Balancing work and rest is a tough task. But placing a premium on striking a balance matters in honoring God. Dr. Donna Hart, PhD, shares valuable insights as well as an invitation to a women’s retreat. A couple of weeks ago I was at a leadership retreat where we were to arrive on a Monday evening and meet with our small groups … Read More
When the Woman Abused Was You
Childhood sex abuse ranks among the most awful experiences a woman can have. But God heals. In this article by acclaimed author Dawn Scott Damon, you’ll discover potholes on the road to recovery. Her latest book When the Woman Abused Was You. Some women live for decades unaware of their abusive past. Others who were abused as children live in the shadows of shame, … Read More
A P.L.A.N. to Engage a Suicidal Person Wisely
If someone trusts you enough to reach out for help, or you pick up on something that concerns you and makes you wonder if another person has intentions of suicide, what do you do next? It feels like a great weight of responsibility and it is. We use a simple anachronism when training churches on how to engage those with suicidal intentions … Read More
A Christian Response to Suicide or Suicidal Thoughts (Part 2)
The phone rang in the middle of my seventh birthday party. Mom answered and quickly passed the phone to Dad. I saw concern on his face and shortly after my party ended, he slipped out of the house, still clearly shaken. Later that week, I learned that the call was about a young man in his youth ministry that had … Read More
A Christian Response to Suicide or Suicidal Thoughts (Part 1)
Suicide has been in the news again this week. It is understandably hard when those we admire take their own lives. A famous designer and a media personality each took their own life in moments of deep despair. Later in the week, it was no surprise to see the headline, “Suicide Rates Have Increased More Than 25% since 1999, According … Read More
No Harm Contract
In formal counseling , no-harm contracts can be helpful tools. This is a sample document that you can use. Help them develop a specific plan to reach out if they are feeling overwhelmed with despair. If someone will not agree not to harm themselves or doesn’t seem in the right frame of mind to make this promise, call 911 and … Read More
Suicide Safety Plan
When working with a suicidal person, you can help them assess the risks in their life and take steps to avoid them. In our resource center is a safety check-list that many professional counselors use to assess the risk level. If you’re interested in reading more, look into A P.L.A.N. to Engage a Suicidal Person Wisely. This resource is … Read More
How Text Messaging Messes Up Marriage!
Text messaging: It often interferes with meaningful communication in marriage. How can you tell if text messaging is a problem for you? And what can a married couple do about it? This article by counselor Joshua Waulk appeared first here on his website and is used with permission. (Edited for length–Ed.) Communication, or a lack thereof, is a common complaint in marriage … Read More
The Sneaky Lies of Shame!
Shame: Do you believe its lies? I recently spoke to someone regarding harsh words they had said to another. This acquaintance said they just “couldn’t forgive themselves.” After gently pointing out the theological inaccuracy of this statement, I started pondering their feelings of shame over the incident. From personal experience, I can tell you that shame can keep you up … Read More
Your True Self Is Hidden in Christ
Beloved, your true self is hidden in Christ. God reveals his beautiful truth in the Scriptures. So let’s look at key verses about identity and your responsibility to orient our true self to loving abandonment to God. This article by Donna Hart, PhD appeared first here on her website. Do we think of our lives as immersed in blessing? Ephesians 1:3 says, … Read More
