Wednesday Morning Prayer

A prayer for those dealing with health issues on this Wednesday morning. ~OC

Dear God, as you hear the cries of the needy, I pray you would bring peace, comfort and healing. I pray you would sustain those who feel weak and defeated this morning. I pray they would feel your presence today. Dear Lord, bless them with your strength and wisdom as they navigate through the difficult moments of their health journey. Reveal your purpose and beautiful plan for their lives. I pray all of this in the powerful name of the Healer and Sustainer. Amen

The Power of Groups

Today’s a new day! I believe committed individuals and a small group of passionate people can help change the world.

Let me remind you that Jesus chose a small group of disciples to share an example of what happens when a group of committed individuals come together for a greater purpose. If we follow just that example, we can see how a small group of people can change their communities and beyond. Just think, we are still talking about twelve individuals who came together and committed themselves to the cause of Christ, thousands of years later. Small groups are still the primary focus of most churches, especially ones that want to accomplish purposeful ministry.

I can look no further than my godson Ricky Aiken, who saw a need in his community and started Inner City Innovators (https://innercityinnovators.org/), which is not just making a difference in Ricky’s community, but communities across America. One person with a dream and some committed people to help him develop and create a life changing organization.

As we celebrate Black History Month, I think about some unknown heroes who were committed to the Civil Rights Movement. They are the individuals and families that opened up their homes to the leaders in the Movement because they were not allowed to stay in most hotels or restaurants in the South. These individuals and families offered food, rest, conversation and shelter to the heroes we read about in history. A group of unassuming individuals and families opening their homes and encouraging the Civil Rights leaders, as they led peaceful marches and protest across the south. Without these kind and loving souls, the bodies and minds of the great leaders of the Civil Rights Movement might not have carried on.

Small groups of humans, just like your friends or colleagues that gather for common themed conversations, have been changing the world since the days of the caveman. It is no surprise, at least now reflecting on each phase of my own life that every step I have taken to make an impact for the greater good has been in the company of a small group of people with similar questions, passions, ideas and the determination to take action.

What is your mission and purpose in life and who will sit around the table with you to help encourage and support your dream to make a difference? ~OC

“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”” ~Matthew 18:20

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

“While others hit the streets, marching, singing protest songs and risking arrest, these women made their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in their kitchens.” – Rosalind Bently, Hostesses of the Movement

Tuesday Prayer

Good Morning God. We come to you this morning to be restored by you, renewed by you, to receive your life and your love and all the grace and mercy we so desperately need this day. We honor you as our Lord, and we surrender every aspect and dimension of our lives to you. We give you our spirit, soul, body, hearts, mind, and will. In all that we pray, we stand in total agreement with your Spirit and with all those praying for us by the Spirit of God. Use us today. Allow us to be your hands and feet. We pray all this in your precious name dear Savior. ~Amen

I Can…

Good Morning! Here is another “Lost Writings of OC.” I originally wrote this in 2018. Have a wonderful day.

Today’s a new day! There are a lot of things I cannot control in this world, but there is plenty I can do…

I can choose to pray for people.

I can choose to help feed and shelter the homeless.

I can choose how I treat people.

I can choose to be a mentor.

I can choose to show kindness to everyone I come in contact with.

I can choose to show respect to everyone around me.

I can choose not to judge people.

I can choose not to hate.

I can choose to Love.

There is plenty we can choose to do to help make this a better world. ~OC

A Monday Morning Prayer

Good Morning! A prayer to start your day. ~OC

Dear God, sometimes we can be so wishy-washy when it comes to taking hold of Your promises and making them ours. So today, we choose to lean into your amazing plans and promises for our lives. Help us to not allow our human experience to talk us out of our spiritual inheritance. Dear God, help us to set our feet upon every promise that You have given us . Let us go all in! It’s in Your precious name that we pray. ~Amen

Do Not Limit God

Good Morning! I hope you take the time to read and reflect on these words today. I wrote this back in 2010. It does not appear I ever posted it. “Lost Writings from OC.”

Today’s a new day! Welcome to a new week. I pray that everyone had a wonderful and memorable weekend. My challenge for you this week is to Not Limit God!

I must admit there have been times in my spiritual journey that I have limited God.  Yes, me. I did not always do this intentionally, but subconsciously I would begin stuffing God into a little box. I was putting limits on Him and not even realizing that I was doing so.

I would go to God with a prayer request and step out on faith that He would see it through.  Now when things in the natural didn’t work out according to my plan, I would assume they were not going to work out and move on. But how many people actually realize that God is more than capable of doing exceedingly and wonderful things in every area of our lives? He can do more than we could ever imagine, hope for or ask for… in God’s timing. Not our timing. Did you catch that?

Another way we limit God is by thinking that in order for a blessing to manifest that He has to operate the way we think things should be done.  We sometimes forget that our thinking is limited, but God’s is not.  We forget how powerful He really is.  The scripture says, He is ALMIGHTY GOD.  There are no limits on what God can and will do in our lives. 

How many of us are guilty of limiting God? Well do not beat yourself up, God is not finished with you yet. We need to remind ourselves daily of who God is. When we spend time studying God’s word, we can be confident that God is able to do all things.  But we must acknowledge that we do not have everything under control, but that God is always in control. We must stop limiting God to what we can see in the natural and trust that He can move mountains in the supernatural.  Today, let’s live out our faith and know that God is able to blow our minds.

As you face challenges this week, I encourage you to not limit God.  I know the medical scan shows one thing, but I double dog dare you to not limit God.  I know it looks like your money is gone before the month has ended, but I triple dog dare you to stop limiting God. When we take God out of that box we stuffed Him in, He will expand our faith and take us to new and beautiful heights.

So this week, stop limiting God and watch Him do new and exciting things in your life. Have a great week! ~OC

Seasons of Life

Today’s a new day! The seasons of life bring change.

They bring good. They also bring new challenges. But as each season before always prepares for the next…. So does the seasons of life. Storms and droughts will come. But so does Spring and sunshine and rain clouds.

It’s often darkest before the dawn. And although we won’t forget the dark and hard times… they are what get us ready for the next season.

The night gets ready for day.

And day gets ready for night.

Such is life.

Each season has a storm of its own kind. But it also has it’s beauty. Don’t miss either!

Such is Life. ~OC

A Greeting

Happy Sunday! A morning prayer as we welcome this new day. ~OC

Dear God, we greet this morning with a sense of awe and gratitude. Whether we woke up refreshed or with a little extra sleep in our eyes, we give You thanks for this new day. Dear Lord, we know you can refresh every part of our lives. You can revive us. You can give us new hope and sense of purpose. So on this new day, we give you thanks for new breath. We breathe in the fresh moments of this day. Dear God, we thank you for new opportunities. For new beginnings. Use us today to bring peace and love to our small part of the world. Dear God, thanks again for this new day. ~Amen

A Saturday Prayer

Happy Saturday Morning! Let us pray before we start another day. ~OC

Dear God, thank you for another day. Another day filled with challenges and beautiful opportunities. Refresh us this morning. Allow us to live in your presence. Allow us to welcome and encourage every person we encounter today. Allow us to be present in every situation today. Dear God, teach us when to speak and when to listen. When to ponder and when to share. In moments of challenge allow us to lean into the whisperings of your heart. Dear Lord, feel us with the simple gift of your peace today. Allow us to celebrate your joy this day. When our day goes well, may we rejoice. When life grows difficult, surprise us with new possibilities. When life is overwhelming, call us to rest. Dear God, restore your Peace and Harmony in each of our hearts. May our lives reveal your goodness. Dear God, we pray all of this in your precious name. Amen

Let Diversity Shine

Today’s a new day! We have to learn again how to disagree. Being wrong is sometimes better than being right. We have to stop pointing out the “bad” (or the things we disagree with) and find common ground.

We need to find solutions to problems rather than just pointing out the problems and then walking away. What has always made America great is our diversity and coming together in times of need. Look around, we are in desperate times. It’s time for everyone to be allowed a seat at the table and come together. The diversity of America is a gift, not a curse. So today, let’s reach out and let our diversity shine. ~OC

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