VL - Issue 15 - February 2015

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE

Quarterly Publication | Issue 2 2015

A Publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries

Asking Why

GOD Used It for Good

The Matt Manzari Story

The Importance of Perspective

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I WAS IN

PRISON And You Visited Me.

Matthew 25:36

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

A Simple Visit It started as a simple visit.

My friends, Dan and Tracy Stewart, had become grandparents a few weeks earlier. They beamed from head to toe as they told me about their beautiful grandson, Justice. I asked if I could drop by the young couple’s apartment to deliver some gifts. Matt and Bobbye Jean, the proud new parents, had been through many trials of late, and I felt compelled to meet them and to bless them in some small way.

“Could they use a meal?” I asked.

Tracy smiled. “That would be great.” Tears welled up as she added, “I’ve been asking the Lord to provide some meals for them. I only had two more nights covered. Thank you for listening to the Lord.”

A few days later, feeling a bit like Little Red Riding Hood—minus the hood—I packed my basket with delicious foods and made my way to Matt and Bobbye’s home. When I arrived, Matt was outside tinkering around in his fishing boat. He welcomed me with a huge smile and a cheerful hello. I gathered up my goodies and followed him into the house to meet Bobbye and Justice.

For the next hour and a half, this precious couple shared their inspiring yet challenging story of faith, hope, and love. Never before had I met anyone with such perseverance, passion, and determination to use their experiences to help others. And they were so young! I felt honored and humbled to be in their presence.

Before I left, I asked Matt and Bobbye if they would share their story in Victorious Living. Without hesitation they replied, “If you think our story will encourage your readers to move forward despite their hardships, then we’d love to.”

I thought about them the rest of the day, and my heart ached for these two who were young enough to be my own kids. I knew that as I drifted comfortably off to sleep, Matt would be tossing about in his bed in severe nerve pain. The amount of pain Matt faces daily is more than anyone should have to bear.

I woke several times that night, thinking of Matt and Bobbye and those around them. I began to wonder how Matt’s dad, Darren, and Bobbye’s dad, Dan, were handling not being able to fix their kids’ situation.

Fathers are natural protectors and providers, yet they could not change these circumstances.

And how about Nancy and Tracy, Matt and Bobbye’s moms? How does a mother’s heart bear the pain of seeing her children go through such hardship and disappointment? And their siblings? And of course, I thought of Bobbye Jean. How does a young woman adjust when her dreams are shattered? How does she find the strength to care for both her newborn son and her husband’s daily needs?

Then I thought of Reed Hansen, Matt’s best friend and training partner. They’d traveled the world together, competing on the professional wakeskating tour. Had Reed adjusted to not having his companion on tour?

Has he ever felt guilty, continuing life as usual while his best friend continues to suffer so?

All these stories within Matt’s story—I felt the Lord urging me to discover the answers to these questions and share them with you. I envisioned this entire issue, centered on Matt’s life. It was an exciting thought, but way out of the box.

“But God,” I argued. “This isn’t a book; it’s a magazine. Magazines highlight different stories, not the story of one person.” Perhaps God had forgotten.

As the publisher and editor of Victorious Living, I’m always thinking about the content and layout of this magazine. I’d already had a good idea of the stories I’d use in this issue. But then I met Matt and Bobbye, and the Lord began radically changing my plans.

I could feel the excitement building inside me as I considered God’s new blueprint. It was different, yes; far different than anything I had done before. And it would require a lot of work. But in the end, I knew it would be worth it. The stories surrounding Matt Manzari’s life would resonate with so many people. They provide a powerful illustration of moving forward in life, victorious, despite desperate circumstances. I can’t help but feel that God has chosen Matt’s story specifically to speak to the hearts of our readers.

So with the surrendering of my plans to God’s, I present to you The Matt Manzari Story, told from Matt’s perspective and by many others who love him. Thank you, Matt, family, and friends for sharing your hearts, your struggles, and your victories with us. Thank you also to the various professional photographers who shared their images with us.

Regardless of who or where you are at this moment, I believe the stories that fill this issue will inspire you, give you hope, and provide answers to questions that have been lingering in your heart. Matt’s story reminds us that God can bring incredible beauty even from the greatest of pain. V

Publisher/Editor Kristi Overton Johnson Editor Rachel F. Overton Contributors Lester Alevedo-Cruz Isaiah C. Cain Linda Cubbedge Reed Hansen Kristi Overton Johnson Briana Kuykendall Bobbye Stewart Manzari Matt Manzari Darren Manzari, Sr. Nancy Manzari Darren Manzari, Jr. Nate Miller Jay Quam Dan Stewart Tracy Stewart Steel Stewart Creative Director/Graphic Design Whispering Dog Design, Inc. Amy Zackowski amy@whisperingdog.com Partnership Support victoriousliving@kojministries.org Cover Photography Garrett Cortese alliancewake.com Photography Michael Cairns Lisa Lotter Joey Meddock Handsel Reid Tracy Stewart Victorious Living PO Box 120951 Clermont, FL 34712-0951 352.478.2098 • fax 888.837.9153 Victorious Living Prison Outreach All Inmate Correspondence PO Box 968 Keystone Heights, FL 32656 Victorious Living is a free quarterly publication distributed to KOJ Ministries partners, at various distribution locations, and within correctional institutions. Copyright ©2015. All rights reserved by Victorious Living. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse any submission and accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents Issue 2 2015

Are you experiencing victorious living?

Is your life filled with

purpose, love, joy, and peace?

Do you have

hope for your future?

Forgiveness for your past?

Strength for your tomorrow?

Right now you might be thinking, “Are you kidding me? Joy, peace, purpose? Worth, strength, forgiveness? I’ll never have those things! Look at where I am! Look at what I’ve been through. Look at what I’ve done.

Look at what has been done to me.”

Friend, right now, no matter what your past

or present, all of these things can be yours. You can have peace that passes all understanding, joy in the

midst of hardship, love and acceptance despite your failures, forgiveness, and a fresh start. Your life can have purpose.

It doesn’t matter if you are sitting in a mansion or in a jail cell or somewhere in between, a victorious life can be

yours TodaY!

How? Through a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you do not currently have a relationship with God, begin one right now. Romans 10:8–10 nkjv explains how: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

As you accept what Christ has done for you and put your faith in Him alone for salvation, you are then free to have a relationship with God and experience His peace, power, presence, and love. You don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love and forgiveness. It’s yours for the asking!

After you’ve received this free gift of salvation, guess what? You are then able to step into the life of victory Christ died to give you—an abundant life of peace, joy, worth, love, and purpose. As you grow in your relationship with Him through studying and applying the Word of God and by trusting Him, these things are released in your daily life.

Will you pray with me right now and receive all that God intends for you?

Dear Lord, I confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to save me from my sins. Thank You that He laid down His life for me so that I could have a new life in Him. I receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. I now give my life, my past, and my future to You. Guide my steps and speak to my heart, Lord.

Amen

4 A Simple Visit Kristi Overton Johnson 4 Who’s Who in the Matt Manzari Story 8 God Used It for Good Matt Manzari 11 Surrounded Kristi Overton Johnson 12 One Bound-Up Mess Kristi Overton Johnson 13 The Importance of Perspective Bobbye Jean Manzari 15 Dear Matt and Bobbye Steel Stewart 15 Standing on the Promises Tracy Graham Stewart 16 Unshakeable Faith Dan Stewart 17 Asking Why Darren Manzari, Sr. 18 The Lord’s Goodness Nancy Manzari 22 Riding Strong Reed Hansen 23 A Light for My Path Kristi Overton Johnson 24 How Much Do You Want? Nate Miller 25 A Champion in His Eyes Briana Kuykendall 26 It’s a Jungle Out There Linda Cubbedge 27 From Our Readers 28 Lose the Weight Kristi Overton Johnson 29 The Importance of Family Darren Manzari, Jr. 30 The Story Behind Victorious Living Kristi Overton Johnson

31 Why I Care Testimony Jay Quam

Share Your Story!

Do you have a story of victory? Share it with our readers!

Your story has the power to transform lives and bring much needed hope. Here are the guidelines: • Submissions are not guaranteed to be included in the magazine.

• Submission is acknowledgment of your granting KOJM and Victorious Living publication rights to produce your submission in this magazine and other ministry publications.

• Photos submitted must have photographer’s and each photographed subjects’ consent of use.

• Photographer’s name must be included. Hard copies of photographs will not be returned.

• Victorious Living does not pay for submissions.

• Submissions should be a maximum of 800 words and are subject to editing.

• Mail submissions to: Victorious Living, PO Box 120951, Clermont, FL 34712-0951; or submit online at kojministries.org.

• Victorious Living is a free quarterly publication distributed to KOJ Ministries partners, at various distribution locations, and within the prison system.

Victorious Living

MISSION

The purpose of Victorious Living is to declare freedom for the captive through true testimonials of God’s grace, love, and power in the lives of everyday people. A captive is anyone enslaved to their circumstances, relationships, thought patterns, habits, or emotions. A captive can be incarcerated or living in a free society. They can be of any age, gender, race, and socio-economic background.

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MATT MANZARI 

This professional wakeskater was a trendsetter in his sport. A graduate of Southern University, Matt faced two horrific life-or-death accidents that forever changed the lives of many. Although still in the midst of recovery, Matt is committed to spurring people on through the sharing of his testimony. If you are interested in having Matt speak at a future event, contact Matt Manzari Ministries at admin@mmm.life or call 920-storymm (920-786-7966).

Michael C airns

W M

ho’s ho In The att anzari Story

BOBBYE JEAN STEWART MANZARI

Garret Cortese / alliancewake.com

Matt’s wife Bobbye has been married to her high-school sweetheart, Matt, for five years. They just welcomed their first son, Justice, in January.

Currently, she is serving as executive assistant within KOJ Ministries’ administration, helping her husband recover from his injuries, and enjoying motherhood.

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DARREN AND NANCY MANZARI

Matt’s parents When Matt was just a small boy, his parents, Darren and Nancy Manzari, introduced him to the world of water sports.

Darren is self-employed, working as an efficiency consultant to businesses in 20 countries.

He is passionate about helping people identify, develop, and achieve their goals.

As a mother of two sons, Matt and Darren Jr., Nancy devoted much of her time to raising men of character and educating them within their home. She remains passionately devoted to her family. Darren and Nancy have been married for 28 years and praise God for the achievements and character of both their sons.

DARREN MANZARI JR.

Matt’s brother Darren grew up loving action sports alongside Matt.

Today, he lives in New Orleans and works in the film industry on television shows and movies. He loves spending time with his dog, Kody, his loving girlfriend, Maureen, and her dog, Tank.

STEEL STEWART

Matt’s brother-in-law Steel is Bobbye Jean’s brother. Growing up the siblings were very close and spent lots of time together on the water. Steel is married to Lorin. They enjoy encouraging youth to stay strong in their faith.

DAN AND TRACY STEWART

REED HANSEN

Matt’s best friend and former wakeskating training partner Born into a wakeboarding family, Reed Hansen quickly became acquainted with the sensation of water passing beneath his feet, first as a competitive wakeboarder, then as a wakeskater. Reed and Matt met as teenagers when Matt came to the Hansen World Wakeboard Center to hone his skills. They quickly became friends, training partners, travel companions, and spiritual accountability partners. Reed is married to Michelle. They live in Florida where Reed continues to train and compete as a professional wakeskater.

Matt’s mother- and father-in-law Dan and Tracy, residents of Florida, have been married for 26 years and are the proud parents of two adult children, Bobbye Jean and Steel.

Dan is a former professional waterskier at Sea World and currently the director of human resources and safety for World Entertainment Services. Tracy is a homemaker who homeschooled their two children from pre-k through high school. She currently enjoys training dogs and helping Dan remodel homes.

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GOD Used It for Good

by Matt Manzari with Kristi Overton Johnson

ASPIRATIONS I was living the dream. A professional wakeskater, I was at the top of my sport, traveling the world, and under contract with manufacturers like Nike, Arnette Sunglasses, Sea Doo, and CWB Board Company. I was married to my high school sweetheart and about to graduate from Southern University in Tennessee with a major in theology. Bobbye Jean and I had big dreams for our future, as I planned to go full-time into ministry.

We both loved the Lord and couldn’t wait to serve Him.

LEARNING TO TRUST HIM

Joey Meddock Photography

Our dreams, however, came crashing down on us in 2012. I was three days from graduating and entering full-time ministry when I decided to compete in a wakeskate pro tour event. As I approached a narrow spot in the lake, I hit the rocky shoreline at over 30 mph. The last thing I remember is cutting toward the wake…and waking up to a team of doctors telling me not to move.

I lay in that hospital bed with a shattered face, but I remember being thankful to be alive. According to all the experts, I shouldn’t have been. There was simply no explanation as to why the impact hadn’t killed me—everything around my temple was crushed, including my eye socket.

I was so grateful for God’s hand of protection, even in the midst of my pain. I knew it was only by His grace I was alive.

Yet even with a thankful heart, the reality of my situation sank in. This accident had turned my life completely upside down.

I had just lost a semester of school. Where in the world would I get the money to pay for another semester? My parents had graciously supported me through college, I wasn’t about to ask them to help me again. Bobbye and I had an apartment full of stuff to move out of Tennessee. In fact, our lease was set to expire the very next week.

How could I possibly pull off moving out of state  Matt miraculously survived from a hospital bed? crashing into the rocky shoreline during a pro tour event in 2012.

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Handsel Reid

 At the top of his game, Matt was under contract with manufacturers like Nike, Arnette Sunglasses, Sea Doo, and CWB Board Company.

graphy

EVEN IN THE VALLEY

M

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Joey Meddock Photography

 He was married to his high school sweetheart, Bobbye, and about to graduate with a degree in theology from Southern University when Matt found himself sidelined from life.

Furthermore, I had a commitment to preach in Guyana in two weeks—a trip I’d had planned for a year. So many people would be let down.

Not to mention my body was totally wrecked!

Life had suddenly become one big mess. It was at this weak point, however, that I learned an invaluable lesson. I had always viewed God as a big-picture God; He was mostly concerned with my eternal destiny. Through this crisis, God showed me that He isn’t just a big-picture God; He cares about every issue of my life—including exams, apartments, and commitments. One by one, He worked out every detail of my life while I lay in the hospital, unable to do a thing.

First, the head of my department in school called to say that he and the other professors had all agreed to let my final grades stand so that I could graduate on time. This was a highly unusual arrangement. This surprise was followed by a call from a friend who offered to buy a plane ticket to Guyana to preach the material I had prepared. Next, my wife’s family drove to Tennessee and moved everything out of the apartment before our lease expired. To top it off, my parents graciously opened their home and allowed Bobbye and me to live with them rent free for the next year while I recovered.

Every concern that I had—taken care of. It was like God was saying, “I’ve got it, Matt. Don’t worry about a thing. I’m watching over you and Bobbye; just trust Me.” I wouldn’t trade going through that accident for anything. Bobbye and I learned so much about God’s love and provision, and we grew so much spiritually.

Without a doubt, this experience prepared us for what lay ahead.

Eight months after the wakeskate accident, I was back on the water, competing. The doctors had done an incredible job putting my face back together and mending the other parts of my body that had been affected by the impact. Amazingly, I didn’t have any pain.

Life was back on track, and Bobbye and I began chasing our dreams once again. First on the list?

Having a baby. We’d been married for several years and felt it was time to start a family of our own.

We were a little worried when Bobbye didn’t get pregnant right away, but five months later, we were relieved and overjoyed to discover we were expecting.

Bobbye was eleven weeks pregnant when our dreams were once again shattered. Suddenly, we were living a nightmare.

It all began on a normal, hot, summer day. I was trimming trees at a local church in a high-reach bucket. Suddenly and unexpectedly, power from nearby utility lines arched over to the steel bucket I was standing in, with my hands on the controls. In

an instant, 14,000 volts of electricity surged through my right hand and circuited through my chest to my left hand. Back and forth it flowed before exiting my skull in two places.

Bobbye Jean was working inside the church at the time and rushed to my side. I am told that when she arrived, I was thrashing around in the bucket, screaming in pain. Due to the high voltage, I had received fourth- and fifth-degree burns. Much of my skin was burned away, exposing my bones and muscles. My wife witnessed this horrifying scene.

Because of the nature of my injuries, I was placed in a medical coma for three days at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). During that time, doctors operated to remove the skin and muscles affected by the voltage. My dad tells me that when I finally woke up, they gave me an alphabet board to communicate. I couldn’t speak because I was intubated. He says it took about ten minutes for me to spell these words: God is going to use this for good.

I don’t remember spelling those words. I can only imagine they rose up instinctively from a foundation of faith that had recently been strengthened through my previous accident.

For the next 81 days, I lived a dream I longed to wake up from—as did my loved ones. The physical pain of skin grafts, wound-dressing changes, nerve damage, and other things was excruciating. The emotional pain of not knowing my future was equally difficult. Though my surgeries were deemed successful, we were constantly reminded that I “wasn’t out of the woods yet.” Since a large portion of my body was completely exposed, I was given less than a 50 percent chance of survival. Until the skin grafts took, my risk of infection was through the roof.

The doctors didn’t tell me these things to scare me but basically to prepare me. If there was anything I wanted to say to my loved ones, I needed to say it. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst, they said. This seemed logical, as every day I watched people around me, with injuries far less severe than mine, die. Seven other people were admitted to the intensive care unit the same day I was. Only two of us made it out alive. When you are in that environment, you’re like, “Okay, that guy just died, and that guy just died…. Am I next?” Each day when my number wasn’t called, I was filled with gratitude.

Chaos and uncertainty surrounded me. Yet in the midst of it all, I experienced unexplainable peace. Just as Philippians 4:7 promised, that peace guarded my heart and mind in Christ Jesus; it kept my mind from growing anxious and overwhelmed by my circumstances. I found rest in the arms of God. continued on page 10

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Many believe there is no God. Or they believe that if He does exist, then He must be angry or unjust because He allows such pain. How, they ask, could a good God let such awful things happen to good people? And they blame Him for their circumstances.

Many people have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I was injured while trimming trees for the church. They cannot understand why God would allow such pain for someone who loves Him and serves Him. In all of my pain, I’ve not asked why. But if I were to ask some “why” questions, they would be, “God, why have You spared my life? Why have You protected me? Why are You so good to me?”

God has blessed me with so much. I have so many things to be thankful for. By focusing on what I have instead of what I’ve lost, I’m able to move forward and not fall into a sea of hopelessness.

I don’t know why this happened to me. But I do know that God has used every moment, every ounce, of my pain for good. Nothing has been wasted.

LESSONS LEARNED I’ve heard people say, “God did this for a reason.

It was His will.” This is such a common phrase, especially among Christians. I think we should be very careful before we throw this statement around. Ultimately, we are blaming God for our circumstances.

Think about it: if I went to the roof of my apartment and jumped off, I’d most likely break my legs. Did God break them? No. Like an idiot, I jumped off the roof and broke my own legs. My

decision caused the result. Kind of like my first accident. God didn’t crash me into the rocks; the driver and I misjudged the lake length. I chose to compete at the last minute against my parents’ wishes. That was my doing, not God’s.

But the cool thing about God is that even in my mess-ups, He is still at work. He can take my mistakes and the mistakes of others that have caused me harm—and He can take the attacks of Satan against me—and miraculously use them all for good. No matter what happens to us, God can transform any situation into something beautiful.

One beautiful miracle was the birth of my son, Justice. Already, I’ve learned so much from this little guy. First of all, I’ve learned to trust the timing of God. Had Bobbye conceived on our timetable, she would have been giving birth to Justice at the time of my accident. That would have been incredibly difficult for everyone.

I’ve also learned the importance of having goals.

The thought of holding Justice motivated me to push through my pain during therapy. What an incredible moment holding Justice was for all of us!

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

I’ve learned, too, the importance of seeing things from my heavenly Father’s perspective. I’ve seen how quickly Justice’s world turns upside down when his binky slips from his mouth. He wails like crazy.

I’m like, “Calm down, buddy. It’s all right. Here you go. We can overcome this binky issue easily.” From my fatherly perspective, I can see that his situation isn’t too big to overcome.

As people, we’re guaranteed to face binky issues at some time or another. Perhaps you’re a teenager

Garret Cortese / alliancewake.com

I trusted that if I stayed here on the earth, God would see me through. I had already seen His hand at work so evidently in my previous accident. But if God decided this was my last day here, then I trusted He would take care of those I left behind.

I was still alive, however, and I was committed to making the most of the life I had. I wasn’t guaranteed tomorrow, but I had today. I was determined to use whatever time God gave me, to reach people for Him. I had no agenda other than to love people and to build relationships with those around me. There were people all around who needed encouragement—family members, friends, doctors, nurses, and other patients. If I could be just a little bit of light to them, then what I was going through was worth it.

I am amazed at how God used my situation to touch others. One nurse told me she had grown up in a Christian home but had wandered from her relationship with God during college. Going through nursing school and seeing all the pain in the world, she had come to the conclusion that there simply couldn’t be a God. If He was real, why was there so much suffering?

My miraculous recovery and the depth of our family’s faith convinced her otherwise, and she gave her life back to God. I would go through all this pain again for that alone. Hearing her profession of faith was an incredible experience. I mean, who am I to be used for such a wonderful thing?

This nurse isn’t the only person who has seen bad things and concluded that God must not exist.

Lisa Lotter Photography

GOOD continued from page 9

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with a broken heart who thinks he’ll never find love again, or an executive who’s lost her job. Maybe you’re a parent with a wayward child, or a spouse who is suddenly alone.

Through Justice, I can now imagine our heavenly Father looking down at us as we flail about in our crisis. His voice is kind, His touch gentle, as He says,

“Calm down, My child. It’s all right. I overcame your binky issue a long time ago. Remember the cross?

That’s where I conquered every issue you’ll ever face—sin, sickness, loss, poverty, rejection, death, whatever. Take heart in the midst of your trial; I’ve overcome it all! Everything is under control.”

From His perfect perspective, God can see a way out when we think we’ve lost our way. He knows that our circumstances don’t control our destiny— He does. As we remember to look past our binky issues and fix our eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith, we can overcome. Despite all the things we encounter, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).

Looking at life in light of the cross has enabled me to keep moving forward. This body I’m living in and these circumstances I’m going through aren’t the end. They’re temporary. I have to constantly remind myself of this truth, especially when life gets hard—which is just about daily.

by Kristi Overton Johnson

Without a doubt, faith, family, and friends are what enable the Manzari and Stewart families to continually press on through their difficult journey. Every step of the way, from the initial calls reporting Matt’s accident until now, God has used people to bring timely words of encouragement, a listening ear, a helping hand, and a shoulder to cry on.

To all of you who have stood by their sides, the Manzari and Stewart families say thank you! Your love expressed in various acts of kindness is forever embedded in their hearts.

Matt’s story reminds me of the importance of developing strong relationships. The truth is, we were designed to do life together—to help and spur one another on to victory. Yet, in the busyness of life and in our quest for personal success, relationships are often the first thing to go. This is unfortunate, because when all is said and done, relationships are really all that matter.

Here’s the thing. We need one another. I need you, and you need me. Each one of us brings something of value to the table that can help ease the burden of another. No one was designed to do this thing called life alone. Sometimes it’s hard to admit we need someone or to accept a helping hand. That was me until the day I realized that my not allowing others to help me was actually robbing them of a blessing and preventing them from being a part of my life. And I discovered I was robbing myself of a blessing as well!

How are your relationships?

Are you surrounding yourself with faithful people who will be by your side through thick and thin?

Are you being a faithful friend yourself?

Garret Cortese / alliancewake.com

Lisa Lotter Photography

continued on page 20

SURROUNDED

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One Bound-Up Mess

In life we suffer many wounds. Some are physical, like Matt’s.

Others are emotional, like his family’s.

Wounds, if we aren’t careful, can cause longterm harm. One issue Matt has encountered as a result of his accident is the tremendous amount of scar tissue that has formed throughout his body. Some of this scar tissue has been beneficial, as it has helped new skin bond to the old. Excessive scar tissue, however, has caused Matt tremendous pain, restricted his movement, and has even broken bones.

I haven’t been through Matt’s traumatic experience, but I do know a bit about scar tissue.

Due to several routine stomach surgeries, my body has produced long, rubber-band-like strands of scar tissue throughout my intestines. They have adhered to my bowels and caused much stomach pain over the years, resulting in four bowel-obstruction surgeries.

On one occasion, my bowels were so strangulated, I was nearly to the point of death.

Emotional wounds create scars too. These wounds come from many places. People wound us with their words. They inflict pain both with action and failure to act. Circumstances and tragedy also create emotional wounds.

Emotional wounds, unlike physical wounds, often go unidentified or are ignored. We become experts at pushing through our pain and putting on a facade that says everything is okay.

I’m sure none of us have to look too deep to discover a wound or two. We’ve all experienced disappointment and pain—both physically and emotionally. We’ve all been treated unjustly or been judged, criticized, rejected, abandoned, or betrayed.

We’ve all experienced loss and broken dreams to the point we felt our hearts were being ripped out of our chests.

Naturally, we feel pain; our hearts are wounded.

Thoughts and emotions surface, and we desperately search for answers. If answers don’t come, we begin to question God and people. We cast blame; we might head down a road of regret and guilt. Sometimes we look for activities, substances, relationships, money, or careers to soothe our pain. And our scars grow.

To avoid physical scars on vital organs and bones, doctors often instruct patients to massage the wound area to break up the scar tissue and keep it pliable. This is often painful, but it’s necessary.

Emotionally speaking, we must allow God to massage our hearts to prevent our emotions from settling in and scarring over.

We can’t ignore emotional wounds. If we aren’t careful, emotions like anger, blame, regret, fear, bitterness, hate, guilt, and unforgiveness will form thick, rubber-band-like scar tissue around our hearts, causing them to calcify and grow hard. Like the scar tissue that strangulated my bowels and blocked lifesustaining nutrients, these emotions will block out people who love us. Even more, they will block out a God who more than anything wants to wrap His arms around us, heal us, and lead us through our pain.

Uncared for, scarred-over wounds can strangulate the very life out of us.

My friend, I don’t know the specific wound you have experienced, but God does. And He cares. Never doubt that. Give your wounds—every single one of them—to Him, so He can heal your heart and set your mind and body free.

Sometimes we don’t know how to bring our wounds to God, or we think we shouldn’t bother Him with them. I just experienced this myself while at the dentist’s office. I was reclined in the chair, and Dr. Smith was drilling away at my tooth. My jaws began to ache. I was growing more anxious by the minute, and I asked God to help me. The words were barely formed when I thought about Matt. At that very moment, he was going through an excruciating therapy session of having his skin stretched.

“Suck it up, Kristi.” I told myself. “If Matt can go through that, surely you can handle having your tooth worked on!”

I felt guilty and foolish bringing God my little concern when Matt was dealing with such a big one.

But the Lord lovingly reminded me of 1 Peter 5:7.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” It was like God was saying: “Kristi, I care just as much about your tooth as I do about Matt’s physical injuries. Bring it to Me. Bring all your cares to Me.” Let’s take a closer look at this powerful verse.

A care is anything that causes concern, anxiety, frustration, difficulty, misfortune, or pain. We should give anything that causes us to worry to God, regardless of what or why it happened. Many Bible

translations say we are to “cast” these cares to God. To cast means to throw an excess weight aside. We are literally to throw our concerns over to God. Why? First, because He cares for us. God is truly interested in every detail of our lives. If it concerns us, it concerns Him. Secondly, we aren’t designed to carry cares.

Cares bind us up, load us down, and eventually wear us out.

Friend, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been electrocuted or insulted—God cares. It doesn’t matter if you’re a murderer or a helper of the poor and needy—God loves you just the same.

One of the reasons I believe the Lord directed me to focus this issue of Victorious Living on Matt and his family is to show you that regardless of who you are—mother, father, sibling, child, friend—and what you are going through—guilt, physical pain, fear, anger, frustration, loneliness, confusion—the answer to finding healing for your wounds is the same. It’s Jesus.

Cast your cares—the big and the small—on God. You can trust Him with your life. He may be the last person you want to speak to right now, but He is the only One who knows the depth of your pain; the only One who can help you overcome.

Talk to Him; get real with Him. For goodness sakes—if you have to, yell it out to Him! Just tell God how you feel. Talk to Him as you would a friend.

The truth is, He is your friend (John 15:15). God isn’t looking for impressive, refined words. His only desire is to fellowship with our hearts. Lay aside any notion of your words having to be perfect and just talk to Him. I know the phrase “cast your cares on Jesus” can sound clichéd or naively religious, but after decades of experiencing my own emotional wounds and, at times, my own hard heart, I know how freeing casting my cares on God can be. If it weren’t for the healing touch of my heavenly Father, I’d be one bound-up mess!

Allowing God access to your heart and casting your cares on Him is your key to victory. With the Lord’s help, you can emerge from every wound stronger, wiser, and better than ever. You can be made completely whole and find joy and freedom, even in the most difficult of places. V Kristi Overton Johnson, former world champion water-skier, is the founder of In His Wakes Ministry, KOJ Ministries, and publisher of Victorious Living magazine. She resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.

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photo courtesy of Tracy Stewart

by Kristi Overton Johnson

PERSPECTIVE the importance of

PER SPEC TIVE

photo courtesy of Tracy Stewart

by Bobbye Jean Manzari

PERSPECTIVE. Google defines this word as a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. Never could I have imagined the importance of this little word.

Everyone faces struggles in life. My biggest life struggle began on a normal June day, just a year ago. Since then, I have learned a valuable lesson about perspective.

My husband, Matt, was trimming trees for a local church when the electricity from a nearby power line arched over and electrocuted him. I was also at the church, so I saw Matt immediately after the accident occurred.

Nobody should ever have to witness their loved one physically torn to pieces and on the brink of death, but there I was—three months pregnant and looking at my husband ravaged by electrical burns. All around me, people warned me to stay back because the scene was too horrific to witness.

I felt like I was in the middle of a nightmare.

Surely I was going to wake up. No way was this actually happening in front of me…but it was.

We had just gotten our lives back to normal after Matt’s last accident. I couldn’t believe we were in yet another life-or-death situation that could take Matt away from me.

I forced the EMT to let me into the ambulance. I prayed the whole way as I rode to the hospital with Matt. In the emergency room, they wheeled him away as I yelled, “I love you, Matt!” I knew it was quite possible that those were the last words I’d speak to him, and it broke me to pieces.

We spent the next six hours waiting while Matt was in surgery. No one knew if he would make it or not. I felt as helpless as any one person can be. Nothing was certain, except God. I knew He was with me, our unborn baby, and Matt, no matter the outcome. I clung to the knowledge that we were all in His hands.

It seemed like an eternity, but eventually we were told Matt was still alive, though his prognosis was grim. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. The simple fact that he was alive was a miracle after what I had seen. The doctors didn’t make any promises that he would survive, and they couldn’t say what his brain capabilities would be if he did. We prayed along with thousands of others, and God miraculously interceded to keep Matt alive and to keep his mind working.

We spent the next three months at the hospital. It was the most trying time Matt and I ever have and probably ever will experience.

Burns cause severely excruciating pain; I have witnessed this truth throughout Matt’s continued on page 14

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PERSPECTIVE continued from page 13 recovery. Every day was torture for him, and though I was not feeling his exact physical pain, I felt the devastation of wishing I could change it for him.

Watching the love of your life scream and weep in pain is nothing short of horrendous. Though the circumstances were dreadful, however, somehow we both felt God’s love and care throughout. He revealed His presence to us through answered prayers for Matt’s healing, through encouraging words from others that came at the exact moment we needed them, and through the peace that He provided us.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:18–19 NIV).

Brokenhearted is exactly how I felt, and troubles certainly abounded. Yet just as this verse promised, God was close to me and kept me from being crushed by the weight of this trial. I clung to the hope that Matt was going to be delivered from every trouble he faced.

God was the only One who gave me a different viewpoint on our circumstances.

His perspective helped me stand against the emotions that could have easily swirled me into a tornado of despair. When I did allow myself to focus on the horrific realities we were facing, I found myself slipping into a very dark place of sadness.

But when I pressed into God and focused on the blessings He was bringing amidst the suffering, I was able to find hope and strength to get through that day.

God offers us an eternity with Him that is free of suffering, but never did He say that life on earth would be painless. The world we know is filled with hardship, but God comes alongside of us, lovingly cares for us in the trials, and promises that our sufferings are not forever.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV).

At first, this verse can seem offensive. It calls our troubles “light” and “momentary,” but they can sure seem more like “grave” and “prolonged.” However, when I focus on the reality that life on earth is short, I realize the perspective this verse brings. Compared to the glory of heaven, our troubles are, in fact, light.

Compared to eternity, our troubles are, in fact, momentary. God offered Matt and me a way to get through this hardship without being overtaken—He offered us a new perspective, a fresh viewpoint of hope and encouragement.

Some days are harder than others. At times, we still experience pain and sadness, but we choose to look at our pain through an eternal perspective, and that helps us conquer the despair that would otherwise cripple us. V

 Just eight months after the accident, Matt and Bobbye hold their son, Justice, on a family camping trip.  Bobbye, by Matt’s side.  Bobbye spent the second trimester of her pregnancy in the hospital with Matt.

Handse

l Reid

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Dear Matt and Bobbye, I’ve struggled to find the right words to start this letter delicately, but figured the best thing is just to be straightforward. It’s been an amazing year for you two. I know that might sound morbid, but you’ve both survived the worst the enemy could throw at you, and now you are ready to initiate God’s plan. I believe God has a plan for everyone who breathes on this earth—if He didn’t, they wouldn’t be here.

Matt, every breath you take declares that God has something big planned for you because of your amazing faith. I know we’ve not always had the relationship you desired, and I’m sorry about that. I want you to know, no matter what else happens, I will always love and respect you.

Three reasons why: One, you truly love God with all your heart. Two, you never give up, no matter what. Three, you love and treat my sister better than anyone else in this world, and that probably means the most to me. I know I don’t say it enough, but I’m glad you’re part of our family.

STANDING

On The Promises

Most of the stories you are reading here were written in hindsight—a recap of events that, with God’s help, have been survived. Throughout this issue, you can read how the faith foundation of the Manzari and Stewart families supported them in troubled times. The letter on this page from Bobbye’s brother, Steel, and the journal excerpts from their mother, Tracy, below and on the following pages, are great examples of how a firm foundation not only helps you see God’s plan after you’ve walked through a trial, but how you can see it in action in the midst of turmoil.

Bobbye, I love you. That’s a phrase people use way too often, but when I say it to you, I truly mean it. It’s a little crazy to think of all the times we really only had each other growing up. rnal wart’s Jou raham Ste G cy a I remember my joy when you let me play in your Tr om Excerpts fr home movies and monkey weddings and with es is m ro P e on th Standing your dolls…and I remember my anger when your 5, 2014 ves will be changed.

AY JUNE 2 friends didn’t treat you right. I don’t always show WEDNESDed a phone call. Many li nd “live iv these emotions for your life now, but I still feel them. h reach” a church. ig . h “ re s o I just rece rd m o the know God eard the w g trees at Sometimes, I think I put distance between us because We will all as electrocuted. I h as trimmin w tt a w M . tt ils. nd 2 p.m Today Ma of how much I care. It sounds dumb, but Bobbye, w the deta om those ened arou don’t kno ke away fr e .” It happ p ro W e b ir r. e e w h k S ic . p ch you’ve gone through so much, and when a man cares y he rode u u S rr . e m a ch help him saw too e to h S — .

He was in tt re a e like I care and can do so little to help, it makes him be with M rical. an was th Bobbye Je ack, determined to ne…waiting…hyste ht now. Matt is b lo rig r a l e s e want to run and cry. e and fe . She wa holding h begging

se ce e ambulan e what we e love Matt. We are God, front in th dequate to describ W . im h . Please r fo a in y for Matt ffering ra su p ll a to Words are e re v a a eh , and we p prayer. W hurt badly fe. Nonsto . li tt ’s a tt M a d M e God for s. We ne u m o fr him keeping don’t take d heart are it. n a s y e n 6 id ile we wa Y, JUNE 2 o far his k THURSDA it through the night. S eople come and go wh is situation, h e .P of Matt mad rgery soon e severity n. l go into su ood, considering th il were take w e e u H ss . ti p d g u n is a very rt le o is sc p l u a visu of m The re ollen. The He’s out! head. Lots a sw I still look at that day as the time when I felt the most ch ry u e v m is is so . He but there and chest helpless in my life. Matt, you are the only person I know ed to touch n his arms o y ll a ci e only allow re Esp a e .

W . in take er him who could have survived your accident the way you did, and difficult to tt, and I prayed ov tt’s feet. hen a M rough Ma d th h Matt. W e t it n it’s because your faith is so strong. se re a We vis n was wit rs e e rr y is a h ra D t p , a y p n d u a d eere his feet. M g, when we showe eye and p So yeah, I want to say I love you, and I promise—even ened one rnin p o see Matt! o m ld e e u h , th co e In en’s voic ted—we rr ra a b D le though I am scared and don’t have much to offer—I will rd ce a e ll Matt h up. We a ied to get and e Matt. always be there for you. dad. He tr ess, we se ots of love m l a u is v e wed up. L s. Deborah o th ll sh a s r d e n d ie Un of fr ith u Your brother through thick and thin, er of in here w ole group t us a platt h Matt’s wh wish Matt could be g u ro b d ater. In , Ree We Steel e evening acks and w auma laughter. th sn l In ra . e v ch n se s lu ught ave a tr brought u . Jenny bro ed up. They too h ts e g g up u n d to give ily show Chick-Fil-A She wante other fam c. nd n a a ti , e le g th p in a o n p as sym et 25 pe the eve w g e y to b s b te o u B min ith. gather. to deal w took a few a private place to It . m e th e to em. They hav our room they could lly, and bread for th so t u o ff u je r, all our st nut butte ft the pea Bobbye le ankful. were so th www.kojministries.org 15

I look at you two now, and you’re both so incredibly strong—it’s almost intimidating. I remember walking in the day of Matt’s second accident, Bobbye, and finding you in complete shambles. But you grabbed me, squeezed me tight, and between the crying repeated, “Matt will survive this.” I remember us sitting there, repeating those words with all of our will, proclaiming them to God.

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Unshakeable Faith “Dan, it’s bad. It’s bad!” My wife Tracy could hardly speak as she tried to explain what she had just heard from a broken Bobbye Jean. There was little information, just that Matt, Bobbye’s husband, was severely injured. Tracy, in no shape to drive, was waiting for her friend, Jenny, to come take her to the hospital.

I was two hours away, working in Sarasota.

(Coincidently, I was also in Sarasota when I received the call about Matt’s first accident a couple of years earlier.)

I jumped in the car and headed to the hospital. I immediately called Bobbye Jean. She couldn’t talk.

She simply wept on the phone. Desperate to get information, I became stern with her and demanded that she pull herself together and give me the details. She could not.

Just then, her pastor arrived and took the phone.

He’d been one of the first people to respond at the accident. Pastor Jeff gave me a general description of Matt’s injuries. I thanked him for taking care of Bobbye and hung up the phone.

I caught myself driving faster and faster. Knowing driving recklessly would not likely end well, I set the cruise control to the legal limit and forced myself to take a deep breath. And I prayed. I arrived at the hospital in time for the family’s meeting with the doctor. He didn’t paint a bright picture, but he did give some information that sparked hope.

The next day, Matt had his first surgery. It took longer than expected. Finally, the doctor appeared and told us he thought Matt was going to make it.

He said a lot of other things…like the possibility of infection, Matt’s arms being removed, brain damage…

None of that mattered much to Bobbye Jean.

All she heard was Matt was going to make it. She would have her husband and best friend back. They would still have a life together, some day. No one could predict what that life would look like, but from that moment on, her faith became an example for us all.

We received news that the electricity had not harmed Matt’s heart. To Bobbye, this was confirmation that if God had protected Matt’s heart despite the incredibly high voltage that had passed through his chest, then God must have a plan. He must have protected Matt for a reason. She clung to that hope, no matter what news came her way. She was steadfast in her faith.

As a father, I watched in amazement as my daughter lived out her faith at an incredible level.

This wasn’t a faith borrowed from her parents. This was Bobbye’s faith, being tested by events beyond what we could have imagined. It was a faith that she and Matt had developed in their life together as

by Dan Stewart

young adults through studying God’s Word, prayer, and fellowshipping with other believers.

When tragedy strikes, it’s difficult to drum up faith. Nor is there time to develop it. I witnessed the importance of having a storehouse of God’s promises to stand on in times of despair. Because my daughter had built her faith daily, she had a foundation on which to stand though her world had crumbled around her. Bobbye didn’t have to search for faith, nor did Matt; it was already in them both.

Bobbye’s faith carried her through the next 90 days in the hospital. It enabled her to somehow finish her college degree and graduate, as well as go through her entire second trimester of pregnancy— these concerns were all a distant second in anyone’s mind. Nothing was about Bobbye anymore; that was hard for me, as her parent, to witness. Yet this fact never fazed her. She persevered, focusing not on herself but on Matt and Christ.

It was painful to watch my daughter and sonin-law go through so many heart-wrenching trials.

But even in our sorrow, I felt unexplainable joy and gratitude for Matt’s life. I was proud, as only a father can be, as I watched my daughter and son-and-law reach for the Lord and point others to Him. V

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2 to ry , JUNE . I want raordina SATURDAYt the hospital at 6:30 a.m d Matt—called them ext eir faith. a cious in th have Bobbye an We arrived ey are tena g. She continues to plimented h T m ll. co a y d to n t A n lin e ians d se n vi th e u n Pastor ri is co o ture 2 C he needs p in them. It S ri . n sc e e n e se lo th a e b d each nde can chaplain e recomme r to replace oke to the He told he accident. H . nt e Bobbye sp ve re th ti fe f p if o ca d s t g ashback ry though att singin ve M e f o e k k haunting fl ta in th to ld Bobbye bye likes to 10:5. He to ith a good one. Bob r smile. e h s e own. k a m w ry keep him d is tubes. ves. That to a sh im bad memo h e h te a ile d also h ngs wh to medic ressings an im. What a d made-up so ive today. They have d n a s e g to h act anda us to his b te scripture Matt is very ry dangero att’s favori ve M is g t in n d e . a n m re Move r his so od for a arren is tubated. D r reading scripture ove n. She is believing G Godw He is still in e to th fa o in a is ld . I ho nto . Kelly icture— and Bobbye nvall, said Matt is here again beautiful p is tt a s d M n r ie e fr sp pro up of nd, Ly He would Matt’s gro arren’s frie eautiful. ld her that lid faith. D to d so ing to be b o o ve G g a . h e is cl o tt h a w M mira le p im ses get in o h n e s from p ur five se God told o f rd t o o u it w b ir , n p h e S it iv g . The ave fa to take in. e okay, too s this: we h hear and see is hard a y e rn d. We u jo going to b ith sed on Go hat we bed our fa . I like it. W st. We must stay focu d n u Kelly descri fo ro p pa true. So hard to see is. the way. So e have nse of; it’s th se h e g k u a ro m the Bible. W e th in it t e e k fe a m to It’s hard to to ces feet. On e are going Jesus’s many referen start at his e W s. have to if w g cu in n our fo eps mentio ow. That’s Bobbye ke feet right n ’s tt a M to full access move up. day, we will 16 www.kojministries.org

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Standing

5/4/15 9:13 AM

Asking Why A million questions; a flood of overwhelming emotions.

I was in Jamaica on business. Nancy and I had already spoken on the phone that morning.

She’d been up doing her morning devotions. She’d expressed how happy she was. We had a good life together, and everything was going well. Neither of us could have known how much our world was about to change.

The phone rang later that morning. It was my friend, Pastor Jeff. My son had been in an accident.

While this was disturbing, it wasn’t unusual. Matt was a professional athlete; he’d been in many accidents. It wasn’t until Jeff told me I needed to get home as quickly as possible that I began to realize the severity of this one.

I flew home, arriving at the hospital that evening. Matt was still unconscious; his condition was worse than I had imagined. From past experience, however, I was confident it would just be a short time until he returned home and life continued as usual.

It wasn’t until we met with Dr. Smith that I began to understand this time was different. As the doctor detailed a list of Matt’s injuries, he was clear in his statement that this was going to be a “life-altering experience” for all of us. From this point forward, life would never be the same.

by Darren Manzari Sr.

I guess that’s when I began questioning God as to why something like this could happen. Matt was a young man who had given up his career as a professional athlete to work in ministry. There he was, doing something good for the church, when this accident took place.

“How could You have allowed this to happen?”

I asked God. “Why didn’t You prevent this? Why didn’t You protect my son?” These and a million other questions raced through my mind as my son lay there, fighting for his life.

I was angry and overwhelmed with helplessness.

I’ve always been the person who fixes things, who solves the family’s problems. Well, I couldn’t fix this one. There was nothing I could do…but pray.

I was at Matt’s side when he first opened his eyes. He couldn’t talk and there was no emotion on his face, but looking into his eyes, I could clearly see that Matt was still with us. A father knows his son, and somehow that day, I was able to see Matt just by looking into his eyes. It was the first of many signs God gave me that things would be okay.

Over the next several days, Matt grew more aware of his surroundings. He progressed to the point where he could move his arm a few inches.

He seemed to be asking me where he was and what had happened, so I briefly explained why he was in the hospital. Matt communicated by

blinking his eyes in response to questions. This conversation, although very brief, was the next sign from God that let me know Matt’s mind was still intact.

We were on an emotional roller coaster at this point. We were happy to know that his mind was intact, but then Dr. Smith warned us he might have to amputate both of Matt’s arms. I was not ready to face that, and I sternly told Dr. Smith that he should do whatever was necessary to save Matt’s arms. Amputation was not an option.

Of course, not being a doctor, I had nothing to medically back up that declaration. I did, however, have a clear vision of Matt someday holding his child, and I was not ready to let go of that.

I remember sitting in the chapel, just being angry with God. How could amputation even be an option? Matt had been working as a preschool teacher; he loved getting on his knees, opening his arms, and holding those children. Where was the logic in all of this? How could any of this make sense, even to God? As I sat there crying, the chaplain came in.

We talked, and he told me that while he didn’t have all the answers, he could take me around the hospital and show me a thousand people who would quickly change places with me if they could. He showed me that I needed to be happy with each step forward, no matter how small. continued on page 19

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The Lord’s Goodness “Nancy,” my husband said. My heart dropped. The tone of his voice and the way he said my name told me something was very wrong.

“It’s Matthew; there’s been an accident.”

His voice was shaky as he told me Matthew had been electrocuted while cutting trees.

“Is he okay? Is he alive?” I asked.

I never expected Darren to say Matthew might not make it. Those words turned my knees to noodles. I couldn’t even walk as the tears flowed from my eyes.

Darren tried to soothe me. “You have to calm down and get to the hospital. I will be there as soon as I can get a plane home.” He was out of the country on business.

I grabbed my shoes and looked for my car keys, thinking to myself that this couldn’t be happening again. It had only been two years since a wakeskating accident had almost taken Matthew’s life. I felt physically ill and like I was having an outof-body experience, but somehow I managed to get into my car.

I wanted to pray, but God knows I couldn’t. I just didn’t know what to pray for. I could barely figure out how to drive and get to the hospital, much less form coherent words. Thank goodness for the navigation system in my car! I just kept begging God, pleading with Him to keep my son alive, reminding Him how young Matthew was and how much he had left to do for God. Then Psalm 27 came to mind. I began to recite it over and over again: The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?…

Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.

Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.…

For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord.

Be merciful and answer me!

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”… You have always been my helper.

by Nancy Manzari

Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! …

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

These verses gave me the strength to keep driving.

They also protected my mind as it raced wildly with anxious thoughts. Anyone who is a parent can imagine the fears that were going through my mind. I was desperate to see my baby. I needed to hold him and hug him and tell him how much I loved him.

I arrived at the hospital feeling completely sick. Not knowing where to go or how to find him just added to the helplessness I was already feeling. God, in His grace, met me in my time of need and put someone directly in my path who could lead me to Matthew.

When I arrived at the ICU, they allowed me to see Matthew. It was the scariest moment of my life. My child was almost unrecognizable. His head was so incredibly swollen and deformed, it literally looked like a giant square sitting on top of his shoulders. And the machines—they were everywhere. Tubes were running to and fro between Matthew’s body and those machines. He lay so still.

Could this be my son?

But then I saw his feet, those unmistakable feet. I smiled, and I touched them. They were his, and they were unhurt. Matt was alive. This was my first answer to prayer.

I quickly realized I had a very difficult phone call to make to Matthew’s brother, Darren Jr., who lives in Louisiana. My sons are very close. This news would surely bring much pain. Matthew and Darren Jr. had been homeschooled for most of their lives, and they

had been best friends growing up. If you saw one, you saw the other. People didn’t even know they were brothers because they didn’t fight like most siblings, and they had all of the same interests.

When Darren Jr. arrived and saw Matthew, he immediately said, “I know my brother.

He wants to hear music.” He took his phone out of his pocket and put on a song he knew Mathew would want to hear.

Matthew began blinking as if to say yes.

With those blinks, we knew Matthew was in there, somewhere, underneath all the wires and bandages.

In a situation like this, I found myself praying for everything—from Matthew waking up, to moving a finger, to recognizing someone’s voice. Praise God, with each passing day, those things slowly began to happen. We could see God’s hand of mercy and grace at work all around us.

The victories we experienced, however, were often challenged by negative reports. Our experience in the hospital was like a roller coaster ride. There were so many ups and downs! One moment we’d be celebrating Matthew overcoming a milestone, and then the very next second, we’d find ourselves on our knees in inconsolable pain. In one breath we were told Matthew was going to live, but with the very next breath, we learned it would be weeks before he was out of the woods. We’d hear Matthew’s vital organs were functioning perfectly, followed by the statement that his arms might have to be amputated.

In a moment’s notice, it seemed the world could start spinning out of control!

When the doctor told us about Matthew’s possible amputation, I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, “Take those words back!” All I could think about was Matthew and Bobbye Jean’s unborn baby.

Matthew had to be able to hold his baby. It was all I could do not to say to the doctors, “God will have the last word in this matter!” And God did. I could give so many examples of Matthew overcoming the odds— only because of the gracious hand of God. During Matthew’s recovery, I realized how important it was for me to remember to thank God for the many miracles I had witnessed since day one of the accident—for the beating heart, moving finger, blinking eye, spoken word.… So often after a prayer would be answered, I would quickly move on to praying for the next miracle. I needed to praise God for all of the things that He’d already done for Matthew’s healing. Not only am I sure this pleased God, but it also helped me remember how far we had come. And in my remembrance, my faith was strengthened so that I could face the next challenge.

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I don’t know how people who don’t know God make it through life, much less through times of tragedy. For the next three months, our lives were completely turned upside down as we basically lived at the hospital and in a small rented home next to it. The world outside meant nothing to us. Without the Lord and the many people who surrounded Matthew’s bed day and night, and those from around the world who sent cards and made phone calls, there’s no way I could have made it through this ordeal. Their kind acts, prayers, and words of encouragement brought much needed comfort, always in perfect timing. This experience made me realize how important people are to one another, and how God uses people to help us in our journey of life.

The Lord and His people helped me get through hours of waiting and heart-wrenching experiences. The most difficult times were Matthew’s twice-a-day bandage changes. With every scream, my heart was ripped apart. There are no words to describe what we saw. Even with all of today’s modern medicine and pain killers, Matt was in agony. Those scenes are forever etched in my mind as it was like watching my son be crucified. There was nothing I could do but pray. And pray I did.

Matthew would pray, too. He prayed out loud before each and every bandage change. He would pray for the people in the room, for the nurses and doctors…and then He would praise God. It was an incredible thing to witness. That, too, will be forever etched in my mind.

My son, praying for others and praising God, in the midst of his pain.

Matthew is now out of the hospital and going to physical therapy.

He still has many challenges ahead of him and faces intense pain every day, but he meets every single obstacle with a good attitude and a heart of gratitude. As a mother, I am so proud of my son and so thankful for his life. Every time I pick up the phone to call Matthew and hear his voice; every time I wrap my arms around him and give him a hug, I praise God for Psalm 27:13, for I have truly seen the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. V

WHY continued from page 17 I shouldn’t look at what Matt would be lacking; instead, I should praise God for what Matt still had, no matter what the outcome would be. Somehow these words came at just the right time, were delivered through just the right person, and were able to change my perspective.

Shortly after that, Matt began to speak again. I clearly remember one of the first things Matt said to me. He told me that even though Satan meant this for evil, God was going to use it for good.

What a stark contrast to my perspective. I was focused on why God had allowed this to happen. Matt was focused on how God would use it for good. I couldn’t comprehend how someone in his condition could have this point of view, but I was in awe of my son and his perspective on the situation.

Matt’s condition continued to improve, and he was moved from ICU to a trauma step-down unit. We saw this as being one step closer to Matt’s coming home. We did not realize we still had a very long road ahead.

The next few weeks began a series of surgeries, as well as dressing changes.

Dressing changes to a burn victim are a good picture of what torture might look like. During these twice-a-day changes that could take up to two hours each, Matt screamed in agony.

Finally, I’d found something I could do. I requested to be present during the dressing changes in an effort to comfort Matt. I would stand behind Matthew, gently holding his head while offering words of inspiration and telling him how much God loved him. Often we would play praise music during the procedure, mouthing the words between his screams. At the end of these sessions, I was emotionally broken, but I knew that I was helping my son, even if I was only there as comforter.

The weeks passed, and Matt continued to grow stronger each day. He began a ritual of opening each dressing change and each surgery in prayer with the doctors and nurses. I think what touched most of the people involved with this was that Matt was not praying for himself. He prayed for those around him. He prayed for what they would go through and for God to work in their lives and through them.

I remember when he first gained enough strength to walk. We took a few steps together into the hallway. There he ran into another patient that we, as a family, had been talking with. Matt had not yet met him. His injuries were not nearly as severe as Matt’s, yet the first thing Matt did was ask if he could pray for him. As Matt prayed for him, tears ran down the man’s face, as they did mine. Despite the condition and pain Matt was in, all he wanted to do was to bring hope and peace to others.

A little more than three months after the accident, Matt walked out of the hospital, months ahead of schedule. Matt continues to grow stronger every day, looking forward to helping other people.

Many children look to their father as their hero, but I look to my son as mine.

Through this ordeal, he continues to teach me that God has a much bigger plan for our lives than we can imagine. He illustrates that if we focus only on this life, the situations we face look big; but if we focus on eternity and our eternal lives, this is just a moment in time.

I’ve learned that I need to stop looking for the Matthew I remember and start embracing the Matthew he has become. He has become so much stronger and wiser, and he is determined to bring a message of hope and triumph to anyone who is suffering.

I continue to learn from Matt every day, and while I still do have moments of weakness where I question God, my anger toward Him has subsided. I’m looking forward to a day when I can fully thank God for this journey. I’m already seeing how many lives have been impacted by it.

If you are questioning the logic and sense of a situation in your life, pause for a moment and ask God to give you another perspective. It’s not easy; I still fail with this many days. But over time, I’m finding that other perspective more often, and I’m realizing that God does have a bigger plan than I’m seeing right now. V

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GOD Used It for Good continued from page 11

Standing

mises

on the Pro

om Tracy Excerpts fr

MOVING FORWARD There’s no sugarcoating it—every day I face excruciating pain and the harsh reality that the life I once knew is gone. While I rejoice in all the things I can still do—more than anyone ever thought possible— there’s still great loss. My once strong body is now weak. My athletic career is gone. I can’t wakeskate anymore or hang out in the sun or splash around in the lake. The risk of infection and damage to my skin is too great. Even taking a shower is torturous as the water hits my tender skin.

Only in the strength of God am I able to keep moving forward. The Bible promises that God gives us grace sufficient for each day. I trust fully in this promise. I can’t look past today and worry about tomorrow; I just have to trust that when tomorrow comes, God will meet me there and help me overcome. He has faithfully proven time and time again that when I am at my weakest, His strength will see me through.

If you are facing hurdles that seem too enormous or painful to overcome, I encourage you to take one day at a time. Sometimes, you might even have to take one hour or one minute at a time. That’s the only way I survived my recovery process. Simply changing my bandages was like stepping onto a battlefield.

Handsel Reid

urnal

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Graham St

. t every turn d’s Word a o G l. fu m ti o u fr t is so bea JULY 1 . Drawing TUESDAY, a.m. Waiting to see Matt s him completely, and tha s about him and ie 7 ve rr d Arrived at uch. She lo so touching. She wo missing an s Matt so m are ces that are ie p re y d ca o Bobbye love f him when spoken b ’t e esn ts o ourns for th aby. She do Her though Matt and m Matt to hold their b s se is m e h .S wants not herself e have laced. She erefore, w will be rep t a be whole. th to se tt o roclaim; th a p th M g e in ts w n th a ss o e w n n y. She Whole We are about vanit verything. is we pray. e th r re a Fo , . rd rd , Lo u, Lo Wholeness rd, are all we are. Yo Lo , u o Y . ce a pe u. without Yo . See Matt. ng, feeling , Jesus. rd Lo , tt strated, cryi Thank you a u ! fr g s in a k See M a w e e said h t? Matt is sp rning. She Guess wha d him and ye this mo b b be? o B ’t n h it ld e interrupte rayed u w rs o s u a w n w e o h h tt T a W .

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Handsel Reid

Standing

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WEDNES DAY, JULY Matt is 2

Excerpts

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am Stew sittin art’s Jou rnal notes in h g up! Another mil estone. B is Bible. H obbye just e wrote th 50:20–21 showed m em after was high his first a lighted: “ intended ccident. G e Matt’s You inten it for goo ene d e d to acco of many mplish w d to harm me, bu sis lives. So th h t a God t e is now be n, don’t b God will use ing done e afraid” , the savin (NIV).

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To this day—months removed from my hospital experience—I can’t walk into ORMC without crying.

It’s not because I’m angry or questioning God; it’s just that when I step back into that environment, the reality of the pain I experienced becomes so real. I still have nightmares about dressing changes.

I remember the nurses pouring gallons of saline on my skin as I slowly removed the dressings that were stuck to me like papier-mâché. I wouldn’t let anyone else do it; it was just too painful. It felt like my insides were being ripped out. After an hour of excruciating pain, I would finish one thigh, only to realize that I had another whole leg to go. No human should have to go through that kind of pain. I honestly felt like people were trying to kill me, even though I knew they were only trying to help.

Every day I was pushed beyond my limits. When I’d wake up, the nurses and doctors would give me a rundown of what was going to happen that day. It was too much to take in. I learned if I was going to survive, I would have to face each moment in the Lord’s strength. On many occasions I prayed, “Okay, God—I’m not strong enough to get through this day, much less this procedure. I need You to help me. Please help me make it through the next hour.”

I literally set goals by the hour. I still do. The thought of taking on the whole day was too hard

to bear. Instead, I would look only at what was ahead for the hour, and it seemed more possible to get through. The excruciating pain of my whole day was not something I could motivate myself to push through, but if I said to myself, “Just make it through this procedure,” I was able to make it.

My family and I lived like this for a long time. By taking each day moment by moment, we found the courage to move forward.

Did it take the pain away? No. Not even a little bit. But it gave me the courage and strength to face my pain.

As believers, we often have the misconception that we shouldn’t have to experience pain. But God doesn’t promise a pain-free life. Instead, He promises to be with us through the trials, so that we emerge from them victoriously.

Because of my faith in God, my obstacles have not overtaken me. And yours don’t have to overtake you.

VICTORY AWAITS I know real pain. I know disappointment and loss. I understand completely how it feels to have dreams shatter around me. I know how humbling it is to go from being my wife’s protector to not being able to open a water bottle without her help. But I also know victory. I know what it feels like to overcome the odds; to experience firsthand God turning something so awful completely around.

It breaks my heart when people allow their emotions or physical circumstances to overtake them.

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Standing

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SUNDAY, JULY 6 R

Excerpts

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My physical therapist sees so many people who have just given up on life. They have no interest in getting better because the pain of getting better seems too great. Ultimately, they end up stuck––stuck in bitterness, anger, hopelessness, and unforgiveness.

Their decision also impacts their loved ones. Had I given up or lashed out, so many people would have been affected negatively—especially Bobbye.

Holding my son was worth the pain of physical therapy. Sleeping next to my wife again was worth the pain. Hearing my parents’ voices and hanging out with my friends—it was all worth the pain of pushing through. Victory waits on the other side of pain.

Sometimes it’s hard to see that victory when trials are piled high around us and our binkies are lying on the floor. But it’s there, I promise you. No matter where you are, no matter what you have faced, no matter what is coming your way, there is a victorious life waiting for you. I am living proof that God can make something beautiful from the pieces of any shattered dream. He did it for me, and He’ll do the same for you. V

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I first met Matt in 2003 when he came to my parents’ wakeboard camp in Clermont, Florida, for a week of training. He and I were both about 13 years old and avid wakeboarders. Usually the people I met at our camp would just come and go, but for some reason, Matt and I became fast friends. We exchanged numbers and stayed in touch.

Matt and his family soon moved from upstate New York to Tavares, a short distance from our home.

I guess you could say we’ve pretty much hung out every day since. He’s been my best friend and training partner on the water. When he first moved here, I introduced him to my good friend, Bobbye Jean. They soon fell madly in love…and the rest is history.

Early in our friendship, Matt and I were aspiring professional wakeboarders. Living at a wakeboard camp, I was basically born into it, and Matt had been working at it for several years. Then, and I am not sure why, we both lost interest in wakeboarding. It just wasn’t fun anymore. Wakeskating, on the other hand, was nothing but fun! Switching sports was an easy choice for us. We hung up our straps and started wakeskating every chance we got.

Soon we were riding on the pro tour with the best wakeskaters in the world. All those guys we had watched in videos and tried to emulate on the water, we were now going against in heats at the tour. It was intimidating at first, but it brought about some great memories.

Matt was incredible on the water. He was so original, always creating new tricks, doing things no one else had done before. Before long, he was setting trends for the rest of us. Wakeskating began to grow and soon launched its own tour. It was at the first stop on the 2012 Wake Skate Toe Jam Tour, that Matt suffered a horrible injury.

Matt was in his senior year in college in Tennessee, preparing to take his final exams. He wasn’t planning to compete in this particular stop; he was focusing on his studies. Knowing how awesome he was at wakeskating, though, I encouraged him to fly down to Orlando, compete, and then fly back to take his exams. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

He’d be able to take his exams and still accumulate points on tour, keeping himself in good standing on the tour’s rankings list.

I’ll never forget watching as Matt cut

by Reed Hansen

in for his last trick. He soared high through the air— and then crashed into the rock-covered shoreline at over 30 mph. I jumped in my truck and sped over to where Matt was lying. One look at him, and I knew it was bad. He was unconscious; his face smashed in. Even his eye socket had collapsed. I just held him, certain he was going to die in my arms.

I had encouraged Matt to ride. His parents had urged him to stay back in Tennessee, but I had selfishly persuaded him to compete. And now this. I felt so guilty.

I followed helplessly as they drove Matt and Bobbye away in the ambulance. We soon learned that Matt was going to make it. It was a miracle that he was alive, but he had a long road of recovery ahead of him. At the time, this event seemed so incredibly trying. Looking back, however, that experience was nothing compared to what was about to come.

In June 2014, Matt was electrocuted. In that moment and in the months following, we all discovered new levels of pain we never knew existed.

For me, the hardest part of Matt’s accident was how lonely I felt. For years, Matt had been my training and traveling partner. He had also been the biggest spiritual influence in my life. He was the one who helped me stand strong in my faith, especially on a tour where the Christian lifestyle is rare. Now, Matt was gone, and I was alone. It was hard. It’s still hard.

On tour, I had to learn to look to God to keep me strong spiritually, where perhaps before I would have looked to Matt. Now when I’m laughed at and mocked for my faith, I have to find God’s strength within me. I have to admit, I still text Matt for encouragement!

It’s so easy to be inspired by Matt. I mean, the first words that come out of this guy’s mouth when he wakes up from tragedy is, “Praise God, I’m alive.” No matter how bad it is, Matt’s faith stays strong. And that helps me stand strong.

It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that my biggest struggle in life is landing a new trick on my wakeskate, while my best friend struggles to sleep, eat, or even open a water bottle. Knowing this keeps me humble and reminds me to thank God for everything, big and small. Before this accident, I took so many things for granted.

Although Matt’s situation is hard for many, we are all closer to God because of it. We see Him at work all around us. Knowing God is in the midst of our lives keeps me strong and determined to continue to ride for Him—and for Matt. V

Whether they are standing on a dock at a pro event, attending a friend’s wedding, or just goofing off, Reed and Matt are always at each other’s side.

Garret Cortese / alliancewake.com

Riding Strong

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A LIGHT For My PATH

Garret Cortese / alliancewake.com

by Kristi Overton Johnson

Life can be overwhelming. Whether we’re in the middle of a life-altering experience like Matt and his family or simply facing the day-to-day responsibilities of life, cares can pile up in our hearts and minds that make moving forward difficult.

To keep my feet moving forward in victory, I have had to learn the discipline of taking my concerns to God. I do this every morning as I take my dog, Mater, for his walk. As we walk along, I lay my various concerns and needs before the Lord while I pump my arms and lengthen my stride. Recently, I found myself with so many things on my mind and so many activities on my plate that I knew, if I wasn’t careful, they would weigh me down and take my focus off what’s truly important. To avoid that pitfall of anxiety, I began to tell the Lord what was on my heart. Just as Philippians 4:6–8 instructs, I laid my requests before Him. Lost in my thoughts and prayers, I was surprised when the floodlights of a nearby house suddenly clicked on. Evidently, I was walking close enough to the house to trigger the light’s sensor. I couldn’t help but notice that my once dark path was now bright, and I could see things that had been hidden only moments before.

Immediately, I sensed the Lord saying to my heart: “Just as those floodlights clicked on to light your path, I too will light your path. I will give you the answers you need. Walk close to Me, trust Me, and I will show you the way to go. I will reveal things that were once hidden. I will make them known.”

These words gave me wonderful assurance and provided a great reminder of something I have known for years but often forget in the craziness

of life. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and to become so narrowly focused on seeking the answers to my issues that I forget to seek the true Answer—Jesus.

I realized something else interesting about that floodlight. As I passed closely by the house, the light switched on without my doing a thing. It was the automatic function of that floodlight. What an amazing phenomenon—get close to the sensor, and voilà, there’s light! Suddenly the darkness is banished.

Likewise, as we walk in close fellowship with the Lord, answers automatically light up around us.

What was once hidden and seemed impossible to find becomes clear. And guess what? Just like the floodlight, we don’t have to do anything to activate that illumination. We only have to be in close proximity to the source of light—God. Life isn’t about seeking answers to our problems.

It’s about seeking God through a relationship with His Son, Jesus. As we seek Him, we find Him. This is important because Jesus is the Light; He is the Truth; He is the Way. He is the One who lights up our path.

The One who gives us a clear, truthful view and then reveals the way to go.

Although finding life’s answers may seem difficult at times, it’s really quite simple: if we get into God’s presence, we’ll find all we need. Sometimes Christians feel that God plays some kind of hide and seek game with us, where He hides the answers and we seek for what seems an eternity to find them.

That’s a false view of God. God doesn’t hide answers from us. Quite the opposite. He is always willing to give us direction and to reveal His heart in a matter. In fact, He longs

Walk close to Me, trust Me, and I will show you the way to go. I will reveal things that were once hidden. I will make them known.

for this type of fellowship with us. He’s just waiting for us to come close. When we do, He will click on His floodlight through the working of His Holy Spirit and reveal everything we need to know at that moment.

Within days of my floodlight encounter, I found many of the answers I’d been seeking. Incredibly, I didn’t have to do anything to find them. Not a single thing. Instead, I focused on staying close to the Lord through praise and prayer and reading His Word.

Then, all of sudden, there they were—beautiful answers straight from heaven, given in His perfect timing. V Kristi Overton Johnson, former world champion water-skier, is the founder of In His Wakes Ministry, KOJ Ministries, and publisher of Victorious Living magazine. She resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.

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Nate Miller is the director of In His Wakes. He lives in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Ivy. If you are interested in learning more about In His Wakes, visit www.inhiswakes.com.

by Nate Miller

“God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power.”

2 Timothy 1:7

Oftentimes I have asked the Lord to give me all He has for me. I am increasingly aware, however, that I may not fully understand what I’m asking.

Do I really want all the Lord has for me? All of His power? Do I even understand what that means and how it could radically change my life? If God gave me all, could I handle it? Am I willing to take the risk?

I was considering this question recently, when the Lord reminded me of a surfing experience I’d once had. God knew He could get my attention through this extreme sport, and He brought to light a lesson in terms I could understand.

As a young adult, I led an interesting lifestyle.

I switched back and forth several times between attending college and living the life of a surf and ski bum in Southern California. I am part of an elite group with bragging rights of snow skiing, water skiing, and surfing, all in one 24-hour period. (I use the term “elite” very loosely.) This lifestyle is why it took me eight years to finish four years of college!

One morning I heard that a large swell was approaching the shore at a favorite surfing spot.

Without delay, I grabbed my board and made my way to the beach. As I arrived, I could hear the roar of huge waves off in the distance. Although I couldn’t see the waves yet, there was no question this experience was going to be incredible. After a quarter-mile walk to the beach, my expectations were confirmed.

I stood on the sand and surveyed the area, taking note of the wide range of people groups present that morning. There were those who were completely satisfied with sitting on the shore, 24

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sunning themselves, and watching the action from a distance. There were some who had waded out into the water, venturing a small distance from shore.

They stayed close enough, however, to keep their feet securely on the ground. Others had paddled their boards out into the water and were catching a few small waves.

And then there was the final group—the one I wanted to be a part of. These maniacs had thrown caution to the wind and headed out into the deep where the waves swelled. For this group, it was all or nothing. They were willing to take risks to experience all they could, doing the very thing they loved.

When I entered the water, I would have some decisions to make. How much of those waves did I want? How deep was I willing to go? How much risk was I willing to take?

My answer, I thought to myself, was to go big, but not go all big. I know that sounds weird, but here’s what I meant. I wanted to experience the power of those waves, but I still wanted to remain in control.

I guess you could say I wanted to stay…well…safe.

Going all big would require me to give it all up and step into a realm of the unknown.

I grabbed my board and propelled myself toward the waves. It wasn’t long before I found myself in a precarious position. It was quite obvious that putting myself in the midst of the big waves had brought risk. That control I’d hoped to maintain?

Well, it was gone with the first wave!

Waves come in sets, and each wave in a set varies in size, power, and frequency. While surfing a large surf, the one thing a person doesn’t want to do is get “caught inside.” Being caught inside means that the surfer finds himself within a wave set where subsequent waves, often much larger than the previous waves, can break on top of him.

Now don’t think for one minute that water is soft and painless. Those huge waves contain such power and force that they have the potential to break not only the surfer’s board, but the surfer as well. Not to mention, they can take him straight to the bottom of the ocean!

Although I’d tried hard not to go all big, I found myself facing a wave set no doubt full of risk.

Knowing those waves had the potential to crush me, I began to paddle to deeper water as fast as I could, so that the waves wouldn’t break on the surf and on top of me.

With arms on fire, I punched through the crest of a wave just as it broke over top of me. I wiped the water from my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, only to face a second, larger wave. I cleared it— barely—only to be swallowed up by a third wave.

I bounced off the bottom of the ocean a few times, and I remember feeling a bit lonely. There weren’t many people around me. Either they had been taken out by the previous waves and were headed back to shore, totally defeated by a wave monster, or they had positioned themselves perfectly and ridden the powerful wave.

My loneliness was quickly interrupted as I stared into the largest wave I had ever seen. I had to make a quick decision. Should I ride this incredible wave and work with the amazing power in it? Or should I play it safe and let it roll right under me? After it broke, I could paddle closer to shore and ride some safer, smaller waves; waves with less power and fewer risks.

Well, for me, the choice was a no-brainer. It was time to go big, to throw caution to the wind.

I paddled as hard as I could and jumped to my feet.

Suddenly, I was up—riding the largest wave of my life. My heart pounded hard within my chest as I experienced the exhilaration of flowing with that much power. Being able to maneuver within that power was amazing, like a supernatural experience.

I could hear the whistles and hoots from all the other groups—the small-wave riders, the wave jumpers, and even the beach dwellers. It was incredible.

As God reminded me of this experience, He showed me that a wide range of groups exist in the Christian community too. Some are content to stay on the beach. They watch from a distance, unwilling to get wet. They are comfortable and quite often the very group that sits judging and criticizing those who are tossing about in the water. Unfortunately, the body of Christ is filled with people on the beach.

The beach is a very crowded place.

Then there are those who have stepped out into the water, but they have stopped just a few feet from shore. They’re wet, but they have kept their feet securely rooted in the sand to ensure they won’t look foolish being knocked over by a wave.

Some of the church ventures out a bit further than that previous group. They realize there is more to experience, and they begin to test the waters and ride some waves. But they don’t go out far enough to risk losing control. They fear what might happen if they move past what they can see with their natural eyes and understand with their natural minds. continued on page 26 www.kojministries.org

5/4/15 9:14 AM

A Champion in His Eyes

Briana Kuykendall loves Jesus and sharing what God has done in her life. She is currently serving the Lord through prison ministry. Briana lives in Texas and will be attending university in the fall.

by Briana Kuykendall

Thank you, In His Wakes, for helping to expose something that I had buried deep inside my heart.

While a resident at Mercy Ministries, a faith-based residential program for women with life-controlling issues, I was privileged to attend one of your A Day to Remember events. My experience with your ministry was life changing. The way you merged sports and the gospel brought tremendous healing to this former athlete.

I come from a loving, Christian family. I grew up in church, sincerely loved God, and wanted to serve Him with my life. Unfortunately I never truly believed that my identity, value, and self-worth were found in Christ alone. As a result, I looked everywhere else for fulfillment. I did not understand that my value was separate from what I did or what people thought of me.

As a child, I was the subject of severe bullying and peer rejection. Eventually I began to falsely believe that if I could be perfect, then I would never be rejected again. My desire for acceptance and approval from others launched me deep into a chase for the perfect image. By the age of nine, I had developed an eating disorder. This pursuit of perfection would leave me drained and burned out within a decade, for it was the equivalent of chasing a mirage in the desert.

Desperate for acceptance and identity, I began running cross country and track in middle school. By high school, I lived, breathed, ate, and slept running.

My life revolved around cross country and track. My identity and sense of value and worth were based in my performance and my body image. The problem with building self-image on these things is that they are unstable. The Bible says to build a foundation upon the solid rock who is Jesus, because He is unchanging. Everything else in this world is shifting, sinking sand.

Image and performance remained my foundation in college where I ran NCAA cross country on a scholarship. Before long, my years of an exercise and eating disorder caught up to me. I suffered an injury, and my health began to fail. I could no longer run. With my foundation ripped out from under me,

my life spiraled out of control. My eating disorder became unmanageable. I was forced to leave school. After another year of deep struggle, I came to the realization that the road I was on would lead only to death if I didn’t get help. I reached out of the pit of despair that I was in and found Mercy Ministries.

I arrived at Mercy believing I could never be an athlete again. The pain that brought made me cynical and hateful toward all sports in general. I alleviated my pain by deducing that competing athletically was selfish, worthless, and purposeless, because it did not further the kingdom of God. After two months at Mercy, I attended A Day to Remember. That day, through your program, the Lord used a simple medal to dig up all that I had tried so hard to bury.

At the end of the event, each participant was called up to receive a medal that read “Champion in His Eyes” on one side and Jeremiah 29:11 on the other. As I received mine, I began to weep. I was no stranger to having medals placed around my neck, but this was different. This medal broke through to a place that nothing else had.

The words “Champion in His Eyes” spoke to my heart the truth of who I am. The truth that— regardless whether I win or lose or compete at all; whether the world considers me a champion or calls me a failure—my God sees me at my worst and calls me a champion. And that’s not because of anything I have done, but because of the love and grace that Jesus Christ lavished on me when He died in my place.

Jeremiah 29:11 promised that something beautiful could come out of the mess that I made of my life. This medal began a revealing of the recesses of my heart and soul, and a recovering of lost hopes and dreams that took months to wade through with God and the Mercy Ministries staff. The program at Mercy allots time for fitness and exercise, and I’ve been able to work out my fears and anxieties with hands-on activities. This has brought remarkable healing to my life.

I now see athletic abilities as meaningful, purposeful gifts bestowed by God that can indeed be used to further the kingdom of God. In high school, people urged me to glorify God in my running. I never quite understood what that meant, even though I desired to do it. One day, the Lord helped me understand through this revelation: “You can’t glorify God with something you have made your god.”

I realized that in my pursuit to be a dedicated, driven, and goal-oriented athlete, I had put my athletics before my God. I served my sport with everything I had; there was very little left over for God. Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I could not love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, or strength, because I loved running and the recognition it won me more than I loved Him. I loved the praise of other people. Running did not serve me; I served it. In effect, I could not bring glory to Him with something that I was using to bring glory to myself.

Your program has shown me that an athlete can love God first, and still use sports as a platform to share the love of Christ. The In His Wakes staff and volunteers, Kristi Overton Johnson, and all the athletes who were in and a part of The Purpose Film have shown me what it means to be an athlete for the glory of God. I now see my love for running as a gift that will provide me with a platform where I can talk about the hope, healing, and freedom found in Christ. I look forward to running again collegiately.

I’ve graduated from Mercy Ministries. My life now is built securely on the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ, and I plan to take back everything that the devil has stolen. I never thought that I could run again in a healthy way. Many secular psychiatrists and psychologists told me that my days of competing were over. I am eager to go back to this sport riddled with eating and exercise disorders to tell the world that it is possible to be healed and freed by Christ. Thank you, In His Wakes, for the part you played in helping rebuild my shattered life. V

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It’s a Jungle Out There

by Linda Cubbedge

It’s a jungle out there. Yes, sometimes as we go through life, that’s exactly how it seems. Life can be so full of disorder and chaos, that it’s hard to imagine there’s anyone in control, much less anyone who cares.

Well, friend, let me assure you that there is Someone who is in control; Someone who cares about everything in your life––and His name is Jesus. Jesus is ready to bring order to your disorder and sense to your confusion. He is ready to lead you through the jungle and into a place of peace, power, and provision.

I heard a story of a man who was deep in the jungle on an African safari. The guide had a machete and was whacking away at the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, weary and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you even know where you’re taking us? Do you even know where the path is located?”

The seasoned guide stopped, looked back at the man, and replied, “I am the path.”

This was the guide’s way of saying, “Stay close to me. I know the way, and I am creating a path for you through this jungle.” In the Bible, Jesus Christ boldly proclaims a similar thing when He says: “I am the Way” (John 14:6).

So many times like this traveler, we feel as though we’re trapped in a jungle. We’re desperate to find a path—any path—just some way out of our current situation.

“I am the Way,” Jesus reminds us. “Stay close to Me and focus on Me; I will lead you through whatever jungle you are in.”

None of us knows what tomorrow holds. But you know what? That’s okay. We don’t need to know all the answers when we’re close to our Guide. We only need to follow Him and stay focused on Him. As we do, He will whack away at the thick underbrush that has entangled our feet and strangled our hope and vision. With each step in His presence, we will find ourselves in a place of peace and rest—even while we are still in the jungle. We will find clarity of mind and direction and protection, too.

We have an enemy whose main goal, on a daily

basis, is to destroy us. His name is Satan, and he is real. He lurks like a jungle beast, waiting to attack our bodies and our minds. He does everything in his power to rob us of hope. But Jesus, the Prince of Peace, knows very well the tactics of Satan, the Prince of Darkness. When we stay close to Jesus, Satan is unable to destroy us.

Throughout history, many have fallen prey to Satan’s tactics and have given up on life.

Even Christians—children of God, people worth everything to Him, people who actually have God living on the inside of them—have lost hope. How? Because they lost sight of their Guide and allowed the uncertainty of their jungle to overtake them.

Satan uses our circumstances to convince us there is no way out, and therefore, we have no hope.

He tempts us to question God’s love and convinces us to find our own way. Satan doesn’t want us to follow Jesus. He wants us to wander around the jungle, overwhelmed, lost, confused, angry, and completely hopeless.

Do any of these words describe you? Have you lost your way? Have your circumstances blocked your view of the One who can lead you through?

Has life become one big routine? Then come to the Way. Come to the One who is able to lift you up and move you forward to victory. V Linda Cubbedge is the director of KOJM’s Prison Correspondence Outreach. She is passionate about the Lord and leading others to Him. Linda has four children, nine grandchildren, and one great grandson.

continued from page 24 Finally, there are those who are ready to risk it all. They desire all of God and are willing to go deep so they can go big with Him…no matter what the cost. Being comfortable or in control is no longer on their priority list. They don’t care anymore how they might look or whether they might fall. Their only concern is being in the midst of the power of God so they can experience everything He has to offer them.

It’s less crowded out there. Moving out into the deep takes more risk and trust than many are willing to give.

Being involved with In His Wakes water sports ministry has given me many opportunities to go deep and big with God. Since my very first event in 2007, God has extended many invitations for me to trust Him and move beyond my comfort zone so that I can experience the power of His Holy Spirit working in me, through me, and around me.

On many occasions, I have accepted God’s 26

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invitation and moved away from the safety of the shore. In that place of total trust, I have been swept away by His power and overwhelmed by His grace. I’ve ridden waves of glory I never dreamed of. Nothing compares, not even surfing that massive wave.

Yet there have been times when I played it safe.

I look back now with disappointment, knowing that my decision to stay on the shore brought with it a cost. How much of God did I miss out on because I was unwilling to move out into the unknown? How did my decision affect others?

God is calling us out into the deep. He beckons us to come. Will we accept His call?

We don’t have to be afraid of the deep. God’s Holy Spirit is there, ready to empower, teach, guide, and equip us with all we need. The Lord will never leave us helpless, defenseless, or unprepared. He has already given us all that we need. The question is, how much do we want? V

www.inhiswakes.com

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5/4/15 9:29 AM

Victorious Living Is Saving Lives!

Dear Mrs. Johnson, Thank you for responding to my cry for help. For so long, my cries have been unheard. Your response to my letter brought joy and peace like I have not felt in a long time. It also brought inspiration and reminded me that God loves me and even though I’m in prison, I have not left the palm of His hand or the safety of His wings.

They say that God is always on time; well, I believe that is true. The night I wrote my first letter to you, I was planning to end my life. I have lived in such darkness and despair for so long, I thought there was no escape. I felt as though I was struggling just to keep my head above water as anger, bitterness, and sadness tried to drown me.

Because of my situation, I felt that God had left me to my own devices and self-destruction. I no longer felt worthy of His calling and purpose.

I began to believe the lies that Satan had woven deep into my mind. I believed that I was nothing; mere trash to be disposed of. I remember someone telling me once that God doesn’t make trash, but I couldn’t believe them. If I was anything more than trash, then why was I continually discarded by those I thought loved me?

With every hurt and pain, I could feel my heart turning to stone. I was at the point where even the great Creator of this universe could not chisel through the hardness—or so I thought.

It’s funny that you mentioned my writing skills in your letter. As a teen, I always had a pencil and pad of paper in my hands. Writing was a place of refuge. With my words, I had the power to create and destroy. My pain and suffering was fuel for my writing, but everything I wrote about was the exact opposite of who I was becoming and what my life had come to be. I wrote about love and hope, but they didn’t exist in my world. I was writing lies.

Satan told me time after time that the things I wrote about could never be attained. He killed my dreams of becoming a writer.

He killed all my dreams. It was like he was laying claim to me, waiting around every corner. For a while, I resisted; then I began to believe his lies.

He told me God didn’t love me or care whether I lived or died; he told me God didn’t care about the abuse I’d encountered. With time, I began to hate God. Interesting that I began to hate the only One who could actually understand what I was going through.

Eventually I became so hardhearted that I couldn’t hear or see God anymore. My life headed straight down a path of destruction, culminating in a forty-year prison sentence. Finding myself in this place felt like Satan had won. I had been cast away to the ends of the earth.

I was lost in this dark sea of despair when I wrote to you. I cried, even as I prepared to take my own life. And then, of all things I could possibly think about before killing myself, I thought of your magazine, Victorious Living (“Just One,” Issue 3, 2014). I had recently changed cells and found it in my locker there. I suddenly remembered the story of the little boy saving the starfish stranded on the beach. I thought about that boy’s determination to save the starfish, and God reminded me of His love and how He would do anything to save me. At that moment, I didn’t want to live in darkness anymore. I surrendered my life to God. Thank you for reminding me that God has a purpose for me. Your letter gave me so much peace and ignited a small glimmer of hope. It also inspired me to write this poem, “The Nature of His Love.” It reflects the beauty of God and all that He created.

It reminds me that God doesn’t make trash. I hope you like it and pray that it will bring peace to many.

Sincerely, Isaiah C. Cain

FROM OUR READERS

The Nature of His Love

by Isaiah Cassius Cain The breeze blows, causing the trees to sway in an entrancing dance.

Roses in bloom release their aromatic scent, filling the air with their sweetness.

As the sun shines, lizards lie upon rocks, basking in the sun’s warming heat.

Butterflies of many intricate patterns take flight, landing upon daffodils the color of rich wheat.

Lily pads in a nearby pond float downstream, while frogs perched upon them croak their soulful songs.

And in the vast evergreen fields, One sits, His countenance that of the brightest sun.

Children gather around Him, listening to His stories of love for mankind and creation.

His laugh is a deep baritone, the sound of many rushing waters. And His eyes are filled with laughter.

On His hands and feet, He bears the holes of His sacrifice as a reminder of His love.

Such pain and suffering His feet have trod, giving eternal life to us all.

Be still and know that I am God. V

poem and illustration by Lester Alevedo-Cruz How often the storms of unrest rage all about us on the sea of life.

You can be that lighthouse To the neighbor across the way.

Causing waves of doubt to o’ertake us til we sink in turmoil and strife.

Become a friend with deeds of love; let them know for each you pray.

The darkness swirls around as we cry out in the storm,

Keep the beacon ever shining every day of every year;

“Where is the lighthouse to show the way from a life all battered and torn?”

A light for those who seek safe harbor…

In God’s port, no more need fear.

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5/4/15 9:14 AM

by Kristi Overton Johnson

“Hit it!”

At the age of four, I made the choice to yell these two powerful words to a boat driver. At my command the throttle was engaged, and my little frame rose up out of the water of the Pamlico River in Bath, North Carolina. From that very first experience, I was hooked, and “Hit it!” became my phrase of choice for the next 30 years. Because of my commitment to say these words even when I didn’t feel like it, I became a world champion water-skier.

For years I have had the privilege of sharing the message of “Hit it!” to thousands. It’s the powerful truth that falls are not a hindrance to victory; rather, what we do in the midst of the fall can determine how far we will go in life. Every day we have two choices: we can say “hit it” and try again, or we can stay in the water and give up.

I was sharing this message with inmates in a Florida prison recently when I suddenly remembered a scene from my childhood that adds yet another powerful truth to the message of “hit it.” There I was, about 13 years old, in the waters of Lake Kristi. My father had invited friends from our church to come out and watch me practice. I remember looking up at all those people on the deck of our lake house and hoping it didn’t fall into the water.

Nervousness zipped through my veins as the onlookers cheered. Nonetheless, I looked at the boat driver and said, “Hit it!” as I had done a thousand times before. But just when I should have popped up out of the water, something began to pull me back in. To my horror, I fell.

The crowd cheered me on. “You can do it!” they said in unison.

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my determination to “hit it!” and my desire to get up—I simply couldn’t do it.

The same is true in life. We can be ever so committed to say “hit it” to God. We can desire more than anything to live a victorious life. But if we are weighted down, we aren’t going to get very far into our course.

This issue of Victorious Living is full of stories from people who were greatly impacted by Matt Manzari’s accident, including Matt’s own account.

Given their circumstances, they could have easily been overtaken by anger, bitterness, and despair.

But they weren’t.

Why? Because they were willing to open their hearts to God and allow the excess weights of anger, fear, doubt, confusion, guilt, bitterness, selfpity, and pride to flow out from their lives. That gave them freedom to move forward in life despite their uncertainties and pain.

Hebrews 12:1–3 says to “strip off every weight that slows us down,” so that we can run the race God has set before us. That’s our key to victory; the key to moving forward in life. Negative thoughts and emotions, unhealthy habits and choices, and even certain people can weigh us down and prevent our victory.

What has you burdened and weighted down today? What are you holding onto that is keeping you from victory? Are you angry, bitter, or jealous?

How about fearful, guilt-ridden, or ashamed? How are your relationships? It’s time to grab the bottom of your wetsuit and let the water flow. It’s time to lose the weight and become free! V

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I wanted to sink under the water at the sound of their voices. I was so humiliated. Here I was, a professional water-skier, unable to get up out of the water.

The boat came back to get me, and despite my embarrassing failure, I determined to say “hit it!” once again. The boat took off, and there it was again, an incredible force pulling me back into the water.

“Oh no, not again!” I thought.

With everything I had in me, I held onto the handle and managed to rise up out of the water.

Once I regained my composure, I realized what had happened. Because I was wearing a short-length wetsuit that was too big for my frame, water had been able to shoot into my thigh area and fill my wetsuit with pounds of water. This had created such a force of drag that it had pulled me right back into the lake. As I looked behind me, my once thin rearend was now jiggling with a load of water. It wasn’t a pretty sight!

Knowing there was no way I would be able to successfully run the course with all that water sloshing about, I quickly grabbed hold of the bottom of my wetsuit and pulled it away from my skin.

Water began to flow down my leg. I was free! With the burden gone, I was now able to perform to the best of my ability.

I shared that scene with the inmates, pointing out the fresh insight I had just gained. Even I, a determined, accomplished water-ski champion couldn’t get out of the water carrying the extra burden of water weight. Despite my awesome and cutting-edge equipment, despite how powerful my boat, despite my knowledge and expertise, despite

Be

is a true, exciting, detailed story of the rise, fall, and resurrection of a real sports champion…

Kristi Overton Johnson.

Get ready to be challenged, encouraged, and motivated!

Purchase your copy at kojministries.org for $12.00 plus shipping and handling or visit amazon.com

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5/4/15 9:14 AM

The Importance of Family

by Darren A. Manzari Jr.

Action sports played a huge role in our lives. My brother Matthew and I lived and breathed wakeboarding, skateboarding, and snowboarding. A lot of our passion came from the support we received on the home front. Our father made sure we had the best equipment and locations to thrive in our sports. He even took a year off to travel on tour with Matt when he was young. Dad gave his everything to fuel our passions.

On the other side of the equation was our mother. She gave us her life. Every day after teaching us at home, she would load us up and take us to the skate park where she would watch us crash like rag dolls into the concrete.

When we weren’t risking our lives on boards, we were jumping off the roof or looking for gators in the lake. Poor Mom never had a second of peace. We were reckless, at best, but what both of our parents gave us was unconditional support and love. They gave us the confidence to take on the world and the strength to get through anything.

Our strong family ties have kept us going all through our trials. When I heard Matt had been electrocuted, I felt helpless living so far away. But I found comfort in knowing my parents were giving their everything to care for him, just as they had given their everything to fuel our passion for action sports. When I did come home, I found my parents living at the hospital. My mother would not leave Matt’s side, day or night. She said the only way she was leaving the hospital was with Matthew. Through their love for Matt, they showed me the true meaning of family.

We had to be strong for each other so that we could be the best support system for Matt. We may not know why bad things happen, but I do know that for us, it brought our family together. Today we stand strong and are, in fact, blessed—blessed to have a complete and amazing family. V

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5/4/15 9:14 AM

MINISTRY UPDATE Update from Linda Cubbedge, Prison Correspondence Director

The Story Behind Victorious Living…

Piercing the Hearts of Captives For 18 years, I was a world champion waterskier and world record holder, but who could have imagined the plan God was orchestrating for my life?

God had given me an international platform, and I knew I had a responsibility to use my talents for His glory and to share His love.

It only seemed natural to launch out into the deep with God and start a water-sports ministry called In His Wakes. The mission of IHW is to introduce people to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ through water sports. Since 2003, IHW has touched the lives of thousands of at-risk youth. You can learn more about this exciting nonprofit organization and how you can become a partner at www.inhiswakes.com.

You can also hear from the heart of the IHW Director, Nate Miller, on page 24.

And then, in August 2013, God opened new doors for me to walk through—the doors of a prison. Going to prison was most certainly not on my agenda; in fact, it wasn’t even on my radar. God, however, had other plans, and He used a former professional boat driver who is doing time in the Miami Federal Prison to draw me into a world that would soon rock my own.

During a visit with my friend, Bill Doyle, God began to reveal to me His heart for the incarcerated. In that revelation, He broke me. He opened my eyes to see what He sees and tenderized my heart to feel what He feels.

To God, the men in that prison weren’t murderers, rapist, thieves, sexual offenders, abusers, or drug dealers. They were people. They were fathers and sons and husbands. They were people with great talents who once had great dreams but had lost their way. They were more than mere numbers in bland jumpsuits—they were lives worth the very life of the King. And more than anything, God wanted to redeem their lives and use them for His glory.

When I left, I wept. “Okay, God, I see. Now what do You want me do?”

He began to answer this prayer. Within months, unsought invitations began arriving for me to speak as a platform guest with top national prison ministries.

Behind the wire, I received the warmest welcome

from inmates whose hearts were obviously tender and ready to receive God’s message of love and hope.

Then, the heads of the chaplaincy department of the Florida Correctional System requested copies of this magazine, Victorious Living, to be distributed within every Florida prison.

The distribution of Victorious Living into the prison system almost immediately spawned a flood of letters, which led to the development of our prison correspondence ministry headed by Linda Cubbedge.

(See her story here and on page 26.) This ministry is currently discipling hundreds of inmates through personal letters from our writing team, monthly devotionals, and this quarterly publication. Every day we receive powerful testimonies of how God is using Victorious Living to literally save and transform lives. Many inmates are fasting and praying, and even financially supporting this outreach!

The mission of Victorious Living is to pierce the hearts of captives in every prison in America. With your partnership, this goal is possible. And you know what is interesting? A little Victorious Living goes a long way! We estimate the readership of the magazine to be between seven and ten inmates per issue. This issue alone has the potential to reach over 100,000 inmates.

Will you help us extend our reach? Your donation of $20 or more will enable us to send an inmate on our list a personal subscription to Victorious Living for one year. As a gift, you will receive your own subscription as well. Furthermore, your donation will help us send extra copies to the chaplaincy department to be distributed to inmates in solitary confinement.

Lives will be changed! The prison system is fertile ground for God’s love to take root and transform minds. I’m so very honored to be a part of what God is doing. Consider partnering with us today and help an inmate find Victorious Living.

Thank you!

The Lord has provided three more godly individuals to join our Prison Correspondence Outreach Team. We now have 10 faithful members writing on a weekly basis. In just this month alone, they have responded to over 200 letters!

Our team receives so much encouragement from the inmates’ letters. Many have a strong faith in Jesus Christ, and they love sharing what He has done for them. Many are praying, and some even fast for us!

The top prayer request of the inmates is for salvation, healing, and provision for their family members. Some ask for prayer on behalf of other inmates who are struggling with depression or anger. I am amazed at the tender hearts many have for their fellow prisoners and correctional officers.

We as a team are very excited about what the Spirit of God is doing behind prison walls and in our hearts as well. Please pray for our writing ministry. We are averaging about 10 new inmates a week. Upon receipt of their letters, we reply with a welcome letter from Kristi, an inspiring bookmark, and Kristi’s most recent monthly devotion. Their names are then given to our correspondence team, who diligently prays for the inmates and responds to their letters under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Currently, nearly 400 inmates are being discipled on a consistent basis. And this number is growing daily! V

Kristi (center) meets with the Florida KOJM Prison Correspondence Team. Thank you, ladies, for your faithful service to the Lord and His people. Thank you also to our Georgia Prison Correspondence Team. Please pray for our writers and for the inmates to whom they write.

Kristi Overton Johnson

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Thank you to the following organizations who faithfully support Victorious Living with annual gifts in excess of $500.

When asked why they give, they respond, “Because we care!”

They care about people, and they desire to help many discover true victory.

WHY

I CARE

CWB, the wakeboard division of Connelly Skis, is pleased to support this issue of Victorious Living and Matt Manzari. Matt joined CWB in 2009, and rode for us for four years. His pro model skate, the Onset, was designed with his expertise. Watching him ride a skate left me awestruck!

Matt, it took meeting you once to realize your genuineness. You are an incredible person and athlete.

We appreciate all you did for CWB and are proud that you are associated with our company. We are grateful for the opportunity to support you in your efforts.

Jay Quam, VP Sales and Marketing

There is room for your name on this list!

Thank you, as well, to the individuals and foundations who have supported this outreach.

American Solutions for Business cstallings@americanbus.com Captain’s Party Rentals captainspartyrentals.com Clean Cut Lawns danielmelton.cleancut@yahoo.com Community Church of Keystone Heights communitychurchofkeystoneheights.org CWB Wakeboards ridecwb.com Davis Gas davisgas.com Discount Inboard Marine skidim.com First Baptist of Starke fbcstarke.org Keystone Plumbing keystoneplumbinginc@yahoo.com Loving Hands Pet Sitting lovinghandspets.com Nautique Boat Company nautique.com Saturday Night Wonders ephesians-4-prayer-fellowship.com The Clipping Corner Melrose, FL The Trophy Shop thetrophyshop.com

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GIVE FREEDOM GET FREEDOM

Victorious Living PO Box 120951 Clermont, FL 34712-0951

Non Profit Org US Postage

PAID

Permit No. 610 Jacksonville, FL

People everywhere desperately need to know about God’s power, love, and grace. With your help and God’s Truth, Victorious Living can set captives free!

r I’d like to support Victorious Living and share freedom with others ($20 Suggested Donation).

With your donation, you will receive Victorious Living for one year, and we will also send an inmate on our Prison Correspondence list a personal copy for one year. (You provide a specific inmate’s contact information as a recipient.)

YES! I Want To Be A Part! __________________________________________________ Name #1

__________________________________________________ Address #1

__________________________________________________ City | State | Zip #1

r Send an additional gift subscription of Victorious Living to the recipient listed below ($20 Suggested Donation).

r I’d like to sponsor ____ prison facilities to receive a case of each Victorious Living issue for one year ($400 per prison).

Become A Part of the Victorious Living Family Today!

• Go

online at kojministries.org

• Call 352-478-2098 to place order • Return this order form in the envelope provided in this magazine

__________________________________________________ Email #1

______________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone #1

__________________________________________________ Name #2

__________________________________________________ Address #2

__________________________________________________ City | State | Zip #2

__________________________________________________ Email #2

Telephone #2

A card will be sent to recipients on your behalf to inform them of your gift!

If you would like to send more than one gift, please list names on a separate piece of paper.

r Check attached (make payable to Victorious Living) r Debit (include voided check) r Mastercard r VISA r Please automatically renew my partnership!

Donation Amount _______________________________________________ Cardholder Name (please print) ____________________________________ Card Number __________________________________________________ Expiration Date ________________________________________________ Credit Card Billing Address (required)________________________________ Signature_____________________________________________________ If you have any questions, please call 352-478-2098.

Mail completed forms to: Victorious Living • PO BOX 120951 • Clermont, FL 34712-0951 or fax to 1-888-837-9153

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