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Category Archives: what I’m learning  We so often look away at another’s bleeding — what do you say? how do you respond? – as evidence of our small view of God. We subtly believe His hands are tied against their pain that is unfamiliar to us, that He’s dumfounded, like us. But His hands aren’t tied. And He doesn’t turn, He…  One of the most precious gifts of my time in Uganda was an unexpected friendship. She was even busier than I was, but somehow every now and then, we each managed to escape our homes for an hour, meet at that corner by the blue boxcar, and walk together down by the Nile River. Sometimes… 
I always remind myself to be ready to bloom where God puts me. it may not be where I thought I wanted to be but before long he shows me how he always has my best interest at heart. There are days when I do forget to invite Jesus into me and then realize why I am not being the best I am meant to be. Especially on those days I do not physically feel well.
Once again- Thank you for this! Just what I needed to read right now
this is beautiful. thanks for writing! 
Wow….amen….!! This post blessed my heart greatly…I will need to read it over often!! Thank you for sharing your heart!!  God is an ocean, I overheard her say as I passed. A phrase I’d heard so many times before sent my mind into a frenzy of new questions. If God is an ocean, am I swimming, diving, treading water, or living dry? Do I search Him out like an ocean or wait for Him to… 
Yes. Your search for the deep things spurs mine. 
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts Mandie Joy…you inspire me. Such good things to think about.  I’m spending a few days with some of my favorite littles in the world. It’s fun to have them to myself all day long – answering the little questions and working through the messy moments. As usual, time with them is leaving me humbled and more in love with Jesus. It never ceases to amaze…
Love these “littles” too and their beautiful, beautiful hearts. Mandie Joy, I know SO MANY were blessed because you served your sweet friends. Thanks for sharing! 
Thanks for caring for those precious children so we could soak up their parents!! ((hugs))!  So for me, Lent has become the discipline of recalibrating my appetite to appreciate God’s gifts in a way that still sets me up to be hungry for Him. It’s not about making extreme cuts. It’s not about beating myself up. It’s not about seeing God as a Father who wishes less on his children, but rather a God who wants to give us so much more of Himself that sometimes he has to clear away a little bit of our extra to give us some essential. So it’s about letting go of the extra – the excess – and dialing back to mostly the essentials for a while. 
Good word! Thanks!! 
Wow. This puts lent in such a new light for me. Thank you for sharing this…you make the heart and purpose behind this season easy for me to understand in a way I never have before. Beautiful. 
Abigail, I’m so glad these little thoughts meant something to you, too. Isn’t it exciting to go into Lent with this new purpose? [mj]
Thank you, Tonya! Hope you have a wonderful Lenten season.
loved this. 
Downton Abbey…sigh <3
Shannon, that sounds like a great book! I’m reading through “Idols of the Heart” by Elyse Fitzpatrick with some friends right now and it lines up so well with this whole concept of God’s good gifts taking His place in our hearts. It seems to be something we all will always be fighting against. What a great constant reminder to “run to God” all day long. Thank you for taking the time to share here.
I LOVED this post! I have been on your blog for almost 2 hours now! Haha! This hit me like a ton of bricks: In the same way, spiritual appetite suppressants are things that, in most cases, were created by God for our enjoyment. Entertainment is not bad. Often it brings us joy and our good Father loves to watch us experience joy. But, entertainment (or any other created thing) consumed at unhealthy times or in unhealthy amounts is what tricks us into thinking we’re full of joy when really we’ve only experienced a tiny taste of the joy we were created for. If God’s good gifts are consumed in excess, they leave us wanting more of them. If they’re consumed rightly, they leave us wanting more of Him.
Hi there! Thanks so much for introducing yourself. It’s so fun for me to “know” who’s out there reading.  Their words exposed my weakest places. You know, the way an earthquake sneaks up on you and forms cracks in the places you least expected to be weak. Only when it first happens, you’re not mad at the cracked foundation, you’re mad at the earthquake for the devastation it causes on the surface. Not until… 
wow. just wow. what a rich gift your words prove to be time and time again. thank you for this.
Leia é importante…
Again and again ~ you emerge with radiance.
love you.
Thank you, thank you for this post. Only 20 but I’ve had those seasons of wounding a couple of times already (once as a 10 year old by people I trusted completely)… So convicted by this that we ARE meant to trust others and that in each one of those hurtful things we are meant to learn something that the Lord wants to teach us!
Kaleigh, it’s so good to have those experiences when we’re young, right? Love that you’re looking to the Lord for understanding.  Do any of you do these “photo-a-day” challenges? I haven’t been consistent with any of them, but decided to give it a try for the month of December, mostly to boost my Instagram pictures to 500 for 2012 before I print out my book for the year. (I’m @mandiejoy, in case you were wondering…) Anyway,… 
Lovely post.
Aw, this post made ME cry. Yes. We’re so blessed. Even the $1 to buy a drink-we are BLESSED. And, sorry for the sad news.  The location and duration and world’s estimation of our minutes has so little to do with their true value if lived out in the midst of our Teacher’s dust.  On one of our first dark nights pacing the hallway up and down, up and down, the words just came out. We needed a song, this little one and me – a song full of true words and simple enough that I could summon up the tune at 3am when the rest of my body… 
Such a sweet story of love and hope. I was sent the link to your blog by a friend who knows how much I love people who are stepping out in faith and giving of themselves to look after the fatherless.
Thank you Betsy! Your words really encouraged me today. Blessings, mj  Our hunger for the food we craved, when suppressed by patience, nutured a different kind of hunger our parents wanted to grow in our spirits – a hunger to honor, to respect, to put others (and ultimately God) above ourselves. 
Decided I was going to try this out today. And even while sitting here in Cafe Java waiting for the car to get serviced, I found myself wanting to send emails to friends multiple times before talking to Him. I think I’ll have to download that wallpaper. Thanks Mandie.
Oh Kirby, I wish I was sitting at Cafe Java’s with you! I miss Ben and Evenly and Joanne. Hope you guys are doing well! [mj]
I love this post! 
It’s the kind of testimony that keeps me in the rhythm of God. You need to see other people in tune with God to continue listening to the song and playing the same beat. |
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Meredith Strickland - thank you for this. all day I have been feeling this ache. the ache of knowing that I was created for motherhood. that I have loved many children, but none of my own. I’ve loved babies in Uganda and many of my friends kids here. so thank you. for reminding me that God sees me today. He knows the longings of my heart, and He will not turn away from me either.
Jasmine Jones - Hi! I left a comment on your instagram. I found your blog through moments with love. I’m a foster mom and also have a deep love for Uganda as well. Would love to know more about your fostering experiences….sometimes it feels so lonely.
Sarah Crane - What beautiful words. Thank you for sharing. I love the healing He has brought for both of us and to hear it so beautifully from your words. He’s still making beauty from ashes and I see it all around me. Calling beauty and hope forth from places of sorrow and heartache. Thanks for being a living example of that to me. I celebrate you as a wonderful mom sweet friend!
Annie - This is beautiful. It is easy to feel like I’m just playing dress up or pretend by being a foster mom… Like it doesn’t really count. Thanks for reminding me it does count.
jamela reifsnyder - i felt this way on my first visit to my church’s MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group, right after i got approved to be anfoster/adoption mama… but hadn’t had any babies placed in our home yet… felt like an imposter or poser but the mamas there welcomed me with open arms and were so helpful and prayerful during our 2.5 year journey with 7 sweet babies…
God told us two were meant to stay… we just celebrated our 7th year adoption anniversary. our girl will be 10 this month and our boy will be 10 two months later. :0)
we took a break in order to potty train and let our hearts heal as we were ready and willing to adopt all seven LOL :0)
we’ve since moved and are praying about doing fost/adopt again! :0)
Kaila Burkett - Just found you. As a fellow mama, photographer, chai tea lover, and trying to be a better Christ follower… I immedately fell in love with your blog… Looking forward to following you!
Stacey Summers Joyce - This was so so so lovely…thank you so much for sharing….
On this Momma’s day… - [...] and everyday. You are beautiful, you are strong, and you can and will do this. Please read this, this, and [...]
Mandie Joy - Hi Jasmine, I replied to your email. Did you get it?
Mandie Joy - Nice to meet you, Kaila. Thanks for introducing yourself!
Mary Krause - you are an amazing mother. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
xo
Ally Middle - Oh my goodness, I just came across your blog and I’m in love! Ive read almost all your posts and you have literally hit the nail on the head for me. I have had this strong calling to be a foster parent for over a year now and after graduating college, I am finally in the process of doing so. Buy I’ve had my fair share of doubt. I am too a young, single God living woman and have the same questions and doubts. I can’t wait to continue reading about your journey. Thanks so much for putting your life out here for everyone to see.
Erin McNutt Sherrill - This is lovely. You have touched my heart with your words. Many times life doesn’t go according to our plan and we must embrace the challenge and seek the Lord for support. Your spirit is a perfect example of how to see the joys of life amidst the pain and rely on God where our own understanding ends. I am so glad I found your blog for inspiration, as my husband and I are on our own journey to parenthood. Thank you for sharing.