Today’s a new day! We need to stop walking with a prideful strut. We need to stop being smug and selfish. We need to stop making life about us. We need to stop being a “Me Society.” We need to put the focus back on Jesus. He is the only one who needs to be famous. We need the Holy Spirit to subdue our fleshly pride. We need to walk with a limp of total dependency on God. ~OC
Selfless Love on 9/11
Today, we remember that Tuesday morning twenty-two years ago. Hard to believe, it has been twenty-two years since we watched in horror as the tragedies of that day unfolded. There was a lot of hate perpetrated that day. Hate that not only changed the lives of many families, but the life of a nation. But as we reflect back on that Tuesday morning, I hope we will remember there was a lot of love happening that day.
The Man In The Red Bandana: Welles Crowther, a 24-year old equities trader is credited with helping at least a dozen people get out of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This young man gave his life helping complete strangers.
Let’s Roll: A group of strangers came together to take back United Flight 93, preventing further mass destruction.
Put Back On The Uniform: Retired US Marines, Jason Thomas and David Karnes were complete strangers at the beginning of that Tuesday in September. But as they watched in horror what was transpiring at the World Trade Center, they put their uniforms back on and headed into the chaos. They are credited with saving two survivors.
More Than a Tour Guide: Army Specialist Beau Doboszenski was working as a tour guide at the Pentagon on 9/11. He gave medical aid to the injured outside and rushed into the Pentagon to help others trapped inside.
These are just a few stories of heroism from that Tuesday in September. As we remember and pay respect to all the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, let us not forget there was a lot of selfless love happening on that tragic day. ~OC
Dear God,
Today’s a new day! Dear God, we come before You humbly with our hearts full of thanksgiving and praise. As we come before You, we cast all our worries, cares, and anxieties upon You because You care for us. Lord, we thank You for life. We thank You for Your grace, love, and mercy toward us and others. We are grateful for all that You have done for us and for all that You are about to do in our lives. Lord, You are our eternal rock. Lord, we are grateful that You will keep us in perfect peace because we trust in You. In the name of Jesus, we declare that worry has no hold over us. We break every chain of fear and anxiety, knowing that your perfect love cast out all our fear. We humbly declare Your promises over our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, believing that your plans for us are good and filled with hope. In the name of Jesus, we rebuke every negative thought that tries to steal our peace and we replace them with the truth of your word. We humbly declare that we are protected by your mighty hand and that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. In the name of Jesus, we break every negative stronghold over our lives. Lord, we declare Your authority over all sickness and disease. By the mighty hands of Jesus, we are healed, and we stand on the promises of your word. We pray all this in Jesus Name. Amen. ~OC
Broken
Today’s a new day! The truth is we’re all broken, we’re all cracked and what so many people see as a fault or a malfunction really is something to be considered useful. Turn that brokenness into a blessing. ~OC
Bottom Line
Today’s a new day! We all need the love, forgiveness and grace of God because:
We fail,
We lie,
We hide things,
We get mad,
We gossip,
We’re impatient,
We’re not thankful,
We’re selfish,
We feel entitled,
We’re unloving,
We hold grudges
We refuse to forgive,
We’re greedy,
We think other peoples sin is worse than ours,
Bottom line: We all need love, forgiveness and grace. ~OC
Keep Holding On
Today’s a new day! If you are currently in the middle of a storm, I want to share some good news with you. God is sitting in the boat with you. He has not left or forsaken you. God has the amazing power to calm the storm you are facing. He is not going to let the crashing waves tip your boat over. You may not be able to see the rainbow during the storm, but it’s coming. During times of darkness, I encourage you to continue leaning into the promises of God. The storms of life are preparing you for a testimony. The crashing waves are turning you into an Overcomer. So keep holding on and never give up. ~OC
Get to Living
Today’s a new day! As most of you know, I have spent the last 21 years fighting through this crazy beautiful health journey. I have learned a lot of lessons along the way. Here are a few things I will not be saying at the end of my journey.
*I wished I had lived life the way I wanted and not the life other people expected me to live. Have the courage to live the live designed just for you. Anything else is a waste of time.
*I wish I had the courage to express my feelings to loved ones. Please do not miss the opportunity to share your love and appreciation for those in your life.
*I wish I had stayed in touch with friends. During this health journey, I have made an effort to stay in touch with friends. Some friends have made the choice to move on, but thankful for those that have stuck around. Please never take friendships for granted.
*I wish I had chosen to be happy and take adventures. If you have followed Laura West Shoemaker and I, you know we love a great adventure. Do not wait for the right time to take an adventure. The right time is now. Get to living. ~OC
Take Action
Today’s a new day! This morning I woke up to news of another mass shooting in America. More innocent bloodshed. Of course, our elected officials shared their thoughts and prayers for the victims. But that’s not enough anymore. Where is the action behind those thoughts and prayers? If we truly want to see real change, we must look at reforming our current gun laws and putting more money towards mental health care. We must take action.
My faith has always taught me that we are the hands and feet of Jesus. In James 2:26 scripture shares “Faith without works is dead.” I am not dismissing the power of prayer. We must always pray. But I just know that there are times when we are waiting on God to act, and God is actually waiting on us to take action. When we get frustrated and cry out to God “Why don’t you do something?”, if we stop and listen closely, we might hear God softly whispering to us, “I did do something. I created you.”
But that doesn’t take anything away from the power of prayer. You know what I did this morning when I heard the news of another mass shooting in America? I prayed for the victims and community. I prayed for smarter gun laws. I prayed our elected leaders would do more than just offer their thoughts and prayers. It’s past time to take real action. ~OC
Drop Your Stones
Today’s a new day! With all the division in the world, it’s easy to throw stones at those we disagree with. My hope and prayer is we will learn to love and respect everyone God allows us to meet on this journey called life. I pray we will drop our life destroying stones.
Drop the stone of Hate.
Drop the stone of Fear.
Drop the stone of Division.
Drop the stone of Unforgiveness.
Drop the stone of Racism.
Drop the stone of Selfishness.
Drop the stone of Pride.
Drop the stone of Comparison.
Drop the stone of Political Parties.
Obviously I could add more, but I believe you get the point. Drop any stone that is distracting you from showing the love and peace of God. Blessings. ~OC
End Racism
Today’s a new day! God is calling each of us to actively engage in the work of racial justice by eradicating racism, white nationalism and working towards racial reconciliation. There is no room for racism in our world. Will you take a stand? ~OC
What does the Lord require of you but to do Justice. ~ Micah 6:8
The Blessed Overcomer 