Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I keep my eyes on God. I continue to run the race God created me to run. I don’t get caught up in comparing or competing with others running their own race. I refuse to allow my health battle to become my identity. I continue to run with hope. I continue to lean into the promises of God. I continue to trust God’s plan for my race. I keep believing. I continue to believe in miracles. I continue to love and respect everyone God allows me to run with on this journey. I refuse to hate. I refuse to give up. I refuse to put a time limit on the beautiful hopes, dreams and promises of God. I continue to live. ~OC
Love Your Neighbor
Today’s a new day! Back in the day, Jesus made both the right and the left mad. The Zealots were mad because they wanted a political revolution, and he made the Pharisees mad because he wasn’t religious enough. The Romans didn’t get him either. I personally believe we’re at a pivotal moment in our history and I think it’s important to stop and get to know and love our neighbors. All of our neighbors. To stop and love those with different opinions. To truly listen first and respectfully speak second. ~OC
Let’s Do Better
Today’s a new day! Good morning to all political parties, politicians, media and voters. As we navigate between the attempt on Donald Trump’s life, President Biden’s health and the upcoming election both political parties and their supporters bear responsibility for the division in this country. Neither party nor politician is innocent. Each party has made the choice to speak and post negative remarks regarding each other. None are innocent.
So, please do not come on tv or social media and point the finger at the other party. Would any of you allow your children or grandchildren to use some of the language seen in interviews, rallies, political ads or social media post? I hope not. But yet as a grown adults some feel justified in doing so.
As the political season heats up, I pray the negative rhetoric will stop. I pray that voters will start to hold their political parties and candidates accountable for their words and actions.
Politics in America was not always this nasty. Yes, there has always been differences between the Democrats and Republicans, but they used to be able to sit together and have constructive dialogue. Sadly that is not the case these days. But if each of us would make the decision to say no to all the negative talk and post, we could make a difference.
My challenge to all today. Are you willing to seat at the table with someone with a different opinion and have a real, honest and respectful conversation? I hope so. ~OC
Thoughts on Friendship
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I have seen many of my friendships change. More than ever, I have looked for my friends to stand by me and catch me before I fall and break, like Humpty Dumpty.
But like a “trust-fall” exercise gone wrong – right when you need their safety net the most – a lot of friends aren’t there. And sometimes the fall is hard.
The pain and disappointment of slowly losing friends can be overwhelming. It’s a blindsiding blow that you never see coming.
Since my health journey started way back in 2002, I have been hurt by the unpredictable disappearance of a number of friendships that I truly thought were solid.
As I have walked through this loss, I initially reacted the way most who are rejected and took it personally, adding insult to my health journey.
The following questions have flooded my mind at different times during my health journey:
Was it my fault somehow?
Was it something I did or said, or didn’t do or say?
How did I not see this coming?
Those questions never had any real answers and just kept me spinning in an unresolved circular loop. That began to shift when I learned that many people dealing with chronic and longtime health issues deal with the very same issues.
I began to realize that many times the friends who left were the very people I believed I could count on the most.
I began to realize the issue was not me, but was those friends. They either lacked compassion, a willingness to be uncomfortable or they just couldn’t handle watching a friend decline day by day and year by year.
I guess I just assumed some friends would always be there for me. I thought wrong.
Maybe they excused themselves by rationalizing that they were “too busy”?
I have had some friends share they don’t want to bother me. That I need my rest. You can only rest for so many hours in a day.
I have friends not think to invite me to some function because “I did not think you would be up for it.” You never know unless you ask.
Other friends have mentioned they just figured my house is always full of company. Not the case.
Or, maybe for some, it’s because they are still able to hold onto the illusion that they maintain a level of control – something I have clearly lost in many ways. No cold, hard reality has come along to shatter that for them yet.
Who really knows why some friends chose to leave.
I have wondered if it’s realistic to think we can really know or count on the staying power of our friends until we encounter and work through adversity together.
Things that we believe are shared between us – unique connection, loyalty, understanding, tolerance, mutuality, honesty, trust, humor, etc. – are much easier when they are not put to any serious test.
Since there are no friendship vows, I have had to get clear about my boundaries and the friendship qualities that matter the most.
During this health journey, I have had Christian friends question my faith and asked what sin am I living with? Our one of my favorites, everyone is going to die; you just know what your dying from. Another favorite is “Well you have lasted this long.”
Once I got past the sting of some friendships fading like a sunset, I started focusing on the friends who have stuck around. They are more important than those friends that have chosen to fade away.
Those friends who have decided to run the race with me are like a healing balm that constantly renews my weary spirit. Thank you.
These wonderful souls in my life, show me that there are still many compassionate people out there who truly understand how to be a true friend.
Friendships lost is an experience that I didn’t ask for and didn’t want, yet it woke me up to not settle for anything less than solid, real and caring friendships. ~OC
Old Friends
Today’s a new day! I woke up this morning, walked out on our balcony that overlooks my old high school (Twin Lakes High School / Palm Beach High School). It made me think a minute about some old friends.
Back in the day, I missed my friends on Summer Break. I loved a break from school. Loved getting to visit out of town family and playing sports all day. But a few weeks into the break, I would start missing my friends from school that did not live close by. Kinda felt like I wasn’t my whole self without them. No cell phones or social media back in the day. So between school and after school activities we would basically go from spending all day every day together to zero contact over the summer. Ouch. What was I gonna do call my friends on the phone that was attached to the wall several times a day and check in? Yes! That’s what a lot of us did back in the day. We made the effort to stay in touch. I fondly remember talking to some friends for hours on the phone.
As I reflect back on my high school years, I couldn’t wait for school to start back to see all of my friends. Yes, I was that person. Life was always better with friends around. I am thankful that God created me to be a person who really wants to connect with others. I can do the surface conversations, but I truly love having meaningful conversations. Always have. Of course being a teenage guy, that was not the norm. That’s probably why I have always had more female friends than guy friends. As I recall, there was not a lot of meaningful conversations with a lot of my guy friends back then. No real sentiments would be shared. I do not think we hugged back then. We would just be together, probably swap stories and just catch up. I am thankful for the few guys that were willing to open up and be real.
I look at my friends as family. I am blessed to still have friends from elementary school. I hope I have never taken my friendships for granted. But sadly, I probably have. For that I apologize. True friends are a beautiful gift. Especially when you’re young. Part of who we are today is because of the friends we had back in our younger days. Of course that could be a little scary. Haha!
As I continue walking through this crazy beautiful health journey, friendships mean a lot more to me these days. Every day is becoming more of a struggle for me at this time, but my days are brightened when I hear from a friend or a friend drops by. Especially when a childhood friend connects with me.
We were all created for relationships. Especially friendships. I believe in the old saying, you cannot pick your family, but thankfully you can choose your friends. My life has been blessed with amazing friendships. I am thankful for those friends who have chosen to walk with me through life. Especially those friends who have stayed by my side during this crazy beautiful health journey. You will never realize the difference you have made in my life. Thank you!
So today, take time to remember the beautiful friendships you have experienced over the years. Never take one for granted. Take time today, to reach out to a friend. You may just brighten their day. ~OC
Walking Through Life
Today’s a new day! Have you ever walked through a season of life that left you pondering why God would allow you to experience the hurt, pain or even discouragement that resulted?
Obviously, there are some challenges we face that were a direct consequence of our choices. But as Christians we will walk through seasons of pain, suffering and hardships. As we read in scripture, pain and suffering will be a part of our lives.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Jesus doesn’t simply say we’ll have seasons of suffering and leave us to figure it out. No, he promises peace and reminds us that he walked through trials and overcame the world.
I personally believe, every trial we walk through has a purpose.
Yes, you read that above sentence correctly. We can find purpose as we walk through the storms of life, Our pain and suffering has a purpose. Let’s look at the life of the Apostle Paul for just a second. He underwent beatings, was shipwrecked and experienced multiple imprisonments. But through all of those trials, Paul recognized something that is absolutely essential for us to remember as believers – our pain and suffering is not meaningless but has a purpose. And not just in some situations, but in all things.
Every individual God used mightily throughout the Bible went through seasons of hardship. Moses had to flee his family who wanted to kill him, Elijah had people seeking his death, Queen Esther risked her life in order to save the Jewish people, Jesus’ disciples were martyred for their commitment to Christ and our Savior was beaten and crucified on the Cross. But scriptures repeatedly speaks about how our suffering never concludes without God’s power working through it in a supernatural way. Our seasons of pain and suffering often set us up to see God’s supernatural working in our lives.
I have experienced this truth in my own life over and over as I have walked through this twenty-two years and counting crazy beautiful health journey. For the past 22 years, I have experienced thousands of hospital visits, have had too many test and surgeries to count and have been told hundreds of times I only had a short time left to live. As I write this morning, doctors are not sure how much longer I have left. But through all of the ups and downs of this journey, God has been right here with me. Some friends may have left during this season of health issues, but God has been my rock. My firm foundation through the sleepless nights and the painful days. There has never been a day that God’s supernatural power has not been at work in my life.
But this journey has not been a run in the park. I am sure you can relate as you think about some of the difficult seasons in your life. Maybe you’re walking through one now. Our minds can be filled with the following questions mind such as: Does God hear me? Can I still be used by God? How long will I have to suffer? Where do I go from here?
As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, God has helped me through the pain, discouragement and loss. God has taught me so many amazing lessons on this journey. I have grown in so many ways. I am a stronger person because of this health journey.
So regardless of what trial you’re walking through today or what challenges lay ahead, here are some lessons I have learned during my health journey.
1). Bring your pain and suffering to God. Do not run from Him.
When we choose to run from God in seasons of challenge, all we’re left with is our own very limited ability to cope with what we’re walking through. On the flip side, when we run to God he invites us to draw near to him that we might experience his peace, comfort, healing, and closeness. This is what Psalm 34:18 points to:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
Nowhere in scripture do we read that we should suppress our pain, but instead, shows us where to direct it, like in Psalm 147:3:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
During my health journey, I have needed a skilled surgeon to address multiple issues in my body. Those surgeons needed to remove or repair something so I could heal. Like our need for a surgeon to address physical wounds to our body, God desires to conduct divine surgery on our soul which results in supernatural healing despite how difficult the challenge.
When we bring our pain and suffering to God we recognize that there is a purpose and in time the One who loves us unconditionally will reveal his divine purpose through it.
2). We need to fill our lives with God’s Word and good people. The way we respond to challenging seasons is critical to how we process what’s happening and how healing will take place. If we treat physical sickness with the wrong medication, not only will the sickness continue, but it could become much worse. As I have run this health race, I have found surrounding myself with God’s word and with people who speak hope and encouragement into my life, I experience more peace. When we fill our life with negative thoughts and people, we will struggle to experience the peace of God he promises to us in Philippians 4:7:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
So as you walk through this season of trials, I encourage you to fill your life with God’s word and with people who speak hope, truth and encouragement into your life.
3). Do not let your life be filled with worry. Instead allow praise, worship and gratitude to flow from your life. Something beautiful happens when we actively choose to worship through our suffering. We are not denying our reality, but we are making the choice to redirect our thinking from one of worry to one of worship. Worship can change our perspective. Worship speaks about where our confidence and hope resides. Worship redirects our thinking. Worship places the results in God’s hands. Not ours or the doctors. Whether our pain is the result of health issues, relationship challenges or financial struggle, when we begin to worship the Lord through our struggles, spiritual chains begin to break so that we are not ruled by our circumstance but we set our sights on something higher. Something bigger than ourselves and problems. In the Bible, we read about Paul and Silas praising God while chained and imprisoned. They could praise God because they recognized He was using their imprisonment to help spread the gospel.
4). We must choose to believe that God will turn our pain and sorrow into great joy. One of the paradoxes of Christianity is that God uses our pain for our good. Meaning our biggest trial can result in our greatest triumphs. When you think about Jesus’ greatest sorrow, suffering the shame, punishment, and death for our sins on the Cross, the result was great joy. His death on the cross provided us with hope, joy and the opportunity for eternal life.
As I reflect on my health journey, I do not get caught up in what I have lost along the way. No, I chose to look how God has used my story to strengthen and encourage others walking through their own season of trials. That gives me hope and strength to continue running this crazy beautiful health journey. ~OC
Jesus is Enough
Good morning. I want to share a story with you this morning. A true story. A story about a man we still talk about today. Here is a little of his story.
This man was never baptized.
This man never took communion.
This man never spoke in tongues.
This man never attended a Bible study.
This man never gave a tithe to the local church.
This man never went on a mission trip.
This man never volunteered.
This man never said the sinners prayer.
This man could not even bend his knees to pray.
This man was a criminal.
Jesus didn’t lay hands on this man.
This man was broken and beat up by the world. But today, this man is sitting at the feet of Jesus, the same way anyone can by simply believing that Jesus was who He said He was and did what He said He did.
This man had nothing more to offer other than his belief that Jesus was who He said He was.
-No spin from a gifted speaker.
-No ego or arrogance.
-No shiny lights, skinny jeans, or crafty worship.
-No fog machine, donuts, or a latte in the lobby with a cool name.
Just a thief on a cross who was unable to even fold his hands to pray.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that WHOEVER believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16
Because in the end….Jesus is enough. ~OC
Healing and Death
Lazarus was dead for more than three days. (John 11:43)
The woman with the issue of blood was sick for twelve years. (Luke 8:43-48)
The woman with a spirit of infirmity was bound for eighteen years. (Luke 13:10-17)
The paralyzed man by the pool of Bethesda was unable to walk for thirty-eight years. (John Chapter 5)
And they were all healed by the love of Jesus. Christians have been sharing their stories for generations. They fill us with hope. They help us to never give up. To keep leaning into the promises of God.
But these stories also have another thing in common. Each of those individuals eventually died. They did not lose their miracles. They didn’t die because they had too much sin in their lives. They didn’t die because of a lack of faith. They died because their assignments on earth were completed and Jesus called them home.
I encourage some of my brothers and sisters in Christ to stop teaching a false doctrine that something is wrong with someone if they get sick again after experiencing a miracle. To doubt someone’s faith because their healing took place in Heaven and not here on earth. Jesus is Jesus. We are not. So, stop passing judgment and start sharing love and truly being the hands and feet of Jesus. ~OC
Sad Commentary
Today’s a new day! I am saddened by recent events. The more I hear and see President Biden speak, I am truly concerned about his health and well being. But you know what makes me even sadder than that? It’s Christians who post memes, photos and videos making fun of the President, but then turn around and post a scripture or a sermon message. My disappointment also goes for those believers who share a 👍, ❤️ and encourage such post. How would you react if those disrespectful memes, photos and videos were aimed at a friend, family member or politician you like? I think you would be outraged that someone could be so disrespectful. Whether you like the current President or not, he was created by God and is loved by God; just like every one of us.
What grieves my heart even more than the meanness of those disrespectful post and comments, is for those individuals who will never give God a chance because of the examples they see from those who claim to love and serve God. And please do not make the argument that this party or that party does the same thing. Wrong is wrong, regardless of what side of the political aisle you stand on.
As Christians we should hold ourselves and other Christians to a higher standard. So for those believers who find it funny to post disrespectful post or comments on social media, I encourage you to check your heart. Okay, I will jump off my soapbox now. Thanks. ~OC
Not Political
Good morning. Sorry this is a little long, but I wanted to share.
Today’s a new day! We are walking through what will be my least favorite part of 2024. The upcoming election.
Can I be honest for a minute? For me, the past few election cycles have felt like being the child in the middle of a brutal custody battle between two scorned parents. Just my opinion.
How many social media posts have you seen the past few years that went something along the lines of “If you vote for ‘insert candidate of choice here’ go ahead and unfriend me?” Or “If you believe ‘insert single issue belief here’ go ahead and unfriend me?” I have friends and family – people I love and respect – on both sides of the political aisle, and what makes this ongoing disunity even more difficult to watch is that a lot of these people profess to be followers of Jesus.
I have seen the religious vote (and the moral high ground) claimed by both the right and left. People from each political party claiming Jesus teachings as their own. But let me share some truth with you. No political party or politician has the market cornered on Christian beliefs. Despite religious rhetoric or faith-based endorsements, both the Republican, Democratic and Independent parties fall painfully short of the gospel.
And why shouldn’t they? All political parties are flawed organizations that are not tasked with carrying out the gospel. And therein lies the problem: too many people’s identities have become more wrapped up in their political affiliation than in their identity in Jesus.
As this election year heats up, I have heard people from both sides of the political aisle scream “You cannot be a Christian if you support this candidate or that candidate. “You cannot truly be a Christian if you vote for or against a certain amendment.
These statements and those like them should not be spoken from the pulpit or shared on social media. Because Jesus is not a Republican, Democrat or an Independent. Sorry to burst your bubble. Our salvation does not depend on a political party or who you vote for. Our salvation depends solely on Jesus. We cannot vote our way into (or out of) the Kingdom of Heaven. Since our salvation is not dependent on any political stance, that means that our beliefs on education, healthcare, immigration, LGBT rights, or any other hot topic issue does not make or break our identity in Christ. What Jesus did for us on the Cross is so much bigger than a political party, candidate or how we vote.
We are living in dangerous times when a group of people decide their worldview is the only legitimate Christian view. It makes me remember the Pharisees and religious leaders from the Bible who expected Jesus to come and overthrow Rome, and to show them that their way was the only true way. But Jesus never did that. If you truly study scripture, He often did the exact opposite to the dismay of the religious leaders.
As I study the Bible, I read scripture after scripture that commands us to love our enemies. That seems easy enough because we think we do not have any enemies. Right? But what about that person you stopped talking to because their political views did not match yours? What about that friend you unfriended because they support something you’re against? Let’s be honest, in this time of division we all need to check our hearts.
As Christians we talk a lot about winning souls for Jesus. To bring a little bit of Heaven to earth. But are we truly doing that? According to Jesus, the Kingdom he talked about was not about a political party. The Kingdom of God isn’t something we simply hope for when we die – It is something we are to make here on earth as it is in heaven. We are called to unite with other believers (even if we disagree with them) to help bring together a world that is divided, hateful and honestly a complete mess right now. As Christians we must realize that the Kingdom of God will never be fully realized through worldly governments and politicians. It will only be realized through the radical life changing love of Jesus.
We have been sold fear for so long, that we are afraid of anyone that is ‘other’ than us. For some, their identities have become so wrapped up in political parties that they have dehumanized those across the political aisle. But as I study scripture, I read that as Christians we are suppose to be the ones that welcome EVERYONE to the table. As believers we can no longer hide behind a computer or claim working for unity and what is right is too hard. We have to take a seat at the table and have constructive discussions with everyone. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 