Tag: Never Give Up

Lead By Example

Today’s a new day!

True leadership isn’t about asking others to walk a road you’ve never traveled. It’s about being willing to take the hard falls, endure the painful lessons, and face the storms before asking others to follow.

A great leader doesn’t hide the scars. They share the pain, the struggles, and the lessons learned along the way—not to gain sympathy, but to help someone else avoid the same pitfalls.

The greatest leaders don’t just show people the way; they walk the road with them.

You don’t have to be perfect to lead. You just have to be willing to be honest, vulnerable, and courageous enough to say, “I’ve been there. I’ve fallen, I’ve hurt, and I’ve learned. Let me help you keep going.”

And as followers of Jesus, may we always remember that He didn’t simply point us toward the cross. He carried His own cross and showed us what sacrificial love looks like.

Lead with humility. Share your scars. Lift others up.

Because sometimes, the pain you’ve survived becomes the wisdom someone else needs to survive their own storm. ~OC

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Your Attitude Matters

Today’s a new day!

The only difference between a good day and a bad day is often your attitude. You cannot control every circumstance, every disappointment, or every storm that comes your way, but you can choose how you respond.

Some days will be harder than others. Some mornings you will wake up ready to conquer the world, while other mornings simply getting out of bed will feel like a victory. But every day is another opportunity to find hope, show kindness, love others, and make a difference.

You may not get to choose what happens today, but you can choose the attitude you bring into it.

Start your day with gratitude, walk in faith, give yourself grace, and remember that God is still at work—even on the difficult days.

Keep smiling. Keep believing. Keep overcoming.

TODAY IS A GIFT FROM GOD. MAKE IT COUNT! ~OC

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If Tomorrow Wasn’t Promised, What Would You Give Today?

Today’s a new day!

We spend so much time worrying about tomorrow that we forget to appreciate the gift we’ve been given today. We put off the phone calls, postpone the hugs, hold back the words “I love you,” and wait for the perfect moment to live the life God has given us.

But what if tomorrow never comes?

Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present. 

Love a little deeper. Forgive a little quicker. Laugh a little louder. Encourage someone who is struggling. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. And most importantly, thank God for the breath in your lungs and the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.

You don’t have to change the entire world today. You just have to make a difference in the world God has placed right in front of you.

Remember, yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, but today is your opportunity.

Don’t just count your days. Make your days count. Live with purpose, love with abandon, walk by faith, and never take another breath for granted.

KEEP FIGHTING. KEEP BELIEVING. KEEP OVERCOMING. ~OC

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Why Am I Still Alive?

Today’s a new day!

Twenty-four years. Multiple diagnoses. Countless tests, treatments, surgeries, hospitalizations, and moments when the future looked anything but certain. And somehow, by the grace of God, I am still here.

Sometimes I sit back and ask myself a question that I don’t always know how to answer.

WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?

I’m not asking that question for attention. I’m not asking it because I want people to feel sorry for me. And I’m certainly not asking it because I believe I’m stronger than someone else who didn’t survive their battle.

I’m asking because, after everything my body has endured over the last twenty-four years, there are moments when I honestly don’t understand how I’m still standing.

I’ve lived with multiple life threatening health issues. I have experienced moments when my health has deteriorated so badly that living another day wasn’t something I could take for granted.

I’ve heard the medical predictions. I’ve faced the uncertainty. I’ve endured the pain, the exhaustion, and the frustration of watching my body struggle to do things that once came naturally.

I’ve experienced moments when speaking was difficult, when my body wouldn’t cooperate, and when the future seemed to be slipping away from me.

I’ve spent time in intensive care. I’ve faced hospitalizations when things didn’t look good. I’ve experienced the kind of physical suffering that is difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t walked a similar road.

And through it all, one question continues to follow me.

WHY HAS GOD ALLOWED ME TO LIVE WHEN SO MANY TIMES IT SEEMED LIKE MY STORY SHOULD HAVE ENDED?

I wish I had a simple answer.

I don’t.

But I know this: JESUS. ONLY JESUS.

I’m not claiming that I understand every medical explanation, every close call, or every reason I’ve survived. I’m not suggesting that faith means we never need doctors, medicine, treatments, or the hands of medical professionals. God has worked through many of those people and resources in my life, and I am grateful for them.

I’m also not going to pretend that every day is a victory lap.

Some days hurt. Some nights seem endless. There are moments when the exhaustion runs deeper than words can explain. There are things I miss about the life I once had, and there are battles I never imagined I would have to fight.

My faith doesn’t make me immune to fear, frustration, grief, or questions.

Faith simply gives me somewhere to take those things.

I take them to Jesus.

Sometimes my prayers are long and full of words. Other times, all I can manage is a whisper. And sometimes, when I don’t have the strength to say anything at all, I simply hold on to the truth that He is still there.

I have learned that you don’t have to understand everything God is doing to trust Him with your life.

You don’t have to feel strong to keep believing.

And you don’t have to pretend everything is okay to have genuine faith.

I’M STILL HERE, BUT I’M NOT GOING TO PRETEND I KNOW WHY.

People sometimes talk about surviving as though it automatically makes someone a hero. But I don’t see myself that way.

I’m a husband. I’m a son. I’m a friend. I’m a child of God.

I’m a man who has experienced more medical battles than he ever expected, a man who has had to learn how to live with a body that doesn’t always cooperate, and a man who still has questions about what tomorrow might bring.

I’m not alive because I figured out some secret to beating every illness.

I’m not alive because I never became afraid.

And I’m certainly not alive because I have somehow earned more of God’s favor than someone who lost their battle.

I am still here, and I am deeply grateful for every additional day I have been given.

I believe Jesus has carried me through moments when I didn’t have the strength to carry myself. I believe His presence has sustained me when the circumstances around me offered very little comfort. I believe there is still purpose in loving people, encouraging others, sharing my faith, and telling the truth about what it means to walk through suffering.

But I cannot tell you with certainty why my story continues while someone else’s ended.

I won’t pretend to know God’s complete plan.

What I can tell you is that my survival has made me more aware of how precious life is, how fragile our bodies can be, and how desperately we need grace.

I no longer want to waste my life chasing things that don’t matter.

I want to love my wife well. I want to encourage the brokenhearted. I want to stand beside people who feel forgotten. I want to remind those who are struggling that their diagnoses do not erase their dignity, their value, or their identity.

I want people to see Jesus in the way I live, not simply in the words I write.

If I have another twenty years, I want to use them well.

If I have twenty more days, I want to use them well.

And if tomorrow brings another medical battle, I pray I will face it with the same Savior who has sustained me through the battles behind me.

Because the number of days I have left is not something I can control.

What I do with the day I’ve been given is something I can choose.

JESUS NEVER PROMISED ME AN EASY ROAD.

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that following Jesus doesn’t mean we get to skip suffering.

Faithful people get sick.

Faithful people experience pain.

Faithful people sit beside hospital beds, receive devastating diagnoses, and sometimes bury the people they prayed would be healed.

And sometimes, despite our most desperate prayers, the outcome isn’t what we hoped for.

I believe in miracles. I’ve experienced moments in my own journey that I can only describe as miraculous. I believe God can heal, restore, strengthen, and do things beyond our understanding.

But I also believe that Jesus is worthy of our trust when healing doesn’t come the way we prayed it would.

My faith cannot depend entirely on whether my body gets better.

If I make physical healing the only evidence of God’s goodness, what happens on the days when my symptoms worsen? What happens when another diagnosis arrives? What happens when I wake up hurting?

Does that mean God has abandoned me?

No.

My circumstances may change. My physical abilities may change. My future may look different from the one I imagined.

But my identity in Christ does not depend on the condition of my body.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s grace is sufficient and that His power is made perfect in weakness.

That Scripture means something different to me now than it did before I became seriously ill.

I understand that weakness isn’t always something we overcome in the way we hoped. Sometimes weakness is something we learn to live with while discovering that God’s grace is still sufficient.

Sometimes overcoming means getting out of bed.

Sometimes it means enduring another treatment.

Sometimes it means asking for help when our pride tells us not to.

Sometimes it means crying, praying, and getting through one more difficult day.

And sometimes, overcoming simply means refusing to believe that our suffering has made our lives meaningless.

I AM STILL AN OVERCOMER, EVEN ON THE DAYS WHEN I FEEL OVERWHELMED.

Not because I always win the battles I fight, but because my identity is rooted in the One who holds me through them.

SO, WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?

After twenty-four years of health battles, I could give you a dozen answers.

Medical professionals have treated me. My wife, Laura, has stood beside me through more than most people could imagine. Family and friends have prayed for me. People have encouraged me when I needed encouragement.

I am grateful for every single one of them.

But when I look back over the moments when I wondered whether I would survive, when I think about the times I had almost nothing left to give, and when I consider how much of this journey has been beyond my control, I keep coming back to the same place.

JESUS.

Not because I can explain every moment.

Not because I know what tomorrow holds.

Not because I believe I am guaranteed another miracle.

But because, in the middle of all my unanswered questions, He remains the foundation of my faith.

I don’t know how many more years I have.

I don’t know what the next diagnosis, treatment, or hospitalization might bring.

I don’t know whether the hardest part of my journey is behind me or still ahead.

But I know I don’t want to spend whatever time I have left living in fear of what might happen.

I want to live with purpose.

I want to love deeply.

I want to forgive freely.

I want to encourage relentlessly.

I want to tell people about the hope I’ve found in Jesus without pretending that following Him makes life easy.

And I want to remind people who are fighting battles of their own that they are more than the worst thing that has happened to them.

You are more than your diagnosis.

You are more than your mistakes.

You are more than the opinions of people who don’t understand your journey.

And you are not forgotten simply because your life looks different from the one you imagined.

I cannot promise you that everything will work out the way you want it to. I cannot promise that every prayer will be answered in the way you hope.

But I can tell you that you do not have to walk through your suffering alone.

Jesus meets us in the broken places. He gives us grace for the moments when we have none left to give ourselves. And He reminds us that our worth was never determined by our strength, our health, or our ability to keep everything together.

I am still here. I am still fighting. I am still believing. And I am still trusting Jesus.

Not because I have all the answers.

But because I know where to turn when I don’t.

Twenty-four years ago, I could never have imagined the road I would travel. I never would have chosen it. I would never wish these battles on anyone.

But I am here.

And as long as I am here, I want my life to point beyond me.

I want people to see more than a man with multiple medical diagnoses. I want them to see a husband who loves his wife, a friend who cares about people, a man who still believes in the power of prayer, and a child of God who is learning to trust Jesus one day at a time.

I don’t need to understand every chapter to be grateful that my story is still being written.

And I don’t need to know how many pages remain to make the next one count.

WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?

I don’t know the complete answer.

But I know who I am trusting with the question.

His name is Jesus.

And until He calls me home, I will keep loving, keep serving, keep believing, keep encouraging, and keep overcoming.

Not perfectly.

Not without pain.

Not without questions.

But by His grace, one day at a time.

ONLY JESUS KNOWS WHY I’M STILL HERE. SO, JESUS, WHILE I’M HERE, PLEASE HELP ME MAKE MY LIFE COUNT.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Philippians 1:21

KEEP FIGHTING. KEEP BELIEVING. KEEP LOVING. KEEP OVERCOMING.

Your health issues may be part of your story, but they do not get to define the entirety of your life. Your story is still about the person you love, the people you encourage, the grace you extend, and the Jesus you follow.

— A Blessed Overcomer, still walking by faith. ~OC

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Who Is Your Tribe?

When the storms of life hit, who will still be standing beside you?

Let me ask you a few questions.

Who is your tribe? Who is your 3 a.m. phone call? Who are the people you can count on when life falls apart?

Not the people who show up when everything is going well. Not the people who celebrate your victories, enjoy your success, or want to be around when life is easy.

I’m talking about the people who show up when the diagnosis comes. When the phone rings with bad news. When the bills pile up, the tears won’t stop, your faith is being tested, and you don’t know how you’re going to make it through another day.

WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE?

Life has a way of revealing who truly belongs in your tribe. Sometimes, it takes a storm to discover who is willing to stand with you in the rain.

Some people will pray for you from a distance. Others will get down in the trenches and pray beside you. Some will tell you they’re there for you, while others will quietly show up and prove it.

And sometimes, the greatest gift someone can give you isn’t advice, a Bible verse, or a promise that everything will be okay.

Sometimes, it’s simply their presence.

It’s the person who answers the phone at 3 a.m. It’s the friend who sits with you in a hospital room. It’s the person who checks on you when everyone else has moved on. It’s the one who reminds you of God’s faithfulness when you’re struggling to remember it yourself.

Those people are precious. Love them. Appreciate them. Thank God for them.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us that two are better than one because when one falls, the other can help them up.

That’s what community looks like. That’s what friendship looks like. That’s what being the hands and feet of Jesus looks like.

But here’s something else we need to remember.

While we’re asking who our tribe is, we also need to ask ourselves a difficult question:

ARE WE SOMEBODY ELSE’S TRIBE?

Are we the person who answers the phone when someone is hurting? Are we willing to sit beside someone in their darkest hour without trying to fix everything? Are we checking on the people who always say they’re fine but might be falling apart inside?

It’s easy to say, “I’m praying for you.”

It’s harder to show up, stay present, and walk beside someone through a storm that might last months or even years.

Jesus never promised us a life without storms. But He showed us what love looks like in the middle of them.

And sometimes, God answers our prayers for help through the people He places in our lives.

I’ve learned that life isn’t about how many people know your name, how many friends you have on social media, or how many people celebrate your victories.

It’s about the people who love you when you have nothing to offer them except your brokenness.

So today, take a moment to think about your tribe.

Who can you call at 3 a.m.?

Who will stand beside you when the storms come?

Who will pray with you when you can’t find the words to pray for yourself?

And just as importantly, whose name would appear on their phone if they needed someone at 3 a.m.?

If you have those people, thank God for them. Don’t take them for granted.

If you’re still searching for your tribe, don’t give up hope. Keep showing up. Keep loving people. Keep building genuine relationships. Sometimes, the family God gives us is the family we find along the way.

And if you know someone who is walking through a storm alone, don’t wait for them to ask for help. Reach out. Make the call. Send the text. Show up.

BE SOMEBODY’S 3 A.M. PHONE CALL. BE SOMEBODY’S TRIBE. BE THE REASON SOMEONE REMEMBERS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

Because when the storms of life come, we don’t need more spectators.

We need people willing to stand in the storm with us.

And church, isn’t that what we’re called to do?

To love one another. To carry one another’s burdens. To encourage the weary. To stand beside the brokenhearted.

Let’s stop being a church that simply tells people to have faith and become a church that demonstrates faith through action.

Life is hard. Storms are real. And none of us was meant to walk through this life alone.

Keep loving. Keep showing up. Keep praying. Keep overcoming.

And never underestimate what God can do through one person who refuses to walk away when everyone else does.

A PRAYER FOR OUR TRIBES

Lord Jesus, thank You for the people You place in our lives who stand beside us when the storms come. Help us recognize those relationships, nurture them, and never take them for granted. Teach us to be the kind of friends who answer the call, carry one another’s burdens, and love without conditions. Show us who might be hurting in silence and give us the courage to reach out. May we become Your hands and feet to a world that desperately needs to know it isn’t alone. In the powerful and precious name of Jesus. Amen.

ONE LAST QUESTION: WHO IS YOUR TRIBE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHOSE TRIBE ARE YOU? ~OC

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Healing Prayer For Cancer Patients

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today, I lift up every person fighting cancer. Lord, surround them with Your healing presence, strengthen their weary bodies, calm their anxious minds, and fill their hearts with hope when fear tries to take hold.

Father, guide the hands of their doctors, bless their treatments, and give wisdom to everyone caring for them. When the journey feels overwhelming, remind them that they are never alone. Wrap Your loving arms around their families and give them strength for each new day.

Lord Jesus, we ask for healing, for miracles, and for the peace that surpasses all understanding. Even in the darkest valley, remind them that Your light still shines, Your love never fails, and hope is never out of reach.

May their faith be stronger than their fear, their hope greater than their pain, and their hearts filled with the assurance that they are deeply loved by You.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen!

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord. — Jeremiah 30:17

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Hope Refuses To Give Up

Hope is not wishful thinking that somehow everything will work out. Hope is the unshakable conviction that injustice will not win, death will not have the final word, and darkness will never overcome the light.

But hope is more than something we believe. It’s something we live.

Hope prays when the answers don’t come. Hope peacefully protests when injustice prevails. Hope weeps when hearts are broken. Hope keeps showing up when walking away would be easier.

Hope refuses to accept that the way things are is the way things must always be.

As Christians, our hope is rooted in Jesus Christ. We serve a Savior who conquered the grave, defeated death, and reminds us that even when the world looks hopeless, God is not finished writing the story.

So don’t just talk about hope. Live it. Fight for justice. Stand with the hurting. Love your neighbor. Speak truth. Keep showing up.

Hope is not passive waiting. Hope is active persistence. And as long as God gives us another day, we have another opportunity to make a difference.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good.” — Galatians 6:9

KEEP HOPING. KEEP STANDING. KEEP SHOWING UP. THE STORY ISN’T OVER! ~OC

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I Never Gave Up

Today’s a new day!

I don’t know when my story will end. Only God knows how many chapters remain or what the next page will hold.

I’ve faced battles that nearly broke me, received news that could have crushed my spirit, and walked through storms I never imagined surviving. My journey hasn’t been easy, and I know there are more battles ahead.

But nowhere in my story will you ever read the words, “I GAVE UP.”

I may get tired. I may hurt. I may stumble. I may have days when I don’t understand what God is doing. But by His grace, I will keep fighting, keep believing, and keep overcoming.

My health challenges are part of my story, but they will never define who I am. My faith is bigger than my fear, and my God is greater than any battle I face.

I don’t know how many pages I have left, but as long as God gives me another day, I intend to make it count.

The story isn’t over. The fight isn’t finished. And giving up? THAT WILL NEVER BE MY LEGACY! ~OC

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ~ Philippians 4:13

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Florida Gators Football: Regroup, Refocus and Recommit

I have been a Florida Gators football fan since I was a child. Believe me, that’s a LONG time! And no matter what happens, I’ll always be a Gators fan.

But Gators, we need to talk.

The last two weeks have been disappointing. After all the hype and excitement surrounding this team during the first few weeks of the season, the last two games have left me wondering where that passion went.

Today, against the University of South Carolina, I watched a team that appeared to have given up. The last two weeks have looked like a team playing with a losing mentality.

And as someone who has spent more than twenty years fighting for his life, watching this team has reminded me of my own health journey.

I’ve faced cancer, Parkinson’s, Myasthenia Gravis, Gastroparesis, and countless other medical challenges. There have been days when I weighed just 110 pounds and couldn’t speak. I’ve heard frightening medical reports and faced circumstances that could have ended my life.

But I refused to let those reports define me.

My faith has sustained me through some of my darkest days. I’ve learned that a setback doesn’t have to become a surrender, and a difficult chapter doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

Gators, here’s my message to you:

STOP BELIEVING YOUR OWN HYPE!

The positive reviews from the first few weeks don’t win football games. Talent alone isn’t enough. You need heart, discipline, teamwork, and the determination to keep fighting when things get difficult.

Forget the headlines. Stop worrying about what people are saying. Get back to work, regroup, and rediscover your passion.

When you make a mistake, get back up. When adversity hits, respond. When the scoreboard isn’t going your way, keep fighting until the final whistle.

You don’t have to win every game, but we want to see you compete with heart and play for one another.

I’m frustrated, and I’m disappointed, but I’m not giving up on my Gators!

I’ve spent more than twenty years learning that life’s battles don’t always go the way we planned. Sometimes, winning means just getting out of bed and facing another day. Sometimes, it means finding the strength to keep going when everything seems stacked against you.

Gators, you have another opportunity to respond. Don’t let two difficult weeks define your season.

Regroup. Refocus. Recommit.

Find your fire again. Play with passion. Play with heart. And remember what it means to wear that Florida Gators uniform.

From one fighter to another, here’s my message: Don’t let the hype go to your head, and don’t let adversity break your spirit.

True Gators fans aren’t going anywhere. We’ll be right here, cheering you on and believing you can turn things around.

I’ve been a fan since childhood, and I’ll be a fan for life!

🐊 GO GATORS! CHOMP, CHOMP!

NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER STOP FIGHTING. KEEP OVERCOMING! ~OC

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Stop Scrolling: America, We Need to Wake Up About Mental Health!

Saturday, October 10, is World Mental Health Day. And America, we need to have an honest conversation about mental health—not just one day a year, but every single day.

Mental health is a serious issue affecting millions of people across America and around the world. Yet, somehow, we still live in a society where people are mocked, ridiculed, and criticized for admitting they are struggling.

Recently, a so-called ESPN reporter criticized and made fun of Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson over his decision to step away from football amid mental health struggles and reportedly having both parents dealing with health issues. The reporter later attempted to apologize, but the apology came across as forced rather than sincere.

Let me be clear: THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT SOMEONE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH!

We celebrate athletes for playing through physical injuries. We call them tough when they push through pain. But when someone acknowledges that they are struggling mentally and needs to step away, suddenly some people turn it into a punchline.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?

Mental health struggles don’t make you weak. Asking for help doesn’t make you a failure. Taking time to care for yourself doesn’t make you less of a man, woman, parent, spouse, friend, or professional.

IT MAKES YOU HUMAN!

We need to stop telling people to toughen up and start asking how we can help. We need to stop making jokes about struggles we may never fully understand. And we need to create a culture where people feel safe enough to say, “I’m not okay, and I need help.”

Whether you’re an NFL player, a teacher, a pastor, a first responder, a parent, a student, or someone quietly fighting battles nobody else can see, YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!

If you’re struggling, please don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to someone you trust. Talk to a mental health professional. Ask for help. You are not alone, and you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

And if someone trusts you enough to share their struggles, respond with compassion instead of criticism.

America, it’s time to wake up! We cannot keep talking about loving our neighbors while laughing at their pain.

Let’s stop stigmatizing mental health and start treating people with the dignity, compassion, and grace they deserve.

Because sometimes the strongest thing a person can do is admit they need help.

And sometimes, the most important thing we can do for someone else is simply remind them that they don’t have to fight alone.

BE KIND. SHOW COMPASSION. END THE STIGMA. MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS! ~OC

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day.

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