Tag: scripture

Am I Living Out My Faith?

As I live out my life as a Christian, one passage of Scripture I continually try to put into practice is Matthew 25:35-45.

Jesus reminds us that when we feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the needy, care for the sick, and visit those in prison, we are doing those things for Him.

I wish I could say I get it right every time. I don’t. I fail. I miss opportunities. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own world that I overlook the needs of someone standing right in front of me.

But I keep trying.

Because being a Christian isn’t just about what we believe, what church we attend, what songs we sing, or what Scriptures we can quote. It’s about how we treat people, especially those who have nothing to offer us in return.

I don’t want to just talk about Jesus. I want people to experience a little bit of His love through the way I live.

I’ll never get it perfect, but by His grace, I’ll keep trying.

My question for all of us is this: If someone looked at the way we treated others, would they see Jesus?

Matthew 25:40 — “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

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Global Prayer Challenge

I created a shorter version of the original post. You can still find that one on this site.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD STOPPED EVERY NIGHT AT 7 PM TO PRAY?

Imagine Christians stepping outside their front doors in neighborhoods and cities across the globe, united by one simple act of faith.

HERE’S THE CHALLENGE:

Every night at 7 PM LOCAL TIME, step outside and pray. Five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. You decide!

Here’s how the time-zone concept works: Wherever you live, pray at 7 PM in YOUR time zone. When it’s 7 PM in Florida, it’s a different time in California, London, Africa, or Australia. As the evening moves around the world, the prayer continues, creating a wave of prayer that circles the globe!

Pray for your family, your neighbors, your local churches, your community, and those who desperately need hope. Pray for healing, unity, forgiveness, and hearts to be changed by Jesus.

And ask God to show you how you can become part of the answer to your own prayers.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” — James 5:16

Imagine thousands, even millions, of Christians making this a daily habit. What might God do in our neighborhoods, our churches, our families, and our world?

We don’t need another platform, another argument, or another division. We need more prayer, more love, and more people willing to live like Jesus.

You don’t need a microphone, a church building, or a huge following. You just need a willing heart.

HERE’S MY CHALLENGE TO YOU:

Pray about it. Ask God to lead you. And if He puts it on your heart, commit to stepping outside at 7 PM every night to pray.

Then challenge your family, invite your friends, and share this message with your church. Let’s see how far this simple idea can spread!

Imagine looking out your front door and knowing that, at that very moment, Christians somewhere around the world are praying for their neighbors, their communities, and one another.

ONE PERSON. ONE PRAYER. ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.

LET’S STOP TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD AND START PRAYING FOR IT!

Every night. 7 PM. Your local time. Your neighborhood. Your community.

WILL YOU TAKE THE CHALLENGE? WILL YOU SHARE IT? LET’S START A WAVE OF PRAYER THAT CIRCLES THE WORLD! ~OC

#7PMGlobalPrayerChallenge #UnitedInPrayer #PrayForYourNeighborhood #LoveYourNeighbor #BeTheChurch

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Living A Life Of Significance: Day 2

Day 2: Known and Called

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:5  

Reflection:Before you took your first breath, God knew you. Calling isn’t a job title. It’s belonging to Him first.  

Application: Spend 5 minutes in silence and ask, “Father, what do You say about me?”  

Prayer: Dear God, remind me that I am Yours.

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Microwave Waiting

Today’s a new day! 

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of the Christian life. We pray. We cry out to God. We ask for direction, healing, provision, or restoration, and deep down we often expect an immediate answer. We live in a world of instant downloads, fast food, overnight shipping, and microwave solutions, so naturally we sometimes expect our prayers to work the same way.

We pray about a job and hope the phone rings tomorrow. 

We pray about a relationship and expect immediate reconciliation.


We pray about a health issue and long for instant healing.

And sometimes God does answer quickly. Sometimes doors swing wide open almost immediately. Sometimes healing comes fast, provision appears unexpectedly, and breakthrough arrives sooner than we imagined. Those moments remind us that God is powerful, loving, and fully able to move in an instant.

But other times… God’s timing feels like forever.

There are seasons when heaven seems quiet. Seasons where the prayer has been repeated hundreds of times. Seasons where tears have become part of the daily routine. In those moments, it can be tempting to believe God has forgotten us, ignored us, or moved on from our situation.

But the silence of God does not mean the absence of God.

Often, the waiting season is where God does some of His deepest work in us. While we are focused on the answer, God is focused on our heart. While we are praying for a destination, God is shaping our character during the journey.

Waiting teaches us trust.

Anyone can praise God when the answer comes quickly. But faith grows stronger when we continue trusting Him before we see the outcome. Waiting teaches perseverance. It teaches surrender. It teaches us to seek God not only for what He can give us, but simply for who He is.

Sometimes God delays the answer because He is protecting us. Sometimes He is preparing us. Sometimes He is arranging circumstances we cannot yet see. And sometimes He wants us to learn to hear His voice more clearly in the quiet place of dependence.

The Bible is filled with people who had to wait.

The Book of Psalms is full of cries from David asking, “How long, O Lord?” Abraham waited years for God’s promise. Joseph waited through betrayal and prison before stepping into purpose. Even the disciples had to wait after the resurrection before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.

The waiting was never wasted.

Neither is yours.

If you are praying today for a job, a relationship, healing, direction, or peace, do not give up because the answer has not arrived yet. Keep pressing in. Keep praying. Keep opening God’s Word. Keep worshiping when it is hard. Keep listening for His voice.

Sometimes God speaks through open doors.
Sometimes He speaks through closed doors.
And sometimes He speaks through the waiting itself.

Do not let delay destroy your faith. God is still working even when you cannot yet see the evidence. A seed underground looks invisible before it becomes a harvest.

God’s timing is not microwave timing. It is holy timing.

And when the answer finally comes, you may discover that the greatest miracle was not simply what God did for you, but what He did inside of you while you waited. ~OC

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The Strut And The Walk: From The Streets To The Spirit

On nights my health issues do not allow me to sleep, I sometimes scroll through YouTube and watch different videos. The other night as I was scrolling, I came across The Bee Gees Staying Alive video from the movie Saturday Night Fever. The beginning of the video starts with the scene of John Travolta’s character Tony Manero walking or I should say strutting down the streets of New York City. As I watched the video, the following words came to me. 

There’s something unforgettable about that iconic opening scene—Tony strutting down the street with confidence, rhythm in his step, the world moving to his beat. In Saturday Night Fever, his walk wasn’t just about getting from one place to another—it was a declaration. It said, I know who I am. I know where I’m going.

But if we’re honest, Tony’s strut was built on shaky ground. Beneath the confidence was insecurity. Beneath the rhythm was restlessness. His walk looked strong, but his life was searching for something deeper.

That’s where the contrast with the Christian walk becomes powerful.

The Bible calls us to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And unlike Tony’s strut—which depended on outward appearance and inner uncertainty—the Christian walk is rooted in something unshakable: a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tony walked to impress.
We walk to reflect.

Tony’s confidence came from how others saw him. Our confidence comes from how God sees us.

Tony’s rhythm came from music that faded.
Our rhythm comes from the Spirit that never leaves.

There’s nothing wrong with having a little swagger in your step—but the question is, what’s fueling it? The world teaches us to walk in pride, self-promotion, and performance. But Jesus teaches us a different way:

  • Walk in humility.
  • Walk in love.
  • Walk in obedience.
  • Walk in truth.

Ephesians 4:1 urges us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received.” That’s not about perfection—it’s about direction. It’s about moving forward, step by step, even when the path isn’t easy.

Because here’s the truth: the Christian walk isn’t always flashy. It won’t always have a soundtrack. There are days it feels more like a slow, steady climb than a confident strut. But every step matters. Every step is seen. Every step, when surrendered to Christ, carries eternal significance.

And unlike Tony’s walk, which was confined to city streets and Saturday nights, your walk with Jesus leads somewhere far greater—it leads to transformation, purpose, and ultimately, eternity with Him.

So walk boldly—but not in your own strength.
Walk confidently—but not in your own identity.
Walk faithfully—because you are following a Savior who never loses His way.

You don’t need the spotlight.
You don’t need the applause.

Just keep walking.

Because when your steps are ordered by the Lord, even the quietest walk becomes the most powerful testimony. ~OC

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Stand Up

In recent days, I watched a troubling moment involving a State Representative from Tennessee, who attempted to use scripture to justify slavery while arguing in support of an educational bill. As a Christian, moments like this are heartbreaking. Dear Representative from Tennessee, you should be ashamed of yourself for trying to use God’s Word to spread evil and misinformation. Scripture has been misused throughout history to justify terrible acts, from oppression to segregation, but those distortions never represented the heart of the Gospel. I am thankful that another Representative, had the courage to speak up and challenge such misuse of the Bible. It takes moral clarity and conviction to stand up in a public forum and say that God’s Word should never be twisted to defend injustice.

Dear politicians everywhere: please stop using scripture out of context to try to pass laws or justify harmful policies. The Bible is not a political prop, and the teachings of Jesus call believers toward humility, mercy, justice, and love for our neighbors. When scripture is cherry-picked to support power, control, or prejudice, it not only harms people—it damages the witness of the Christian faith itself. Jesus never used God’s Word to oppress others; instead, He consistently lifted up the marginalized and confronted those who abused authority.

And to pastors, churches, and the broader Christian community: we must also take responsibility. Too often, we support politicians simply because they claim the Christian label or vote the way we prefer on certain issues. But our loyalty should never belong to a political party or candidate—it should belong to Christ. Dear pastors, churches, and fellow believers: please stop supporting leaders who misuse scripture and whose actions do not reflect Jesus. Faithfulness means discernment. If someone invokes the name of Christ while acting contrary to His teachings, it is not only appropriate but necessary to speak out. The credibility of our faith depends on our willingness to stand for truth, justice, and the authentic message of the Gospel. ~OC

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Potholes in Life

Today’s a new day! Last night after my doctor’s appointment, Laura and I drove around town a bit. There is so much construction going on around us. Also a lot of potholes and roadblocks to navigate around. At times, I felt like I was on some type of ride at the fair.

On our journey through life, we also face many bumps and potholes along the way. There are financial, relational, and medical trials that will come into our lives. What we do when we come to a bump in the road is usually slow down or come to a complete stop in order to better assess the situation before moving forward. We must also keep a certain balance ourselves, so as not to falter or fall down. There are times when Christian friends will come alongside us and help us to navigate these bumps in our lives. At times, if we become stalled for a long time, they might gently urge us and encourage us to move on and continue on the road of life.

“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status.” ~Romans 15:1

As we were driving around town, it was only Laura and I paying close attention to the road construction around us, that saved us from hitting one pothole after another. It also helped that we knew some of the potholes were coming, so we were able to avoid them. Knowing the road allowed us the grace to prepare ourselves for the bumpy ride.

But what about the times when we don’t know what lies ahead of us on this journey called life or what’s around the next corner? In those times, we need to turn directly to Jesus. He knows the road ahead, and we can always depend on Him to guide us safely through those bumps in the journey.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” ~Deuteronomy 31:8

Prayer for the Day: Dear God, help us to turn to You first when we face the bumps and potholes in our journey. We know that You are more than capable of helping meet our needs. Dear God, help our unbelief in times of trouble. Make us a people able to stand strong as we or a loved one walks through the bumpy moments in life. We pray all of this in your powerful and matchless name dear Jesus. Amen.

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Hospitals Not Country Clubs

Today’s a new day! I was born and raised in South Florida. I am blessed to still call it home today. If you drive around South Florida, you will drive past one country club after another. In the same way, if you drive around South Florida, you will see a church on just about every corner. A church should look very different than a country club, but sadly some churches look and act no differently than the country club next door.

As I continue to walk my faith journey, I truly believe “The church should never be a country club for the healthy, but a hospital for the broken.” The church should be a place where broken people, from all backgrounds feel welcomed and loved. The Church should be a place of healing. Not a place of leisure.

As I read through the Bible, Jesus was never referred to as the Great Golf Pro or the Great Tennis Pro. No Jesus, was referred to as the Great Physician. In Matthew 9:12-13, Jesus shared “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Jesus came for those that are so sick, that they cry out to Him for a healing touch. His prescription for all of us who are broken and sick, is to surrender everything to Him. On the other hand, Jesus rejected the country club culture of the religious leaders who believed they were already “well”.

I believe, if more churches would act like the hospitals God intended for them to be, there would be people all across the aisles crying out, “Finally, I can stop pretending I have it all together.” Broken people would experience true healing.

Is the church you attend closer to a country club or a hospital? Is everyone welcome to be part of your church? Does the congregation openly welcome everyone or just those who “fit” the part? Is your church really prepared to embrace the messiness of a hospital, to truly serve your community? Is your church equipped to be an emergency room for those broken people in and around your community?

As so many churches gather this morning, I pray that they will be places where everyone is welcomed. I pray they will be places filled with people ready to love and care for the broken. I pray today, that churches would actually be a “hospital for the broken” and not just a country club with nice amenities and a great slogan. ~OC

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Jesus Never Said…

Today’s a new day? As I study the Bible here are a few things that stand out to me. ~OC

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors who agree with you.

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors that make you feel comfortable.

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors that worship like you.

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors that speak like you.

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors who look like you.

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors who are citizens of your country.

Jesus never said, Love only your neighbors who vote like you.

Here is what Jesus actually did say:

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” ~Matthew 23:37-40

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Taking Time to Pause

Today’s a new day! Is your life so busy at times that you miss out on time with God? I think that can happen at times, but we can never allow the busyness of life to continually keep us from missing out on those precious moments with God.

The Power of Pausing with God

God’s presence is powerful, especially in a busy life, and the benefits are immense.

When we intentionally slow down, we:

• Renew our strength – Not only do our bodies need rest, but so do our souls. Pausing in God’s presence restores our strength (Isaiah 40:31)

• Gain clarity and wisdom – Stepping away from the chaos allows us to hear God’s guidance (Psalm 46:10)

• Increases trust – Slowing down in life reminds us that God is in control, not us (Exodus 14:14).

• Deepens our connection –Pausing prepares our hearts to be vulnerable with God and usher in His presence. (James 4:8)

So today, take some time to pause, breathe and spend some time with God. ~OC

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