my cousins Ryan and Ronnie

My cousins Ryan and Ronnie had a big impact on my life at a very young age. Ryan is two years older than me, and Ronnie is two months older. Like most younger cousins I totally looked up to them. I wanted to dress like them, watch the movies they watched, play the games they played, and overall wanted to be just like them. I will forever be grateful for the time we spent together. We spent a lot of time playing video games together. We played lots of different ones, but my favorite were the ones that had anything to do with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For the most part me and Ryan would play together, and then Michael and Ron would play together. We would always watch each team play. It was so fun. We would walk to the video store and we would rent a PG-13 or R movie. I felt SO COOL. When they spent the night, or I spent the night there, me and Ryan usually ended up bunking together. One time a babysitter had just put me to bed, and me and Ryan could not fall asleep. I admitted to him I had a huge crush on her and wanted to get back up to be around her. This is pretty hilarious. Ryan got up and told her that I was hungry and that she needed to feed me. So about a half hour after the whole process of putting me to bed, she got me back up. Poor girl. I ate two slices of pizza as slowly as possible. Me and Ryan just hung out with her and ate pizza for an hour. It was amazing. The four of us would play Monopoly all night long. As we got a little older Goldeneye and Mario Kart were our games of choice. For a long time Dad wouldn't let me and Michael have our own Nintendo, so it was such a treat when Ryan and Ronnie brought theirs. I'm so thankful to both of our parents for making it a priority for us to hang out. We hung out and I loved it. I don't really have to much of a spiritual point. When I was with them my heart awakened. As a young kid I was sick a lot, but I pretty much forgot that when I was around them. I was a normal boy hanging out with my cousins. It is my opinion that extra hour of eating pizza with Ryan and our babysitter was more valuable than a years worth of medicine. I got to live outside of my circumstances and be a regular seven year old boy. Ryan and Ronnie, I love you. Thank you. Thank you to my parents and my Aunt Rita and Uncle Keith. You made me healthier. You loved me deeply.

from defeat to victory

Our greatest defeats will become our biggest victory. How great is Jesus? I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy and I have never walked. In 2008 I got so sick I had to be put on a ventilator for breathing assistance 24/7. Father's plan was for me to be born completely healthy and walking. It's how He sees me right now. However, I was born with SMA. So what's God's plan for me? I get to glorify Jesus by walking and bringing everyone out of their wheelchairs and off their ventilators. Sounds kind of crazy and literally impossible, right? If God's plans for you doesn't involve the impossible bowing to His name, then I don't think you're fully grasping His ways. Jesus healed everyone when He died and rose from the dead. It's our privilege as His kids and friends to say "YES" to His victory and see it manifested here on earth. That just really excites me. Growing up with SMA I was extremely scared of thunderstorms and tornadoes. I think a lot of kids are but I felt helpless even around my family. I would spend countless hours watching The Weather Channel. I felt completely helpless because I couldn't run to the basement or any other place to feel safe. It was pretty irrational but it felt very real and true to me. God has reversed one of my biggest fears into one of my biggest victories. Put me in front of a tornado and I have great faith and confidence I can command it to dissipate. I'm not saying I can control all weather, otherwise we would not be having this horrible winter. But I have complete faith I can command peace to any destructive weather in front of me. It's an unusual faith that only comes from having victory in the very place of one of my biggest fears. It's not a victory that I have attained, but it comes from complete trust and rest in the one who is Victorious. It is my privilege and responsibility to manifest His victory. I believe Holy Spirit intends the same thing for me when it comes to wheelchairs and ventilators. I pray for everyone who is sick, no matter what is ailing them. But I do believe I have a grace to see people walk for the first time. It hasn't happened yet, but it will. Are/were you depressed? God will give you an extreme grace to bring people out of depression and into great joy. Do/did you have cancer? Pray for everyone with the same kind of cancer and see breakthrough manifest. Are/were you totally broke? Pray for others who are broke and watch the cash flow. What has been the hardest part of your life? Ask Jesus what He thinks about your situation. He will use our greatest weakness and reverse it to our greatest victory. He is that good! He loves revealing His goodness to us, especially in the ways we most hurt. Jesus reveal the pleasure and passion you have for each of us. Show us the ways of your Kingdom. We love you!!!!!