This is Your Wake-Up Call || alcoholic, addict, co-dependent, tools and resources for recovery, HOPE

89. Unlucky – a Memoir; and the GOOD NEWS that We’re ALL Redeemable!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2016004/fan_mail/new] Let’s meet Cat… Abandoned in the middle of the night by his mother, Cat would struggle with abandonment issues and feeling undeserving of love. Consequently, he would fall into the trap of alcohol and drugs at a very early age – becoming addicted to heroin by high school. Fast forward to arrests for 16 felonies and 42 misdemeanors, he would land in jail. But that would hardly be the ‘end’ of the story. In the cycle of relapse and detox that followed, he found himself absolutely hopeless with the idea of death looking better than any other options. Another ‘But God’ story – let’s go listen to this beautiful redemption story now!  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with someone you believe would benefit. And be sure to "like" and subscribe! If you know of someone who's story you'd like to hear, or would be a good fit for our audience, please reach out and contact me at jeri.keystolead@gmail.com.

88. The Perfect Storm and the Power of Forgiveness

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2016004/fan_mail/new] Meet Steve – who, as a child with dyslexia thought he was what he heard others call him – “lazy or stupid”. With a family history of this wretched disease we call alcoholism, the risky behavior began early on. He would go on to hone his technical skills in the Army (thank you for your service, Steve), as well as a host of other things – including exacerbating his addictions, episodes of depression and suicide ideation. The dark would get darker including an accident that would take the life of a dear friend. And then ‘the miracle of forgiving himself’ and the regeneration recovery that took place turned it all around.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with someone you believe would benefit. And be sure to "like" and subscribe! If you know of someone who's story you'd like to hear, or would be a good fit for our audience, please reach out and contact me at jeri.keystolead@gmail.com.

87. I'm Going to Be Guilty of a Wasted Life - Learning to do the RIGHT Thing When No One Was Looking

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2016004/fan_mail/new] From the foster care system to street criminal to support his habit, James shares a daunting story of hardened criminal to TRUE RESTORATION! You don't want to miss this riveting story of drugs, felonies, jail and more. With over 200 arrests to his name, James shares of the 'very bad place with very bad people' where he would spend hard time, until an encounter with God would change it all. But it wouldn't be an easy transition! James would spend 21 days on the floor of a jail cell coming off heroine with no one wanting anything to do with him. The JOY that is now the trajectory of his story simply cannot be denied. Let's go listen now! (But WAIT - there's a technical difficulty at about the 6-min mark where we lose connection. Please wait - or simply fast forward a few seconds - you don't want to miss out on the rest of the story!) If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with someone you believe would benefit. And be sure to "like" and subscribe! If you know of someone who's story you'd like to hear, or would be a good fit for our audience, please reach out and contact me at jeri.keystolead@gmail.com.

86. You Were Meant for More Than This - One Woman's Story of Being Loved Thru the Mess

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2016004/fan_mail/new] The Ashleigh I know today is a bundle of joy and sunshine - though that's not always been her story. She always considered herself the 'ugly, awkward and odd kid' of 10 kids in her family, and began rebelling and using at an early age.  With a message of 'we don't want you' at early on when she came out of the closet at 16, the story of real madness began. Running away from the foster home/system, she'd land in jail, and lose her biological mom to MS early on. Heavy drugs came into the scene and the spiraling began.  Dying on the steps of our mutual church home, Ashleigh would be revived once again, finding true hope and IDENTITY. It's a beautiful story of reconciliation and healing that is available to ALL of us! Let's go listen now.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with someone you believe would benefit. And be sure to "like" and subscribe! If you know of someone who's story you'd like to hear, or would be a good fit for our audience, please reach out and contact me at jeri.keystolead@gmail.com.

85. All the Burned Bridges and the Disconnect in My Own Heart; A Story of Healing - from the Inside Out

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2016004/fan_mail/new] Meet James. In critical shape in his early 30s, with a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver, a short life expectancy and 'incurable' as the diagnosis, James has a MIRACLE story to share - and not just of physical healing, but so much more.  He tells of the duplicitous lifestyle he lived for so long, with one foot in the 'church world' and religion, and the other foot living solidly in the world with all the entanglements that addiction and more can bring. He even worked in the church, and masked things so well, that no one really knew.  The clarifying moment came, when upon his diagnosis, his wife gave the ultimatum. He learned via the 'long route' that going to meetings and stopping drinking were one way - or he could do the work and get the real recovery he so desperately longed for. Which way did he go? Let's go listen in now... If you enjoyed this podcast, please share with someone you believe would benefit. And be sure to "like" and subscribe! If you know of someone who's story you'd like to hear, or would be a good fit for our audience, please reach out and contact me at jeri.keystolead@gmail.com.