Leave Fingerprints Ministry

I am from a family that includes multiple generations that have struggled with dysfunction, addiction , , alcoholism, and mental health problems.

My recovery journey started at the age of 12 when I was taken to my first recovery meeting. For the next 20 years, I would struggle with the desire of a better life and a better way. It wasn't until 2011, when I was introduced to a Christ-centered recovery program that I was able to start claiming victory over the hurts, habits, and hangups in my life. Decades of co-dependency, control, anger, resentment, low self-worth, and a misunderstanding of who God really is,  formed  strongholds in my life and interfered with God's purpose for me. I am learning to break free from these stronghold by claiming the victory Christ paid for me on the cross when he died for my sins.

Leave Fingerprints ministry was born out of the desire to share with others like a handful of people shared with me along my journey. Those amazing people with evangelistic hearts that took the time to share the gospel with me. They would provide me with the hope found in our Savior, Jesus.  I would use that hope to develop a faith in a Sovereign God whose word, the bible, holds the answer to every single problem that has ever plagued me and my family. His way is the truth and the life. It's now my turn to share that hope with you!

The Purpose of Leave Fingerprints is to help others find recovery and rehabilitation  from generational dysfunction and to learn to live Christ centered lives based on biblical principles.
You can visit our website at www.leavefingerprintsministry.com

 ~ A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ,
Johnna

Walking Out of The Storm

A lot has happened in life and recovery lately. Most of it has been great and all of the great is so much more than just me or anything I did. Everything great that has appeared a victory in my life, has actually came from God working on my life and working in me. That is a great and humble feeling. 

The old me would struggle with pride and arrogance at some of the awesome victories in my recovery. The new me actually struggles with fear.

I described this fear to my husband and then to my sponsor. I could mostly relate it to the story of Peter when Jesus calls him to come to him in the storm. At the point Peter becomes frightened and takes his eyes off of Jesus, he starts to sink. I imagine him in the storm actually feeling he is going to drown. Peter cries out to Jesus and Jesus saves him.

I remember life before recovery and before complete surrender. I feel called out of the storm and the fear I feel is that my flesh might cause me to take my eyes off of Jesus. I have felt that fear of drowning, I don't want to ever feel that way again. 

The same day I described this feeling and the insight I had received  of how Peter might have felt almost drowning, the passage of Matthew 14:24-32 came up two more times. Once in a book I'm reading and another in a daily devotional I receive. 

What I have learned is that I might have fear and there will be storms. The prayer I have is for the ability to keep my eyes on Jesus, my mouth speaking Jesus and my heart full of Jesus.

Do you struggle with the up and down, the feeling of Victory followed by the fear of drowning? Do you stay intentional in your recovery to keep focused on Jesus? Join me in deciding to opt for that closer walk with Jesus, to reach out in the storm and to let him hold us up. 

A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ, 

Johnna 

 

Earning, tithing, saving, and spending, we are ready!

A couple weeks ago, I was discussing money with our teenagers. I was trying to explain to them that I actually had to earn the money to get to go out with my friends when I was their age. My mom sold Avon and if I needed money, I helped her sell it and I would get the money to go to the movies or skating out of that.

 My children surprised me in the most awesome way. Instead of just accepting what I was telling them about earning my own money versus how much we give them, they wanted to know if they could earn their own money too. I have sold Avon many times throughout the years but I am most excited about this opportunity. I look forward to teaching our kids to earn, tithe, save and spend. They are ready to go! We were able to get everything in place yesterday. Here is our website that anyone that wants can order from directly or they can email, message, or call me and if you are local , we will deliver a book to you!

Here is a link to our website! Feel free to share ... http://www.youravon.com/johnnahurt

A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ,
Johnna

Knowing Our Place

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6, 7 ESV) 

This was the daily bible verse I received this morning. Something new immediately struck me when I read it and it has grown in my heart until I felt led to write it out.

"....because there was no place for them in the inn."   

Jesus was born in a manger, in a world that had no place for him. He was born to a young couple with little means and in circumstances that just didn't support his arrival. 

Looking at the reality of this infant's situation, born to young unmarried parents with no special recognition to their names; one could not possibly have assessed this and come to the conclusion that this was our savior. 

God brought his only begotten son into this world not because we had a place prepared for him but because he had a place prepared for us. 

Sometimes, we look at our worldly situation and search for answers. Where is our place? Where do we belong? What will be our career? What is our purpose? 

We can't look at our current circumstances and try to figure out the answers. We have to look to God and understand, he already has the answers. He has all that we are seeking. God has our purpose and our place figured out in his plan. 

It's time to stop trying to "fit in". It's time to stop trying to find our place. This world is simply a small part of our journey. We work here, we grow here and then one day, in Gods time, we will make our way home, and there, we will be in our place. 

A Grateful Believer in Jesus Christ, 

Johnna