YOU {R} NOT ALONE YOU HAVE A VOICE
Verse of the Day – The Word That Cuts and Heals
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” There are some verses that comfort you……
Keep reading
I’m Thankful for a Faith That Didn’t Give Up on Me
There was a time in my life when I walked away from my faith. Not all at once, and not without reason—but I stepped back. I questioned. I wandered. I tried to figure things out on my own. For a while, I convinced myself I had moved on. But the truth is, my…
Keep reading
Raising Curious Faith in a Confusing World
Today’s church service really made me stop and think — especially as a parent and as a man trying to grow deeper in my faith. We’re reading through the Gospels leading up to Easter, and today the focus was on a powerful moment in Luke 2:41–52 — when 12-year-old Jesus stayed behind in…
Keep reading
Faith Isn’t Proven in Comfort
Faith is easy when life is comfortable. When prayers are answered quickly.When routines feel stable.When things are going our way. In those seasons, trusting God doesn’t feel costly—it feels natural. But faith isn’t really proven in comfort. Comfort Doesn’t Require Much Faith When life is calm, it’s easy to say we trust God.…
Keep reading
When Faith Costs Everything
Today’s reading from the Extreme Devotion daily devotional stopped me in my tracks. This book is a 365-day collection of stories—from ancient times to the modern day—about believers who sacrificed everything for Christ. Not comfort. Not convenience. Everything. Today’s story was about a young Christian woman named Saleema, living in Pakistan. Her story…
Keep reading
Why Peace Matters More to Me Now
There was a time in my life when chaos felt normal. Adrenaline, intensity, constant motion—those things used to feel like living. Silence made me uneasy. Calm felt unfamiliar. Peace felt boring, or even suspicious. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was addicted to disorder. Today, that’s no longer true. I…
Keep reading
Verse of the Day – Isaiah
Trusting God with the process “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” — Isaiah 43:1 Reflection One of the hardest parts of faith isn’t believing God can change us—it’s trusting Him while He’s changing us. Most of us want a quick fix. A…
Keep reading
Still Learning, Still Growing
I’ve reached a place in my life where I’m comfortable admitting something I used to struggle with: I don’t have all the answers. And honestly, I’m okay with that. There was a time when I felt pressure to have everything figured out—faith, recovery, life, purpose. I thought growth meant certainty. I thought maturity…
Keep reading
Why I Keep Coming Back
I’ve been asked before why I keep coming back—to writing, to faith, to church, to trying again. The short answer is because something inside me knows this is where life is found. But the longer answer is a lot more complicated—and a lot more honest. How My Writing Started I didn’t start writing…
Keep reading
A House of Prayer for All People
Church today really stirred something in me. From the opening prayer to communion at the end, the theme that kept surfacing was radical hospitality—what it truly means for God’s house to be open, welcoming, and alive with His presence. There’s a growing sense that God is doing something new. You can feel it…
Keep reading
AA 24 hours daily devotion
AA Thought for the Day A nightclub crowded with men and women all dressed up in evening clothes looks like a very festive place. But you should see the restrooms of that nightclub the next morning. What a mess! People have been sick all over the place, and does it smell! The glamour…
Keep reading
Verse of the Day – Psalms
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Reflection The book of Psalms has a way of speaking to real life—the kind of life that’s messy, painful, and sometimes overwhelming. This verse doesn’t pretend everything is okay. It acknowledges something important: there are…
Keep reading
Learning to Honor the Sabbath
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Sabbath. Not just as a word I’ve heard my whole life, but as something God actually meant for us to practice and protect. I’ll be honest — for most of my life, the Sabbath has just blended into the rest of the week. Another day.…
Keep reading
Helping Others Helps Me Heal
One of the biggest surprises in my recovery journey has been this simple truth: helping others helps me stay sober and grounded. Early on, I thought recovery was something I had to do alone—white-knuckle it, keep my head down, focus only on myself. And while there is a time to be inward and…
Keep reading
Verse of the Day – Leviticus
“Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 20:7 Reflection Leviticus doesn’t get much love. A lot of people see it as nothing but rules, laws, and restrictions. But when you slow down and really read it, you start to see God’s heart behind it. This…
Keep reading
Thankful for Grace, Growth, and God’s Timing
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”— Psalm 107:1 Gratitude has been weighing heavy on my heart lately—in the best possible way. I’ve been taking time to reflect on where I am today, and I can honestly say I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness for my family, their support,…
Keep reading
What I No Longer Chase
There was a time in my life when I chased a lot of things that didn’t actually bring peace. I chased validation.I chased understanding.I chased approval, closure, recognition, and the need to be seen as “doing better.” I thought if I could just explain myself clearly enough, people would finally get it. If…
Keep reading
Quiet Growth Still Counts
There was a time in my life when I thought growth had to be loud. Big announcements. Big changes. Big emotions. Big declarations about who I was becoming and what I was leaving behind. I thought if people didn’t see it, it didn’t count. I’ve learned something different now. Some of the most…
Keep reading
Verse of the Day
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Reflection This verse is a powerful reminder that God’s grace is not something we have to earn. Forgiveness doesn’t come from being perfect—it comes from being honest. When…
Keep reading
Learning to Trust God When I Don’t Understand the Plan
When the Plan Doesn’t Make Sense There have been moments in my life where I’ve looked up and asked God, “What are You doing?” Not out of anger—just confusion. I was praying, trying, showing up, and still… nothing seemed to move. And that’s the part people don’t talk about much: sometimes faith feels…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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”…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
“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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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,…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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.…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
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…
Keep reading
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
YOU {R} NOT ALONE YOU HAVE A VOICE! 