Dear Lord, we humbly approach you with hearts overflowing with thankfulness and praise. Your boundless love and mercy and your enduring faithfulness fills us with awe. We are grateful for the precious gift of life; for every breath we take and for every heartbeat. Lord, we thank you for all the blessings you have generously given. We are thankful for the people you have brought into our lives. We are deeply grateful for the precious gift of your son, Jesus Christ. We humbly seek your forgiveness for the times we have fallen short and for the moments we overlook the blessings you have granted us. We commit to follow you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
Lord, we humbly ask for your healing touch in every aspect of our lives – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Heal all illnesses, Lord, all diseases, and all weaknesses in our bodies. Mend every emotional wound and soothe every heartache, and heal every trauma. Lord, renew our minds and transform them through your word and fill us with your peace. We ask for your protection over our lives, and the lives of our loved ones. Lord, shield us from every deception and every trap set by the enemy toward any spirit that enters our lives with intentions to harm, to steal, and to destroy. Provide us, Lord, with your peace and safeguard us in times of turmoil by your grace and mercy. We pray all this in Jesus Name.
Dear God, It’s Me Again
Today’s a new day! Dear God, in this moment of stillness and reflection we humbly come before Your presence with hearts full of faith, hope, love and trust. We thank You for the countless blessings You have bestowed upon us, and for Your unwavering love that guides us through every season of life. Lord, as we humbly stand at the threshold of this journey we surrender our fears and doubts into Your capable hands. We trust that Your plans for us are far greater than we can fathom. Dear Lord, fill our hearts with unwavering faith that even in the midst of challenges we will not falter. You have promised that You will never leave us nor forsake us. May this truth resonate within us, allowing us to humbly rise above any circumstances that may come our way. We ask that You help us anchor our hope and faith in Your promises knowing that Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. In moments of problems, remind us of Your unchanging nature. We ask that Your love and Grace continue to shine upon us. In Your precious name we pray. Amen. ~OC
Is the Church Ready for Revival?
In 2023, I attended the Asbury Revival with some friends. During and after that experience, we saw pockets of revival happen across America. But the small fires of revival never turned into a spiritual wildfire. Why is that?
Let me start off by saying, I believe that revival is a gift from God and He grants it sovereignly according to His will. But sadly, I do not believe the American Church or the Christian community is living out scripture in a way that revival can spread beyond those small pockets of fire. The following are some things I believe need to happen before revival can be experienced across America. Remember, these are just my thoughts. Things I believe God has revealed to me, since the Asbury Revival of 2023. But of course, God can bring revival to America and the world anytime He wants. I pray He would.
1). I do not believe God’s people in America are truly desperate for God. We may say we’re desperate for God, but our hearts do not match our words. It has been some time since I have seen a church or faith gathering truly plead for God’s presence.
2).The Church and its members tend to be more concerned about the sins of others and less concerned about their own shortcomings. Few people in the church are so broken over their personal shortcomings that all they can do is cry out to God.
3). In America we love our stuff. That includes Christians. We know it’s all fleeting, but we treat it as if it weren’t. The more stuff we have, the happier we feel and the less we feel we need God – and most people in America have much more stuff than the majority of the people around the world do.
4).Most Christians do not take time to know God’s word. To really let it sink into our hearts. Those that really do know the word, tend to have more of a head knowledge and less of a heart transformation. I am thankful for those believers who not only know the word, but actually live it out.
5).The Church is lacking prayer warriors. Have you tried to put together a prayer gathering lately? You usually get the same few people and even that can be like pulling teeth. Our prayers tend to be reactionary; that is, we pray only when we must. Not many people are lying on their faces at one or two in the morning, pleading with God to fall on us with His power.
6).Too many churches appear more concerned about opening up more campuses and less concerned about growing more disciples. In my experience, a lot of churches that show any signs of growth seldom feel the need for revival.
7). Is the Church and the Christian community ready to pay the cost of revival? When God falls on us in His power, the result must be a brokenness that leads to repentance from sin and weeping over lostness. It means calling the church to holiness. Revival often wounds first before it heals – and I’m simply not convinced that the American Church is ready for all of that.
I will continue to pray for real revival to move through God’s people and the Church. I pray with anticipation for God to move in a mighty way across America and the world. Blessings. ~OC
Speaking in Tongues
Today’s a new day! This past weekend, I was watching a prayer gathering online, where I saw someone praying over a woman with cancer. The lady praying asked the woman dealing with cancer if she had the gift of speaking in tongues. The cancer warrior stated she did not. The woman praying then made the comment that maybe that’s the reason this lady fighting cancer had not experienced a healing. My heart broke. This is false teaching! You will not find this teaching anywhere in the Bible.
Sadly, I have been at gatherings like the one above and have seen many Christians manipulate people into speaking in tongues. They have people basically parrot what they’re hearing. This is wrong and definitely not from Jesus. He never did that. No where in scripture, do you ever read where Jesus told anyone to be healed as long as they spoke in tongues. I have been in numerous religious settings where everyone is speaking in tongues and there is no interpreter. That is not Biblical.
I have also been to religious meetings where it taught that speaking in tongues is evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Once again, the Bible does not support this. We do see in the Bible that sometimes when people received the Holy Spirit that they spoke in tongues (another language). All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and are baptized with the Holy Spirit. All, however, do not speak in tongues.
A point I want to make here is, I believe people have the gift of speaking in tongues. Just like some people have the gift of Serving, Healing, Teaching, Leadership, Evangelism, etc. But not everyone has all the gifts. And that’s okay.
Just like with speaking in tongues, we cannot coach or manipulate someone into having any of spiritual gifts unless the Holy Spirit gives them a particular gift. Some people have been blessed with multiple gifts. And that’s awesome!
Not all Christians need to speak in tongues and not all Christians will. Once again, that’s okay.
My heart is broken, when I see people who are hurting walk away from a religious gathering feeling like they did not measure up or they did not receive a healing because they did not speak in tongues. I believe God will deal with people who preach this false gospel in His own way.
I encourage every Christian to seek a personal and intimate relationship with God. Pursue your dreams and live your life to the fullest. Acknowledge God in whatever you do and he will show you the way you should go.
You do not need to speak in tongues to experience a more effective prayer life. The Bible says that if we pray according to God’s will, then he hears us and will meet our needs. Jesus can heal that person with cancer or some other health issue who does not speak in tongues, just as easily as He can decide to bring that person with cancer who does speak in tongues home to Heaven. There is never a requirement to speak in tongues to get your prayers answered or to experience salvation in Jesus.
So today, walk in the freedom of Jesus and watch Him move in your life. ~OC
A False Doctrine
Today’s a new day! Over the years, I have seen a lot of conversation about the harm of the Prosperity Gospel, which is harmful and not Biblical. But in the last few years, I have seen another dangerous and false gospel emerge. The Patriotic Gospel. A false doctrine that is sadly being preached from many pulpits and in many churches these days.
The following is unfortunately being preached by many in the Christian community these days and another reason why so many people are walking away from the Church.
*This false patriotic gospel reads John 3:16 as “for God so loved America” not “for God so loved the world.”
*This false patriotic gospel views the cross and the American flag as equal sacred images.
*This false patriotic gospel puts our earthly citizenship and our heavenly citizenship on equal ground.
*This false patriotic gospel intertwines songs about how great America is into a church service that should be designed to exalt the King of Kings.
*This false patriotic gospel gives people permission to treat those who vote differently than them with disdain and judgment.
*This false patriotic gospel looks to a political candidate or party instead of God to save America.
I love the United States of America, but I believe it’s time to speak truth and stand up against the false teachings of the Patriotic Gospel and Christian Nationalism. If the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and the song God Bless America hold the same weight as the Bible in some believers hearts, America is in a whole lot of trouble.
But I will not give up on America or the Church. I will continue to pray for both, while truly knowing where my hope and salvation come from. ~OC
What Do You See?
Today’s a new day!
What do you see in the world around you? Broken hearts, broken souls, or even lives that seem lost forever? Some say they will never change or they aren’t worth it.
So here’s my question… If we see these things and don’t reach out with compassion and love to help their situation, are we saying they don’t matter? Maybe we are saying it’s not my problem, or someone else will handle it. Seeing the world today makes me wonder, are we truly seeing all these things but our hearts are blind to caring for others through compassion, sharing God’s love and reaching out to see what we may do to ease the pain? Now for those of you thinking, I understand some folks don’t want or can’t expect help. But what about the ones who want help but don’t reach out because of judgement? How about sharing with them that God never wants our perfect plans, He wants us the imperfect us. He wants my heart open to give someone hope and to show them love and joy through Him. God’s heart beats for the broken. If we cling to the Spirit of God, we will begin to see it is not by sight, nor by might, but by the Spirit of God. Open your heart to those hurting and lost; show them how God loves them today, yesterday and in the days to come. He will stop at nothing to hear our broken cries. So I ask you to close your eyes right now, so your heart can see again. Proverbs 4:23 tells us: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
I pray your day is filled with amazing moments and God’s blessings. ~OC
Be Kind
Today’s a new day! BE KIND, OR BE QUIET.
This is a Kindergarten rule, you guys. It’s the most basic of the basics. Either choose your words with kindness, or keep your mouth shut and just listen.
Fear and anger and hate are already running high, friends. There is no room for more.
And honestly, there should be no room for any of it. Not within the body of Christ. As Christians, our hope does not lie in the law of the land. Our hope lies in Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection. This is a hope that is firm and secure, an anchor for our souls. Is not this the hope that we should be sharing with everyone we come in contact with? Regardless of religious, social, economic or political differences.
Instead of arguing with one another, I suggest we focus our efforts on something that actually furthers the Gospel of Christ.
*We love our neighbor by baking cookies, inviting them over for a meal, or stopping to talk with them in the yard, and get to know them better.
*We serve our communities by offering our time and our gifts.
*We listen, we watch, we pray, and then we reach out in kindness and love.
*We immerse ourselves in the Word of God so that we can grow in knowledge and discernment.
*We treat all people with love and respect.
*We remember that life is not all about us.
*And for goodness sakes be kind. Or just keep our sweet mouths shut.
And all God’s people said…Amen. ~OC
Not in the Bible
Today’s a new day! There is a saying in the Church and the Christian Community that has always bothered me. Maybe it’s rubbed you the wrong way too.
“Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
Not a fan.
As Christians, we can repeat that phrase quicker than we can recite John 3:16, Romans 6:23 or Psalm 137:9. I encourage you to check them out.
Here’s the problem. Jesus never said it. The Apostle Paul never wrote it in any of his letters. Moses never carved it into a tablet. King David never used it in a song.
“Love the sinner, hate the sin” is not a Bible verse. Surprise! Surprise! You can look from Genesis to Revelation, but you will never find it.
To be fair, maybe the phrase draws on some different scriptures. But you will never find the phrase “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”in the Bible.
I guess somewhere in church history, the phrase evolved into being a neatly packaged quip ready for quick and easy use.
It is like opening a packet of instant hot chocolate or preparing a cup of instant coffee; here, though, we have instant judgment.
Yes, of course, I love you, but … And off we go on the long judgment train.
It appears some Christian’s consider the saying more authoritative than what Jesus actually does say in the Bible (things like not judging others. Check out Matthew 7:1-5).
One of the issues with “love the sinner, hate the sin” is that the second part of the saying always gets in the way of the first part.
The second part of this phrase gives people the license to judge others, to hold something against someone else. That doesn’t seem like love to me.
When people use the phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin” it blocks their ability to love people God loves. This phrase brands someone as less than, not good enough or worthy enough for God’s unconditional love.
The phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin” puts condition on our love for others. I will love you, but only so far; there are limits. It makes people unable to see beyond what they consider faults or sins in someone else’s life. It makes people unwilling to see anything more than what they do not like about an individual or groups of people.
In my flawed Christian life, I will never be able to love people as God loves them, or as God loves me.
But something that Jesus really does say is, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:37-38
In the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke, Jesus says we should pay attention to the big oak tree growing in our own eyes and distorting our vision.
We get all worked up about something that looks like a speck in someone else’s eye, but, truthfully, we cannot see much of anything with that big ole red wood tree sticking out all over our face and blocking our view.
If we actually looked at our own lives, we might discover that what we thought was a horrible speck of dirt in another person’s eye in need of removal was really just a harmless eye freckle.
So today, let’s not get so fixated on the things we do not like and make a conscious decision to just love people. Warts and all. ~OC
Purpose
Today’s a new day! We all need purpose; it tells us who we are and how we’re to live. Purpose propels us, gives our lives meaning, and shapes our decisions. Living with purpose is important. As a young man, I longed to know what my purpose was, who God created me to be. So, I read the books, did the Bible studies, men’s events and the different retreats. Unfortunately, I wasn’t learning very much about who I was created to be. Instead, I was absorbing a lot about what I was supposed to do.
Have you ever felt that? That our purpose depends upon doing more or trying harder? Have you ever felt like you had to exhaust yourself to do all the right things and check all the right boxes to succeed at being a godly person? If you have, the good news is you’re not alone. The better news is there’s hope.
God’s purpose for us is not to work hard trying to measure up. It’s not to burn ourselves out trying to do more in hopes that one day we’ll have done enough. God doesn’t have a checklist for us, and we don’t have to earn more of his love. Our purpose is not even about us at all; it’s about Him. God created us to be image-bearers of himself, and that is the highest purpose of them all.
To be made in the image of God means that he created us with infinite value, dignity, and worth. It means we are his reflections on this earth. He made us to represent him, to display his character, and to fill the earth with his glory; he created us to be imitators of him. But here’s the important part: being made in the image of God is not something we do or earn or even have to work at. It is simply what God has declared to be best.
I don’t know about you, but I have spent so much of my life trying to do enough. But the truth is, our purpose isn’t about what we do-it’s about who God is. Before we did anything, before we earned it in any way, apart from any abilities or actions, God created us as his images on the earth. And though sin damaged our ability to bear his image, in Christ, we are being restored. In him, we can live as the images of God he created us to be. We are exceedingly valuable, not because of what we can bring or contribute, but simply because God has declared that we are. Walk in that truth today. ~OC
Christian Nationalism and The Big Lie
Today’s a new day! I have been part of the Christian Church since I was ten years old. The church has played a major role in my life. A positive role. But for the last nine years or so, I have seen so many Churches, Pastors and Christian Leaders, become more concerned about political power and less concerned about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel has been forsaken for a Big Lie. That big lie is Christian Nationalism.
I personally believe there is no greater threat to the democracy of the United States than Christian Nationalism. Sadly, it’s on display at so many political rallies and in so many churches. This bold expression of Christian nationalism- the conflation of nationalism and faith, American flags and crosses, in which giving to Caesar and giving to God is made easy because they’re seen as the same thing. No one can tell them apart. Sadly, some Christians in this country, have turned America into a god. Their primary devotion is to country. But that’s not patriotism; that’s nationalism. And to God, that is idolatry. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 