Manwell's Corner

So we’ve all been in those seasons where we question the existence of a deity who claims to love us and want the best for us. We wonder if we’ll ever get past this divorce? Will this break up be the last time we actually get a decent boyfriend/girlfriend? Is this job all I’m destined for? Will I ever make enough money to feed a family? Lost in these parallel universes of questions and doubt, we start to let the foundations of our faith be shaken. We wonder how can the wicked prosper so greatly while we, the servants of God, struggle to make sense of our life, which coincidently happens to be the “blessed” life?
Here’s the reality friends…if you’re in this season there’s a simple lesson that you have to become fond of and that’s…be content with the questions and use them to fuel your desire for the real goal, and that’s heaven.
I feel like so many times we feel like these 80-90 years on this earth is the real goal when its not! We were made for eternity! We were made to be kings and queens destined to live with the God that created everything we see! What would we profit if we gained the world but lose our soul? That question evokes so much in me when I look at it through this spiritual truth that I just mentioned. The decisions I make about the circumstances I’m thrown in within this life have to be influenced by the knowledge that I don’t belong here! My profits will be truly seen when I step into the kingdom that was built for me! Now I’m not saying check out of life and become of no earthly good. I’m just saying that failure isn’t final. Your mistakes don’t win in the war of your life. The people who hate you can’t stop you from seeing eternity, and on the same note the people that love you can’t get you there either. Its your understanding of your purpose and Gods plan for this world and your life that can help you get through those “question” moments. We have a faith and hope that at the end we win!!! No matter how deep the pain or messed up we’ve been treated, we win.
Its so hard to think like that because we’re human and insanely emotional, but I believe its something we should start practicing. If life hands me lemons lord, help me to make lemonade that quenches all doubt and fear in people so that it will turn a profit of true faith that gets them to you.

Love you

Manwell

It's funny how God uses the worst situations to produce the best results in your character. What a paradox that is. When I try to step into the mind of God for just a second, I find myself completely exasperated and in need of major guidance. Why use the worst to produce the best? Why death? Why make us fallible? Why, why, why…and this is the answer I got…I AM.
I’m humbled by who he is. I’m humbled when I make a mistake that could ruin my life and he not only fixes it but in the process builds another brick on my wall of character. He never leaves me down for too long! I’m humbled every time I step on a stage knowing that the only thing that got me there was grace. There’s no room for “rock star” antics because I can’t see past the myriad of sin that has put me in a place of dependency on my Savior. There’s no way to think of yourself more than anyone else!!!! I’m humbled that He gives people close to me the patience to put up with me lol! I’m not that easy of a person to get a long with at times. I’m extremely driven and a hustler by nature so I can be incredible high strung, and yet he gives my band mates, my manager, my label a world of mercy so they can deal me =)
I’m humbled that I get to write this letter to you and you might actually read it and be inspired to be thankful for what you have and maybe even more so, become a student of humility. There’s no better class to graduate from.

God Bless
Manwell

I’m up early after last nights 3rd Dove Awards win and I can only think of one thing I failed to do properly; praise God that we won another Dove and that we’re still able to live our dream. You see when they interviewed me about how I felt last night all I could talk about was how I was already looking for a Grammy next year! I know seeing into your future and hoping for Gods best within in that realm is a good thing, but honestly I’m upset that I didn’t praise Him for my present state. To be honest, the future is the Lords, one in which I may not see on this side of life. So to that end, I’m guilty of looking and acting like an ungrateful son. Deep in my heart God knows I’m so incredibly thankful for his blessings but that’s not enough for me!!! My lips should be the open door of my hearts praise!

We’re not promised another day but if you look at your today there’s at least one thing that you should be giving God praise for. If you’re reading this, start with the breath God gave you to drink in this day.

With that said, I praise you Jesus for Dove number 3! I praise you for Pablo and Blanca and the glory that you’ve put inside them. I praise you for the incomparable friendships and beautiful hearts that you’ve placed in those who work at our label Word/Fervent Records. To them be an honest praise cause they stepped in and decided to carry our vision with us and for that I’m so humbled. I love you team. I give praise for another day in your service God! Another day that we live a dream and a calling that we’ve been put on this earth to do! A dream that is focused on building your kingdom of saints to dream the dreams of heaven! I praise you for every person who has sown into our ministry, every “fan” that has given to see us go to new levels. Every cd bought is a testament to the truth that you have placed inside our hearts. Thank you everyone who continues to support us. You guys are the reason we even do what we do.

Last but certainly not least, I praise you Jesus for who you are, not for what you’ve done, but for who you are. A friend told me once that your goodness is not one of your great personality traits, but an actual attribute! You’re not good to us cause you feel like being good today, but because you simply ARE good! There is nothing in you that wants to see your children fail and to you failure is never what it seems to be. To you, failure is merely a hidden victory cloaked in bad circumstance. With you, failure becomes a stone of faith that is used to build our temple that will soon house your people that our gift will bring in. You are truly a magnificent savior, a loving father and most of all my best friend. Thank you daddy, I love you! Thanks for the 3rd birdy =)

Sincerely,

Manwell

So much to say and yet I struggle to find words that fill the lines in my mind. I’m excited. This friends, is a true statement simply because we finished our record and its amazing! I’m in a relationship and that too is amazing even through the hard work. We’re on our third record and that nowadays is unheard of, so humility is my only true emotion right now.
I see the blessings of my life and think; wow…I don’t deserve any of this. My lifestyle hasn’t warranted any of the things I possess and yet here I am in charge of the thousand cattle on the hill (pardon my use of metaphor).
When looking from the outside, most of the things in my life seem to be simplistic and occasionally expected and yet to me I’m still lost as to how I got here and where do we go from here. I’m full of faith and yet doubt at least once everyday. I have enough courage to attempt and complete a task for God but when I’m done I begin to fill with insecurity if he’s going to bless it. I have goals that are Godly but my flesh begs to differ. What a state of ambiguity and displacement!!!
I feel like Jesus when he was riding that donkey into Jerusalem while the crowd yelled “hosanna, hosanna!” His disciples there cheering and even feeling a sense of pride that they were affiliated with such a man. The entire city wondering in awe who is this man whom they call the son of David, the true prophet.
All this happening and yet in the mind of Christ the same people currently chanting hosanna will be the ones yelling crucify him! The disciples who are so bold in their approach of the gospel, whether correct or not, will be the same ones who flee and run from the profession they’ve confessed. Even Jesus entered into a state of inner conflict confessing “let this cup pass from me” only to submit and say “not my will but yours…”
What a savior…what a love. We have one life that yields many opportunities, some of which are good and some bad. Some decisions seem simple to one person and extremely complex to another, but still the decision must be made. I say we live life with a passion that screams “bring it on!!!” We welcome the ambiguous nature of this life and face it head on with a faith that we may not understand all the time, but still trust.
I don’t know what this year will bring for me and my group, but I know what God will bring. He will bring me peace in my success and failures. He will offer me hope to believe when hope seems to be my enemy. He will be I AM… and that is all I need him to be.
Love you all.

Manwell