ann kiemel

every day, i read your beautiful and
thoughtful and touching comments to me.
you have stood with me through some pretty
difficult times when my blogs have, i know, been
lacking. please forgive me for the moments that
i have lost sight of what our journey is really
all about....praising God and basking in His
power, knowing that He promises to take care
of everything else.

my 12-step class met last thursday night,
and the nine of us, plus our two leaders, are
growing and bonding. Jesus comes into our
room. seats Himself in our circle. and as we
share our brokenness and hurts and
victories, He is there. two hours later,
our roots are a little deeper. our faded spirits
have been revived. and the deep work of
healing and wholeness continues.

addiction once wrapped a noose around our
necks, and tied us to a tree of desperate cravings
to numb our deep, inner pain. but Jesus is all-
powerful, and He can deliver us. any and all of
us. i have chosen, with these others, to face all
the compromises and bent choices so that
genuine, healthy wholeness reigns instead of
some superficial sense of freedom.

"the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of
trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."
nah. 1:7

so run, warriors, run. pursue the path to joy
and hope and promise. i keep forgetting, at
times, that i am to run to Jesus with praise.
that this is what keeps my eyes lifted from my
grave struggles to the only One who can dry my
tears and calm my fears and resolve every
difficulty.