Set Free from Self-Bondage

By Windell Kelley

This book describes my life from the age of five years until today. I always believed in God, and my mom taught us to pray every day. As time began to pass from my childhood into adulthood, I was able to see a small light at the end of the tunnel. Because of my dirt-poor childhood, I wasnt able to attend a college although I received a scholarship. Today, Im not only maintaining a 3.28 grade-point average at Miami Dade College and studying to become an addiction therapist, Im also preaching at the most wonderful and loving church in Miami, Florida.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493142910

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Copyright © 2013 by Windell Kelley.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 01/13/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

DEDICATION

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

Dedication

From the time I was five years old until I was fifty-three, I’ve been in constant battle with Satan. Even today, he’s constantly trying to put temptation in front of me, only to try and take me back where I came from.

Today I have a loving GOD in my life. I’m saved and filled with the Holy Spirit; I belong to GOD and only HIM. Because of his stripes, I’m free at last. So this book is dedicated to GOD Almighty first of all, then to those who suffer from bipolar or any mental disease; also to all the drug-addicted people, alcoholics, and to those who have been abused in any way.

To Mother Lillie, my role model from day 1. She taught me never to give up.

To Aunt Maggie, who instilled in me to embrace every day in a new and different way, and to move forward in life. Thanks, Auntie.

To all the workers at Timberlawn and DAPA, and also at Phoenix. Thanks, guys. You know who you are. May GOD bless you all.

And last but not least, to all the pastors who had a hand in molding me along the way. Thanks. GOD used you guys to change my life.

So this book describes in detail my life’s ups and downs; it tells of my problems with drugs, alcohol and how I was a sick individual from the beginning, which lead me to a life of addiction.

Windell Kelley

FOREWORD

Dear Reader,

I count it as a privilege and an honor to present to you the writing you now hold by the author, Windell Kelley. This book, Set Free from Self-Bondage, is an account of his own life story, which began in humble and difficult surroundings in northwest Louisiana.

I personally met Mr. Kelley upon his first visit to our church services in early 2010. Since then, I’ve found him to be trustworthy and very committed to the cause of JESUS and HIS Word, especially in helping escape the bondage of human sin and suffering.

I trust that you may also enjoy this life journey through these pages, as you read this amazing book that you now posses. He helps us to see ourselves as many of us were and as who we are now by GOD’s grace.

In love and truth,

Pastor Samuel Peterson

Miami Central Church of the Nazarene

INTRODUCTION

This story is about the excruciatingly painful life of a poor, confused drug addict slash alcoholic. I was living in complete darkness, almost from day 1, even when it came to my children. They were pretty much a part of my life for so many years because my addicted life made me very selfish. My mind was always on what I wanted when I wanted it. You see, I hurt a lot of people, as you’ll see in this story. You will also see that I messed up all the good in my life, even destroyed it.

Today GOD has given me a second chance at life and an opportunity to give back. For about twenty years, I was a disciple of the devil; now I’m a disciple of JESUS CHRIST.

CHAPTER 1

In the Beginning

All things work together, for the good

of those who love CHRIST JESUS.

—Romans 8:28

Good morning! Welcome to all the readers with whom I will be sharing my life story. It begins when I was about four years old. Mom and Dad separated. I don’t know why and still don’t know till this day. I never asked my mom. One year later, we were introduced to our new stepfather. My mom told us to be nice and to just do what he says. It was like not even having a father most of the time.

He never taught us anything about life, except how to curse, drink alcohol, and fight—that’s what he and my mom did every day.

One Sunday morning before church, he called my twin brother and me into his room to have coffee with him, something new for us. We thought it was all good and pretty cool until that Sunday morning when into our little cups he put some Old Crow whiskey. We both went to church completely drunk that Sunday—and every Sunday after that for about eleven months.

We would sleep through the entire church service. My mom was the last one to find out. They fought for six hours over it. Personally, I liked it and liked the affects of it. I guess one could say that at five years old, I had my first drink, and my alcoholic career began.

We could all tell that my mom missed my real dad, and so did we. She worked two jobs, and sometimes three on Sundays. My stepdad stopped fighting my mom and started beating her; he also began beating us. We tried talking to her about him. She said, Well, he really helps out with the bills, and she told us not to worry, that it will be okay.

After a few years, he seemed to get better. He showed some consideration for us as well. Of course, by now he was the father of my little sister and three new brothers. We learned to love him and to put up with his drinking, unlike the people in the neighborhood. He worked soberly daily; however, as soon as he got off work, he got drunk. He cared for us as best as he could. He began to buy us