Speaker 1: 0:01

It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people sharing real struggles and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, ron Myers. The promoter.

Speaker 3: 0:22

Hello friends, it is a pleasure to be back with you. Well, how are you? How was your week? Was it a rough week? I know I had a lot of ups and downs this past week, but that's life, right. Have you had your conversations with Jesus this past week?

Speaker 3: 0:38

Always remember this that you have access to 24-7 communication with God. That's right. You can share whatever's on your heart. I know for me it's a constant source of reassurance and connection. In fact, this week, when I was asking, hey, what are we going to talk about God this week on the show, here's a statement that was put in my spirit Our lives will not turn out the way we think they will. Well, that is a deep statement and I had marinated on that for a few days and I'm going to share with you my thought on that in the final thought segment later in the show.

Speaker 3: 1:21

But first, if you've just tuned in, my name is Ron Myers, and this show is all about the transformative power of personal stories. I love to talk with individuals who, at their lowest point in life, got the hell out of their life. Now their stories are not just stories, they're power, they're validation that God really is God. Change can happen in your life and you never have to settle for the same old, same old. Today's story is from Blaine.

Speaker 3: 1:52

Blaine was growing up here on the Gulf Coast and guess what? He never once, when he was a little kid, dreamt about living in a dumpster for survival. And I know one thing he never sat on Santa Claus's lap at Christmas and said Santa, can you bring me a life of pain, struggles and rejection, and while you're at it, will you throw some crystal meth in there? No, blaine found out what all of us find out Life is coming at us a hundred miles an hour and often our choices are made in a split second. They lead us down the wrong road and often lead us to somewhere where Blaine was, and that is a life of hopelessness.

Speaker 3: 2:37

Now Blaine's story is going to remind you today that none of us can ever be too far from God, and God will throw life rope after life, rope after life rope in our lives to pull us to shore, to understand what our destiny is. Now, when Blaine came into the studios, I really got excited about this, because he brought his teenage son with them and Blaine's son was able to hear his dad share his story about being lost in life but then finding purpose in life. Blaine, I am honored, I'm privileged to have you in here to share your story of God's awesome power. So, blaine, what's your story?

Speaker 4: 3:26

Well, ron, I grew up here in Gulfport, mississippi, grew up in a middle-class family, didn't have everything in life but never did without anything either. So my dad worked out at the shipyard for years. I eventually got to high school and started dabbing and drinking a little bit and you know I was an athlete. So you know that kind of comes with territory, you know, especially in high school. But after high school I married my high school sweetheart and had my first son, travis, at the age of 20. After that, me and my wife and my son, we moved down to Orlando, florida, to go to work for my wife's family. We stayed down there for, I think, 13, 14 years.

Speaker 4: 4:13

Of course, when I got down there, the drinking kind of led to other things, to marijuana and then eventually cocaine. I had a pretty substantial drinking slash cocaine habit for probably 12 of the 13 years that I was down there. You know the drinking and drugging it kind of took its toll on my marriage and we moved back up to the coast in 2010. We had three kids by then Travis, hunter and Haley. And you know my marriage is still in a pretty rocky place and when I get back up here I've still got a. I've not only got a drinking cocaine habit, but by the time I got back I had a pretty serious opiate addiction Also.

Speaker 4: 4:57

I moved back from Florida up here to try to get away from all that and of course, when I get back up here With all that on top of me, I was introduced to crystal meth. That was a game changer. There, you're lucky to be alive. Yes, no doubt, no doubt I am. I am that for sure. I was smoking it and snorting it when I first started doing it. I did that for a couple of years.

Speaker 4: 5:20

By this time the state had taken away all three of my children and after abusing the meth the way I was doing, after a couple of years I eventually started shooting it. And that right there, ron, was a day that I wish I could have back, because after that it was game over for me. Then what do you mean game over? I lost, I just lost everything. I lost all hope as far as of ever repairing my marriage or repairing my life or anything. As far as of ever repairing my marriage or repairing my life or anything. It just took every bit of hope away from me of ever, you know, prospering again or ever having any? Well, who wants to do anything or have hope when you're high all the time? Yeah, no doubt, no doubt, wow. So you know, eventually, like I said, the state had taken my kids. By that point, were you still married? I was Me and my wife had kids by that point. Were you still married? I was Me and my wife had separated at that time. Was she doing drugs? She was yes. We were both addicts our whole marriage. We were married for 20 plus years, wow.

Speaker 4: 6:16

And of course, eventually we separated, and at this time my kids were in custody of the state and I found myself homeless, nowhere to go. I'd burn every bridge that I'd ever had. I had no one I could turn to. And it all came to a head one night, ron, when I found myself eating out of a dumpster in the very neighborhood that I grew up in, in the very neighborhood that I grew up in. And that was a night that I got down on my knees and I asked God to help me. I didn't have anywhere else to turn and have anybody to turn to. I didn't grow up in church. I didn't know anything about God. All I knew was that Jesus hung on a cross. I didn't know why he had been put up there. I didn't know anything except that that was the only thing about God that I had known at that point. But I knew that God was. I'd always heard that God was good. So I got down on my knees and I asked God to help me and that was. That was a night that that I fully believed that I got saved.

Speaker 4: 7:21

Now I I stayed in my addiction for another year after that night, because you know, everything's on God's time. You know what I mean. You know a year, another year went by and I had come across a friend of mine who I, who I'd used to use with. I came across his picture on Facebook one night and he looked like a totally different guy. He didn't look anything like the guy that I had.

Speaker 4: 7:49

I searched him on Facebook and I got a hold of him and he was at the home of grace and I got a little bit of glimmer of hope because I saw somebody that that was in the same position I was, that had changed their life and all of a sudden it seemed possible.

Speaker 4: 8:04

You know what I mean. So I reached out to him and got a hold of him and he put me in contact with with Miss Becky out to home of grace at the time when I found out there was a possibility for me to actually get somewhere. All I wanted was help. I just wanted somebody to help me. So she got back in touch with me about three days later and told me that they had found the money for me to come, because I didn't have any way to pay for it or anything like that. Every bit of that was due to God's grace and mercy and and favor over. You know, in my life I didn't have any clue what kind of place it was. I didn't know that it was faith based. All I knew was that it was a place where I'd seen you know their tagline is where miracles happen.

Speaker 4: 8:48

Amen, but I didn't know that. You know, growing up down here, you'd figure that I had that. I would have heard that place before, but I never have. You know, I got out there and, uh, they gave me a couple of days to where I could kind of get my wits back about me and and stuff like that. And and when I woke up, I think I slept for three, four days when I first got out there and when I, when I woke up, I was so thankful to be somewhere that I didn't have to worry anymore about what I was going to eat or what you know, or where I was going to stay or anything like that. I was so, just so happy to be somewhere safe.

Speaker 4: 9:19

So, you know, as time went on, a couple of weeks went by and I, you know, I started to started eating and started, you know, putting a little weight on and got me some decent clothes and, you know, you felt like a human again. I did, I did, ron, I really did. Let me tell you what. Um, there was a guy out there I was with. His name was Andrew Neely. He made a remark. He said Blaine man, you look like a different person than you were when you got here. That was a game changer there, ron. I realized at that point that all this was possible.

Speaker 3: 9:48

You were getting ready to get the hell out of your life. I was.

Speaker 4: 9:51

I was definitely Amen, brother. And let me tell you what after that moment, I dug my claws into that place as hard and as deep as I could. I, you know. I started going to class, which they have classes out there every day. I started going to class and I started learning about God, the God that I had, that I had asked a year prior to help me with my situation. And, and the more I started learning about him, the more, the more I wanted to learn more about him.

Speaker 4: 10:19

I made it through the initial program, which was three months, and then, and then I stayed an extra three months and and, of course, all during this three months, god's just just changing me and changing me and changing me. Changing, you know, the things that I, that I think about and the things that I, he was, changing the desires of my heart is what he was doing. You know, I spent my whole life, you know, living a certain way and acting a certain way and wanting certain things, and through this whole six months, god is just changing me and changing me and changing me. So, about the fifth month, a guy that I was in a program with he was, he was making his, his exit plan and I didn't really have one at the time. But he told me about a place he was going to here in Gulfport called called Joseph home, so, um. So I prayed about that a couple of weeks and, uh, and my counselor, my counselor Sam P Shea, kept telling me that you know, this might be a God thing. This might be a God thing, I think you might. You know, should maybe go over there with him. And I said I'll tell you what I said, I'll put the application in and I'll see where God leads me.

Speaker 4: 11:23

When I graduated the six-month program, me and this other fellow, we went to Joseph's home. Joseph's home, I'm sorry, and you know it got under the tutelage of uh of, of of Jeff York, who runs the place. Joseph's home is a ministry of Michael Memorial Baptist church. Those guys showed me what it what, what it means to be a man and how to be a man, which at the time I didn't know. That all those prior years I was not acting like a man, you know, I was acting like a child. And then, once I started setting up under them guys and started learning and you know, pastor Tony Carnes over there is, you know, just one of the godliest men I've ever met, that all them guys over there are. I know it sounds cliche a lot, but you know, if you don't surround yourself with good, godly people, you have zero chance of success.

Speaker 4: 12:16

Now how long ago was this I left the home of grace in March of 2019, and I stayed at Joseph's home for six months. When I got to Joseph's home, I was battling this battle with the state trying to get him back, and I eventually got him back.

Speaker 3: 12:33

Praise the Lord, yeah, in fact he's sitting in here with you right now. Yeah, he is, amen, he's listening to his dad tell his story.

Speaker 4: 12:41

No doubt, no doubt. I'm very proud of him. He's done wonderful things and it's all due to God's grace and love and God's hand on my life.

Speaker 3: 12:51

After 20 years of bondage. It had to be hard to get used to. Wow, I'm actually free, I can dream, I can hope, I can talk to people. I don't have to be looking for my next fix, absolutely. What was that like?

Speaker 4: 13:05

It was foreign, ron, to be honest with you, because I'd lived a certain way for so many years that when I started walking with the Lord, it was especially when I left Joseph's home. Having responsibilities really was foreign. It was foreign to me, but God led me through it all and you know, if I sat here and told you that I haven't had struggles since then, I'd be lying to you. I have had my struggles, don't get me wrong, but it's the things that I learned while I was at the Home of Grace and the things that I have learned from my pastors and my mentors and guys that have walked with me through this. So what is life like now? Well, you know, I have a wonderful job. I have my son back. I actually am about to get married to a wonderful, beautiful, godly woman, cassandra May, that I met at at a Celebrate Recovery meeting a week after.

Speaker 3: 14:03

I left the home of grace, amen. I asked you that because it's important for people to know that there is hope after addiction, and there is there is.

Speaker 4: 14:12

One of the things that I've had to learn over the past four years, since I've been in recovery, is that is that God's going to do, do his part, you know but, but, but if you, if we don't do our part, he's not going to do it all for us. We have to put in our, our, our will with his to be able to accomplish his will Ultimately. You know what I mean. He's not going to. He's not going to, he's not going to, he's not going to come down here and and and keep me a hundred percent from using I have to put in the work, I have to stay in church.

Speaker 3: 14:39

And well, the Bible talks about the renewing of the mind. Absolutely. Jesus wants to do life with us each and every day. You know right now, blaine, you know somebody listening is either dealing with addiction themselves or they know somebody in their family and they're losing hope. What would you tell that person?

Speaker 4: 14:58

I would tell that person to do exactly what I did Get down on your knees and ask God Almighty to put his hand on your life and on you to help you get out of out of what you're in Now. Your story may not be the same as mine. He may do it for you immediately. He may wait a year, like he did with me. It's on his timing. But the Bible says if you call on his name, he'll save you.

Speaker 3: 15:25

Most people that I interview never meet Jesus in church. They meet Jesus at the end of themselves, right Just like you did, just like me, yep, somebody that's listening right now can meet with Jesus right this minute. Absolutely. All you got to do is ask him.

Speaker 4: 15:39

Will you pray right now for somebody out there listening? Absolutely, I sure will. Dear Heavenly Father, I ask for anybody who's out there that is still struggling, lord, the way that I was. Please put your hand on them, god. Please give them the knowledge to let them know that you are there and that you will save them if they ask you. Lord, again, put your hand on whoever's out there struggling. Let them know who you are and that you are sovereign over everything. Lord, I ask all this in the name of Christ, amen, amen.

Speaker 3: 16:11

Friends, when I return my final thought.

Speaker 1: 16:16

You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your host, ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles and real hope.

Speaker 5: 16:26

Does God speak to us today? If so, what does he sound like? Thundering roars, crashing waves, a booming megaphone? Maybe, sometimes, but maybe it's not quite as Hollywood, dramatic as all that. Maybe it's a little more simple. John 10, 27 says my sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. In the midst of all the noise and questions, god is speaking and we can hear his voice. We just need to learn to recognize it. So what does he sound like? He sounds like love, like reconciliation, like kindness, wisdom, hope, truth. Do you know those sounds Then? Maybe you hear his voice more often than you think. Maybe you're being led by him more than you realize. Maybe God is speaking to you and you actually are listening. You just didn't know it.

Speaker 6: 17:26

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Speaker 1: 18:04

Peace be still say the word, am I well Set my feet upon the sea till I'm dancing in the deep. Welcome back listeners.

Speaker 3: 18:30

How did you like that story from Blaine? Good story listeners. How did you like that story from Blaine? Good story? But Blaine is one of many people that I have interviewed that just wanted a change in their life. They could not deal with all the nonsense in their life any longer. So they called out and said hey, god, if you're real, I need some help. Buddy, god came in. You know, I never in my wildest dreams, growing up in Iowa, thought that I would deal with addiction, bankruptcy, rejection, divorce, being fired. Now, I never thought that. I was just following my dreams.

Speaker 3: 19:06

What about you? Did you ever think your life would have some of the twists and turns that you've had to deal with, some of the tragedy and loss in your life? But you know, we look over those and we made it Only through God's grace. I really do believe God's grace pulled me through so many things that I have no idea how I got through them. You know, parents should teach us when we're little about life 101.

Speaker 3: 19:35

Life 101, in my opinion, is hey, kids, life doesn't always come out like you think it will, and it's not about wishful thinking or just having a positive attitude, but life will throw you a curveball. It will throw you, sometimes something that will bring you to your knees and question everything that you've ever thought about God, and that's what happened to me, that's what happened to Blaine, that happens to everyone in life. It's what we do, though, with what we are throwing, we catch it. Now what do we do? Do we wallow in it, do we look for solutions, or do we just take a break? I have found that I was like the cartoon with the man let's call this man Ron and on one shoulder this man has a devil sitting and on the other shoulder sits an angel, and each of them is speaking to Ron about what to do with life.

Speaker 3: 20:41

Well, it did happen. It's like that, friends, and for the first part of my life, I only listened to myself. I had all the answers. You know, we all think we do, and well, if I'm not, I didn't.

Speaker 3: 20:54

So then I started listening to some credible people, because they had the education, they had degrees, and they wore little bow ties or neck ties, and I said, oh, these people had to be smarter than me, and on paper they really were, and theologically they really were, but one thing they didn't have is the knowledge of me. They didn't know my hurts and my insecurities and the things that really bother me. They didn't understand the hurts in my life and the dreams and the goals and the lack of faith that I had in some of my abilities. And then I met Jesus and Jesus accepted me exactly how I am because he created me. I'm part of the creation. Sure, I've got to get some new thinking, new behavior, new attitudes, but the acceptance was there, walked in his arms and he said Ron, now we're going to do life. Now, if you listen to me, I'm going to show you what you were created for, friend.

Speaker 3: 22:03

Our lives will not turn out how we think they will turn out and thank God they don't. Otherwise, I know me, I would have never met Jesus. I could say with 100% faith God is good, god is love, jesus is total forgiveness and the freedom that comes with the relationship with Jesus is mind-boggling. And my story and your story is a developing story every day and God wants you to have a similar ending to what Blaine and my ending was that we discovered our purpose, we discovered our destiny, we have a little peace now in life, we have some joy and we have purpose.

Speaker 3: 22:57

We don't like all the things that go wrong in our life, but we understand that we're going to get through them. We're going to be smarter, we're going to be wiser and we're going to share our experience with others to hopefully help them going through some of the same things that we did. Friends, we can never give up. We have to have that attitude of gratitude as, no matter what comes our way, god is taking our mess and turning them into a message. This is our time. I don't care what anybody says, what's happening in this world. God is on the throne. God is alive and well and working through individuals just like you and I. But we just have to be willing to say I'm going to trust you, I'm going to follow you, I'm going to have daily conversations and we are going to do life together and show the world Jesus is You're listening to get the hell out of your life with your host, ron Myers.

Speaker 1: 24:06

real stories, real struggles and real hope.

Speaker 2: 24:11

Some of us are building highways, not with our hands, but with our hearts. We're on a journey that doesn't have an end. It's a rough road, but we know that someday it will be worth every rugged mile. Why don't you join us? We're the Christians. Now, I know you've heard a lot of weird things about us most of it not true. We don't really care. We just know that we're going to live forever and we can have an abundant life along the way. Jesus is our guide on this journey called life, and he said that he came to give us life that goes on forever and an abundant life. Hey, it's a toll free highway. Jesus already paved the way. All we have to do is come on board. You don't have to be. We'll be right back time to learn about Jesus. You'll find out how he can build an eternal highway in your heart.

Speaker 6: 25:07

Ron will be back in a minute to close out today's show. We want to remind you today of the last words of Jesus it is finished. What is finished, the finished work of Jesus, refers to the complete and final accomplishment of salvation through his death and resurrection. It means that Jesus has done everything necessary for our forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation with God. Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins once and for all, providing total forgiveness and cleansing. This finished work of Jesus means that we no longer need to strive or work to earn God's favor or forgiveness. We can rest in the assurance that our salvation is secure and that we are fully accepted by God because of what Jesus has done for us. Now back to Ron on.

Speaker 1: 27:07

Thank you. Get the hell out of your life is underwritten by the Christmas City Gift Show. We invite you to come shop with over 255 vendors from all over the United States from November 8th through the 10th inside the Coast Convention Center located on the beach in Biloxi, mississippi. You can find more information at christmascitygiftshowcom. Thanks for listening, and if you would like to share your story of what God has done in your life or listen to previous episodes, please visit our website, thepromoterorg. Join us next week for another episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life real stories, real struggles and real hope.