Emotions and new changes

Written on August 16th.

Wow. How the emotions came flooding in today. Leaving my home of 15 years. But I’m filled with an eternal peace that can only come from the Lord. I have been constantly reminded of how incredibly faithful our loving God is. Instead of being sad about moving I am choosing to be thankful for the blessing of being in one home for so long. Not everyone gets to experience such a blessing. I’ve grown, stumbled, and served in this place and I will always remember these moments. God is SOOO good and through change He will go before me and stay with me forever.

To all my friends (now family) from this place. You know who you are. ❤ Thank you, thank you, thank you! Each one of you has encouraged me, supported me, and loved me for so many years. You are a true blessing! As we move on to new places and adventures, all across the globe, I know God has a plan and He is moving us apart so we can grow to new limits and reach even more people where He leads us.

Though tears may come, I am thankful today for such a blessing as this.

Thank You Jesus!

❤ Mandie

 

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The social media debate

Social media is a huge topic among every person I know. Is it good or bad? What are the benefits or withdraws? I’m here today to speak on this topic. Now I’m am not bashing social media in anyway, because if you think about it right now you and I are using social media (aka wordpress.com). I am just here to share my thoughts. Feel free to leave comments or questions down in the comments!

Now let me start by sharing where I stand with social media at the moment. Currently this blog is my only source of social media that I am fully connected into. I do have a strong opinion on social media, but I will never judge anyone based on them having social media or not having it. Social media surrounds most peoples lives in this generation. All the time I watch as friends sit together but are on social media the whole time. What is this doing to our relationships with family and friends? Now I’m just as guilty as the next person for using my phone in times where I could have been growing a relationship. But what is so important about social media that we rate it above our face to face relationships? Let’s discuss this.

Again I am just stating my thoughts here I am not trying to sway anyone one way or another. First let’s discuss the benefits. If you (like myself) are away from your home town and many good friends are not around; social media is an amazing way to be able to keep in contact with those people. Also many people use social media to share with the world their talents, gifts, and personalities. It is also a great place to share your faith, to encourage, and stand by fellow believers. Because social media has totally consumed our generation this may be the only place a person could experience Jesus, so what you post REALLY matters. I pray that my blog may be a place of light, joy, positivity, and peace to all who may fall upon it. And lastly social media can be an outlet or a safe place in some ways. For me it is a place I can come and freely share my thoughts, prayers, and inspiration with y’all. As you can see there are many great things about social media, so I am not totally against it.

Now let’s look at some of the downfalls of social media. Starting with the most common: cyber bullying. Many people have been faced with the pain of being bullied online from people they may not even know. And that can cause self image insecurities, depression, or even lead to suicidal thoughts. This NEEDS to be stopped. Another downfall it holds is the distraction. This leads back to the relationships topic. Phones are constantly “dinging” with updates and messages from social media. It is a constant distraction from living in the moment we have been presented with. It saddens me a whole lot to see how more and more families tend to be on there phones in one way or another instead of spending quality time with each other face to face. People also ask me many times how I keep up with relationships with people I don’t see everyday if I don’t have social media. Well, I say this. If a relationship between me and someone else is meant to be, God will provide a way for communication. He has lead me back to friends in many other ways than social media.

Let’s take a minute to reflect on one downfall that I have dealt with before. People hide behind their social medias. I’m guilty of it! (read about that here!) How many times do you see a post where a person shares a difficulty they are going through? Now I’m not saying that nobody does it. I have seen some posts about hard times people are facing. But most of the time the happy-go-lucky posts out weigh the raw, honest posts. Doing this can cause so many insecurities in real life that you don’t know how to really speak your mind and heart out.

I believe that social media can be a good thing, it just depends on how you use it. If you are using it because it is popular or because somebody else has it, that’s not a valid reason. It is a choice. Whether you will use social media for good or for bad. Also is it effecting you in a POSITIVE way? You may be using social media in a wholesome way, but other things you experience or see on it may be changing you in a negative way. Again think about what you are putting social media above. If you find yourself spending more time on social media than working on school or developing relationships maybe it is time to refocus and assess yourself. Do you need social media?

Another common question is: Is social media a sin? Some of my friends discussed this topic and I really love what my friend H. said. (This is not a direct quote) Social media in itself is not a sin, but it can become a sin depending on how you use it. If you are putting social media above your relationship with God, that can be a sin. In the Bible we are told that putting anything above Christ is a sin.

 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”                              -Exodus 20:4-6

I am not telling you to get rid of all your social media. All I am saying is to be careful about how you use it and how you let it use you. For me at this stage in my life a blog is the perfect social media for me. It’s not overwhelming but it is a place to share my heart and communicate with others. I choose not to have other social media because for me in my personal life it would be a distraction. Will I ever get another form of social media? Who knows. I challenge y’all today to evaluate yourself and your use of social media. Do you have the right balance of face to face conversations vs. social media time? How are you using social media?

What are your thoughts on social media? Feel free to share in the comments!

Glory to God ❤

Goals? Resolutions? My One Word 2018

Hello friends! I feel that this year holds something special. This year I didn’t make any goals or resolutions. It’s a new year, and that means it’s time to find my word for 2018! My one word for 2017 was celebrate. Looking back at the year I would give myself a B. Lol! Now if you know me you are probably shocked I didn’t give myself an F. I tend to be hard on myself in every area of life. I give myself a B because I feel I made the most of this year. Maybe I wasn’t happy all the time and I had my share of rough roads and made plenty of mistakes. But that’s life, isn’t it?! And nobody’s perfect, so I stick to a solid B.

Now don’t get me wrong! Just because 2017 is over I am not just switching words and forgetting about my previous word! No, I am going to continue to work on celebrating the rest of my life! Now onto my new word for 2018!

God gave me my word before I even realized it and before I was even thinking about a new year! As I was praying about the new year and thanking God for bringing me through 2017 a word kept coming to my mind. Surrender. That is my word for this year. And God also gave me my verse for the year through my sweet friend S.

It’s 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; ‘But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’

This year I want to let go and let God. I surrender my life. I don’t have a resolution, but I have a focus for the year: to surrender every day to the Lord. And this is my prayer for 2018.

Hey God, You already know what’s going to happen this year. You already know the good, the bad, and the ugly. And I know you will be by my side the whole way through. But God, you know how imperfect I am and how many times I fall astray from Your Words. Help me to fully let go and not hang on to my doubt, my fears, or the past. Help me to speak up and speak out. Give me the courage to share my faith with others, no matter the cost. Soften my heart and help me not to focus on myself but to focus on serving and loving others. I know it won’t be easy, so fill me with your love, your strength, your peace. All I want is You. Thank you for carrying me through 2017 and for pouring out your blessings in my life. And now I surrender my life to you. Everything I have is Yours! My friends, my voice, my life, it’s all yours! You can take all of it away and I’ll be okay, because I’ll still have You! I will surrender to you everyday! From now on I’m yours! Take my life and use it for Your glory alone!

Amen!

❤ Mandie

The Sunshine Blogger Award!

Thank you Anne at A Country Girl’s Life for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Let’s jump right into this award!

Rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Here are the 11 questions Anne posted for me to answer:

1. What is your favorite novel? Twinepathy! By C. B. Cook, check out her blog here!
2. What time era would you like to live in? Oh, that’s a tough one. Probably the 50’s because I’ve always loved poodle skirts!
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Other than Texas…probably Hawaii. Or if you want me to be more adventurous Australia. 🙂
4. What is your favorite movie and/or TV show? My favorite movie is I’m Not Ashamed. I would definitely recommend this movie if y’all have not seen it!
5. What is your favorite season (winter, fall, summer, or spring)? Oh this one is hard too. I guess spring, but maybe summer…
6. What’s your favorite pastime? Blogging, reading the Bible, singing, reading, hanging out with friends, singing, listening to music, organizing, singing… 😉
7. If you could be any character on Star Wars, who would it be and why? Well, here’s a shocker for y’all…I’ve never watched Star Wars. Well the recent ones at least, still I don’t really know who anyone is or what they do!
8. Who’s your favorite actor or actress, and what are your favorite films that he or she is in? Masey Mclain! She played Rachel Scott in I’m Not Ashamed, my favorite movie.
9. Favorite type of automobile? I like Toyota Tacoma trucks, and I love the car I drive (the White Tiger!) a Toyota Carolla.
10. Do you like old or new? I like both, it really depends on the specific item! I like old music such as hymns, and new music too. I like both old and new movies too!
11. Favorite book of the Bible? This is another tough question! I have a few favorites. Psalms, James, Hebrews, and Romans to mention a few!

I nominate these eleven bloggers!

C.B. Cook at https://proverbs31teen.wordpress.com/

Dainty M. at https://daintym.com/

Etain at https://ahomeschoolinglife.wordpress.com/

myliron at https://myliron.blog/

Cat at https://twilightpaint.wordpress.com/

Rayliegh at https://acceleratethejesusmovement.wordpress.com/

Crystal at https://crystalsadventuresforchrist.wordpress.com/

Sarah at https://foreveraspiringwriter.wordpress.com/

Katie at https://katiescottagebooks.wordpress.com/

Grace at https://myblessingbygrace.com/blog/

Nat at https://myranger.wordpress.com/

Here are my questions for y’all!

1. If you could have any name in the world what would it be?
2. What is your favorite holiday and why?
3. If you could meet a character from any fiction book, who would it be and why?
4. If your pet (or pets) could talk for a day, what questions would you ask them?
5. What is one thing that always makes you smile?
6. Which of the seven dwarves are you most like? (Extra points if you name all seven without cheating!)
7. What is your favorite day of the week?
8. What is one food you strongly dislike?
9. What is your favorite song?
10. What is your favorite board game?
11. What is your favorite number and why?

I hope y’all enjoy this award and these questions! I can’t wait to read all of y’all answers!

❤ Mandie

Why I like Danny Gokey

Hello lovely friends! I have a slightly different post today!

Y’all know I love music, and if you are new to my blog (WELCOME!) you will soon learn that music is my passion! Jamie Grace has always been my favorite singer, until the past few years. But don’t y’all worry, Jamie Grace is still a close second! Now another artist, Danny Gokey, has RISEN (let me know if you got the pun!) to the top, at least for now! You may think I like him for many different reasons, such as his voice, his looks, or the fact he was on American Idol. But you’d be wrong. It’s because of his music, plain and simple answer right? Wrong again. Let me explain!

The very first time I heard Danny Gokey on the radio, I immediately had to find out who he was and what song it was. I found the song (Hope in Front of Me) and then researched Danny Gokey. I read his story (and you can read it too, here) and I was very inspired and fell in love with his heart. Continuing on until now, I have seen him in concert a few times and he still inspires me. There has never been a time when I have not felt encouraged by his music.

He is one of many singers who have been an inspiration to me in my journey to use my voice for God. I pray that someday I will be able to just sit down and talk with him about music and using it for the glory of God. And be able to thank him for what an encouragement his music has been in my life personally. I also pray that I might have the opportunity to sing with him someday…I get chills just saying that! Anyway, these are the reasons I like Danny Gokey. Not because of how he sounds, or looks, or what his past was. No, its because of how his music has impacted me, encouraged me, and pushed me in my faith. And for his heart and passion for God.

I feel something when he sings. It feels like God is directly speaking to me through his music. And that is my prayer for me! That when I sing people won’t see me or hear me. I want people to hear God and be drawn closer to Him when I sing. Less of me, More of Christ!

Have you heard Danny Gokey’s songs? If so, which is your favorite song? Let me know in the comments!

❤ Mandie

Camp 2017 Recap!

Church Camp this year was something I have looked forward to since the beginning of the year! I was literally counting down the months, weeks, days, and even hours! This year we went to a camp we have never been to before. Now at first we were all a little hesitant about going to a different camp, but personally I had a really good feeling about this camp before we even went. The camp theme was HIS VOICE.

Here is the condensed version of my experience at Camp!

Day 1- I felt God.

Day 2- I saw God.

Day 3- I heard God.

Now for the extended version!

Day 1– On this day we arrived at camp around 3:00pm. Worship, and then service by Jeanne Mayo were at 7 or 8pm (I can’t remember). Jeanne spoke about ‘Freedom from the Father-Wound’. Basically the point she was making was the fact that sometimes we can attach our feelings toward our earthly father, to our Heavenly Father. God is trustworthy, even when your earthly father isn’t. God is the best parent ever! You don’t even need to earn His attention, you already have it!

This night I really felt something, but I wasn’t sure what it was at the time. I sat in the room after pretty much everyone left and just listened. So the first night I felt God moving.

Day 2– This day we had lots of activities in the morning and then at 2:00pm we had service again. Jeanne now spoke about ‘A Call for Ambulance Drivers’. The point for this lesson was we need to be like ambulance drivers as we run our race. Our goal doesn’t necessarily need to be to save them right then and there, but to get them where they need to be. Do something with your life for eternity! You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there! You cannot change the world until you let God radically change you! Read that one more time! She had so many great points in this service!

This night I saw something so beautiful! I watched as many students gave their lives to Christ, or even openly said they were faltering in their walk right now. I saw all of our youth family members worshiping their faces off (as we like to put it). It made me SO happy and proud to watch them feeling the presence of God. Yes I cried, because I was seeing God move.

Day 3– This day was pretty much the same as day 2, the set up of it and all. Jeanne ended it all off with a service entitled, ‘Friday Night Lights’. Basically, what is the light in your life? We all have a story behind the lights. Play through the pain of your story! Stay underneath God’s light. You will never learn to pray if you stop when you don’t feel like it. Faith is often spelled RISK.

This last night I had the best experience. During the end when music was playing they invited anyone, who wanted to step up and step out in their faith, to come up to the front. I knew in that moment I needed to move. I went up front and they started to play worship songs. And yes the tears started to fall again. And that is when I heard God!

Maybe it wasn’t an audible voice, but I truly believe that I heard God speaking to me personally in my life. I feel like God told me to let go. Let go and let God. I tend to hold on to my past, my fears, or my insecurities, when I should be holding onto God. One song we sang really stuck with me. It Is Well by Bethel. Here is the bridge of the song:

‘So let go, my soul, and trust in him, The waves and wind still know His name.’

As I move on from chapter to chapter, my prayer is that I will let God do what He is capable of doing in my life. I am so blessed to have had the privilege of going to this camp for my last camp experience (as a camper). I have the most amazing youth family EVER! I know y’all are reading this! ❤ ❤ ❤ I saw all of y’all grow in your lives and relationships with Christ this past weekend. Don’t let this be the end of the “God encounter”! Keep on striving for God, and I promise y’all will not regret it!

❤ Mandie

P.S. I think I got dehydrated from all the crying…LOL

 

Recognition Blogger Award!

Thank you Sarah at Forever Aspiring Writer for nominating me for this award! Sorry it took me so long. 😦

The Rules:

~ Write a post to show your award.

~ Give a brief story of how your blog started.

~ Give two pieces of advise for new bloggers.

~ Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

~ Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to.

How my blog started: Well there is not a very big story behind the start of my blog. My friend got her blog, and then my sister, and then I joined them because I thought it would be fun! And I am so glad that I did start blogging!

Advice for new bloggers: First of all, be yourself. Don’t try to copy what other people blog about, unless that is what you are passionate about.

Write about things that you love. I am not a poet and I know it! So why would I write poems (attempt I should say) and post them on my blog? I love music and encouraging others, so that is what I post the most.

Communicate with other bloggers. Blogging is a community. I think it is so important to talk to and communicate with the bloggers who follow you and who you follow! It shows that you are interested in them and fully support them.

My biggest tip is this one: don’t get upset if you don’t post regularly. I used to get really upset with myself because I didn’t post a lot. It can be really hard sometimes if you don’t have anything to post about. But don’t get upset, just move on. Try to sit down sometime and just brainstorm ideas for posts, so that when you haven’t posted in a while you will have some ideas to post about.

Here are the bloggers I nominate:

Savedbygrace2009

1Timothy412girl

A Barefoot Gal

Blog of all Lovely Things

Sonshine Seeker

A Farm Girl’s Life

Simply for One

Sapphire Life Writer

iChristian

katiescottagebooks

I just put a few nominees, but if you are reading this you are nominated! Love y’all! ❤

Mandie

 

I’m Back!

Hey y’all! I have missed y’all so much! I am sorry that I left with no explanation. I was struggling to finish all of my schoolwork and have gotten behind in the past two months. I hope that I will be able to keep on blogging and stay in touch with y’all! Thanks for all of the support, I wouldn’t be here without y’all! ❤

Mandie

P.S. I will be continuing the “You Are…” blog series by the end of the month. And have many new and exciting challenges for this next year!

Why can’t we be friends in real life?

So almost everybody has some sort of social media, weather it’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, whatever it is! Or maybe its a BLOG! But what I’m talking about is mainly about Facebook, so I don’t have one but that doesn’t matter. Okay so I keep hearing people talking about how many friends on Facebook or Twitter they have! Why can’t we be friends in real life? Now I’m not saying its bad to have people who follow you or are your ‘friends’ on social media! But take a minute and think about how many friends you have in ‘real’ life! Now think about how much fun you could have with them, instead of being on Twitter or Facebook! This week try to focus more on your ‘real’ friends than on your electronic devices! Enjoy friendship! Work on your social life instead of social media! 🙂 Thanks for reading!

Mandie ❤