Tag: Joy

Holy Week

Holy Week and Easter are at the very heart of the Christian faith, and understanding them can offer a meaningful glimpse into what Christians believe about love, sacrifice, and hope. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, recalling Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, and moves through deeply significant moments like the Last Supper—where He shared a final meal with His disciples—and Good Friday, the day Christians remember His crucifixion. To a non-Christian, this might seem like a somber sequence of events, but for believers, it represents something profound: the idea that God chose to enter into human suffering and injustice rather than remain distant from it.

Easter, which follows, is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This is not just a symbolic moment in Christianity—it is the foundation of Christian faith. As Christians we believe that through His resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, opening the door to forgiveness and new life for all people. Even if you don’t share that belief, the message behind Easter can still resonate: that renewal is possible, that love can overcome hatred, and that even in the darkest moments, there is the potential for transformation. For many, Holy Week and Easter are not only religious observances but also an invitation to reflect on themes of grace, redemption, and the possibility of a fresh start. ~OC

You can check out the Spoken Word version of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E.Shoemaker.

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More To Life

Today’s a new day!

Is there more to life than more? It’s a question that cuts through the noise of our everyday lives. We live in a world that constantly tells us to chase after more—more success, more money, more achievements, more recognition. We are taught that if we just keep striving, keep climbing, keep accumulating, then eventually we will arrive at a place of fulfillment. But if we’re honest, many of us have reached milestones we once dreamed of, only to find ourselves still longing, still restless, still asking, “Is this it?”

The truth is, “more” was never meant to satisfy the deepest parts of our souls. That longing inside of us is not a call to gather more things—it’s a call to draw closer to God. Ecclesiastes reminds us that God has set eternity in the human heart. That means there is something within us that this world can never fully satisfy. No matter how much we gain, it will never be enough if we are disconnected from the One who created us with purpose and intention.

So what if the answer isn’t found in speeding up, but in slowing down? What if we paused long enough to allow Jesus to meet us in the quiet? In a culture that celebrates busyness, slowing down can feel uncomfortable, even unproductive. But throughout Scripture, we see Jesus often stepping away from the crowds, withdrawing to quiet places to pray, to commune with the Father. If the Son of God made space for stillness, how much more do we need it?

When we slow down, we begin to notice things we’ve been missing. We become aware of God’s presence in ways that get drowned out by the noise of constant activity. We start to hear His voice more clearly—not because He wasn’t speaking before, but because we were too distracted to listen. In that stillness, Jesus gently begins to reshape our understanding of what truly matters. He shifts our focus from outward success to inward transformation, from temporary gain to eternal purpose.

Jesus invites us into a different kind of life—not one defined by endless striving, but one marked by rest, trust, and relationship with Him. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” That rest is not just physical—it’s spiritual. It’s the deep, soul-level peace that comes from knowing we are held, known, and loved by God.

So is there more to life than more? Yes—but it’s not the kind of “more” the world offers. It’s more peace, more purpose, more joy, more of God’s presence. And we don’t find it by chasing harder—we find it by surrendering, by slowing down, and by turning our hearts toward Jesus.

Today, you have an invitation. Step out of the rush. Quiet your heart. Make space for Him. Because when you do, you’ll discover that what you’ve been searching for isn’t found in having more—it’s found in knowing Him. ~OC

You can find the Spoken Word version of this at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Purpose Equals Peace

Today’s a new day! 

For more than two decades, I have walked a road marked by uncertainty, pain, and countless moments where I was told my life might soon end. After hearing over fifty times that I had only hours, weeks, or months to live, I stopped counting. Not out of denial, but out of a quiet realization—life was never meant to be lived under the constant shadow of “what if today is the last day?” Instead, I chose to seek something deeper. In the midst of my storm, I prayed and asked Jesus to show me my purpose within the pain. And He answered.

What I discovered changed everything. My hospital rooms became mission fields. Waiting rooms turned into places of ministry. Conversations with doctors, nurses, and fellow patients became opportunities to encourage, uplift, and share hope. God didn’t remove my storm, but He gave it meaning. Over the years, He has allowed me to walk alongside others in their darkest moments—offering support, listening ears, and reminders that they are not alone. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to be used in this way. And in that purpose, I found something unexpected: peace. A deep, unshakable peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

Time and time again, I’ve heard others share a similar testimony. When they begin to understand that God has a purpose even in their suffering, something shifts. The fear loosens its grip. The questions quiet. And peace begins to take root. It doesn’t mean the storm disappears—but it does mean the storm no longer defines them. So today, I want to gently challenge you: what is God revealing to you in your current season? Are you leaning in to listen, or are you overwhelmed by the noise of the storm? Have you allowed your struggle to become your identity, or are you willing to surrender it?

Take a moment today to lay your burdens at the foot of the Cross. In fact, don’t just lay them down—leave them there. Nail your fears, your pain, your questions, and your weariness to the Cross and trust that Jesus will carry what you cannot. I can’t promise that your season of hardship will end quickly, or even in the way you hope. But I can promise this: when you seek God’s purpose in the storm, you will find His peace. Even now, as I continue walking through ongoing health challenges, I do so with hope and a calm assurance that God is not finished.

So the question remains—are you willing to take that first step today? To trust, to seek, and to walk forward in the purpose God has prepared for you? Peace and victory are not found in the absence of storms, but in the presence of Jesus within them. ~OC

You can check out the Spoken Word version at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Stop Working For God

Today’s a new day! 

Many years ago during my quiet time, I felt God challenging me to stop working for Him and instead truly realize what a gift it was to serve and be in His presence. Here a little of the story.

Because I quit working for God and simply said, “I will join you for the rest of my days,” something in my life began to change. For a long time, my faith felt like a long list of tasks—things to accomplish, prayers to say the right way, expectations to meet. I thought devotion meant striving harder, proving my commitment through effort and discipline. But surrender came quietly when I realized that what Jesus seemed to desire most was not my performance, but my presence. When I stopped trying to impress God and instead chose to walk with Him, faith became less about pressure and more about relationship.

Since then, Jesus has continued teaching me in small, ordinary moments. He keeps inviting me into the simple gift of living in the present moment—the place where grace actually happens. The past no longer needs to define me, and the future does not need to be controlled. Instead, I learned to notice the sacred in what was right in front of me: a conversation, a breath of gratitude, a quiet moment of prayer. Following Him was no longer about constantly doing more for God; it was and is about learning to live with God, moment by moment. In that space of companionship, life begins to feel less like a burden to carry and more like a gift to receive. ~OC

You can listen to the Spoken Word version of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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Comfortable, But Miserable

Today’s a new day! We are living in one of the easiest eras in human history. With a few taps on a screen, we can access more information than entire generations before us could gather in a lifetime. We enjoy conveniences that kings and queens once could not imagine—climate-controlled homes, instant communication, endless entertainment, and medical advancements that have extended life expectancy across the globe. In many parts of the world, particularly here in the United States, comfort and accessibility are woven into daily life. Yet despite all this ease, anxiety, depression, burnout, and emotional exhaustion are rising at alarming rates. We are informed, connected, and comfortable—yet deeply weary.

This contrast reveals a spiritual truth: comfort does not equal peace. Information does not equal wisdom. And constant connectivity does not equal true community. Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes that “the more knowledge increases, the more sorrow increases.” We are bombarded with news, opinions, crises, and comparisons every single day. Social media invites us to measure our lives against curated highlights. Work follows us home through emails and notifications. Our souls were not designed to carry the weight of the entire world’s problems at once.

Jesus offers a different way. In Matthew 11:28, He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Notice that He does not promise more information, more productivity, or more control. He promises rest. True rest is not found in better algorithms or more efficient schedules—it is found in surrender. It is found in laying our anxious thoughts before God and trusting that He is sovereign even when the world feels overwhelming.

Perhaps the reason mental health struggles are at an all-time high in the most comfortable age is because we have tried to replace dependence on God with dependence on convenience. Comfort can numb us, but it cannot heal us. Technology can connect us, but it cannot restore our souls. Only Christ can do that. As believers, we are invited to slow down, to unplug, to pray, and to remember that our worth is not measured by productivity or performance but by the unchanging love of God.

In the easiest of times, may we choose the deeper path. May we seek not just comfort, but communion. Not just information, but transformation. And may we find that even in an anxious age, the peace of Christ is still available—steady, unshaken, and freely given. ~OC

***Check out the Spoken Word version of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E. Shoemaker Music.

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The Gospel

I never want the Gospel to grow old in my heart. I never want it to become background noise—familiar words that pass by without weight or wonder. The message at the center of the Christian faith is not just a story I heard once in Sunday school; it is the living, breathing good news of Jesus Christ—His life, His sacrifice, and His resurrection. It is the reminder that grace was never earned, only given. That mercy met me at my worst. That love chose the cross anyway. When I think about it, really think about it, I’m undone. The Gospel is not basic. It is not entry-level Christianity. It is the foundation, the heartbeat, the reason any of this matters at all.

If I am not careful, familiarity can tempt my heart toward callousness. I can quote verses without trembling. I can sing worship songs without reflecting on the cost. I can speak about the cross as a concept instead of remembering it as a rescue. But the Gospel was never meant to be reduced to routine. It is the power of God to save, to transform, to renew weary souls. It confronts my pride and comforts my shame at the same time. It reminds me that I am more sinful than I want to admit and more loved than I dare to hope.

I never want to outgrow what saved me. I never want to move past the wonder that God would step into human history, bear human suffering, and conquer death so that we could be reconciled to Him. The message of the cross should still stop me in my tracks. It should still soften my heart. It should still bring me to gratitude. If the Gospel ever feels small to me, it is not because it has lost its power—it is because I have lost my perspective. So I pray for fresh awe. I pray for tender ground in my soul. Because the Gospel is not old news. It is eternal good news, and I never want to treat it as anything less. ~OC

***You can listen to the Spoken Word of this post at my YouTube channel Todd E.Shoemaker Music.

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Love And Redemption

Today’s a new day! From the garden where creation bloomed in light,
Where You walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of night,
Every promise whispered in the fall,
You had a plan to redeem us all
Through the prophets and the years of waiting,
Love was writing history in the making.

In a manger lay the Hope of man,
God incarnate, the great I Am,
Healing hearts and calming seas,
Carrying chains to Calvary
On that Cross where mercy bled,
You bore our sin, the crown of thorns on Your head.

But the stone was rolled and death undone,
The grave could not hold Heaven’s Son,
Resurrection morning broke,
Living hope in every soul
The Spirit came like wind and flame,
Empowering us to lift Your name.

And one bright day the sky will part,
Trumpets sound and every heart
Will see the King in glorious light,
Faith made sight, wrong made right
Every knee will bow and sing,
Jesus Christ is Lord and King.

From the Garden to the Cross,
From the grave to glory’s dawn,
Father, the risen Son, to the Holy Spirit-our Helper,
The story of love goes on and on
Hallelujah, we proclaim,
Salvation written in Your name,
Three in One, forever reign,
All honor, all power, all praise. ~OC

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Rise And Live Again

Today’s a new day!
In the silence of the midnight hour,
When the weight of the world feels strong,
There’s a whisper breaking through the dark,
A steady voice, a healing son
When my strength begins to fade away,
And my heart can barely stand,
I remember where my help comes from—
Held in nail-scarred hands.


It’s the power of God’s hope that lifts me,
The power of His unfailing love,
The power of His sweet compassion
Pouring down from above
His grace is more than enough for me,
His peace calms every storm within,
In the power of His forgiveness
I rise and live again.


When regret tries to rewrite my past,
And shame knocks at my door,
His mercy speaks a better word
Than I have ever heard before
He doesn’t see my brokenness
As something to condemn,
He wraps me in His righteousness
And calls me His child again.


In a world that’s torn by hurt and fear,
Where hearts are slow to trust,
His Spirit breathes a deeper truth—
From ashes, beauty comes from dust
He teaches us to love like Him,
To serve and not divide,
To carry hope into the night
With mercy as our guide.


Hope for the weary,
Love for the lost,
Grace that was given
No matter the cost
Peace like a river,
Forgiveness so wide—
All of His power
Now living inside. ~OC

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Finding Purpose In The Pause

Lately, I’ve been getting a few messages asking how I’m doing, and how I spend my days. Honestly, it’s a bit of a challenge, but I continue to find beauty in the struggle. As I navigate this crazy beautiful journey with multiple health issues, I am reminded that life is not easy. It’s a little harder getting around these days, so I spend most of my days at home. 

My health journey is a rollercoaster, and it’s okay to admit that it’s tough. Some days are better than others. But my constant desire is to walk closer with God every day and to connect with other people. Trying to put my thoughts together to write these days is much harder, but God helps me through,  because it’s my way of connecting with people and letting those who are struggling know they’re not alone. If I didn’t share, I’d be stuck in silence, alone and that’s a lonely place to be.

My days are pretty simple. I spend most of my time in prayer, trying to write and read when my body allows. It’s not glamorous, but it’s my reality. And you know what?  I am learning to find purpose in the pause, to cherish the quiet moments, and to share my story with others who might be walking a similar path.

I am not writing this for sympathy or to complain. I’m writing this to remind society, that people walking through health battles still need and want to connect with others. I am the same person I have always been, just a little slower. But my story isn’t over yet. And I want people walking through their own storms, to know that you’re seen, you’re heard, you’re loved and you’re not alone. 

As I continue on this journey, I’m grateful for the few friends who have decided to stick around, even when life gets hard.  And to those who’ve disappeared, I am doing my best to understand why. But I am learning to cherish the ones who stay and to find joy in the connections we have made along the way.

If you’re struggling, know that you’re not alone. Keep writing, keep praying, and keep pushing forward. And if you need someone to talk to, I am a phone call away. Let’s connect and walk this journey together. ~OC

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Not A Performance

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18 

Today’s a new day! Prayer isn’t a performance. It’s not a speech, a sermon, or a spiritual audition. It’s a conversation — raw, real, and sometimes downright messy. You don’t need a robe, a pulpit, or the perfect words. You just need a moment and faith like a mustard seed. 

God doesn’t wait for you to sound holy. He waits for you to be honest. Whether you’re whispering in a hospital room, shouting in frustration, or mumbling through a mouthful of emotions, He hears you. He’s not grading your grammar — He’s listening to your heart. 

Daniel prayed in danger. Jonah prayed in darkness. Peter prayed while sinking. And you? You can pray in your car, your kitchen, your wheelchair, your recliner or your weakest moment. You can pray with a full plate or an empty stomach. You can pray with tears, laughter, or silence. 

There’s no wrong time to pray. No wrong place. No wrong posture. You can pray standing, sitting, lying down, or leaning on the edge of hope. You can pray in church, at the breakfast table, or as you’re being wheeled into the operating room. 

So stop worrying about sounding like Shakespeare or James Earl Jones. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to pray. Just talk to God. Tell Him about your hopes, frustrations, dreams and hurts. Tell Him what’s funny. Tell Him what you need. And if all you’ve got is “Thank You, Lord,” that’s more than enough. 

Because the power of prayer isn’t in how you say it — it’s in Who you’re saying it to. Can I get an amen? ~OC

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