Today’s a new day!
Today’s a new day! Christianity in America does not need more political power.
It needs less arrogance.
It needs less judgment.
It needs less hate.
It needs more love.
It needs more forgiveness.
It needs more grace.
It needs more humility.
It needs more compassion
It needs more understanding.
It needs more Jesus. ~OC
Several people have inquired about Todd taking an indefinite break from social media and sharing his daily thoughts. He wanted to share a few thoughts about his decision to take some time away from the world of social media.
Today’s a new day! When I hear God speak to my heart, I have learned that it serves me well to listen.
So a few weeks ago, I heard God share that it was time to take a break from social media. Then I started questioning the role of social media in my life, comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of it. I have taken breaks before so I thought about those times, too. Then it pretty much dawned on me as the following words were impressed upon me in a real way:
I was not created to spend so much time on social media. These platforms should not take away from time reading, journaling, praying and most importantly spending quality face to face time with real people.
There are some beautiful benefits about social media. They allow us to interact with old friends and meet some amazing people from all over the world. To stay in touch with loved ones. To read and hear about their life experiences. To pray for people. All amazing things. The problem is that social media always demanded more than I truly wanted to give.
The different social media platforms offer us endless opportunities to share our everyday lives, to pose questions, share world events, our opinions and photos of our favorite foods. There is always something to post or respond to. For me, it never stopped. If I missed a day of posting, I would have multiple people reaching out to me asking why I did not post. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of pressure.
The good and bad thing with social media for me personally, is that I really tried to use my accounts to encourage and love on people. I could probably sit around all day long and just be corresponding with people. People feel comfortable sharing their life journey with me. So many people feel like they’re stuck or they’re hopeless. So they would reach out to me. I found myself pouring so much of myself out into so many people. Not complaining because it’s always my honor to connect with people willing to share their amazing life experiences with me. But a few weeks ago, I realized if I truly wanted to help and serve people, I needed to make sure that I was taking care of myself. Which was not always the case.
So, I have officially been off social media and not sharing daily thoughts for about a week. I have used that time to focus more on the truly important things in my life. I have enjoyed a quieter and less hectic week. Being off social media has given me the beautiful gift of rest and peace.
Will I return to social media at some point? I am not really sure. As I have taken a break from social media, God has given me this simple phrase “Let Go to Grow.” ~OC
Today’s a new day! As we walk through the storms of life, sometimes there is a tendency to think God has abandoned us. The storms of life can be so distracting. The noises of this world can be overwhelming at times. I started thinking about how distractions and confusion are two of the greatest tools of the enemy as he tries to make us believe that maybe God has left us.
When there are big, crashing waves disrupting our lives, it’s very easy to focus on them and feel as if hope and joy have gone. Anything from financial issues to health problems to family drama can be the things that demands our attention in the worst possible way—being louder in our heads and more all-consuming than the truth of God. I am not for a second saying that the storms you might be facing are not overwhelming. That is why they are so distracting. But I do want to encourage each of you to lean in and focus on the promises of God.
The truth of God’s presence is still there, but sometimes it’s really hard to see or hear Him. Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded by those crashing waves and are being pulled under with no hope of being rescued. That can be scary. It’s in those moments that we need to refocus and listen closely for God’s voice. He never stops speaking to us. God never stops standing with us. Even if at times we believe he does. The truth is we give God every reason to leave us, but He never does.
As I sit here this morning, I pray that you will hear the sweetness and the beauty of God’s voice in the middle of whatever storm you might be facing today. ~OC
Today’s a new day! As I reflect on this crazy beautiful health journey, there has been a cost. Physically my body has been beat up. Mentally I have lost a step or two. Emotionally, I have had to run through a lot of loss. Financially, life took a turn when I had to retire years before I was ready. Spiritually, I have been challenging and taught so many lessons. But through it all, I believe I have gained more than I have lost. The friendships made have been a beautiful blessing. Watching my body deteriorate has made me rely more on the promises of God. This health journey, has allowed me experience life in a different, but life changing way. Even though this journey has not been easy, I would not change a thing. This journey has given me purpose. To hopefully encourage others walking through their own journey. To challenge people to step out of their comfort zones. To truly live out the teachings of God and be his hands and feet. As this journey continues to bring challenges, I will continue to choose to be an Overcomer. I will finish strong! ~OC
Today’s a new day! I have been running this crazy beautiful health journey for 22 years. On multiple occasions, I have been told I did not have much time left. To get my affairs in order. This health journey has been filled with many twist and turns. But throughout this journey, I have had the peace of God to carry me through. On many occasions, I have asked God what are you up to? But I knew God was in control and had a beautiful plan for my life. I knew something amazing could come out of this journey. I just didn’t know what that was at the time. But I put my trust in God to get me through this and never let fear control my life. The hope I have as a Christian helps me overcome the biggest challenges, along with the amazing support of my family and friends. Also I have a passion for life. A passion to love on, care for and encourage people. That passion is greater than any health battle I could ever face. I have been blessed that the story God has given me has been shared around the world and has encouraged so many people get through their own crazy beautiful journey. Because of the hope I have in the promises of God, a journey that looks hopeless has become a story of hope, encouragement and overcoming. As I continue running this race, I have no regrets for the adversities God has allowed me to run through. If you look at me, you could think, wow, have pity on me for having to endure such a long health battle. But I invite you to look at it as something beautiful. God has taken something negative and turned it into something incredibly amazing. I’m I’m a husband, a friend and a overcomer who God has chosen to life out this incredible adventure. I wake up every morning with joy and purpose and seek to honor God in all I do. Sometimes I fall short, but His grace is sufficient for me. Today, I encourage you to make the choice to overcome the challenges in your life. To live an authentic and unstoppable life through God. If you need someone to run along side you, just reach out to me. Let’s run this beautiful life together. Keep Overcoming! ~OC
Today’s a new day! Love and prayers have no boundaries. They can be heard and felt in every part of the world. Love and prayers can be instantly translated into any language. ~OC
Today’s a new day! Do you ever just sit still, with no distractions except your thoughts?
I believe this is one way to truly know God and experience His true peace.
In those quiet times with God, we experience the stress of the world fade away and feel the hopeful peace only He can provide. You may also discover that God uses that time to provide answers to those difficult situations in life.
What a joy it is to just rest in the peace of God. It reminds me of the beautiful scripture Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
I believe that it’s vital for us to rest in the presence of God. Life is crazy with family, careers, phones that never stop buzzing , a world filled with constant distractions and countless decisions to make on a daily basis.
These are not necessarily bad things, and they are all a part of the world in which we live today. But, it can be difficult to tap the brakes and slow down when we try to spend quiet time with God. So many times we rush through a short passage of scripture and our list of prayer requests, keeping one eye on our phone to make sure we don’t miss that text or social media post.
I think it’s awesome if you’re spending time in the Bible and lifting your prayers up to God, but I would encourage you to spend more time being still and truly listening to the voice of God.
I believe God wants us to share our praises, struggles and victories in life with Him, but I also believe God wants us to move beyond that and into a place where we simply sit with Him, resting in His presence. In His peace.
As we begin to do this, I believe we will find the stress and distractions of the world diminishing in the hopeful peace of God who saves, and we might just discover that He uses that quite time to provide answers to the difficult moments in our lives. ~OC
Today’s a new day! The issue of love for Christians is not optional; God demands that we not only love one another, but that we show His love to a broken world. As believers, we are not just the salt of the church, but the salt of the earth and the light of the world. If you can only show love to your family, friends, those that think like you and your inner circle, how is that showing the love of God?
Remember, the love of God we’re walking in today is not earned. We did nothing to deserve it. God loved us while we were totally unlovable, yet He loved us so much that He gave his life for each and every one of us. Why then do we wait for others to earn our love before we reach out to them?
My friends, love is from God and for us to claim to have God in our lives, then love must naturally flow through us. The love of God is not the love that reaches out to us because we have earned it; it is love that reaches out despite our errors and shortcomings. Yes, each of us were unlovable, but God chose to love us and has called us to be His ambassadors to the world. Who have you shown His love to?
It is so easy to profess love. Many Christians are simply professors; but God does not want us to just profess love. No, God wants His love to radiate through us. He wants us to reach out to those around us in love. Not everyone can give money, but we can give a smile, we can give a word of encouragement, we can give love and a helping hand. Love is not just a bunch of words, actions as they say, speak louder than words. The world is watching and waiting to see God in us; what will they see? ~OC
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ~1 John 4:7
Today’s a new day! What are you grateful for? For me personally, I have so much to be grateful for.
I am grateful for the love, peace, grace and forgiveness of God in my life.
I am grateful for my bride Laura. She has been a rockstar, as we have run this crazy beautiful health journey. I am blessed to be her husband.
I am grateful for all of my friends and family, and for all that they do for me.
I am grateful for this crazy beautiful health journey. It has made me a better person. So many lessons learned.
I am grateful for my medical team. They have been a blessing to Laura and I the past 22 years and counting.
I am grateful for complete strangers that have shown me little acts of kindness.
I am grateful to God, for the life He’s given me.
I could go on and on about what I am grateful for, but that would take me days to share.
How do we live a life of gratitude?
When you think about it, simple acts of gratitude cost us nothing, but the effects of gratitude in our lives make such a huge difference.
God has given each of us so much, if we only choose to take the time to recognize it. I believe we owe it to God to recognize these gifts and to be grateful.
An ungrateful person will never use or understand God’s gifts as well as they should and will complain often – missing all the blessings that God is giving to them. And it’s only when we keep our eyes on God and all that He has given to us, that we will make the best use of His gifts.
And this gratitude shouldn’t end with only what “feels” good to us. Let your gratitude extend to all things in life, even to the less pleasant and even the more difficult things, which God allows us to experience. Because He has planned each of our lives with His wisdom and love. Nothing is by accident. And everything we receive in life is meant to help us to grow closer to God.
If I began to count the all of the things that I owe to God, I would never finish counting, because each added moment of life is another gift.
Gratitude keeps our hearts humble, it helps us to see everything as a gift from God and helps us to focus our lives on others – versus always thinking of ourselves.
I encourage each of us to always keep gratitude in our hearts. Never letting it fade away. It can change everything. ~OC
Happy Resurrection Sunday! I pray this day brings you encouragement. The grave could not hold Jesus. He has risen! Nothing is impossible with God. That’s Good News!
Easter, is a time to be reminded that Jesus sits on the throne. Death could not hold him down. The grave could not deter God’s plan. It moved forward. In fact, it was God’s plan all along that Jesus would die for humanity. His death on that old rugged cross was factored into the plan to save us before the foundation of the world.
I do not know what storms you’re facing today. The challenges may seem overwhelming for you at times. The joy of the Lord may be absent. Maybe you have no idea what the future holds for you. How can the resurrection of Jesus give you hope today?
As I run this crazy beautiful health journey, I have learned that in the depth of despair, trial and uncertainty, the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope. If God can raise Jesus Christ from the dead, certainly He can take care of whatever problems we’re facing today.
As I have run my crazy beautiful journey, I have spent many days in the hospital. In the midst of tremendous suffering, I have seen angels from Heaven surrounding my room. Those special moments have reminded me of the two angels that were at the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.
Those moments in the hospital have given me tremendous encouragement. Sometimes we have to go through the storms we face, even though we would rather not. Jesus had to go through death and hell to come out victorious on the other side and ascend to be seated at the right hand of God the Father. Sometimes our own journey takes us through the valley of the shadow of death.
But do not be afraid. Do not be not discouraged. If you’re like me today and cannot actually attend church due to health issues or for some other reason know this: Jesus is victorious! Death could not hold Him! Nothing can hold Him back! Nothing is impossible with God!
Do not dwell on your circumstances today. Focus on Jesus who has risen! Dwell not on the size of your storm today. Instead, place everything in the hands of the Miracle Worker. Focus on the One that even the grave could not hold. Walk in that victory today.
Yes, all God’s promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ! ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 