Hello Fear, you are not welcome here anymore,
I remember when you were my closest companion
You would control my every moment
Hello fear, I thought I was safe in your arms
You were there every second of the day
I would let myself get lost in your life stealing lies
I tried letting you go on many occasions, but you still came calling
Then came the day, I fully surrendered you to the King of Kings
Oh, you still try to slip into my thoughts, but now I cry out to my King and you flee in fear
Hello fear, you can keep trying to take space in my head,
but I will keep calling on the One who died on the cross
to take away your power over me
Hello fear, you can never win
You can keep trying to come back
Hello fear, you can never break me
You used to own a space in my head
I was yours 24 hours a day
Hello fear, I know you are never far away
Some days, I hear you knocking on the door
In the past, I would open that door
Today, I call on the Lord when I hear you knocking and I watch you flee
Hello fear, you don’t own me anymore
You can never again fill my head with your lies
You can keep trying, but now I have the power to keep you at bay
This power does not come from me, but from the King of Kings who lives in me
Dear fear, you can no longer control me
Those days have come to and end
Today’s a new day and my life has changed
I know I have a target on my back
Fear will always be creeping around ever corner,
You will use every storm as on opportunity to slide back into my life
I might bend, but I will never break
I allowed you to rent space in my life for too long
You passed yourself off as a friend for too long
You always showed up on time
But today, you are not welcome
Hello fear, there are no vacancies inside my head
Fear, you have been replaced
Today, peace, freedom and victory have taken up space in my head thanks to the King of Kings. ~OC
Waiting
Today’s a new day! Waiting. For most of us, waiting is not one of our favorite things. What do you do when life finds you in a state of waiting? When all you can do is wait. Waiting on test results. Waiting on a relationship to be mended. Waiting for a breakthrough. Waiting for a sign from God that it will not always be like this… waiting can be taxing, discouraging and deflating. Waiting can cause us to question our faith. To question God.
But what if waiting is the season God is using to grow us? That there is purpose behind the waiting. God wants us whole and He wants us free, and He will often take us on a journey of discovery before we get to the fulfillment of what we hope for. God has your back and He wants what is best for you. God is for you and will not forsake you, even in the middle of your biggest storm. Even during the waiting. ~OC
This Journey
Today’s a new day! This journey is not about us. It’s not to show people how strong we are, for our strength comes from God. It’s not to show others how great our faith is, for our faith is a gift from God. It’s not to show people how courageous we are, for our courage comes from God…exactly at the time we need it. Anything people see in us that is good is not of our doing… it’s from Heaven. ~OC
Life Moment Lessons
Today’s a new day! As we walk through life we will all face storms. As we walk through the storms of life, we make the choice what lessons we learn. Here are just a few lessons I have learned during my journey.
Life Moment Lesson 1: I could not do life without my faith. As a 10 year old boy, I gave my life and heart to God. There have been some ups and downs along my faith journey, but God has never left me. As with any relationship, I have taken the time to get to know Him better. I have taken the time to listen to God as he has spoken to me. l have seen God move mountains, perform miracles and heal relationships that people said were dead. I have felt the beautiful peace and presence of God in every area of my life.
Life Moment Lesson 2: Do not take any moment or person for granted. Life can change in a single moment. So share grace and forgiveness. Do not hold onto anger or grudges. Let it go.
Life Moment Lesson 3: Family and friends are a beautiful gift. Hug them often. Never miss a chance to say I love you. Treasure the time together. Cherish the laughter and memories. Be present.
Life Moment Lesson 4: Never make life about you. Make life about serving others. Every experience we encounter, has a beautiful God purpose if we only stop and embrace the moment. Stop rushing through life.
Life Moment Lesson 5: God is in every moment. But we must stop to see God’s beautiful presence. It doesn’t matter what storms we are facing. God is always there. If we look closely, we can see God’s fingerprints on everything. Slow down.
Life Moment Lesson 6: Be thankful and grateful in everything. I have learned when my focus is on God and everything He has brought me through, I can only praise Him and say Thank You. Take time to be thankful.
Of course there have been more lessons learned along the journey, but these are the ones God wanted me to share today. I am Blessed. ~OC
Prayer
Today’s a new day! In the past as I prayed for people and their needs, I would often find myself looking at my clock or thinking about other things. Rather than truly talking with Jesus or listening for his voice, I would find myself talking at Jesus. Those times of prayer often felt burdensome, empty and tiring.
Over the years, my prayer habits have thankfully changed. I have come to see prayer as a chance to embrace those beautiful moments with Jesus. Now my time with Jesus is my favorite part of the day. A sweet time I approach with beautiful anticipation. ~OC
#RelationshipOverReligion
Share Some Hope Today
Today we celebrate one month since our documentary Dead Man Running The Todd Shoemaker Story was released. So I have a favor and challenge for you. Would everyone please take the time today to post the link to your social media pages and share the documentary with at least five people? Let’s share some hope today. Thanks! ~OC
Music Video
Hello. Here is the music video for our documentary Dead Man Running The Todd Shoemaker Story. ~OC
Never Walking Alone
Our Savior desires a deep relationship with you. God is dependable and he wants us to depend on him. When we are healthy, there is no need to visit a doctor. Everything in your body is working the way God designed it to work. Praise God. But when we become sick, most of us will make an appointment with our doctor. When we are healthy our focus is on other things in life. But the minute our health becomes an issue our focus changes. All the sudden, we turn to our doctor who can help us through this health challenge.
Sometimes God allows us to walk through a season of trials, to get our focus back where it truly belongs. On the one we call the Great Physician. God desires for us to be in close intimacy with him. He desires for us to live a victorious life. When we walk through trials, God never wants us to walk the journey alone. He wants to walk with us through our crazy beautiful journey. He desires a deep relationship with each of us. God knows without him, the enemy will be able to use our trials to drag us down. To defeat us. With God’s presence we are protected.
Are you currently walking a journey, that is dragging you down? Are you waking up each morning with less hope? Do you feel alone? Defeated? If so, I want to remind you that our wonderful Savior is with you this very moment. He wants to wrap his loving arms around you and hold you close.
In life, we will walk through valleys. There is no escaping that fact. But I want to encourage you that you do not have to walk through the storms alone. If you will lean into God, he will meet you right where you are. So keep pressing on. Do not give up. You are not walking this journey alone. ~OC
Go Pray
In November 2019, I felt lead by God to start praying outside of Good Samaritan Medical Center for my dear friend Laura Geddes-Paez. As I prayed, several friends started joining me. What started off as just one night praying for my dear friend Laura, spread to me being asked by multiple families to pray outside of hospitals across Palm Beach County, Florida.
Back in November 2019, there were no Covid restrictions about visiting and praying inside the hospitals. Heck, Covid19 was not even in our vocabulary. But when I felt that calling to pray for my friend Laura, God directed me to pray outside. Maybe He was preparing me for the time we would not be able to visit our friends and loved ones inside. I just know that God as truly blessed each of these gatherings outside of our local hospitals. These beautiful prayer gatherings have been life changing for everyone involved.
So today, I want to encourage everyone that is able to spend some time praying outside of your local hospitals. To pray for patients, families,healthcare workers and everyone who works at the hospital. Maybe make some encouraging signs. Maybe put together little snack bags to hand out to hospital staff as they make their way to and from work. Let them know they are loved. Maybe adopt a floor at your local hospital and buy them lunch or dinner. What’s so amazing, is you never know the people God will bring your way that desperately need prayer. I hope someone will take this amazing challenge to heart. I promise, your life will never be the same. ~OC
My Journey
I was diagnosed with Covid and double pneumonia back in February. I spent 10 days on the Covid floor at Good Samaritan Medical Center. I dealt with multiple issues after recovering from Covid. No, it’s not like a bad cold. As I was finally starting to feel a little better, I was hit with a nasty viral infection about four weeks ago. That infection literally brought back every symptom I dealt with back in February. Back in May, Laura West Shoemaker and I both got vaccinated. Do I know what’s in the vaccine? No. Do I know what’s in any of the vaccines I have received since I was a baby? No. Before I became 100% Plant-Based, did I know what was in the Big Mac or Chick fil a sandwich? No, but I still ate it. I do not know what’s in the medications that helped keep me alive for all these years. But for over 18 years, my medical team has never done anything to harm me. So if they are comfortable getting the vaccine, so I am.
This post is not me telling you to get vaccinated or wear a mask. That’s not my job. I made the choice to get vaccinated and to wear a mask for the following reasons:
To not die from Covid-19. Yes, you can get Covid more than once.
If I happen to get Covid, I will probably not be hospitalized again.
To not overburden the hospitals and staff.
To keep those around me with compromised systems safe.
To be part of ending this horrible disease.
No I am not a medical expert. Most of the people reading this post are not either. I will choose to listen to the medical experts that God has put in my life.
This is not a political post. Covid is not a political issue, even if some people are trying to make it one. So please no political comments or conspiracy theories. People are dying. If you choose to leave political comments or conspiracy theories, I will delete your comment. Thanks. ~OC