Today’s a new day! Dear Church and Christian Community, when will you stop moving the moral goalpost? Just asking. ~OC
The Church…Lost Its Way
Today’s a new day! I miss the days when the Christian community was led by God’s word and not the words of a politician or political party. Oh how the Church has lost its way. ~OC
Your Legacy
Today’s a new day! ~OC
A Peacemaker
Today’s a new day! Would you consider yourself a peacemaker? Or maybe an aspiring peacemaker? Let’s talk about truly becoming a peacemaker.
First we must look at the difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. There is a big difference. A peacekeeper dodges conflict, while a peacemaker creates peace through action. It’s about actively pursuing peace, not just avoiding conflict.
Steps to becoming a Peacemaker: We must cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit by tending to the garden within our soul. As each fruit blossoms, the transformation into a peacemaker becomes increasingly evident.
Peacemakers follow a heavenly blueprint – The Fruit of the Spirit.
*Love – The journey to becoming a peacemaker starts with love. Not the mushy kind we see in a Hollywood Romcom, but the enduring, selfless love that the Spirit plants in our hearts. Cultivate this love by surrendering to Jesus daily. Let His love fill us, making it the driving force behind our pursuit of peace
*Joy – Peacemaking isn’t a cheerless task; it’s an adventure filled with joy. Seek joy in the process of reconciliation. Find delight in seeing broken relationships mended. Joy is the fuel that propels us to actively engage in conflict, knowing that the end result is worth the effort.
*Peace – Before extending peace to others, let it rule in our own heart. As we reflect on Philippians 4:7, we see God’s promises that His peace, surpasses understanding and guards our hearts. We have to make the decision to surrender our worries to Him and let His peace reign within. We must embrace the truth that God’s peace is eternal and not dependent on external circumstances.
*Patience – Peacemaking is a process, and patience is a virtue we must hold onto. Understand that conflicts may escalate before we experience a resolution. We must plant seeds of peace, and be patient as God orchestrates growth in His time. A harvest of reconciliation is sown in patience, trusting God’s timing. Peacemaking is usually a marathon, not a sprint.
*Kindness – Peacemakers wield the tool of kindness. Actively listen, understanding the perspectives of those in conflict. We must be kind in our response, even when disagreements arise. Kindness bridges gaps and creates an environment where reconciliation can flourish.
*Goodness – We must stand firm in goodness as we navigate conflicts. Uphold moral excellence, seeking God’s truth before diving into the messy work of peacemaking. Goodness ensures that our efforts align with the principles of righteousness found in God’s Word.
*Faithfulness – Peacemakers are faithful in their commitment to reconciliation. Standing by those in conflict, supporting them through the journey. We must be faithful to God’s truth, allowing it to guide our actions as we actively pursue peace.
*Gentleness – Picture a peacemaker as a gentle boat captain navigating through turbulent waters. Be slow to speak, quick to listen, and respond gently. Disarm hostility with grace, creating an atmosphere where reconciliation can thrive.
*Self-Control – Finally, self-control is the steering wheel of peacemaking. In the heat of conflict, we must exercise self-control. We must resist impulsive reactions, and let the Holy Spirit guide our responses. Self-control ensures that our actions align with the path of peace.
A Peacemaker acts like a gardener tending their garden. Let me explain.
Love serves as the fertile soil, nourishing the roots of empathy and compassion.
Joy becomes the sunlight, infusing our spirit with positivity and resilience amidst conflicts.
Peace, the central fruit, exhales as a vibrant bloom, calming the storms within and radiating tranquility to those around us.
Patience acts as the steady hands pruning away haste, allowing relationships to flourish in their own time.
Kindness and goodness become the petals, adorning our character with grace and moral excellence.
Faithfulness is the sturdy stem anchoring our commitment to reconciliation.
Gentleness unfolds as the delicate touch, smoothing over rough edges and fostering understanding.
Finally, self-control acts as the vigilant gardener, ensuring that our responses align with the path of peace. In this transformative process, the Fruit of the Spirit becomes the essence of our peacemaking journey, blossoming into a radiant garden of harmony and unity.
So there you have it: The Fruit of the Spirit as the blueprint for becoming a peacemaker. Let love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control be the seeds we plant in the garden of conflict, trusting God to bring forth a harvest of peace. May our journey be fruitful, and our efforts bring glory to the ultimate Peacemaker…Jesus.
Let me finish with a simple prayer:
Dear God, We come to you today asking for your guidance on our journey towards becoming a peacemaker rather than a peacekeeper. Help us grow in the Fruit of the Spirit so that we can actively contribute to creating lasting harmony. Fill our hearts with a love that seeks reconciliation and understanding.
We pray for your strength, wisdom, and grace as we navigate the path of peace. Guide our thoughts, words and actions. May they come from you. Amen. ~OC
No Boarders
Today’s a new day! Love, Respect and Compassion should never have boarders. ~OC
You Can’t Be That Sick
Today’s a new day! As I have walked through this crazy beautiful health journey, I have always tried to help educate people about what life is like for people dealing with long term chronic illness. Here is a tip for every well meaning person who uses the following statement, “But you don’t look sick”
“You went out for lunch yesterday, you can’t be in that much pain”
“I saw some photos of you on Facebook, looked like you were having a good time. You can’t be that sick”
“I see you went to an event , had friends over or went on vacation. You must be feeling better.” No, it means I am trying to live my life and not be defined by my illness.
So many health issues are called invisible illnesses for a reason.
Whether it’s a mental or physical illness, if it’s not that obvious on the outside then there are always people who will try to diminish what you’re going through.
Because it’s not like you can laugh at a joke when you have a broken bone or anything and it’s not like you can tell people that a bruise doesn’t hurt when it actually does.
It’s called putting on a brave face, not just because you want people to think you’re okay but because sometimes it’s hard to talk about. Sometimes people just don’t understand and because flippant and hurtful comments sometimes make you feel like you have to conceal even the worst of days.
I’ve been around groups of people, trying to laugh and joke and act normal while going through severe pain from the multiple life threatening issues that are slowly killing my body on a daily basis. (not even gonna sugar-coat it) and enduring the lovely overwhelming fatigue that comes with it.
I do not wear my illnesses on my face everyday of my life because they don’t define me as a person and I shouldn’t have to justify being sick to anyone.
More importantly, if having a chronic illness means I am not allowed to smile, laugh or have fun once in a while then what is the point of struggling through the tough days? What is the point of living if I cannot enjoy my life despite being sick.
Just because I “do not look sick” doesn’t automatically mean I am okay.
So please for the love of all that’s good in the world, stop telling people with visible or invisible illnesses that “you don’t look that sick”. Thank you for taking the time to read this public service announcement. ~OC
Do These Words Still Ring True?
As I read the powerful words on the Statue of Liberty that millions of beautiful immigrants have proudly read when entering America, I wonder if they’re words that people fleeing horrible situations in their native countries can truly read and believe in. My heart breaks for all of the amazing immigrants who are waking up every morning, not knowing if this will be their last day in America. It saddens me that so many families have no idea when law enforcement personnel will knock on their door, be waiting for them outside of their place of employment or worship. To be escorted to a plane and taken away without any due process.
I will continue to pray for all of the immigrants that have come or will come to America with the hopes for a better life. I pray these words will be lived out by our political leaders and the citizens of America. May we always be a welcoming and bright light for the world. May the following words always ring true. ~OC
Surviving the Bite
Today’s a new day! I love when God uses a scripture or chapter of the Bible to speak to my heart and to share a message. Today was one of those days. The following post was inspired by Acts 28. I pray the following words bring you encouragement.
In Acts 28, when the Apostle Paul was bitten by a viper, his hand or body did not swell up and he did not die. The people were amazed. Can you imagine witnessing that story? But as I read about this encounter Paul had with this viper, God brought something to my mind. Even though Paul’s hand and body did not swell up and even though he survived this encounter, no where in Chapter 28, does it say Paul did not experience some pain from that bite. You see, God never promised to protect us from the pain of the bite. But God did promise to protect us from the venom of the bite. Some storms in life are going to cause pain, but they will not necessarily kill you. Likewise, God would never allow us to walk through a season of pain without revealing a greater purpose for our pain.
As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I embrace the opportunities my suffering has allowed me to experience. I embrace the lessons this journey has taught me. I give thanks for the many blessings I have experienced during this journey. I am thankful for the person I have become through this journey.
So today, I encourage you to not allow the venom of this world to keep you from experiencing the purpose God has for your life through your suffering. ~OC
Jesus and Power
Today’s a new day! Have you ever thought about or asked the question “Why didn’t Jesus ever use his power for personal gain?” I mean you look around today and sadly there are many examples of people using their power for personal gain.
Think about it. Jesus is stronger than the Strongest Person on Earth. He has more ups than Michael Jordan. Jesus is faster than Usain Bolt. He would dominate March Madness. Jesus had the ultimate power. There was simply nothing He could not do if He wanted to.
Could Jesus have used His power?
When I first started my relationship with Jesus many, many years ago, I often wondered why He did not use His power more. I mean, I knew He worked miracles. He walked on water, turned water into wine, and even raised Lazarus from the dead.
It’s not like He could not use his power at all. Clearly, God did not tell Jesus to hide His power. So if that is the case, why didn’t he use it more often? As a child, I could think of so many different ways He could have used it.
As a child, I thought Jesus could have used His power to defeat the playground bully. He could have won every sporting event he ever entered. Oh, the imagination of a child.
As an adult, Jesus did not have to be a simple carpenter. He could have been the most successful business person ever. Jesus could have risen to the top of the political structure of the time. He could have even defeated the Roman army single-handedly and taken over the world. But He chose not to.
As a child with a lively imagination, I could come up with endless ways Jesus could have used His power. As a child, I used to ask why didn’t Jesus use His power to escape the torture of the cross?
Jesus had an eternal perspective.
Now, many decades into my walk with Jesus, I can see how silly my questions were. What seemed so elusive at the time is an answer that is all too obvious to me now.
You see, Jesus had an eternal perspective. He came from heaven to earth for only thirty-three years and with a very specific purpose. Jesus knew before He came that He would return to heaven. He knew that anything material He gained on earth would be left behind upon His return to His throne.
Jesus Purpose Was Bigger
Jesus never used His power to win fights or contests because those things did not align with His purpose. He never spent time seeking wealth, success and power because He knew all those things were fleeting. Jesus knew it was worthless in eternity and promised little comfort during His time on earth.
Jesus always avoided political and military entanglements because His perspective was even bigger than those around him could imagine. And most of all, He submitted to the cross because the lives of those He would save as a result were infinitely more valuable than the value of His additional time on earth.
I Continue To Be Humbled
When I reflect on my life and look at all the time I sought after things that truly didn’t matter, at the expense of eternal gain, I just shake my head. Maybe you are different, but I am almost embarrassed to put these thoughts out here on the blog…and would not, except for the hope that someone else will gain from my weakness and transparency.
We should be exchanging what this short-term world has to offer for the eternal reward that Jesus offers us. We should be sacrificing our comfort today for the promise of our future in heaven.
So many of you are doing this very thing. You are actually being the hands and feet of Jesus. At the same time, others are silently thinking about how they could be more committed.
It’s Never Too Late, The Time Is Now
I want to encourage everyone to never quit. Do not give up simply because you feel you have failed in one area or another (or in multiple areas). Today, take the time to ask Jesus for renewed strength and wisdom to trust Him to lead you. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Keep leaning into all that He has for your life. ~OC
A Friend
Today’s a new day! I am always so encouraged when I asked someone how they are getting through the storms of life and I hear them answer “I have a really good friend(s).”
This brings joy to my heart, because I know that a friend isn’t required to stand with someone in their toughest moments. A friend doesn’t have an obligation to a person like a family member might.
A friend chooses to stand with you.
I also know that it can be incredibly tough to walk alongside someone in their pain as a friend, because… what do you say? How can you possibly help? It can feel really heavy to be around someone in their toughest days.
As a friend, it can feel a whole lot easier to just stand back until they’re feeling better.. or more like “themselves”… (which depending on what they’re dealing with, that version of them may never exist again).
So, when a friend chooses to stay in the boat during the toughest moments, it’s an incredible blessing.
I know many people will say, “I’ve never had a friend like that”. Oh how I wish everyone did.
But I will say, even if you haven’t had a friend like this, you can be one to someone else.
I just wonder what this world would be like if we all decided to be the kind of friend who outlasts the storms of life.
The friend who sees their friend through their suffering and doesn’t look for the quickest exit.
The friend who is as present in the bad as they are in the good.
The friend who truly mourns when their friend mourns, and rejoices when they rejoice.
The friend who points back to Jesus as the healer. Like the friends of the paralyzed man in the Bible, we can carry our hurting friend to Jesus because we know He can heal. Sometimes it’s our faith that can help inspire them to dig deep for theirs, too.
The friend who is a friend even when it’s not convenient. But knows friendship isn’t supposed to always be convenient.
A friend’s job is not to save. But God did design friendship so we wouldn’t have to walk through the good, bad or excruciating times without a friend to lean on, arms to receive a hug from, or words of encouragement to help us through the day.
I believe a good friend can change a person’s life.
A good friend, with the help of God, can impact the path’s of a person’s life.
Friendship can be fun, easy and light.
Friendship can also be messy, hard and uncomfortable at times.
But a friend who stands through the storm until the sun comes back out or not is…
A truly wonderful gift. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 