Tag: Miracle

Face of God

When I stand at the foot of the ocean and look in awe. Maybe I’m looking at the face of God.

When I see the beauty of a sunrise on a summer morning. Maybe I’m looking at the face of God.

When I try to count all the stars in the sky. Maybe I’m looking at the face of God.

When I see people worshiping and praising with their arms stretched up to heaven. Maybe I’m looking at the face of God.

When I see my bride smiling back at me. Maybe I’m looking at the face of God.

When I am lifting praises and prayers up to God, maybe I am looking at the face of God. And He’s smiling back at me. ~OC

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Walk In Your Miracle

Today’s a new day! On my Facebook memory today, it shared my bride and I were in Seattle on June 14,2019. We were going on a cruise to Alaska in celebration of our 20th Anniversary. What my medical team shared would be our last anniversary (our anniversary is actually in September) and probably my last trip ever. I was dying.

After almost 18 years of battling multiple life threatening health issues, my body was shutting down. I weighed 112 pounds, could not eat and could barely speak. I was living off a feeding tube. I was a dead man walking. But Laura and I were not thinking about death. We were too busy living life and making memories. We were living with Hope. Still believing in a Crazy Beautiful Miracle. Several months later, I would experience that crazy beautiful miracle under a tent. I would not experience death as most of my medical team predicted. No, Jesus had other plans. Plans for me to live and share the story he gave me. To Thrive.

Today you might be facing a storm. Maybe even death. But I want to encourage you to live with Hope and Believe our wonderful Savior might just have a crazy beautiful miracle for you. So walk in your Miracle today. ~OC

This picture was taken in June 2019 on our trip to Alaska.

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Loved

Today’s a new day! We did not find God. He was always there. All we had to do was reach out and take his hand. God meets us where we are. We do not have to clean ourselves up before God loves us. No, God loved us before we were even a twinkle in our parents eyes. God does not care about all our imperfections. You see, God only sees the masterpiece he created. I hope that rocks your world. You will never experience true unconditional love until you experience God’s amazing love. ~OC

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Let’s Go

As I go from hospital to hospital people are hurting.

As I travel from one meeting to another people are hurting.

As I walk through the grocery store people are hurting.

As I travel to these different places, I am overwhelmed by how many people are eager to hear the word of God. The Living Water. It’s as if the Holy Spirit went before me to prepare their hearts.

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, the world is truly hurting. This hurting world needs to hear the message of Love, Grace, Forgiveness and Salvation.

You may get some of these hurting people to church to hear the beautiful message of Jesus, but as disciples of the Living King we need to take this amazing message to where they are and let the Holy Spirit do what He does best.

So my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s hit the streets and speak to whoever He brings our way. The world is hurting. The Harvest is ready. Let’s go! ~OC

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It’s About Love

Today’s a new day! Life is about people. Loving and serving others with the love of Jesus. It’s not all about the big gatherings at church or some other big gathering. No, it’s about truly loving our family, friends, coworkers, neighbors or the stranger at the store. ~OC

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Show Up. Speak Up.

To make real difference, you have to show up and speak up. Even during the storms. Even during the unknown terrain. Even during the pain. Even when you would rather stay curled up in bed with the covers over your head. Even when it’s not easy. Even when it’s not popular. That’s how you make a difference in your part of the world. Also God expects nothing less from us. So keep showing up and speaking up. ~OC

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Come Home

Today is Easter. I love Resurrection Sunday. A day to celebrate the Risen King. This year for the first time in many years, I will not be at church celebrating this beautiful day. No, because of the effects of Covid and double pneumonia, I will be watching Easter service online at home. I know a lot of people are also walking through their own storms on this Easter Sunday. So I want to try and encourage you this morning with a few thoughts.

I know it can be hard to find rest when you cannot find peace. I know it can be hard to find rest when there is so much turmoil raging in your life. The weight of those storms make you feel like you are drowning. The pain from those storms are breaking your heart and spirit. Life seems overwhelming. The stress feels overwhelming. The anxiety feels overwhelming. The pain feels overwhelming. The emptiness feels overwhelming. The depression feels overwhelming. The struggle is real. Life is hard. But there is Hope.

During the times when life seems overwhelming, I want to encourage you to run to Jesus. The One who hung on a Cross and laid in a tomb for three days. The One who died for all of those storms and struggles we face. The One who is patiently waiting for us to come to him and lay all our burdens down at his feet. Today is Easter. The day Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of the One who gave it all for us. I can think of no better day to come home to The One who is waiting with open arms.

Let me be honest before I finish. Just because you lay all your junk at the feet of Jesus, does not mean all that junk immediately goes away. Sorry for that truth. But I can guarantee you, when you decide to turn over all that junk to Him, your life will be filled with a beautiful Peace. Your life will be filled with new Hope. New Purpose. You will still have days filled with raging storms, but you will not be walking through those storms alone. No, you will have a risen King walking with you. A risen King holding your hand. A risen King guiding your steps. A risen King making a way for you during those storms of life. So I encourage you to come home today. To find rest in the Risen King. ~OC

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Aren’t You A Christian?

I thought you were a Christian, so…

How do you vote that way?

How come you hang out with those type of people?

How do you know rap lyrics? (Mostly 80’s rap).

How do you listen to non-Christian music?

What makes you struggle and questions today’s Church?

I thought you were a Christian, so…

How can you watch certain shows and movies?

How can you support those movements?

How do you not support certain political candidates or party?

Are you sure your a Christian?

OMG, YES.

I am a whole and imperfect Christian.

Has the church and its people forgotten what that means?

It means I need Jesus in every way possible, because I am a sinner.

It does not mean I have all the answers to life. It does not mean I have life figured out. It does not mean I suddenly like every Christian song or movie ever made.

It means one thing and one thing only:

I am a Christian because I love Jesus.

The truth is, I stray outside of the lines of American Christianity. I do not fit in a neat little perfectly wrapped box. I sometimes can be like that crazy relative we all have.

But that’s exactly what drove me to Jesus in the first place. His grace shines most in my shortcomings.

So if you see me trip up and get a little dirty, don’t assume that I have lost my way.

I am running toward Jesus, but it’s a long, long marathon. I am a Christian who desperately needs Christ.

So how do I respond when people question my faith? When they expect perfection from a deeply flawed individual?

Well, I keep loving Jesus, keep loving others, and keep leaning hard into Grace.

Because I know without a doubt I need Grace every day.

I love Jesus…but I refuse to live in that perfect little box. ~OC

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Uniquely Created

Today’s a new day! God never compares what He created. So please stop comparing yourself to others. You were uniquely created by God. A one of a kind Masterpiece. Live out that truth. ~OC

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