Tag: Freedom

Love

Today’s a new day! The issue of love for Christians is not optional; God demands that we not only love one another, but that we show His love to a broken world. As believers, we are not just the salt of the church, but the salt of the earth and the light of the world. If you can only show love to your family, friends, those that think like you and your inner circle, how is that showing the love of God?
 
Remember, the love of God we’re walking in today is not earned. We did nothing to deserve it. God loved us while we were totally unlovable, yet He loved us so much that He gave his life for each and every one of us. Why then do we wait for others to earn our love before we reach out to them?
 
My friends, love is from God and for us to claim to have God in our lives, then love must naturally flow through us. The love of God is not the love that reaches out to us because we have earned it; it is love that reaches out despite our errors and shortcomings. Yes, each of us were unlovable, but God chose to love us and has called us to be His ambassadors to the world. Who have you shown His love to?
 
It is so easy to profess love. Many Christians are simply professors; but God does not want us to just profess love. No, God wants His love to radiate through us. He wants us to reach out to those around us in love. Not everyone can give money, but we can give a smile, we can give a word of encouragement, we can give love and a helping hand. Love is not just a bunch of words, actions as they say, speak louder than words. The world is watching and waiting to see God in us; what will they see? ~OC

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ~1 John 4:7

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Gratitude

Today’s a new day! What are you grateful for? For me personally, I have so much to be grateful for.

I am grateful for the love, peace, grace and forgiveness of God in my life.

I am grateful for my bride Laura. She has been a rockstar, as we have run this crazy beautiful health journey. I am blessed to be her husband.

I am grateful for all of my friends and family, and for all that they do for me.

I am grateful for this crazy beautiful health journey. It has made me a better person. So many lessons learned.

I am grateful for my medical team. They have been a blessing to Laura and I the past 22 years and counting.

I am grateful for complete strangers that have shown me little acts of kindness.

I am grateful to God, for the life He’s given me.

I could go on and on about what I am grateful for, but that would take me days to share.

How do we live a life of gratitude?

When you think about it, simple acts of gratitude cost us nothing, but the effects of gratitude in our lives make such a huge difference.

God has given each of us so much, if we only choose to take the time to recognize it. I believe we owe it to God to recognize these gifts and to be grateful.

An ungrateful person will never use or understand God’s gifts as well as they should and will complain often – missing all the blessings that God is giving to them. And it’s only when we keep our eyes on God and all that He has given to us, that we will make the best use of His gifts.

And this gratitude shouldn’t end with only what “feels” good to us. Let your gratitude extend to all things in life, even to the less pleasant and even the more difficult things, which God allows us to experience. Because He has planned each of our lives with His wisdom and love. Nothing is by accident. And everything we receive in life is meant to help us to grow closer to God.

If I began to count the all of the things that I owe to God, I would never finish counting, because each added moment of life is another gift.

Gratitude keeps our hearts humble, it helps us to see everything as a gift from God and helps us to focus our lives on others – versus always thinking of ourselves.

I encourage each of us to always keep gratitude in our hearts. Never letting it fade away. It can change everything. ~OC

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Resurrection Sunday

Happy Resurrection Sunday! I pray this day brings you encouragement. The grave could not hold Jesus. He has risen! Nothing is impossible with God. That’s Good News!

Easter, is a time to be reminded that Jesus sits on the throne. Death could not hold him down. The grave could not deter God’s plan. It moved forward. In fact, it was God’s plan all along that Jesus would die for humanity. His death on that old rugged cross was factored into the plan to save us before the foundation of the world.

I do not know what storms you’re facing today. The challenges may seem overwhelming for you at times. The joy of the Lord may be absent. Maybe you have no idea what the future holds for you. How can the resurrection of Jesus give you hope today?

As I run this crazy beautiful health journey, I have learned that in the depth of despair, trial and uncertainty, the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope. If God can raise Jesus Christ from the dead, certainly He can take care of whatever problems we’re facing today.

As I have run my crazy beautiful journey, I have spent many days in the hospital. In the midst of tremendous suffering, I have seen angels from Heaven surrounding my room. Those special moments have reminded me of the two angels that were at the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.

Those moments in the hospital have given me tremendous encouragement. Sometimes we have to go through the storms we face, even though we would rather not. Jesus had to go through death and hell to come out victorious on the other side and ascend to be seated at the right hand of God the Father. Sometimes our own journey takes us through the valley of the shadow of death.

But do not be afraid. Do not be not discouraged. If you’re like me today and cannot actually attend church due to health issues or for some other reason know this: Jesus is victorious! Death could not hold Him! Nothing can hold Him back! Nothing is impossible with God!

Do not dwell on your circumstances today. Focus on Jesus who has risen!
Dwell not on the size of your storm today. Instead, place everything in the hands of the Miracle Worker. Focus on the One that even the grave could not hold. Walk in that victory today.

Yes, all God’s promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ! ~OC

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Testimonies

Today’s a new day! Our testimonies are proof of God’s amazing work in us. When we share our testimonies we’re making a declaration of what God has done and why our faith and trust is in Him. It builds up our own strength and faith by recalling the ways He has changed our lives. Speaking it cultivates a sense of belief and anticipation in us for the future. ~OC

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Storms

Today’s a new day! Some of the biggest storms I have experienced, have become moments for God to teach me new lessons. Through those experiences, God has blessed me with the amazing opportunity to share about His grace, mercy, and love with other storm battered souls. Sometimes we have to go through storms that strip away everything that we rely on, so we can experience God in a fresh and truly life changing way. ~OC

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Joy

Today’s a new day! I love Psalm 30:11 “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy”

Clothed me with joy. Did you catch that? We can truly experience joy. On sleepless nights, joy can and will enter in. In trying times, joy in the Lord can pull us through.

The world with all its troubles wants to oppress us all. To beat us down. God came to bring us an undeniable joy despite the lies the enemy tries to defeat us with. God took all of our tears and trials with Him to the Cross so that we can live free of the lies the world wants us to believe. Our hard times can be turned into something beautiful when we turn them over to God and trust that He will see us through.

Our wailing can turn into dancing. Our grief can turn into joy. Our lives can reflect the goodness and mercy of God through our darkest of days. ~OC

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Give

Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, God has shown me more and more, that we truly find the meaning of life when we give, not just receive. And I do not mean material things. I mean ourselves, our time and our gifts. ~OC

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Truths

Today’s a new day! I want to share some truths with you today.

You are not your successes nor failures.

You are not your abilities nor disabilities.

You are not your looks, popularity, bank account, intelligence or how many followers you have on social media.

As a Christian, you are who God says you are, which is:

His child (John 1:12).
Justified (Romans 5:1).
Christ’s friend (John 15:15).
A member of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Assured all things work together for good(Romans 8:28).
Established, anointed and sealed by God(2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
A citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
Hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
Blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians
1:3).
Chosen before the creation of the world(Ephesians 1:4, 11).
Holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
Adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5).
Given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Ephesians
1:5,8).
Redeemed (Ephesians 1:8).
Forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14).
The salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14).
A personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).
God’s co-worker (2 Corinthians 6:1).
Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
Raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).
God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
Secure (Ephesians 2:20).
A holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
A dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
Completed by God (Ephesians 3:19).
Not alone (Hebrews 13:5).
Growing (Colossians 2:7).
Victorious (I John 5:4).
Set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32).
A light in the world (Matthew 5:14).
Safe (I John 5:18).
Part of God’s kingdom (Revelation 1:6).
Healed from sin (I Peter 2:24).
No longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2).
Protected (John 10:28).
Born again (I Peter 1:23).
A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God gives each of us spiritual riches the world can never offer us. Our identity in God is one of eternal security. We have value simply because God, in perfect love, sent his son Jesus to die for us and cleanse us from the sin that beat us down. True freedom is found in a relationship with God. And this relationship shapes all we say and do. Our life choices flow out of our relationship with God. And as hard as life might get, we have the promise of eternal life with God when we put our trust in him. We are made in God’s image, and we are HIS forevermore, protected, in his loving arms. When we are in Christ, we are truly free. May God bless you as you renew your trust in him today. ~OC

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God’s Word

Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I cling to the promises of God’s word. One of those promises is found in Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Even when our bodies are struggling to find strength, God lifts our hearts with hope and comfort. He gives strength to the weary and weak. If you have ever felt weary and weak you qualify.

The astonishing thing is the way He chose to do it. It does not take the mending or healing of our bodies. We do not have to be propped up with the comforts of this world. God did it all with the power of his word. It is true, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). If your soul is starving today, find nourishment in the reading of God’s powerful words and promises.

Today, if you find yourself weary, worn, and ready to throw in the towel, I want to remind you that He gives strength to the weary. My prayer is that you’re experiencing God’s strength and peace this very hour. Know this, one day, you will look back on your troubles, whether in this life or on the beautiful shores of eternity, and you will say, “God pulled me through. He gave me the strength I needed.” The One in whom you trust does not faint or grow weary, and his understanding is unsearchable. ~OC

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Joy

Today’s a new day! Is there such a thing as joy in the midst of trials? Especially when life is beating you down. Wow! What a way to start a new day. Thanks Todd.

This question came to me after reading these words in James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

A number of years ago, as I was reading James 1:2-4, God raised the following question. “Todd, when you fall into trials, and difficult times, do you truly consider all of it joy, as you are being tested for your faith?” Ouch!

It was a question, I could not fully answer at that moment. That question cut me deep. And I bled. I bled from the wound of the Holy Spirit, who engraved this question deep into my innermost being in order to awaken my sleeping heart-fire for God.

The more I thought about this question and prayed, the more I wanted this amazing joy. As I pondered this question for days, I began to crave for this type of joy. No matter the situation. No matter the trial. But I realized I would never be able to do it on my own.

But neither could Job, Esther, Ruth, David or Mary. Pretty good company.

At that moment, I just wanted to fall at Jesus feet and wash them with my tears.

I am not writing this post to complain about my troubles, my trials, or my problems. No, I am sharing this post to encourage you as you walk through your own storm. To say yes, joy is possible during the storm. But not on our own.

God is the only one who can give us lasting, satisfying, unwavering joy in the middle of our storm.

I believe sometimes we think that happiness is the most important thing in life. But it’s not. You see, happiness is only a fleeting emotion. But true joy come from God. It sustains us. Even in the hard times. ~OC

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