Today’s a new day! Believe it or not, this crazy beautiful health journey is a gift, and I do not intend to waste a day of it. Have I experienced tough moments? Yes, I have. Multiple surgeries, multiple near death experiences, hours of treatment and too many hospital stays to count. But during this long journey, God has allowed me to hear the stories of some amazing people and share my own story. If I had allowed my health issues to become my identity, I would have missed out on so many beautiful moments along the way. Does my life look different than what I had dreamed of? Yes, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I no longer rush through life. I embrace every moment. My life is not dictated by meetings and deadlines. I make it a point to connect with at least one friend a day. My goal is no longer to climb some corporate ladder, but to build bridges of love and encouragement. A time clock has been replaced by a get to clock. This health journey that the world would deem a negative, has become a story of hope and overcoming. My body might be broken, but I will allow God to pick up the pieces and create something beautiful. I invite everyone to come along and run this beautiful journey with me. ~OC
Faithful Friend
Today’s a new day! Sadly, as I have run this crazy beautiful health journey, several friends decided to walk away. But this is not about them. No, this letter is for you.
Dear Faithful Friend, I want you to know you are one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me. Coming from a person who has watched many friends walk away, I am thankful that I never had to see what it would look like as you walked away. You have been a constant. You have been persistent. You have been faithful. You have constantly showed me that people are capable of caring unconditionally. Friends like you are hard to find these days, even in people who call themselves Christians.
I am thankful that you have never left, as I have run this crazy beautiful health journey. You haven’t just stayed during the good times, you have decided to run with me even as my body has went through one trial after another. You care for me even when I have nothing to offer.
You have seen the worst parts of this health journey. You know the good and not so good in this season. You know God gives us things exactly when we need them… that’s proven to be true because of the fact that He has blessed me to call you friend. Our paths crossed because God saw that I needed a faithful friend. He was right. I needed someone who intercedes in prayer on my behalf without me asking. I needed someone who would sharpen me as I walk through this journey.
I have studied the Bible to see what it means to be a good friend and most of the things I have read are qualities that you possess. I have seen you run with me at my weakest moments. You have been an honest voice. I have seen you build me up and encourage me. You have had my back in ways I will never be able to truly thank you for.
I am so thankful for your friendship.
I can only pray that I have had a small impact on your life. You have helped me become a better person as I run this crazy beautiful health journey. I pray for you and your family on a daily basis and I hope you know that I am here in all seasons for you, just like you have been there for me. I do not write any of this lightly. Thank you for being a faithful friend. I am thankful for your friendship in my life. ~OC
Be Still
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
Three Steps
Today’s a new day! As I walk through this crazy beautiful journey, I continue to notice so many people making a simple relationship with God much too difficult. In my personal experience, I have discovered if I do these three things daily everything else seems to flow properly.
1). Pray. Each morning I wake up giving God thanks for another day. I thank Him for the many blessings in my life. I pray for others. Then I listen. Each day I want to improve on making sure my prayer time is centered more and more on gratefulness and listening.
2). Time in my Bible. As I pray, I seek guidance on what book and chapter I should read in the Bible for that day. Sometimes, God has me reading through a certain book of the Bible, but I always seek His guidance as I spend time in the Word. Then I reflect on what I have read that morning. Sometimes it leads me to journal and sometimes it leads me to just listen.
3). Do what God says. As I finish my time of prayer and reading, I do not rush off to complete the days agenda. No, I spend more time just listening to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Then I simply do what God wants me to do for that day. When I choose to live this way, I am able to be part of the bigger God story. That is the most amazing gift in life.
This three-step approach is as complicated as my faith gets. The hardest part of this faith journey is learning to slow down. We tend to have this false narrative, that if something is going to happen, then we must make it happen. But as I slow down in life and try to live out this three-step approach, God continues to teach me that’s not how our faith works at all. ~OC
Comfort Zone
Today’s a new day! Dear Church and Christian Community, as we walk through this crazy beautiful journey called life do we really see the bruised and hurting?
The American Church does a wonderful job buying up a lot of properties, but I fear many miss out on so many life changing opportunities. Unfortunately, I believe some churches and Christians have walled themselves into a nice and safe comfort zone.
Too many Christians spend their time at church sipping a premium latte, discussing the problems of the world and passing judgement. They wonder how the world got to this point. But sadly, instead of stepping up and doing something too many Christians are comfortable hiding behind the safe walls of the church.
Don’t get me wrong here. The Church is important. I have been part of the church for over half of my life. I love the Church. But the lost and hurting are not spending their time and money at a church with a cool name and cafe.
No, hurting people are sitting in the corner of a McDonald’s because they feel unworthy of love and forgiveness. The hurting are eating lunch by themselves at work or school. The bent and bruised are walking through the grocery store trying to decide if they buy food or medications. The bent and hurting are sitting in chemo rooms trying to make it through another day. The bent and hurting are standing on the side of the road with a sign asking for help, as many speed by them and look away.
So many hurting people walking through life feeling alone. These hurting people are not looking for someone to just invite them to church. No, a hurting world is waiting for Christians to step outside the comforts of the Church and actually be the hands and feet of Jesus. To really care. ~OC
When asked by the Pharisees, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners.” ~Mark 2:17
Dear God,
Dear God, thank You for granting me another day to live out your plans for my life. I lift up this prayer to You as I start my morning with your love and grace. Dear God, I pray that my family and friends remember to start their morning with you as well. I pray you would bless them with the strength and courage to face whatever trials they may encounter today. Dear God, lead them so that they may get through their day peacefully, no matter how challenging it might be. God, please meet their needs so that they may never forget that no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem, everything is possible with You by their side. Amen. ~OC
Gratitude
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
Resurrection Sunday
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
Life Buckets
Today’s a new day! Too much selflessness is not always healthy. We must keep our life buckets filled or serving others will be unsustainable.
As I have walked this crazy beautiful health journey the last 22 years, most eyes have been on me. How I am feeling and what I need. All too often my bride and caregiver has been overlooked and overwhelmed. Her life buckets tend to run on empty. I believe that’s true for most caregivers.
Caregivers usually take a backseat to those they’re caring for and rarely do caregivers have caregivers of their own.
Thankfully when I got sick back in 2002, God helped me realize that Laura could not and should not have to do everything on her own. She needed people to come along side her and make sure her life buckets didn’t run dry. I am thankful for those who have decided to be Laura’s caregivers.
God also helped me realize that Laura needed breaks from being my caregiver. So over the years, I have encouraged Laura to plan trips with family and friends. To find things that fill her buckets. To live and embrace life away from my crazy beautiful health journey. Thankfully, Laura has found many things that help fill her life buckets.
I pray if you’re a caregiver or know a caregiver, you will take the time to check out the life bucket situation. To make sure no one’s buckets are running on empty.
This post is geared towards caregivers, but we all need to keep an eye on our life buckets. Because if we truly want to serve others, we need to make sure our buckets are full. What fills your life bucket? ~OC
Finding Hope
Today’s a new day! I admire people who can turn a tough moment in life into a positive. Stories like a child who was bullied in school, now advocates for students as a teacher or principal. Or the child who spent countless hours in the hospital now serves children as a nurse or doctor. I love these stories of overcoming and giving back.
We can find hope whenever we place the difficult moments of life into the hands of God. When we decide to take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on serving others, the lessons learned from suffering becomes a healing balm. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 