Tag: Peace

What Is A Good Friend?

Today’s a new day! As we celebrate this Christmas season, hopefully we will be surrounded by good friends. Which begs the question, What is a good friend?

We all have heard the saying “You don’t know who your true friends are until life smacks you in the face.” True friends will reveal themselves during the storms of life.

As I have traveled my crazy beautiful health journey, I have been blessed with a few friends who have never left the boat. Friends who have truly went to battle with me.

Here are a few lessons I have learned about holding on to the real, ride or die friendships.

First, who are the true friends sitting in the boat with you during the toughest times? Take time to think back on the worst times in your life and who are the friends that never left your side? Also think about those friends you expected to be by your side, but ultimately they were not. Do not spend too much time dwelling on those friends. Let it go.

Second, think back on those true friends who have walked through the fire with you. Give those friendships the time and nurturing they deserve. Embrace them. I love 1 Thessalonians 5:11 which states “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Are we doing this?

Third, never take those true friendships for granted. Sadly, too many people take friendships for granted. True friendships are a beautiful gift from God. He designed each of us for relationship. Never overlook the importance of genuine friendship.

When you find God-ordained relationships hold on to them. Embrace them. Treasure those friends who treasure you. Build into those friendships that will bring enrichment to both parties.

Have you been blessed with real ride or die friendships? If so let them know. Give thanks for each of them. ~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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Grace of God

Today’s a new day! The grace of God gives each of us faith, not because we deserve it, but as a result of the everlasting goodness of His works. It is important to know that this gift we have been given is not in exchange for us accomplishing good works. This gift should fill our hearts with humility knowing we’ve been given something we could never achieve on our own. ~OC

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Precious Peace

Today’s a new day! Do you ever wake up with thoughts already racing through your mind? How in the world does that happen so early in the morning? I find myself laughing about the different ways my brains works. I have to remind myself to slow down and focus.

This morning, I spent time in Philippians 4. How many times have I looked over these verses? Probably hundreds of times. But on days I struggle with focus, these words take on a new meaning. Philippians 4:7 reminds us that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. God’s amazing peace is so precious, that it is beyond our ability to truly comprehension. Yet on our toughest days we can experience God’s refreshing peace by simply asking for it.

This morning, my eyes kept going back to verse 7 and that peace. Even though I consider myself a pretty strong person, I have moments of feeling vulnerable. I love that in the moments of vulnerability, God surrounds me with His strength. His protection. His peace. Philippians 4:7 reminds us that this peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, but not our bodies, it seems. I find this interesting because it suggests that regardless of what’s happening within our bodies during health struggles, we can still experience the peace of God that passes all understanding.

I live with multiple health issues that brings constant discomfort. The idea that this beautiful peace is available to me despite what’s happening to my body is beyond amazing news. It reminds me that the gospel is good news. Even during the many struggles we face in life, God provides us a way to have peace through Him. Life might be throwing you some haymakers at this moment, but God has this amazing love and grace for each us, and in that, we can find a peace that guards our hearts and our minds. ~OC

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Thanksgiving Prayer

Good morning on this Thanksgiving Week. God put this prayer on my heart. I pray it blesses and challenges all of us. I also pray everyone has a beautiful, safe and blessed Thanksgiving. ~OC

Dear God, teach us to offer you a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all our daily experiences through this journey called life. Teach us to be joyful always, to pray continually and to give thanks in all our circumstances. We accept them as Your will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We long to bring pleasure to Your heart daily. Break the power of the enemy in our life. Defeat him through our sacrifice of praise. Change our outlook and attitude into one of joyful contentment with our present circumstances. We thank You for walking with us through our toughest storms. Jesus, we want to be like You who obeyed the Father without complaint. You embraced the chains of humanity when You walked this earth. Convict us whenever we complain or compare ourselves with others. Give us Your attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. We want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. We choose to continually offer You a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that give praise to Your name (Hebrews 13:15). We long to bring a smile to Your face. Teach us the power of a thankful heart. We know that Your truth dwells in a thankful heart. Amen.

I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. ~Psalm 7:17

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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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Dear Jesus

Today’s a new day! Dear Jesus, I’m writing this letter to you
Cause’ I’m thankful for your love
Thankful for your grace
I’m sitting here
Leaning into your promises
Simply thankful for your forgiveness
Thankful for the purpose you’ve given my life
I never want to be the person I used to be
Thanks for guiding my life and showing me the Way
Thanks for meeting my needs
Thanks for showing me who I am in You
When I was at the end of the road, you took my hand and pulled me out of the darkness
Thanks for Your strength in my time of weakness
Thanks for always believing in me
As I reflect back, I thank you for conducting this symphony called life
You have gifted me
The road has not been easy, but You have never missed a beat
Thanks for showing me the Way
Thanks for Your amazing grace
Keep letting me run the race ~OC

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The Cross

Today’s a new day! What Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection is central to everything in our faith journey. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not only central to scripture and the Gospel, but is also central to learning (maybe for the first time) what God is like, and how we are supposed to live our lives as followers of Jesus. Keep leaning into the promises of Jesus. ~OC

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Promises

Today’s a new day! What Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection is central to everything in our faith journey. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not only central to scripture and the Gospel, but is also central to learning (maybe for the first time) what God is like, and how we are supposed to live our lives as followers of Jesus. Keep leaning into the promises of Jesus. ~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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