Life Above Reproach
My Journey

I am 63 years old. I was 50 when I came to prison. When I started writing this account of my life, it got too long, so… fast forward. I have been blessed to be able to write to you about the greatest experience of my life. I have the love of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. At the lowest part of my life, I came to the Lord a broken man. I lost my wife and kids. I lost my career in the Marine Corp. I was drunk for 35 years in a world of depravity, lust, and deceitfulness.
I came to the Lord just as I was and He forgave me and gave me hope and more blessings than I could count. He restored me to my family. He gave me another family of believers, of saints, of brothers and sisters who were broken as I. I didn’t have to do anything, but believe in my Lord Jesus Christ. I confess my sins daily with a repentant heart. I start my day in the Word and finish it in the Word. I can see and hear the Word. My Lord is with me every minute and every hour of the day. I’m never lonely for He is with me and strengthens me. I have encouragement from my brothers in the “Life Above Reproach” program who are accountable to each other as I am accountable to my Lord.
The Lord gave me His Spirit to guide me, to counsel me, and to watch over me. He made me conscious of sin.
I murdered my best friend who loved and cared for me. The years of denying that I had big flaws in my character had come full circle to this one night. I lost control of pent-up feelings and unleashed fury on somebody so dear. When I look into the mirror and ask myself who is the worst sinner I’ve ever known, I come back to me. So when I think about judging anybody else, I start with myself.
My father, who raised me, told me things that I should watch out for in my life because of the things that he had gone through. He gave me advice to which I said, “Sure Dad.” I would listen and then go do what I wanted to do, usually with consequences that I would muscle and stumble through. It’s called “doing it the hard way.” Don’t be like me and wait until you’re in prison or jail or in a nowhere relationship that you just settle for because you think you doesn’t have a choice. The greatest gift that any person can receive in this world is the love of Jesus Christ. So take this time, when you are put in a time-out, to reflect and to take inventory of your life and know that you are not alone. There are people who care and want you to achieve success in life. Just reach out.

God bless you all!
Your brother in Jesus Christ,
Steve Stevenson