Today’s a new day! Our testimonies are proof of God’s amazing work in us. When we share our testimonies we’re making a declaration of what God has done and why our faith and trust is in Him. It builds up our own strength and faith by recalling the ways He has changed our lives. Speaking it cultivates a sense of belief and anticipation in us for the future. ~OC
Storms
Today’s a new day! Some of the biggest storms I have experienced, have become moments for God to teach me new lessons. Through those experiences, God has blessed me with the amazing opportunity to share about His grace, mercy, and love with other storm battered souls. Sometimes we have to go through storms that strip away everything that we rely on, so we can experience God in a fresh and truly life changing way. ~OC
Joy
Today’s a new day! I love Psalm 30:11 “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy”
Clothed me with joy. Did you catch that? We can truly experience joy. On sleepless nights, joy can and will enter in. In trying times, joy in the Lord can pull us through.
The world with all its troubles wants to oppress us all. To beat us down. God came to bring us an undeniable joy despite the lies the enemy tries to defeat us with. God took all of our tears and trials with Him to the Cross so that we can live free of the lies the world wants us to believe. Our hard times can be turned into something beautiful when we turn them over to God and trust that He will see us through.
Our wailing can turn into dancing. Our grief can turn into joy. Our lives can reflect the goodness and mercy of God through our darkest of days. ~OC
Comeback
Today’s a new day! As you run your race, life will be filled with many trials. Some days you may feel defeated. The world might tell you your race is over. But God might just be preparing you for a Comeback. A comeback may seem unlikely when your life is filled with obstacles, but hold on and dig in. Your current situation may seem hopeless, but keep running and you will discover God’s power to overcome every obstacle in your life. Keep running! ~OC
Give
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, God has shown me more and more, that we truly find the meaning of life when we give, not just receive. And I do not mean material things. I mean ourselves, our time and our gifts. ~OC
Finding Hope
Today’s a new day! I admire people who can turn a tough moment in life into a positive. Stories like a child who was bullied in school, now advocates for students as a teacher or principal. Or the child who spent countless hours in the hospital now serves children as a nurse or doctor. I love these stories of overcoming and giving back.
We can find hope whenever we place the difficult moments of life into the hands of God. When we decide to take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on serving others, the lessons learned from suffering becomes a healing balm. ~OC
Truths
Today’s a new day! I want to share some truths with you today.
You are not your successes nor failures.
You are not your abilities nor disabilities.
You are not your looks, popularity, bank account, intelligence or how many followers you have on social media.
As a Christian, you are who God says you are, which is:
His child (John 1:12).
Justified (Romans 5:1).
Christ’s friend (John 15:15).
A member of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Assured all things work together for good(Romans 8:28).
Established, anointed and sealed by God(2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
A citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
Hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
Blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians
1:3).
Chosen before the creation of the world(Ephesians 1:4, 11).
Holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
Adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5).
Given God’s glorious grace lavishly and without restriction (Ephesians
1:5,8).
Redeemed (Ephesians 1:8).
Forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14).
The salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14).
A personal witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).
God’s co-worker (2 Corinthians 6:1).
Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
Raised up with Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).
God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
Secure (Ephesians 2:20).
A holy temple (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
A dwelling for the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
Completed by God (Ephesians 3:19).
Not alone (Hebrews 13:5).
Growing (Colossians 2:7).
Victorious (I John 5:4).
Set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32).
A light in the world (Matthew 5:14).
Safe (I John 5:18).
Part of God’s kingdom (Revelation 1:6).
Healed from sin (I Peter 2:24).
No longer condemned (Romans 8:1, 2).
Protected (John 10:28).
Born again (I Peter 1:23).
A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
God gives each of us spiritual riches the world can never offer us. Our identity in God is one of eternal security. We have value simply because God, in perfect love, sent his son Jesus to die for us and cleanse us from the sin that beat us down. True freedom is found in a relationship with God. And this relationship shapes all we say and do. Our life choices flow out of our relationship with God. And as hard as life might get, we have the promise of eternal life with God when we put our trust in him. We are made in God’s image, and we are HIS forevermore, protected, in his loving arms. When we are in Christ, we are truly free. May God bless you as you renew your trust in him today. ~OC
God’s Word
Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I cling to the promises of God’s word. One of those promises is found in Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Even when our bodies are struggling to find strength, God lifts our hearts with hope and comfort. He gives strength to the weary and weak. If you have ever felt weary and weak you qualify.
The astonishing thing is the way He chose to do it. It does not take the mending or healing of our bodies. We do not have to be propped up with the comforts of this world. God did it all with the power of his word. It is true, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). If your soul is starving today, find nourishment in the reading of God’s powerful words and promises.
Today, if you find yourself weary, worn, and ready to throw in the towel, I want to remind you that He gives strength to the weary. My prayer is that you’re experiencing God’s strength and peace this very hour. Know this, one day, you will look back on your troubles, whether in this life or on the beautiful shores of eternity, and you will say, “God pulled me through. He gave me the strength I needed.” The One in whom you trust does not faint or grow weary, and his understanding is unsearchable. ~OC
Joy
Today’s a new day! Is there such a thing as joy in the midst of trials? Especially when life is beating you down. Wow! What a way to start a new day. Thanks Todd.
This question came to me after reading these words in James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
A number of years ago, as I was reading James 1:2-4, God raised the following question. “Todd, when you fall into trials, and difficult times, do you truly consider all of it joy, as you are being tested for your faith?” Ouch!
It was a question, I could not fully answer at that moment. That question cut me deep. And I bled. I bled from the wound of the Holy Spirit, who engraved this question deep into my innermost being in order to awaken my sleeping heart-fire for God.
The more I thought about this question and prayed, the more I wanted this amazing joy. As I pondered this question for days, I began to crave for this type of joy. No matter the situation. No matter the trial. But I realized I would never be able to do it on my own.
But neither could Job, Esther, Ruth, David or Mary. Pretty good company.
At that moment, I just wanted to fall at Jesus feet and wash them with my tears.
I am not writing this post to complain about my troubles, my trials, or my problems. No, I am sharing this post to encourage you as you walk through your own storm. To say yes, joy is possible during the storm. But not on our own.
God is the only one who can give us lasting, satisfying, unwavering joy in the middle of our storm.
I believe sometimes we think that happiness is the most important thing in life. But it’s not. You see, happiness is only a fleeting emotion. But true joy come from God. It sustains us. Even in the hard times. ~OC
Embracing Beautiful Interruptions
Today’s a new day! Twenty-two years ago my life was drastically interrupted when my body started to breakdown. That day in 2002, was when I started living life a little differently. But, it would not be until a devastating diagnosis in 2009, that I would truly start living.
That night in 2009, while sitting in a hospital room was when I chose to embrace the beautiful interruptions of life. To truly embrace the joy of serving and living for God with reckless abandon. Without that life changing diagnosis, I would have never totally surrendered everything to walk out God’s amazing plan for my life. In God’s beautiful wisdom, he forced me to slow down. To say no to my plans and the hustle and bustle of this world. To truly start living. To be honest, I really enjoy the life God has given me.
So, I encourage everyone to slow down and embrace the beautiful interruptions of life. To embrace the great adventure God has planned for you. It will take you slowing down, but I promise you it’s worth it. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 