What is the legacy you want to leave your family, friends and community? Some might think this is a question we should be asking as we head into the 4th Quarter of our journey. But I disagree with that thinking. We never know when our 4th quarter will come.
None of us know when we will be entering the 4the quarter of our journey. When we are children, we think the 4th quarter looks so far away. We are just getting into the game. But sadly, some of us have seen children pass away.
When we enter our 20’s, we experience freedom. A time to start making our own decisions. Good or bad. A time to find ourselves. A time to put the lessons we have been taught into action. Once again, good or bad. In our 20’s, we begin to make life long friends as we travel through higher education, military and the workforce. Some begin to fall in love with the person they will hopefully walk through life with until the end. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
When we enter our 30’s, some begin to start families and build their careers. Yes, you can do both. Some buy houses where they will raise families and build beautiful memories. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
When we enter our 40’s, we scratch our head and wonder how that’s possible. Parents begin to see their children heading off to college and even getting married. A lot of changes during this time. Once again, some good and some not so much. But we press on. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
When we enter our 50’s, we think 50’s not that old. Then we start experiencing little aches and pains. We start going to the bathroom at strange hours of the morning. Some will become grandparents. Some say goodbye to their own parents. We start looking at retirement a little closer. Some begin to look at the legacy they want to leave. Hopefully, we started looking at our legacy earlier in the game. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
As we enter our 60’s, some will retire. Others will find a new exciting purpose. A new passion. Some will begin traveling more often. Building memories with grandchildren and old friends. Life will change. Once again, for better or worse. All the sudden we will lean more about the medical world than we ever wanted to. We will reflect back on life a little more. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
As we enter our 70’s, Florida will get a little more crowded. Some will become more like their parents. Once again, for better or worse. Some will become great-grandparents. We will begin to experience more changes in our bodies. We will start saying goodbye to old friends. Some will find their second act in life. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
As we enter our 80’s, we will be challenged to sit around and watch life roll by or chose to build into the lives of others? To keep living and making a difference. Some will move in with family members. Sadly, we will start attending more funerals. We will spend a little more time reflecting back on life. Will this be your 4th quarter? Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
As we enter our 90’s, we will spend more time reflecting back on our lives. Some will look back with fondness, while others will look back with regrets. Some will build houses for the needy. Some will continue to run marathons. Others will become authors and artist. For most this will be their 4th quarter. Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave?
Some will become centenarian. That will mean you have entered Overtime. God bless you. Will you be prepared? What legacy will you leave? ~OC
Coming 11/17/21
Hello. As some of you know, a documentary was done on my almost 18 year health battle with multiple life threatening health issues. It will be released this Wednesday 11/17 at 8pm. It is being released on several platforms, but the free option will be shown on our YouTube channel Dead Man Running The Todd Shoemaker Story (@deadmanrunningthemovie). For more information check out our website http://www.deadmanrunningmovie.com Here is the official music video for the documentary. ~OC
Walk Out Your Story
Today’s a new day! When you go through moments of wanting to quit, remember the pain you feel at this moment will be replaced with God’s amazing strength and a powerful testimony. As you walk through a season of storms, God is building a stronger you, a stronger body, a stronger mind, and a stronger character. So as you walk through the storms of life, allow God to use that pain and discouragement to grow you. Walk out your story. ~OC
Music Video
Hello. Here is the music video for our documentary Dead Man Running The Todd Shoemaker Story. ~OC
Second Anniversary
On November 3, 2019, I woke up with only weeks to live. After 17 years of battling multiple life threatening health issues my body was tired. Later that evening on 11/3, Laura and I attended a prayer and healing service. We had invited a lot of friends who desperately needed a miracle in their lives. We walked into that tent to pray for those friends. Little did we know Jesus was going to do a beautiful healing miracle in my life that night. The picture below is me in June 2019. By that night in November 2019, I looked much worse. So today two years later, we celebrate all that Jesus has done in my life the last two years.
So tonight at 8pm we release the official music video for Dead Man Running The Todd Shoemaker Story. You can check out the music video on our YouTube channel @deadmanrunningthemovie. I also encourage you to check out our website at http://www.deadmanrunningmovie.com
~OC
A Life of Surrender
Today’s a new day! I would encourage everyone to search our hearts and ask ourselves, “Have I totally surrendered every area of my life to Jesus?” I am not talking about the time we asked Jesus into our life. No, I am not talking about our salvation. I am talking about living a completely surrendered life to Jesus. Living a life that is willing to be honest and raw. Living a life willing to believe and live out the scriptures. Living a life willing to believe that when Jesus went to the cross He paid our sin debt in full. Living a life trusting Jesus has a beautiful plan for each area of our lives. Living a life acknowledging that Jesus has the right to expect us to say, I Surrender All. ~OC
Scars vs. Wounds
Today’s a new day! Are you scarred or wounded in life? There is a huge difference between the two.
You see, your scars tell the story of everything God has brought you through in life. When I look at my own physical scars, It’s a reminder of the storms I have faced in life. I have a personal story for each scar. But those scars also remind me of the beautiful healing God has done in my life. Healing from the darkest storms of life.
Wounds are a different battle. When we are wounded, that usually means the healing is not complete. We are still walking through the storm. The wound still needs care. Most of the time those wounds are deep. They may be physical wounds, but most of the time they are deeper than just physical wounds. They are emotional wounds. Relationship wounds. Spiritual wounds. Wounds that go deep and need more care. Wounds that are repeatedly opened. But I have good news. Amazing news in fact. God can heal the deepest wounds in our lives. Not only can God completely heal those wounds, He desires to bring complete healing to our deepest wounds.
So today I encourage everyone that is wounded, to lay those wounds down at the foot of the Cross. Allow God to begin healing the deepest wounds in your life. Stop holding onto those wounds. Stop allowing them to be your identity. Today, let God begin to turn your deepest wounds into beautiful scars. Allow those scars to become testimonies. ~OC
Surrender
Most people do not like the word Surrender. For many the word means giving up or losing. This is especially true in the me first culture of today. But if we want to truly walk as a disciple of God’s, we cannot skate over the beautiful truth of surrendering.
When our bodies are out of alignment, we can definitely feel it. If we do not have our doctor check things out, our bodies will continue to decline. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We will start experiencing more defeats than victories.
Until we bring our thoughts and actions into proper alignment with God, we will continue to wear out. We will continue being out of alignment. But when we completely lay everything at the foot of the Cross, we become properly aligned with the will of God. Our hopes and dreams stop being centered around us and start being centered on the will of our Heavenly Father.
When we get caught up in the culture of the world, it can be tough to get realigned with the will of God. But surrendering everything to God is the first step to living a victorious and abundant life. I pray you take that first step today. ~OC
Never Walking Alone
Our Savior desires a deep relationship with you. God is dependable and he wants us to depend on him. When we are healthy, there is no need to visit a doctor. Everything in your body is working the way God designed it to work. Praise God. But when we become sick, most of us will make an appointment with our doctor. When we are healthy our focus is on other things in life. But the minute our health becomes an issue our focus changes. All the sudden, we turn to our doctor who can help us through this health challenge.
Sometimes God allows us to walk through a season of trials, to get our focus back where it truly belongs. On the one we call the Great Physician. God desires for us to be in close intimacy with him. He desires for us to live a victorious life. When we walk through trials, God never wants us to walk the journey alone. He wants to walk with us through our crazy beautiful journey. He desires a deep relationship with each of us. God knows without him, the enemy will be able to use our trials to drag us down. To defeat us. With God’s presence we are protected.
Are you currently walking a journey, that is dragging you down? Are you waking up each morning with less hope? Do you feel alone? Defeated? If so, I want to remind you that our wonderful Savior is with you this very moment. He wants to wrap his loving arms around you and hold you close.
In life, we will walk through valleys. There is no escaping that fact. But I want to encourage you that you do not have to walk through the storms alone. If you will lean into God, he will meet you right where you are. So keep pressing on. Do not give up. You are not walking this journey alone. ~OC
Stand in Hope
Today’s a new day! You have to start with Hope…and then fight to Stand.~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 