Doubt.....

This morning as I was on my way to work, I passed a Church Sign that read: “Doubt can destroy what God wants to accomplish through you”. Thankfully, I saw the green light I was approaching turn to yellow out of the corner of my eye as I was reading the sign. Otherwise, I would have plowed into the back of the massive Ford Excursion that was slowing to a stop in front of me. Looking back now, I see the irony of what almost happened. The words on that sign hit me with the force that my compact SUV and I would have felt if we had slammed into that Excursion. Isn’t it amazing how God can do things like that? He can take something as simple as a Church Sign on the side of the road to bring us the insights and realizations that we so desperately need.
Though it may sound egotistical or self-centered, I know in my heart that the words on that Church Sign were meant for me. You see, for the past few days I’ve been plagued by DOUBT. I’ve been wondering, questioning, second-guessing, and plain-old doubting that I am doing what God wants me to do. About a month ago, God told me to start a charitable organization called Bear Hugs Brigade. Going against my normal mode of operation, I did what He said to do with very little hesitation or argument. Normally, that’s not how I do things! I usually question every little detail over and over, subconsciously trying to convince God that I’m probably not the best choice for the task He has in mind. This time it was different…He said “Robert, do this for me” and I immediately replied “Yes, Sir!” I was really kind of surprised by my own willingness. I guess it was probably silly of me to not realize that, at some point, the doubts and questioning would eventually rear their ugly heads.
In the month that has passed since our initial conversation, God has allowed Bear Hugs Brigade to grow far beyond my limited expectations and He has begun to open doors for us that I never could have imagined. I guess it should come as no surprise to me that Satan would choose now to flood my mind with fears, doubts, and questions…

“Is this really what God wants you to do?”
“What if you can’t meet the demand if this continues to grow?”
“What if you can’t rely on more than the “faithful few” to help support your vision?”
“What if there isn’t as large a need as you think?”
“Teddy Bears………..seriously?!?!?!?”

It’s hard to think of these questions and not feel at least a slight sense of discouragement. That’s where I have been for the past couple of days. But, as He is prone to do, God has used the past couple of days (and a Church Sign) to teach me a very valuable lesson. If you stop and think about what that sign said: “Doubt can destroy what God wants to accomplish through you”, you may say “Wait a minute, NOTHING can destroy what God wants to accomplish”. That’s very true. However, this statement is conditional because of the phrase “through you”. God can and will accomplish anything He wants, but if you doubt that He can do it “through you”, then He may simply choose to accomplish it through someone else, someone else who has more faith than doubt. LIGHT BULB!!!!! I get it. I realize that regardless of what the answers to the above questions may be, if I allow them to bring doubt into my mind and heart, God may choose to accomplish His task through someone else. With that realization comes the knowledge that I’m not willing to let that happen. I believe with all my heart that God wanted Bear Hugs Brigade to come to be so that it could fill a real and valid need. I also believe, for whatever reason, He chose me to help accomplish this task. I have no intention of letting doubt destroy my chance to be a part of it. I could not be more humbly grateful for the opportunity, the responsibility, and that Church Sign I passed on the way to work this morning.

Mysterious Ways

I’ve heard all my life the phrase “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform”. I believe that it is very true, and the happenings of yesterday reinforce it in my mind. I was off from work yesterday and I spent a few hours in the morning working on the project that has become “Bear Hugs Brigade”. Hopefully, all of you have read my last blog post that details what “BHB” is and how it came to be. As I was working on setting up some record-keeping files, I looked around at some of the Teddy Bears that had arrived earlier in the week. For a few moments, I began to question if what I was doing was indeed what God wanted. I started wondering if this endeavor actually could make a difference, or if this was something else that I would focus my attention on for a week or so and then let fall by the wayside when it seemed the need for it just wasn’t there. I began to ask God if there really was a need for something as trivial as an organization that gave away stuffed bears. Then, yesterday afternoon, I was sitting at the computer checking Facebook when I saw a post come through about a local family whose home had burned down. The post said that they had SEVEN children ranging in age from 11 years to 7 months. At that moment, it was as if God spoke audibly and said to me “Why do you question me when you know that I know what I’m doing?” The Facebook post was requesting donations of clothes for the children. I had no children’s clothes to offer, but I did have something I could contribute to these seven precious children who had lost their home and belongings: the comfort of a Teddy Bear for each of them. It was at that moment that I knew that God has put His hand on Bear Hugs Brigade and is going to use it to make a difference in the lives of children who need it. This Friday evening, I will be delivering seven new Teddy Bear Friends to seven little boys and girls who are in need of comfort right now. What a blessing to be able to do so!
Last evening, as I was collecting the names of these boys and girls, I read another Facebook post that once again reminded me of how God works in mysterious ways. I read that Angel Gail Watson, a 6-year old little girl who has been battling cancer for several years, had given up her fighting and gone home to be with her Heavenly Father. While my heart was broken that a young life had been cut so short, I could not help but rejoice that she would never again have to suffer the pain and agony that she had to endure for much of her short life. Angel (along with Liam Witt, who also ended his battle with cancer at the age of 6) was one of the inspirations for Bear Hugs Brigade. I wish that I could have given her a Teddy Bear Friend before the cancer overtook her young body, but for some reason that wasn’t meant to be. The natural reaction to a tragic event like this is to question God and ask “Why?” But then I thought back to the words He had spoken to me earlier in the day: “Why do you question me when you know that I know what I’m doing?” You see, it’s not our place to know the mind of God. We must just have faith that He knows what He is doing and that there is a reason for it all. After all, God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

"Bear Hugs Brigade": the beginning

As you can see, it’s been a few months since that last post. I admit that after posting the news of Liam’s passing, it was difficult to find anything to post about that didn’t seem trivial. I have decided to post now to tell you about a new venture that God has been dealing with me to bring to fruition. For quite some time, I have felt in my soul that I need to do something charitable that has to do with children. I have supported “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” and World Vision for over a year now. I would love to be able to do more to help “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” as I feel that it is a wonderful and deserving organization, but I don’t really know how to go about organizing a huge bake sale. So, I will continue to contribute to them personally until I can figure that one out. I am thrilled to be the sponsor of two adorable World Vision children, Panashe and Luyanda. It is so rewarding knowing that I am helping to make a difference in the lives of these two precious children half a world away. However, I have still been feeling that there is more I need to be doing. I have thought about volunteering at Children’s Hospital or maybe even Ronald McDonald House (and those are still options I am considering).

But, as I sat watching TV the other night, God spoke to my heart (through an Allstate commercial, of all things) and showed me the answer for which I have been searching. Teddy Bears. Yes, I said Teddy Bears. In the Allstate commercial, Dennis Haysbert talks about how Allstate has distributed several hundreds of Teddy Bears to children who have been affected by the recent tornadoes that have devastated large portions of the South. As he spoke those words, God spoke to me. He told me that there are many kids in the area who are facing and will be facing very difficult times. Difficult times that no adult should have to face, much less an innocent child. In those difficult times, a child often needs something comforting on which to focus their attention. They need a friend. To many children, some of their best and most-trusted friends come in the form of Teddy Bears. I remember as a child that mine sure did. I had a ton of Teddy Bears and I remember that before Super Powers and Masters of the Universe toys came along, they were my favorite things! Because of this, I know from experience the comfort and happiness that a Teddy Bear can bring to a child. So there you have it…..Teddy Bears, that’s what God told me I need to use as my tools to make a difference in the lives of children in need. Since that realization, I have been praying that the Lord would guide me to do what I need to do and He has been showing me a lot of things. That is why I am proud to announce the birth of the “Bear Hugs Brigade”, an organization that will “help bring smiles to children during difficult times”. I am going to be delivering Teddy Bears to children who are facing illness or some other difficult or tragic event. I believe I have found a wholesale distributor online where I can get quality Teddy Bears at a very reasonable rate. The first shipment is on its way and should be here in a few days. I am hoping and praying that they will be of good quality, and I am trusting God that they will be. My plan is to stock up and have them ready when the need arises. I am hoping to be able to have friends and family be able to contact me when they know of a child in need. At that point, I will be able to deliver or ship the Teddy Bear to the child. I am making my first delivery on Friday, a special bear to a special little boy named Eli. I am so excited to have this opportunity.

So, I am asking all who read this blog post to remember me in prayer. I really feel a burden in my soul to do this. Hopefully, I can help to make a difference in the lives of these precious children, even with something as small as a Teddy Bear. I have set up an e-mail account to take requests ( bearhugsbrigade@yahoo.com ) and plan to set up a Facebook page after I make sure the quality of the bears I have ordered is acceptable. I will keep you posted on that in the next few days. Please feel free to contact me if you know of a child who needs to have a new Teddy Bear friend. Thanks to each of you for your prayers!

Good night, Sweet Prince

This morning as I awoke, I was met by the terrible news of the passing of a precious little boy named Liam Witt. Liam was known as “Prince Liam the Brave”. He was only 6 years old and for the past 4 years, he has been fighting valiantly against a vicious enemy called Neuroblastoma, a relentless form of Pediatric cancer. Liam and his family have been through a horrible nightmare for the past four years. He has fought with a strength that you would not likely find in the bravest of soldiers on the most war-torn battlefield. On Monday, his strength was finally depleted and he bravely gave up his fight. My heart aches for his mother, father, family, friends, and those like me who have been touched by his story.

I first became familiar with Liam’s story through “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer”, the non-profit organization that was founded by his parents after his diagnosis in 2007. I have been a supporter of “Cookies for Kids’ Cancer” for a couple of years now and have followed Liam’s fight since becoming familiar with his story. It is amazing to me the sense of loss that I feel in my heart this morning for this precious little boy that I never met. It just goes to show that we never know how many hearts and lives we may touch in this world, for Liam definitely touched mine.

Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. Unfortunately, Pediatric cancer research is the least funded of all cancers. We MUST change this! It is not acceptable! I urge you to make a donation today in memory of the valiant “Prince Liam”. I also urge you to take a few moments to read his story on the blog his parents have kept since his fight began: http://princeliamthebrave.blogspot.com/ . Please remember in your prayers his family as well as all of the precious little ones who are fighting this horrible disease and the families who tirelessly support them. I know (as do many of you) a precious little girl named Angel who is currently carrying on this fight. We must do all we can to help her and to help find a cure!

Though my heart is broken today, I am comforted by the thought of Liam running, laughing, and playing in Heaven, finally free of the relentless pain he endured for most of his young life. It is so hard to understand why things like this happen to precious, innocent little children, but I know that there must be a reason for it all. I stop and think of the tremendous impact that "Prince Liam the Brave" has had on the world through the amazing work being done by the organization that was started because of him. What an amazing legacy that has been left by an amazing little boy.

In loving memory of Liam Witt. Good night, Sweet Prince. Thank you for touching my heart.


Please make a donation here to help fund research to end Pediatric Cancers:
http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/donate.asp