Short Story: Hi Lisa

    Mr. collins was willing to share some of his stories and experience with us. Not all of the stories were happy endings or the pretty picture we sometimes try to  portray to people.He stressed the importance of telling your own story. When you tell your own story, you are able to do it with passion and emotion. You can feel it out for those listening. I have always been somewhat afraid of telling people my whole  story, because I never know how they will react or treat me after. But, the reality is, my story has power, the power to influence. My story is my own,  and no one can change it. I was inspired by how transparent Mr. Collins was with telling his story, he was inspiring and motivational. As Christians,  it is our job to witness and love others, our stories have power and they are one of the  easiest ways to relate to others and build God’s kingdom.

Sarah decided to share her journey of recovery from alcohol and drugs with the group to show others that they too can beat the horrible disease of alcoholism. Sarah said she started using drugs and alcohol at the age of 21 and used all the way until the age of 54. Sarah was stealing from close family members and prostituting for drugs and alcohol. At the age of 42, Sarah’s husband died of full blown aids but luckily Sarah did not contract the disease from him. Sarah felt that God had a purpose for her on earth because she did not get aids from her husband and die as well. She felt that her husband dying from aids was her wake up call. Sarah

His story was the one that shocked me the most. He mentioned how he used to do every drug: alcohol, cocaine, and even gamble. He explained how he started to like cocaine so much, that he got to the point where he did not like going out with people because he didn't like to share it. He wanted to be snorting all night. He would even go to work high. I have always heard about cocaine and people that used it, but this is the first time in my life where this subject was presented to me so raw and real. This man was 4 years cleaned. Something that really got to me was how much he persisted saying that everything in this life has solutions, that he just need to find

Especially in a dry season, it was refreshing to take a step back and see the faithfulness of the Lord. I was challenged, when I was reading that Wilkerson sold his television set and began spending those two hours in prayer instead, to increase my prayer life as well. I was challenged, when I was reading that the students began thanking and praising God in the chapel for providing the $15,000 that they needed that afternoon even though they had not received the money, to praise God in my life even when things may not make sense. This book challenged my mindset of reaching the lost because I tend to avoid people that struggle with drug addiction, violence and gang activity instead of having a deep desire to point them to

One of the substance abuse interventions I recently led, resulted in a very public miraculous healing. I was contacted by the McCracken family early in 2015 to lead a last chance intervention for their son Jeff. Jeff McCracken was barely alive when we got him to treatment. Once he arrived at the facility we had in place, they immediately sent Jeff to the hospital. His medical condition was dire, he was given two months to live and sent to Hospice. In Hospice, Jeff’s parents requested our team to pray over him. Within days of that event, Jeff had an incredible turn around and was released from Hospice and entered a program. I sponsored Jeff throughout the recovery process. God has utterly transformed his life. Dubbed a modern day “Lazarus,”

The smell of burnt things filled Allison's nose. If she weren’t in so much pain, it would’ve been hard to decide which smelled worse: the burning rubber, the burnt hair, the Sheriff’s smoldering corpse, or her own blistered and charred body.

I really do admire the Rehab. Being a woman alone was enough to generate hordes of judgment and hate, but she was recognized by many as a hero. I would love to be referred to as a hero in the context of the Lord's will. Overall though the most profound message I got from the reading of Rehabs story was that no matter how sinful your past is the lord can still work amazing thing through your life. This alone motivates me in a way that can't really be explained. I aspire to do my best in the Lord's eyes and hope to one day be called a hero as

There was a point in my life when i thought i knew what i wanted, or who i wanted to be. Then reality set in. The truth is, i was falling into that old saying "the American dream". Little did i know all i was doing was conforming to the ways of the world. I started a business, had my own family but i was living a double life. I was a husband, a father and an avid drug user. Which in the long run, led me down a path of self destruction. I lied to everyone around me, and the consequences of my actions cost me my freedom. In April 2009 i was baptized in front of the entire congregation on a Sunday morning, And knew who Jesus Christ was, and what he did for me. So there was no excuse why Three years later i was sitting in an 8x10 cell, On my way

I am frequently humbled be being asked to share my story of recovery in a sizable group setting. Sometimes it can be for a local recovery group, at a convention, a fund-raiser or a recovery facility. I enjoy speaking in front of substantial groups and if my story inspires one other person to change their life, then it is worth it.

Please note Vladimir called this morning and left a msg. for you stating he was trapped on Rhode Island since Monday as his car broke down and had no phones to communicate. He said he is returning to NY today but did not indicated if he is coming to the office nor left a contact where he can be reach.

We started the Bible Study, and the kids were hanging on every word that was said. The same thing happened the next day, but you could feel something different. God had prepared a soul to be harvested, and that soul was my kid Joel. That afternoon I walked him back to his apartment, and I asked Joel if he knew Jesus. He told me that he did, but he didn’t know if Jesus lived in his heart. So, we sat down and talked for a while about his relationship with Christ. So on that day, July 20, Joel gave his life to Christ. I was so humbled and shocked that I didn’t tell anyone what had happened until that night. I had first-hand experienced God work, and it was so

The owner of the house, Violet, was such a sweet, nice, caring, and God-filled elderly woman who would join us during our discussion. An example of how God worked in her life, before my group was assigned to her house, she prayed constantly for God to provide her with the repairs and fixes she needed. Soon enough, my group came along and God provided her for what she needed on her old home. At the end of that amazing week, I saw God in a new way. I saw that God is always there for you and will always provide. In the past, my faith has been plateaued, staying stagnate, and just melancholy. Now, my faith and relationship with God has been closer and I have been faithful to Him and because he hasn't given up on me, I won't give up on Him. What this experience reveals about me is that no matter what I go through in life, whether it is bullying, negative emotions, bad times, etc. I know God is there for me and He hasn't changed how He feels and cares for me. This also reveals my loyalty to not only my friends, family, and acquaintances, but also my loyalty to God and Him

The end-of-season mad dash is in full swing. Things are falling into place on our schedule pretty rapidly, and as of right now, we are going to be out of town the 2nd through the 5th of October. It does look like we have that Friday, October 6th open. If you can’t make that work we should be able to identify some dates in the subsequent weeks that will work. Darrell is out the rest of the afternoon, but I’ll speak with him Monday and I’ll get back to you with some options.

Almost a year ago I suffered a brain injury by the hands of my own husband. That day has forever changed my life, but in an ironic way it was also for the best. I began seeking The Lord and Praying for strength to get through all the difficulties the days would bring and to my surprise I was able to get through things I never thought I would have to. The struggles in my life are only compounded by the symptoms the brain injury is already showing but for the first time in my life I find complete happiness in The Lord. I am a recovering addict after thirty years of addiction I never thought something such as The Word could help ease the pain I've experienced but it does. My walk with The Lord gets stronger everyday and I know He knows I'd spend

Even God wants nothing to do with me because my prayers went unanswered, nobody came to rescue me. Not even God! I was very resentful at God, and wanted nothing to do with him, I felt he gave everything to my sisters. They were my mothers and his picks but, me an outcast to be treated like scum. As the story unfolds I found my way back to sanity by giving up alcohol and drugs with Alcoholics Anonymous now going on thirteen years in December 8, 2015. This will influence my academics and goals at Colorado Christian University because, I will remember the day when I, and the warden (Lincoln McDonald) were sitting on the couch. He said to me, I am not going to leave you or your drug addict brother nothing. For the first time, I sat there feeling free, not affected by his hurtful words. I looked at him and said “Do you think you can out top God”. You see for the first time in my life when he spoke to me, I didn’t wet my pants in fear, I was free, his words couldn’t hurt me anymore because, I had realized the God of the Heaven and Earth did not forget me. He set me free from alcohol, and drugs and gave me a life beyond my wildest dreams. That day I was free, I skipped down the driveway feeling alive and