Tag: Truth

Joy In The Morning

Today’s a new day! As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and cannot fall back asleep. On those nights, I usually end up scrolling through social media to see who needs prayer and pray for the needs I already know about. On some of those restless nights, I find myself singing the old hymns that I learned as a child.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest;

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

I know the words to every verse of this song as well as many other hymns from my childhood. As I sing these beautiful hymns, I sense the quiet embrace of God’s presence around me. I have assurance that He is as close as my next breath and there will be joy in the morning.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~Lamentations 3:22-23

I am thankful for this reminder that God brings joy in the morning through His whispers of love in our little victories and echoes of mercy in our failures. ~OC

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Endurance

Today’s a new day! For the past twenty -three years, chronic illness and pain have been a close and unwanted companion to me. This unwanted intruder is always trying to destroy my life.

Chronic illness and pain is a powerful thing, continuously trying to snatch my peace, happiness and positive attitude like a thief in the night. As I write this, with pain shooting throughout my body and my soul weary within me, I consider the great truths of 2 Corinthians (take time to read it for yourself). Someday, despite my greatest efforts to hold on to hope and strength, my soul and spirit grow weary in fighting through the physical pain I endure on a daily basis. I often find myself being led to a prayer of brokenness in these moments. “Oh Lord, what good am I to you in this place? How much more could I offer you if I were healthy, energized, and strong! Lord, what is the point of this pain?”

The truth is that physical or emotional pain, especially when it is chronic, has a way of stripping away the masks we tend to wear, leaving our hearts exposed and our self-sufficient ways of life threatened. It clears away the sea of fog filled with empty distractions and suddenly makes us face the question: Is it worth following Jesus when this is what life will be like?

Pain is never easy or pleasant, but nothing can compare to the pain of eternity without God. And so my pain today is a small glimpse of what I have been saved from. How much more can we grasp the beautiful and glorious promise of eternity with our Savior, free from pain, worries, health issues and the distractions of this world. The beautiful God inspired truths we find in the Bible give us a reason to push through the storms, a purpose to live out and a sense of hope to endure the rough seas of this life.

I spend many sleepless nights looking to the One who understands everything we walk through in our daily journey. I don’t know about you, but there is a tendency to turn inward during this crazy beautiful health journey. Sometimes, I think no one can possibly understand the suffering I endure each day of my life. But there is someone who understands—who has been through everything I am going through, and everything I will go through, and far, far more—Jesus.

A question I have for each of us. If we truly believe God always keeps his promises and will never forsake us, why do we often go to Him last? The truth is that no one can fully understand our pain in the way our Savior can, the only One who knows us intimately and has walked this hard road before us. We are not left to endure the pain of this life in loneliness and our own strength. Rather, we serve a God who bears the physical scars of His love for us and sympathizes with us as one who has lived as a human being and suffered more than you or I will ever know.

God longs to fill the broken pieces of our lives, often left by suffering, with the hope of the gospel and the healing power of His presence. One thought about our afflictions can never be true—that no one understands them. We have a God with nail scared hands walking with us through this journey. We have the privilege to speak to a God whose time on earth was accompanied by the afflictions of poverty, of disappointment, of betrayal, of mockery, a terrible beating and death. Jesus offers us mercy and grace in our time of need. So cry out to Him! God does not leave us to fend for ourselves. I am so thankful for those promises. When we have nothing left and are struggling to put one foot in front of another, we can cry out to Jesus, who not only understands but strengthens us when we are weak, equips us when we are weary, and brings beauty out of our brokenness. I am thankful that we have a hope beyond our pain because of the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

We have a Choice:

As I write this post, I am allowing God’s word to speak truth to my own soul just as much as to yours. Though there are times when pain can seem almost unbearable, we have a hope that much of the suffering world does not know. While we naturally desire the healing of our bodies or our minds, Jesus desires the healing of our soul above all. And we will either allow the period of pain to bring us closer to Jesus or to pull us away from Him. Be aware that the storms of life can cause us to turn away from Jesus, in crippling bitterness or toward futile self-reliance, or it can cause us to turn to Jesus, trusting that He knows, cares, helps, and will one day bring us to a world where faith will become sight and pain will be no more.

So let’s cry out to Him in our pain and discomfort. Although we are afflicted in every way, we will not be crushed because of the grace of Jesus Christ that is poured out to us. He will only allow what will be used for His good and loving purposes in our lives and if He has chosen to allow us to endure some form of pain or affliction, we can find strength in the promise that He will only allow for an allotted time what He intends to use for our good and his glory.

Don’t give up or give way to despair, for there is a glorious treasure to be found when the pain of this world drives us to Jesus, and it is of far greater worth than any earthly relief. Yes, pain and affliction are real in this world. Jesus knows that. But what could crush us as we struggle on in faith, might be the means of God reshaping and revealing His purpose for our lives.

Health issues will be my close companion, it would seem, until Jesus calls me home. But when the pain and suffering tries to drive me to despair, I have a God who understands, and who helps, and who will use this health journey to mold me into His likeness. This crazy beautiful health journey will not defeat me, for God is greater than anything this world throws at me. Lean into that truth and promise today. ~OC

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Come Together

Today’s a new day! Finding humor during the hard moments in life is important, but we must remember how some things that might be just a minor inconvenience for the wealthy, able bodied or younger person can be devastating for the poor, disabled and elderly. Let’s spend a little looking out for each other as we continue to live in these uncertain times. ~OC

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Stand

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm. ~ Ephesians 6:13-14

Today’s a new day! Life can feel overwhelming at times. Can I get an amen? Life can be hard. The never-ending to-do lists, the health issues, financial issues, the friendship that ends out of the blue or the house that never seems to stay clean. Sometimes we feel like we cannot cope. We may not even be able to explain it. We just feel overwhelmed. We feel like we’re drowning.

I’m not sure what is currently happening in your life, what crisis you may be facing, but what I do know is we will all face challenges and heartaches we didn’t expect. In the midst of it all, we have a God who, just like a lifeguard, is ready to rescue us.

I can see Him looking at me, saying, “I’ve given you everything you need. Just stand.” Ephesians 6:13-14 declares, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm …” My heart is lifted up as I remember the following truths. Hopefully they can bring you some encouragement.

*No matter how unqualified we feel for the tasks set before us, with God we’re well-equipped.

*No matter how fast we seem to be sliding down the slippery slope of this thing called life, with God we are not in despair.

*No matter how overwhelming the situations of life feel, with God we are not drowning.

Friend, God has given us everything we need to stand victorious against the storms and uncertainties of this world. All we have to do is stand. Stand on His Word. Stand on His promise that declares we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us”(Romans 8:37). Stand on the command of Jesus to “take heart” because He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). Stand on the truth that He will “fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

Today, let’s declare it with our mouths and believe it in our hearts. After you’ve done all you can, just stand!

Dear God, even though we can get easily overwhelmed by the things of this life, we thank You that You are always there, that You never leave nor forsake us. We pray that we will be reminded continuously that through the power of Your Word, we are well-equipped for this journey You have prepared for us. No matter what comes our way, may we stand on Your promises. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~OC

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Truth

Today’s a new day! As I scroll through social media or watch the news, I have noticed so many people, including a huge number of Christians are spreading or falling for lies. Some lies might be a little harder to see, but some are blatant. People post lies or half truths so easily these days. Too many people do not want to take the time to do their own research before posting or sharing an untruth. A like or share is more important than truth for so many.

But the problem for those who claim to belong to Christ, is when the lies of a fallen world start to feel normal. When you start to think your lies or the lies begin spread can serve as truth as long it feels right and the outcome is what you want.

But as Christians, if we truly desire to live out our faith, we have to recognize Jesus is not just the one telling us the truth; he is the truth (John 14:6). To distort the truth into a half-truth to advance a lie is a personal assault not just on the person you are lying about, or the issue you claim to support, but on Jesus Christ himself. ~OC

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Between the Dash

Today’s a new day! How do you want to be remembered? Another way to ask this question is what do want your life to stand for beyond the dash between your date of birth and the day you leave this world? This may sound like a depressing post, but actually thinking about how you want to be remembered could make a huge difference in the way you live your life.

Most people shy away from talking about death; it feels morbid. But one thing that is for sure in this life is -unless Jesus comes again soon to rapture his people —all of us will face death and all of us will leave behind a legacy. It should not be morbid or depressing to think about how you want to be remembered; it’s smart, and it could be life changing.

How would you choose to live your life if God revealed to you the day, month, and year when you would pass from this life into eternity? How would it affect your daily routine?

In the Bible, Psalm 90 is titled “A prayer of Moses the man of God,” and here’s part of that prayer:

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom(Psalm 90:12).

And in Psalm 39:4, King David prayed:

Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

These two were on the same page, even though centuries apart. They were not asking for a gift of prophecy, but rather, they were asking God to help them live like they were dying—to live in the reality that their days were numbered, and that this life is fleeting.

How often have we prayed such a prayer: Dear God, show me how fleeting—how brief, how short, how transient—my life is? Suppose we began each of our days with this type of prayer, asking God to help us number our days. We would then begin to live in the knowledge that this world is temporary, but eternity is forever.

As I have run this crazy beautiful health journey, I have probably spent a little more time thinking about my mortality. Today, I want to encourage you to give a little more thought to the truth that you will leave this life one day and enter eternity. Are you living with eternity’s values in mind? I believe this is a good question for all of us to consider. ~OC

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Deep Roots

Today’s a new day! I shall not be moved; I shall not be shaken. How many times have I repeated these familiar Bible verses in my mind, thinking that as long as I am truly rooted in God, nothing will ever rock my world.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

But this world can be like a roller coaster, full of twist and turns. And sometimes no matter how hard we cling to the grace of God, we can find ourselves overwhelmed by the storms of life.

There are times we still shake when life throws us a curveball. No one is immune to the unsteady waves of this broken world.

So how do we stay rooted?

Having been born and raised in South Florida, I have lived through many storms and hurricanes. Life can be a little unpredictable during hurricane season. As I reflect on all the hurricanes I have lived through, I realize that I had it all wrong just asking the question above.

During a hurricane, the trees can violently sway back and forth. I think to myself, there is no way those trees can withstand the strong winds. At any moment, they are going to fly away in the storm. But I marvel as the trees sway and rock, but are not uprooted.

Steady they hold on, anchored in the ground by an invisible root system designed to protect them from life’s raging storms.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. (Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬)

Life will shake us. It will move our earthly bodies and minds in ways that feel almost impossible to recover from. But when we anchor ourselves in the love and salvation of God, we find that our eternal soul and spirit can never be moved.

Just like those trees, we have an invisible root system that anchors us in the Kingdom of God. This allows us to walk confidently through the storms of life, knowing that God is always holding onto us.

Though the earth give way and the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea, we remain rooted in God. Although life and the choices we make may move us, God always has us right where He wants us.

I want to encourage you to remember that we always have an anchor in the unsteady waves of this world.  I pray you remember how all that we are is secured in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. ~OC

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Keep Pressing Forward

Today’s a new day! Life is full of hard times. I do not think that is breaking news to anyone. The nightly news point to it. Our neighbors and coworkers talk about it. Our hearts feel it. So many people are going through hard times right now. Let’s face it: Life is hard, even in the best of times. Disappointments, illnesses, loss, broken relationships, dashed dreams. As we walk through these difficult moments, what does the Bible say about getting through adversity?

Plenty, actually! God knows we’re living in a broken world, but He has not left us to suffer alone.

First, when we’re in the midst of hard times, it can be difficult to remember that nothing happens without the knowledge of God, who “works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). You are not victim of random occurrences; you are a child of a Heavenly Father who wants to turn adversity into opportunity.

We also need to keep uppermost in our minds that hardships don’t last forever—but the things we learn from them do. The Apostle Paul writes the following words in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. . . . For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Adversity in God’s hands can help us refrain from our self-dependency and pride. It can push us into deeper intimacy with Jesus. It can redirect our paths toward our greater good, and toward God’s greater glory.

Tough times also can reshape us. Think about Romans 5:1-5, in which Paul says that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope… Or 1 Peter 5:10, in which the apostle Peter teaches that “the God of all grace … after you have suffered a little, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”

Who doesn’t want to be a person of character, full of hope, strong and steadfast?

It’s all in how we react to those tough moments in life isn’t it? A good place to start is to discern the source of the adversity. Is it just circumstances? Maybe you’ve lost your job due to the budget cuts, or your chronic illness is currently getting the best of you. You could be suffering from physical, mental or emotional exhaustion from the current trials you’re facing. Life is hard!

As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey and study God’s word the overall message I continue to hear is to turn to Him and trust Him. Persevere! That’s what Hebrews says: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).

Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Don’t opt out! Remember, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

You aren’t going through hard times alone.  No matter what, remember to Keep Pressing Forward. Stay Focused. Finish Strong. ~OC

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Surviving the Bite

Today’s a new day! I love when God uses a scripture or chapter of the Bible to speak to my heart and to share a message. Today was one of those days. The following post was inspired by Acts 28. I pray the following words bring you encouragement.

In Acts 28, when the Apostle Paul was bitten by a viper, his hand or body did not swell up and he did not die. The people were amazed. Can you imagine witnessing that story? But as I read about this encounter Paul had with this viper, God brought something to my mind. Even though Paul’s hand and body did not swell up and even though he survived this encounter, no where in Chapter 28, does it say Paul did not experience some pain from that bite. You see, God never promised to protect us from the pain of the bite. But God did promise to protect us from the venom of the bite. Some storms in life are going to cause pain, but they will not necessarily kill you. Likewise, God would never allow us to walk through a season of pain without revealing a greater purpose for our pain.

As I continue to run this crazy beautiful health journey, I embrace the opportunities my suffering has allowed me to experience. I embrace the lessons this journey has taught me. I give thanks for the many blessings I have experienced during this journey. I am thankful for the person I have become through this journey.

So today, I encourage you to not allow the venom of this world to keep you from experiencing the purpose God has for your life through your suffering. ~OC

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