Lifestyle

From High School Jesus to Stolen Jesus: The Struggles of Jami Amerine in Finding True Jesus

Published

5 years ago

December 2, 2020

Fifth grade Jesus; high school Jesus; Mormon Jesus, If-Then Jesus; Americanized Jesus; Justin Jesus. These are names that have been used to refer to Jesus in the book, “Stolen Jesus: An Unconventional Search for the Real Savior.” Authored by Jami Amerine, this book is about a girl coming across different versions of Jesus as she grows up. The story that many readers have referred to as super relatable brings into the spotlight her personal experiences. Through her first book, Jami aims to help all those struggling to find the real savior – True Jesus.

The author of the blog, “Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors,” Jami Amerine, was born into a Mormon family that later joined an Assemblies of God congregation. While her mother was a Mormon, her father was non-religious. The diversity in the beliefs of her family members forced her to search for reality on her own. It was her journey of finding the true Jesus that established so many different versions for her, making it a challenge to have faith. It eventually led Jami to break up with him. The struggle of finding true faith is, indeed, tiring and can astray one from their path, and this is what happened with Avenal, California-born Jami.

“It is the aggressive search for true Jesus that leads one astray…,” Jami further added, “Instead of figuring Jesus out, it is best to believe in his goodness all things will fall into place.” It was after the years-long search that finally led her to the right path. From believing in a variety of different versions of Jesus to breaking up with him, Jami found true faith, and she wishes to spread that message across the masses. There needs to be a guide for all those who, like Jami, are on their journey to discover Jesus. Her book is serving as that guide, something she would have appreciated at a time she was invested in her own struggle.

Finding Her True Calling

Jami Amerine, an author, speaker, and blogger, did not even know that she was to serve as a guide for the people. She did not even know she was a writer until the world began to acknowledge her for it. She was still on her journey to identify the true Jesus when she was unknowingly pushed into a task to help people find the right path. ‘Life works in mysterious ways’ is not just an empty, meaningless phrase, but something that has been deduced from real-life experiences. A person always meets their true calling and purpose in life if they really look for it. Jami, due to her family background, was desperate to seek the truth. Not only did she find the truth, but also jumped on the bandwagon to assist all those standing at a point where she once stood, desperate for a guiding light.

Growing up, she moved a lot due to her father’s career. Her family even joined an Assemblies of God congregation when Jami was seven and was also baptized in the Disciples of Christ denomination. When she was in high school, her family moved to Abilene. In 1996, she graduated from Wylie High School and entered the Abilene Christian University (ACU). During this phase, she was staying at a large ranch near Merkel. This was when she met Justin, who also grew up in Merkel. Her marriage with Justin led her to the Highland Church of Christ. After getting married to him, she, along with her husband, moved to Houston in 2017.

Starting from fifth-grade Jesus, Jami Amerine came across various versions, which made her question her faith. Most of her life was spent “trying to reconcile” all these versions that she had come across during different phases of her life. Also, she “strove to please a Jesus who was far from real … a pattern that continued into her adult life.”

After she acquired a prominent position as the blogger at “Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors,” she landed an opportunity to become a published author. She signed with Oregon-based Christian publishing house, Harvest House. Jami was offered a two-book contract. This was when she began writing the book, “Stolen Jesus: An Unconventional Search for the Real Savior.” The book that began as an attempt to share her struggles turned into a life-changing experience for her. For the first three chapters, she had broken up with Jesus, but after she came across the story of Grace, things began to unfold. Her book found a direction, and it was during this phase, she understood that the right faith was to believe that Jesus is good, and there is no ‘if-then’ situation. He loves his people without any conditions and is there to protect them from the evils of the world.

The book gained a global appreciation, and it established Jami as a thoughtful and far-sighted Christian writer. Her first book was published in October 2017, and it was when she realized her true calling. Jami was meant to serve as a guide to all those who are stuck in a similar form of struggle. The fact that Jami herself was struggling with ‘what to believe and what not to believe’ makes her literal piece relatable and worth reading.

Jami Amerine, mother of six, four biological kids and two adopted, is also a firm advocate of ‘foster care, adoption, and foster care reform.’ While helping the world understand the concept of Jesus through her life experiences, she also works to make things better for the children struggling in this world. Currently living in North Houston with her family, Jami has authored “Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors: How Less-Than-Perfect Parents Can Raise Kids Who are (Kind of),” “Well, Girl: An Inside Out Journey to Wellness,” and Coming November 2021 “Rest, Girl: A Journey from Exhausted and Stressed to Richly Blessed.” For her, this life has been a learning experience which she aims to share with her more than a million followers. She is an expert on women humor, marriage, learning disabilities, homeschooling, chronic illness, and other issues families face, along with Christianity.

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

3 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.