by Jodie Stevens | Feb 17, 2015 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope |
Psalm 34:18 says: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” At times we may feel like we’ve ‘crushed our own spirit’ by our sin or addiction, we may not even understand why we’re doing what we are doing, but God does. He knows...
by Jodie Stevens | Jan 20, 2015 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction |
Jesus said … “the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) When we conceal our sin, shame, and addictions we are living in deceit and “stumbling through the darkness.” (John 8:12) Shame perpetuates our troubles and causes us to hide behind lies, creating a self-defeating...
by Jodie Stevens | Jan 19, 2015 | Choices, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Forgiveness |
A friend once told me she didn’t think God could ever forgive her for the things she’d done. Unfortunately, many people allow their guilt to block them from God’s grace and mercy by condemning themselves. It’s like a false form of pride when we play jury and judge by...
by Jodie Stevens | Jan 5, 2015 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction |
“Do you want to get well?” Jesus asks the invalid lying near the healing waters at the pool of Bethesda after learning he’d been in the same condition for thirty eight years (John 5: 1-15). Instead of an affirmative: “Yes I want to get well” He responds with several...
by Jodie Stevens | Dec 3, 2014 | Boundaries, Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Fear and Anxiety, Hope, Patience |
I asked God to give me a husband and He did, after way too many years of loneliness. I asked God to help me get sober and He did, a thousand regrets later than I wanted. I asked God help me find me the right job and He did, after at least a dozen wrong ones. I asked...
by Jodie Stevens | Dec 1, 2014 | Emotional Difficulties & Addiction, Hope |
It’s February of ‘02, a few months shy of my 31st birthday. The rain is pouring down as is typical of winter evenings in Portland, Oregon. I’ve just returned home from my part time job as a reporter for the county station. The pay is lousy and I’m frustrated. It’s...
