Today’s a new day! For many years, I chased after friendships. I was the one always reaching out to try and make plans or to just check in. Usually with no response. But over the years I have found that to be exhausting. So as we enter a new year, I will no longer be texting, calling or reaching out to those “friends” who refuse to put in as much effort as I have over the years. I just do not have the energy or interest to continue working that hard on what is supposed to be a mutual friendship. I am not mad or angry, just disappointed. I pray God would bless you and the plans he has for your life. ~OC
Year of Reunions
Happy Friday dear friends! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, friendships continue to mean more to me than ever. I love when I am able to connect with the friends I have been blessed with over the decades.
As I have walked through this health battle, I have been to many funerals. It’s just part of the journey. At those funerals, many people gather to pay their respects, talk about how much the person meant to them and reflect on the good times. I often hear people share if they would have only had more time to share everything they wanted to share with their loved one or friend. Oh, do not forget about all the flowers. So many flowers.
As I thought about the above scenarios, it made me realize I do not want that to be my story. People gathering after I am gone and wishing they would have visited more or shared something with me. So here is my crazy idea for 2025. To everyone who calls me friend, let us all commit to getting together once a month to hang out and celebrate each other. Of course I realize some people would not be able to make every month, but if you could make it to a few gatherings throughout 2025, I would be forever grateful. For those that might not be able to make any of the gatherings based on geography, I propose we commit to meeting on Zoom once a month. No excuses for not being able to connect and share life together. We could even plan individual monthly phone calls if that works better for you. Based on my health, maybe we could do a few “Road Trips Reunions.”
As my health continues to decline and I deal with the new diagnosis of dementia, spending time with my friends becomes more important each day. So if you would be interested in making the “Year of Reunions” a reality, please let me know. We still have time in January to kick things off. Nothing fancy. Just friends getting together to celebrate friendships. Oh and no flowers required. Have a wonderful day. ~OC
My Room 378 Experience
Today’s a new day! As I sit in my comfortable recliner, in my comfortable apartment this morning, I have been praying and thanking God for guiding me through the last seven days in the hospital. There are still lots of questions, concerns and unknowns, but this early morning I am filled with peace. A peace that no person or circumstance can take away from me.
The past few months I have felt God wanting to have a deep conversation with me, but there was always some distractions that kept that conversation from happening. Then on New Year’s Eve, the last day of 2024, I was rushed to the ER with stroke like symptoms. After ruling out a stroke, the doctors decide to admit me for observation. Little did I know that this would be the time Jesus chose to speak to me. I wish I had the eloquent words to write down what I experienced on New Year’s Eve in room 378 that has filled me with peace, expectation and urgency. (If you want to know about my experience in room number 378, please contact me and I can share it with you). But just like the enemy likes to do, the next few days were filled with challenging moments. But as I sit here on January 7, 2025 at 3:14am, I am choosing to only remember the peace and awe I felt on the last night of 2024.
As I shared above, the experience on New Year’s Eve has filled me even more with a sense of expectation and urgency. Expectation that God is getting ready to do some amazing things, but also the urgency to share, pray, serve and write more. This experience has given me even more of a longing to share everything God has done and continues to do in regard to my crazy beautiful health journey. I want to experience even more of God’s freedom. I want to wake up each morning with delight for a new day.
As I have been up praying this morning, that sense of urgency has become stronger. I so desire for my life to have significance because of what Jesus has done and continues to do in my life. I feel laser focused on living out my days serving Jesus and others. This urgency has nothing to do with checking off a bucket list of some kind. Instead, I feel even more driven to create a legacy that points people to a relationship with Jesus.
During this twenty-two year health journey my priorities changed. My Room 378 Experience has changed me even more. I have never cared about spending money or time on material objects or activities that have no lasting impact on people’s lives. But that desire has grown even stronger. I want to conserve my time, energy, and resources for those activities that will leave an eternal imprint on my part of the world and on those God brings my way. I want to spend even more time in prayer for those I love and for this broken world.
I wake up every morning with a desire to encourage and love on people. I pray through my Room 378 Experience, that Jesus will show Himself through me even more in my little sphere of influence. Jesus put me with all my flaws, talents, life experiences, joys and sorrows, onto this earth for a reason – a purpose that He designed me to fulfill. I seek to savor each moment Jesus gives me to love and live for Him. That is my sense of urgency. It is my prayer every morning before my feet hit the ground that this day my life will not be spent in my own pursuits, but I will be a vessel for Him to touch those He places in my path. ~OC
Breakthrough
Today’s a new day! Prayer is about a relationship with Jesus. When we pray, we are committing our concerns, our worries, hurts, fears and joys to the One who wants to do life with us. We are spending time talking with Him just like a best friend. We need to stop making prayer a one way street, and grow in our relationship with the only one who will never fail us and who is always there for us. He is calling us to spend more time with Him. So my friend, pray about everything! Did you get that? Pray about everything. There are many scriptures that encourage us to pray.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~Philippians 4:6
God says commit your plans to Him. He wants us to surrender everything to Him. He wants to carry our burdens. God wants to do life with us. The trouble lies when we try to keep carrying ourselves and then get upset when the changes we are crying out for don’t seem to change, or go our way.
We need to learn to let go…..
So, today surrender your whole heart to Jesus. Give Him your life, your concerns, and worries today. Lay it all before Him and then trust what He is doing. Pray for spiritual eyes to see things His way because it doesn’t always go the way we want, but it’s always for our good when we live in relationship with Him.
Maybe you have found deep hurt after praying, or things went badly and you feel scared to let go. I get it. We have all been there. This can be so hard. But when we realize just how much God loves us and His plans for us are good, everything changes and we find healing. We can find beauty from the ashes. The key is to surrender it all to the Lord. Then trust that God is working it all out for our good.
God never promised us a life without trouble, but He did promise He would walk through it with us. So when life throws you a curve ball or you’re stressed out about the pressures of life, stop and do this one thing. Pray. God really does want us to pray about everything because He cares for every area of our lives.
As we have just started a New Year, I know many are praying about a breakthrough in your life. Here are some things I have learned over the years about experiencing your breakthrough.
1). Spend time with the God all day every day through conversation with Him, with worship music, or just sit in His silence. Listen and read scripture. Taking time to journal everything He is saying to you.
2). Repent. Sometimes we get so caught up in us, we forget about Him, so it’s important to ask for forgiveness when we have lost focus.
3). Surrender your plans for His plans. Sometimes it’s just a perspective change in seeing the blessings in the hardship. Learning to totally depend on Jesus is key to knowing His loving character better.
4). Ask for prayer from trusted and Godly family and friends to help carry you in prayer through this season.
5) Be specific in your prayers. Spend time talking and listen to Jesus telling Him exactly what you need. Rather than just saying Lord help me, pray specifically for what you want or need and pray in Jesus name (there is power in the name of Jesus!)! Pray wherever you are and while you are doing all the things, just like you would talk to your best friend. Always praying. Always in conversation with Him being specific.
Here is a prayer, I hope will help guide you through this season.
Dear God, I am struggling to know what to do and how to persevere in this. but God you need me to depend on you and not on my own strength so help me to surrender this over to you. Please forgive me for not despending on you. Where I am weak you are strong so I will depend on you today, so you show up and its not me. Forgive me for carrying the burdens you never intended for me to carry and I release it all over to you today ___________ (speak outloud your struggles you are battling with today).
I pray this post helps you as God prepares you for your breakthrough. Blessings. ~OC
The Christian Life
Today’s a new day! Many people look at the Christian life and think it’s full of do’s and don’ts. Some people think the Christian life is boring. That Christians are not allowed to have fun. Then there are some who think the Christian life is impossible to live. Waves of guilt and shame combined with not feeling good enough can create a life of constantly feeling inadequate and hating oneself. So many people fill their hearts and minds with lies that they just do not measure up. People allow their past failures to keep them from experiencing the greatest gift in life. A relationship with Jesus.
I hope this post will reveal how much God loves you and wants you to come to Him just the way you are. God accepts each of us in our present condition and circumstances. He doesn’t need a cleaned up version of us, to start working in our lives. Jesus died for us to make us whole. To transform our lives in beautiful and amazing ways. To experience a life filled with joy and overflowing love that fills us up with acceptance and belonging. That acceptance and belonging then flows over to those around us as mercy and grace pouring out over our every step.
The Christian life doesn’t require us to do more or check off a bunch of boxes. Rather, it exchanges our old life filled with a bunch of junk for God’s love, peace and transformation. A life that is filled with rest and not with more things to check off. This new life in Jesus is about love and belonging, not rejection. It is about being able to live in the impossible while accessing the strength of the One who created us to move forward.
Jesus also created each of us for relationships. First with Him and then with each other. But as we all know, relationships can often be messy and filled with drama. But God created us for relationships filled with joy, peace and everything we need to keep moving and to sustain us during the difficult seasons of life.
My prayer for each of you is that you will experience the transformation of God’s amazing love and forgiveness and never want to go back to your old life again. Please believe me, when I say no one is ever too broken, too exhausted, or too much of anything to experience God’s life changing love and to live out the life He intended us to live.
So do not hold back. Dive head first into the amazing life God created for you. Let us explore the peace and wonder of God together. United in our love for Jesus and each other. Let us live a beautiful life of serving the One who created each of us by serving others. Let us delve into this life together and help make our part of the world a better place. ~OC
Guiding My Steps
Today’s a new day! I am thankful as I have run this crazy beautiful health journey, that God did not reveal every step, bump, pothole or curve along this twenty-two years and counting health journey. I cannot imagine how I would have lived out this race, if I would have known how long the journey would be and all that I would have to endure. Knowing the whole story in advance would have been overwhelming. God may not have shown me every twist and turn of this health journey, but He has guided my every step. And as I have leaned into His promises, I have been amazed at everything God has brought me through.
My life and journey has not been about perfection. I have found that one of the keys to living out the toughest moments in life is my daily commitment to serve God in my words and actions. God will never abandon me as I continue to run through the bumps in the road of this health journey. There will be better days ahead and God will be with me every step of the way. ~OC
LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance ~Psalm 16:5-6
Be Your Own Best Healthcare Advocate
Today’s a new day! I have been what my bride calls a “Professional Patient” for almost twenty-three years now. During this journey, I have encountered health professionals who appeared to be more concerned about egos and status than they did my well-being. For some medical providers, I was just a name on a file who happened to have very good health insurance coverage. They knew more than me because they had the title of Doctor attached to their name. Being so foreign to how the world of healthcare worked, Laura and I just went along with whatever the doctors or medical professionals directed us to do. They’re the professionals. They know what’s best for me. Right? In the famous words of Lee Corso from GameDay on ESPN, “Not so fast my friend.”
As Laura and I began to navigate this new world called the healthcare system, we found out that the most important voices were our own. If we did not stand up for my medical needs, who else would? That’s when we realized we needed to become not only our own healthcare advocates, but we needed to help other patients walking through their own crazy beautiful health journey. We recognized being a “Professional Patient” was actually a full time job.
Over the years, we have had to privately and sometimes publicly voiced some of my medical concerns. Which is not naturally part of my DNA. Or so I thought. But this is my life and my health we are talking about. As Laura and I have weaved our way through the world of health challenges, here are some of the most important pieces of advice I believe I can offer for those walking through their own health journey.
* Do not wait to speak up and share your thoughts and concerns. You know your body better than anybody else. If something doesn’t feel right or sound right speak up. If your medical team truly cares for you they will welcome this dialogue.
*Do not be afraid to get a second or third opinion. This is your life. We only get one.
*Do not be afraid to change doctors or hospitals if needed. Find a medical team that you truly feel has your best interest at heart.
*Have a great support system that can speak up on your behalf when you are unable to.
*Never stop learning about new treatments and medications that pertain to your health issue. Do not hesitate to share that information with your medical team. Once again, if your medical team cares for your well-being they will welcome those conversations.
*Take the time if your health allows, to help someone else navigate through this overwhelming healthcare system .
*Remember, it’s called practicing medicine for a reason. Your doctor and medical staff are human. Mistakes can happen. Allow those to be a teaching moment for all parties involved. Be kind and respectful, but firm.
*Be patient with yourself and your medical team. The healthcare system can be messy, stressful and complicated. Do not be afraid to show a little grace to yourself and others.
I really hope this helps someone navigating through a maze called the healthcare system. Be Your Own Best Healthcare Advocate. ~OC
Significant Life
Today’s a new day! What is a “significant life?” That is a question many will be asking as we move into a new year. I believe a significant life can be measured by having great worth and value–forged by carefully chosen crossroads leading to the sum of a life well lived. It is a life whose moments are not wasted on the material or ordinary, but excavates the ordinary as sacred because God is there.
I am eternally grateful for meeting God at a early age; that He pulled me close and began to open my eyes to eternal matters–but I regret the times I’ve wandered through the “ordinary” days grumbling and complaining as I waded through the difficult days, and frivolously moved carefree through seasons which could have been spent with more purpose.
As five decades of life are closely coming to a close, the brevity of life as described in Psalm 90 bears heavy on my heart and one thing I know: All that matters is living for Christ.
I do not want to waste another single day of my life. I desire to truly live my life for God until I breathe my last breath. I desire to live all out for His glory–whatever that may look like in this journey called life.
As a young man, I am not sure I took seriously the warnings of the wise men of God, “Don’t miss out on God’s will for your life!” I wasn’t exactly sure what His will was for me, and I am sure at times I missed it. Now that I’m older, His will seems more clear, single-focused, and less complicated. I can sum it up in three words: Simply Glorify Him.
The driving passion of my life is expressed by God in Numbers 14:21:
Indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.
But what does that look like? For me, I believe Jesus gives us the answer in John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.”
As I write this post, emotions are swirling all around me. Tears, Missed Opportunities and Regret to name a few. But one emotion burst through like a ray of sunshine… Hope. That deep down hope that feels me with peace and promises for a great and exciting life. A hope that sustains me through the toughest storms
I want to challenge you to stop what you are doing right now and consider these questions:
Is my life significant?
Am I wasting my God given gifts and talents?
Am I bearing fruit?
What is the driving passion in my life?
How can I best use my remaining days to live out the purpose God has created for me in the remaining time I have on earth to bring Him glory?
I believe the answer to those six questions can lead us to living a significant life. ~OC
Happy New Year!
Today’s a new day! Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025. Not sure about you, but I look forward with great excitement, wondering what God has planned for me this coming new year. What new opportunities will reveal themselves? What new lessons will present themselves? A new year is full of endless possibilities.
As we gear up for a new year, I believe it’s important to take a little time to reflect on the past year. Doing this I believe helps to view each year as a season, understanding that God is Sovereign and has new seasons of experiences and growth to make us more like Him. I can testify 2024 was full of many different emotions. There were moments of grief, but there were also times of joy and happiness. A year filled with many memories and lessons.
As we take some time to reflect back on 2024, it helps us to remember that God is in total control and that we are constantly growing as His children and that He knows the plans He has for each of us. Plans of new wisdom, insight and understanding that He wants to impart to us, if we will allow Him to.
It also gives us an exciting and fresh new outlook of the coming year and enables us to leave the past where it belongs. Not that we forget the past but learn from it and move forward into our present future with open hearts and minds to receive whatever God has for us.
With that said, here are some ways we can look forward to in 2025.
New Beginnings: Start out 2025 with a fresh point of view of new experiences, opportunities, memories and blessings. Have an open mind and heart to where ever God may want to take you with full assurance and confidence that He is always with you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
New Possibilities: There are no limit to what God can do in your life and nothing is impossible with God. God opens doors that no one can shut and also closes doors that no one can open. The possibilities are endless with God. (Philippians 4:13)
New Plans: We walk into 2025 like a blank canvas. Be in prayer for what God has planned for you and be willing to walk by faith in obedience as you follow His leading. Remember that His plans are always for good and not for evil to give you a future and a Hope. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
New Purpose: As you look ahead, God always has a plan and a purpose for what you will go through and experience. Remember that God always has a reason for what He allows in your life and through it you can trust Him completely. (Proverbs 1:3-5)
New Provisions: The Bible says to not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries of its own. In 2025, trust in God who knows everything you need. He is our Hope and our Provider. God is faithful and He will do it. (Matthew 6:1-33)
New Growth: When we are willing to let go and let God work in and through us, He will always stretch us and grow us. It is an important part of the growth process. I pray we will all continue to grow in our relationship with God and in His Word. In 2025, allow God to mold you and make you pliable in the potters hand and then watch the master craftsman work in your life in amazing ways.
New Wisdom: With new experiences and new lessons comes new wisdom and insight. Always make it a priority to seek out wisdom as hidden treasure or fine gold. In Proverbs it says that it will be like a garland of grace around your neck and honor you and present you with a crown of splendor. (Proverbs 4:7-9)
Renewed Peace: As you go through new experiences and new adventures whether they are good or bad, my encouragement is to keep your eyes fixed on God and He will give you rest and peace, because He is our peace and loves us and cares for each of us deeply. (John 16:33)
As we spend some time in reflection about 2024, let us give thanks to God for getting us through another year as we look forward to what He has for us in 2025 and praise Him that He is faithful and worthy to be praised. ~OC
A Day In The Life
Today’s a new day! Ever wondered what a day living with chronic illness and health challenges looks like? Today I will take you on a journey into the twist and turns of a day living with long-term health issues.
From the moment I wake up, I’m already facing barriers. My chronic illnesses make it difficult to get going. For those not aware, based on my health issues, I have slept in a recliner for about the past twenty years. It’s just too hard to get in and out of a bed. Every day is a balancing act where I have to be mindful of my energy levels and make sure that I’m taking time to rest.
An Introduction To My Health Journey:
In 2002, I was diagnosed with multiple forms of arthritis. That year was filled with a lot of experimental treatments. Then in 2003, I was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully I was able to have surgery to remove the tumor and never had to walk through the struggle of chemo and radiation. Let’s speed things up. From 2007-2024, I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Myasthenia Gravis, Gastroparesis, Type 2 Diabetes based on all the steroids, had a stroke, diagnosed with cluster headaches and just a few months ago was diagnosed with early onset dementia. That’s my rap sheet!
What My Night and Morning Looks Like :
Based on my neurological issues, I am up and down most of the night. So I never wake up feeling rested. I wake up stiff, so I need to move around and take a host of medications in the morning. Of course meds have side effects, so that can be difficult.
Since I deal with gastroparesis, eating has been a major issue for many years. That makes taking in fluids and food a huge and painful task. So every meal, every day is an adventure.
My mornings are dedicated to spending time with God, journaling and trying to exercise. For me, walking is the best type of exercise for me. I never know how many laps I will be able to get in. I have to be careful not to overdo it. If I do overdo it, my body will pay for it the rest of the day. I spend some time each day for reflecting on life and looking at how I can hopefully encourage others as I continue running this journey. These days, I tend to take a lot of short cat naps. Over the last year, the pain has increased, so that’s a daily struggle. Unfortunately, pain meds and gastroparesis do not really care for each other. So most days, I just live with the pain.
One thing I choose to do everyday is get dressed. I never lay around in my sleeping clothes. It makes me feel good to get cleaned up and get dressed.
My favorite part of any day is spending time with my bride and friends that choose to reach out. Spending time with loved ones is very important to me. I love sitting around and enjoying great conversations. Also, I try to read every day. My love for reading has been challenging the last few years, since it’s hard to stay concentrated. I also spend time listening to music each day. Music can make everything a little bit better.
In the evening, Laura and I like to talk about our day and possibly watch a little television. Based on my day, my bedtime varies. But since I sleep in my recliner, I can fall asleep anytime my body and brain allows me to. Every night is an adventure.
What I consider a daily self-care must do:
Writing about what I’m grateful for in my journal helps me remember the positives, even on those really hard days. Living with long-term health conditions can be exhausting and can be very negative if you allow it to get on top of you.
Several people have asked if I had one day without pain and could step away from my health journey what would I do?
I would lace up my running shoes and go for a very long run. For those new to my journey, in my healthier days I was blessed to complete 350 marathons.
Another question people asked me a lot: Is there anything I would like to share about daily living with chronic illness and life challenges?
There’s a lot, but I do not want to make this post any longer than it already is. One of my hopes is, people will realise that we never know what someone else is really going through. So be kind and respectful. It doesn’t help when people tell me how I should be living out my health journey. Just be supportive and walk through this journey with me.
By sharing what my day to day life is like, I hope I can raise awareness of the bigger picture as people only see snippets of my journey online or see me on my best days in person. I am not sharing this for pity or sympathy and I am not complaining. I just want to give you some insight into this crazy beautiful health journey.
The Takeaway:
Writing about my day living with chronic health issues has been quite eye opening to me to see how much life has changed over the years. I have a strong need to celebrate the love and support I have received over the years from family and friends. Writing this post has let me see how faithful God has been to me, as I continue to run this beautiful journey.
I hope that you have found this post to be a helpful insight into life with with long-term health issues. There are so many people walking through a tougher battle than me. So if you know someone dealing with chronic illness, take the time to reach out to them and support them on their journey. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 