Tag: Crazy Beautiful Journey

Passion Bucket

A lot of people talk about having a Bucket List. Almost everyone can mention at least one thing on their bucket list. I used to have a bucket list. But as I have walked this crazy beautiful health journey, my bucket list has become my Passion Bucket.

For me, a Passion Bucket is more personal. Has deeper meaning. This year my wife Laura and I have been marking things off my Passion Bucket. Today we mark another item off my list.

Laura and I have been camping out at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. We have been here since 11pm last night. You might be asking yourself, why would Todd and Laura hangout at a church in the middle of the night. In Plains, Georgia of all places. Well, let me tell you. Laura and I are big fans of former President Jimmy Carter. I believe he is the greatest former President ever. President Carter has been teaching Sunday School for many years. Today, Laura and I will be sitting in on President Carter’s Sunday School class. This has been in my Passion Bucket for many years. We are beyond excited.

I would encourage each of you to live out your Passion Bucket. Do not allow the busyness of this world keep you from marking amazing items off your Passion Bucket. ~OC

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Looking For A Speaker?

Do you need a speaker for your next event? If so, please feel free to contact me about sharing at your next event. I would be honored to speak with you or someone from your team. I have attached a short video of my story. ~OC

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God’s Peace

Good morning! Today, I discuss finding God’s peace during this crazy beautiful journey.

I would love to know if you enjoy these videos and would like me to share more of them on my blog or just stick to writing. Let me know.

To check out some of my past videos, go to my YouTube Channel The Blessed Overcomer. ~OC

www.youtube.com/watch

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Life Around The Table

I love sitting around a table and engaging in great conversation. As a child, I remember listening to my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles sitting around the table discussing life. They laughed and sometimes cried. There is just something about sitting around a table and talking.

Think about all the events that happen around a table. From birthday parties, holiday dinners and wedding toast to name just a few. Some of the biggest events and life decisions happen around a table.

As I travel on this crazy beautiful health journey, I can no longer eat anything by mouth. Since I have been on my feeding tube, some people have a hard time eating around me. They feel bad about enjoying a meal around me. Even though I constantly reassure them that it does not bother me, I have noticed less invitations to the table. I miss those moments because sitting around the table has nothing to do with eating for me. It never has. Engaging in great conversations and sharing life has always been more important than the food. I am thankful for those friends who still invite me to the table.

I do not share that experience to make anyone feel bad, I share that experience to show that more than a good meal happens at the table. Life happens around the table.

As I think back on those conversations my family had around the table, food played little into that memory. Most of the time, coffee was the only thing around the table. That and a lot of amazing conversations.

So as we start a new week, who will we invite to the table this week? Maybe it will be a friend, neighbor, coworker or maybe a complete stranger that God wanted us to meet. Remember, life happens around the table and sometimes food is involved. ~OC

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Power of Prayer

As I continue to walk through this crazy beautiful health journey, I depend more and more on prayer. Before I got sick years ago, sometimes when I felt God calling me to pray I would ignore that calling. I was too busy with life. I can always pray later I thought. I cringe as I write these words. How many amazing beautiful interruptions did I miss because I was too busy to pray?

Today, my life is full of prayer. Even as I write this blog, God is bringing people to mind that I need to pray for. So, I stop writing and pray for those individuals. I don’t write this to brag. No, I write this to remind myself of the importance of prayer. My life literally depends on the prayers of many. I want to encourage everyone to live in a spirit of prayer. A spirit of prayer? What does that even mean OC? I am glad you asked.

For me, living in a spirit of prayer means I am always open to hearing from God and following through with what He asked of me. That means praying for that friend when God brings them to mind. Not waiting until it fits my schedule. That means not telling someone I will be praying for them, but actually taking the time to pray for them that very moment. Living in a spirit of prayer means stepping out of my comfort zone. Being Present. Being Obedient. I am far from being a biblical scholar, but that is my personal definition of living in a spirit of prayer. Remember, I am just a simple man.

During my 17-year crazy beautiful health journey, God has taught me to always be in a spirit of prayer because my prayers carry weight. Not because of my power, but because of His power. You have the same power. Really, you do! Every time we pray we unleash the power of heaven.

Prayer is not a passive act. No, prayer is powerful and active. When I pray, I feel God’s power flowing through my body. Prayer is life changing.

I will leave you with the word P.U.S.H.

P-ray

U-ntil

S-omerhing

H-appens

I pray you will choose to live in a spirit of prayer. I pray you will pray with boldness. I pray you embrace the power of prayer. ~OC

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Not About Me

Today’s a new day! One of my prayers is that God will continue to use me during this crazy/beautiful health journey. That this journey will never be about me, but that God will get the praise for all that He is doing and has done in my life. ~OC

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