I share this day to glorify the Lord! For today and the twelve previous, I have been alcohol free! The Lord has delivered me and let me know that “I” now must resist the pleasures of the flesh and seek first the Lord and that I can do all things through Him who freely gives.

I have been expectant of the Lord and He has been expectant of me. I am humbled, yet joyful in the Lord. His grace and love are beyond me, yet for me.

I am content in the Lord Jesus Christ who restores and cleanses.

Thanks be to God!

I had an awful night a couple weeks ago. It started off with drinking alcohol which led to me doing things I regretted and behaving very irresponsibly.

I am a single mother and I always try to make wise choices for my child’s sake and be a good example to him. But I slipped and let the desires of my flesh draw me into sin. The next day I was overcome with conviction like I’ve never known. I felt so miserable. I fell on my face before God and cried to have control over my flesh and be strong in the Spirit.

That is when God spoke to me through his Word. I opened my Bible to Romans.

Romans 13:11-14 (NIV)
¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

I think this verse was so relevant to the Awakening series. The time is NOW to WAKE UP . . . before it’s too late.

As I sit here meditating on your first Awakening message, I’m reminded of my own testimony of release from drug addiction. I was a stripper and twice convicted prostitute. I had tracks on my arms from shooting cocaine for years.

One day my mom begged me to go to church with her for Mother’s Day. I showed up at that little Baptist church in my strapless dress with slits up the sides (it was the only kind of clothes I owned).

I can’t remember what the message was or who else was there that day, but I know that something was tugging at me the whole service. As I sat and tried not to cry, tears streamed down my face. They had an altar call at the end, and I remember just hurrying down front to meet whatever it was that was calling me forward.

Jesus met me as I knelt down and asked him to help me. I never stuck a needle in my arm again, and I never went to that strip bar again.

I moved in with my mom and dad and served the Lord with all my heart for many years. That was in 1987.

In February of 1991, my father died of cancer and 10 weeks later my brother died of AIDS. I prayed for healing for them, but God took them home anyway. I was so crushed, I punished God with the silent treatment for 5 years.

During that time, I drank alcohol to blot out the pain and grief. My employer intervened in my situation and sent me to treatment, ultimately landing me in a 12 step recovery program.

I have not had a drink in 11 years.

I knew in my heart for a long time that God wanted to use me in women’s 12 step recovery ministry and use the despair of my life to help other hurting women coming out of the dark.

God placed me at Celebration Church three and a half years ago during the “Unleashing the Power of Everyone” series. I attended leadership training and began living God’s amazing call on my life by leading a small group. The “Spiritual Journey” small group has seen God work in nearly 90 women’s lives. They have experienced freedom in the areas of emotional pain, abuse, resentment, childhood trauma, drug and alcohol addiction and eating disorders.

Praise God for moving Celebration into the areas of healing many churches are not willing to go. And thank you Pastor Stovall for being so open about your own life. It gives others the courage and liberty to face and share their own truths.