Author: theblessedovercomer

Welcome! My name is Todd OC Shoemaker. The OC is short for Overcomer. That’s the nickname my medical team gave me many years ago. You see, for the last 22 years, I have battled several life threatening health issues. On multiple occasions, my bride Laura has been told I would probably not make it through the night. Our faith has helped us run this crazy beautiful journey. We live with hope. I encourage you to run with me as I share my thoughts along the way. ~OC

The Bread And The Cup: Jesus Gave Himself For Us

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” ~Luke 22:19–20

What if the bread and the cup represent more than we have ever imagined?

Some Christian scholars and theologians have explored the profound mystery of Christ’s presence in the bread and the cup of Communion. Christians differ in how they understand this mystery, but we can all reflect on the incredible truth behind these elements: 

Jesus was preparing to give everything He had for people He loved.

The bread represented His body, which would be broken. The cup represented His blood, which would be poured out. In both, Jesus was pointing His disciples toward the cross.

But here is what I want us to understand today: Jesus didn’t simply give us something to remember Him by. He gave Himself for us.

Think about that!

He knew Judas would betray Him. He knew Peter would deny Him. He knew His disciples would scatter when the soldiers came. Yet Jesus still broke the bread, shared the cup, and invited them to His table.

He knew their weaknesses, their failures, and their fears. He knew they would not always get it right. And He loved them anyway.

That is the Gospel!

Jesus doesn’t wait for us to become perfect before inviting us to His table. He invites us because we need His grace. We need His forgiveness. We need His presence in our brokenness.

And perhaps that is the challenge for the Church today.

We gather around the Lord’s Table, but are we willing to live out what that table represents? Are we willing to share our bread with the hungry? Are we willing to pour out our lives in service to others? Are we willing to love the people society rejects, forgive those who hurt us, and extend grace to those who believe differently than we do?

It is easy to take Communion on Sunday. It is much harder to live a surrendered life on Monday.

Yet Jesus calls us to both remembrance and action.

When we receive the bread and the cup, we remember the price of our salvation. We remember a Savior who humbled Himself, served others, and loved us all the way to the cross.

And we are reminded that the Christian life isn’t about what we can get from Jesus. It’s about what happens when we allow Jesus to transform us into people who give ourselves in love to others.

A FINAL CHALLENGE:

The next time you receive Communion, don’t rush through the moment.

Look at the bread. Consider His body.

Look at the cup. Remember His blood.

Remember the sacrifice. Remember the grace. Remember the love that held Him to the cross.

Then ask yourself one question:

Because Jesus gave everything for me, what am I willing to give for Him?

Your time? Your comfort? Your pride? Your forgiveness? Your compassion toward someone who feels forgotten?

The bread reminds us of His body given for us. The cup reminds us of His blood shed for us. And the cross reminds us that love is not merely something we say.

LOVE IS SOMETHING WE LIVE.

May we never reduce Communion to a religious ritual. May it always remind us of the Savior who gave Himself for us—and inspire us to become His hands and feet in a broken world.

Jesus gave His life for us. Now let’s live our lives for Him. Amen. ~OC

0

A Small Town Doesn’t Equal Nice People

There’s a common belief that small towns are filled with friendly faces, welcoming neighbors, strong communities, and people who genuinely care about one another.

Sometimes, that’s true. But sometimes, the reality is a little different.

Living in a small town doesn’t automatically make someone kind, welcoming, compassionate, or willing to open their heart to someone new.

You can live in a small town and still feel like an outsider. You can smile, introduce yourself, reach out, attend church, and try to build friendships, only to discover that not everyone is interested in welcoming someone new into their circle.

And honestly, that can be disappointing.

Because it’s not about expecting everyone to become your best friend. It’s about the simple things: a friendly conversation, an invitation to join others, a genuine smile, or someone taking the time to make you feel like you belong.

Those little things matter.

Here’s something I’ve learned: A town’s character isn’t measured by its population, but by the way its people treat others.

You don’t have to live in a big city to find unkind people, and you don’t have to live in a small town to find a welcoming community. Kindness has nothing to do with ZIP codes. It has everything to do with character.

And for those of us who call ourselves Christians, this should hit a little closer to home.

Churches should be places where people find community, encouragement, and belonging. They should be places where newcomers are welcomed, not left standing on the outside looking in. Jesus didn’t tell us to love only the people we already know, the people who look like us, or the people who fit comfortably into our existing circles.

He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35

That kind of love should be visible, not just preached from a pulpit.

Moving somewhere new can be challenging. Building friendships takes time. I understand that not every lack of connection is intentional, and people have their own lives, responsibilities, and struggles. Nobody owes us instant friendship.

But there’s a difference between taking time to build relationships and making no effort to welcome others at all.

So, if you’re fortunate enough to live in a community where people look out for one another, appreciate it. And if someone new moves into your neighborhood or walks through your church doors, consider being the person who makes them feel welcome.

You never know what someone has left behind, what battles they’re fighting, or how much a simple act of kindness might mean to them.

At the end of the day, a small town is just a place on a map. A welcoming community is something people have to build together.

Let’s stop assuming that small towns are automatically friendlier, churches are automatically welcoming, or people are automatically kind.

Instead, let’s become the kind of people who make those things true.

Because the world doesn’t need more people who talk about community.

IT NEEDS MORE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IT. ~OC

0

What Has Happened?

STOP SCROLLING. WE NEED TO TALK.

People are going hungry in America. Families are struggling to put food on the table. Some people are being forced to make an impossible choice between buying groceries and purchasing the medications they need to survive. Gas prices are putting additional pressure on already stretched budgets. Farmers are fighting to keep their operations alive. And America is involved in a war that so many people never wanted to see happen.

Meanwhile, look at what seems to be consuming the attention of our nation’s leadership.

Renaming an ocean. Building a ballroom. Supporting an advertisement that attacks a survivor of childhood rape. And, amid all the political maneuvering, questions about money, power, and who stands to benefit.

STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.

When families are struggling to survive, shouldn’t their struggles matter?

When people cannot afford their medications, shouldn’t that demand our attention?

When farmers are fighting to keep their livelihoods, shouldn’t we be asking how we can help?

When a survivor of childhood sexual violence speaks out, shouldn’t our first response be compassion rather than cruelty?

Whatever your political party, these are questions of human dignity, priorities, and basic decency.

And that brings me to a question that weighs heavily on my heart.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CHURCH?

I am talking about the Church that claims to follow Jesus Christ.

The Jesus who fed the hungry.

The Jesus who cared for the sick.

The Jesus who welcomed the outcast.

The Jesus who defended the vulnerable and confronted religious leaders when their actions contradicted their words.

In Matthew 25:40, Jesus reminds us that how we treat the least among us matters to Him.

So how can we claim to follow Jesus while overlooking people who are hungry, struggling, hurting, and desperately trying to survive?

How can we preach about morality while excusing cruelty when it comes from someone whose politics we support?

How can we proclaim the sanctity of human life while showing so little concern for the people who are struggling to live theirs?

And how can we call ourselves followers of Jesus when our political loyalties sometimes seem stronger than our commitment to His teachings?

CHURCH, WE NEED TO TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

Supporting a politician does not automatically make someone a bad Christian. Christians can disagree about policies, priorities, and political solutions.

But no politician should ever become so important to us that we abandon the very principles Jesus taught.

No political party deserves our unquestioning loyalty.

No president should be above accountability.

No political victory should be more important than human dignity.

And no Christian should have to twist the words of Jesus to justify the behavior of a politician.

Our faith should shape our politics, not our politics reshape our faith.

Sadly, too many Christians seem willing to overlook behavior they would condemn if it came from someone on the other side of the political aisle.

That should trouble us.

Not because Christians must agree on every political issue, but because our commitment to truth, compassion, justice, and integrity should never depend on who benefits politically.

If we defend cruelty when it comes from our side and condemn it only when it comes from the other side, what does that say about our character?

If we care more about winning political battles than caring for our neighbors, what does that say about our faith?

And if the world looks at the Church and sees more political allegiance than the love of Jesus, what kind of witness are we offering?

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO AMERICA?

I grew up believing that America was a place where hard work mattered, where helping your neighbor was something to be proud of, and where people could disagree without losing their humanity.

We have never been a perfect nation. We have always struggled with injustice, division, and our failure to live up to our highest ideals.

But we should never stop striving to become better.

We should never become so divided that we stop caring about one another.

We should never become so consumed by politics that we lose sight of the people behind the political arguments.

And we should never accept the suffering of our neighbors as an acceptable price for protecting our political interests.

This is not simply a Republican issue or a Democratic issue.

It is a human issue.

It is a moral issue.

It is about what kind of country we want to be and what kind of people we want to become.

I don’t expect politicians to solve every problem overnight. I don’t expect any administration to be perfect. And I recognize that people can disagree honestly about the best ways to address our nation’s challenges.

But I do expect us to care.

I expect us to demand accountability.

I expect us to defend the vulnerable, tell the truth, and remember that leadership should be about serving people, not simply accumulating power.

And I expect the Church to lead by example.

Not by waving flags from pulpits.

Not by treating politicians like saviors.

Not by excusing behavior that contradicts the teachings of Jesus.

But by feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, standing with the vulnerable, speaking truth to power, and loving our neighbors—even when doing so is politically inconvenient.

Jesus did not tell us to love only the people who vote like us.

He did not tell us to defend only the people who belong to our political tribe.

He called us to love our neighbors.

Period.

CHURCH, AMERICA IS WATCHING. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS.

Maybe it’s time we stopped asking only what is wrong with the other side and started asking what is wrong with us.

Maybe it’s time we stopped confusing political power with spiritual revival.

Maybe it’s time we remembered that the success of a political movement is not the same thing as the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

And maybe it’s time we returned to the simple, uncomfortable, life-changing teachings of Jesus Christ.

Feed the hungry.

Care for the sick.

Welcome the stranger.

Defend the vulnerable.

Love your neighbor.

Speak the truth.

Practice humility.

Show mercy.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CHURCH?

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO AMERICA?

Those questions deserve more than angry arguments on social media. They deserve honest reflection, courageous leadership, and a willingness to change.

I don’t want a Church that simply reflects the anger, divisions, and political loyalties of the world.

I want a Church that reflects Jesus.

I want an America where a struggling family matters more than political theater, where human dignity is not determined by political affiliation, and where compassion is not treated as a weakness.

And I want Christians who are willing to hold everyone accountable—including the politicians they support and the religious leaders they admire.

Because following Jesus was never supposed to be about protecting our political team.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT BECOMING MORE LIKE HIM.

America doesn’t need more political idols.

The Church doesn’t need more partisan loyalty disguised as faith.

We need more compassion. More courage. More humility. More truth. More justice. And a whole lot more Jesus.

It’s time to wake up, Church.

It’s time to wake up, America.

And it’s time for all of us to decide what matters most.

Because when political loyalty becomes more important than human dignity, and when the Church becomes more concerned with power than with the people Jesus called us to love, something has gone terribly wrong.

“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” — Amos 5:24

Lord, forgive us when we care more about winning than loving, more about power than serving, and more about defending our political loyalties than standing for what is right. Break our hearts for the things that break Yours. Teach us to see people before politics, compassion before convenience, and truth before tribal loyalty.

May we never become so consumed with politics that we forget Jesus. ~OC

0

Lead By Example

Today’s a new day!

True leadership isn’t about asking others to walk a road you’ve never traveled. It’s about being willing to take the hard falls, endure the painful lessons, and face the storms before asking others to follow.

A great leader doesn’t hide the scars. They share the pain, the struggles, and the lessons learned along the way—not to gain sympathy, but to help someone else avoid the same pitfalls.

The greatest leaders don’t just show people the way; they walk the road with them.

You don’t have to be perfect to lead. You just have to be willing to be honest, vulnerable, and courageous enough to say, “I’ve been there. I’ve fallen, I’ve hurt, and I’ve learned. Let me help you keep going.”

And as followers of Jesus, may we always remember that He didn’t simply point us toward the cross. He carried His own cross and showed us what sacrificial love looks like.

Lead with humility. Share your scars. Lift others up.

Because sometimes, the pain you’ve survived becomes the wisdom someone else needs to survive their own storm. ~OC

0

Blowin’ In The Wind

How many times must we watch the world suffer before we finally decide to do something about it?

How many wars must be fought, how many children must go hungry, how many innocent lives must be lost, and how many voices must cry out for justice before we stop pretending that nothing is wrong?

We live in a world overflowing with opinions but starving for compassion. We argue about politics, fight over differences, draw lines in the sand, and forget that beneath it all, we are human beings sharing the same fragile planet.

We have the technology to reach across the world in seconds, yet sometimes we cannot reach across the street to love our neighbors. We have the resources to change lives, yet we continue to turn away from those who need us most.

Maybe the answers aren’t blowing in the wind. Maybe they’re standing right in front of us.

Perhaps the real question isn’t how many times we must see injustice, but how many times we are willing to walk past it.

Perhaps it’s not how long we must wait for peace, but when we will finally stop choosing hatred over understanding.

And perhaps the greatest tragedy isn’t that we don’t know what needs to change, but that we keep waiting for someone else to change it.

We cannot solve every problem. We cannot stop every war. We cannot heal every broken heart. But we can choose compassion over cruelty, kindness over hatred, understanding over judgment, and courage over silence.

We can stand up for those who have no voice. We can love people who disagree with us. We can refuse to let political divisions destroy our humanity.

The world doesn’t need more people pointing fingers. It needs more people willing to extend a helping hand.

So, the next time you wonder how much longer it will take for the world to change, ask yourself a different question:

What am I doing to make it better?

Because peace begins with us. Justice begins with us. Love begins with us.

And if we keep waiting for somebody else to make a difference, we may spend our entire lives waiting for answers that were always within our reach.

The wind will keep blowing. The questions will keep coming.

The question is whether we will finally have the courage to become part of the answer. ~OC

0

Hope In A Dark World

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” ~ John 1:5

Work through the sections below. Choose answers, write reflections if you wish, and finish with one practical step of faith.

SECTION 1:

Start the conversation

What makes it hardest for people to hold on to hope today?

•Conflict, hatred and division.

•Personal pain, illness or grief.

•Fear and uncertainty about the future

•Feeling alone, forgotten or powerless

Choose one or more. There are no wrong answers; use your choices to start a group discussion.

What would you add?

SECTION 2:

Discover the truth

Read Romans 15:13.

According to this passage, where does hope come from?

•From everything going according to plan

•From God, as we trust Him

•From being able to control the future

Take time write down or share your own personal reflections.

SECTION 3:

Be the light

Read Matthew 5:14–16.

Which action could bring the light of Christ to someone this week?

•Encourage someone who feels forgotten

•Help a person facing a practical need

•Respond to disagreement with grace

• Stand beside someone being mistreated

Who might need hope from you?

SECTION 4:

Three honest questions

Take a moment with each question. Share only what feels comfortable.

1). What challenges your hope most when you look at the world?

2). How can you show the love of Jesus to someone who is struggling?

3). How can you trust God when you cannot see what He is doing?

SECTION 5:

Choose your hope challenge

Select at least one action to put into practice over the next seven days.

Challenge 1: Feed my hope: Spend time in scripture and prayer.

Challenge 2: Encourage someone: Reach out to three people with kindness or practical help.

Challenge 3: Be a hope-bringer: take one action to address suffering, division or loneliness around me.

Complete this sentence: “This week, I will bring hope by…”

Take time to write down or share your own personal reflections.

Remember: You may not be able to change the whole world, but with God’s help, you can bring hope to the person in front of you.

0

Your Attitude Matters

Today’s a new day!

The only difference between a good day and a bad day is often your attitude. You cannot control every circumstance, every disappointment, or every storm that comes your way, but you can choose how you respond.

Some days will be harder than others. Some mornings you will wake up ready to conquer the world, while other mornings simply getting out of bed will feel like a victory. But every day is another opportunity to find hope, show kindness, love others, and make a difference.

You may not get to choose what happens today, but you can choose the attitude you bring into it.

Start your day with gratitude, walk in faith, give yourself grace, and remember that God is still at work—even on the difficult days.

Keep smiling. Keep believing. Keep overcoming.

TODAY IS A GIFT FROM GOD. MAKE IT COUNT! ~OC

0

What Happened To America?

Let me ask a question that should trouble every American, regardless of political party: What happened to our hearts when attacking a survivor of childhood rape became something politicians could do and still receive applause and support from other politicians and voters?

Think about that for a moment. Someone who survived an unimaginable childhood trauma deserves compassion, dignity, and the freedom to tell their story without being publicly humiliated or ridiculed. No survivor should have to relive their pain because a politician wants to score political points.

When did cruelty become entertainment? When did compassion become a weakness? And when did political loyalty become more important than basic human decency?

We can disagree about policies. We can debate politics. We can support different candidates. That’s part of living in a democracy. But there should never be a political party, a candidate, or an ideology that matters more to us than the dignity of another human being.

And here’s the part that troubles me most: It’s not just about the politician making the attack. It’s also about the people who cheer, defend, excuse, or dismiss that behavior simply because the person doing it belongs to their political tribe.

If your political loyalty has reached the point where you can watch a survivor of childhood rape being attacked and see nothing wrong with it, perhaps it’s time to step away from the political noise and take an honest look in the mirror.

Check your heart.

Character matters. Compassion matters. How we treat the most vulnerable among us matters.

America doesn’t become great by humiliating survivors, celebrating cruelty, or excusing the inexcusable. It becomes stronger when we remember that every human being deserves dignity, regardless of their politics, background, or personal history.

I don’t care what political party you belong to. I care whether we’ve reached a point where we’ve lost our humanity in the name of winning elections.

Because if winning means abandoning compassion, sacrificing decency, and celebrating another person’s pain, then what exactly have we won?

America, we can—and must—do better.

Our politics should reflect our humanity, not destroy it. ~OC

0

If Tomorrow Wasn’t Promised, What Would You Give Today?

Today’s a new day!

We spend so much time worrying about tomorrow that we forget to appreciate the gift we’ve been given today. We put off the phone calls, postpone the hugs, hold back the words “I love you,” and wait for the perfect moment to live the life God has given us.

But what if tomorrow never comes?

Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present. 

Love a little deeper. Forgive a little quicker. Laugh a little louder. Encourage someone who is struggling. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. And most importantly, thank God for the breath in your lungs and the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.

You don’t have to change the entire world today. You just have to make a difference in the world God has placed right in front of you.

Remember, yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, but today is your opportunity.

Don’t just count your days. Make your days count. Live with purpose, love with abandon, walk by faith, and never take another breath for granted.

KEEP FIGHTING. KEEP BELIEVING. KEEP OVERCOMING. ~OC

0

A Sad Time In America

It’s a sad day in America when a sitting president appears to be offering the American people financial incentives in exchange for their votes. I never thought I would see a time when the line between public service and political manipulation would become so blurred in this country.

Let me be clear: THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT ISSUE. THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE.

It’s about integrity. It’s about character. It’s about the principles upon which our nation was built. Regardless of which political party holds power, our leaders should be held to the same standards of honesty, accountability, and ethical leadership.

Unfortunately, over the past several years, it seems that character and integrity have taken a back seat to political power. Too many people are willing to excuse behavior from their own political leaders that they would condemn if the other party did the same thing.

When did blind loyalty become more important than truth? When did winning elections become more important than doing what is right?

America deserves better.

The political climate we are experiencing increasingly resembles the kind of political dysfunction Americans have historically criticized in other nations. We should be setting an example for the world, not giving the world reasons to question our commitment to democratic principles.

Our country is bigger than one president, one political party, or one election.

I don’t care whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. We should all be able to agree that our leaders must be accountable for their actions. No politician should be above scrutiny, and no political party should be above criticism.

We can disagree about policies. We can debate solutions. We can vote differently. But we should never abandon our moral compass simply because someone represents our preferred political party.

I still believe in America. I believe in the American people. And I believe we can do better than this.

But restoring trust requires more than campaign promises and political slogans. It requires leaders with integrity, citizens willing to demand accountability, and a nation that remembers the difference between what is politically advantageous and what is morally right.

These are troubling times in American history. The question is whether we have the courage to stand up for the principles that should unite us, even when doing so challenges our own political loyalties.

Because at the end of the day, patriotism isn’t about defending a politician at all costs. It’s about loving your country enough to hold its leaders accountable.

GOD BLESS AMERICA. May we never lose our conscience in the pursuit of political power. ~OC

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑