A few years ago, I was living a double life. The “seen” Valerie was a leader in ministry, friendly, engaging, and seemed to have it all together. Then there was the “unseen” Valerie who was acting out in fits of rage toward her family; battling anxiety,...
For most of my adult life, I have felt that my story was my enemy. My story was heavy, like chains that shackled me to shame, denial, and fear. If I could just hide from it or outrun it, then I could live the life that I longed to live. So I kept striving, running...
Are faith and trust the same thing? It was May 13, 1999. A day that would forever alter my life. It is the day my only sibling and brother, Bryce, died from taking his own life. I was a college student living in Tijuana, Mexico for my missionary internship and before...
When I was trapped in adultery, I felt alone and numb. I was lost, and I knew it, but I didn’t know how to turn around. The Holy Spirit began pursuing me despite the fact that I wasn’t pursuing Him. I was being lovingly convicted to turn back to God and my...
Sitting in a familiar space, I expressed to our marriage counselors a desire for my husband to be more of a 'promise land’ thinker--like me--when it came to our marriage. I was grumbling that he seemed to only be able to focus on the day-to-day. Even though my husband...
I had a deep lack of self-worth, driven by toxic shame, from being abused beginning when I was a child. The abuse started at age 6-7 when I was repeatedly molested by a male teenage cousin. Then, when I was a teenager, I was raped. Those experiences caused me to...
What a wonderful way to start the month of April, right on the heels of Easter!! Easter is always a sweet reminder that Jesus conquered the grave and death! It was not the end of His story and it’s not the end of yours either!! With this in mind, let’s take a look at...
Because He lives I can face tomorrow Because He lives all fear is gone Because I know, I know He holds the future And life is worth the living just because He lives Dressed up in a white bonnet and my prettiest pink dress with all the ruffles and...
Addiction made me feel hopeless, sick, empty, lonely, stuck and sliding deeper into despair. I had to admit that I was powerless over alcohol and drugs and that my life had become unmanageable. I was born in Tucson but spent most of my life in Chicago. My...