I could feel the chambers of my chest tightening. Lungs clenching, heart pounding.  I knew by the sheer way my body was responding I was about to embark on something my heart knew was wrong.  Every fiber of my being was warning me within.  I couldn’t hardly breathe the pounding was so hard it hurt from the inside out.

 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—

this I keep on doing.

Romans 7:19

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit

 what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other,

 so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Galatians 5:17

Have you ever felt this way?  Heart beating, soul-breathing truth into the depth of your being.  Wisdom unfolds right there inside of you, right in the very core of who you are, and yet you choose to ignore it.  Wisdom that if heeded would have kept you from harm?

The days and nights to come would render me helpless on a downward spiral of wreck less emotion.  I spun out of control into nights full of sin.  I foolishly ignored the wisdom in my heart and soul and soared waywardly on a path of destruction.  A full year would go by, as I hid in the shadows of my sin.  I became a con artist.  I was a lovely, graceful Christian by day and an addict of sin by night.  Lies slowly trickled into my everyday life affecting friendships and even co-workers.

I had allowed a slow leak of sin into my life to go unattended.  Much like a real leak that begins behind a wall or in a hidden place causes mold to grow beneath the surface so the leak of sin was growing mold in my heart.  It was only a matter of time before this mold surfaced for all to see. 

Mold surfaces.  Sin surfaces. Aren’t you thankful for the surfacing of sin and mold? I mean don’t get me wrong I am not thankful for leaks or the damage they cause.   Just like I am not thankful for sin or the damage it causes.  Mold and sin that doesn’t surface, for long periods, of time cause devastating loss and damages. I am so thankful it surfaces in the hearts of our lives.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of

Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Have you ever wondered what’s it going to take?  What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus?  My heart now beats with sweet relief and even dances upon the shame of my past with forgiveness. 

I slammed the door and yelled, "out!".  Did I really mean all those words? I was angry for sure there is no question about it.  However, when I slammed the door I slammed more than just a piece of wood; I slammed my heart. SHUT!

Skeletons in our closets, monsters in our heads if we are truly honest with ourselves we all have them.  Last night I had an opportunity to speak to our students about some of the skeletons in my closet.  (Read more here)  I know I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me and tell me they needed to know and I believe you need to know, say it with me, “I own the skeletons and monsters in my closet, they don’t own me.”

You were bought with a price!  You are REDEEMED and no longer enslaved to sin and the enemy.  Christ has given you all authority.  YOU own those monsters and YOU have the authority to tell them where to go….. If you get what I mean?  You have the authority to take those monstrous thoughts, and condemning skeletons captive and make them obedient to the WORD OF GOD.

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

You are NOT your monster’s slave.  You are NO longer a slave.  Who the Son sets FREE is FREE indeed! To be redeemed means to be bought back, freed.  That monster is now YOUR slave.  You own that monster.  As for the skeleton’s of your past they are erased and forgotten.  He remembers no more.  There is now therefore NO condemnation, regret, guilt, and shame for those who are in Christ Jesus he bore your shame, my shame once and for all.  He declared, “It is finished”! 

 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, 

for you were slain,

 And by your blood you ransomed people for God from

Every tribe and language and people and nation, (Rev. 5:9 esv)

Together we all can sing a new song, the song of the redeemed.  I am very passionate about the way we live our lives as the Redeemed of the Lord.  You have a story to tell, HIS story, and you have a song to sing! 

Over ten years ago, the Lord spoke to me when I was inquiring of Him about LIFE.  He spoke to me and showed me that Life is, (John 10:10)  He came to give us LIFE and LIFE more abundantly.

This blog was birthed out of a passion to see believers, and lost wanders, like I once was, found and experience LIFE real life, true life in HIM.  A life worthy of the price He paid.  You are the Redeemed and He has a FULL life for you.  You can experience life in HIM.  He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ever ask, dream, or imagine!!! (Eph. 3:20)

As this series comes to a close I pray the Holy Spirit seals this revelation in your heart and spirit.  You are REDEEMED and YOU own those monsters they don’t own you!

I pray you continue to join me in the days, months, and years ahead as I continue to live in freedom everyday and experience life the way He designed it, in freedom. 

Anchored in HOPE,

Laura Mitchell

Surrounded by friends, to the naked eye, who had perfect lives.  I developed a foolproof plan.  I would simply follow their example.  If this “Savior” I had found didn’t care about me then I refused to waste another minute trying to please and care about Him.  The enemy now had me tied to him like a puppet.  He was the puppeteer and controlled every move I made.

Entangling myself in the ways of this world, I began drinking, smoking, and chasing approval from unhealthy relationships with various guys and seeking acceptance with a crowd of friends who like me, were stumbling through life aimlessly being controlled from the master puppeteer. 

Lying, sneaking around, hiding, dancing the night away at clubs (I know I can’t dance, I was humiliated to be there), however I would risk self-humiliation in exchange for love and in order to find a new “savior.”  Spring break came and all it took was one invite and I was in the car headed out of town.  How I was able to continue on this path for a year or more without being raped, kidnapped, or killed is beyond my understanding other than HIS glory Protects. 

His glory not only protected me the night my father murdered my mother, HE protected me while I ran from HIM.  His glory will HUNT you down, HIS glory PURSUES you.  He started on a high chase pursuit once I was conceived, and hasn't stopped. He will NEVER stop pursuing us.  HE saw the enemy lure me into darkness and He was right behind following, watching every move, waiting for my return.  Blinded by my anger and frustration I was not able to clearly see.  I had no idea He was chasing me, pursuing me, protecting me yet again in my life.

His LOVE is not and will NEVER be a conditional love.  Even when I had left him, let him down, dishonored him with my life HE LOVED ME.  He has loved me, you from the beginning of time and will ALWAYS love you, love me.  Even if you make your bed in hell, HE IS THERE.  (Psalm 139) Where can I hide? 

"I CAN NEVER HIDE FROM HIM ONLY IN HIM!"

~ Laura Mitchell ~

I so badly wish I could come through this computer screen and HOLD you, HUG you, WIPE your tears and WELCOME you HOME!!  HE. IS. HERE. And HE. IS. ENOUGH. He REDEEMS you, LOVES you with an EVERLASTING LOVE based only on HIS LOVE that is UNCONDITIONAL.  He is Perfection and He is our HOPE.  We can ANCHOR ourselves in HIM.  He lived perfectly because we could not.  He died in exchange for our messy lives, and poured out His love on our hearts.  I will love HIM in return with an UNCONDITIONAL love.

If my world shatters today, I will love you.  If my marriage is on the rocks, I will serve you.  If my children are running I will love you, trust you.  If I suffer unspeakable loss I will serve you.  I will love you with an everlasting love because you have poured out your everlasting love over my life.

Besides where else can I go?  Who has and will continue to love me with an unconditional everlasting love?  

I am free from performance driven love.  I no longer worry about being good enough, He is GOOD enough.  I have let go of placing conditions on His love.  I choose now to honor Him with my life and love Him despite the world we live in.  This world is broken.  This world is not my home.  This world will never have my heart.  My heart was won. If home is where the heart is, than for me home is in His arms.

I will live by the fruit of the spirit and no longer live by the frustrations of the flesh.  Perfection is not a fruit LOVE however is and it births JOY.  It is my JOY to honor, love, and serve Him.