Monday, February 27, 2017

Faith Over Fear.

"As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I have remained faithful." 2 Timothy 4:6-7 


This post is not what I had planned to write about today.  But last night, a mom, wife, friend, daughter and sister lost her third battle with cancer.  Her name was Manda Maxwell.  And she was incredibly brave and a true warrior for Christ.

I didn't know Manda all that well, so in all honesty, I don't even feel worthy of writing this post. We had just started getting to know each other when she took a turn for the worse.  But her life and her faith had an impact on me and if it might have an impact on you, I want you to hear about her.  She was the most inspiring person I've ever met.

Craig and I joined a new Sunday School class Manda and her husband, Aaron, were in a couple of years ago and have been getting to know everyone ever since.  Joining a new Sunday School class where everyone is so tight knit and obviously loves each other to pieces already can be intimidating.  Especially to someone like me who can be a little timid at first and just wants everyone to accept her. This Sunday School class and this group of girls (and guys) were a perfect fit for Craig and me though and I was eager to be accepted into their tribe.  They are fiercely loyal and love and support each other like crazy.  Manda was going through trial after trial it seemed and this group rallied around them and prayed for them and loved on them so hard.  It was quite clear to me that this was a tribe I wanted to belong to.  But hearing the prayer requests for Manda every week broke my heart every time.  It didn't seem fair.  But at that point, all I knew was that she had had cancer before and it had come back.  So when it was announced that she would be speaking at our church's Women's Coffeehouse I was so excited to go and hear her story.

Manda is in the back, with the short dark hair.
The night of the Coffeehouse, I sat at the table with my new friends/her best friends. This was really my first glimpse into what all Manda had been through and first time to hear her story. And her testimony BLEW ME AWAY.  I felt in awe of this girl.  Her faith was truly inspiring.  I loved hearing her talk about the miracles God performed in her life.  It was proof that miracles didn't stop happening once the Bible was written.  God still performs them to this day.  And her testimony was full of them.  Click below for our night at the Coffeehouse.  I am so glad this was video'd so we will always have it to share.

Faith Over Fear from Stonebridge Videography on Vimeo.

If you have some time, I urge you to listen to her testimony. It's about 40 minutes long so maybe listen while you are getting ready in the morning or driving to work (don't watch it though, just listen if you're driving!).  Manda left a legacy.  God used her faithfulness to reach people for Christ. I want to do my part in helping to spread her legacy in any way I can.

One part that stuck out to me was when she was about to go in to surgery for her amputation and basically started to have a panic attack.  Her friend asked to pray over her one last time before they took her away and she prayed for peace.  Manda says the only way she can describe it is that "a supernatural calmness just fell over me.  God's presence was right there-He was so real. And He was telling me just to take a deep breath and rest in His arms."  Those are her exact words from her testimony.  And as I was re-watching this tonight, I just kept thinking that if in her moments of panic before a life-altering surgery God gave her this sense of peace, then I have no doubt that God gave her this same supernatural calmness when He called her home to finally rest in His arms.

I pray that you listen to her testimony with an open heart.  I pray that you find the time to watch it.  Because Manda left a legacy and I want you to be part of it.


This is what Manda did. She didn't have the cure for cancer but she did have a cure for death.  And she used her situation to share her faith and the love of Jesus Christ with everyone she could so that they could someday be where she is now.  Manda lived out her faith everyday. And I am so thankful for it because I know how it affected me and made me stronger in my own faith.  I'll always regret that I didn't meet her earlier in life.  But I am thankful that I knew her even a little bit.

Please pray for peace and comfort for Manda's husband, Aaron, and her two children (Miley and Aiden) as well her parents.  And please don't forget to include her tribe.  Sunday School yesterday morning was a mess and I wanted to love on every single one of Manda's close friends because they are in so much pain as well.



Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 
 John 11:25-26  





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9 comments

  1. Your post brought me to tears. I pray to have the courage and the be warrior that all of you describe Manda as. Thank you for sharing her testimony, I will be listening to it. Many prayers for all of you.

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  2. Such a sweet post about Manda! Thank your for sharing, Amanda! And we're so thankful you're a part of our tribe! XO

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  3. I'm so sorry to hear of her passing. She definitely had a group of amazing friends. Thinking of you all today and the days to come.

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  4. Thank you so much for posting her video. So powerful. Her Mom. Wow. I can't imagine her pain today. There really are no words.

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    1. I know. Her sweet mom. It's just heart crushing. I'm so glad you watched the video. There really are no words and at the same time also too many words to ever say.

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  5. I had the pleasure of getting to know Manda when sweet Aiden was in my class. My heart is broken for her precious family but I rejoice because she is made whole again.

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