What’s a fear you’ve overcome — and how did you do it?
This is my first ever blog… ¡ started it back in November of last year… one reason was to help make it easier for me when ¡ get ready to write my first ever book… about my life…
¡ know fear
It knows me
¡ve been at war with it since the 90s
And newsflash
¡m winning
¡ always knew ¡ would
¡ do not give up
And ¡ do not give in
There’s been many dim lit days… dark nights… where it appeared though it had me.
But fear’s power is one that is borrowed
Borrowed from me
So ¡ve learned not to fuel it
…
All ¡ know… is what it did take to make this
All ¡ am… is what it will take… to break this
…
On a lighter note
Let’s talk about something a little more relatable
Spiders.
Big effin’ huge ones.
So ¡ve always been scared of them in the past… like fearful…
And I’m an outdoorsman haha
¡m not scared of much
Like snakes for example
Even poisonous ones ¡ will catch and hold carefully…
They don’t bother me at all
But spiders had my number
Until the summer of 2o1O
That’s when ¡ finally dealt with it
¡ was living and working at a Christian men’s drug rehab in Florida
It was a long-term treatment program
The guys lived there for 18 months
¡ was the resident director and lived in the same house with them
Well… the pastor that ran it wanted me to have my own place separate from everyone
So he purchased a used fifth-wheel camper trailer and we set it up out back on the ten-acre property
Hold up…
Let me back up a lil
The property had a lot of spiders
Florida has a lot of spiders lol
We would find them in the men’s residence all the time
Come to find out… they are called Huntsman spiders
And they are enormous and intimidating… most as big as your hand.
Ok… back to the story…
The camper had some type of hole somewhere underneath the frame
And shortly after ¡ moved in
So did all my long-legged, hairy little roommates
They would crawl on me while ¡ was sleeping
¡d wake up and they would be on… the ceiling… the walls… the floor… just all over
¡ went to put my bedroom shoes on once…
And a big one was in there
¡ could feel it on my bare toes
It was frantically moving around trying to get out haha
So like lightning… ¡ pulled my foot out and out it came… then it ran up my leg
These types of things happened often with my new friends
…
¡ didn’t think ¡ could stay
Live here like this
In this place… with them. 😬
…
We searched and searched trying to find how they were getting in
But we never found it
As the days passed
¡ had more encounters
Daily…
Nightly…
Then it occurred to me
¡ had never once been bitten by one
So ¡ did much praying
Asking God to help me get over this fear
And He did
Little by little
¡ got to where it didn’t bother me
¡ even stopped trying to kill them
¡ got to where ¡ could lay in bed at night and read
Even if one was resting on the wall beside me
Sometimes there might be three or four in plain sight in the room at the same time
And it didn’t faze me anymore
…
¡ stayed in that camper for about a year
…
Never once got bit
Not one time
…
There was nothing to fear… ever.
…
…
only something to face.
…
…
This is a Huntsman Spider I was told… not a Wolf Spider as me and my friends are calling it in this video…
…
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. — 2 Timothy 1:7
Matthew West’s one of those artists where it just feels real. A lot of his songs are pulled from real-life stories—people writing in, sharing what they’ve been through—and he turns that into something honest. He’s been through it himself too… even lost his voice for a season and had to fight his way back. He’s also written for artists like Casting Crowns, Rascal Flatts, and Mandisa—which says a lot about how strong his writing really is. You can hear it in his own music—nothing forced, nothing fake… just faith, struggle, and redemption showing up in the songs.
First up— 🎵 History History (2o05)
Next— 🎵 Get Away History (2o05)
Also I’ve included a cool bonus video where Matthew surprises a fan from Twitter with a phone call… a song… and a prayer.
Hope yall enjoy… 🙌🙏t`’
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
📚 New Read Alert! For transparency, Nan is a friend of mine — but this book genuinely encouraged me… powerful…
I’m so excited to share Celebrate Every Life….Even Mine – Nan Corban’s Autobiography with you all! 🌟
In this powerful memoir, Nan Corban opens up about her journey through life — the challenges she’s faced, the lessons she’s learned, and the beautiful moments that have shaped who she is today. Set against real-life experiences and heartfelt reflections, this book also shares how Jesus saved her and helped turn her life around, reminding us that every life has meaning, every story matters, and even the hard parts can be celebrated. 🙏
With 170 pages of honest storytelling and spiritual insight, Celebrate Every Life….Even Mine is the kind of read that encourages you to reflect, to grow, and to embrace your own story with a little more grace and hope. It was published by Trilogy Christian Publishing in July 2023 and written in English. 📖
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, encouragement, or just a real-life story that sticks with you, Nan’s memoir is worth picking up. 💛
Available on Amazon… go check it out… I read it and it’s great! 👇
So I’ve been sick for two years… it’s been horrible… I’ve been gradually getting better over these last months…
A few weeks ago… I made huge progress… felt like I got healed…
And today… I feel it in every way…
I’m gaining weight again… I’ve been working out daily for almost two weeks now… and in a short time… I’m putting on muscle… I’m looking better than ever… I’m feeling strong… I feel like myself again…
And I can’t praise God enough… Oh thank You… Holy Father…
I’ve had people all over the world praying for me… pulling for me… and my girlfriend’s faithful prayers… Oh how grateful I am… thankful… humbled by the entire experience… Oh how happy I am… that it’s over…
because there were moments I truly wasn’t sure I’d ever get back here…
Honestly.. my faith wavered over these past few years… I was so sick… I lost nearly 60 pounds… I was told it was cancer… then told it wasn’t… and to this day… I still don’t know what it was…
I just know it was hard… a daily struggle to not give up…
But now…
Because of my God — I am back…
Not just back… but renewed… Stronger… Better… Alive in a way I hadn’t felt in years…
And today… I stand here in gratitude — the fear is gone…
All glory to God — the healer… the restorer… the One who carried me when I couldn’t carry myself…
Amen and Amen.
Forever and ever…
“Though He slay me.. yet will I trust in Him…” — Job 13:15 (NKJV)
“The Lord restored the health of Job…” — Job 42:10
Hey yall… happy Sunday… I have two more for you from Big Daddy Weave…
My Story… released 2o15… from the album Beautiful Offerings….
Overwhelmed… released 2o12… from the album Love Come to Life…
I found this out about them and thought it was so cool…
Pre-show ritual Before every concert.. the band has a quiet devotional time together.. then they literally walk through the venue and touch every seat.. praying for the specific person who will sit there that night After shows.. instead of disappearing backstage.. they routinely stay for an hour or more to pray individually with people.. making them some of the last to leave the building
Press play and enjoy… 😎 `.°~
I see the work of Your hands… Galaxies spin… in a Heavenly dance… oh God… All that You are… is so overwhelming…
If I told you my story… you would hear Love… that never gave up…
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 