Today’s a new day! I have been running this crazy beautiful health journey for 22 years. On multiple occasions, I have been told I did not have much time left. To get my affairs in order. This health journey has been filled with many twist and turns. But throughout this journey, I have had the peace of God to carry me through. On many occasions, I have asked God what are you up to? But I knew God was in control and had a beautiful plan for my life. I knew something amazing could come out of this journey. I just didn’t know what that was at the time. But I put my trust in God to get me through this and never let fear control my life. The hope I have as a Christian helps me overcome the biggest challenges, along with the amazing support of my family and friends. Also I have a passion for life. A passion to love on, care for and encourage people. That passion is greater than any health battle I could ever face. I have been blessed that the story God has given me has been shared around the world and has encouraged so many people get through their own crazy beautiful journey. Because of the hope I have in the promises of God, a journey that looks hopeless has become a story of hope, encouragement and overcoming. As I continue running this race, I have no regrets for the adversities God has allowed me to run through. If you look at me, you could think, wow, have pity on me for having to endure such a long health battle. But I invite you to look at it as something beautiful. God has taken something negative and turned it into something incredibly amazing. I’m I’m a husband, a friend and a overcomer who God has chosen to life out this incredible adventure. I wake up every morning with joy and purpose and seek to honor God in all I do. Sometimes I fall short, but His grace is sufficient for me. Today, I encourage you to make the choice to overcome the challenges in your life. To live an authentic and unstoppable life through God. If you need someone to run along side you, just reach out to me. Let’s run this beautiful life together. Keep Overcoming! ~OC
The 4th Quarter. Finish Strong!
As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I look at my race like a football game. A football game is made up of four quarters. As Laura and I discuss the current state of my health, we both believe I have entered the 4th quarter of my health journey. We do not believe there will an overtime. This is not us giving up, but being up front and honest about my current situation. We are so excited to see how God is going to use this 4th quarter.
A side note: Laura and I have to laugh when my medical team continually makes the comment “Todd you look really good for someone who is dying.” It reminds us of the promise God made years ago that I would never act or look sick.
As I run this 4th quarter, I want to make the most out of whatever time I have left. Not a second wasted. I want every moment to matter.
I believe I am in the most important quarter in life. The 4th Quarter. It does not matter how I started the game, but how I finish is what truly matters.
A lot of people look at my current health condition and encourage me to slow down. But that is not what I am hearing from God. No, what I am hearing from God is to keep running. To keep playing the game. To press in even more to share the story God has given me with more urgency. To continue making champions for God.
So, I will continue to run the race God designed for me. I will continue to spend time with family and friends. I will continue to have beautiful moments of conversations. I will continue to invite friends over, to sit on the balcony and hear their stories. I will continue to share love and encouragement with everyone God brings my way. I will embrace the beautiful interruptions of life.
Though my body may be quickly declining, my faith is growing stronger every day. I am spending more time in prayer and God’s word. I am excited to see how the Holy Spirit is working like a skilled surgeon and digging out any junk I might be holding onto. I continue to pursue righteousness and purity. I am more dedicated to prayer. I am thankful for those friends who chose to run the race with me. I continue to desire good fruit. I still desire for God to use every part of my life. To continue sharing the hope and love of Jesus with everyone.
I believe God is most pleased to use a willing heart. A willing vessel. My hope and prayer is that I finish the 4 Quarter strong. With nothing else to give. Amen. ~OC
Celebrating All Women On Mother’s Day
Today we celebrate Mother’s Day. A day to thank moms for all they do for us. I am thankful to still have my mom with me, but my wife lost her amazing mom 18 years ago. Mother’s Day is still tough for her. I am sure others can relate to her experience.
Today is Sunday, so many will attend church this morning. Most churches will have some type of Mother’s Day celebration. Maybe they will pass out roses to all the moms. Maybe they will recognize all the moms by having them stand up. All great things. Moms are awesome. They should be celebrated. But what about those women who cannot have children? Or those women who have lost children? How about those women who decided not to have children? I think we have to be very sensitive in how we celebrate Mother’s Day. Today is a tough day for many.
Today, I encourage places of worship to celebrate all women. If you’re passing out roses, pass them out to all the women. I pray we take time to recognize every women who is a role model, mentor, or godmother to many in her circle of influence. They are making a significant difference in the lives of many. Not every women has the title of Mother, but that does not make their contributions any less important. So let’s celebrate all women today. ~OC
Pacesetter
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, God is my pacesetter. I will not rush through the race set before me. I will rest when God calls me to rest. He will restore me daily as I run this race. God will lead my steps as I run through the darkest moments. He gives me a calm mind and fills my heart with peace. Even when this journey becomes overwhelming, I will not fret because I am running in the presence of God. His presence is timeless. God will keep me balanced as I continue to run this race. He anoints my every step. My cup of life overflows. I will continue to run in the pace of my Lord and dwell in His house forever. ~OC
Faithful Friend
Today’s a new day! Sadly, as I have run this crazy beautiful health journey, several friends decided to walk away. But this is not about them. No, this letter is for you.
Dear Faithful Friend, I want you to know you are one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me. Coming from a person who has watched many friends walk away, I am thankful that I never had to see what it would look like as you walked away. You have been a constant. You have been persistent. You have been faithful. You have constantly showed me that people are capable of caring unconditionally. Friends like you are hard to find these days, even in people who call themselves Christians.
I am thankful that you have never left, as I have run this crazy beautiful health journey. You haven’t just stayed during the good times, you have decided to run with me even as my body has went through one trial after another. You care for me even when I have nothing to offer.
You have seen the worst parts of this health journey. You know the good and not so good in this season. You know God gives us things exactly when we need them… that’s proven to be true because of the fact that He has blessed me to call you friend. Our paths crossed because God saw that I needed a faithful friend. He was right. I needed someone who intercedes in prayer on my behalf without me asking. I needed someone who would sharpen me as I walk through this journey.
I have studied the Bible to see what it means to be a good friend and most of the things I have read are qualities that you possess. I have seen you run with me at my weakest moments. You have been an honest voice. I have seen you build me up and encourage me. You have had my back in ways I will never be able to truly thank you for.
I am so thankful for your friendship.
I can only pray that I have had a small impact on your life. You have helped me become a better person as I run this crazy beautiful health journey. I pray for you and your family on a daily basis and I hope you know that I am here in all seasons for you, just like you have been there for me. I do not write any of this lightly. Thank you for being a faithful friend. I am thankful for your friendship in my life. ~OC
Be Still
Today’s a new day! Do you ever just sit still, with no distractions except your thoughts?
I believe this is one way to truly know God and experience His true peace.
In those quiet times with God, we experience the stress of the world fade away and feel the hopeful peace only He can provide. You may also discover that God uses that time to provide answers to those difficult situations in life.
What a joy it is to just rest in the peace of God. It reminds me of the beautiful scripture Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
I believe that it’s vital for us to rest in the presence of God. Life is crazy with family, careers, phones that never stop buzzing , a world filled with constant distractions and countless decisions to make on a daily basis.
These are not necessarily bad things, and they are all a part of the world in which we live today. But, it can be difficult to tap the brakes and slow down when we try to spend quiet time with God. So many times we rush through a short passage of scripture and our list of prayer requests, keeping one eye on our phone to make sure we don’t miss that text or social media post.
I think it’s awesome if you’re spending time in the Bible and lifting your prayers up to God, but I would encourage you to spend more time being still and truly listening to the voice of God.
I believe God wants us to share our praises, struggles and victories in life with Him, but I also believe God wants us to move beyond that and into a place where we simply sit with Him, resting in His presence. In His peace.
As we begin to do this, I believe we will find the stress and distractions of the world diminishing in the hopeful peace of God who saves, and we might just discover that He uses that quite time to provide answers to the difficult moments in our lives. ~OC
Three Steps
Today’s a new day! As I walk through this crazy beautiful journey, I continue to notice so many people making a simple relationship with God much too difficult. In my personal experience, I have discovered if I do these three things daily everything else seems to flow properly.
1). Pray. Each morning I wake up giving God thanks for another day. I thank Him for the many blessings in my life. I pray for others. Then I listen. Each day I want to improve on making sure my prayer time is centered more and more on gratefulness and listening.
2). Time in my Bible. As I pray, I seek guidance on what book and chapter I should read in the Bible for that day. Sometimes, God has me reading through a certain book of the Bible, but I always seek His guidance as I spend time in the Word. Then I reflect on what I have read that morning. Sometimes it leads me to journal and sometimes it leads me to just listen.
3). Do what God says. As I finish my time of prayer and reading, I do not rush off to complete the days agenda. No, I spend more time just listening to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Then I simply do what God wants me to do for that day. When I choose to live this way, I am able to be part of the bigger God story. That is the most amazing gift in life.
This three-step approach is as complicated as my faith gets. The hardest part of this faith journey is learning to slow down. We tend to have this false narrative, that if something is going to happen, then we must make it happen. But as I slow down in life and try to live out this three-step approach, God continues to teach me that’s not how our faith works at all. ~OC
Truths
Today’s a new day! I want to share some truths with you today.
You are not your successes nor failures.
You are not your abilities nor disabilities.
You are not your looks, popularity, bank account, intelligence or how many followers you have on social media.
As a Christian, you are who God says you are, which is:
His child (John 1:12).
Justified (Romans 5:1).
Christ’s friend (John 15:15).
A member of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Assured all things work together for good(Romans 8:28).
Established, anointed and sealed by God(2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
A citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
Hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
Blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians
1:3).
Chosen before the creation of the world(Ephesians 1:4, 11).
Holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
Adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5).
Given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Ephesians
1:5,8).
Redeemed (Ephesians 1:8).
Forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14).
The salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14).
A personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).
God’s co-worker (2 Corinthians 6:1).
Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
Raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).
God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
Secure (Ephesians 2:20).
A holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
A dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
Completed by God (Ephesians 3:19).
Not alone (Hebrews 13:5).
Growing (Colossians 2:7).
Victorious (I John 5:4).
Set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32).
A light in the world (Matthew 5:14).
Safe (I John 5:18).
Part of God’s kingdom (Revelation 1:6).
Healed from sin (I Peter 2:24).
No longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2).
Protected (John 10:28).
Born again (I Peter 1:23).
A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
God gives each of us spiritual riches the world can never offer us. Our identity in God is one of eternal security. We have value simply because God, in perfect love, sent his son Jesus to die for us and cleanse us from the sin that beat us down. True freedom is found in a relationship with God. And this relationship shapes all we say and do. Our life choices flow out of our relationship with God. And as hard as life might get, we have the promise of eternal life with God when we put our trust in him. We are made in God’s image, and we are HIS forevermore, protected, in his loving arms. When we are in Christ, we are truly free. May God bless you as you renew your trust in him today. ~OC
God’s Word
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I cling to the promises of God’s word. One of those promises is found in Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Even when our bodies are struggling to find strength, God lifts our hearts with hope and comfort. He gives strength to the weary and weak. If you have ever felt weary and weak you qualify.
The astonishing thing is the way He chose to do it. It does not take the mending or healing of our bodies. We do not have to be propped up with the comforts of this world. God did it all with the power of his word. It is true, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). If your soul is starving today, find nourishment in the reading of God’s powerful words and promises.
Today, if you find yourself weary, worn, and ready to throw in the towel, I want to remind you that He gives strength to the weary. My prayer is that you’re experiencing God’s strength and peace this very hour. Know this, one day, you will look back on your troubles, whether in this life or on the beautiful shores of eternity, and you will say, “God pulled me through. He gave me the strength I needed.” The One in whom you trust does not faint or grow weary, and his understanding is unsearchable. ~OC
Keep Showing Up
Today’s a new day! You may not have much to bring to the table right now. And that’s okay. Sometimes just showing up requires extraordinary strength and faith. You could find a million reasons to give up, but please don’t. In the wilderness, showing up is an act of worship, a step of obedience towards God and a firm no in the face of the enemy’s lies. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 