Tag: Community

Seasons

I know what it’s like to have your world come crashing down in a life changing way. In 2002, I entered a season of health issues that would effect my life in one way or another for next 20 years.

My career and love of running were taken away, and I have been fighting for my life for the last 20 years. I have been pushed to the brink in every area of my life. I would never want anyone to endure the journey I am traveling. Yet, in this season I have learned how to find and spread deep and authentic hope, love and encouragement.

During this season, which continues today with the diagnosis of covid long haulers, God has blessed me with the opportunity to share his love in many different circles. To share hope with many who feel hope has slipped away. I have been blessed with the opportunity to encourage others as they walk through their own crazy beautiful journey. This season has not been easy, but I would not change a step. This season has been filled with amazing lessons and memories. A season of beautiful interruptions. ~OC

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Friends

Today’s a new day! During this journey called life, I want to be a friend and have friends who challenge others to love and serve the least of these. Friends that challenge us to think outside of the box. Dear friends who challenge us to speak out against injustice. Friends who refuse to let us just breeze through life. True friendships that challenge us to grow deeper in our walk with God. I desire to be this kind of friend and to be surrounded by these type of friends. ~OC

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Overcomer

Today’s a new day. Let’s talk about this crazy beautiful journey called life. Life can be like a roller coaster. We experience ups, downs, twist and turns. Life can be a wild ride. We experience happiness and pain. Life is filled with laughs and tears. This journey called life can be tough. So today, I want to remind you that you’re a strong overcomer. I wholeheartedly believe this to be true. More importantly, I want you to believe this truth. Often we move through life so caught up in the rigors of life, we forget there is a lot of pain and hardship around us. Maybe you are dealing with a health issue that came out of nowhere. Possibly you have lost your job and are wondering how you will take care of your family. The list could go on and one. As I shared above, you are an overcomer. You got this! Stay in the fight. Never give up. We all face difficulties and challenges events during this crazy beautiful journey. Stay focused. Finish strong. ~OC

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Perseverance

Today’s a new day! Perseverance helps one to overcome the greatest storms in life. Without a steadfast tenacity to press forward through challenging moments in life, we would never overcome the storms of life. The problem with giving up without a fight is that we are told to run our spiritual race as “one intent on obtaining the prize.”“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.
We cannot win the race if we lack endurance and the will to persevere through the hard times. We must finish the race God has given us to run. Taking time to rest during the race is understood by our loving Savior. But we cannot curl up and stay down during the storms of life. We must keep getting up and running the race set before us. Giving up is not an option. We must finish strong. Stay focused on the prize. ~OC

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Live In Unity

Today’s a new day! The church is one body with many members, called from every nation. In Jesus we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, education, nationality, economics or politics must not be divisive among His people. We should be united; not divided. Division among believers grieves the heart of Jesus. We must overcome all our differences to be one with Christ. That is the only way we can truly make a difference for the Kingdom. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another. We were created to serve one another, regardless of our differences. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This beautiful unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as His children. So today, let’s make it our mission to live in Unity with one another. ~OC

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The Dance

As I travel this journey, my life has been blessed with meeting people walking through the same dance. A dance no one ever wants to experience. A dance filled with pain and many days sitting in a chair while you experience the drip, drip from your IV. Days filled with tears, but also filled with sweet memories as you laugh with other conquerors doing the same dance. Oh the memories we shared. Our bodies fighting to enjoy another dance. How could we have known the music would end for some and they would say their goodbyes. Oh the memories of the dance. We never thought we would say goodbye. As I continue to walk through this journey, I will think about those that have taken a bow and completed their dance. I will embrace the memories we shared and continue to dance. ~OC

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The Run

Looking back on the memory of a run, all was right in my little part of the world. Lacing up my shoes and heading out the door. Most of my runs took place in the early morning. The moon still shining. Usually not another soul in sight. I could hear the sound of my breath and God speaking in my ear.
Oh, the runs we shared.
How could I have known this run would only last for a season and we would have to say goodbye. I could choose to look at the end of a beautiful season and what I have lost. But no, I will choose to look back and see all we accomplished along the run. The pain and the victories along the way. The thrill of being in a corral with others excited about the run ahead. My life is better off for taking a chance and being part of the run. ~OC

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A Gift

As we walk through our faith journey, we are instructed to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Why? Because it’s the very essence of who we are in Him. Every breath we breathe comes from God. Think about that for a moment. All that we are is God’s. Every breath is a gift from our Lord. He has given life to our bodies. Not only that, but we have also been bought with a price. A heavy price paid on the Cross. At one point in our lives, we were filled with fear, confusion and ultimately death. In one moment God changed our eternity. Today, we are free from our past. Living in the freedom and victory of God. Each day is a beautiful opportunity to live out God’s purpose for our lives. If our identity is entirely in God, it will be reflected in the way we choose to live our lives. How we love. How we serve. How we forgive. How we respond to the needs around us. How will you use your breath of life…your gift. ~OC

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A Love of Reading

I love to read. My reading journey is a beautiful story of a teacher’s love. A wonderful story of a summer that forever changed my life. Here we go.

I did not always love reading. It did not come naturally for me. Putting words together was very frustrating. But one summer, a neighbor and family friend made it her mission to help a young kid learn how to read. Not just to read, but come to love reading. That person was Mrs.Speirs. She and her husband were both dedicated teachers, who lived two houses down from my parent. I was great friends with their daughters. That summer, Mrs.S took it upon herself to help increase my reading skills. So Monday through Friday, I would walk down to her house for tutoring. Mrs. S, knew I loved sports and used that to her advantage. Upon arriving for tutoring each morning, Mrs. S would hand me the sports page and have me pick out an article, which we would read together. She was very patient as I struggled through the article. Mrs. S would always encourage me and let me know she believed in me. What a gift she had for shaping young minds. After reading the article, Mrs.S would have me explain what I had just read. Once again, she had a lot of patience. As the summer flew by, something amazing happened. Mrs. S did not have to sit with me as much. I began reading the articles on my own. I started sharing what the articles were about without Mrs. S prompting me. The words began jumping off the page. I found myself getting lost in the words. The stories became so real to me.

That summer literally changed my life. From that summer on, reading became a passion. I could not read enough, and books became a huge part of my childhood. I would escape into the stories as I read the words. That love of reading followed me into adulthood. I love to sit around with a good book and let the words flow. Nothing like a great book that puts you right in the middle of the story. I love a book that challenges me to be a better person or one that ignites me to action. That is what reading can do for you. It can change your life.

I am so thankful Mrs. S took precious time out of her summer break, to help a young boy fall in love with reading. ~OC

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