When God gives you Lemons........

Hello my wonderful followers in Christ I am so happy to be able to put my thoughts down on this blog and reflect back on it later.  I am really struggling with forgiveness now a days.  I understand that God forgives us and that we must forgive others but have you ever had someone that has just really gone out of their way to make you miserable and yet you cant get past it? 

My testimony is sort of like that.  I have spent my whole life doing what is wrong and have only in the last decade finally gotten it right.  Here Bryon is 16, graduating high school soon and both him and Paige are driving.  God really has had a hand in that relationship because I have amazing children.  Not only do they not give me any problems but their love and trust in God is far greater than most kids their age.  They are simply amazing.  I wont say who the problem source is but I will say that the person is someone who a child is suppose to look up to, love and cherish but yet that person has gone out of their way to make life unbearable sometimes.  God doesn't was me to sit and stu in the desire for revenge and I can imagine how he felt when he was persecuted by those he tried to help.  He says "they hate me, they will surely hate you" I just wish some relationships were easier to heal than others.  I have an amazing family that loves me, a wonderful husband who I don't deserve, and a God who died for my sins so that I could have everlasting salvation what else could a girl want?

So in conclusion I want to thank you all for reading my silly thoughts.  Sometimes I have to remember that when you embark on a road to revenge you better dig 2 graves.  Nothing good can come from this train of thought.  God wants us to be understanding, forgiving, thoughtful, honest etc. etc. I strive everyday to be like Christ and of course I will fall short but I have to remember that Jesus died for them to, all my enemies all the people I claim to not like, Jesus died for them just as he did for me.....Just thoughts to ponder.

With love forever,
Mandi

God is Good and he's Good ALL of the Time

I must say when you ask, God will answer!  I received an email yesterday from a Christian organization in Asheville, NC. about 1.5 hours away from me asking if I would be interested in working with their prison chaplaincy group.  Well needless to say I have finished the Chaplaincy program through my school and have received my certification but I have never really thought of it as a route to really go for.  I guess God has a total different plan for me.  I am now an ordained pastor, I can help those in need but as you all know you don't need a certificate to hang on your wall to be a minister.  I don't know how this is going to turn out but I am going to go to the meeting and see if its the path I am lead down.

I say that with not fear, but excitement that I finally have something that I feel God has put in front of me.  I was watching TV with my husband and daughter last night and received 2 emails simultaneously.  One from this organization and another from a gentlemen that was a visitor in our church briefly whom I gave one of my Christ Testimonies card to.  He passed it onto a woman who has an amazing testimony hence the reason we have to realize that it is easier to flow with God and not away from him.

I close today's conversation with a prayer request for my husband Scott.  He has been battling a cold now for over a week and like any guy he doesn't want to go to the Dr. and get medicine.  Keep him in your prayers as we ask for the power of healing to come over him.

God Bless,

Mandi

Okay lets get started!!

Have you ever prayed for Gods guidance for what you are suppose to do in your life?  Well I have reflected and am still reflecting on what God wants me to do with my ministry.  My father does prison ministry, my step mother does the same, my best friends are training to be pastors and those around me have figured out what God wants them to do with their life.  I on the other hand am sure that I am suppose to write a book on testimonies, I know I am suppose to help people but am still waiting to hear from God on what type of ministry he wants me to go into.

I have these acquaintances through our church who just adopted a baby girl from Africa.  They always thought they would adopt a boy but then God came to her in a dream and she felt destined to adopt a girl.....and that's just what they did.  I want that type of faith, I want the type of faith that people feel and know in their hearts that God came to them.  I want that reinsurance that what I am to do will come to me through a dream or through someone else telling me what God told them.  How do you know that the dream wasn't because of a bad hot dog you ate?  How do you have the faith needed to truly turn your life upside down because you want to follow Gods grace?  Well anyway those are my thoughts for the day.  What do you think?  Has God came to you in a dream and you changed your whole life in order to follow his plan for you?

God Bless and Love Always,
Mandi

New to Blog

Well I am new at this and have never even reviewed a blog until my best friend forwarded me a link for someone elses blog.  I am thrilled to pass on the message of Christ and what he has done in my life.  Not only that but sharing my website www.christtestimonies.com with others and getting your Christian testimonies to finish up my book.  I am currently in my last semester of grad school and once I graduate I will be working towards my MDiv and ultimately my PhD.  Please feel free to send me any updates on your life, any stories or prayer request you may have.  May God Bless you in ways you could never imagine!

Mandi