Tag: Never Give Up

A Choice

Two photos. Two choices. The picture of me with the oxygen mask is from this past Friday. After dealing with a debilitating headache for a week, I had to spend the day in the ER. After many test, I was diagnosed with Cluster Headaches. Not fun. The photo of the 🌞 is from this morning. If you have been in South Florida the past few days, you know the sun even if only for a moment is a beautiful sight

Both photos represent an opportunity to look at the bright side of any circumstance. Spending the day in the ER was not fun, but it allowed me to share the love of God with several staff. It allowed me to thank some healthcare workers for all that they do. My attitude on Friday could have been like the weather we have been dealing with lately. Gloomy, nasty and not very inviting. But I chose to share a little sunshine with everyone I came in contact with on Friday.

When we are dealing with the storms of life, we have two choices. To look at the negatives or try and find some sunshine in the midst of the storm. Our choice. ~OC
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Real Life

Today’s a new day! One of my favorite verses is “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33. 

What does that verse really mean? One of the biggest lies many Christians fall into when they start following God is everything will be perfect and they will never deal with the storms of life. That if God is on our side, nothing can go wrong, and all it takes is a quick prayer to get us out of a sticky situtation. Just like a sitcom on tv. All is good in 30 minutes. But we live in reality and we know that’s far from the truth.

Nowhere in the Bible are we promised a perfect life on earth. Life will be filled with struggles. We will all experience challenges along our journey. Those challenges will look different for each of us. Some will deal with health issues. Sometimes those health challenges will last a lifetime.

The point is that even though we all experience challenges in this journey called life, Jesus has overcome the sins of the world by taking them on himself. As I mentioned earlier, we will encounter painful moments in this world, but there is a world beyond this world. A place called Heaven, where we will experience peace and wholeness. A place where there is no pain, disease, war, hatred or confusion. Heaven is paradise.

When I experience moments of hopelessness with my own health, I take a moment to think about God’s goodness and promises. I also take time to remember that I need God more today than I did yesterday. I may not understand everything going on in my crazy beautiful journey, but God does. And for that I am thankful.

I am often asked why would God allow me to walk through so many years of suffering? Of course I do not have all the answers, but I have chosen to trust God in the mist of the storms. To look for every opportunity to help encourage everyone walking through their own challenges. I have decided not to spend all my precious moments researching Google or looking for the latest natural cures.

I’ve accepted that I will never fully understand every inner working of my body at every given moment. No one has it all figured out. Not even the medical world. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do everything in my power to pray and strive for better health. It just means I will not become consumed by my current health challenges. They are not my true identity.

Nothing gives me more peace and comfort than my relationship with God. Just like any personal relationship takes work and trust the same goes for our relationship with God. It’s a daily commitment. In life we so often stumble for answers. We jump from different diets, different relationships and different careers looking for the answer and looking for a way to make us feel good and worthy. There is nothing wrong with any of those things, but nothing will ever give us as much peace and purpose than a relationship with God and the knowledge that even though the storms of life can be hard, He has already overcome the world.

I know this was a long post, but I pray it brings you hope as you walk through the ups and downs of life. Blessings to all. ~OC

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Thorn In The Flesh

Today’s a new day! If I tried explaining this crazy beautiful health journey to myself before this journey started, the former me would have been confused and most likely skeptical. That’s the most difficult part of living with a chronic illness. Unless you’ve walked the road, it’s nearly impossible to understand.

No amount of words can describe how completely this health journey has affected my life. My body’s tired. It longs for relief. I hear its cries. I used to force my body to keep moving, angrily ignoring its groans. Then I realized my body didn’t ask for this. We live in a broken world. Everyone’s body breaks down at some point. Mine decided to break down at 35. That was twenty-one years ago. Supposedly I was in the prime of my life. But through the years, I have come to realize I’m not entitled to perfect health. No one is. Sometimes the body suffers the effects of brokenness much earlier than it should.

I share the above not to bring anyone down, but to hopefully bring hope. Hope might be the most important tool in the Christian arsenal. Hope is not circumstantial. It is a firm conviction, a way of seeing the world. Hope is what sustains us through difficult times. We know God is in control, regardless of what our circumstances might lead us to believe. We trust suffering is temporary and that God will use even the worst of situations for good. Evil might have the first word (cancer, chronic illness, divorce), but we proclaim boldly that God will have the last.

Many times in the last twenty-one years, I have found encouragement in 2 Corinthians Chapter 12. In verses 8 and 9, Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh that tormented him throughout his life. He prayed multiple times for God to remove it. Here was God’s response: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

I may experience another miracle along this journey. I may not. Either way, God’s grace is sufficient. It’s enough for me. I pray it’s enough for you too. ~OC

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Intimacy with God

Today’s a new day! As I have struggled with chronic health issues for 21 years, I have experienced a beautiful and ever deepening relationship with God. He’s constantly pouring out His love over me, and God is continuously speaking to me. Even though my health journey has not been an easy one, God has never felt distant. Even in the toughest moments, He has felt close like a warm blanket on a cold night.

I know for some people that has not always been their experience. They have had moments of feeling distant from God. While we should not let our emotions dictate our faith, if He consistently feels distant, we should question why.

I would like to share one of the greatest gift a person facing chronic health issues can experience during the trying times- intimacy with God. If you’re currently walking through a season of chronic illness, you can experience an ever-growing closeness with God during the toughest and most painful days. Here are some questions I have pondered over the years.

  1. Are you currently experiencing true intimacy with God?
  2. During your health battle when have you felt closet to God?
  3. How often in your journey have you compared your interaction with God to how He interacts with, responds to, or guides someone else?
  4. What are some ways you can intentionally draw close to God?
  5. Do you struggle with feeling as if you should do or be more as a Christian?
  6. Have you unknowingly slipped into a works-based relationship with God?
  7. In what ways is God using your current struggles to draw you closer to Him?
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Resiliency

Today’s a new day! Nothing is wasted by God and that through all things, God is working for the good of those who love Jesus and for His ultimate glory. If we truly lean into the truth of God’s word, there is not a single circumstance that happens outside of the sovereignty of God’s authority and if it is not outside of His authority, it is being used by Him for our good and for His Glory. Resiliency.

Cancer, Parkinson’s, Myasthenia Gravis, Gastroparesis, Covid Long Hauler’s all under God’s authority. All the storms of life under His authority. As I have walked through the above health issues, I have chosen to totally put my trust in God. Leaning into the amazing truth, that God has used every health issue I have faced and am currently facing for His glory. I want to be in the middle of everything God is doing in my life. Because if it’s for His Glory, it is inherently for my good. If it is for my good, I can keep persevering through the tough moments. That is resilience. Course correcting through the storms of life, through hardships, through trial after trail … being brought back to the foot of the Cross with the truth that it is all for His Glory and my good. Resiliency. ~OC

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Vision

Today’s a new day! Many storms in my life have tried to break me, but all they did was correct my vision. ~OC

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Total Freedom

Today’s a new day! There is complete and total freedom in Jesus. We will never experience true freedom in our finances or social status. No, true freedom and joy comes from surrendering our entire lives to Jesus.
We will still have aching questions and burning disappointments that we will bring to God. We still do not understand all the mysteries of life. Our future is still full of questions and imperfections.

But that doesn’t have to hold us back from continuing to lean into the promises of Jesus. When we have faith that He is working, even now, we are filled with peace. It’s out of our hands and it’s in the hands that were pierced for each of us. In the midst of the storms of life, our Jesus continues to work. He is focused on our now and walking with us through the storms. Do not miss the lessons He has for you in the valley moments. Jesus is focused on the big picture. The results are going to be glorious. Keep leaning in. ~OC

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Selfless Love on 9/11

Today, we remember that Tuesday morning twenty-two years ago. Hard to believe, it has been twenty-two years since we watched in horror as the tragedies of that day unfolded. There was a lot of hate perpetrated that day. Hate that not only changed the lives of many families, but the life of a nation. But as we reflect back on that Tuesday morning, I hope we will remember there was a lot of love happening that day.

The Man In The Red Bandana: Welles Crowther, a 24-year old equities trader is credited with helping at least a dozen people get out of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This young man gave his life helping complete strangers.

Let’s Roll: A group of strangers came together to take back United Flight 93, preventing further mass destruction.

Put Back On The Uniform: Retired US Marines, Jason Thomas and David Karnes were complete strangers at the beginning of that Tuesday in September. But as they watched in horror what was transpiring at the World Trade Center, they put their uniforms back on and headed into the chaos. They are credited with saving two survivors.

More Than a Tour Guide: Army Specialist Beau Doboszenski was working as a tour guide at the Pentagon on 9/11. He gave medical aid to the injured outside and rushed into the Pentagon to help others trapped inside.

These are just a few stories of heroism from that Tuesday in September. As we remember and pay respect to all the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, let us not forget there was a lot of selfless love happening on that tragic day. ~OC

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Thank You!

Today is World Greatness Day. I want to recognize my medical team that has been taking care of me the last 21 years. I have been blessed by each and everyone of you. Keep making a difference. ~OC

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New Book

Today’s a new day! The new book is out. Thanks for all the love and support. This book is 20 years in the making. The majority of the book was written from my hospital room on 4South at Good Samaritan Medical Center. A fun fact. I have written both of my books on my Apple iPhone. I continue to live a blessed life. ~OC

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