Tag: Scriptures

True Friendship

Today’s a new day! As most of you know, friendships mean a lot to me. I have written several post about the importance of friendships and how I believe many people take friendships for granted. So I thought I would look more into what a friend really is. I figured the best place to look was the Bible. Here are a few things I discovered.

The Hebrew word for “friend” in the Proverbs passage is ʾahab, or ʾaheb, and is a very strong word that literally means “lover.” It’s used elsewhere to describe God’s friendship with Abraham: “Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?” (2 Chronicles 20:7). Then in 1 Samuel 18:1, we read about Jonathan’s friendship with David: “Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself”

I believe that’s the type of friendship we all desire. Sadly, those kind of friendships are becoming more difficult and rarer, in large part due to our current culture’s social media conditioning that trains us to be aloof, uncaring, and self-centered. Such an attitude is bad enough when it’s aimed at other people, but it’s an eternal catastrophe when it’s directed at God.

I truly believe we can do better. Will we make mistakes along the way? Sure we will. But I believe having real friendships is worth a few bumps along the way. How about you? ~OC

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Surrender All

Today’s a new day! Being honest and real really is the best plan for our lives as we walk through the storms of life. It is the first step towards healing and it is where God is able to meet us. God doesn’t want us to pretend and fake our way through life’s struggles. To live in our pain or make the choice to completely shut Him out. No, God wants us to be real with Him. Raw honesty. God desires an open and honest relationship with us. Not a fake, genie in a bottle kind of relationship. So whatever storms you’re currently facing, do not shut God out. Do not let your doubts or questions make you feel as though God doesn’t love you anymore. Take that pain and suffering, to the feet of the Cross and give God the truth of your heart- every bit of it- and surrender it all to Him. It is then that He will start to work in and through you. ~OC

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”- 1 Peter 5:7

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Catch It!

Today’s a new day! Our senses can become numbed in the aftermath of life storms, and the presence of suffering. But if the declaration of God’s love begins with awe, I can think of nothing more effective in helping to restore our wonder than by reminding ourselves through scripture, of just how much God loves us. So much so, that he sent His one and only son to die for us. (1 John 4:9-10)

One of my favorite scripture verses is found in Zephaniah 3:17:

“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love, and rejoice over you in singing.”

Did you catch that? God will rejoice over us with singing. What a beautiful thought. God delights in us. When we have an accurate view of God’s amazing love for us, we can process our suffering through a lens of hope. And hope can turn our thoughts from being inward focused, to being upward focused. This change in perspective can make all the difference, in the presence of suffering. ~OC

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Take a Risk

Today’s a new day! As I was praying this morning, God brought a phrase to my mind. That phrase is “To love is to risk.” With everything going on in the world, that phrase really spoke to me. I had to asked myself, Do I take enough risk in loving people? Do I take enough risk in letting people love me back? Do I take enough risk in reaching out to those I would not normally reach out to and love them – love them like Jesus would love them? Am I happy not to risk being rejected and just sit in my comfort zone and only love those around me I am comfortable with?

Taking risk can cost:
To reach out for one another is to risk involvement.
To expose one’s feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before people is to risk their loss.
To live is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But I believe risks must be taken,  because the greatest pitfall in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing,  has nothing,  is nothing.
They may avoid loss, suffering and hurt, but they miss learning, growing, and truly loving. 
Chained by their fear a person who refuses to take risks, misses out on freedom. Only a person who takes risk in life is truly free.

I choose to be a risk taker. I do not want to be someone who risks nothing,  does nothing,  has nothing,  is nothing. I want to be free – free to go and love on people no matter how they respond. Free to risk showing love, hope and forgiveness even if I am not shown this in return. Free to reach out to people even if it does risk being rejected. I want to love even if it comes with risk. Who will join me?

The light of God’s love shined within us when he sent his matchless Son into the world so that we might live through him. This is love: He loved us long before we loved him. It was his love, not ours. He proved it by sending his Son to be the pleasing sacrificial offering to take away our sins. Delightfully loved ones, if he loved us with such tremendous love, then “loving one another” should be our way of life. ~1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭

What would the world look like if we all took the risk and truly loved people – all people no matter their color, their political beliefs, spiritual beliefs or their cultural background, the kind of love we as Christians are called to show to all around us? I just wonder. ~OC

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What is Greatness?

Today’s a new day! As I scroll through social media and tv, I see so many post about being the greatest. Is this athlete or that athlete The Greatest Of All Time (The G.O.A.T.)? Is that singer or that band the greatest of all time? All this got me to thinking about greatness. What does it really mean? So here are my thoughts about being great.

I think you become great by simply helping others. Sometimes you put yourself last so someone else can experience being first. What are you good at? Are you a cook? Maybe you could make your signature dish for a family that’s struggling. Are you a mechanic? Maybe you could help a single mom or dad get their car fixed. Are you a coach? Maybe you could volunteer your time coaching a local team. Are you retired and still wanting to stay active? Maybe you could become a mentor or help run errands for someone who is homebound. Maybe you’re a regular person who decides to buy a meal for a total stranger at a local restaurant. You do not have to be a millionaire or person of influence to make a difference.

Simply helping people makes you great. Even though that should never be the motivation. Living a life of service changes the lives around you. Doing the little things in life truly make a difference. They give people hope when all hope seems lost. They put a smile on someone’s face who hasn’t smiled in years. They encourage others to look for opportunities to help. To serve. What talents do you have in your hand? Go share them.

Jesus said: “What you do to the least of these…. you do unto me.” (Matthew 25:40).

“Love” is a verb… a doing word.
Think about that for a minute… then look around, find someone that needs a hand. Because we all do. ~OC

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Growing In God

Today’s a new day! As I continue to walk through this crazy beautiful health journey, God continues to share amazing lessons with me. I wanted to share some of those lessons with you.

During times of pain, aches, fear and the brokenness, God has been and continues to stay near (Psalm 34:18).

God continues to teach me the value of slowing down. The importance of saying no. The importance of patience. The importance of truly being present.
The importance of doing one thing at a time. (Because I used to pride myself in multi-tasking, something I am not great at these days).
The importance of being okay with not being okay.

God continues to teach me the importance of being silent.
The importance of excepting help from others. The importance of caring and unselfish family and friends. The importance of genuine friendships. The importance of embracing the miracles of daily courage.

God continues to teach me the importance of pausing long enough to have meaningful and life-giving conversations. The beauty of observing life at a slower pace. The importance of just laughing with loved ones and sometimes shedding some tears.The blessing of having a bride who shows kindness and demonstrates what in sickness and in health really looks like.

God continues to teach me how to be kind and compassionate to others and myself.

Do I want to continue struggling with the effects of my health issues? Absolutely not! Do I want to continue experiencing the goodness of God as I take refuge in Him? Absolutely! (Psalm 34:8)

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2023 and say hello to a New Year, I have no idea what 2024 will bring. None of us do. I want to continue encouraging and serving others. I want to be a better husband and friend. I want to continue to grow. What I do know is that my heart desires to continue praising God at all times; His praise will continually be on my lips this new year. (Psalm 34:1). ~OC

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Memories Along the Journey

Today’s a new day! As I have traveled this crazy beautiful health journey, I see things differently than I used to. Some life experiences and hopefully a little wisdom. My physical memory can be a bit tricky with the neurological issues and Long Covid issues, but my heart memory is in great condition. While I often forget day to day things, I am constantly remembering things that are far more important.

I remember the day I met my bride and how life has never been the same since. So many amazing memories.

I remember the beautiful friends God has blessed me with since childhood. So many amazing memories.

I remember that I need to be… want to be…. a man of honor and integrity. Hopefully a man of compassion and generosity. Because one day, I will become a memory in the lives of those that I love and I want those memories to be ones they will cherish.

I remember that the pursuits of this world… fame, fortune, power, position, success (whatever that means)… are not at all important. They’re just not.

I remember that I need to tell Laura and other loved ones every day that I love them. Not just tell them but show them because life is short. I never want to miss an opportunity to let my family and friends know what they mean to me.

This health journey is not an easy one. People often tell me how well I handle all that has been thrown at me, but the journey has not been easy. This journey has been and continues to be filled with tough moments. My health journey has definitely been an inconvenience in so many ways. It is something I would never wish on anyone. But while I continue to walk through the challenges of this health crisis, there are good things that can be taken from it. Lessons learned and hopefully more lessons to come. Some amazing memories made and hopefully many more memories to be made.

As I continue to walk this journey, I will never allow it to consume me. It will never become my identity.

I love the words in Genesis 50:20:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now – life for many people.

I have an opportunity in front of me that most people rarely get. I have had the opportunity to reclaim life from a place where there is usually death.
That makes me one of the most blessed individuals on earth. ~OC

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Hallelujah

Today’s a new day! As I have walked this crazy beautiful health journey for over 20 years, I’ve had a lot of time to think about the journey. These thoughts have been like a blueprint for my journey. A journey that is radically different to the one I envisioned 21 years ago.

When I received my first diagnosis back in 2002, I was told after the shock of the diagnosis I would deal with anger and depression. Those well meaning health professionals were wrong. As crazy as it may sound, I feel like this health journey is quite possibly one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Yes, the journey has not been easy. All the surgeries, treatments and hospital stays have not always been pleasant. It’s not the blueprint I would have written for my life. But it has made me really re-evaluate a lot of the things I once held close. It’s made me appreciate my family and friends so much more and realize that possessions mean nothing when you’re faced with the real possibility of dying. Most importantly, it has made me so very aware that the God I believe in and serve is so much bigger and so much closer to me than I ever could have imagined.

Throughout history God has had many names, one of them being Immanuel, meaning ‘God with us’. I have never known that to be more true than I have the last 21 years and counting. Sometimes I wonder why I was chosen to walk this journey. But then God blesses me with a beautiful interruption and I am reminded that God has a purpose for my journey.
I know that God’s ways are higher than my own and there has been immense good that has come from this crazy beautiful health journey. God has used my health journey to bring me and others closer to Him. To bring encouragement. As I walk through this journey, woven into the fabric of my life has been an understanding of what it means to suffer, and from that understanding has flown love, compassion and mercy.

During this journey, I have continuously leaned on Psalm 139:15-16, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and Hebrews 13:5. I will let you research those scriptures on your own. While this health journey and everything that has come with it may seem chaotic, I know there is purpose in this crazy journey. Not my purpose, but the purpose of a God who holds the universe in His hands… who knew me from the moment I was conceived in the womb…. who has walked beside me every day of my life. I may not understand everything that has happened along this journey and maybe on this side of Heaven I never will, but I know that whatever happens, God is in control and he has promised he will never leave me or forsake me.
I don’t know about you, but that gives me a tremendous amount of confidence that everything is going to be alright.

Because of God’s goodness I will sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Singing Hallelujah because I am living a blessed life. Singing Hallelujah because my bride who loves me and is standing strong with me in this journey. Singing Hallelujah because I have amazing family and friends who continue to stand with Laura and I during this unending journey. Singing Hallelujah because God walks beside me and fights the battle for me. He commands his angels concerning me and they guard me. God is my fortress, my hiding place while the battle rages around me. He stands between me and my health issues that would seek to take my life and says to the sickness “no further… you will not harm him”.
Singing Hallelujah because I am still alive…. and hopefully will be for many years to come.

There are so many reasons to sing Hallelujah…. so many…. and as long as I have a heartbeat you will hear my Hallelujah.

Whatever you see in me that you think is good comes from Heaven.
It’s not my doing…. it’s His. ~OC

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Count It All Joy

Today’s a new day! Do you sometimes have a hard time counting it all joy during the storms of life? I think we all have had those moments. You might be dealing with financial issues, employment issues, housing issues, family issues or health issues. How in the world could you find joy in all that pain and heartbreak?

One of the lessons I have learned during my crazy beautiful health journey, is that God will use these storms to help build our faith. Easy to say, not always easy to live out. Will we make the choice to stand firm in our faith when things look hopeless?

I’ve learned that my faith is like a muscle. The more I use it the stronger my faith grows. God continues to amaze me in ways I could never have imagined. God has used my health issues to strengthen my faith and to help others going through their own journey.

There have been some tough days during this journey and more to come, but I continue to see God providing my every need. I continue to be amazed.

I pray as you walk through the storms of life, you will experience God on a deeper level. That you will experience the beautiful joy, peace and love of God in every area of your life. ~OC

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Purpose and Goal

Today’s a new day! People want to be successful in life. Very few people, if any set out to fail in life. While there is nothing wrong with being successful, we must understand our motivation for our various pursuits.

Whenever I start a new undertaking, I try and ask myself “What is my purpose?” What is my end goal?”
When we start a new adventure —a career, relationship, hobby it’s normal to ask ourselves: Is this going to work?
Is it going to be successful? But we have to be honest as to what we’re hoping to accomplish. I’m reminded of the words from 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Powerful words. 

If my sole purpose is to gain my own fame and glory, then I am no different than the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. 
Jesus told the Pharisees that they had their reward because they were most concerned over acquiring the praise of people. This does not mean God wants us to fail in our pursuits. No, God wants us to be successful in our endeavors, but we must always check our motives. What is motivating us? What is our purpose?

I believe it’s important to do a self inventory of our lives on a daily basis. A heart, mind and soul checkup. “What are we chasing after in life?” And more importantly “Why are we chasing it?”
If my life is all about me then I cannot shine the spotlight on God and give Him the glory.

If someone were to ask me what is my purpose in life and what is my end goal, this is what I would share. I want to connect with others who crave a deeper relationship with God, who truly want to live out the words we read in the Bible. People who truly want to serve others and be the hands and feet of Jesus. I want to embrace life with people who are not satisfied with being “okay” and “fine” every day, people who are willing to challenge the status quo. People who are willing to step out of their comfort zones to help change the world. People who truly want to draw closer to God.

As I have walked through this twenty plus year health battle, I have experienced the overflowing abundant life that Jesus came to give each of us. I would love to share this experience with others on our journey from earth to eternity. That’s my goal. My purpose in life. What about you? What are you pursuing and for whose glory are you aiming—yours or God’s? ~OC

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