Today’s a new day! The challenges of life can leave lasting marks, but that does not always have to be a negative. Sometimes our biggest struggles bear the richest harvest and beautiful unexpected opportunities. These challenges can give us a small glimpse of God’s beauty, design and purpose in ways we could never imagine. ~OC
Word for 2025….Guarded
Today’s a new day! For probably the last ten years, every December I ask God to give me a word for the upcoming year. This year is no different, even though this year has been a life changing year for Laura and I and the year is not over yet. But after a lot of prayer, the word God has given me for 2025 is Guarded. Some people might find that a surprising word as we get closer to entering a new year. But let me explain.
Many people know about my story concerning my crazy beautiful health journey. Over the years, I have shared my story and struggles on social media, in conversation, in books and even an award-winning documentary. I have been blessed to experience some amazing opportunities over the past 22 years. I have also experienced some great pain as more than one “friend” has used my story for their personal gain and discarded me after I was no longer the flavor of the month. I do not share this for any type of sympathy, but to let you know why I chose the word Guarded for 2025 and why I will have less of a presence on social media next year. The daily text of encouragement will continue for those friends God puts on my heart.
In 2025, I will spend more time cultivating the real relationships in my life and guard myself against those who only contact me when they need something or feel guilty. As I continue to navigate life with dementia, I do not have the energy or desire to put anymore energy into fake and superficial relationships.
No, 2025 will be spent making memories with those who truly care about me. Not just the “Miracle Story.” Those few friends who actually reach out to me without me always having to innate the conversation or get together. I am looking forward to a beautiful memory filled 2025.
What will be your word for 2025? ~OC
True Meaning of Christmas
Today’s a new day! As we celebrate this Christmas season, I wanted to share my thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas.
For me and many Christians, Jesus is the reason for the season and my family and friends mean the world to me and are a beautiful blessing. With all the shopping, parties and trying to have the perfect Christmas, so many people lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Isn’t it supposed to be shared with those you love most? Isn’t our presence supposed to be more valuable than presents? What happened along the way to constantly change people’s perspective? Aren’t we supposed to be remembering the most famous story in the Bible of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and the Angel visiting them in the manger telling them not to be afraid of the Angel’s presence? We are supposed to be surrounded with our loved ones, attend Christmas service and gather around tables eating together and sharing holiday memories with loved ones.
If only people could really understand the true meaning of Christmas and not be so infatuated with the gifts, lights, shopping deals and trying to spend the most money to impress people. Gifts fade and become meaningless, time passes, people forget what you purchased them and we tend to glorify the wrong things and situations. While receiving gifts is fun and rewarding in the short term, actually caring for and spending time with the people we love is a lot more important. Being together with loved ones and sharing time together is what this Christmas season is all about. Giving back to our community is what we should be looking forward to and trying to help those in need. Saying a prayer for someone hurting this holiday is a good start if you cannot afford to buy anything monetarily.
I know the holidays are difficult for people who have lost loved ones during this time of year, or might be going through a difficult season in life. However, we cannot allow these negative situations to hold us back from receiving Jesus’s love for us and spreading holiday cheer. Do not allow your current or past circumstances cloud your future happiness and the joy of this season. Make the choice to live with a grateful heart for the small things in life and try not to dwell too much on the past. Spend some time reflecting on 2024 and look forward to all that God has for you in 2025. Take some time to count your blessings.
The true meaning of Christmas is what you make of it and not all the fancy gifts that sit under trees and will be forgotten as years pass. Go out and make new memories with your family and friends that will last a lifetime. I promise you – time spent together with loved ones is better than money well spent on items that have a lot less meaning to them. Merry Christmas to you all and blessings for the New Year. ~OC
Healthy Fear
Today’s a new day! Fear is not always a bad thing. A healthy level of fear can guide us in making wise decisions. But the spirit of fear is a whole other ballgame. The spirit of fear can give us a false perspective, cloud our emotions and try to block our ability to see God’s love and purpose during a life storm. ~OC
True Freedom
Today’s a a new day! True freedom comes from being clothed with the imperishable beauty of Christ. Just like Adam and Eve, when Christ rescued us from our sins, He gave us better clothing to cover our shame – Himself. What a beautiful picture. ~OC
Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough
Here I am again, writing about another school shooting in America. This is getting old and more frustrating. When will America wake up and realize that common sense gun laws and more mental health resources are needed to help curb this type of violence?
I also offer the following challenge to those politicians and decision makers who will share their “thoughts and prayers” with the families. Please don’t, if there is no action behind those sentiments. Instead, express the actual thoughts you are thinking and the actual prayers you are praying. I mean that quite literally. They are far more meaningful than an empty worthless phrase that is really designed to ease our own discomfort and let us off the hook from having to do anything.
And then match your actions with your prayers and your thoughts. That’s how it works.
If you need an example of how this works, here’s my own personal example. After one of the school shootings earlier this year I lamented to God, saying something “How long oh Lord? How long? I’m so tired of the empty rhetorical cycle that happens after a shooting. A shooting happens, then “thoughts and prayers” which no one actually seems to do, then a pointless debate in which people talk over each other, and then nothing changes. Enough! This cannot keep going on. Amen.”
Please understand, I believe in the power of prayer. But if there is no action behind those prayers, what is the point.
I know even with common sense gun laws and more mental health resources there is a chance that school shootings could still happen, but I truly believe we would see less of these tragic events.
In the end, I just want “thoughts and prayers” to actually mean something and lead to real change. ~OC
Take Heart
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 are told 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 world. 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 health 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 looking for the latest medical or natural cures.
I’ve accepted that I will never fully understand every inner working of my body at any 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
Choose Wisely
Today’s a new day! As Christian’s, the way we treat people can drive them out of the church or to the foot of the alter. Chose wisely. ~OC
Not the End
Today’s a new day! Sometimes a tragedy can provide a platform for something greater. Something beyond our wildest imagination. Sometimes a tragedy can be the beginning of something beautiful, not the end of the story. ~OC
Peace! Be Still
Today’s a new day! Remember in Mark 4:39, the disciples are frantic because of the raging winds and seas. But what does Jesus do? He arose from a sleep and commonly stated “Peace! Be still.” In that moment, Jesus wasn’t just talking to the storm- He was also speaking to the hearts of those in the boat. Remember that the next time you experience the raging seas in your life. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 