Today’s a new day! As Christian’s, the way we treat people can drive them out of the church or to the foot of the alter. Chose wisely. ~OC
Jars of Clay
Today’s a new day! In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, we read the following words: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.”
In the above verse, Paul is comparing us to jars of clay in verse seven because life here on earth will cause us to be broken sometimes and when we are we always have the choice on what we will do with our brokenness. If we allow God to fill us more with each and every passing trial or heartache, He can shine through that brokenness and others will see Him. Even though some heartaches and storms seem to last forever Paul goes on to explain how we need to view everything in life on earth.
In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, it declares, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” As difficult as it is to look at some storms as being temporary when we know here on earth it isn’t just going to go away, God is drawing us to His side to allow Him to fill us with more of His light and to be comforted by Him. He wants our focus to be on Him and eternity. He wants His light to shine through our brokenness so the world will see Him. The world is a dark, lost place and people need Jesus. The more we choose to be different by living a life that is pleasing to God the more they will see Him. Paul took great joy the more broken he became because He understood that the more weak he became the more God was shining through His life.
Whether we are looking at our own life or the life of someone we love, don’t lose heart. God loves us and He has a plan. We need to fix our eyes on Him and seek Him and His plan. Allow Him to fill us so every crack of that broken jar shines His light to a lost world. The darker the world gets the more our light can shine for Him if we are seeking Him and allowing Him to shine through us. Our hope is found in Him and He wants to fill us with that hope. He wants to fill us with the confidence that whatever we may be facing or someone we love is facing that He has a plan but we must seek Him and follow Him. Don’t look for another way, the answers that we are seeking are found in God. It may seem easier and faster to look for it somewhere else, but if it isn’t His plan then it isn’t His best. So let us seek Him and trust Him, knowing how much He loves us so we can know that truly His best is yet to come. May we lean into His promises. ~OC
Sharing My Journey
Today’s a new day! I did not choose this journey. I didn’t choose to become an Overcomer or The Man Who Refuses to Die. But God, in His wisdom, has allowed me to live much longer than my medical team’s predictions. My blog is a peek into how I run this crazy beautiful health journey.
I am a journal keeping and scripture reading man. In the twenty-two years of running this crazy journey, I have learned to let God’s words flow through every area of my life. God has allowed me to become a traveling prayer warrior, a storyteller and missionary.
As I have run this race, God has taught me to not rush through the stories of life. He has shown me how to slow down and really listen to peoples stories and embrace the beautiful interruptions of life.
I am thankful God did not give me the whole story of this crazy health journey at once. No, in His wisdom God has only given me what he knows I can handle at that moment. Of course, without God I could never handle any of this. That’s why I choose to put everything in His hands.
As I share my journey, I try to be as honest as my heart allows. I want people to see both the pain of this journey and the faithfulness of God in the midst of the storms.
I will never minimize the darkness. Because light shines brightest in the darkness. ~OC
Father’s Day
Today is Father’s Day. I want to thank all the fathers out there. You are doing an amazing and incredibly important job. It is not easy the responsibility that has been placed on your shoulders. I am thankful for the father’s who step up to support their children and the children around them. Our communities, churches, country and the world need you.
To all you father figures out there, I say thank you. The countless men who have stepped up and stepped forward throughout the generations to ‘father’ children, I pray that what you give comes back to you in many many other forms pressed down, shaken together and running over. All you stepfathers, grandfathers, godfathers, uncles, guardians, big brothers, teachers, coaches, pastors, foster care dads, mentors, and friends who stepped up and stepped forward and became father figures to children all over the world, I say thank you. You cannot imagine the impact you have had in shaping the lives of men and women all over the world.
Some of you spoke life in one way or the other over the children in your space. Some of you helped to further the education of some. Some of you spoke encouraging words, words of faith and love to some. Some of you built up the confidence of youngsters and enabled them to achieve their potential. Some of you disciplined and straightened up children on the wrong track and thereby saved their lives, their futures, and destinies. Some of you were God’s hand of protection on children when the enemy sought to tear them apart with lies even as their families were torn apart around them. Some of you saved children and youngsters from suicide. Some even did the ultimate and gave up their lives for some children.
I say thank you, truly and honestly from the deepest part of my being.
It is so easy to look the other way, to look within and not out, to prefer not to get entangled in other people’s lives or hard times. Because it is so much easier to choose the freedom of not shouldering any responsibility, even as our thoughts say when I start, they will then keep expecting more from me.
But what if you’re all they have? What if your apathy is the deciding factor in that child living a life of hope and purpose or a life of pain, unhappiness and destruction? What if the impact you make on one child is passed down to multiple generations after you? What if everything we have and are, is ultimately so we can all help each other come up, be better and do better?
I pray that our eyes are opened to the attack on fathers worldwide because that is the only way the enemy can steal the hearts of our children and wreak havoc on the world. The destruction starts with the family. So, let us also begin the rebuilding process with the family.
For those trying their best to be good fathers even in difficult family situations, I ask for strength for you to persevere, and for respite in the difficulty.
For those who had tough childhoods and are now fathers yourselves; I ask for enabling grace for you so you can be the father that you never had to your own children. That you find direction to the right support systems and yield to their wise counsel.
For those who are trying their best to undo mistakes you’ve made and make your way back to your children, I pray that you find empathy from those you left behind, and also the courage to take the necessary steps to become the father you were meant to be.
I see you fathers, I see you father figures, I truly see you. I appreciate you for the love, discipline, and the countless sacrifices, many of which no one will ever know about. Thank you for teaching correction, discipline, good morals, kindness, generosity, strength, teamwork, and all manner of right living.
You are a rare gem and you have made a tremendous difference. It is a sacrifice that’s worth it. I say thank you to all the fathers and father figures. Each of you are God’s hands and feet on earth.
Happy Father’s Day! ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 