Tag: Trust

A Saturday Prayer

Happy Saturday Morning! Let us pray before we start another day. ~OC

Dear God, thank you for another day. Another day filled with challenges and beautiful opportunities. Refresh us this morning. Allow us to live in your presence. Allow us to welcome and encourage every person we encounter today. Allow us to be present in every situation today. Dear God, teach us when to speak and when to listen. When to ponder and when to share. In moments of challenge allow us to lean into the whisperings of your heart. Dear Lord, feel us with the simple gift of your peace today. Allow us to celebrate your joy this day. When our day goes well, may we rejoice. When life grows difficult, surprise us with new possibilities. When life is overwhelming, call us to rest. Dear God, restore your Peace and Harmony in each of our hearts. May our lives reveal your goodness. Dear God, we pray all of this in your precious name. Amen

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Facing Challenges

Good Morning! I do not have a date for when I wrote the following. But as I looked it over, I thought it was relevant to what so many of us are facing today. ~OC

Today’s a new day! There will be times in our lives that we will face challenges in life.

There will be times when we see blatant disregard for God’s Word even within the Christian community.

There will be a time when some Christians will choose political power over the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There will be a time when Christians will be put in a position to stand for what’s right or choose to be guided by the allure of power.

There will be a time when Christians will need to step up for what’s right. Even if that means standing alone.

Sometimes, we will find ourselves in situations where we will need to decide if we will obey God or “follow the crowd”. Our decision will either glorify God or give the enemies of God an opportunity to scorn Him. It is very important to stand for what you believe in (especially if your conviction is coming from what God has clearly said); even when others have a different opinion or thought.

It Takes Courage

The truth is, standing alone requires courage.

It is important to know that courage is not the absence of fear; it is confidence in something or someone greater than the emotions of fear.

To stand alone, one must have confidence that obedience to God and His word will ultimately result in a superior outcome. We can always stand alone for truth, if we have this confidence in God and His Word.

Standing alone can definitely be hard, but certainly not impossible.

There are several examples of people in the Bible who towed this path.

In Hebrews 11:7, we see where Noah chose to believe God. God told Noah about bad things that would happen. Nobody could see what would happen, but Noah believed God’s message. He was careful to do exactly what God told him. He built a large ship to save his family. As a result of his faith, Noah showed that everyone else in the world was wrong. Noah himself became one of those people that God accepted as right with him.

Just imagine. It was only Noah and his family on God’s side against all of the naysayers on the other side.

But Noah did it. And if he did it, then we can too.

God’s Word Is Our Fortress:

When it comes to standing for what one believes in, it all starts and ends with what the Lord is saying – either through His revealed word or His spoken word directly to us.

God’s Word is the believer’s most powerful weapon against evil and it is his most potent fortress when it comes to standing alone.

Scripture is no doubt a deep source of strength. It has been my anchor in overwhelming situations that have required me to stand alone. I am a living, breathing testimony that standing alone with God is the best because you will always win.

Remember that when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He defeated Satan by quoting the Scriptures. In His response to the enemy’s first temptation, Jesus emphasized the necessity of knowing God’s Word, pointing out that our need for God’s Word is even more critical than our need for physical sustenance.

“But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ~Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬

We must know the Word of God in order to stand alone for truth.

You Are Not Alone

When you are standing for what God says – which you have come to believe in, it may seem like you are all alone. But the truth is, you are never truly alone because God is standing with you. He promised to never leave us (Isaiah 43:1-5; Matthew 28:20)

Knowing this, we need to always turn to God for the grace and strength to face whatever may come.

Stand Strong! God is with us. I pray the following scriptures will give you hope:

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. ~1 Corinthians 16:13

Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. ~Deuteronomy 31:6

Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge. ~Psalms 16:1

This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” ~ Jeremiah 7:23

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” ~Isaiah 41:10

Dear God, we have chosen to obey you by standing alone for the truth, please help us to be courageous. Grant us grace and strength to face whatever may come and at the end Lord, please give us victory to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

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Hope Over Division

Good Morning! The following is something I have been working on the last few days. Yes, it’s long, but I hope you will take the time to read it.

Today’s a new day! The last few days, I have had some friends decide their political beliefs were more important than the Gospel and our friendship. But sadly, this is nothing new.

Over the last few years, I have found it sad that some Christians just do not understand how someone who disagrees with their political beliefs could possibly be a Christian. So much division over something so trivial as politics.

But division among Christians is not new, and is not a surprise to God.

Conflict among God’s people is not isolated to one culture or even one generation. Conflict is inevitable. Opinions will differ. But if we are rooted in the gospel, we should be united in purpose.

As I have surveyed the landscape of America, I have found people from different socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, political persuasions, and church denominations pursuing Christ with passion and commitment. I have found people finding unity in Christ, not political parties or politicians.

I have also been blessed to see Christians discover the gift of unity, even in disagreements. Sadly, I have also experienced some Christians allowing differences to end friendships. It is a choice we have to make daily.

I believe when Christians are truly united in the Gospel, we will be united in purpose.

In my journey, I have found that people do not always realize that we can have the same faith and have very different life experiences. In today’s heated culture, we may wonder if Christians can disagree and still remain united. For generations, across all nations and cultures, Christians have asked the same question. Is it truly possible to approach complex issues without losing our love for one another? I believes the answer is yes. It might not be easy, but if we truly put God’s love first I believe we can experience God’s unifying power to overcome our differences.

I also believe these three lessons can help.

Do not confuse differences with division:

In Revelation 7:9, we read inspiring verses about a great multitude gathered in worship before Jesus: 

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” 

In John’s vision, “every nation, tribe, people and language” praised the living God together. 

This beautiful picture gives us hope for eternity, but Christ-centered unity can feel distant today. When we struggle, I encourages everyone to not let our God-given differences evolve into manmade division. 

When we seek after God to help us guard against division, we can trust that He will work through our differences in His timing and in His way.

I do not look at nations, tribes, and tongues as something to divide us. Those are just characteristics, like someone being tall or short. We have made them into divisions, but God is the one who created those distinctions. It may be visible that people are different, but Revelation tells us we are not divided in the eyes of Christ. I truly believe God works uniquely within the Church through every time and culture. When division threatens God’s people today and leads to disagreement, we can pray for one another. Through individual prayer for others, even those we disagree with, God can soften our hearts and give us renewed patience.

Focus on what draws us together:

Through Revelation 7:10, we are challenged to focus on the One who draws us together:  

“And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

It is no surprise that the Bible talks about the diversity of the people while they stand before Jesus claiming Him as the one true God. There is a unity in what they are claiming. They are in agreement that all blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, and honor belong to Him. They are 100 percent focused on Jesus.

I believe this picture is a reminder that the One who unites His people is stronger than anything that drives us apart. When we seek God through His Word, He gives us a complete picture of His character. Through His Word we find wisdom, courage, and hope.

This picture of God’s people worshipping in unison should be a reminder to all of us to stay in a posture of humility. In today’s society, we are often encouraged to assume the worst about those who disagree with us. But there is room at the table for differences of opinion when Christ is our focus. We do not have to carry the burden of argument or debate. Instead, when we keep our eyes on Him and not others, we can pray, discuss, and enjoy being together.

When we look to Christ, we discover that Jesus gives us the wisdom and strength to navigate our differences without division.  

Put our faith in God’s promises, not people:

In Revelation 7:9-10, God reveals that He is worthy of our worship. The chapter closes with a beautiful picture of what we will experience in eternity under Christ’s authority: 

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water,’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (Revelation 7:17). 

In today’s culture, we are tempted to place our faith in people, denominations, political parties or human solutions. But leaders come and go, and even Christians can disappoint us. Revelation 7:17 reminds us that the Lamb who chose to die for His people is the same Lamb who rules for eternity. Jesus, who stands worthy of our worship, bends low to wipe away our tears.  

That is a promise. Even though we do not know what’s going to happen, we can trust that God is enough. We are reminded in Revelation that when we struggle through disappointment on earth, we can trust God’s promises for the future. With that in mind, we can meet our brothers and sisters in Christ with grace as we trust the Lord to reveal truth in His time.

What God has revealed for the future is enough to give us hope for today.

I pray you will spend some time reflecting on these words today. Walk and live in peace and harmony with everyone. Even those you disagree with. ~OC

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A Friday Morning Prayer

Happy Friday! Here is a prayer for the day. ~OC

Dear God, you are the true hope for this world. I pray in the darkness of this hour, that you would speak a word of hope to our anxious hearts, so that we might wait faithfully for the fulfillment of your promises in our lives and may hope renew us in our hour of need. I pray all of this in the name of the One who is trustworthy in all things and faithful in all that He does. Amen.

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Takeaways

Good Morning! Here is another entry from “The Lost Writings of OC.” This is from 2021.

Today’s a new day! It has been my experience that God uses what seems to be our weakest moments to propel us to the next chapter in His plan and purpose in our lives.

During this crazy beautiful health journey, God has given me the strength and motivation to take steps forward each day. Here are three takeaways.

1). Pray – This is sadly usually the last resort. We as believers usually pray; however, we pray after we have done everything that we can do in our own strength. In Matthew 6:33, it says seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Go to Him, talk with Him and invite Him into your situation.

2). Listen – Over the years, I have spent a ton of time telling God what my next steps are, and sometimes I picture Him looking at me, shaking His head and saying… “Are you done yet?” I have historically been terrible at this. I’ve wanted my relationship with God to be very transactional. However, I have learned over time that this isn’t how He tends to work. We must lean in and listen. I also try to write in my journal what I feel God is speaking to me at the time and what the next steps are in my situation that I am struggling with. Pausing to write has been a very important way for me to allow God to work in my life.

3). Act – What if we truly walked out the Scriptures that look good on a t-shirt or bumper sticker, such as Matthew 19:26…with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. What would happen if we lived with the mindset of “do the next right thing?” Today, just take one step forward. Just a small applicable steps in the right direction allows roots to take hold, grow and build a strong foundation rooted in God.

I am not sure what season you might be walking through right now. It could be something as small as what cereal to buy, or it could be some huge life-altering situation that you just don’t know what to do with. Give them to God and let His strength shine in these moments. I know that this is counterculture but remember another promise from Scripture in Matthew 11:28-29…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

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Tuesday Prayer

Good Morning! Here is my morning prayer for you. Have a great day! ~OC

Dear God, I pray my family and friends experience the peace that comes from a heart filled with gratitude. Your Word reminds us in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Help each of my family and friends to cultivate a grateful heart, finding joy in the blessings You have bestowed upon each of them. May gratitude be the foundation of their inner peace. Allow them to walk in victory today. Amen

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Leave Your Burdens

Good Morning! Here is another writing from the “Lost Writings of OC.” I wrote this back in 2019.

Today’s a new day! As many get ready to start our day, some are filled with various burdens. Maybe it’s a personal thing in our life. Maybe it’s a strained relationship. Maybe your world has been rocked by a devastating loss. But at this moment, your life is burdened by the heaviness you are carrying.

It seems that these burdens are just too big to handle. In Psalm 55 we read, “Cast your care upon the LORD, who will give you support. He will never allow the righteous to stumble.”

Life seems overwhelming at this moment, but has we wake up on this Sunday morning, today is the best day to cast your fears, burdens, pain, anger, resentment, to the Lord. It’s time to “let go, and Let God.”

There is no better time to leave all your burdens at the feet of Jesus. It is time to release those burdens to the One who will never allow us to stumble. It’s time to unburden ourselves of these problems that have eaten away at us for far too long.

Let today be the day, that you release all of your problems, cares and burdens to the Lord, realizing that you cannot handle them by yourself. Whether at a church or the comfort of your home, make the life changing decisions to release everything to God.

Today, let’s let go and let God. Let’s lay our burdens at the foot of the cross. Take my heart, loving Father as I put it in your hands. Today, I release all my burdens and trust in You. ~OC

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7

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Immigration and the Christian Response

Good Morning! More from the “Lost Writings of OC.” I originally wrote this back in 2017, but I feel it’s still relevant in 2025.

I do not know what it’s like to be a refugee. I have never had to flee America out of fear for my life because bombs or beheadings were a very real threat. I have never had to resettle in a foreign land and struggle to assimilate to an alien or hostile culture. I also do not know what it’s like to lose a loved one to an act of terrorism.

I do believe our political leaders must strive to protect innocent lives both by thwarting the plots of terrorists and by creating refuges for people trying to escape their reach. These are not mutually exclusive endeavors.

But how should the Christian Church and Community respond to the immigration crisis in America?

I believe the Christians community should have a special appreciation for the plight of the refugee. Our spiritual heritage is full of refugees: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Daniel and Jesus were all displaced from their homeland at some point. The earliest Christians in Jerusalem faced persecution that led them to scatter. Throughout the Bible the people of God are described as being exiles, strangers, sojourners, aliens, citizens of a heavenly home. A certain sense of homelessness is part of the cost of discipleship.

The way of Jesus Christ is not closing doors to asylum-seeking refugees or building walls to keep out foreigners. The way of Jesus Christ is not about forsaking the well-being of others in order to protect one’s own livelihood. The way of Jesus Christ is the cross. It is the way of sacrificing one’s own well-being in the name of Iove, however uncomfortable or risky or countercultural that may be.

This is not to say we should be reckless or naive or go looking for martyrdom. Christ warned his disciples not to be unrealistic about their safety in the world; they would be like sheep among wolves, and therefore should be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Our compassion should be tempered by prudence and common sense.

Think about the immigration issue in terms of our witness in the world. The way we Christians respond to refugees presents a unique opportunity to show, in vivid relief, the sort of God we serve.

Ask yourself which reflects the character of Christ more: Refusing to take in a refugee because we are concerned at the possibility that we could be harmed by such charity; or taking in a refugee out of sacrificial love that says “you are welcome at my table even if it costs me something.” Simply because you are a human and bear the image of God, I value your life, show you hospitality, welcome you at my table, even if you are a potentially dangerous stranger.

I think it’s important that Christians push back against the fickle fear and political pendulum that turns the refugee into a concept rather than an image-of-God-bearing human being. Refugees are real people with real hopes and fears, just like you and I. In many cases they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The refugees of our world are beloved of God and should be by Christians too. We need to know them, help them, hear their stories. We can learn from them. Let’s not close our borders and our hearts to them out of fear or ignorance. Let’s love them as Jesus loves us: mercifully, generously and sacrificially.

I know this post will be met with various opinions and probably some criticism, but I felt the need to share what’s on my heart. I pray you will respect that these are my thoughts and opinions. Blessings. ~OC

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Avoid the Distractions

Good Morning! I guess I should start calling these the “Lost Writings.” Here is one written back in 2021.

Today’s a new day! As Christians, we can argue, debate, and dispute with one another whose beliefs and convictions do not align with our own.

We can also choose to strive to stay so busy working for the Kingdom of God that we will not have the time to remain distracted.

Instead of walking through life angry about everything, we can take that time to not only reach for, but wrap our arms around those walking through the storms of life. To love and serve those who are just barely hanging on.

We can reach out to those who have lost all hope and purpose and are struggling to just take their next breath.

We can create a safe place for those who have experienced trauma, whether mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually or sexually.

We can strive to encourage those who cannot seem to shake an addiction, that they can overcome it and do not have to live in shame.

We can get out of our comfort zones. We can choose to love people so hard that it makes them want to experience the same God we serve. Teach them. Explain the word of God, and utilize it to explain why you believe how you believe. Disciple them and challenge them.

And let us not get distracted from doing just that. ~OC

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Friendships…

The last few days, I have been going through old journals and finding some old writings. Here is one I wrote back in 2019.

Today’s a new day! So many people kick the terms “best friend,” “best friend forever,” “BFF,” or “bestie” around like a soccer ball , hoping the person they kick it to will kick it back at them.  I have no doubt that for some people, the friends they make in their youth stick with them for a lifetime.  But as we grow older, we realize that true friends are rare.

Some friends are here for only a season of our life – school days, college, young married, a missions trip– and then when the ties that bind them loosen, they slowly (or quickly) exit our lives. I do not think this lessens the value of the relationship.  We need various people to learn from and lean on during the different seasons of our lives.

What can weaken a friendship? Two friends may mature at a different pace, or sometimes interests change.  Distance can have a huge impact, if someone moves, or perhaps there’s a complete change in lifestyle. Are there friendships that can withstand any or all of these conditions?

True friendships withstand the test of time and the changes that can put obstacles in the way of a stress-free relationship. That is, it’s easy to be friends with someone who is available, who you have much in common with, and who you agree with on most issues.

I’ve learned that true friendship does not have much to do with what you have in common, though, of course, commonalities are needed, especially since they bring you together. What holds your friendship together is a deep love and concern for the other person’s well being. You care, so you continue to be there for that person.

Friends show up in times of trouble. During my crazy beautiful health journey, I have found out who my true friends are. Who those 3am friends really are. For those friends that decided to move on, I continue to pray for you and only want the best for you.

True friends are honest with each other, and they accept the other person’s honesty. They do not let petty arguments come between them. They forgive each other. They realize that they don’t always have to agree.

True friends give you the freedom to have other friends. They are secure enough to know that if you are a worthy friend, they do not have to do anything to persuade you to spend time with them. They know you have enough love in your heart for all your friendships.

True friends are not difficult to meet up with, and they aren’t hard to keep in touch with, if they live far away. While we all get busy at times, true friends inform each other that their friendship is still important, and both of them make an effort.

Over the years, I have had some friends who pulled out a calendar and listed a handful of dates over the next few months that they could schedule a time to see me. Hmm, I thought, I’m busy too (dying can take up a lot of one’s time), but it shouldn’t be that difficult to find time to spend together. In contrast, I have multiple friends that a quick phone call or text and we are meeting up within hours to catch up.

True friendships are those that bring out the best in you. Your friend should give you energy – not drain it.  How many times have we stayed in relationships simply because the person was present, but deep down we know they aren’t good for us? When possible we should clear our lives of people who drain us and leave space to foster relationships that fill us up with hope and make us a better person.

I believe the mark of a true friendship is intimacy – your friends know and wants to know what is happening in your life. On some level, they stay involved in your life. Indeed, that’s the mark of a true friend.

It goes without saying that to have true friends, we must work at being a good friend.Even after fifty plus years, I am still learning how to be a better friend. I desire to have more friendships that can last the ups and downs of this journey called life. ~OC

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