Things I Love Thursday: Mandisa (& Giveaway)

If you haven't seen the new Easter Flash mob ~ "Rise Up", be sure to check it out! Love it :)

Hey Friends!

I'm so excited to share something I love, love, love with you ~ Mandisa's new album, "What If We Were Real". It is amazing!!! :)

You may remember, a few weeks ago I shared a clip of Mandisa's new song, "Stronger". Her song came out during a time when it felt like my world was caving in, and I would sing Stronger at the top of my lungs over and over again!

Just in case you've not heard Stronger, check it out....

Thankfully today, after making it through the crazy challenges of February 2011~ I'm pleased to share I AM STRONGER and my circumstances did not destroy me! Woo Hoo!

Imagine my delight, when I was asked to review Mandisa's new album, "What If We Were Real", containing, "Stronger". Of course, my answer was yes!

Can I just tell you that it is POWERFUL, AMAZING, and A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY WOMAN?!

I thought I would like it...but my goodness, every song on the album so identifies with a woman's heart. I don't just like it ~ I love it! I said to my friend Julie this week, "If I had all the money in the world, I would buy a copy for every single woman I know."

It's that good, friends. Promise.

Here's more about Mandisa's new album....

"The concept of the album came to Mandisa as she bared her soul to her more than 20,000 followers on Twitter (@mandisaofficial).

“I was really amazed at the responses I’d get when I’d Tweet that I was struggling, or needed prayer with something, or having a bad day,” she explains. “People said, ‘I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.’ Or ‘I need prayer for that too.’ It surprised me that people thought I had it all together. The truth of the matter is I have bad days too.”

That learning curve is evident on the vulnerable but empowering What If We Were Real.

“I will always struggle with my weight,” Mandisa says, recalling how a disappointing morning on the scale prompted her startling online confession that things are not always rosy. “I had gained weight and was so frustrated at that moment that I said so on Twitter. I said, ‘I’m fed-up and over it.’ I was feeling embarrassed and ashamed. I realized that I had only talked about how great things were. I never let people in when they were not. It was then that I decided I’d talk about the bad things too—that I’d be real.”

And so she is, through 11 songs of struggle, worship, and redemption.....

I would love, love, love to share this new CD with you!!

To Win my Mandisa Giveaway: Leave a comment in the comment section answering this question:

Why would you like to win Mandisa's new CD, "What If We Were Real"??

Extra Entries:

•Follow *She Sparkles*

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•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Thursday, April 14th and ends Sunday, April 17th at 9 PM.

Winner will be posted on my blog during the week of April 18th. If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

I'll close with one more quote from the beautiful, gifted Mandisa....

“A struggle is a struggle, and Jesus is there through it all. He is there in compassion and grace. I have found that what He has spoken to me through these songs has been encouraging and I think that’ll be true for other people who are going through their own hard times...”

Amen, Mandisa, Amen! :)

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Have a wonderful, strength-filled, empowered day!!

P.S. For more Things I Love Thursday ideas, hop on over and visit Jill at The Diaper Diaries. :)

Disclosure: I was provided with one copy of Mandisa's new CD, "What If We Were Real". I was not compensated in any other way for the review and, as always, all opinions expressed in this post are fully my own.