Sacred Smoke & Soulwork

   In today’s fast-paced, overstimulated world, anxiety has become one of the most common mental health challenges. From racing thoughts and tight chests to sleepless nights and restlessness, the toll it takes can feel unrelenting. While many people find relief through therapy, medication, exercise, and faith-based practices, a growing number are discovering the healing potential of a once-taboo ally: cannabis.    Yes, cannabis—often stigmatized, misrepresented, and misunderstood—has shown strong promise in managing symptoms of anxiety and promoting emotional regulation. For faith-driven individuals, this journey isn’t about getting high—it's about finding healing through a plant that was created by God for a purpose. The Science Behind Cannabis and Anxiety Relief    Cannabis contains active compounds called cannabinoids, the most well-known being THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). These chemicals interact with the body’s endoc...

PTSD is real. It’s heavy. It changes your body, your mind, and the way you move through the world. But here’s the truth we often forget when we’re deep in the valley: ✨ It does get better. ✨ You are not alone. ✨ God’s light can pierce even the darkest trauma. PTSD: What It Really Does Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects more than just your memory of a traumatic event. It reshapes your nervous system. It impacts the amygdala (your fear center), lowers hippocampal volume (your memory regulator), and affects the prefrontal cortex (your decision-making HQ). That’s why triggers feel physical. Why noise, touch, and certain dates can shake you to your core. But the brain can heal—with time, support, and intention. What Helps? .      1. DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) Originally developed for emotional dysregulation and trauma, DBT is now widely used in PTSD treatment. It teaches: - Distress Tolerance – survive emotional storms without self-harm - Mindfulness – learning to ...

           In a world that moves fast, pulls us in every direction, and overwhelms our emotions—Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers a gentle, structured path back to ourselves. Designed to help people with intense emotions, relationship challenges, or patterns of self-destruction, DBT has become a life-changing tool for millions. And for those of us walking with God, it doesn’t have to compete with our faith. In fact, it complements it beautifully. What Is DBT?     Dialectical Behavior Therapy was developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan to help those dealing with emotional dysregulation, especially those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. But today, it’s used to support individuals with anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and chronic stress. DBT is built on four core skill sets: - **Mindfulness**: Being present in the moment without judgment. - **Distress Tolerance**: Coping with pain in difficult moments. - **Em...

       There’s a weight that’s heavier than grief, louder than guilt, and stickier than regret—shame. It creeps in, quiet at first, then tries to convince you that your past, your choices, or your healing don’t fit God’s plan. And for a long time, I believed it.           One thing I’ve been especially shamed for is smoking cannabis. People assume the worst without even asking why. They shake their heads while sipping beer, judging what they don’t understand. I’ve tried to explain the truth—that cannabis has real mental health benefits, that it’s helped me find peace, clarity, and focus in ways other medications never could—but most people don’t want to hear that part.      I feel strongly that I’ve been called to help in this mental health crisis and to lead people back to God. But cannabis is still frowned upon in many churches, and trying to minister with no institutional backing, while carrying a stigma, is no easy tas...

          The world is loud. Full of doubt, distraction, and people determined to discredit faith. And I’ve walked through that noise with my face set like flint.      My faith was tested most when I left my family behind. I stepped away from everything I knew, into a world where belief in God wasn’t just ignored—it was mocked. The number of unbelievers out there is staggering, and many are vocal about it. But here’s the truth: talking freely about God has set me free in ways I didn’t think possible. It changed everything.      I realized that most people who’ve rejected God never actually gave Him a real chance. They’ve read headlines, not the Word. They’ve heard lies, not love. But the moment I started actually reading the Bible—*really* reading it—my spirit shifted. I saw a Father full of mercy, compassion, and patience. People love to focus on the wrath. But what I see? Is a loving Dad who never gave up on His kids. What Fa...

Breaking the Stigma and Reclaiming the Sacred Role of Cannabis in Mental Health & Spiritual Healing There’s a moment many of us face on our healing journey—where we reach for something we’ve been taught to fear. For me, that was cannabis. Not because I didn’t believe it could help—but because the stigma told me I wasn’t faithful if I used it. But what if we’ve misunderstood it all along? What if cannabis isn’t a crutch… but a calling? The Sacred History of Cannabis Cannabis has been used for centuries—biblically, medicinally, and spiritually. Many scholars argue that the Hebrew term “qěnēh bośem” (קְנֵה-בֹשֶׂם), found in Exodus 30:23 as part of the holy anointing oil recipe, refers to cannabis. “Take thou also unto thee principal spices… sweet calamus…” – Exodus 30:23 KJV Sweet calamus, as it’s translated in most Bibles, may in fact be cannabis—an aromatic healing plant used to anoint priests and prophets. If our ancestors used it in holy rituals, why is it now taboo to use for wel...

To my husband-my soulmate-          You've stood beside me through storms and sunshine. You've held my hand when I felt like falling and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. Through every trial, every laugh, and every late-night heart-to-heart...you are still my favorite "yes". I am forever thankful for the life we've built and the love we keep choosing. To my beautiful girls,      Thank you for having faith in me after everything we've been through. Your grace, your strength, your laughter-it all keeps me going. Watching you grow into who you are meant to be is the greatest honor of my life. To my mom,     Your support is endless, your love unshakable. You're the one I can talk to about anything-no judgement, just compassion. You're my biggest cheerleader, and I thank God every day I have you in my life. To my mother-in-law,     Thank you for raising the man who completes me. Every diaper you changed, every scraped ...

           There's something sacred about the elderly.       The older they are, the more my heart is drawn to them. Weathered hands. Slower steps. Eyes that have seen too much-but still manage to shine. There's a wisdom in them that can't be bought or taught, only earned through fire and time.     These are the ones who've survived heartbreak and hard labor, war and worry, joy and sorrow. They've been tattered and torn by this world and still rise each day. Some don't get the luxury of rest. They keep working through aching bones and tired hearts. And somehow, despite the pain...they smile. They show up. They offer stories, insight, and unshakable resilience.      And what do we do?     We overlook them. We hush them. We rush them. We stuff their wisdom into a corner and call it "outdated".      But I believe we've got it backwards. The most Christ-like thing we can do is give our elders...

  A Quiet Strength We Don't Talk About Enough     Theres a kind of strength that doesn't shout. It doesn't post selfies or give motivational speeches. It just shows up. Every single day.      It ties shoelaces with tired hands, stays late at work with sore feet, and carries invisible burdens no one else ever asks about.      This post is for that kind of strength. For the fathers. The ones who love quietly and fight silently. The backbones of our families.  Fatherhood in Scripture: A Legacy of Faith and Grit     The Bible doesn't sugarcoat fatherhood. It honors it. It challenges it. It holds it up like a mirror-gritty and sacred all at once. Abraham walked in faith not knowing where he was going, believing God for a promise bigger than himself.  Joseph, the earthly father of Yeshua, accepted his calling with quiet obedience, raising the Messiah in a world full of judgement.  David made mistakes but passed on wisdom an...

 "Be strong." "Tough it out." "Man up." Three little phrases that have built emotional prisons for generations of men. June is Men's Health Month, and it's time to blow the smoke off the silence and say it plainly: Men are struggling. Many are suffering. And far too man aren't surviving.  The Stats That Should Shake Us 1 in 8 men will experience depression at some point in their lives. 1 in 5 men will experience anxiety disorder. Over 6 million men in the U.S. suffer from depression annually. Men die by suicide nearly 4x more often than women. White men aged 45-54 have the highest rate of suicide in the U.S. Less than 1 in 3 men who struggle with mental health will seek professional help. These numbers aren't just data-they're dads, sons, uncles, best friends, co-workers, Soulmates.  Why Men Don't Reach Out Lets be real: our culture hasn't given men safe space to be human. Instead, they're told to: -Suck it up -Avoid "b...

  There's something sacred about sitting with your thoughts and letting them spill onto a page. Not for perfection. Not for performance. But for healing.   Whether you're scribbling prayers, venting emotions, or writing dreams you're not ready to say out loud yet-journaling is soulwork. And science agrees. 🧠 The Science of Journaling   Let's nerd out for a second (in the name of healing): Studies show journaling can: Lower anxiety and depression symptoms Improve memory, clarity, and focus. Help regulate emotions Strengthen immune function (yes, your body feels it!) Encourage faster emotional recovery during hard time When you write things down, you activate both hemisperes of your brain-creating new pathways of understanding, self-compassion, and insight. It's more than ink. It's a mirror. A medicine. A movement. ⭐Choosing Your Sacred Space to Write   You don't need anything fancy to begin. What matters is that you begin.   If you ...

 " Every good and perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17     For too long, cannabis has been cast in shadows-painted as dangerous, sinful, or shameful. But what if the real danger lies not in the plant itself, but in the way we've been taught to see it? What if, as Christians, we've allowed stigma to speak louder than Scripture? It's time to ask the hard questions and open our hearts to the truth. The Stigma in the Pews: Where Faith and Fear Collide     Many Christians were raised to believe cannabis is a gateway to destruction. We've been told it's a moral failing, a rebellious act, or even a demonic influence. But here's the thing: the Bible never mentions cannabis as a sin. Not once.     Instead, Scripture teaches us to seek wisdom, to be good stewards of creation, and to test all things. And yet, when it comes to cannabis, too many shut the door before even asking, "Could this be one of God's gifts we've misunderstood?" Cannabi...

            There's a divine rhythm pulsing quietly beneath the noise-a sacred invitation to pause, breathe, and simply be. That rhythm is called the Sabbath.     In a culture obsessed with hustle, the Sabbath is rebellion. It's sacred resistance. It's the refusal to let our souls be ruled by the to-do lists and ticking clocks. It's a bold declaration that we were made for more than striving-that rest is holy. 🕊 The Sabbath Is Not Just a Suggestion-It's a Commandment     Let's go straight to Scripture-because the Sabbath isn't just a "nice idea" or a wellness trend. It's one of the Ten Commandments, carved into stone by the very finger of God:     " Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work..." -Exodus 20:8-10     It's also reiterated in Deuteronomy 5:12-14, with a powerful r...