Clothed in God’s Radiant Beauty
- Sep 5
- 4 min read
By Carmen K. Maendel
My Identity in Christ
Hello friend, I am Carmen K. Maendel and I am a child of God. I rededicated my life to Christ on November 04, 2006 after coming to the Lord at the young age of thirteen. God has worked in amazing ways in the areas of chiseling me and molding me into the Godly vibrant woman that I am today. In my chapter, “Clothed in God’s Radiant Beauty” of the Book, Becoming An Unstoppable Woman: Rise of the Phoenix, I share the raw truth about my life and my personal Christ testimony including all the good, bad, and ugly moments that have transpired during my life thus far. I hope you are inspired through reading my story of truth and full transparency of my spiritual journey to becoming a believer and child of God today!
My Personal Christ Testimony: How Did I Get There?
Considering my background and upbringing in a very affluent home and lifestyle, my life could have taken a very different course than it did. I was heading toward the American Dream filled with all the promises of riches and glory when I was suddenly derailed from it all, by God, and delivered to a much brighter and promising future than I ever could have dreamed of having. I feel so incredibly blessed to have my husband as my best friend and confidant today combined with the blessing of our son, Josh, rapidly approaching adulthood himself. I talk about the process of how I go from the club and party scene into a life filled with church, bible study, devotions, Christian comedy and much more. I speak specifically about my experiences during and after college and how God worked in my life, even before I fully understood what it truly meant to “live as a Christ follower.” I discuss how my siblings and I were raised with a very strong work ethic and how that affects the man and women that we have become today. I go into detail about the first time I ever was ever approached by someone about the Gospel and the unique circumstances surrounding that time in my life.
I talk about making bad decisions in the past and about how my husband today, Nate Maendel, was extremely instrumental in leading me to the Lord and some of the obstacles he overcame as he witnessed to me, and helped draw me away from the world into a life of a new precious believer. There was an interesting transition during the time I was exiting my old life as a stock broker and financial advisor for eight years into my unique and special friendship I was developing with Nate, my husband today. I talk about the turning point in my life where my husband, Nate and I originally connect on a deep level and the one decision I made that evening to go with him instead of the original plans I had set with my friends to go downtown that night. I go into great detail about the very night I re-dedicated my life to Christ and my life began to blossom in a very different direction and trajectory than I had originally been on.
Toward the end of the chapter, I reflect on all the ways God has helped guide and direct my path since that night of November 4, 2006, and discuss the vidid black and white differences that have been laid in front of me since then. I talk about how blessed I am to have married into a strong believing family with multiple brothers and sisters in Christ. The relationship with Nate’s mom and dad was an incredible blessing, and they both have helped me navigate through some very difficult scenarios in my life. I don’t walk though this life alone.
I could never do it alone because I am nothing without Jesus by my side. I call upon and draw upon His strength, not my own. We have experienced great joy when our son, Joshua was born and also true deep sorrow upon losing our twins and other baby during mid pregnancy.
I talk about why I closed down Maendel Fitness while it was still a thriving company and a blessing for so many women in the Brainerd Lakes Area. I share my life verse Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” and explain how it has been fully applicable to my life. At the end of the chapter, I discuss the plan God has laid out for my husband, son, and I to follow and how we are all cheerfully and obediently following His plan and not our own today.
Introduction to the Gospel: “The Good News”
I end my chapter with an open invitation of the Gospel to
anyone that wants to learn more about Christ and all the incredible things He has done for us in the past and continues to do for us, forever, into the future!
Connect With Carmen
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