The kind that shows up when life is…
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Faith Without the Hype: How I Look at “Miracles” Now
I’ve noticed something over the years—people call everything a miracle. A parking spot at the right time? “Miracle.”A crazy coincidence? “Miracle.”And then you get the really wild stuff online… like people saying they see Jesus’ face on food or random objects. I’m not here to clown anybody, because I believe God can do…
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The Day the “Functioning” Part Broke
He wasn’t the guy passed out in an alley. He was the guy who showed up. He showed up to work. Showed up to birthdays. Showed up to the grocery store in clean clothes. He answered texts. He paid bills (mostly on time). He laughed at the right moments. He held doors for…
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Telling the Truth Is Easier Than Keeping Up With Lies
Lying always feels simple in the moment. You’re caught, you’re scared, you’re embarrassed, and your brain throws out the quickest escape route: “Just say this. It’ll make the problem go away.” But it never really goes away, does it? Once you tell a lie, you don’t just change the story—you start a second…
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Giving Back: Lifting Each Other Up
Giving back to the community doesn’t have to be big or fancy. It can be something as simple as serving a meal at a soup kitchen or sitting down to play cards with someone who’s disabled or lonely. Those little moments tell people, “You matter. I see you.” We live in a world…
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How to Pick the Right Christmas Gift Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Budget)
Christmas shopping can feel like a full-contact sport sometimes, can’t it? Crowded stores, long lines, tight budgets, and the pressure to find “the perfect gift” for everyone you love. By the time you’re done, you’re exhausted, stressed, and wondering if you completely missed the point of Christmas in the first place. But gift-giving…
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Verse of the Day: John 10:10
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”— John 10:10 (KJV) John 10:10 is one of those verses that hits straight at the heart of what life with Jesus is really about.…
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Hope From the Stump: Reflections on Isaiah 11:1–10
Today in church we spent time in Isaiah 11:1–10, and it really stuck with me. It’s one of those passages that feels ancient and brand new at the same time. It talks about a “shoot from the stump of Jesse” – a new branch growing out of something that looked dead and finished.…
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Work Ethic, Mental Health, and Working Beside My Stepdad
Growing up, my parents made one thing very clear: you work. It didn’t matter if it was a big job or a small one, a dream job or just something to pay the bills—what mattered was showing up, doing your best, and not quitting when it got hard. That work ethic was drilled…
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“Look for the Helpers”: A Mr. Rogers Quote for Hard Days
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”— Fred Rogers The world can feel pretty overwhelming some days. Bad news, violence, sickness, addiction, heartbreak— there are times it seems…
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Verse of the Day: God Is Close to the Brokenhearted
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”— Psalm 34:18 Some days, our hearts don’t just feel heavy—they feel shattered. Maybe it’s grief, addiction, guilt, family struggles, loneliness, or that quiet ache that shows up for no clear reason at all. On those days, it’s easy…
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You’re Not Alone: Why I Started Writing for People Who Are Struggling
I didn’t start writing because my life was perfect.I started writing because it almost ended. For a long time, I lived in a world where pain felt louder than hope. Alcohol was my escape, depression was my roommate, PTSD whispered lies in my ear, and loneliness wrapped around me like a heavy blanket.…
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Depression Hits Different During the Holidays
The holidays are supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” right? That’s what the movies say. That’s what social media shows. That’s what the commercials keep telling us—big smiling families, matching pajamas, perfect dinners, kids ripping open gifts around a glowing tree. But for a lot of us, that’s not…
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Verse for the Day – 1 Corinthians 15:57
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57 Some days, the word victory feels far away. We wake up tired, worn out, or already stressed before our feet even hit the floor. Old habits tug at us. Anxiety, depression, anger, or cravings…
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When God Feels Silent but Isn’t
A snowy Sunday kept me home watching church on TV, but the message still hit deep—especially with Miss Twila bringing the service. She shared the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, reminding us that God hears our prayers, works in what feels impossible, and is never done writing our stories. This post is about…
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When Your Brain Says “Do More” and Your Soul Says “Please Stop”
There’s a battle a lot of us know too well. Your brain says: But deep down, your soul is whispering: That tension isn’t laziness. It’s exhaustion. It’s trauma. It’s burnout. It’s your inner life begging for mercy while your old wiring keeps yelling, “Try harder!” The Lie of “If I Do Enough, I’ll…
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Before I Couldn’t Even Buy Milk:How My Social Anxiety Is Finally Loosening Its Grip
There was a stretch of my life where a simple errand could wreck my whole day. I’m talking about something as small as going to the grocery store. I’d tell myself, “Just run in real quick, grab what you need, no big deal.”But the closer I got, the louder my brain got: By…
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Thanksgiving: Grateful for a Second Chance at Life
Thanksgiving used to be just another day on the calendar for me—a blur of food, football, and trying to numb whatever I didn’t want to feel. This year is different. This year, I’m actually present for it. I can feel it. I can name what I’m thankful for without slurring my words or…
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Managing My Anger: Learning Not to Explode First
Anger has always been one of my hardest battles. I don’t just “get annoyed”—I can go from calm to ready-to-snap in about two seconds if I’m not careful. Sometimes it’s over big things, but if I’m honest, it’s often over little stuff: a text that sounds off, someone cutting me off in conversation,…
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Learning to Sleep Again: How Rest Became Part of My Recovery
For a long time, I treated sleep like an optional suggestion. If I was exhausted, anxious, doom-scrolling my phone, or replaying old mistakes in my head, I’d just say, “I’ll be fine. I don’t need that much sleep anyway.” Then I’d drag myself through the next day on caffeine, sugar, and pure anxiety.…
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Living with ADHD: How Medication and Therapy Help Me Show Up to My Own Life
I didn’t wake up one day and suddenly “get” ADHD. It’s been with me my whole life—long before I had a name for it. Looking back, I can see it in the half-finished projects, the “I’ll do it later” that turned into never, the report cards that said “smart, but doesn’t focus.” I…
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Christ the King Sunday: Who Has My Allegiance?
Today’s service started like a lot of Sundays do—kids heading out with Miss Twila and the others, ushers coming forward, the offering plates moving up and down the rows. But underneath all the usual church motions, there was a theme that kept coming back around: Who really has my allegiance? Who is my…
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When Faith Has a Sense of Humor
A lot of people hear the word faith and picture serious faces, bowed heads, and quiet rooms. And yeah, there’s a place for that. But for me, walking with God also looks like eye rolls, nervous laughter, and shaking my head at some of the ridiculous situations I’ve gotten myself into. If I…
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God of Second Chances (and Third, and Twentieth)
There were so many nights I thought, Well, that’s it. I’ve blown it for good this time. You know those moments—the ones where you’ve messed up so badly that even you don’t want to look in the mirror. The ones where you’re sure God has finally had enough. Where you’re convinced you used…
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Inner Peace and Love: Learning to Breathe Again
There’s a different kind of quiet than just “no noise.” It’s that calm that shows up in your chest when you finally stop fighting yourself. That’s inner peace. And most of the time, it’s built on one thing we forget to give ourselves: love. Not the movie kind of love. Not the fake…
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If I Could Meet Anyone from History: Why I’d Choose 2Pac
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? Some people say presidents, inventors, or famous leaders. Me? I’d pick Tupac Amaru Shakur—2Pac. Not because he was perfect. Not because I agree with every lyric, every decision, or every headline attached to his name. I’d pick 2Pac because he…
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Faith and Recovery – Why I Need Both
I used to think I had to pick one lane. Either I was going to be “the church guy” who just prayed harder…or “the recovery guy” who just went to meetings and did the steps. Now I know the truth:I need both.If I drop either one—my faith or my recovery—things start slipping fast.…
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Gratitude When Life Still Hurts
Holidays are funny.You see all the pictures online—matching pajamas, smiling kids, big family dinners—and it looks like everyone else is living inside a Christmas movie. Meanwhile, some of us are just trying to make it through the day without breaking down. If that’s you, I want you to know this: you’re not broken…
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Prayer: The Conversation That Changed My Life
If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be writing a blog about prayer, I probably would’ve laughed—or rolled my eyes. I believed in God, sure, but I treated Him more like a last-resort hotline than a Father who wanted to walk with me every day. Now, prayer is woven into…
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Honoring Your Father and Mother as an Adult (and How I Try to Honor My Mom and Stepfather)
When we’re kids, “Honor your father and your mother” sounds pretty simple: listen, don’t talk back, clean your room (at least when they’re watching). But when we grow up, life gets more complicated. We get our own opinions, our own beliefs, our own ways of doing things. Sometimes we look at our parents…
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Why It’s Okay to Be “Selfish” in Recovery
Most of us grew up hearing: “You’re selfish.” “You only think about yourself.” Then addiction came and proved that true in ugly ways. We lied, used, and hurt people. So now, in recovery, the last thing we want is to be called selfish again. But here’s the twist: In recovery, you actually have…
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If I Perish, I Perish: How a Sunday Sermon Challenged My Faith and Recovery
Walking into church this morning, it felt like one of those Sundays where the air is already charged before the first song ends. Kids heading one way, ushers moving the other, people shuffling bulletins and coffee cups, “Amen” and “Hallelujah” bouncing around the room. Just a normal Sunday… until it isn’t. Today we…
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When the Craving Hits: Staying Sober When Your Brain Says “Just One”
Let’s be honest: Recovery would be a whole lot easier if cravings didn’t exist. If it was just make a decision, never want it again, most of us would’ve been done years ago. But that’s not how addiction works, and it’s not how our brains work either. Cravings are part of recovery.They don’t…
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Respecting Our Friends… Even When We Don’t Agree
There’s this weird lie a lot of us picked up growing up: “If you really love someone, you’ll agree with them. And if you don’t agree, you must not love them.” That lie wrecks families. It ends friendships. And it keeps a lot of us angry, bitter, and alone. The truth? You can…
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Changing People, Places, and Things in Recovery-Why Letting Go Is Sometimes the Most Loving Thing You Can Do
If you’ve spent any time in recovery rooms, you’ve probably heard the phrase: “You gotta change your people, places, and things.” When I first heard that, I rolled my eyes. Sure, I thought. I’ll just throw my whole life in the trash and start from scratch. No big deal. But the longer I’ve…
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Why Support Meetings Matter More Than You Think – Walking Into the Room That Saved My Life
There’s a moment before every support meeting that still gets me. Hand on the door. Heart beating a little too loud. Part of me thinking, You don’t really need this. You’re fine. Go home. And then I walk in anyway. The chairs are in a circle. People are laughing a little too loud…
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Remembering Charlie Kirk: Courage, Conversation, and Conviction
There are some voices you don’t just hear—you feel them. For me, Charlie Kirk was one of those. What drew me most wasn’t only what he believed, but how he showed up for it: with courage in his faith, a love for this country, and a willingness to let people speak—even the ones…
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Family & Communication: Learning to Listen Through the Storm
Every family argues. Every family disagrees. But what separates families that grow stronger from those that drift apart is one simple thing — communication. It’s easy to love people when everything’s peaceful, when opinions match, and no one’s feelings are bruised. The real test of love shows up in those tense, uncomfortable moments…
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Veterans Day: Showing Up Matters
Veterans Day looks simple from the outside—flags, parades, sales, “thank you for your service” posts. For a lot of veterans, it’s not that simple. It can be a day that stirs up pride and pain. Memories they don’t talk about. Faces they still see. Questions that never really got answers. If you’re a…
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Showing Up: Why Presence Beats Perfect Advice When Someone’s Hurting
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is nothing at all—just be there. Not with a speech prepared. Not with the “right” answers. Not with a five-step plan to fix their life. Just you. Breathing the same air. Sharing the same space. Letting them know, I’m not going anywhere. When someone’s hurting, presence…
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Forgiveness Isn’t Weak – It’s Warfare
I went to Bible study last night and walked out realizing something big: forgiveness isn’t just a “nice” thing to do – it’s a fight. We read Mark 11:22–25, where Jesus says to pray, believe, receive… and forgive. If we don’t forgive, our prayers hit a wall. Not because God is mad, but…
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Verse of the Day: Don’t Give Up Doing Good
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NLT) Life has a way of testing our patience and faith. Sometimes it feels like we’re doing all the right things — staying…
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Self-Care: When You’re Trying Not to Disappear
There are days you don’t want to die, but you also don’t really want to be here. You’re breathing, but it feels like you’re fading. You’re not in crisis enough to call it an emergency… but you’re not okay either. This is for those days. Not a ten-step miracle cure. Just a handful…
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Setting Boundaries Isn’t Revenge — It’s Self-Respect
There comes a point in life when you have to stop letting people hurt you just because you care about them. It’s a painful truth, but one I’ve learned the hard way — toxic people will often see your boundaries as revenge, not as healing. When you finally start standing up for yourself,…
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BOUNDARIES
There’s a certain kind of guilt that creeps in when you finally start saying no. It’s the kind that doesn’t come from doing something wrong—but from doing something right for the first time. That guilt you feel for setting boundaries isn’t a flaw in your character. It’s a wound. A wound that comes…
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A Boy Is Born, But a Man Is Built
A boy is born, but a man is built. Manhood isn’t something that just comes with age — it’s something that’s forged through pain, shaped by failure, and strengthened through every heartbreak, rejection, and loss you face along the way. Some people think turning eighteen or hitting thirty automatically makes you a man.…
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Healing Through EMDR
I’ve been doing EMDR therapy again for a couple of months now, and even though it’s still fairly recent, this isn’t my first time going through it. A few years ago, I spent almost a full year doing EMDR with a different therapist — and that experience planted the first real seeds of…
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Honesty and Self-Love — What It Means to Me
Honesty used to scare me. Not the kind where you tell someone the truth about what you did, but the kind where you have to look yourself in the mirror and face the truth about who you are. That kind of honesty hits different — it’s raw, it’s uncomfortable, and it doesn’t come…
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“Make the Most of Every Day”
Life is too short to spend in arguments or anger. God didn’t bless us with another day so we could waste it on things that steal our peace. Instead, we’re called to love one another, forgive quickly, and live with gratitude in our hearts. Count your blessings — even the ones that seem…
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Some People Are Just Human Medicine
By Josh Bridges You ever meet someone who just makes the world feel a little lighter? The kind of person who doesn’t have to say much — their presence alone feels like peace. That’s what I call human medicine. You spend an hour with them, and suddenly your heart doesn’t feel as heavy,…
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🌤 Thought for the Day: The Power of Emotional Support
By Josh Bridges Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do isn’t to stand tall—it’s to let someone stand beside you. Emotional support doesn’t always come with the perfect words or a grand gesture. Often, it’s found in the quiet presence of someone who simply cares enough to stay when life gets heavy. We…
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“They’ll Have to Heal from Me”
“Knowing my kids will have to heal from me because I was late healing myself… and I carry that deep in my chest.” That line stopped me cold. Because it’s real. It’s raw. And it’s me. As a parent in recovery, as someone who’s battled depression, addiction, and my own demons, I know…
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🙏 A Wake-Up Call from the Book of Amos
By Josh Bridges Today at church, we talked about the Book of Amos — and man, it hit home. Amos isn’t one of those books people talk about every Sunday, but it’s one that speaks straight to the heart. It’s a wake-up call, plain and simple. Amos was a prophet sent to warn…
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A Good Day — Finding Peace in the Simple Moments
By Josh Bridges Today was a good day. Not because something huge happened, but because of the little things that remind me how far I’ve come. The local high school held its Pancake Day, and I got to be part of it — laughing, talking, enjoying the moment. Later, I had visitation with…
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⚡ Finding Stability Through Structure: How Routine Saved My Mind, My Sobriety, and My Sanity ⚡
By Josh Bridges “Discipline isn’t a prison — it’s the key that opens the door to peace.” There was a time when my days had no direction. I woke up whenever, ate whenever, and lived in constant chaos. My ADHD made it hard to focus, depression stole my motivation, and addiction kept me…
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