<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[watchingatthegates.com]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finding Freedom Through Faithful Poetry]]></description><link>https://www.johngiertzwrites.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:14:40 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.johngiertzwrites.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[We'll Leave the Light On]]></title><description><![CDATA[No matter how far astray you may find yourself from home, Jesus is waiting with open arms. ]]></description><link>https://www.johngiertzwrites.com/post/healing-through-repentance-a-man-s-guide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c6c16ad2e55f64fe0da86b</guid><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 17:42:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/15127f_429e80f8bf9d427fb0e8db1016d3055c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_474,h_474,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>John Giertz</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hidden Beauty]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our addictions can make us feel like filthy rocks, useless to anyone including ourselves. In fact, we may feel so far gone that no one around us can see anything of value. That is where the Lord can begin to reveal what we can no longer see in ourselves. Hidden Beauty Most rocks we pick up are dull. Years of dirt can do that. I enjoy finding and polishing rocks, and I’ve learned there are many ways to clean and polish a rock. The fastest but least permanent is to put the rock in some water....]]></description><link>https://www.johngiertzwrites.com/post/overcoming-sexual-addiction-a-poetic-journey</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c6c174653657f03d62f9cd</guid><pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:51:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/15127f_1965e25c92654f86a940a34f61ec82c8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>John Giertz</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding God in the Discomfort of Healing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Healing is rarely a straight path. We want pain resolved, questions answered, and struggles put behind us. But much of healing happens in places that remain uncomfortable longer than we would choose. For me, poetry became one of the few places where I could confront my emotions honestly. It allowed me to name wounds I did not know how to talk about. Poetry did not fix those wounds, but it gave them a voice. And sometimes giving pain a voice is the beginning of bringing it into the presence of...]]></description><link>https://www.johngiertzwrites.com/post/finding-god-in-the-discomfort-of-healing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c6c16260f0b8e11350f6f5</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:41:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/15127f_ec34c0a9c4244e728dc03c3dc9ce84c3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>John Giertz</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>