Suitcases & Faces

#gospelholics

Longing For Freedom Without Repentance

Longing For Freedom Without Repentance

We got plugged in. We put down roots. We started serving. We got mentors. Then, I relapsed on methamphetamine. Like pennies on a funnel shoot, it was the beginning of a slow and brutal spiral out of control. There are several contributing factors leading to my decision use drugs, however they are all an exaltation of things above Jesus. Trusting in drugs, alcohol, and pornography I pushed Jesus aside. Even though stress, anxiety, abuse, and trauma have to bow to the name of Jesus, I did not.

Faith, RecoveryJoshua StephensApril 26, 2019repent, repentance, freedom, freedom from drugs, how to confess, confessionComment

A Love Note To My Wife

A Love Note To My Wife

Though she did not do everything right, she did the right thing by showing up. She helped me when I asked and offered when I didn’t. Without knowing if I would ever recover, she put her dreams and aspirations on pause. She said yes to our marriage, when she could have very well said no. With biblical grounds for termination, she could have walked away…

Betrayed By A Click: Exchanging Jesus For A Lie

Betrayed By A Click: Exchanging Jesus For A Lie

When staring into the digital abyss, I tend to lose focus of what truly matters. Distracted by social media, entertainment-streaming-services, online news outlets, and websites galore, I exchange my relationship with the Lord for lesser things. Judas did the same too:

FaithJoshua StephensApril 19, 2019miracles, betrayal, betrayed, easter, passover, pass over, resurrection, click, burial, money, pornography, bull, communion Comment

Transitions: Job Search Rejection

Transitions: Job Search Rejection

Though it was hard expressing the nature and severity of my spiritual biopsychosocial sickness, I mustered up the courage to take it one day at a time. It just happened this particular day looked like being honest with a potential employer.

Leadership, RecoveryJoshua StephensApril 18, 2019lie, lies, lying, leadership, honest, honesty, coffee, humble, humilityComment

Anger: Hulk-Smash Edition

Anger: Hulk-Smash Edition

Historically, when rage sets in, The Hulk takes over and I self-sabotage by way of vices. When everything around me seems to be working against me, I get angry.

Faith, Health & WellnessJoshua StephensApril 15, 2019anger, feelings, emotion, addiciton, recoveryComment

When Your Dreams Fade Away

When Your Dreams Fade Away

Regardless of what it looks like, how we got it, what we risked, or if we never touched it - at one point - didn’t we all have a dream?

Health & Wellness, FaithJoshua StephensApril 10, 2019dream, dreams, giving up, give up, defeatedComment

An Open Letter to Ladies Experiencing Singleness

An Open Letter to Ladies Experiencing Singleness

"Where are all the good guys?" or "The men won't step up!" and my favorite, "They all be trippin'". Soon, I found some of these women turning to me and saying, "You're married, how do we find a good guy? Do you know anyone? What do you think - why aren't there any good guys?"

Relationships, MarriageKaitlyn StephensApril 6, 2019dating, single, ladies, married

Matters of the Heart

Matters of the Heart

Someone recently told me to quit speaking "christianese" and dive deeper. So, I'll get right to the point.

FaithKaitlyn StephensApril 6, 2019faith, serve, servingComment

In The Presence of Darkness

In The Presence of Darkness

As my grandma used to say, “Running with the wrong crowd gets you nowhere.” Though drugs took me somewhere, eventually it was nowhere I wanted to be. For me, change looked like surrender. Once I admitted…

RecoveryJoshua StephensApril 6, 2019meth, methamphetamine, drugs, alcohol, recovery, demons, magicComment

All I Ever Wanted Was A Name: Identity Struggles

All I Ever Wanted Was A Name: Identity Struggles

If only I could be half as good as his mullet was long, surely I would make it. But as many of us know, sometimes the things we want, turn out to be things we don’t. I found out greatness has a price.

Recovery, Health & WellnessJoshua StephensApril 2, 2019identity, addict, addiction, drugs, alcohol, sobriety, recoveryComment

Clothed In Couture

Clothed In Couture

In my daydream, I’m also a size 8 (because I’m type A and I have to be somewhat realistic!) with perfectly sculpted arms, my hair doesn’t frizz, my butt doesn’t jiggle and the Christian Louboutin heels I’m wearing don’t land loudly on the marble floors beneath me like hoofs on a horse. Instead, I glide - nearly floating - as I twirl and whirl in my couture gown… move over Kendall Jenner!

Faith, LeadershipKaitlyn StephensJanuary 12, 2019fear of god, balenciaga, clothing, couture, god's love, 1 Samuel, Acts 22, King David, A man after God's heart Comment

2018, Is it Really Over Already?

2018, Is it Really Over Already?

So, when I see this video what sticks out to me are the things I never wanted you to see.

Health & Wellness, Recovery, MarriageKaitlyn StephensJanuary 1, 2019marriage, drug, condemnation, healing, wounded, church hurt Comment

Crawling or Running, You Will Finish the Race.

Crawling or Running, You Will Finish the Race.

Many times this year, I found myself entertaining the enemy’s voice. It’s a daily battle I sometimes win. Others, not so much. A recent campaign lead me to a revolutionary thought.

Health & WellnessJoshua StephensDecember 26, 2018graceComment

Abide: to continue in a place

Abide: to continue in a place

It was in this place, where I felt I had hit rock bottom, the Lord began calling me into a season of active rest. I wish I could say it got better, but unfortunately, it got a whole lot worse...

Health & Wellness, Word Study, Grief, FaithJoshua StephensOctober 10, 2018Adolphus Hotelsuicide, overdose, substance abuse, chemical dependency, hopeless, word study, addictionComment

Word Study, "Word = Order"

Word Study, "Word = Order"

If you want to have your mind blown, watch this video! The Hebrew word for order, is “Davar.” The word, word means order. Thus, the word of God is His Order. Likewise, God’s Word, is God’s “order.”

Word Study, FaithJoshua StephensSeptember 24, 2018study, obedience, authority, rebel, rebellion, provisionComment

Rats On a Plane: Where You Focus Is Where You Land

Rats On a Plane: Where You Focus Is Where You Land

If rats can’t breathe at higher altitudes, we shouldn’t bother with their presence as we ascend into the clouds - A message from our dear friend Chase Arrington about landing where your looking.

Faith, RecoveryChase ArringtonAugust 20, 2018addict, addiction, drugs, meth, methamphetamine, alcohol, focus, joy, freedomComment

Condemned to Reconcile or Else

Condemned to Reconcile or Else

When only half of the gospel is presented, it’s not good news at all!

Changing, Still

Changing, Still

My point here is this: we can suck as long as we're actively working in not sucking. Ya feel me? So, how do we grow? How do we go from being who we are today to a not-so-sucky version of us?

Relationships, FaithKaitlyn StephensAugust 7, 2018relationships, judging, girls, bickering, cattyness, sass, hate, steal, thief, thieve, mean, mean girls, suck, i suck, character, maturity, immaturityComment

IT TAKES A VILLAGE; A Vlog About Gratitude

IT TAKES A VILLAGE; A Vlog About Gratitude

I am grateful for the people who never gave up on me, even though I did at one point…

Faith, Recovery, Relationships, Word StudyJoshua StephensAugust 3, 2018thanks, thanksgiving, praise, gratitude, grateful, greatful, recovery, family, starbucks, rehab, thank y ou, thank you, thankfulComment

InstaWorld: A Love Story

InstaWorld: A Love Story

The picture was taken in an instant, but the relationship between the two in the picture was built over long conversations, heartbreak, bad decisions, distance, good decisions, hard work, and ultimately a promise to be each other's ride-or-die until death.

RelationshipsKaitlyn StephensAugust 3, 2018relationships, love, marriage, bar, alcohol, reconciliation, date, dating, Most Popular