Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

May 23rd Monday’s Guest Blog: Boe Parrish

Is There a God?

Maybe you’ve never considered whether or not there is a God. Possibly you were one who just knew from infancy that God was real, and never considered that the reality of God was ever in doubt. You also might be someone who at some point did believe there was a God, but due to some traumatic event, decided there is no way a God would ever allow that event to happen, therefore, your belief in God has melted away. One final option may be where you are, that you do not believe there is, or has ever been a God. I wanted to share my thoughts about the reality of God for me personally because a friend recently asked me this question.

I have come to the realization of God; because of some friends that I was playing baseball with who were living a different lifestyle that attracted me. It was the summer of 1971, and my family had just moved to Oklahoma from Western Kentucky. Once again, my dad had chosen to leave our current home and move for a better job opportunity. We had just settled in, when I discovered many of the guys on my new baseball team were so excited about going to a place called Falls Creek. That was all they were talking about for weeks leading up to the event. Their description of this summer-time event was, it’s a place where guys and girls connect, and there is a huge softball tournament with seventy-two teams entered. My two passions: girls and baseball, what could possibly be better than that! I should’ve been suspicious when we had to get on a church bus to get there, but oh well, what the heck.

Sure enough, there were thousands and thousands of girls and plenty of opportunities to play ball. However, there was something different about this place. Every evening we all had to attend a church service type- of-thing. The talks were amazing to say the least, and I found myself captivated by the speaker named Charlie Graves. On Thursday evening, Charlie spoke about baseball for crying out loud. It was an amazing talk where he had woven the story of God, and how much he loves us, into a baseball talk. I remember thinking later that God customized this wonderful story of redemption into a format that was just perfect for me.

I was so captivated by the talk that I was moved to surrender my life to this Jesus, I had just heard about for the very first time. There was such a sense of the presence of God there at that moment, I knew immediately that something supernatural had just occurred. I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I think I may have been the kid in the cabin that year that everyone was praying for. Little did I know then, how much that single decision would completely change the course of my life. Literally, everything about me and my family would be different in a matter of a couple of years. The first thing I did was buy a Bible, because I didn’t have one, and had never even heard of the Bible. Once I bought one and began reading it, I was hooked for life. I just couldn’t believe all the promises that were in there for me! I began reading, and completely read the book from cover to cover three times the first year I came to know Jesus.

All of a sudden I began to see God everywhere in everything. The clouds, the sunrises, sunsets, fall leaves, mountains, streams, forests, people, everywhere! How could I have not seen the handiwork of God before now? How could I even draw a breath of air without him? I so hungered to understand and know more about this amazing God I had just discovered? Then, like a ton of bricks, it hit me. My family didn’t have a clue about this rich treasure I had discovered. They didn’t know about the Bible; they had no knowledge about heaven or hell, much less about church. I had to get them to believe in God, but I had no idea how to begin to make that happen. Then my friend Loretta shared another promise with me. Acts 16:31 states, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household, meaning everyone in your family. So, for the next two and a half years I prayed for my parents and brother and sister to come to know him, and give their lives to him. By March of my senior year in high school, my whole family had received Jesus into their hearts. As a result of this change in our family, over sixty of my extended family members also received Christ because of my parents’ new-found faith. He so drastically changed my dysfunctional family and gave our lives meaning and purpose, how could I not serve him all the days of my life.

Next, he led me to the college where I would meet the girl of my dreams, and begin shaping my future forever. Through what I would describe as divine events, he allowed me to cross paths with what would become my life partner, wife, lover and friend. I looked into the blue eyes of this beautiful red headed girl and knew in an instant, she was going to be my wife and lifetime companion. After marrying my bride and finishing school, the Lord brought us three beautiful daughters and a vision for using our lives to serve others while we are on this planet. There have been numerous challenges over the years with health, relationships, wealth, career, and certainly marriage, but through it all God has performed so many miracles it is hard to recant all of them.

I have now walked with God for forty years. I’ve learned so much and yet still feel like I know nothing about him. But I do know that he has never let me down even one time, and I let him down daily. It isn’t because I want to, but because my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. God has transformed me and my family with the power that only comes from on high! There have been financial miracles, healings, victories over weaknesses, revelation of his nature given and most importantly, he placed his very own Spirit within me so I can hear his voice, which is softer than a whisper and wiser than the wisest man to ever walk this earth. His power, presence and purpose all reside within me. His Spirit teaches me about himself with such clarity that is hard for me to fathom it all. I see him everywhere, I hear his voice, I feel his presence, I marvel at his Word and I’ve received a thousand blessings from his people.

Every fiber of my being declares there is a God who loves me, and knows my very name, and even knows the number of hairs on my head. I can’t help but tell others about the eternal greatness of my God. He is the God of gods, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and Prince of peace. He is absolutely everything to me! YES, there is a GOD!

For most of his life Boe Parrish has invested his time in building relationships with people. Whether as a sales director with US Sprint Communications or a children’s pastor with Edmond, Oklahoma’s MetroChurch, Parrish brings over thirty-four years of experience as a business executive, minister and published author. Relationships have always been the top priority of his life and work. Connecting with people where they are in life, and finding ways to serve them is his passion. Parrish is Founder and President of Corporate Care, Inc. based out of Oklahoma City, OK USA.

Boe Parrish
Chairman / CEO
Corporate Care, Inc.
2217 S Fretz Avenue, Ste., 110
Edmond, Oklahoma 73013
w: www.corporatecareok.com
e: boeparrish@corporatecareok.com
c: 405.990.0107

You can follow Boe on:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/boeparrish
http://www.twitter.com/boeparrish
http://www.facebook.com/boeparrish
http://www.facebook.com/fb.daybreak
http://www.tweetstogod.com

Note: Thank you Boe, for sharing your testimony! What an inspiring message!