And God Still Loves Me ♥ Patti J. Smith ♥ Book Spotlight

And God Still Loves Me

A Journey From The Dark Abyss of Sin To God's Mercy

by Patti J. Smith

The term, “I’ve been to hell and back,” describes me to a tee and the hell was mostly self-inflicted. Even though I came from a loving, supportive and Christian family, I always felt like an outsider and “less than.”  That all changed when I discovered alcohol.  As a well-known A.A. speaker once said, “I was a duck until I took a drink, then turned into an eagle.”  Alcohol took away my moral compass and everything I learned growing up disappeared into the deep recesses of my mind.  My hedonistic lifestyle was one of perceived indestructibility generating carelessness and vulnerability.

And God Still Loves Me is my story.  A story of a lost soul who shunned God.  Of a journey of self-will that led to a life of excess with total disregard towards reputation, safety, or how it affected loved ones.  It is a story of hope, healing, and accepting that no matter the transgression, God is merciful and His love unconditional.

Patti J. Smith is a multi-genre author, penning Christian devotionals, light romance, and suspense.  She serves as Regional Coordinator for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and leads Rachel's Hope After-Abortion Healing Retreats in Oceanside, CA. She has shared her testimony at a variety of venues including the March for Life in Washington, D.C. and Walk for Life in San Francisco as well as being a guest on EWTN, Immaculate Heart Radio, and Radio Maria. She also appears in two documentaries, “The Sidewalk Chronicles” and “Hush.” 

Patti and her husband, Michael, live in Vista, CA and have four beautiful granddaughters. Along with her pro-life ministry and writing, she enjoys blogging, reading and proudly admits to being a diehard Seattle Seahawks fan and Fantasy Football fanatic. 

Patti’s Social Media

Website:  www.rachelshopehealingministry.com

Blog:  www.gridirongranny@live.com

Author’s Page:   http://amazon.com/author/pattijsmith 
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/gridirongranny5
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/giridirongranny

Guest Post - Dawn V. Cahill - Recovery vs Salvation

Recovery vs Salvation

by Dawn Cahill

SOBRIETY

When I was a practicing alcoholic, I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. I knew I had a problem, but I didn’t want to stop drinking. I would tell people that I was “on the road” to alcoholism. I figured I’d become one if I didn’t stop drinking. Finally, the day came when I saw myself for what I was: an early middle-stage alcohol addict who wouldn’t live much past age 42 if I didn’t stop drinking. (I’m now well past that mark.)

While I was drinking, I often went to AA meetings. Once there, my craving for alcohol only increased because that was all they talked about. Imagine a food addict being surrounded by conversations about food. So, on the way home from meetings, I’d stop by the store and pick up a bottle of wine, finishing it off before bed.

Once I got sober, life changed dramatically. I went from gloom to color. Beauty burst around me. The sky gleamed clear blue. I cried when an arsonist set a local school on fire. Life was now so vivid, the craving for alcohol diminished and gradually died.

SALVATION

When I was a practicing sinner, I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. I knew I had a problem, but I didn’t want to stop doing my own thing. Finally, the day came when I saw myself for what I was: a rebel against God who wouldn’t make it to heaven if I didn’t repent of my sins.

Prior to this, I often went to church. Since I was raised in church, I had no objections to it. What I objected to was fanaticism. I didn’t want to be like those churchy people. Yet they said things that baffled me. They seemed to care what God thought of them. They talked about their love for God and His for them. But I just didn’t get it. I’d never experienced that for myself, yet I’d been told all my life that I was as Christian because I’d prayed the “right” prayer as a child. And I certainly didn’t disbelieve the message. I simply didn’t care that much. 

But once I admitted I was a sinner separated from God, and repented of my rebellion against him, life changed dramatically. I went from darkness to light, death to life. A new warmth filled my heart. God’s presence was all around me. I now cared what God thought of me.

And God had a purpose for those dark days. When I tell people about how He brought me out of darkness, they seem more likely to listen when I share my recovery story with them than if I simply throw Bible verses or the plan of salvation at them.

(This article was originally published on dawnvcahill.com on April 27, 2015)

About Moonstone Secrets – Dawn's latest release:

As the Christmas season sparkles around her, DeeDee McCreary eagerly anticipates visiting magical Victoria, BC, with her boyfriend, Nick, and meeting his family. But the trip proves disastrous. First, Nick finds his bank account cleaned out. Then he disappears. Frantic, she determines to uncover what happened. When she discovers something far worse than she anticipated, she questions everything she believes to be true about him.

With the man she loves in jail for an unspeakable crime, DeeDee knows the truth lies somewhere in Nick and his ex-wife’s past. But if she pursues their secrets, will she put herself in danger, too?

Amazon purchase link:

https://www.amazon.com/Moonstone-Secrets-Christian-Contemporary-Seattle-ebook/dp/B06Y1P9R3Z

Other Places to find Dawn:

Amazon Author page

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