Tag: Community

Hope In The Chaos

Today’s a new day! 

The world today often feels overwhelming. News headlines highlight conflict, uncertainty, and division, and many people carry personal struggles that add to the sense of chaos around us. As Christians, however, we are reminded that our hope is not rooted in the changing circumstances of the world but in the unchanging character of God. Scripture continually points us to the truth that even when the world feels unstable, God remains faithful. Living with hope means trusting that His plans are greater than the challenges we see and that His presence walks with us through every season.

Christian hope is not simply optimism; it is confidence grounded in God’s promises. Through Jesus Christ, we are given the assurance that darkness will never overcome the light. When chaos surrounds us, hope calls us to remember that God is still at work, bringing redemption and restoration in ways we may not always immediately see. Prayer, Scripture, and fellowship with other believers help anchor our hearts when fear and uncertainty try to take hold.

Living with hope also means becoming a reflection of Christ to others. In a world that often feels discouraged and weary, believers have the opportunity to demonstrate peace, compassion, and faith. Small acts of love, words of encouragement, and a steady trust in God’s goodness can shine brightly in difficult times. When we choose hope, we not only strengthen our own faith but also help point others toward the source of true and lasting hope.

Even in a chaotic world, the promises of God remain steady. Our hope rests in Christ, who reminds us that He has overcome the world and that His love will never fail. By keeping our hearts focused on Him, we can live each day with courage, peace, and the quiet confidence that God is still writing a greater story. ~OC

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Facing Your Giants

Today’s a new day! 

Every morning on this crazy, beautiful health journey, I’m faced with a decision. I can wake up and allow the giants called my health issues to define me and dictate the direction of my day, or I can choose something greater. I can face those giants head on by placing them in God’s hands and trusting that His plan is bigger than my fears, my pain, and my uncertainty. Some days the giants feel loud and overwhelming, but faith reminds me that they are never bigger than the God who walks beside me.

So today, I choose to fight. I choose to be the warrior Jesus created me to be. I refuse to live like a person who is dying when God has filled me with life, purpose, and strength. I am a person very much alive, with a lot of fight left in me. Every step forward—no matter how small—is a declaration that hope is still winning. God didn’t create us to surrender to fear; He created us to stand firm in faith and trust Him in the battle.

As you face your own giants today—whether they are health struggles, fear, loss, or uncertainty—I pray you will place them in God’s hands and let Him fight for you. You don’t have to carry every burden alone. When we release our battles to Him, we find strength we didn’t know we had and peace that only He can provide. Stay focused on His promises. Stay strong in your faith. And keep running your race knowing that through Him, you are running in victory. ~OC

***You can listen to the Spoken Word of post on my YouTube channel at Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Be Kind

Today’s a new day! Everyone you meet is carrying something you can’t see. The coworker who seems distracted may be worrying about a sick parent. The friend who cancels plans might be struggling with anxiety or exhaustion. The stranger who appears impatient could be dealing with a loss that has quietly reshaped their world. So much of life happens beneath the surface, hidden behind polite smiles and routine conversations. It’s easy to judge what we can see, but the truth is that each person we encounter is navigating challenges that we may never fully understand.

Choosing kindness in everyday moments can make a profound difference. A patient response, a genuine compliment, or simply listening without judgment can brighten someone’s difficult day more than we realize. Kindness doesn’t require grand gestures—it often lives in the small decisions we make to treat others with compassion and respect. When we remember that everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about, we begin to replace quick assumptions with empathy.

In a world that often feels rushed and demanding, kindness is a quiet form of strength. It slows us down long enough to recognize the humanity in others and in ourselves. By choosing grace over criticism and understanding over frustration, we help create a space where people feel seen and valued. You may never know the full impact of your kindness, but to someone who is struggling, it could mean more than words can express. ~OC

You can listen to the Spoken Word of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Trip Into The Truth

Today’s a new day! There comes a moment in every believer’s life when faith shifts from something inherited to something deeply personal. A “trip into the truth” is not about boarding a plane or mapping out a destination—it is about embarking on a spiritual journey toward the heart of God. In John 8:32, Jesus declares, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” This promise is not merely poetic; it is transformational. Truth, as defined by Christ, is not a concept but a Person. When we draw closer to Him, we begin to see ourselves more clearly, shed the weight of deception, and step into the freedom that only He can provide.

In a world filled with shifting opinions and cultural noise, it is easy to lose our footing. Yet, Scripture anchors us. Psalm 119 reminds us that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. A trip into the truth requires intentional steps—daily prayer, time in the Bible, and a willingness to let the Holy Spirit correct and guide us. Sometimes the truth comforts us; other times it convicts us. But it always leads us toward growth and grace. When we surrender our assumptions and invite God to search our hearts, we discover that His truth is not harsh—it is healing.

Ultimately, this journey draws us closer to Jesus Himself. In John 14:6, He boldly states, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” To walk in truth is to walk with Him daily. It means trusting His promises over our fears and choosing obedience even when it feels costly. As we continue this trip into the truth, we find that it is not a one-time excursion but a lifelong pilgrimage—one that leads to deeper faith, stronger hope, and a love that reflects Christ to the world. ~OC

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Prophetic Voice

When the Church cozy’s up to a politician
or pledges her allegiance to a political party,
she trades her prophetic roar for a press release.
She swaps sackcloth for silk,
the narrow road for a red carpet,
the upper room for the echo chamber.

The prophets of old did not sit at the king’s table
to secure influence—
they stood in the courtyard and declared,
“Thus says the Lord.”
They were not invited to strategy meetings.
They were summoned by fire.
They did not ask which side was in power;
they asked who had forgotten justice,
who had neglected mercy,
who had abandoned humility before God.

When the Church wraps herself too tightly
in the flag of any nation
or the platform of any party,
her voice becomes selective.
She whispers about sins that fit her narrative
and goes silent about the ones
that threaten her access.
But the Kingdom of Heaven
has never needed polling data.
It has never bowed to election cycles.
It does not campaign—
it transforms.

The prophetic voice is not partisan.
It confronts the left and the right.
It comforts the broken and challenges the proud.
It speaks truth to power
even when power writes the check.
Because once the Church fears losing influence
more than losing integrity,
she has already surrendered her authority.

The Church was never meant to be
the chaplain of empire.
She was called to be light in darkness,
salt in decay,
a city on a hill—
not a mascot on a stage.

So let her return to her first love.
Let her trade proximity for purity.
Let her be known not for who she endorses,
but for Who she follows.
And when she speaks again—
may it not sound like an echo
of a campaign speech,
but like thunder rolling down from heaven,
reminding every throne and every voter alike:
there is still a King
who does not run for office. ~OC

***You can check out the Spoken Word version of this post at Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Where’s The Iron?

Today’s a new day. And before I say anything else, I want to say thank you to the very few friends who have stayed by my side during this crazy, beautiful health journey. You know who you are. You are definitely in the minority. Your texts, your calls, your presence — not just your emojis — have meant more than you’ll ever know. It’s both funny and heartbreaking how someone can be celebrated as the “flavor of the month” for a season in the Christian community, applauded, platformed, and praised… yet the moment that same person enters a difficult health season, many quietly disappear. Some walk away from the responsibility to love and care as quickly as you can say, “Bless your heart, I’ll be praying for you.”

I’ve seen this especially in Christian men’s circles. Brotherhood is preached. Loyalty is applauded. Accountability is emphasized. But when things get uncomfortable — when illness lingers, when strength looks like weakness, when there’s nothing flashy or impressive to celebrate — friendships often fade. A thumbs up on a post. Prayer hands in a text. Maybe an occasional visit to check a box. And while those gestures aren’t meaningless, they’re not the fullness of brotherhood either. I’m not writing this from a place of anger. I’m writing from disappointment. There’s a difference. Disappointment comes from believing we can do better — that we’re called to do better.

Over the years, I’ve sat in countless men’s Bible studies where words like “iron sharpens iron” and “we’re in this together” are boldly proclaimed. Yet consistent, sacrificial friendship — the kind that shows up over and over again — is rare. And I share this not just for myself, but for the many brothers silently carrying their own battles. Health struggles. Mental strain. Financial pressure. Family heartbreak. So many men are walking through something and feel like they’re walking alone. That shouldn’t be the testimony of the Church.

I truly pray no one ever has to walk the specific health road I’m on. But if you ever do face your own long night, I pray you don’t just receive words — I pray you feel presence. I pray you’re surrounded by brothers who stay. Brothers who check in consistently. Brothers who sit in silence when needed. Brothers who don’t vanish when the spotlight fades.

Today’s a new day. And maybe this is a call for all of us — myself included — to love deeper, stay longer, and live out the brotherhood we so easily preach about.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. May the love and peace of God rest upon each of you. ~OC

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Love And Redemption

Today’s a new day! From the garden where creation bloomed in light,
Where You walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of night,
Every promise whispered in the fall,
You had a plan to redeem us all
Through the prophets and the years of waiting,
Love was writing history in the making.

In a manger lay the Hope of man,
God incarnate, the great I Am,
Healing hearts and calming seas,
Carrying chains to Calvary
On that Cross where mercy bled,
You bore our sin, the crown of thorns on Your head.

But the stone was rolled and death undone,
The grave could not hold Heaven’s Son,
Resurrection morning broke,
Living hope in every soul
The Spirit came like wind and flame,
Empowering us to lift Your name.

And one bright day the sky will part,
Trumpets sound and every heart
Will see the King in glorious light,
Faith made sight, wrong made right
Every knee will bow and sing,
Jesus Christ is Lord and King.

From the Garden to the Cross,
From the grave to glory’s dawn,
Father, the risen Son, to the Holy Spirit-our Helper,
The story of love goes on and on
Hallelujah, we proclaim,
Salvation written in Your name,
Three in One, forever reign,
All honor, all power, all praise. ~OC

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Take Our Brokenness

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,who have been called according to His purpose.” ~Romans 8:28

Today’s a new day! Sometimes, God allows us to experience broken bodies so that we can realize we have an even greater need—a broken heart. A broken heart that needs Him. If we will let Him, God wants to take our broken hearts, and pour His love in. That is part of the “good” that He wants to work for us in the Scripture verse above. He wants to heal our brokenness, and in so doing, bring good out of it. And then, as only God can do, He wants to work through us to show a world of hurting and broken hearts that He can do the same for them. That is part of what He means when He says that we have been “called according to His purpose.”

God actually has a purpose for each and every one of us. No matter how broken we feel inside, God has a purpose for us. We may not see how, but God can take broken bodies and broken hearts and use them for good in His great purposes. All He needs is a willing heart. 

We often feel, though, that we are too big of a mess for God to accept. But in reality, He desperately wants us to turn to Him in the middle of our mess and lift our arms up to Him, just like when we were a child and we turned to our parents or grandparents in the middle of a mess that was often from our own doing. 

All that God needs is a willing heart. Because if we are willing, even though we may feel like we’re are a total mess, God will honor whatever faith we can muster, and take our brokenness and turn it into something truly beautiful.

 Dear God, I pray that You will take our brokenness and use it for good in your great purposes. I pray that You will use our “I can’t” situations to show us what You CAN do and want to do in our lives. Thank you, God, for hearing our prayer. In Jesus’ great name, Amen.” ~OC

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With Tears

Today’s a new day! Yesterday, as I scrolled through social media, I was struck by a disturbing post shared by the current President of the United States—an image involving a former President and First Lady that many, myself included, perceived as racist and deeply offensive. What troubled me just as much as the post itself was the near-total silence that followed from Christian leaders, organizations and the Christian community as a whole. I looked for statements, condemnations, or even thoughtful reflections grounded in Scripture, but found very little. That silence was deafening. It raises a painful question: how can the Christian community remain quiet—or worse, quietly supportive—when words and actions so clearly contradict the character and teachings of Christ?

This moment exposes a deeper concern that has been growing in my heart for some time. Too many Christians appear to have chosen political allegiance over Gospel faithfulness. When loyalty to a party or a person outweighs our commitment to love, truth, humility, and justice, something has gone terribly wrong. Jesus did not call His followers to power, outrage, or mockery; He called us to love our neighbors, defend the marginalized, and speak truth with grace. When the Church mirrors the cruelty, division, and bitterness of the world, rather than standing apart from it, we lose our witness. It is hard not to imagine Jesus weeping as He watches His Church drift further from His example, trading compassion for convenience and conviction for comfort.

If the teachings and love of Jesus are to remain alive in the Church and the Christian community, we must be willing to speak—even when it is uncomfortable, even when it costs us politically or socially. Silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality; it is a choice. The Gospel demands more from us. It calls us back to Christ-centered courage, where love is louder than hate, truth is stronger than fear, and faithfulness to Jesus outweighs every earthly allegiance. ~OC

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