Holy Week Journal: Thursday

Good morning. Easter morning is getting closer. I hope you will continue walking through Holy Week with me. I pray you have a wonderful and blessed day. ~OC

Day 5: Thursday- The Last Supper & Servant Love

Scripture: John 13:1–17

Teaching:
Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, modeling humility and servant leadership. He also institutes the Lord’s Supper, inviting us into remembrance and covenant. Love is demonstrated through service.

Questions of the Day:

  • Who can I serve this week?
  • What does humility look like in my life?
  • How can I remember Jesus’ sacrifice daily?

Prayer:

Jesus, teach me to serve others with humility. Help me love as You love—selflessly and sacrificially. Shape my heart to reflect Yours. Amen.

Invitation

Today’s a new day!

As we move through Holy Week and draw closer to Easter, I pray you will look at this sacred time as an invitation into something new. Not just a remembrance of what Jesus has done, but a personal opportunity for new seasons, new opportunities, and new growth in your own life. The journey to the cross reminds us that even in suffering, uncertainty, and waiting, God is always at work—preparing, refining, and restoring. Easter is not only about resurrection in history, but resurrection in our hearts today. It is a reminder that no matter where you’ve been or what you’re facing, new life is always possible through Him.

In this season, I encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus and remain faithful in the place where He has you planted. It can be easy to compare, rush ahead, or feel restless for change—but there is deep purpose in your present moment. Be obedient in the small things, trust Him with the unseen, and learn to be content right where you are. Growth often happens quietly, beneath the surface, before it ever becomes visible. As you walk through this Holy Week, let your heart be anchored in His presence, your spirit strengthened in obedience, and your mind renewed with hope. God is working, even now, and this season may be the very ground where something beautiful begins. ~OC

Holy Week Journal-Wednesday

Good morning. We are at the midway point of Holy Week. I hope this daily journal has helped you reflect on the importance of this week. I pray you have a wonderful day. ~OC

Day 4: Wednesday: The Cost of Betrayal

Scripture: Matthew 26:14–25

Thoughts:
Judas agrees to betray Jesus. This moment reminds us how easily hearts can turn when consumed by selfish desires. Yet it also reveals Jesus’ awareness and continued love even in betrayal.

Questions of the Day:

  • Are there areas where I compromise my faith?
  • What tempts me to turn away from God?
  • How can I strengthen my spiritual integrity?

Prayer:
Lord, guard my heart against betrayal and compromise. Keep me faithful even in moments of temptation. Thank You for Your mercy when I fall short. Amen.

Holy Week Journal-Tuesday

As we walk through Holy Week, I want to share a daily journal that I have written. Hopefully, each day we will be challenged to spend a little time reflecting on the importance of this week. I hope you will join me. ~OC

Tuesday: Teaching with Authority

Scripture: Matthew 22:15–46

Teaching/Thoughts:
Jesus faces challenges and questions, yet responds with wisdom and truth. He emphasizes the greatest commandments: love God and love others. True faith is rooted in love, not just knowledge.

Journaling Prompts:

How am I loving God daily?

Who is God calling me to love more intentionally?

Do my actions reflect Christ’s teachings?

Prayer: Lord, teach me to love You with all my heart, soul and mind. Help me love others selflessly. Let Your truth guide my words and actions. Amen

Holy Week Journal-Monday

As we walk through Holy Week, I want to share a daily journal that I have written. Hopefully, each day we will be challenged to spend a little time reflecting on the importance of this week. I hope you will join me. ~OC

Monday: Cleansing the Temple

Scripture: Matthew 21:12–17

Thoughts/Teaching:
Jesus clears the temple, confronting corruption and misplaced priorities. His passion for holiness reveals that worship must be genuine. Our hearts are now His temple—what needs to be cleansed?

Prayer:
Holy God, search my heart. Remove anything that dishonors You—habits, thoughts, or distractions. Make my life a place of true worship. Amen.

Journaling Prompts:

  • What “clutters” my spiritual life?
  • Are there habits that hinder my relationship with God?
  • How can I create space for God’s presence?

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.

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.

Grace Over Judgement

In a world where news travels faster than ever, it didn’t take long for headlines and social media feeds to light up after the news broke that a famous golfer had been arrested on a DUI charge. Within minutes, opinions flooded in—many of them harsh, judgmental, and unforgiving. It’s striking how quickly people can shift from admiration to criticism, often acting as though they themselves have never stumbled, never made a poor decision, never had a moment they wish they could take back. The reality is, we are all human. We all have flaws, struggles, and chapters of our lives we’d rather not have put on public display.

What’s often forgotten in moments like these is that behind the fame, the trophies, and the public persona is a real person—someone who may be dealing with deep personal challenges. Instead of rushing to condemn, perhaps this is a time to reflect inward. How would any of us feel if one of our worst moments became front-page news, dissected and debated by millions? It’s easy to judge from a distance, but empathy requires us to pause and consider the full picture. Fame should never strip someone of their humanity or make them an easier target for criticism.

Today, rather than adding to the noise of negativity, I encourage each of us to choose compassion. Lift Tiger Woods up in prayer—for his health, for his healing, and for his family. Life has a way of humbling all of us at different times, and when it does, what we need most is grace, not judgment. Let’s be mindful of the words we share and the attitudes we carry, remembering that kindness and understanding will always speak louder than criticism. ~OC

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

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.

Stand Up. Speak Truth.

Today’s a new day!

What will you stand up for today? Not tomorrow, not when it’s convenient, not when the crowd finally agrees—but today. There comes a moment in every believer’s life when silence feels easier, safer, and more socially acceptable than truth. Yet the call of Christ has never been about comfort; it has always been about conviction. When will you say enough is enough to the noise, the compromise, the slow drift away from what is holy? The world will always offer trends dressed up as truth, but trends fade. Truth does not. Truth stands when opinions crumble, when platforms shift, and when the applause disappears. The question is not whether truth will endure—but whether you will stand with it.

When will you speak truth over trend, even when it costs you something? Living out the words of Jesus—the “Red Letters”—is not a poetic idea; it is a daily decision. It means loving when it’s hard, forgiving when it feels impossible, and choosing righteousness when no one is watching. It means rejecting the temptation to trade eternal purpose for temporary influence. When will you decide that the Gospel is more important than political power, more valuable than popularity, more urgent than fitting in? Because the Gospel does not need to be rebranded to remain relevant—it needs to be lived. Boldly. Faithfully. Without apology.

Today is the day. Not to blend in, but to stand apart. Not to echo culture, but to reflect Christ. Not to soften truth, but to embody it with grace and courage. Enough waiting. Enough hesitating. Enough negotiating with conviction. The world doesn’t need more comfortable Christians—it needs committed ones. So Stand Up. Speak Truth. And let your life answer the questions your heart can no longer ignore. ~OC

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

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑