Stripes From Prison to Promise

By Colleen Manney

A memoir of how my drug addiction led me to a life of crime as a drug smuggler of thousands of pounds of Marijuana across the Canadian border and distributed all over the United States. How going to prison was my rescue, this journey of finding God inside those walls radically changed my life and now I am fulfilling my purpose by helping others

• Language: English
• Publisher: Colleen Manney
• Release date: Aug 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798988564911

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Stripes:

From Prison to Promise

By

Colleen Manney

© ٢٠٢٣ Colleen Manney

The text from Stripes may not be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio), without written permission from the publisher, provided that the text quoted does not amount to more than 20 percent of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. When quoted, the following credit lines must appear on the copyright page of the work:

"Quotations are from Stripes®. Copyright © ٢٠٢٣ by Colleen Manney Used by

permission. All rights reserved."

Quotations in excess of these guidelines must be approved in writing by

Colleen Manney. Requests should be submitted to :

Colleen Manney

(www.changed-by-christ.com)

Unless otherwise noted all scriptures are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright

© 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New

International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to all the people who suffer with addictions and to the loved ones who watch them trapped in this horrible cycle. This book is a testimony of the power of Christ to set anyone free if they want it. All they have to do is ask Him. I also dedicate this book to my loving family who surrounded me with love and support. They never gave up on me and now they are all smiling at what God has done in and through me.

To my daughters Alexis, Natalia, Arianna, and my son, Antonio. I want them to know they are my inspiration to keep going and reaching for the dreams that God gave me. They are also born for greatness.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to thank my editor, Brandi for her hard work on this, and my

readers, Shirley and Diane. May you both be blessed for gifting your time. Thank you to my tribe, who constantly reminded me that this needed to be finished so that others could be encouraged by it. Thank you to all the people that encouraged me along the way. And thank you to my family who never gave up on me.

Table of Contents

DEDICATION 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4

FOREWARD 6

PREFACE 7

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING 8

CHAPTER 2: THE DEPTHS 11

CHAPTER 3: THE EDGE 18

CHAPTER 4: THE FALL 23

CHAPTER 5: THE ARREST 28

CHAPTER 6: THE CHANGE 34

CHAPTER 7: THE PRISON 38

CHAPTER 8: THE ACCEPTANCE 43

CHAPTER 9: THE TRANSFORMATION 49

CHAPTER 10: THE HEALING 53

CHAPTER 11: THE TRUST FALL 58

CHAPTER 12: THE MIRACLE 64

CHAPTER 13: THE FREEDOM 70

CHAPTER 14: THE RESTORATION 72

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 75

FOREWARD

My sincerest prayer is for everyone who reads this that they would find the strength to simply cry out to God for the needed change in their life. I know He will answer. No fancy words are needed, just a simple heart cry.

I hope that while reading this they can see for themselves that people can change, even the ones that most have given up on and then they share it with someone else who needs to know they can change, too. I never planned on being a wild child who caused pain to others, but the one thing I am sure of is God’s mercy and grace. His grace can truly transform the worst of the worst and give them a purpose. His love for us is so

magnificent, I still cannot comprehend it fully.

I am convinced that every person desires to know why they are put on this earth, and they walk around aimlessly until they meet their Creator. That’s when everything changes. I am one of them, and here is my story.

PREFACE

When I sat in jail wearing a black and white uniform and I read Isaiah 53:5 that says, "By his stripes we are healed," I had a revelation of

Jesus and what a heavy price He paid for me to be healed, free, changed, new person. I wept tears of gratitude and I have never been the same since. I vowed to set others free for His glory. Ever since that moment, I have never stopped going after this burning desire to help others. This

journey has been an intense one but worth all the pain that brings about the transformation of a new life, a life free from drugs and alcohol, but filled with the best. It is the discovery of a life with purpose.

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING

I came into this world on December 3, 1976, born in good old Glens Falls, New York, where my journey began. My parents divorced when I was four, and they both remarried the love of their life, to whom they are both married today. My mom’s new husband was from Canada so we moved up north to the very top of New York State, right next to the Canadian border. There is a reason I’m telling you all this. This was all in the plan, you see; it all happened for a reason.

I had it good growing up. I had anything a kid would want – horses, four-wheelers, toys, etc. My mom made sure all four of her kids went to church, and school, and went to bible studies at the Catholic Church. I gladly accepted this and enjoyed going. I was even confirmed at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy, NY. I had some friends from school who went with me, but most didn’t seem interested. I would spend hours playing outside making forts, climbing trees, and capturing frogs. I would spend the day in the field watching the horses graze and taking them for a ride. I had dogs, cats, and so many incredible animals on our horse farm.

My parents raised, trained, and bred registered American quarter horses as a hobby, and they bought me an exceptional project horse. I spent all my free time with him. His nickname was Skip. I spent as much time with him as I possibly could, even pretending I was doing chores, but secretly telling him all my adventures at school that day. I showered him with