This month I went to Sebastian, Florida on the beautiful Atlantic Coast where Friendship Community Church had organized a speaking event for me on Saturday at the local high school. I arrived a day early so that we could do a TV interview. Earlier in the month, I was contacted by the staff of ARC (Abilities Resource Center) and they were very excited that I was coming to share, as they heard me speak at a disabilities conference a few months earlier. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit ARC after the interview. I got to know the staff and their amazing heart for the people they work with day in and day out. I toured their facilities and got to meet most of the people with disabilities that spend their days at ARC.

One of the most inspiring people that I met was Gabe, or as some call him “Cool Gabe”. Gabe has cerebral palsy, is wheelchair bound, and cannot speak. It struck me because I could relate to him so much. There was a time in my life when I had such little control over my body that I could not communicate at all. I was trapped in that body, but my mind was working just like anybody else’s. Gabe is in that situation. I feel like most people that meet Gabe don’t realize that he is entirely capable in his mind, and it is his physical disability that prevents him from being able to communicate well. The staff told Gabe that I was coming and told him a lot about me before getting there. When Gabe saw me, he screamed with joy. His face showed it all. He was so excited to meet me. I was honored to meet him. I got to learn about what Gabe has been doing and I learned he had a blog at coolgabe.blogspot.com (definitely check it out).

The next day Gabe brought his family to meet me and hear me speak at the school. He sat in the front row, staring up at me with such desire to hear my story. I shared my story that day, like I have done so many times before, feeling incredibly honored to be able to address Gabe directly. If he had been the only one in the audience, I would have shared with the same intensity and excitement. After the speaking engagement, I got to spend some time talking to Gabe’s mother (who is an absolutely amazing woman), his sister (a teenager with true humility and a love to serve), and his stepfather (a man of God who cares for Gabe more than you could imagine). When we said goodbye, Gabe’s heart broke. He cried out with sadness that he could not spend more time with me.

The next morning I was teaching Sunday School at the church before heading home. Just as we were about to get started, I heard a scream of joy, looked around and saw Gabe. I was so grateful that his stepfather brought him to church. Gabe was exuberant to see me again and he was so happy to participate in Sunday School. After some beautiful openness and trust with the people in the class, Gabe’s stepfather admitted that he prays for Gabe all the time and he knows that Gabe loves God because he gets so excited anytime there is prayer, worship, or talk of Jesus, but he was not sure if Gabe has ever really accepted Christ into his heart. We decided that we should go ahead and give Gabe the chance to do just that. Gabe’s stepfather was able to understand Gabe’s responses and asked Gabe if he wanted to accept Christ. Gabe let out a scream of joy. It was obvious that Gabe has been in love with God for a long time and he was so excited to be able to declare it publicly.

Something occurred to me through all of this. Even though we do not understand Gabe, and Gabe cannot communicate to us very well, God understands him and communicates with him perfectly.

Title: Hosanna First Assembly
Location: 8850 Goodwood BLVD Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Description: Christopher will be speaking at the sunday church service. This is a church close to his home town, and Christopher is very excited to come and speak.
Date: 2012-01-15

Title: Merry Christmas!!!!
Location: everywhere!!!
Date: 12/25/11

Title: merry Christmas!!!!
Date: 12/25/11

Title: Hosanna First Assembly
Location: 8850 Goodwood Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Description: Christopher will be speaking at a church just down the street from where he grew up!
Start Time: 10:15
Date: 1/15/2012
End Time: 11:30

A couple of weeks ago, I made my first visit to my new primary doctor. Before my visit, he was able to read some notes about my physical condition. In those notes, it spells out that I have cerebral palsy. Based on that note and his medical knowledge, he envisioned my expected physical condition. However, when he entered the examination room, he had a questioning look and asked, “Mr. Coleman?”, as if to confirm my identity.

After I acknowledged that he had it right, he said to me jokingly, “You don’t have cerebral palsy!”

My response was, “Trust me! I do.” He went on to tell me that people in my condition, at my age and especially living alone, are usually in poor physical health. When he said that, I didn’t think about what I am doing physically to take care of myself, I thought about the ministry and calling on my life. I thought about all the things I am doing now, the things I want to do, and the things I have already done. The vision that God has given me for my life has kept me active and strong when my physical disability would ordinarily make me quite the opposite.

Vision: To use a disability to display God’s ability.

This vision has given me a reason to endure; to wake up the next morning from a seizure, pain, or whatever I am feeling that day and keep on going. Sometimes it is difficult for me to resist the comfort of just staying in bed all day, but I know that my life will be full if I pursue God’s vision for it, and my life will be empty if I stay in bed.

Proverbs 29:18- Where there is no vision, the people perish…

What is God’s vision for your life? What is your reason for getting out of bed? Do you face your day knowing God has something for you to accomplish? God has a vision for us all. Your vision will make your life full if you pursue it, empty if you don’t. No, it is not always easy. It might be a difficult process, but remember you are not in it alone. God is with you always. How do you need to wake up and fulfill your life’s vision? Hopefully we can lean on the support of other believers. But at he end of the day, it is your life and your decision to take the hard path. I can say from experience, no matter how hard it may be, that God’s vision for your life will be the most fulfilling life you can live.

On October 20th, I am celebrating my 38th birthday! In the spirit of celebrating God’s vision for my life, I am asking my friends, family and supporters to give to Empowered Ministries in lieu of any personal gift for me. Your support of my ministry will enable me to continue and further pursue the calling and vision God has given me. Thank you for celebrating God’s vision and calling with me! And for helping to give me a reason to keep getting out of bed every single day.

You can either:

A) Visit my birthday wish page on facebook at this address https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188593107882775

or

B) You can follow these instructions to donate:

click https://secure.qgiv.com/for/empmin/
(It’s a secure sight)

Enter your information

Select “Donation” as your option.

Under the scroll bar “please direct my donation to,”
and scroll to “Christopher Coleman’s Birthday Fund.”

And that’s it! You’ve completed your donation, and we’ll be able to track how much we’ve raised. Thanks again!

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Today my heart is overwhelmed by the recent events occurring around the world and in our backyard.

Today I pray for those afflicted by recent natural, as well as the unnatural, disasters.

I believe in the power of prayer. Please join me in praying. Pick a place, people group, region, or disaster, and pray. Pray with me. Because even when tragedy strikes, He is constant. He is good. He is faithful. And best of all, He is our refuge. Our safe hiding place.

Psalm 59:16-17

But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

Psalm 61:-3

Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

I pray that the lost find refuge in Him–that He would use these disasters, so that the who don’t know where to turn would find Him, and be comforted by His everlasting Grace and Truth.