Tag: Blessings

The Christian Life

Today’s a new day! Many people look at the Christian life and think it’s full of do’s and don’ts. Some people think the Christian life is boring. That Christians are not allowed to have fun. Then there are some who think the Christian life is impossible to live. Waves of guilt and shame combined with not feeling good enough can create a life of constantly feeling inadequate and hating oneself. So many people fill their hearts and minds with lies that they just do not measure up. People allow their past failures to keep them from experiencing the greatest gift in life. A relationship with Jesus.

I hope this post will reveal how much God loves you and wants you to come to Him just the way you are. God accepts each of us in our present condition and circumstances. He doesn’t need a cleaned up version of us, to start working in our lives. Jesus died for us to make us whole. To transform our lives in beautiful and amazing ways. To experience a life filled with joy and overflowing love that fills us up with acceptance and belonging. That acceptance and belonging then flows over to those around us as mercy and grace pouring out over our every step.

The Christian life doesn’t require us to do more or check off a bunch of boxes. Rather, it exchanges our old life filled with a bunch of junk for God’s love, peace and transformation. A life that is filled with rest and not with more things to check off. This new life in Jesus is about love and belonging, not rejection. It is about being able to live in the impossible while accessing the strength of the One who created us to move forward.

Jesus also created each of us for relationships. First with Him and then with each other. But as we all know, relationships can often be messy and filled with drama. But God created us for relationships filled with joy, peace and everything we need to keep moving and to sustain us during the difficult seasons of life.

My prayer for each of you is that you will experience the transformation of God’s amazing love and forgiveness and never want to go back to your old life again. Please believe me, when I say no one is ever too broken, too exhausted, or too much of anything to experience God’s life changing love and to live out the life He intended us to live.

So do not hold back. Dive head first into the amazing life God created for you. Let us explore the peace and wonder of God together. United in our love for Jesus and each other. Let us live a beautiful life of serving the One who created each of us by serving others. Let us delve into this life together and help make our part of the world a better place. ~OC

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Find Those 3am Friendships

Today’s a new day! Life is full of wonderful and difficult moments. That is why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who will encourage and support you. Those who will step up in not only the good times, but more importantly those who step in during the toughest moments in life. Those moments when we find it difficult to breathe. We each deserve to have people who will walk alongside us to support us in every season of life. To help us become better people.

Each of us is worthy of deep and meaningful friendships. We have much to share with others as we walk through this journey called life. If you are in a place where you do not feel valued or supported, if you haven’t found your “3am friendships”, I pray you will spend some time seeking out those important relationships. Warning! You might have to step out of your comfort zone to find those life changing friendships. Do not neglect the opportunities God has placed before you to find those friendships. There will be moments in life when you may feel that no one understands you. There will also be moments when God sets you apart, in order to grow you and reveal something fresh in your life. But there will also be moments for you to dive into community and friendships. A time to find your “3am folks.” Do not miss those amazing opportunities. ~OC

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Life Takes A Village

Today’s a new day! As the holidays are just a few days away, I encourage everyone to not forget about those loved ones going through loss this season. Whether the loss of a loved one happened a few days ago or decades ago, the pain is still real. Going through the grieving process can be a very dark and difficult time for a person. However, it is also hard for the loved ones of this individual. Family members and friends often struggle to find the best ways to be supportive. Plus, the holiday season can make this process that much more challenging.

If you are the loved one of a grieving individual, understanding the stages in this process is an important place to start, but there are also many genuine things you can do to show your love and help.

Reach out to them. Most grieving people find it hard to take initiative and reach out to others. You can help by doing this for them. Stay connected with them via visits, phone calls, text, email or video chat. Make sure you are still checking in on them in the months following their loss, when fewer people are doing so.

Find ways to help. Come up with specific tasks you can assist with. Volunteer to drop off pre-made dinners so they don’t have to worry about cooking. Check and see if you can run errands for them. See if there is any house or yard work they need assistance with. Maybe they just need you to sit with them.

Don’t be afraid to say their name.To share stories. Those grieving can be concerned that their loved one will be forgotten by others. Therefore, don’t be afraid to mention the loved one’s name and to share stories about the person. Those stories may bring some tears, but they could also bring some much needed laughs.

This holiday season will be tough for many this year, so take the time to reach out to them and let them know you care. Life takes a village. ~OC

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True Meaning of Christmas

Today’s a new day! As we celebrate this Christmas season, I wanted to share my thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas.

For me and many Christians, Jesus is the reason for the season and my family and friends mean the world to me and are a beautiful blessing. With all the shopping, parties and trying to have the perfect Christmas, so many people lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Isn’t it supposed to be shared with those you love most? Isn’t our presence supposed to be more valuable than presents? What happened along the way to constantly change people’s perspective? Aren’t we supposed to be remembering the most famous story in the Bible of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and the Angel visiting them in the manger telling them not to be afraid of the Angel’s presence? We are supposed to be surrounded with our loved ones, attend Christmas service and gather around tables eating together and sharing holiday memories with loved ones.

If only people could really understand the true meaning of Christmas and not be so infatuated with the gifts, lights, shopping deals and trying to spend the most money to impress people. Gifts fade and become meaningless, time passes, people forget what you purchased them and we tend to glorify the wrong things and situations. While receiving gifts is fun and rewarding in the short term, actually caring for and spending time with the people we love is a lot more important. Being together with loved ones and sharing time together is what this Christmas season is all about. Giving back to our community is what we should be looking forward to and trying to help those in need. Saying a prayer for someone hurting this holiday is a good start if you cannot afford to buy anything monetarily.

I know the holidays are difficult for people who have lost loved ones during this time of year, or might be going through a difficult season in life. However, we cannot allow these negative situations to hold us back from receiving Jesus’s love for us and spreading holiday cheer. Do not allow your current or past circumstances cloud your future happiness and the joy of this season. Make the choice to live with a grateful heart for the small things in life and try not to dwell too much on the past. Spend some time reflecting on 2024 and look forward to all that God has for you in 2025. Take some time to count your blessings.

The true meaning of Christmas is what you make of it and not all the fancy gifts that sit under trees and will be forgotten as years pass. Go out and make new memories with your family and friends that will last a lifetime. I promise you – time spent together with loved ones is better than money well spent on items that have a lot less meaning to them. Merry Christmas to you all and blessings for the New Year. ~OC

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Celebrated

Today’s a new day! Go where your celebrated,not where your tolerated. Protect your peace. Always be who you were created to be. ~OC

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Memories

Sitting back reflecting on the chapters of my life

Wondering where all the time went

I can’t believe all the memories and blessings God has given me over the years

The chapters of my life come flooding back

I keep those memories close

It seems like some happened yesterday, but 40 years have passed But those memories with friends from the 80’s stay in my heart

still so fresh in my mind

and I will keep them close as always

Memories from my past are memories forever

Today’s memories may be a little harder to recall,

but those memories from the past stay in my heart and mind forever

Those beautiful memories will never fade

In God’s hands a lifetime of memories is not too long

To keep those memories in my mind

Living in hope, I would love to add another chapter or two to my collection of beautiful memories, for when that day comes that memories are all I have

I will hold the memories of our love close. Memories from today may be a little harder to recall, but those memories of saying “I do” back in ‘99 will stay fresh in my mind

It won’t even seem I’ve gone. You’ll still be a beautiful memory in my mind

‘Cause our love is bigger than any disease

We will hold onto the love that keeps us strong

Memories from my past are memories forever

Today’s memories may be a little harder to recall,

but those memories from yesterday’s past stay in my heart and never fade

They stay forever in my mind

In God’s hands a lifetime of memories, is not too long

To keep those memories in my mind

Memories with family and friends

Are memories forever

I will hold them close

Never forgetting the laughter and joy

The memories made so long ago

Will be what I take when the days begin to fade

Memories from my past are memories forever

Today’s memories may be a little harder to recall,

but those memories from yesterday’s past stay in my heart and never fade

They stay forever in my mind

In God’s hands a lifetime of memories is not too long

To keep those memories in my mind

Though it’s hard to recall moments from today

In the Father’s hands I know

That a lifetime’s not too long

To keep those beautiful old memories fresh in my mind. ~OC

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Grateful

Today’s a new day! I’m grateful this morning for another day to breathe, to think and make more memories with my bride, friends and family.

I’m grateful for my cup of ice tea and a cool breeze on our balcony.

I am grateful for the anticipation of this new day.

I am grateful to be living in peace.

I’m grateful to still be alive, now, in this place and at this time.  I’m ever-thankful for the extra time God has given me.

I am grateful for the freedom to write in my hometown and to write whatever, however, whenever I please.

I am grateful for the amazing people God has brought my way on this crazy beautiful health journey. Thankful to have met so many creative and loving people over the past twenty-two years.

I am grateful for the friends who have stuck with me through thick and thin.

I am thankful that my gratitude stretches around the world with all the people who have walked this journey with me through this blog and my other social media pages.

I am grateful to live in love, hope and peace and cherish this day that the Lord has given me. ~OC

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Forgiveness

In Matthew 6:9-15 we read the following words:

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This is just one of many lessons Jesus taught us about unforgiveness. He shared on numerous occasions about not allowing unforgiveness to reside in our hearts. God shared those who refuse to forgive others will not be forgiven by the Father. Be careful not to misunderstand Jesus’ meaning here. We do not lose our salvation when we refuse to forgive others. Rather, we break fellowship with God because an unrepentant attitude interferes with regular confession and turning away from sin.

Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. We do not often feel like showing mercy or forgiveness to someone who’s wronged us, but but that’s exactly what we’re called to do (Matthew 5:38-40). A resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. God knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside your frustrations, anger and resentment. As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude or actions.

A bitter spirit doesn’t fit who we are in our relationship with God. That’s why there are so many scriptures about forgiveness. We have to choose to be liberated from our burdens and unforgiveness. Did you catch that? We have to make the choice. God promised to make us free when we choose to believe and obey Him (John 8:31-32). Freedom from our burdens sounds pretty good to me. ~OC

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True Friendships

Today’s a new day! True friends never make you feel like a burden. A true friend is never burdened with stressful promises and obligations.  When true friends step up, it’s because they care and because they want to.

Don’t chase after friendships. True friendships don’t need to be chased.  If someone is a true friend and wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You should never have to fight for a spot in their life. Never, ever force yourself on someone who continuously overlooks your worth. ~OC

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Dear…,

Today’s a new day!

Dear……,

I want you to know, first and foremost, how special you are. Those are not words to make you feel better. Whether you realize it or not, your life matters.

I want you to know how you light up the world with your smile when you show it off. So please, show it off more. You use more of your face muscles when you smile, so stretch it out so wide that it hurts and remember when you grow old and see wrinkles around your mouth that you got them from smiling.

I know people are trying to reach out to you to tell you that everything is going to be alright and that they’re there for you. Please – and I cannot stress this enough – do not push them away or shut them out. You may not want to hear it, but those family members, friends, and coworkers are there for you and would do anything to help.

So, give them a chance even when you don’t think they’ll understand your pain. You’ll never know if you do not let them in. You’re feeling alone right now. So alone that you don’t think anyone can see all the pain you’re going through.

I want you to know I see you, okay? I can see the pain written all over your face because I know the look of someone trying so hard to pretend like they’re alright when they’re crumbling on the inside. You’re not alone, you have people in your life, and even people you didn’t see coming, who are more than willing to reach out and be there for you.

I know you feel like you cannot get through this current storm. I know it seems like your world is crumbling all around and you cannot find the strength to get back up. Your days are spent isolated in your house, and you cannot eat, sleep or find the strength to move from the comfort and safety of your bed. You have lost the ambition to go outside and breathe in the fresh air. Can I share a little truth with you? I have been where you’re at. I did a pretty good job hiding it, so most people even those closest to me didn’t even notice it. Some days I was barely holding on.

So, I encourage you to hang in there. You’re important to this world and have so much talent and so many amazing ideas to give. You have a light inside you that lights up the world. So keep holding on.

Please, continue to take one day at a time. Keep leaning into the loving arms and promises of God. It’s so easy to want all the answers right this moment, but this life is not a 30 minute tv show. I would love to give you a quick fix, but that could possibly rob you of some amazing lessons God is trying to teach you in this moment. But I can promise you this. We will get through this together. Keep holding on. ~OC

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