Today’s a new day!
Good morning family and friends.The next few weeks are busy.
Monday: Two Medical Appointments
Tuesday: Having a new port put in.
Thursday: Traveling to Plains, GA for my birthday celebration.
Thursday 12/11: Starting outpatient treatments.
Continuing to pray for each of you. ~OC
Today’s a new day! I wanted to take some time this morning to repost my thoughts about Halloween from last year. I did update a few parts.
It’s hard to outright ignore Halloween. It’s everywhere. In our condo, several people have their doors directed for this October 31st holiday. Have you walked into a store lately? Most are stocked with various Halloween items. In 2024, Americans spent $11.6 billion on Halloween. That’s a lot of candy and costumes.
So there’s no hiding from Halloween. But should Christians participate in it? Should Christian children be walking the neighborhoods trick or treating? Or should the Christian community rise up and boycott Halloween altogether?
Some say, yes, Christians should boycott Halloween. In arguing that Halloween should be off-limits for Christians,people will site the origin of Halloween back to pagan festivals in the first century AD. Some people will claim that blood, witchcraft, and horror have become the dominate themes of the day. Furthermore, Christians opposed to Halloween will cite Bible verses that condemn witchcraft and sorcery, as well as Bible verses that command Christians to separate themselves from all that is impure.
Others will say, no, Christians don’t need to boycott Halloween. I read where several writers call it revisionist history to claim that Halloween is rooted in a pagan festival. They each wrote that Halloween is actually rooted in Christianity. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day (Nov. 1). These writers challenged Christians not to back down to the culture, but instead to reclaim Halloween. Many feel it’s possible to “soften” the holiday by wearing non-scary costumes like classic superheros and princesses and establishing wholesome family customs.
But here is something that is always on my mind during this season: Halloween is a rare occasion for many in a busy world, to get out of their homes and interact with our neighbors.
I have been so amazed and happy how interactive the neighbors in our condominium have been. I have lived in neighborhoods where neighbors barely spoke with each other. That’s a totally different blog post, for a different day.
Let’s keep in mind, that God is infinitely resourceful. What if, in His perfect wisdom, God desires to leverage Halloween to build community among people? Halloween can be a strategic time to see your neighbors face to face (or maybe mask to mask). Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) We understand “neighbor” to mean any human being … which includes actual neighbors in your neighborhood.
Everyone has their individual opinions on Halloween. We need to be respectful of those opinions and the choices people make about this holiday. So whether you choose to boycott or celebrate Halloween, I encourage everyone to look for opportunities to positively engage with your neighbors. That’s just my two cents on Halloween. ~OC
Today’s a new day! Reflecting on my health journey, I’m reminded of the twists and turns that have shaped me into who I am today. It’s been a winding road, filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve felt God’s presence guiding me every step of the way. The rough roads have taught me resilience, the detours have shown me new paths, and the smooth roads have given me peace. I’m grateful for this journey, and I trust that God will continue to lead me forward, even when the road ahead is uncertain. ~OC
Today’s a new day! Reflecting on my health journey, I’m reminded of the twists and turns that have shaped me into who I am today. It’s been a winding road, filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve felt God’s presence guiding me every step of the way. The rough roads have taught me resilience, the detours have shown me new paths, and the smooth roads have given me peace. I’m grateful for this journey, and I trust that God will continue to lead me forward, even when the road ahead is uncertain. ~OC
Today’s a new day! This morning, I had one of those early morning conversations with God…I have to say, those early morning talks have been a game changer during this crazy beautiful health journey. God has helped me make the choice to not dwell on the “Why me?” during this journey. Instead, I’ve asked, “God, how can you use me as I walk out this journey?” That’s not always easy, but I truly believe it’s made all the difference. My health issues don’t define me – my faith does. To anyone walking through tough moments, I pray you’ll make the hard choice to focus on the possibilities instead of getting stuck in the “why.” You are capable of more than you think #faithoverfear #possibilities #hope ~OC
Today’s a new day! As I sit in this hospital room, surrounded by beeping machines and the business of staff, I am reminded that my purpose extends far beyond my physical body. In the midst of uncertainty and pain, I pray: Dear God, use me for your purpose during this hospital stay and every day as I continue to fight through this crazy beautiful health journey.
For me it’s a prayer of surrender, of trust, and of faith. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest moments, God’s love and patience remain unfailing.
Embracing the Unknown:
When we’re faced with the challenges of life, it’s easy to feel like our lives are spinning out of control. But what if we flipped that perspective? What if this season of uncertainty is an opportunity to discover a deeper sense of God’s purpose for our lives?
For those walking through their own “crazy beautiful journey,” I encourage you to pray the following: Dear God, use me for your purpose… I am thankful for your unfailing love and patience with me.
Practical Ways to Find Purpose:
1. Prayer and Reflection: Take time each day to connect with God. Reflect on your experiences, and ask Him to reveal His purpose for your life.
2. Support Loved Ones:Reach out to family and friends, and let them know you’re thinking of them. Sometimes, a simple text, handwritten note or phone call can bring joy to someone’s day.
3. Share Your Story: Consider sharing your journey on social media, a blog or write a book. Your story might encourage others who are facing similar challenges.
4. Find Ways to Serve: Even in a hospital room, you can serve others. Share words of encouragement with the staff, pray for the staff and others walking down the hall. Show kindness and respect to everyone you encounter today.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving:
As I continue to navigate through this health journey, I am grateful for God’s unfailing love and patience. I’m thankful for a loving and supportive bride, I am thankful for my medical team that’s been taking care of me for many years, I am blessed by the the loved ones who pray and support me, and for the opportunities to grow in my faith.
If you happen to be reading this post and are facing your own challenges, know that you’re not alone. You’re loved, you’re valued, and you’re part of a larger story.
A Prayer for Today:
Dear Jesus, use us for your purpose during the stressful times of life and every day as we continue to navigate through this journey called life. We’re thankful for your unfailing love and patience with us. Amen
Challenge of the Day:
How can you use your life experiences, past and present to bless and help others today? ~OC
Today’s a new day! When I started this blog many years ago, I never realized the places that God would take me. The good times and the not so good times. The blessings and hard times that come to us in this journey called life. But over the years, I have learned that even in those difficult seasons of life, that God is always there. Always ready to listen. To lend a helping hand. To love us and comfort us. I have learned that yes, we can be thankful ….. even when our heart and mind tells us that there is no reason to be. I have leaned that in everything to be grateful. So as I continue to walk through these health challenges, I am blessed to have a bride that is willing to walk with me through this crazy beautiful health journey. It is my prayer that the Lord will use our journey to help encourage people and that they will find hope……. In Jesus. So I will continue to embrace new opportunities and be renewed by God’s Hope, Peace and His Word. I will continue to walk this journey with… a thankful and willing heart to serve. ~OC
Today’s a new day! Living with a long term chronic illness can feel very isolating. As the years go bye, more and more “friends” decide the journey is too much for them to handle and they have chosen to disappear from my life. How does one handle going from a great group of friends to basically having no true friends I can really count on? Well, I am still trying to figure that out as I continue to walk through this crazy beautiful health journey.
As I look back on my long health journey, I can remember when my phone wouldn’t stop ringing and our house constantly had people coming and going to visit with me. But as the years have passed and my health has continued to be a constant struggle, less and less people are connecting with me. If I do not make the effort to reach out to people, I literally would never hear from anyone. Sadly, that’s just the reality of dealing with a chronic illness or in my case multiple health issues. I have found that people are great when someone first gets sick. Like I mentioned above, the phone calls and visits are nonstop, but when the illness drags on people do not know how to react, so they tend to bail. So how does one handle the loss of friendships or a different type of friendship in the midst of health issues?
I am not writing this post for sympathy, but to share the reality of living with long term health issues. I am writing this for others who are walking through the same experience, but are not sure how to express their feelings.
Personally, I have tried to continue reaching out to friends and stay connected, but that is getting harder and harder as the years fly by. Also, I am getting tired of being the one always making the effort. I have tried being part of men’s groups, but for the most part that has not been a positive experience. But mostly, I have prayed that God would help me be a good friend. I have learned I cannot control who makes the choice to be part of my life. All I can do is put everything into God’s hands and continue to trust in Him.
Like I shared earlier, this is not a post to gain any sympathy, but to share the reality of living life with long term health issues. Thousands or maybe millions of people with long term health issues could have written this post. My prayer is that this post will help people understand the day to day feelings/struggles of people who are walking through a difficult health journey. Thanks for taking the time to read. ~OC
Today’s a new day! Dear God, pour out Your love into our hearts by releasing the Holy Spirit to give us revelation of Your love for us that it may overflow in love back to Jesus and to others. Dear God, help us to love everyone we encounter today.
“The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), “For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8), “Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
Today’s a new day! As we look at the news or scroll through social media, there is so much division. So I wanted to share the following this morning. ~OC
Dear God, our world feels so divided, even within families and friendships. Help us be a peacemaker in our relationships, building bridges instead of walls. Show us how to listen and understand with humility, allowing Your Spirit to guide our words and actions. May Your peace be the foundation of every connection. Amen.
“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”~Ephesians 4:3
The Blessed Overcomer 