Nov 8 

Written By Danielle Nepus

My name is Danielle Nepus, I am Patricks partner in Graceland Ranch. I had 11 years of continuous sobriety until I was going through a pretty brutal breakup with my boyfriend in 2019. There was a psychologist who introduced me to CBD. The CBD had a traceable amount of THC and it took away my anxiety. Shortly after I took a UA test to see if I would test positive for THC and I did so then I stopped. Six months later when the break up was almost final and the relationship was still toxic, I started smoking full blown marijuana and justified it in my mind, I believed I could still work in treatment and smoke weed. My head justified being able to use because it was a plant from the earth and I have over a decade working in the field of addiction and my heart is in the right place but my mind was not. 

November of 2020, I was introduced to Jonathan Williams who is now my Pastor. Jonathan asked if I would come check out his bible study. During this time I started macrodosing mushrooms and using phentermine for weight loss. My Pastor and a church member laid hands on me and prayed for the desire to use to go away and for Jesus to restore me and my faith. 

On January 1st of 2021 was the first day of the rest of my life. I surrendered fully to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I put down all substances that alter my mind. I feel the Holy Spirit moving me and changing me. I have always been a seeker of truth and it’s Jesus. He says, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. He was the only one to say what he said. Through seeking Him is how I have access to God, the creator of all things. He sent his only begotten son to be crucified for us. Believing came naturally.

Why Jesus and believing in Him is important to me, it changed my mentality. My mind is different. I have peace in me. I now have spiritual discernment. I need to continue to press into Him. I will never push it on anyone that comes to Graceland. We offer bible study on Tuesdays because it is what works for me. Graceland is essentially a twelve step structured sober living with the addition of Jesus if anyone wants it. My sober date is January 1 2020.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”

— Proverbs 3:5-6