October & November Monthly Update

Hi friends and supporters!

I love the cooler nights when we can leave the windows open and wake up put on our snuggly robe and slippers and have a cup of coffee with Jesus. October 4th is my favorite day of the year because it is the day I get to celebrate all that God has done in my life to bring me to 13 years clean and sober from the chains of all of my addictions.

So this year to begin our blog page and all that Armor Up has been doing in Oct. and Nov. I just wanted to share a mini testimony in honor of my 13 years clean. On September 11, 2011, on Seminole County’s jail cell floors after receiving my seventh DUI and being addicted to opiates for 11+ years I received the gift of desperation! I started using pot at the age of 9 and became instantly obsessed. I was an addict until the age of 27 to everything or everyone that felt good. Anything or anyone is what I used to numb and escape and fill the huge empty hole and void inside of me. I used heavily until the age of 27, alcohol and cocaine were my drugs of choice for most of those years. I stayed clean for 7 or 8 years off of everything and then my doctor prescribed opioids for my migraines and instantly I was obsessed, yet once again. I lived the following 11+ years for that high. I was in a love affair and I chased that high with everything in me and I could never get enough. They gave me superpowers I thought. I could actually keep up with me. They were legal and my doctor prescribed them so it was okay. Right? You see I never healed from the inside out. I never worked all the 12 steps of recovery. I never kept a sponsor long. And never got all the other healing that needed to take place and didn’t. I was a very broken little girl inside of an adult body.  When I got clean I just became super mom, superwife, housekeeper, cook, maid, and chauffeur. I was going to make up for the wreckage of my past. My title, my job, making 6 figures a year, the house, the boat, the cars, the toys, and the kids were what I lived and breathed for. I was just trying to be loveable and be super everything so everyone would love and approve of me and so that I wouldn’t hate myself so badly, living in the guilt and shame that tormented me from the time I was a little girl. I was never enough. I never could or would be enough. See I was looking in all the wrong places, things, and people for love, approval, and satisfaction to no avail.

I am in awe of what God has done in my life over the last 13 years. I was beaten and broken and should’ve been dead. I had wished for death. It sure seemed easier than quitting my opiates. Up to that point, the thought of death brought me great comfort. I knew I did not begin to fit in this world and that I just didn’t belong here. I felt everyone would be so much better without me, I really did… that was the lie from the devil that I truly believed in my toxic mind. I honestly just didn’t have the guts to put a bullet in my head or I would have… but God saved me in his infinite wisdom, on that jail cell floor. I knew he wasn’t gonna let me die and he wasn’t letting me out of this world that easy. I cried out to him from a place I had never cried from before and I finally truly surrendered all. That is when I received the gift of desperation and what a ride, it’s been the last 13 years with my Lord. I sought GOD, RECOVERY, and inner healing like I sought drugs, alcohol, and everything else that felt good, in return he healed me from the inside out.

Let me tell you he has been my fix, my high like no other, and I am madly in love with him. I will spend the rest of my life spreading his love and the gospel to the broken in all 4 corners of the earth. My life today is to pass it on and help others find true healing, be set free, and climb out of the pits of hell and the chains of their addictions. To help them change their story, find and step into their true GOD-given purpose, and go be the world changers GOD called them to be. If he can set this prisoner free, he can set anyone free. He has not wasted a hurt or a mistake it’s all being used for his glory. Yes, our mess is definitely to be used as our message! Thank you JESUS! 

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29

“I am a new creation in Christ the old has gone the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“I know the truth today. I have been set free.”

John 8:32

“I consider my life worth nothing, if only I may finish the race and the task set before me. The task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Acts 20:24

Julie from Z88.3!

Thank you Julie for coming to do an incredible bible study for our ladies. It was an honor to have you come out and part some bone and marrow, spirit and soul with us. Your lesson on Exodus was amazing. You touched so many of the women so deeply and said the exact right things they needed to hear. We can not wait to have you back soon! I pray for God’s blessing and favor over you, Julie.

Happy Birthday Stephanie and Leigh

Happy birthday Leigh! I pray for God‘s blessings and favor, provision, guidance, and Holy Spirit wisdom over you in this new year of life. He’s blessed you with! May your year be filled with much love and much laughter. I love you so much and you bring so much love, joy, and light into everyone’s life who crosses your path. You are such a blessing to so many. Thank you for all you do for Armor Up I am truly grateful for your time love and dedication to our women. We love you. God bless you, my dear friend.

Happy birthday Stephanie! There is no mistake that God placed you right at Freedom House for such a time as this. It has been beautiful to watch you slowly but surely come out of your shell. It was an honor to get to baptize you at the beach. God is going to continue to do incredible things in you and through you. Keep doing the next right thing and putting God and recovery first.

A Night to Remember Gala

I want to thank each and every person who came out to support our first-ever Armor Up Gala. There are not enough words to describe how deeply touched we were to see how many friends and supporters we have behind us. We could not have imagined all that God blessed us with along the way to make this gala possible. When we felt called to hold an event of this magnitude we had no idea what it would look like or how we would possibly pull it off. It was only through complete dependence upon our Lord that He provided us with the most beautiful venue and hardworking people who have a heart for this ministry and a great vision for this gala. Our awesome DJ Michael and MC Troy and Joe Nester and Zion Downs were just incredible, what an honor to have them at our gala. Marla with Drums for Recovery what an amazing and unique talent you all have thank you for your awesome performance! We are truly grateful for every sponsor, partnership, and invaluable community connection with those who are equally as passionate about this ministry and all that God is doing and going to do through Armor Up. Our main vision for this gala was to raise enough money to put a down payment and or purchase our third house, Redemption House. We are believing God for the land, the house, and the financial resources to make this happen in His divine timing. The partnerships and connections made at our gala and seeing all of the people with a heart for this ministry went beyond all of our expectations. I think the highlight of all of it was hearing the testimonies and all that God has done in Elizabeth and Emma and so many others who have graduated from our program. Hearing the testimony of Kathleen (Emma’s Mom) just brought me to my knees to see it from a momma’s perspective. Justin Bradley and Helen you guys were amazing. All of you speakers were incredible and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Hearts were touched and lives were changed.

Teen Challenge Gala

Wow, what a gala! Jeremy Kupsch, you are an amazing force. It was a spectacular night that we got to spend with you at the Teen Challenge Gala. It was beautiful and entertaining. Tim Tebow gave a great message and I loved the cardboard testimonies. The support and the partners you have are incredible. God has blessed this ministry beyond words because of the amazing work you all do. I am so grateful I got to come and be a part of it, even through a hurricane. Thank you, Jeremy for all you do to help these men step into their passion and their purpose in God‘s Holy Spirit power. May God continue to bless you all.

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors!

We want to extend extra special recognition to those who sponsored tables at our gala. We can not thank you enough. This event would not have been possible without the businesses and dear friends listed below who chose to support Armor Up in a big way. If you are looking for a dentist, realtor, home stylist, lawyer or other local business to support, we ask that you consider one of the ones below to encourage their efforts in giving back to Armor Up and the recovery community.

Get Involved

As always, we rely on your support to make these things happen. If you have it in your heart to give, please visit our Get Involved page to see ways that you can help support our mission, either financially directly on our website, through PayPal and Venmo(@armoruprecovery), or through volunteering.

Thank you again for all you do for ARMOR UP and our girls! We could not do it without you! We appreciate all your love, support and prayers!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

May the LORD bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!

May he turn his face towards you and give you his peace!