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

December 21, 2023 0

Daily Goals

Today’s a new day!

My Ten Daily Goals:

*Love Jesus

*Pursue Jesus

*Live out the gospel

*Love my bride

*Love people. All people

*Serve others

*Die to self

*Surrender all to Jesus

*Encourage people

*Show forgiveness

December 17, 2023 0

Mental Health

Today’s a new day! This morning I want to discuss a tough issue for many in the Christian community. Mental Health. Unfortunately, many believers have made it difficult for those dealing with mental health issues to share and get the help they need.

Mental health issues can still be a highly stigmatized topic in the church. Although many Believers know the trial of occasional anxiety or having the blues, people with a diagnosed mental illness face unique challenges. Some our confronted by Christians who espouse false doctrine that health issues are a sign of unresolved sin or lack of faith. This is a big Lie!

I want to encourage anyone dealing with mental health issues or any health issue to get the necessary medical care you need. There is nothing wrong with taking medications, having a therapist and loving Jesus all at the same time. There should be no shame or condemnation.

The same biblical truths that have encouraged Christians for centuries can encourage those who suffer with mental health today. I pray those walking through the trials of mental health will cling on to these words of encouragement.

You Are Not Alone
God’s people have suffered—mentally, emotionally, and physically—since the fall in the garden. Even Jesus cried out in despair on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46), When we suffer, we are never alone. Never be afraid to reach out for help. Speaking openly about your mental health issues allows those around you to share their own struggles. This allows us to come together and care for one another.

2). Stop Blaming Yourself. Also stop listening to those who may try to put a spiritual guilt trip on you. Mental health issues are not a punishment for sin or lack of faith. As you walk through this journey, I encourage you to keep your eyes on God. He has some amazing plans for your life. Keep leaning into that beautiful promise.

3). Remember, God sees you, loves you and is always with you. Thankfully we have a wonderful Savior who experiences emotions. As you walk through effects of mental illness, remember the nearness of Christ. He weeps with you. God knows how He is going to work in and through each of our lives and is with us in the midst of it. By the amazing grace of God, he sent the Holy Spirit, our comforter and counselor, to be with you, to help you. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:27). He is there for us when we do not have the words.

4). God’s Word Speaks to us.
The word of God isn’t afraid to talk about mental and emotional issues.
Keep the truth of God’s words close. Share them with a close friend, family member, or accountability partner who can remind you when you forget or when you don’t have the energy or willpower to remind yourself.

The truth is some will deal with mental health issues for a lifetime. But remember, we can all rejoice in the greatness and sovereignty of our loving Savior. I pray that God will make known his strength in our struggles. ~OC

December 10, 2023 0

Today

Today’s a new day! As I scrolled through social media this morning and watched the news, my heart broke with all the hate I saw. A lady in Atlanta trying to burn down the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All the antisemitism and hate against Muslims. The hate against Christians. As I scrolled through all this hate, I realized the as Christians we have to step up and act by shining God’s love and light on this hate and violence. We need to pray, to be sure. But those prayers must also be met with peaceful steps of action that respond to this unconscionable violence and evil with a resounding No.

This is not a call to activism per se. This is a call to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus. He provides an example of love for all, and commands that we do the same (Matthew 22:36-40.) But love is not only an emotion we feel for individuals, it is the basis and fuel for action. If we truly love all of our neighbors, it stands to reason that we must act when they come under attack.

The love of God never fails (1 Cor 13), but too often our love does. It fails each time there is an act of racism or hatred perpetrated and we remain silent. In those moments, when we choose not to speak up, to pray, to advocate for change and to educate ourselves and our sphere of influence, we are complicit. Our love does fail at times, and we have the power to change that.

As each of us watch the news or scroll through social media we see the evil of bigotry and racism. The violence we are seeing is where bigotry and racism lead. We need to speak up. Today, we have multiple ways to peacefully make our voices heard. We can talk to our families, speak with our children and co-workers about the realities of hatred and racism. We can engage in thoughtful dialogue online and make posts on social media. We can take steps in our own lives to demonstrate Christ-like, action-oriented love to everyone, and to our neighbors who may be the subject of this violence.

Let’s come together on these issues and decide in our hearts to take some step of action, right now. Today we can make a difference. ~OC

December 8, 2023 0

Hope

Today’s a new day! Hope. A simple four letter word that carries so much meaning and power. Hope is beauty. This word inspires images of joy. Images of a more peaceful, loving world. The word hope brings Images of a world filled with people who genuinely care for each other; regardless of culture, ethnicity or the color of their skin. Regardless of political beliefs. Hope brings to mind a brighter future—filled with less of the problems that we see in the world today. There is a reason politicians, businesses and charities use the word hope to try and grab our attention. We all long for a world filled with hope. Deep down, we all know that hope is what this world truly needs.

However, for many of us, hope is something that seems out of reach in the world today. A dream. When we turn on the news, scroll through social media we see images that do not bring us a lot of hope. Everyone is dealing with their own struggles in this journey called life.

I have always been affected by the stories that I hear around me. If someone mentions they’re struggling with something, I want to jump in to help and encourage them. I want to bring them hope. I am sure you can relate. As humans, we are naturally affected by the stories we hear in the world around us. As humans, we are affected by those whose situations look hopeless. However, as Christians, we also posses the one thing that can truly bring change to the lives of those hurting around us. Hope.

I remember when my crazy beautiful health journey first started, I did not want to share my struggles. I did not want to burden anyone. Then a few years into my health journey, God shared with me how our stories can help encourage others walking through their own experience. Our testimony. The power of our testimonies can be life changing. But only if we are willing to share our story. I must admit, when I first started sharing my health battle with others it was a little scary. How would people react? Would people treat me differently? But as I began sharing my story, people began to ask how they could help. People began to pray for me. People started sharing my story with others. People started contacting me and sharing that my story and the way I was living it out brought them encouragement. Brought them hope. I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who seemed lost, broken and struggling with their own problems. I thought how can my little story make a difference? As more and more people began to reach out to me for help, I was tempted to shrink back. To escape. Thankfully, instead of escaping, I began to lean into this crazy beautiful journey God has me on. And what a ride it has been.

As Christians, we have the hope that this world is desperately longing for.
It is far too easy to be silent. To let fear dictate us and stop us from doing the one thing that we have been placed on this earth to do. To believe that this world is too broken, too far gone, too far beyond hope. To forget the words of John 1:5, which says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” I don’t know about you, but I want to bring hope to the broken and light to the darkness in this world. I want my life to point back to the One who has put breath in my lungs and given me life.
I want to exude joy, hope, and love even in places that seem to lack all three of these. I desire to be everything that God has called me to be, and never miss an opportunity to share His love with the people He has placed around me.

At your job, at school, and in your community, I want to encourage you to live with hope in your sphere of influence. In the places where God has led you. To never be afraid to step out in boldness, and share the love of God with those around you. I want to encourage you to love your fellow students, neighbors, co-workers and bosses in such a way that it points back to God—and “work as if you’re working unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Wherever we go and whatever we do, let us never be afraid to reflect the hope that lives within us. Let us never let fear hold us back from sharing the hope of God. Let us never let fear hold us back from sharing this amazing love. ~OC

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~Matthew 5:13-16

December 7, 2023 0

Promises

Today’s a new day! What Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection is central to everything in our faith journey. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not only central to scripture and the Gospel, but is also central to learning (maybe for the first time) what God is like, and how we are supposed to live our lives as followers of Jesus. Keep leaning into the promises of Jesus. ~OC

October 19, 2023 0

A Limp

Today’s a new day! We need to stop walking with a prideful strut. We need to stop being smug and selfish. We need to stop making life about us. We need to stop being a “Me Society.” We need to put the focus back on Jesus. He is the only one who needs to be famous. We need the Holy Spirit to subdue our fleshly pride. We need to walk with a limp of total dependency on God. ~OC

October 5, 2023 0

Selfless Love on 9/11

Today, we remember that Tuesday morning twenty-two years ago. Hard to believe, it has been twenty-two years since we watched in horror as the tragedies of that day unfolded. There was a lot of hate perpetrated that day. Hate that not only changed the lives of many families, but the life of a nation. But as we reflect back on that Tuesday morning, I hope we will remember there was a lot of love happening that day.

The Man In The Red Bandana: Welles Crowther, a 24-year old equities trader is credited with helping at least a dozen people get out of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This young man gave his life helping complete strangers.

Let’s Roll: A group of strangers came together to take back United Flight 93, preventing further mass destruction.

Put Back On The Uniform: Retired US Marines, Jason Thomas and David Karnes were complete strangers at the beginning of that Tuesday in September. But as they watched in horror what was transpiring at the World Trade Center, they put their uniforms back on and headed into the chaos. They are credited with saving two survivors.

More Than a Tour Guide: Army Specialist Beau Doboszenski was working as a tour guide at the Pentagon on 9/11. He gave medical aid to the injured outside and rushed into the Pentagon to help others trapped inside.

These are just a few stories of heroism from that Tuesday in September. As we remember and pay respect to all the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, let us not forget there was a lot of selfless love happening on that tragic day. ~OC