by Jodie Stevens | Jun 24, 2016 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Forgiveness, Happiness |
Bitterness. Every day is a full on battle to avoid its grip. On one side sits my ‘angel’ reminding me how blessed I am. Then the devil whispers every failure, disappointment, and betrayal. Bitterness is like a festering melting pot of unresolved anger, hurt,...
by Jodie Stevens | Jun 20, 2016 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope, Love |
Sorrow can be overwhelming. Sometimes it renders me helpless because I simply don’t know what to do with the pain. Trials, difficulties, and suffering all seem so unfair. If I could change certain things I would; but then there are certain things I simply can’t...
by Jodie Stevens | Jun 14, 2016 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope, Thankfulness |
Today I’m eleven years sober from drugs and alcohol. My family’s been torn apart by an addiction that killed my only brother 13 months ago. I have a great life with Christ at the center; and my brother Casey is dead. I always ask: Why me? Why am I alive? Why is...
by Jodie Stevens | May 9, 2016 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope |
Recently I was talking with a friend about old folks songs inspired by her invite to join her and her husband for a John Prine concert. They were surprised I knew about old ‘Sam Stone’ from 1971, which recently made Rolling Stone magazines Top 10 Most...
by Jodie Stevens | Apr 18, 2016 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Fear and Anxiety, Happiness, Love |
I know it doesn’t sound very holy, but sometimes I chuckle in church when I’m singing worship songs like I Surrender All because I know how difficult it is to surrender anything. I usually surrender my will after I’ve tried it my way a thousand times, proving the...
by Jodie Stevens | Apr 14, 2016 | Hope, Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Happiness, Patience |
“…We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” (Romans 5:3-4) When I experience difficulties I admit I don’t always rejoice in them. However, I do see...
