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
Are You a 3am Friend?
Good evening! It’s 10:15pm here in South Florida, as I sit in my recliner and write this post. I have a question to ask? Do you have a 3am friend?
OC, what in the world is a 3am friend? I’m glad you asked. A 3am friend is a friend you can call at 3am when the storms of life hit. Where most people would probably not even answer the phone, a 3am friend welcomes your call.
The 3am friend is one of the most important people in our lives. It doesn’t matter if these are work friends, faith friends, or family relations.
You can call that 3am friend because you’re confident that they care about you even when they are distracted by their own challenges or recovering from a hard day. You can also trust them to respect and support you even when they see you at your worst.
Do you have 3 a.m. friends? More importantly, are you a 3 a.m. friend for others?
I hope your answer to both questions is, “Yes, of course.” But that isn’t true for all of us, nor is it true all the time. There are all kinds of fancy ideas and theories about “community.” I don’t pretend to have a mastery of what all possible communities could or should look like. But at the end of the day, communities do one critically important thing: they create relationships. Supportive and loving relationships.
The simplest way to build community is by letting others know that we want to be their 3 a.m. friend. Maybe you are ready to be that 3 a.m. friend, and they don’t know it.
On a number of occasions, friends have surprised me by calling me in the middle of night with a crisis. Perhaps they needed someone to support family members waiting tensely in an emergency room. Perhaps they were overwhelmed by the pressures of life. Maybe they needed someone to just listen to them. Maybe they needed prayer.
Over the years, I have come to realize that it is an honor to be trusted in moments like that. When someone shares their vulnerability, they are inviting us to know them in a deeper way.
If you’ve never done it, I suggest that, right now, you call or text the people that you know are your 3 a.m. friends. Thank them for filling this role in your life even if you’ve never needed to make that call. If there are people that you know whose middle-of-the-night calls you would welcome, consider letting them know how you feel.
While we can talk about “building community” in fancy ways elsewhere, this may be the most important community you will ever have. God knows you need them and they need you.
So, if you ever need a 3am friend, please reach out to me. I would be honored to do life with you. Even at 3am. Blessings. ~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
Cracked Ground
Today’s a new day! In life, we will go through dry seasons. The land under our feet will be cracked. During those dry and broken seasons, all we want is to experience a little hope and joy.
But as we walk through those dry seasons, we have to lean into hope. That genuine hope that can bring joy back to our lives. Like rain on a drought-ridden desert, hope refreshes our lives and brings us lasting peace. Where does such hope come from?
It comes from placing our hope and trust in God. He came to solve a problem that every person faces in life. It is called sin.
The Bible says that because of the wrong things we do, everyone falls short of who God wants us to be. Because of the wrong things that we do, sin separates us from God. But, Jesus came to earth over two thousand years ago to pay the price for our sins. When he died in our place on that old rugged Cross, He broke the power of sin and death and created a new relationship with God for us. By rising from the grave, His promise of new life became hope and change.
When we allow God to take control of our lives, He will bring life-giving forgiveness into our situation and bring us that beautiful hope; real hope that is as precious to you as rain falling on a drought-ridden land.
With God in our life, we will never face our problems alone. We will experience victory instead of failure. We can stand with God and watch Him guide us through life in ways that are far better than we could ever think or imagine. God will put our lives back together again and walk with us one step at a time. ~OC
Dear God,
Today’s a new day! Dear God, It’s time for us to stop pretending that everything is okay. Hurting people need to see they’re not alone. That there is Hope.
This very moment, someone’s pain is breaking through their mask. Someone is on the brink again, facing a choice, perhaps for the millionth time. To open the door of hope or to give up.
My prayer is that we will see them in moments when they feel the farthest from a helping hand. During these tough moments, let the hurting see you dear God. Lord, give them courage and hope, Lord, to trust You with the secrets of their heart.
Dear God, even in the moments of isolation, help the hurting hear the sound of Your gentle knock at the door of their hearts. Show them that this is precisely where You will enter, if only they would open up their hearts to you.
Broken and weary are strange qualifications for Your chosen ones; still Your loving invitation still stands: “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.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
The Cross broke Your body, and our sins break Your heart daily, yet You still call us into a relationship with You. More than that, Jesus, You did what it took to make that possible. Thank You. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 