On the Go with Stephie Jo: Finding Peace in spite of our circumstances ...

On the Go with Stephie Jo: Finding Peace in spite of our circumstances ...: Peace we all say we want it... do we really? Or can you experience Peace when your world is turned upside down? Friend... I am here to t...

Finding Peace in spite of our circumstances ...

Peace we all say we want it... do we really?

Or can you experience Peace when your world is turned upside down?

Friend... I am here to tell you it all depends...Who is your rock...?  Where is your strength coming from? 


"Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace" . What the heck ?!?!?!?  this is from the Serenity prayer and if that is the key "accepting hardship"...then maybe that is what I have been missing all these years...

Acceptance of hardship... think about it hardship... losing a job, a spouse in death or divorce,  losing a house, filing bankruptcy, having an affair, losing your car, burying your child, burying a parent,  struggling with depression, anxiety, anger,  these are some of  things that come to mind off the top of my head ....most of which I have experienced  or had close friends experience... at the end when your struggling we all seek peace... peace... no let's be real we all want the pain to stop we want to wake up and we want to think it was a bad dream. 

The majority of my issues came from not accepting hardships.. therefore ZERO PEACE.... what does that look like... Anger, threats...long nights of obsessive working... trying to change my circumstances... I'm certain the Lord is up there just going "oh Stephie Jo just REST"...

You see I am 100% a Control Freak in Recovery and that is where I can find PEACE... working the 12 steps aren't just for alcoholics and drug addicts... I work a Christ Centered program and at any point in time I am hurting, frustrated or triggered... I have stopped working the program... I once heard someone say they don't need people...they don't need anyone oh sweet friend that is dangerous territory... As a believer I have to go back to the basics... I know exactly who made me... who provides for me... and once I get out from under that umbrella I will be soaking wet with fretting, worry, anger, everything that isn't peaceful...

 A good friend of mine suggested this for me...and it's worked...So the next time you find yourself spiraling out of control with worry, anger, depression, anxiety... take a 2 minute kneeling time with God  ...not 20 min  ...not 2 weeks...2 minutes and just on your knees breathing, surrendering and focusing on GOD.... nothing else... everytime the anxiety comes back do it again...on your knees...2 minutes SET A TIMER...

There is no quick fix and the problems may still be there ...but the one thing that has changed is how you relate to it... you see to accept a situation doesn't mean you have to agree with what's going on and it may still be hard... But you are now in the position to make sound decisions vs. emotionally charged decisions...  And that my friend is FREEDOM. 


A little calendar on my desk from #Oola says for today's devotion:  " Those People who are most at peace, most confident, most deeply fulfilled, are grounded in FAITH. " 


 How do you cope when your world is turned upside down?    I would love to hear from you.

25 years ago...in a little town called Richardson

Today is the day after I said I do... 25 years ago... I said I do...and meant it and after  5  short years  going to marriage counseling alone... the counselor said... I can keep coming but it's time for you to move on... so I did...it's funny to me... most years have come and gone and I didn't give them a second thought...this year it almost stung with the pain of what could have been...when the reality of what is comes rushing through I am certain God had his hand on me the entire time... I may have lost this marriage but I gained so much more... thank you Lord for unanswered prayers... there is an enemy crawling around....looking for loop holes to drag us back down...keep your head up keep your focus clear on the ONE who make the past perfectly clear!!!

God is moving time to start blogging...

Almost a year ago...life got real.  Real enough for me to search...and grow.  For the past several years I have said the Lord's prayer before I go to sleep and when I wake...sometimes...it just starts going off in my head like a tape recorder.

September 7th, 2013  I decide to check out The Branch @ Vista Ridge..Now I live closer to the one in Farmers Branch but  decide to check out the one I was invited to almost 5 years prior...My Son and I show up early on Sunday Morning September 8th ... we are met by the youth minister who is on fire for the Lord and  Immediately takes Miles underneath his wings... invites him to the after church get together and Miles jumps in both feet!  

I walk into the sanctuary...and what is written (painted) on the wall ...none other than the scripture I have been reciting...over and over in my head.... some might say that is just a nice little coincidence ...I know better. 

Sitting on the back pew... I happen to look up and sitting in front of me are parents of a close elementary friends of Miles... haven't seen since 2008 ..nice little coincidence... I think not.

After the service Miles informs me that not one but four of the group of boys  he use to have over to the house often... all attend ... nice coincidence... I know not.

September 8th, 2013 ...join ladies bible study ...going around the room everyone is introducing themselves...and who is in the room Miles's former 5th grade teacher,  I do believe God has spoken and said "Park it Missy" ..;)

I start on the bible study and decide I'm just gonna see what this "Celebrate Recovery" would be about  (started one...2008...yep you guessed it didn't finish) ...September 19th... I heard a testimony that would take me down to me knees... This will be the beginning of some refining ...healing... dealing... like never before.  

Day One Blogging...August 16,2014

Ok it's almost been a year and a half since my last attempt at blogging... so here goes nothing...I can honestly say the FITBIT is great and it does work at getting you motivated... the thing is you need to stick with it...and I am one to get "Oh look there's a chicken!"  DISTRACTED... so weight has creeped in...and walking needs to begin. 

I am taking on a new venture working in the field I love and learning new things daily...more on that later.

I am and always will be mesmerized by people...their actions..reactions..words and behaviors...my true passion in life is helping people in need.   I am a CO-DEPENDENT !!! TEXT BOOK DEFINITION!!!

There is freedom in admitting who you are and facing the reality is quite challenging.  The last year and half have been one of forgiveness...restoration...grace...mercy... as God is working and weaving a masterpiece in the mess I had made of my life by my own choices.  So as I continue to write I look forward to sharing from the heart...wide open and for all to see...as the main purpose of our lives is to give back to others.   Praying that all will find hope, love and encouragement as we all journey this thing called life!

Blessings!

Stephie Jo

Fitbit Day # 5

O.K. Day five is much better....and you guessed I am going to bed before midnight... Good night!!!

Fitbit Four Hit the Door!!!

"Don't stop when your tired stop when your done... " Wow...after yesterday this spoke to me... I am more competitive then I thought... meeting my goals today was the main goal..... So after a day of cold calling in the rain... and not meeting my step goal or stair goal ... I was very discouraged.  So I took a cat nap... went to the grocery store (around 9:45 p.m.) and came back and got busy... I had to get real busy and creative... it is still raining...and there are no stairs in my house... and I needed to climb three flights of stairs... so what do I do... I start stepping on the sofa, the ottoman, a bar stool, office stool and until I hit 10 floors climbed today... I wasn't going to stop!!!  Here is the obstacle course I created...

I will say I am glad my son was asleep and did not see his momma climbing on the furniture!!!

So you can see this week has been a little up and a little down...

 When I see this in the chart... it is apparent I sit too much...but I don't think I would make it to my appointments on time walking...so I am going to have to increase my very active percentage... and get creative on burning calories while driving around making sales calls... fun fun fun... I guess I better run... :)

Until tomorrow... I am done...so I am stopping... :)