Ditching the Devil and Being Delivered by God Forever - Shelley Culpepper's Story Part 3

Shelley's story comes to a beautiful conclusion and is a powerful illustration of the grace of God and the power of God to work miracles!  Shelley shares some powerful lessons and godly wisdom from the crazy journey she has had in life, first with the devil and now with Jesus alone!

Transcript

Shelley: 0:00

And I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody all about somebody who saved me,

Phil: 0:05

you know? Amen. That is so true. Yes, sir.

Phil Shuler: 0:08

HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the Safe House Ministries podcast, where we share stories of the power of God to change lives through Safe House Ministries. Safe House Ministries is based out of Columbus, Georgia, and we are a ministry that exists to love and serve people who have been affected by addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. I'm your host, Phil Shuler, the Director of Development for Safe House Ministries here in Columbus, Georgia. Safe House serves over 1, 100 people each month as they transition back into our community. Safe House provides an abundance of services including 213 beds for homeless individuals and families, case management for obtaining job skills and long term employment. Over 300 hot meals every day, free clothing, and so much more. One of the most incredible services that Safe House provides is our free 9 12 month intensive outpatient substance abuse program, which is state licensed, CARF accredited, and has no wait list. Almost 100 percent of individuals staying in our shelters who follow our three phase program become fully employed within a few months. And 68 percent of individuals who stay at least one night with us End up finding work and moving into their own home. Thank you for being with us today and listening to our podcast. We hope you enjoy this week's episode.

Shelley: 1:21

I hung around the popular crowd in school. Yeah. I played in sports and things like that. I started experiment. It was my senior year in high school. Wow. Um, I got in with a different crowd and started experimenting. Then I got pregnant. When I first started experimenting with crystal methamphetamines, I was, this was as a teenager. Yes. I lost 13 pounds in one week. And I thought, this is the diet I've been looking for. You know what I mean? Because there was something within me that I, I didn't, I wasn't. So that was the first lie from the enemy.

Phil: 1:56

The lie maybe like you didn't think you were good enough and you, you like Yeah. Or

Shelley: 1:59

need to lose weight to fit in, you know, just, I mean, as a kid, but to be

Phil: 2:03

accepted by others. Right,

Shelley: 2:05

And, um, and that's a very powerful thing to get ahold of you, you know what I mean? Yeah. And it took root on me. And then that was just, um, and then I just, I was introduced to a whole new world, you know, and I had to quit school because I was gonna fail anyway and they were gonna make me repeat. at first my dad didn't want me to go through with it, um, with the pregnancy so I moved in with my daughter's dad and his mom. so I had my daughter, Shelby. Um, I was 17 and then I turned 18. He had been incarcerated in Russell County Jail for almost 10 months. So I took her, when I had her, I took her every week faithfully for about a year to see him in Russell County Jail. And when he got shipped off to prison, uh, Lieutenant Holland, I guess she saw something in me or she gave me a chance. So she hired me as a corrections officer at a young age. I lost my job'cause it was third shift

Phil: 3:04

as a corrections officer. Yeah. I

Shelley: 3:05

fell asleep in the female pod during third shift. Oh. And that's frowned upon, you know, so they let me go. and then I started believing the lies of the enemy. It gave me a it gave me a power. To have that much authority, especially at a young age. Yeah. And then I'm dabbling in all the,

Phil: 3:26

so you had started backing the drugs?

Shelley: 3:28

Yes.

Phil: 3:29

Meth or other things too? Meth.

Shelley: 3:31

Yeah, meth. Now, were you,

Phil: 3:33

were the people in the jail connecting you with others outside the jail that were the wrong crowd as well? Well, it, unfortunately

Shelley: 3:40

it's a very small town, so everybody knows everybody, you know? Yeah. And I actually knew more of the inmates that were in the jail, and, um, so I am connected better with the inmates than I did the people that I worked with. You know what I mean? And I just masked. Wow. I masked so much, you know. when I gave birth to Shelby, I was on my own. He was locked up. He didn't get out until she was like maybe two or three. Okay. And we went back and forth trying to make it work, and then it was very abusive, very abusive relationship. we did a little bit of everything. And there was no limits. Like I went hard in the paint with everything that I did, you know, when I was drinking, it wasn't a 12 pack, I needed a keg, you know what I mean? And I was trying to outdo, you know what I mean? And that just goes back to the people pleasing, you know, and approval addiction and things like that. just doing stupid stuff. Counterfeit, making counterfeit checks, and I'm, I won't even get all that. Wow. But just, that

Phil: 4:43

was after you started the intravenous stuff, then you started getting really, and then

Shelley: 4:47

I got, um, hooked on this guy who had a passion for motorcycles, and that's what he did. Stole motorcycles. So then I start stealing motorcycles with him not even knowing how to ride one. on May 25th, 2019, I was I talked to my younger daughter on the phone and I told her I'll be home shortly. I was out partaking and doing dope with my buddies.

none: 5:10

She was at your sister's house or at your mom's house with your sister? She was

Shelley: 5:12

at home and I promised her she kept calling and I promised her, I'll be home shortly. I'll be home shortly. Well, anyway, I was intravenously using at that time. So I stopped and did a. Shot. And I was even dressed in army fatigue like I had on a camouflage tank top and leggings, you know, dressed for the occasion. But I went, did a shot and I was hanging out and never made it home. Uh, me and three other people went on a rampage and, um, stole a, went and stole a motorcycle and threw it in the back of my dad's truck. So on May 25th, I took the police on the high speed chase through two states with a stolen motorcycle in the back of my dad's truck, truck, Georgia and Alabama, Georgia. I started on Woodland Drive in Phoenix City. Yeah. My friend said, hit the gas because everybody was on probation. I had just got outta jail two weeks before for another motorcycle that I stole. Wow. Um, and, and in the midst, these, my parents are paying for all my mistakes, you know what I mean? But they're right there by my side and just cheering me on, you know? Wow. And, um, and I, I can't go back. I can't fix that. But, um, uh, my friend said, hit the gas. So I hit the gas and. I didn't know where I was going. The police came by me and I brushed his truck and I kept on going from Woodland Drive all the way. And I thought once I crossed state lines that the police will fall back and I'm safe. Well, that's not the case. Once I crossed over to the next state, they were at every red light waiting for me. And until there was one time when I got to Benning Hills off Victory Drive. There was one I had lost all the police. There was one Phoenix City cop that stayed behind my tail and stayed. Uh, but anyway, I was fixing to hit Fort Benning, which they would've probably started shooting at me thinking I'm a terrorist.

Phil: 7:01

Wow.

Shelley: 7:02

And Jesus snatched the wheel and took me left and onto Chicago Road where the police did their pit maneuver and wrecked me. Wow. I had stopped two times because the same ones that said hit the gas. I was driving like outta control. I didn't know I could drive like that, that was Oh wow. I mean, so I stopped twice and let them out and I kept going. But that police, I'm gonna have to do my research and find him and, and give him a hug.'cause he saved my life. But the police, uh, came and he snatched me out of the truck and the ambulance came and rushed me to the ambulance. I,'cause my blood sugar had dropped or whatever, but, um, so I was shackled to the hospital bed for a couple hours and then on to Muskogee County I went Wow. And, um, I was there up on the fourth floor for about two weeks. I didn't call home. I slept. I didn't really know where I was at, but when I finally called home, I said, dad, I need help. I've been shooting dope and I am outta control. And, um, I think I was on the news though. I think he saw it on the news too. But then fast forward about a week or two, chaplain Neal Richardson, my angel came and accidentally on purpose, placed me in the faith-based dorm.

Phil: 8:12

Wow.

Shelley: 8:13

And that's where God showed up for me when I hit my knees and God just made himself so apparent. And that's where we started a relationship. And then I just started digging in my word and I knew I wasn't going anywhere, but I found my happy place. He gave me that peace. And I just dug in my word and started in the Old Testament where when I was finally released, I was on fire for God and doing God's work. I didn't armor up and I went to people from my past and I got ate by the wolves.

Phil: 8:44

So you. You were doing great. Yes. And then you went back to the same old crowd,

Shelley: 8:49

the same thing I promised God I would never, ever do again in my life. And then wow. And then, uh, seven more addictions attached, or seven more spirits attached. And gambling. I don't know if it was the smoking, the meth or the gambling that, but it all goes hand in hand. And then I was gambling outta control and that is the worst beast. It got a hold of me. And I mean, that's and then I started shooting dope again and gambling and stealing and just lying and manipulating until, and then the shame and the guilt attacks. And then I didn't think I was ever coming back from that. I thought I was just a lost cause. You know what I mean? I tried this one time, it didn't work here. It is what it is, God. You know what I mean? Yeah. But God. But God, My sister, my kid had Shiloh said, we don't like who you are anyway. Go do something with yourself. And I was, I didn't know what else to do. So, these two wheeling vessels show up at my doorstep at five o'clock in the morning, like they said they would. Hmm. I had my stuff packed and off we go to Aniston, Alabama and there was no turning back. And, um, and, and when I get there, God just showed up. He's in the second Corinthians five 17 is the verse that that spoke to my heart. You know, the old passed away, a new creation is born, you know, let today be the day of salvation. So, but once even in falling back once I was on fire for God and I had that relationship even falling back into addiction, he always became the highlight of my, to the topic of my conversation, even in the midst of my mess. He's my author and my creator. and, was like I, I don't know if I can do this. But then that's when God spoke to me, Luke 1433. Regardless of what it may look like, I'm protecting you from something, my child, what you thought you knew before, you have no idea. So you need to be still and know that I'm God and I'm fighting for you. So that's exactly what I had to do. And in the midst of it, he kept a hedger protection over my family. So months went by and I just, I would be on my face. Wow. Just, uh, praying to God, you know, break these chains, break these vicious cycles. It stops with me, and I'm gonna seek you with everything in me, Lord. And I know you're gonna work everything together for my good, because that's what you promised. And that's what I'm standing on. And that's exactly what he did, and that's exactly what he's doing. Now, my youngest daughter, I had to sign over temporary custody. She was failing. You know, she dealt with abandonment issues. Her dad's not present. And, um, I, I had to go and be selflessly selfish, and I had to focus on me for this 12 to 18 months, which turned into 13 months. But I knew my, the, so everybody was good at home, you know what I mean? I stayed in the streets lost. So I'm on the right path now. Wow. They'll be okay without me, you know what I mean? while I was at the Center of hope on my face, praying God send somebody a godly role model into my daughter's life to intervene on my behalf. Wow. While I can't be there. And that's exactly what he did. Wow. And, um, she's been the traveling the world, living living as a kid. Living her blessed life. Her grades have improved. Um, she's gotten leadership recognition throughout her whole school. Just God, God, he heard my, my cries and he heard my prayers. I don't have to know everything. I don't have to know the how, what, where, when, why. I just know who's in control and I just let him have, I just give it to him.

Phil: 12:24

it is a wonderful thing to behold when the Lord works to do things and it, everything just falls into place. Yes. And you have an amazing story, just the way that you, God has worked in your life, in Shelby's life, in Shiloh's life. There are multiple stories like. There's so much that could be told that we just Yeah. We aren't able to get to. Yeah.

Shelley: 12:49

And you know, I don't reme like, uh, it's, it, sometimes he'll bring something to my remembrance, uh, but what the enemy meant for evil. God turned around for my goods. So, things that I, he forgave me for, thrown into the sea of forgetfulness, you know what I mean? And, uh, and he'll put on my heart what I need to remember and what I need to let go of. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Phil: 13:12

Tell me about your grandkids.

Shelley: 13:14

They're amazing. They're, uh, so what I may have messed up with my children gives me a second chance to try to be there and, and, you know, um, be the example for, for all of them. You know what I mean? Yeah. But my oldest daughter, Shelby, she's an amazing mother. And even in her mess. She, um, she's a good mama hen, you know? Yeah. She keeps them close. And we just, uh, thank you, God. Hell lost another one. That's all I know.

Phil: 13:47

Amen. How old are your grandkids and what are their names? Um,

Shelley: 13:50

my oldest grandson's name's Christian. He's 11. Then I have Addison, she is seven and Kane is five.

Phil: 13:59

Awesome.

Shelley: 14:00

Yeah.

Phil: 14:00

And they're all still at your parents' house? Mm-hmm. And you guys are just all doing well, trying to just, it is

Shelley: 14:07

the circle of life taking place right now. You know, my dad and my mom, they're 76 and 75 and, um, I, I stole so much from them in my life and they still forgave me and they should have lived a better life, but I stole from them and I can't get that back. I can't change that. What I am just so blessed that I'm able to take care of them and just make them proud and let them see that was the old man. Just thank you for being the best parents anybody could ever ask for. And I'll never mount up, but I'll try my hardest, you know? And with God, I know. I just with God. That's all I know. Amen. I can't do anything without him. I can't even get outta bed in the mornings without him to put one foot in front of the other Lord, dress me, have your way with me. I'm sold into God.

Phil: 15:01

Amen.

Shelley: 15:01

Because he is the one who never gave up on me.

Phil: 15:04

Yeah. He's the one who sustains us all. Whether we Yes. Whether we believe it or not. Yes, it is. He is. Yes. It's, he's so good too. That,

Shelley: 15:12

and then getting abundantly good and rooting in that, in that re that deep, intimate relationship being, going back to him, being our first love, what he endured and the just what he it breaks my heart to see what he endured for me to forgive me of my sins. So who am I to not forgive myself? So it's a daily process. Yeah. It's a daily surrender. Lord, help me to lay everything at your feet to pick up my cross to follow you today. And I'm willing. So here I am.

Phil: 15:40

Yeah. You, you're talking about Jesus enduring Yes. The death of the cross. Yes. And the, yeah. He did injure so much, but he rose again. He did praise the Lord. Did he got the victory Yes. So that we can have the victory. Absolutely. Uh, so we

Shelley: 15:53

take these, everybody that we come in contact with now from different walks of life and we just, you know, you can tell a tree by the fruit that they bear and I wanna bear good fruit so that that fruit can produce, you know, and I just wanna love them right where they're at, yeah. And just encourage and just, um, just be that light worker for Jesus. And I can't go wrong.

Phil: 16:14

Amen. Think back across the span of your life and your story and all that God has done. And if you had to pick out just a few nuggets of wisdom, lessons that you've learned that you would like to share with others, what would those be?

Shelley: 16:31

Exodus 14. 14 comes to mind, be still and know that I'm God and I fight for you. No matter what the struggle may look like, he promises as you dig in your word. And so what they taught us at the Center of Hope, approximately 73,000 thoughts go through one human's mind per day. Wow. Okay. Coming from the streets in that fast life, the drug life, our minds are constantly racing. But of those 73,000 thoughts. Uh, how many of those thoughts line up with the word the truth? So we take those, every thought we have to take captive, and we bu and we bind those thoughts up. The ones that are negative, the ones that don't belong, have no root in here. We cast those thoughts back to where they belong and we, so when a negative thought arises. You hit with a scripture. That's how we fight the good fight now. You know what I mean? Yeah. The lies from the enemy. You don't belong here anymore. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You know? And that's where Romans 12, two, how the transformation and renewing of your mind takes place. You know? Thank you Lord. We're no longer of this world. I probably just got off on a rampage. I don't even know if I answered your question correctly. That's a lot. You did. I mean,

Phil: 17:42

the power of the word of God. Yes. Getting it into your heart, into your mind. But you can't

Shelley: 17:46

take my word for it. You can't take the next person. You have to know for yourself. And it hits. It is a different kind of, it hits different when you know that, you know, that, you know, and you have to go to the book. Yeah. And, uh, to the Bible. And you have to, it's a, a spiritual awakening, a Holy Spirit encounter that will take place that you've never encountered before. Yeah.

Phil: 18:06

Yeah. That's so good. The power of the word of God. Yes. Yes. It literally changes our lives.

Shelley: 18:11

Yes.

Phil: 18:12

You've also spoken about the power of prayer.

Shelley: 18:15

Absolutely. And

Phil: 18:15

miracles that you have seen God do. Because of your desperate trust and dependence and need for him. Yes. That's powerful. The power of training up a child from a young age and trusting that the Lord will bring that child back

Shelley: 18:31

And, you know, deutero, um, going through the program and standing on Deuteronomy 30 19, just as quick as the blessings come, the curses will come also. So there's not too much that I fear, but one, I do fear God with everything in me. You know what I mean? And I, and just, that's the Holy Spirit. Just thank you Lord for making my crooked path straight. Matthew seven 14 says, the gates are narrow and only a few get in. I wanna be one of those few, you know, and I want to be seated in the heavenly realm with my parents and when, when the time comes and, and just all the, you know, but we think about the here and the now and the physical realm. Yeah. And it's all about eternity. Yeah. From when the, you know, so, um, I'm still learning and that's where I'll remain teachable. And until the day he returned. Amen. You know what I mean?

Phil: 19:18

You, uh, I'm just. Just thinking back of all the things that we've covered and the wisdom that is, that has been shared, uh, you spoke of the power of example, the power of example in our lives, the examples that we see before us, right? And how powerful it is for us to follow those examples. Right. The power of association and friends. Yes. Who you hang around and who you're with and how that influences your life, either for evil or for good.

Shelley: 19:45

What you hang around will get on you. Yeah. You know, um, just like, um, you have to hang around. You have to hang around Christ like-minded people and I mean, because it goes back to what you hang around is gonna get on you and, you know, misery loves company, you know what I mean? The just, but it goes both ways. Yeah. You know, you hang around. Uplifting people who are gonna encourage you and who want to see you succeed in this life. You know what I mean? Um, I had, I had a, a whole revelation when I was in jail and I stood on Joshua one five having um, he'll never leave you nor forsake you. And then Joshua one, nine says, haven't I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid to not be dismay. Know that I'm Lord, and I'm with you wherever you go. Well, you have to read this around in text too.'cause had I known what Joshua one seven says, which be strong and courageous, and remain obedient and faithful to my word, and you will live a good, successful life. But I didn't know that. But thank you, God, for not faulting me for lack of knowledge then.

Phil: 20:45

Yeah. And verse eight, this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth.

Shelley: 20:49

Yeah.

Phil: 20:49

But thou shall meditate therein day and night.

Shelley: 20:52

One of my favorite verses is, um, James 1, 3, 3, 5. Um, for when you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow, so let it grow. When your endurance is fully developed, you'll be perfect and complete lacking nothing. If you ask our generous God for wisdom, he will give it to you and he will not rebuke you for asking.

Phil: 21:09

I love it that the center of hope really got a lot of the word in you. Oh,

Shelley: 21:13

man,

Phil: 21:15

it's, that's so good. And it makes such a difference.

Shelley: 21:18

And, and the, and it just, it's the vision that the pa, that Pastor Gary had to put that in place. And similar to what, uh, chaplain Neal, the vision and, and orchestrating the safe house and yeah. Um, God is the provider. And when he, and, and he gives us different gifts, you know, different members of the body serve different functions, but at the end of the day, we all come together as one body and it's all to, to do kingdom work. You know what I mean?

Phil: 21:47

Amen. Yeah.

Shelley: 21:48

Yeah. God is so good.

Phil: 21:50

Yeah, he is. Well, Shelly, is there any, is there any last thought, last story, last advice that you wanna give? Um,

Shelley: 22:00

we have to pray for leadership. I would just like to end in prayer, if you don't mind.

Phil: 22:05

Yeah, let's do it.

Shelley: 22:06

Just to plant a seed. Um, and we have to, uh, pray for our leaders, the overflow. Um. He sets us apart and given this opportunity we just, we plant the seeds for God to give the increase. You know what I mean? Amen. And where two or more believers are gathered in the midst, there he is in agreement and prayers will be answered. So, Lord, I just come to you right now, just humble and grateful and thankful for this opportunity, father God, first, I thank you, Lord, for sending your son to lay his life down so that we may have life and have life more abundantly. Father God and Lord, you amaze me the same power and authority that lives in you. It lives in us and to do even greater works, father God. I thank you Lord for the heart change, father God, for creating a pure clean heart, father God. Lord, help us to love each other and to encourage each each other, father God, and and to be the will and vessels that you've called us to be. Father God. Lord, I pray over every person under the sound of my voice. Father God, I pray that you. Continue to send your minister and angels to protect them. Father God, as we're out here in this lost and dying world, father God, you set us apart to to take over many nations, father God, to plant seeds so that you give the increase, Lord. And it's just thank you Lord for leaving the 99 to chase after us Father God, just one soul at a time, Lord. I hope my testimony may have penetrated somebody's heart, father God. And it's not meant for me. It's meant to feed hope to the next person. You show no partiality Father God in what you did for me. You want to do for all your children, Lord. So I just say thank you for this opportunity. Father God, I, I ask that you continue to bless Mr. Phil, father God, and, and his willing servant heart to do your work. Father God, thank you for choosing us when we didn't choose you. You still chose us Father God. And it's for the bigger purpose, Lord, that you have for us to prosper us, Lord. And we just say, thank you, father God, for every opportunity that you allow us to usher in your presence, father, no weapon formed against us is gonna prosper. And every time it arises, it has to be condemned in the mighty name of Jesus Lord. So we just say, have your way in us, through us and all around us, and let it be all of you and none of us. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.

Phil: 24:28

Father, we praise you and I, I love you. Yes, Lord. And I just thank you. Lord, I thank you for what you've done in Shelly's life.

Shelley: 24:35

Thank you, Jesus. I

Phil: 24:36

thank you for what you've done in Shiloh's life.

Shelley: 24:40

Yes, Lord.

Phil: 24:41

I thank you for what you've done in Shelby's life. Yes, Lord. And for what you're continuing to do for blessing. Shelly with three grandchildren. Yes, Lord. And just. Help Shelby as she raises those kids.

Shelley: 24:55

Yes, father, thank you, Jesus. Help shell

Phil: 24:57

as she is, the grandmother that wants to be the godly example.

Shelley: 25:02

Thank you Jesus. I pray

Phil: 25:04

your blessing. I pray your presence. I pray your power. I pray your protection upon the lives of their whole family, Lord. Yes, Lord, all of them.

Shelley: 25:14

Thank you Jesus. Do a

Phil: 25:15

work. Do a mighty work. Yes, Lord, bless their paths. Protect them from the enemy. Oh, how the enemy hates it. Yes. When? When you win, Lord, when you win in our hearts and in our minds and in our lives, the enemy hates it so bad. Too bad for him.'cause you're gonna win in the end anyway. Yes,

Shelley: 25:34

Lord. Thank you Jesus. Lord, we

Phil: 25:36

praise you and love you and lift you up. Yes Lord. Thank you for Jesus. Yes. In His name we pray.

Shelley: 25:41

Amen. Amen.

Phil Shuler: 25:43

We look forward to being with you again next week as we share another testimony about the power and the goodness of God to change lives through Safe House Ministries. if you are someone listening to this podcast that loves to hear these stories of the great things that God is doing in changing people's lives for the better, and if you would like to be a part of that work, please reach out to us You can reach us at 2101 Hamilton Road, Columbus, Georgia, 31,904. You can call us at seven oh six three two two. 3 7, 7 3, or you can email us at info@safehouse-ministries.com.

Microphone (Samson Q2U Microphone)-2: 26:21

Thank you so much for being with us this week for the renew restore and rejoice podcast of safe house ministries, we pray that God will bless you this week. And we look forward to having you back with us again next week for a new episode.