Christy Johnson - Love Junkies: 7 Steps for Breaking the Toxic Relationship Cycle

I dedicate this book to
my husband, John.

Since the day you proposed and
ever since weve been married,
youve always said that your purpose in life
is to see my purpose fulfilled.
Im in awe of that sacrifice.
Thank you for being a rock of security for me.
Its because of your support and
encouragement that this book is a reality.

Love Junkies
Copyright 2014
Christy Johnson

Cover design by Rob Williams, InsideOut Design
Edited by Keith Wall

Unless otherwise specified, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Other versions used are:

AMPScripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).

KJVKing James Version, Authorized King James Version.

NASBScripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).

NKJVScripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

NLTScripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Published by Authentic Publishers
188 Front Street, Suite 116-44
Franklin, TN 37064

Authentic Publishers is a division of Authentic Media, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Johnson, Christy

Love Junkies: 7 steps for breaking the toxic relationship cycle / Christy Johnson

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-78078-228-7

978-1-78078-346-8 (e-book)

Printed in the United States of America

21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Foreword

Wheres the book for ME?

Between 1996 and 1998, this thought thrashed around in my mind with each bookstore we entered. Both my husband and I meticulously combed the shelves for a book that would deliver the tidal wave of hope and comfort I needed. There were plenty of books for the male sex addict or for the wife of the male sex addict but nothing for me. Id come to identify myself as a female love addict, in desperate need of recovery, a man-junkie whod been strung out on more relationships than I cared to count.

In 2001, I was blessed to sign a contract to write the very book Id searched for but never found. When I crafted Every Womans Battle (as a companion book to Every Mans Battle by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey), my prayer was never that it become the book for women, but rather one of many books for women struggling to overcome dysfunctional patterns of trying to spell love M-A-N rather than G-O-D.

I frequently prayed that the Holy Spirit would use Every Womans Battle to raise up many other disciples for the messages of sexual integrity, sexual intimacy only within marriage, and spiritual intimacy with Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Lover weve all longed for. There needed to be an entire army of women on a re-con mission to recover the many sisters whove gotten lost in their own reckless pursuits of romantic intoxication.

Thats why, a decade later, I was delighted to meet Christy Johnson when she applied to participate in my online mentorship program, BLAST (Building Leaders, Authors, Speakers, & Teachers). As I learned about her heart to reach love-starved women with a message of freedom and deliverance . as I watched snippets of her powerful testimony at christyjohnson.org as I witnessed her masterfully win the hearts of her audience with every video submitted and every live presentation she made I knew that Christy Johnson was a BIG answer to my previous prayers.

When Christy shared with me the manuscript youre now holding, I knew this message had to be published so that other women could get their hands on it as well. With clarity and confidence, with boldness and brilliance, with sensitivity and sincerity, Christy offers the very tidal wave of hope and healing that I was in search of almost two decades ago.

So today is your lucky day if youre one of the millions of women on the planet who have asked, When will I be loved? Why cant I find the right guy? Wheres the book for me? You just found the answers to these very questions.

Shannon Ethridge
www.shannonethridge.com
www.blastmentoring.com

VISITCHRISTYJOHNSON.ORG

For bonus material not found in the book

For speaking engagements and book signings

If you think you or someone you know is a love junkie

To learn more about love junkies

To sign up for Christys blog

To learn more about Christy or her ministry

To learn more about life coaching with Christy

To contact Christy, or you can email her at

For information about other books and resources

Acknowledgments

I FIRST WANT TO THANK the women who taught and mentored me when my life was a wreck. Without your listening ears, compassionate hugs, and sometimes very-needed stern wisdom and direction, I wouldnt be who I am today. Because of your guidance, I know the powerful transformation that takes place when women submit to discipleship. Christy Baker, Elizabeth Dungan, and Melissa Thompson, youll never know the power of the words you spoke over me when my life was a love-junkie mess. I believe God hand-picked each of you to develop me in the darkroom of my life. You saw the finished picture when I was still a wet-sloppy negative. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To my ministry mentor, Shannon Ethridge. Wow, what can I say? Im astounded at Gods plans to make our paths cross, but how you poured yourself into me is beyond amazing. Thank you for your investment in the next generation of writers and speakers through your BLAST (Building Leaders Authors Speakers and Teachers) program. Im forever grateful for your encouragement, support, and friendship.

Mo Anderson, vice chair of Keller Williams, Im astounded that the very first time we met, you pulled out your checkbook and generously gave seed money to birth my dream. I know you have a heart to see women set free from the trappings of toxic relationships. May you see a hundred-fold return on your gift.

Pastor Mark Crow, Barb Swanson, Cynthia Huffmyer, Masie Bross, Bea Jai Webb, and Bishop Tony Miller, you are incredible thought leaders with contagious visions. Your passionate leadership has taught me how to lead my own army of women. Thank you!

Julie Gorman, thank you for initiating contact with a total stranger and taking the time to connect me to the Authentic team, who captured the vision for this book. You are a gem!