Tag: Freedom

Busyness….A Drug

Today’s a new day!

In a world that never seems to slow down, busyness has quietly become a badge of honor. We fill our calendars, chase deadlines, and measure our worth by productivity. But what if busyness is more than just a habit—what if it’s a kind of drug? Like any addiction, it can give us a temporary sense of purpose or control, while slowly draining our spiritual health. We convince ourselves that staying busy keeps us from falling behind, yet in reality, it often keeps us from drawing near to God. The still, small voice of the Lord is easily drowned out by the constant noise of our obligations.

Scripture reminds us that God never intended for us to live in a state of perpetual hurry. In Psalm 46:10, we are called to “be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness requires trust—the willingness to step away from the endless cycle of doing and simply be in His presence. When busyness becomes our default, it can reveal a deeper issue: a reliance on ourselves rather than on God. We may be working hard, even doing “good” things, but missing the better thing—intimacy with Him.

Jesus Himself modeled a different way of living. Despite the demands of ministry, He often withdrew to quiet places to pray. If the Son of God needed time away from the crowds, how much more do we? Choosing rest is not laziness; it is obedience. It is a declaration that our identity is not found in what we accomplish, but in who we are in Christ.

Breaking free from the addiction of busyness starts with intentional surrender. It means setting boundaries, embracing Sabbath rest, and allowing God to reorder our priorities. When we lay down the need to constantly strive, we make room for peace, clarity, and deeper faith. In the quiet, we rediscover that God is not asking us to do more—He is inviting us to come closer. ~OC

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Love Over Performance

Today’s a new day! 

What if the only expectation placed on your life wasn’t performance, but love? It’s a question that cuts through the noise of striving and invites us into something deeper. So often, we approach our relationship with God like a checklist—measuring our faith by how much we do, how well we behave, or how consistent we appear. But the truth of the Gospel whispers a different reality: God is not asking you to perform for His approval. He is inviting you to rest in His love. Before you ever accomplished anything, you were already fully known and fully loved.

When we begin to live from that place, everything changes. Love becomes the reason behind what we do, not the reward for doing it well. Instead of exhausting ourselves trying to be “enough,” we learn to abide in the One who already is. From that place of security, obedience flows naturally, not out of fear or pressure, but out of gratitude and connection. What if your day wasn’t about proving your worth, but simply reflecting the love you’ve already received? In that shift, faith becomes less about striving and more about surrender—and in surrender, we finally find peace. ~OC

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Holy Week Journal- Resurrection Sunday

Happy Resurrection Sunday! It has been a full week of reflection and preparing ourselves for this day. I pray everyone has a wonderful Easter. ~OC

Sunday: Resurrection & New Life

Scripture: Matthew 28:1–10

Lesson:
The resurrection changes everything. Jesus conquers sin and death, offering hope, restoration, and eternal life. This is the foundation of our faith—He is risen!

Questions:

What does new life in Christ look like for me?

Where do I need resurrection hope today?

How can I share this hope with others?

Prayer:
Risen Lord, thank You for the victory of the resurrection. Fill me with hope and joy. Help me live as a reflection of Your new life. Amen.

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Holy Week Journal: Saturday

Good morning. Just one more day until Easter. I pray you will take some time today to reflect on all that God has taught you this week and spend some time just being silent. I pray everyone has a wonderful day. ~OC

Saturday: Faith in the Silence

Scripture Reading: Luke Chapter 23:50–56

Lesson: Everything seems lost. The disciples are grieving, confused, and afraid. God’s greatest work often happens when He seems most silent.

Question of the Day: Can I remain faithful when I don’t feel God’s presence?

Prayer of the Day: Dear Jesus, I pray You allow me to just sit in silence with You for a few minutes today. Allow my heart to be open to hear Your voice. Amen.

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Through The Eyes Of A Thief

The sky darkens in a way I’ve never seen before, though I’ve spent my life in the shadows. I hang here, condemned, my body wracked with pain, my past heavier than the crossbeam upon my shoulders. I deserve this, I know it. Every selfish choice, every hardened moment has led me to this hill. Beside me, another man curses, demanding rescue, demanding proof. But I have no demands left—only the bitter clarity that comes when there is nothing left to lose. And then I look at Him.

There is something different about the man in the middle. He does not spit back insults. He does not fight for breath with rage, but with mercy. I hear Him pray—not for Himself, but for those who have nailed Him here. “Father, forgive them.” Forgive them? In that moment, the weight of my own guilt presses deeper, yet strangely, hope flickers where despair once lived. If He can ask forgiveness for them, could there be mercy even for me?

With what strength I have left, I speak—not to mock, but to confess. I deserve this. He does not. And then, with a trembling voice, I ask the unthinkable: “Remember me.” Not save me from this cross, not erase my past—but remember me. It is a small plea from a broken man. Yet His reply is immediate, certain, and filled with a grace I have never known: “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” In the shadow of death, I find life. On a cross meant for punishment, I receive a promise.

As the darkness deepens, fear loosens its grip. My circumstances have not changed, but everything else has. The man beside me is not just another condemned soul—He is a King whose kingdom begins where mine ends. And somehow, by His mercy, I am invited in. This is Good Friday through my eyes: not the end of a life, but the beginning of eternity. ~OC

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Holy Week Journal-Tuesday

As we walk through Holy Week, I want to share a daily journal that I have written. Hopefully, each day we will be challenged to spend a little time reflecting on the importance of this week. I hope you will join me. ~OC

Tuesday: Teaching with Authority

Scripture: Matthew 22:15–46

Teaching/Thoughts:
Jesus faces challenges and questions, yet responds with wisdom and truth. He emphasizes the greatest commandments: love God and love others. True faith is rooted in love, not just knowledge.

Journaling Prompts:

How am I loving God daily?

Who is God calling me to love more intentionally?

Do my actions reflect Christ’s teachings?

Prayer: Lord, teach me to love You with all my heart, soul and mind. Help me love others selflessly. Let Your truth guide my words and actions. Amen

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Holy Week Journal-Monday

As we walk through Holy Week, I want to share a daily journal that I have written. Hopefully, each day we will be challenged to spend a little time reflecting on the importance of this week. I hope you will join me. ~OC

Monday: Cleansing the Temple

Scripture: Matthew 21:12–17

Thoughts/Teaching:
Jesus clears the temple, confronting corruption and misplaced priorities. His passion for holiness reveals that worship must be genuine. Our hearts are now His temple—what needs to be cleansed?

Prayer:
Holy God, search my heart. Remove anything that dishonors You—habits, thoughts, or distractions. Make my life a place of true worship. Amen.

Journaling Prompts:

  • What “clutters” my spiritual life?
  • Are there habits that hinder my relationship with God?
  • How can I create space for God’s presence?
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Holy Week

Holy Week and Easter are at the very heart of the Christian faith, and understanding them can offer a meaningful glimpse into what Christians believe about love, sacrifice, and hope. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, recalling Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, and moves through deeply significant moments like the Last Supper—where He shared a final meal with His disciples—and Good Friday, the day Christians remember His crucifixion. To a non-Christian, this might seem like a somber sequence of events, but for believers, it represents something profound: the idea that God chose to enter into human suffering and injustice rather than remain distant from it.

Easter, which follows, is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This is not just a symbolic moment in Christianity—it is the foundation of Christian faith. As Christians we believe that through His resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, opening the door to forgiveness and new life for all people. Even if you don’t share that belief, the message behind Easter can still resonate: that renewal is possible, that love can overcome hatred, and that even in the darkest moments, there is the potential for transformation. For many, Holy Week and Easter are not only religious observances but also an invitation to reflect on themes of grace, redemption, and the possibility of a fresh start. ~OC

You can check out the Spoken Word version of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E.Shoemaker.

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More To Life

Today’s a new day!

Is there more to life than more? It’s a question that cuts through the noise of our everyday lives. We live in a world that constantly tells us to chase after more—more success, more money, more achievements, more recognition. We are taught that if we just keep striving, keep climbing, keep accumulating, then eventually we will arrive at a place of fulfillment. But if we’re honest, many of us have reached milestones we once dreamed of, only to find ourselves still longing, still restless, still asking, “Is this it?”

The truth is, “more” was never meant to satisfy the deepest parts of our souls. That longing inside of us is not a call to gather more things—it’s a call to draw closer to God. Ecclesiastes reminds us that God has set eternity in the human heart. That means there is something within us that this world can never fully satisfy. No matter how much we gain, it will never be enough if we are disconnected from the One who created us with purpose and intention.

So what if the answer isn’t found in speeding up, but in slowing down? What if we paused long enough to allow Jesus to meet us in the quiet? In a culture that celebrates busyness, slowing down can feel uncomfortable, even unproductive. But throughout Scripture, we see Jesus often stepping away from the crowds, withdrawing to quiet places to pray, to commune with the Father. If the Son of God made space for stillness, how much more do we need it?

When we slow down, we begin to notice things we’ve been missing. We become aware of God’s presence in ways that get drowned out by the noise of constant activity. We start to hear His voice more clearly—not because He wasn’t speaking before, but because we were too distracted to listen. In that stillness, Jesus gently begins to reshape our understanding of what truly matters. He shifts our focus from outward success to inward transformation, from temporary gain to eternal purpose.

Jesus invites us into a different kind of life—not one defined by endless striving, but one marked by rest, trust, and relationship with Him. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” That rest is not just physical—it’s spiritual. It’s the deep, soul-level peace that comes from knowing we are held, known, and loved by God.

So is there more to life than more? Yes—but it’s not the kind of “more” the world offers. It’s more peace, more purpose, more joy, more of God’s presence. And we don’t find it by chasing harder—we find it by surrendering, by slowing down, and by turning our hearts toward Jesus.

Today, you have an invitation. Step out of the rush. Quiet your heart. Make space for Him. Because when you do, you’ll discover that what you’ve been searching for isn’t found in having more—it’s found in knowing Him. ~OC

You can find the Spoken Word version of this at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Purpose Equals Peace

Today’s a new day! 

For more than two decades, I have walked a road marked by uncertainty, pain, and countless moments where I was told my life might soon end. After hearing over fifty times that I had only hours, weeks, or months to live, I stopped counting. Not out of denial, but out of a quiet realization—life was never meant to be lived under the constant shadow of “what if today is the last day?” Instead, I chose to seek something deeper. In the midst of my storm, I prayed and asked Jesus to show me my purpose within the pain. And He answered.

What I discovered changed everything. My hospital rooms became mission fields. Waiting rooms turned into places of ministry. Conversations with doctors, nurses, and fellow patients became opportunities to encourage, uplift, and share hope. God didn’t remove my storm, but He gave it meaning. Over the years, He has allowed me to walk alongside others in their darkest moments—offering support, listening ears, and reminders that they are not alone. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to be used in this way. And in that purpose, I found something unexpected: peace. A deep, unshakable peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

Time and time again, I’ve heard others share a similar testimony. When they begin to understand that God has a purpose even in their suffering, something shifts. The fear loosens its grip. The questions quiet. And peace begins to take root. It doesn’t mean the storm disappears—but it does mean the storm no longer defines them. So today, I want to gently challenge you: what is God revealing to you in your current season? Are you leaning in to listen, or are you overwhelmed by the noise of the storm? Have you allowed your struggle to become your identity, or are you willing to surrender it?

Take a moment today to lay your burdens at the foot of the Cross. In fact, don’t just lay them down—leave them there. Nail your fears, your pain, your questions, and your weariness to the Cross and trust that Jesus will carry what you cannot. I can’t promise that your season of hardship will end quickly, or even in the way you hope. But I can promise this: when you seek God’s purpose in the storm, you will find His peace. Even now, as I continue walking through ongoing health challenges, I do so with hope and a calm assurance that God is not finished.

So the question remains—are you willing to take that first step today? To trust, to seek, and to walk forward in the purpose God has prepared for you? Peace and victory are not found in the absence of storms, but in the presence of Jesus within them. ~OC

You can check out the Spoken Word version at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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