Tag: health

When 660 Specialists Aren’t Enough

Imagine living with a neurological condition that slowly changes the way you walk, talk, swallow, write, or even smile. Now imagine being told that the specialist you need is hours away, has a waiting list of several months, or simply isn’t accepting new patients.

For far too many people, this isn’t a hypothetical situation. It’s reality.

Did you know there are only approximately 660 Movement Disorder Specialists in the entire United States? That’s not just for people living with Parkinson’s disease—that number includes specialists caring for patients with all movement disorders, including dystonia, essential tremor, Huntington’s disease, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, ataxias, and many other complex neurological conditions.

Think about that for a moment.

Millions of Americans are living with movement disorders, yet only a few hundred physicians have completed the advanced fellowship training needed to provide specialized care. That means countless patients must travel long distances, endure lengthy wait times, or rely solely on general neurologists who may not have specialized training in these highly complex diseases.

This isn’t a criticism of neurologists. They work incredibly hard and provide outstanding care every day. The issue is much larger than any individual physician. We simply do not have enough specialists to meet the growing need.

As our population ages, diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders continue to rise. The demand for specialized care is increasing every year, while the workforce isn’t keeping pace.

Something has to change.

We need more fellowship programs. We need greater investment in training the next generation of Movement Disorder Specialists. We need better incentives for physicians to enter this field. We need expanded telemedicine options to reach underserved communities. And we need policymakers, medical schools, healthcare systems, and advocacy organizations to recognize that this shortage is becoming a national healthcare crisis.

For those of us living with Parkinson’s or another movement disorder, access to expert care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. The right treatment at the right time can dramatically improve quality of life, preserve independence, and provide hope for patients and their families.

No one should have to wait months for expert care simply because there aren’t enough specialists.

Six hundred and sixty specialists for an entire nation is not enough.

We can do better.

And we must.

Because behind every statistic is a person—a husband, wife, parent, grandparent, child, friend, or neighbor—who deserves the very best care possible.

Let’s raise awareness, encourage future physicians to enter this specialty, and advocate for meaningful change. The movement disorder community deserves nothing less. ~OC

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Not Dead Yet: A Joyful Rebellion

Today’s a new day!

There is something beautifully rebellious about waking up each morning, opening your eyes, taking a deep breath, and whispering, “Thank You, Jesus.”

In a world that expects you to quit…
choose joy.

In a culture that celebrates outrage…
choose peace.

When pain tells you to give up…
choose hope.

Every smile in the middle of suffering is an act of defiance.

Every prayer whispered through tears is a declaration that darkness doesn’t get the final word.

Every act of kindness in a cynical world is a revolution.

I’ve learned that joy isn’t pretending everything is okay. Joy is looking straight at the storm and saying, “My God is still faithful.”

My body has given me more reasons to complain than I can count. There have been diagnoses, setbacks, fear, uncertainty, and days when simply standing up felt like climbing a mountain.

But here’s the beautiful truth:

I’m not dead yet.

So I still have a purpose.

I still have someone to encourage.

I still have songs to sing.

I still have prayers to pray.

I still have love to give.

I still have a Gospel worth proclaiming.

The enemy may have tried to silence my voice, but he couldn’t silence my praise.

He may have attacked my body, but he couldn’t steal my hope.

He may have shaken my world, but he couldn’t move the Rock on which I stand.

So every day I laugh…

Every day I worship…

Every day I love people…

Every day I forgive…

Every day I choose gratitude…

That is my joyful rebellion.

Because joy confuses despair.

Hope frustrates fear.

Love outlasts hate.

Grace overwhelms guilt.

And Jesus has already won.

If you’re reading this while carrying a burden no one else can see, don’t let your circumstances write the final chapter.

As long as God has given you breath, He has given you purpose.

As long as your heart beats, your story isn’t finished.

So stand up if you can.

Smile if you can.

Sing if you can.

Pray when you can’t.

And if all you can do today is whisper the name of Jesus, that’s enough.

Because the greatest rebellion against darkness is a life that refuses to stop believing in the Light.

Not dead yet.

Still praising.

Still believing.

Still loving.

Still becoming.

Still following Jesus.

And by His grace…

I’m just getting started. ~OC

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My Hope and Prayer for Each of You

Today’s a new day!

As I continue walking this crazy beautiful journey that God has placed before me, I’ve spent a great deal of time reflecting on what truly matters.

When life is interrupted by doctor’s appointments, hospital stays, difficult diagnoses, and moments that remind you just how fragile life really is, your perspective begins to change.

The things that once seemed so important begin to lose their grip.

The things that truly matter become impossible to ignore.

If I could share one thought with every person I know—my family, my friends, and even those I may never have the privilege of meeting—it is simply this:

Don’t waste your life chasing things that won’t last.

The world constantly tells us to chase more money, more success, more recognition, more followers, more possessions, and more applause.

But none of those things will follow us into eternity.

Only what we do for Christ will last.

So love people well.

Love the people who are not easy to love.

Love the people who disappoint you.

Love the people who think differently than you.

Love the people Jesus loves—which, thankfully, is everyone.

Life is simply too short to withhold kindness.

Forgive quickly.

Bitterness is a prison that only hurts the one carrying it.

Jesus forgave us while we were still sinners. As His followers, may we become known as people who extend the same grace we’ve so freely received.

Encourage often.

You never know what battle someone is fighting behind a smile.

A kind word, a handwritten note, a phone call, a prayer, or simply showing up can become the very thing God uses to carry someone through one more day.

Let’s become people who leave others stronger than we found them.

Walk humbly.

Every blessing we have is a gift from God.

Every talent.

Every opportunity.

Every sunrise.

Every breath.

Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less and making room for Christ to be seen more clearly through your life.

Trust God completely.

Not just when life makes sense.

Trust Him when the diagnosis changes.

Trust Him when the prayers seem unanswered.

Trust Him when the future feels uncertain.

Trust Him because His character never changes, even when our circumstances do.

I’ve learned that God has never once asked me to understand everything.

He has simply asked me to trust Him.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

The world is loud.

Fear is loud.

Politics are loud.

Social media is loud.

Opinions are loud.

But Jesus still whispers, “Follow Me.”

Don’t allow the noise of this world to drown out the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Fix your eyes on the One who calmed storms, healed broken hearts, welcomed the outcast, carried the cross, defeated death, and still reigns today.

Finally, never forget this beautiful truth:

No matter what you are facing…

His grace is sufficient.

His love never fails.

His mercy is new every morning.

His peace passes understanding.

His presence never leaves you.

His promises are true.

That isn’t wishful thinking.

That is the unchanging character of God.

If my life has taught me anything over these many years, it is this:

Jesus is enough.

Not because life has always been easy.

But because He has always been faithful.

So this is my hope and prayer for each of you.

May you love more deeply than you ever thought possible.

May you forgive as freely as Christ has forgiven you.

May you become an encourager in a world desperate for hope.

May humility become your strength.

May your trust in God grow deeper with every season.

May your eyes remain fixed on Jesus no matter what comes your way.

And when your own earthly journey is complete, may your life tell the story of a Savior who never left your side, never stopped loving you, and never failed to keep His promises.

Until that glorious day, may we continue to walk by faith, love without limits, and shine the light of Christ wherever He leads us.

May our greatest achievement never be measured by what we accumulated, but by how faithfully we loved God and loved people.

And may everything we do point others to Jesus. ~OC

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Learning To Live From Those Preparing To Die

Today’s a new day!

As I have walked this long and often difficult health journey, I have discovered something about myself that may seem surprising.

I love talking with people who know they are nearing the end of their lives.

It isn’t because I have become fascinated with death. It is because, in many ways, those conversations are more about life than death.

There is something profoundly beautiful about the honesty that often emerges when someone knows their time is limited. The masks begin to fall away. The need to impress others disappears.

The pressure to maintain an image no longer matters. They are no longer trying to convince the world—or themselves—that they have it all together.

Instead, they simply tell the truth.

They admit their fears. They acknowledge their regrets. They celebrate what mattered most. They talk about family more than finances, relationships more than résumés, and faith more than fame. They have come to understand that life is not about accumulating things or building a reputation. It is about loving well, living with purpose, and leaving behind something far more valuable than possessions.

One of the greatest lessons they teach me is humility.

They know the world will continue after they are gone. Businesses will keep operating. The sun will rise. New memories will be made. Life moves on. That realization doesn’t seem to make them bitter; instead, it often makes them grateful. It gives them clarity about what truly deserves their time and attention.

Walking through my own health challenges has changed how I hear these conversations. When your own body reminds you that life is fragile, you begin listening differently. You stop assuming there will always be another opportunity to say what needs to be said, to forgive, to love, or to pursue what really matters.

You begin asking different questions.

Am I living with integrity?

Am I investing in people more than accomplishments?

Am I chasing significance or simply seeking approval?

If I knew my time was short, what would I wish I had done differently?

My sincere hope and prayer is that everyone reading this enjoys a long, healthy, and productive life. I hope your years are filled with purpose, meaningful work, deep relationships, laughter, and joy.

But I also hope you won’t wait until the final chapter of your life to embrace the wisdom that so many discover only then.

Spend time with those nearing the end of life’s journey. Listen more than you speak. Their perspective is a gift. They have little interest in pretending, competing, or impressing anyone. They have learned that authenticity is far more valuable than appearance and that love always outlasts achievement.

The people I have met in this season have reminded me that the greatest measure of a life is not how much we accumulated, but how faithfully we loved, how generously we served, and how honestly we lived.

Perhaps that is the invitation for all of us.

We don’t have to wait until death is near to become honest. We don’t have to wait until our health fails to appreciate the gift of today. We don’t have to wait until the end of our story to begin living the life we were created to live.

If we are willing to listen, those preparing to leave this world may become some of our greatest teachers. Their final lessons are not really about dying.

They are about living.

And the wisest thing we can do is learn those lessons while we still have time to put them into practice. ~OC

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True Difference-Makers

Today’s a new day!

We live in a culture that often celebrates the loudest voices, the biggest platforms, and the wealthiest people. Every day we are bombarded with stories of people chasing power, fame, influence, and money, as though those things alone define a successful life.

But I have discovered something far more inspiring.

There are still people quietly changing the world.

They may or may not trend on social media. They may or may not become household names. They may or may not receive the recognition they deserve. Yet every single day they choose compassion and truth over applause, service over status, and people over personal gain.

I wanted to take a moment to recognize just a few individuals whose lives have encouraged me.

Ricky Aiken- Inner City Innovators:

Ricky Aiken has dedicated his life to investing in young people and underserved communities through Inner City Innovators (https://innercityinnovators.org/). Rather than asking, “How can I become successful?” he asks, “How can I help someone else succeed?”

His work is about creating opportunities where others see obstacles, building hope where many only see despair, and reminding people that every life has value.

That kind of leadership isn’t built on ego.

It’s built on love.

Bryan Stevenson-Equal Justice Initiative:

Bryan Stevenson has spent decades standing beside people whom much of society has forgotten. Through the Equal Justice Initiative (https://eji.org/), he has become a powerful voice for justice, mercy, and human dignity.

One of his most memorable statements is this:

“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”

Those words reflect a truth Christians 

understand well. Every one of us stands in need of grace. Every one of us has been offered redemption through Christ.

Justice without compassion becomes cold.

Compassion without justice becomes incomplete.

Bryan Stevenson reminds us that both matter.

Benjamin R. Cremer:

Benjamin Cremer (https://benjaminrcremer.substack.com/ ), consistently challenges Christians to look more like Jesus than like the culture around us.

His writing encourages believers to choose humility over arrogance, love over outrage, and faithfulness over political power.

In a time when Christianity is too often associated with division, Benjamin continually points people back to the heart of Jesus.

Not everyone agrees with him.

That isn’t the point.

His willingness to speak with humility, compassion, and conviction is something our world desperately needs.

Suleika Jaouad:

Suleika Jaouad (https://www.suleikajaouad.com/), has shared her deeply personal journey through illness, uncertainty, hope, and resilience with remarkable honesty.

Instead of allowing suffering to define her, she has used it to connect with countless others walking through their own difficult seasons.

She reminds us that healing isn’t always about becoming who we once were.

Sometimes healing is becoming someone entirely new.

As someone who has spent many years navigating serious health challenges, I deeply appreciate voices that speak honestly about pain while refusing to surrender hope.

A Different Kind of Legacy

These four people come from different backgrounds.

They may have different beliefs.

They may serve in different ways.

Yet they share something that seems increasingly rare.

They have chosen to live for something bigger than themselves.

They remind us that changing the world doesn’t always happen from a stage.

Sometimes it happens in a courtroom.

Sometimes it happens in forgotten neighborhoods.

Sometimes it happens through honest conversations.

Sometimes it happens one person at a time.

What Will Be Said About Us?

When our lives are over, people probably won’t remember how many followers we had.

They won’t remember how much money we accumulated.

They won’t remember how famous we became.

They will remember how we treated people.

Did we lift others up?

Did we stand beside those who were hurting?

Did we speak truth with grace?

Did we leave the world more compassionate than we found it?

Jesus never told His followers to seek fame.

He told us to love our neighbors.

He never instructed us to chase power.

He taught us to become servants.

He never measured success by influence.

He measured it by faithfulness.

Perhaps that’s the kind of legacy worth pursuing.

In a world obsessed with being noticed, may we become people who quietly notice others.

Because those are often the people who change the world the most. ~OC

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A Life of Significance

Today’s a new day!

There is something about a long and difficult health journey that changes the way you see everything.

It has a way of stripping away every illusion of control.

We spend so much of our lives believing we are in charge of tomorrow. We make plans, build careers, chase achievements, accumulate possessions, and convince ourselves that if we just work a little harder or prepare a little better, we can control what comes next.

Then life happens.

A diagnosis.
A phone call.
A hospital room.
A test result.
A moment that changes everything.

My health journey has taught me that life is far more fragile than I ever imagined. It has also shown me how fragile relationships can be. Some people will walk beside you through the darkest valleys, while others quietly disappear when the road becomes difficult. Although that can be painful, it also reveals something beautiful—it helps you recognize those who genuinely love you, not for what you can do, but simply because you are you.

This journey has also taught me that everything we often believe defines us can disappear in an instant.

Our careers.
Our physical strength.
Our independence.
Our financial security.
Our titles.
Our reputation.
Even our carefully crafted plans for the future.

None of those things are guaranteed.

When those layers begin to fall away, one question remains:

Who are we when everything else is gone?

For me, that question continually brings me back to Jesus.

My identity cannot rest in what I accomplish, because accomplishments fade.

It cannot rest in my health, because health can change overnight.

It cannot rest in what others think of me, because opinions come and go.

My identity must rest in the One who never changes.

The older I get, and the longer this journey continues, the more convinced I become that so much of what we spend our lives worrying about simply doesn’t matter in the end.

We argue over temporary things.

We compete for positions that won’t last.

We chase recognition that will eventually be forgotten.

We exhaust ourselves trying to impress people whose approval can never truly satisfy our hearts.

Meanwhile, opportunities to love, encourage, forgive, and serve quietly pass us by.

What if we invested as much energy into loving people as we do protecting our image?

What if we pursued kindness with the same passion we pursue success?

What if we measured our lives less by what we accumulated and more by whose lives were changed because we were here?

I don’t want my life to be remembered for what I owned.

I want it to be remembered for how I loved.

I don’t want to simply leave behind possessions.

I want to leave behind hope.

I want people to know that even in weakness, Jesus remained faithful.

Even through suffering, His grace was sufficient.

Even when life felt uncertain, His promises never failed.

If my health journey has taught me anything, it is this:

Life is a gift.

Time is precious.

People matter.

Jesus is enough.

So today, I want to encourage you.

Don’t spend your life chasing things that will never satisfy your soul.

Don’t allow temporary achievements to become eternal priorities.

Choose a life of significance.

Love deeply.

Forgive quickly.

Serve generously.

Encourage freely.

Walk humbly with God.

Because when this life is over, it won’t matter how impressive our résumé was or how much applause we received.

What will matter is whether we loved God with all our heart and loved our neighbor as ourselves.

Those are the things that last.

Those are the things that echo into eternity. ~OC

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God, What Are You Trying To Teach Me?

Today’s a new day!

Over the past twenty-plus years, I have walked through one of the most difficult journeys of my life. There have been diagnoses I never expected, hospital stays, surgeries, treatments, setbacks, moments of uncertainty, and seasons where I had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

People have often asked me, “Have you ever asked God, ‘Why me?'”

My answer has always been the same.

No.

Not because there is anything wrong with asking that question. In fact, many faithful men and women throughout Scripture poured out their hearts before God. They asked difficult questions. They lamented. They cried. They wrestled with pain. God is not afraid of our honest questions.

But for me personally, “Why me?” was never the question God placed on my heart.

Instead, from the very beginning of this journey, another question kept rising within me:

“God, what are You trying to teach me in this season?”

That simple shift changed everything.

Instead of only looking for an explanation, I began looking for His presence.

Instead of demanding answers, I started seeking wisdom.

Instead of focusing only on what I had lost, I began discovering what God was building inside of me.

Looking back over these twenty-plus years, I realize that some of life’s greatest lessons weren’t learned on the mountaintops. They were learned in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, sleepless nights, rehabilitation sessions, and quiet moments when all I could do was trust Jesus.

So, what has God taught me?

I’m glad you asked.

God has taught me that my identity is not found in my health but in Him.

When your body begins to fail, you quickly discover that your worth isn’t measured by what you can accomplish. My value has never been based on my strength, my productivity, or my abilities. My identity has always been found in being a child of God.

God has taught me that weakness is not failure.

The world celebrates strength, but God’s Kingdom often works through weakness. It is often in our weakest moments that His strength shines the brightest. My limitations have become opportunities for His power to be displayed.

God has taught me patience.

Healing rarely happens on our timetable. Answers don’t always come when we want them. Waiting has never been easy, but waiting with Jesus has shaped my faith in ways instant answers never could.

God has taught me to treasure every single day.

When you’ve stared mortality in the face, ordinary days become extraordinary gifts. A sunrise. A conversation with my bride, Laura. A laugh with a friend. A walk outside. These are no longer ordinary moments—they are reminders of God’s goodness.

God has taught me compassion.

Pain has a way of opening your eyes to the suffering of others. I have learned to notice the people sitting quietly in waiting rooms, the caregivers who are exhausted, the families praying for miracles, and the person who simply needs someone to listen.

God has taught me that prayer changes me.

Sometimes God changes our circumstances.

Sometimes He changes us while we’re in them.

Both are miracles.

God has taught me that hope is never wasted.

Hope isn’t pretending everything is okay.

Hope is believing that Jesus is still faithful when everything around you says otherwise.

Hope is trusting His promises even when you cannot yet see His plan.

Most importantly…

God has taught me that He will never leave me.

Not once.

Not in the emergency room.

Not in the hospital room.

Not during surgery.

Not during the difficult diagnoses.

Not during the darkest nights.

Not during the countless doctor’s appointments.

Not during the moments when I didn’t know what the future would hold.

Jesus has been faithful every single step of the journey.

If you’re reading this while walking through your own difficult season, maybe your question today is, “God, why me?”

If that’s where you are, know this: God welcomes your honesty.

But perhaps, when you’re ready, you might also ask another question:

“Lord, what are You trying to teach me in this season?”

That question doesn’t minimize the pain.

It doesn’t erase the tears.

It doesn’t guarantee immediate answers.

But it does position our hearts to receive what God may be doing beneath the surface.

I’ve learned that while God may not always remove the storm immediately, He is always present within it. Sometimes the greatest miracle isn’t that our circumstances change overnight—it’s that Christ transforms us as we walk through them.

My health journey has been long.

It has been difficult.

It has been painful.

But by God’s grace, it has also been one of the greatest classrooms of my life.

And for every lesson, every trial, every unexpected detour, and every reminder that His grace is sufficient…

I simply say:

“Thank You, Jesus.

Now, Lord…

What would You like to teach me next?” ~OC

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Not Yet: The Day God Sent Me Back

I don’t share the following two encounters very often. The reason is simple—they’re deeply personal, incredibly overwhelming, and whenever I do share them, there are always people who want to explain them away, offer their own opinions, or question what happened.

That’s okay.

After years of keeping the following two life experiences mostly to myself, I’ve reached a place in my journey where I’m no longer concerned with convincing anyone. My responsibility is simply to tell the story God has given me to tell.

Over the next two posts, I want to share two totally different experiences that forever changed my life.

Here is the first one. 

On April 16, 2019, I underwent one of my many stomach surgeries after years of battling serious health challenges. During that surgery, something happened that I will never forget.

I went to Heaven.

As impossible as that may sound to some, I know what I experienced.

I remember walking on streets of gold unlike anything I could have ever imagined. The colors were beyond anything my earthly eyes had ever seen before—or have seen since. Everything radiated the glory of God in a way that words simply cannot describe.

But perhaps the most incredible part was this…

I had a completely new body.

There were no scars.

No feeding tubes.

No medical devices.

No pain.

No weakness.

Every reminder of my years of illness was gone.

For the first time in a very long time, I felt completely whole.

As I continued walking, I saw a set of steps just ahead of me. When I placed my right foot on the very first step, I heard the voice of God with absolute clarity.

“Not yet.”

Then He told me that He still had more work for me to do on earth.

The next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery room surrounded by doctors and nurses.

Apparently, during the procedure they believed something medically significant had happened because when I awoke, I wasn’t speaking. I simply kept pointing toward the sky.

It would be nearly twenty-four hours before I could really speak again.

If I’m being completely honest, I remember feeling almost depressed after waking up.

I didn’t want to come back.

At that point in my life, I weighed only 110 pounds. I had been unable to eat solid food for several years. I needed a voice amplifier just to communicate. My body was exhausted after years of surgeries, treatments, and constant battles.

I was ready to be home with Jesus.

My question wasn’t, “Why did this happen?”

My question was, “Lord…why did You send me back?”

I didn’t understand.

Not yet.

What I couldn’t see in that recovery room was that God already had the next chapter written.

Almost seven months later, in November 3, 2019, Jesus would allow me to experience a miracle that would change not only my life but also the lives of countless people who would witness it firsthand or hear about it in the years that followed.

Sometimes God says “not yet” because your story isn’t finished.

Sometimes He sends you back because someone else still needs the hope that only your testimony can give.

Looking back now, I understand that Heaven wasn’t simply shown to me as a destination—it was given to me as a reminder.

A reminder that this world is not our home.

A reminder that suffering has an expiration date.

A reminder that God still has purpose even when we cannot see it.

And a reminder that when God says, “Not yet,” it’s never a rejection.

It’s an assignment. One that can lead us on a crazy beautiful journey. 

A different, but equally important encounter is coming up in the next post. ~OC

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Two Questions Every Christian Should Ask Themselves

Today’s a new day! 

There are two questions that have been on my heart recently, and honestly, they are questions I need to ask myself as much as anyone else.

Question #1: When someone looks at your life, would they want to be like you?

Not because we’re perfect.

Not because we have all the answers.

Not because we’ve never failed.

But when people see our lives, do they see something different? Do they see the peace of Christ in the middle of chaos? Do they see grace when others are harsh? Do they see hope when circumstances seem hopeless? Do they see a faith that remains steady when life gets difficult?

The Apostle Paul boldly wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

That is a challenging statement. Could we honestly say the same?

When people watch how we treat our spouses, our children, our neighbors, the cashier at the grocery store, or even those who disagree with us, are they seeing Jesus reflected in us?

The truth is that our lives may be the only Bible some people ever encounter. Every conversation, every action, every response to adversity is an opportunity to point people toward Christ—or away from Him.

None of us get it right all the time. I certainly don’t. But our goal should be to live in such a way that others are drawn not to us, but to the Savior living within us.

Question #2: Do you have a passion to praise and serve Jesus?

Christianity was never meant to be a once-a-week activity.

It was never meant to be a religious checkbox.

It was never meant to be a routine without relationship.

Jesus gave everything for us. He carried our sins to the Cross, conquered death through His resurrection, and offers us eternal life. How can we not respond with passionate praise and wholehearted service?

Praise isn’t just singing songs on Sunday morning. Praise is thanking God when life is good. Praise is trusting Him when life is hard. Praise is lifting His name when the diagnosis comes, when the bills pile up, when the storm refuses to leave.

Service isn’t just what happens inside church walls. Service happens when we encourage someone who is hurting. It happens when we pray for others. It happens when we meet needs, show compassion, and become the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world.

The question isn’t whether we attend church.

The question is whether our hearts burn with a love for Jesus.

Do we wake up looking for opportunities to honor Him?

Do we seek ways to serve others in His name?

Do we long to know Him more deeply today than we did yesterday?

A Personal Reflection:

As I ask these questions of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I must also ask them of myself.

When people look at my life, do they see Jesus?

Am I living in a way that inspires others to draw closer to Him?

Do I still have a passion to praise Him through every season?

Do I still have a desire to serve Him with whatever time, talents, and opportunities He has given me?

These aren’t questions meant to bring condemnation. They are questions meant to bring reflection and renewal.

Perhaps today is a good day for all of us to pause and ask God to search our hearts.

May our lives be a testimony of His goodness.

May our words point people toward His truth.

May our actions reflect His love.

And may we never lose our passion to praise and serve the One who gave everything for us.

Lord, let my life be a reflection of You. Help me live in such a way that others see Jesus in me. Rekindle my passion to praise You, serve You, and follow You faithfully every day. Amen. ~OC

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Lessons Found In Suffering

Today’s a new day! If we’re being honest, suffering is not fun. None of us wake up in the morning and say, “I hope I suffer today.” We don’t ask for pain, hardship, sickness, loss, or trials. We naturally seek comfort, peace, and stability.

Yet suffering has a way of finding all of us.

As I have walked through my own health journey, I have come to a simple conclusion: if I have to walk through suffering, I am going to do it with Jesus by my side.

The reality is that suffering can either draw us closer to God or push us away from Him. We can become bitter, or we can become better. We can focus solely on our pain, or we can allow God to use that pain to shape us into the people He is calling us to be.

While I would never choose suffering, I have discovered that some of life’s greatest lessons are learned in the valleys, not on the mountaintops.

In the difficult seasons, we learn dependence. We learn patience. We learn endurance. We learn that God’s presence is often most real when everything else around us seems uncertain. The fruit that grows during suffering is often fruit that could not have grown any other way.

One of the greatest examples of this is found in Acts chapter 7.

Stephen, a faithful follower of Christ, was falsely accused and brought before religious leaders. He boldly proclaimed the truth of God’s Word and testified about Jesus. His reward was not comfort, applause, or promotion. Instead, he faced persecution and ultimately martyrdom.

As stones were thrown at him, Stephen displayed something remarkable. Rather than responding with hatred, he responded with grace. Rather than seeking revenge, he prayed for those who were attacking him. Scripture tells us that he looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.

Even in the middle of unimaginable suffering, Stephen’s eyes remained fixed on Jesus.

What a powerful lesson for us today.

Our suffering may look different. It may be a health battle, financial hardship, broken relationships, grief, disappointment, or uncertainty about the future. Yet the same principle remains true: when our eyes stay fixed on Jesus, suffering does not have the final word.

God often does some of His deepest work in our lives during our hardest seasons.

The suffering we face today may be producing a stronger faith tomorrow. It may be teaching us compassion for others. It may be preparing us for a ministry we never imagined. It may be revealing God’s faithfulness in ways we would never have recognized otherwise.

I would never say I enjoy suffering. I don’t.

But I can say this: when suffering comes, I want to walk through it with Jesus.

Because sometimes the sweetest moments of God’s presence, the greatest growth in our character, and the most valuable lessons of our lives are found right in the middle of the struggle.

If you are suffering today, don’t walk through it alone. Lean into Christ. Talk to Him. Trust Him. Hold on to Him.

Like Stephen, keep your eyes on Jesus.

The suffering may be real, but so is the Savior who walks beside you through it. ~OC

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