Welcome to the Storytellers Live podcast, where everyday women share real and personal stories of encounters with God.

I'm your host Robin, and I'm here with Dawn, Katie, and Lindy.

And at Storytellers Live, our prayer is that you would meet God in a new way through these stories,

that you would know that you're not alone and that walls

would be broken down and community would be built. Today's story is Kelly from Memphis. Well, Robin,

I always admire how open and raw our storytellers are and Kelly is absolutely no different. She speaks

boldly and candidly of her past struggles with addiction. And after

a near-death experience, she shares how God helped her break this bondage that she says she lived in

for years. What I love is as she tells us in her story, she said, you know what, everybody

falls down. It's how you get up. It means everything. So I know her story is going to encourage

many of you who may struggle with addiction or

you know somebody who does.

So here's Kelly.

Well, as mentioned, my name is Kelly Turnage and I am from Memphis and I share my story

a lot, but it's hard to get up here and not compare my insides with y'all's outsides.

Because I'm really nervous and know it's so calm.

I think my hand will be shaking.

So, I know, and I, you know, I prayed so much this week and this morning that God would

just move me out of the way, you know, remove me from the bondage of self

that I may better do his work, that he be the one glorified because it is now history,

but it's his story to tell. And we serve a guide who works for a weak, twisted, deceitful people

to break them free from the bondages that they go through in life.

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