Tag: Never Give Up

Confusion and Distractions

Today’s a new day! As we walk through the storms of life, sometimes there is a tendency to think God has abandoned us. The storms of life can be so distracting. The noises of this world can be overwhelming at times. I started thinking about how distractions and confusion are two of the greatest tools of the enemy as he tries to make us believe that maybe God has left us.

When there are big, crashing waves disrupting our lives, it’s very easy to focus on them and feel as if hope and joy have gone. Anything from financial issues to health problems to family drama can be the things that demands our attention in the worst possible way—being louder in our heads and more all-consuming than the truth of God. I am not for a second saying that the storms you might be facing are not overwhelming. That is why they are so distracting. But I do want to encourage each of you to lean in and focus on the promises of God.

The truth of God’s presence is still there, but sometimes it’s really hard to see or hear Him. Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded by those crashing waves and are being pulled under with no hope of being rescued. That can be scary. It’s in those moments that we need to refocus and listen closely for God’s voice. He never stops speaking to us. God never stops standing with us. Even if at times we believe he does. The truth is we give God every reason to leave us, but He never does.

As I sit here this morning, I pray that you will hear the sweetness and the beauty of God’s voice in the middle of whatever storm you might be facing today. ~OC

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P.U.S.H.

Today’s a new day! Why do we pray? What are our motives? What would happen if we just spent time in prayer; just for the sake of praying? What if we prayed not just for stuff we want, but instead for God’s purpose for our lives to be revealed? What if we kept praying for the sole purpose of just becoming more like Him? What if we stayed in an attitude of prayer until we clearly heard God’s voice? What if we just P.U.S.H? Pray Until Something Happens. To be more trusting not of our plans; but the plans of God. To become more intimate with God, even during the pain, trials and disappointments of this world. To become more compassionate. The simple act of prayer changes everything. Prayer is personal. Prayer is relational. Prayer makes us stronger. Makes us better. Prayer is trusting God no matter the outcome. That takes faith. Sometimes we have to pray until something happens. That might mean becoming a better listener, humbling ourselves before God and being persistent in our prayers. Prayer is not like a 30 minute sitcom. God wants us to grow in our faith. So never stop praying. Your prayer time might just be the opportunity to experience God in a deeper and more intimate way. So today PUSH. ~OC

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Tell Your Story

Today’s a new day! One of the lessons I have learned during this crazy beautiful health journey, is we all have a story to tell. I believe God has placed an incredible calling on each of our lives. But only you can tell your story and live out your calling. Your story matters. Someone, somewhere is waiting for you to step up and share your story. To step up and live out your calling. By living out your story, you might just be giving someone else the courage to live out their story. Their purpose. God did not create us to be ordinary. He has some amazing plans for each of our lives. So step out of your comfort zone and live out your extraordinary story. All of Heaven is cheering you on. I am cheering you on. I pray you will stay focused on your race and finish strong. ~OC

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A Cost

Today’s a new day! As I reflect on this crazy beautiful health journey, there has been a cost. Physically my body has been beat up. Mentally I have lost a step or two. Emotionally, I have had to run through a lot of loss. Financially, life took a turn when I had to retire years before I was ready. Spiritually, I have been challenging and taught so many lessons. But through it all, I believe I have gained more than I have lost. The friendships made have been a beautiful blessing. Watching my body deteriorate has made me rely more on the promises of God. This health journey, has allowed me experience life in a different, but life changing way. Even though this journey has not been easy, I would not change a thing. This journey has given me purpose. To hopefully encourage others walking through their own journey. To challenge people to step out of their comfort zones. To truly live out the teachings of God and be his hands and feet. As this journey continues to bring challenges, I will continue to choose to be an Overcomer. I will finish strong! ~OC

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Purpose

Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I believe God allows us to walk through trials and storms to prepare and strengthen us for a greater purpose in life than we could otherwise fulfill. ~OC

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Choose Wisely

Today’s a new day! As I run this crazy beautiful health journey, there is nothing I can do to change my current prognosis. But there is something I can do as I continue to battle with my health. Every morning, I get to choose how I deal with my current health issues. I can choose to let this journey be all about me and walk around in victim mode or I can choose to look at the beautiful opportunities this health journey has created for me. Opportunities to share my health journey, my faith and hopefully to encourage someone running their own crazy beautiful health journey. Each morning, I get to choose how I live. You have that same choice every day. Choose wisely. ~OC

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Keep Overcoming

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

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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

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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

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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

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