Many of you have heard parts of my story and where God has brought me from. This morning, I just want to start by saying how grateful I am. Being able to take part in Life Above Reproach again—this time outside of prison—is something I never imagined would happen. I don’t take it lightly. It truly has been a blessing.

Last Sunday, I shared with the women in the group how much this experience has meant to me. When I went through Life Above Reproach in prison, it was only men. This time was different, and I didn’t realize how much I needed that difference. Hearing how others connected with Scripture and how God was speaking to their hearts caused me to slow down and reflect more deeply on my own walk.

There’s a verse in Proverbs that says, “Iron sharpens iron.” And that’s exactly what I experienced. God used the faith and honesty of others to sharpen me—sometimes through encouragement, and sometimes through conviction.

The biggest change in my life didn’t start with a program—it started when I surrendered my life to Jesus. When I accepted His grace and salvation, He began doing a work in me that I couldn’t do on my own. Life Above Reproach has helped me continue walking that out in a real and practical way.

Accountability was a big part of that. Knowing I needed to come prepared, do the work, and share honestly pushed me in a healthy way. When I looked back at my answers from when I first took this program in prison, I noticed something—my answers were different. Not because the questions changed, but because my heart changed as Jesus continued to transform me.

What I’ve learned is this: growing closer to the Lord isn’t about pressure or perfection—it’s about choosing Him daily. It’s about trusting Jesus one day at a time and allowing Him to keep shaping us.

Thank you for allowing me to share, and thank you for being part of what God, through Jesus, is still doing in my life.