Testimony Time: Melanie Shankle

I first learned about Melanie on a podcast that she co-hosts. I have read some of her books and enjoy reading her blog. Melanie grew up in Houston, Texas. Her parents divorced when she was eight and her mom moved her and her younger sister to Beaumont at the end of sixth grade. She had a hard time being the new kid in junior high. Thankfully, her grandparents lived right down the road, so that was a blessing, but she still had a hard childhood as she dealt with divorced parents. She grew up in church, but her faith wasn't real to her. At the end of high-school, she just walked away from the church. She started making bad decisions and living for herself. She has had a hard time with self-discipline. It was fun at first, but it just wasn't fulfilling. After several years of living this way, she was empty and began looking for something more. In college, she went to a Bible study called "Breakaway" at Texas A&M University. It was here that she really heard about grace and mercy and how much God loved her, and this changed her life forever. Now, twenty-five years later, she has never regretted one day of living for Christ. Before Christ, she just did what felt good. She didn't care about what was right, or how it would affect her in the future. Today, God has given Melanie a security and a love that she has always searched for. He is a part of everything she does. She doesn't always understand what he is doing, but she has walked with him long enough to know that he is always working for her good.

For more of Melanie check out her blog,

https://thebigmamablog.com/

Her books,

https://www.amazon.com/Melanie-Shankle/e/B008REIAB2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1547843602&sr=8-2

or look for "The Big Boo Cast" wherever you find your podcasts.