Talk, Addiction, Recovery, Forgiveness

Can you imagine how hard it would be to get up in front of over 1,000 people and spill your guts? I was thinking about how many of us spend most of our lives trying to hide all of our guilt, shame, mistakes, addictions and hang ups. We put on the face that will make people like us. Only the people closest to us ever know the "REAL" us. I was trying to put myself in his place...wondering how it would feel to tell EVERYONE, friends, acquaintances, fellow employees, sports friends, kids, and strangers in your community...about all of your "STUFF." WOW...MY HUSBAND IS THE BRAVEST PERSON I KNOW! So here's what happened yesterday....

My husband survived his first ever public speaking event. He not only survived but he did AWESOME. He was really nervous about trying to memorize the whole thing so he decided to read a little and tell his "story's" without looking at his notes. I was SO proud of him! After the first service a 21 year old kid who has been sober for only 3 weeks came up to talk to him. He said he's been really struggling to stay sober and that he had never been to church in his life. He said for some reason he decided to go to church. He just kept feeling like he should go. Anthony told him, "I don't think it was an accident that you are here today."

Anthony gave him his phone number and told him to call him so they could maybe go to a Celebrate Recovery (click link if you need help or Google in your city) meeting together, or if he just wanted to talk. I think just knowing that his testimony helped one person made it completely worth it.

My oldest son Josh who has been struggling a lot lately even decided to go with us. He hasn't been to church in a long time. I can see him starting to head down the same path as his dad and Anthony and I thought the testimony might really touch him. I was so thankful to have ALL 6 of the kids there. Not to mention my son Jullien's girlfriends family. It was such a special day...they will be posting the service (AUDIO ONLY) online in a couple of days. I'll post the link as soon as its up for those of you who might be interested in my husbands CRAZY life.

A Big Step on Easter

My husband received a message from the Pastor of our church last week and said, "I wonder what John wants." I thought he was going to ask him something important because he doesn't call us that often. I just told him, "I don't know, just call him back and see."

He goes downstairs to call and a few minutes later opens the door to our room where I'm happily updating my Blog...his eyes are like saucers, "He wants me to share my life story/testimony on Easter. I don't know if I can do that. I'm not the type of person that can talk in front of people."
I told him, "Well, obviously they think you are the perfect person to talk on Easter Sunday. They would never have asked you if they didn't feel that your story would make a huge impact on someone. You have to do it!" He said, "I'll think about it." I knew he would end up saying yes, so I said, "Just pray about it."

Well guess what...he's going to do it. He's really nervous about it and has been working on it for a couple of weeks now. His story is amazing and I'm not just saying that because I'm his wife. If I had actually met him back when he was so wild, I don't know if we would be married right now. I will post his story on my Blog after the service. I don't want to spoil it for some of my friends who will be going to our church and who may read my Blog.

Please say a prayer for him that he will not be nervous and that the Lord will use him to touch someone's life.