Mental energy is derived from positive thinking. Negative thoughts can help to direct our attention to important needs that are not being met. It could be a need for food, rest, or an imminent threat of danger that is presenting itself to us. Amanda’s thinking needed serious help. Amanda had a very negative way of looking at the world. It robbed … Read More
Wearing a miniskirt to the wedding?
Our lives as Christians are essentially pre-marital counseling preparing us for a wonderful wedding. All of us are the bride who will finally and eternally be united to our groom, Jesus Christ. Indeed, our lives on earth are the means God uses for a deeper goal. God’s Glorious Plan We can tend to conclude God doesn’t love us, or has … Read More
Life as a Wife
I find it very interesting that we have no record of Adam asking God for a mate, yet God knew he needed a wife and provided just what he needed! Many husbands still remain clueless to how much they really need us – LOL! But God knows, and God built into marriage a teamwork plan that really blesses couples who … Read More
“I am the Lover of my Home!”
I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard men demand to be the leaders of their home, characterizing their role as that of the boss, with their wife expected to follow and respect them as a private would submit to his commanding office, unquestioning. Men may even abuse the intended meaning of the phrase in Eph 5:23, “the husband … Read More
How is the warmth of your relationships?
Last week in Chicago we set records for cold weather, and the hero of my week was my new gas furnace. Despite having -50° wind-chill, our family stayed warm during the 48 hours straight that we stayed inside. One of life’s realities is that relationships, like a heater in the brutal cold, take work to stay warm. If we ignore … Read More
Four Realistic Goals for a Church’s First Year of Embracing Biblical Counseling
I recently talked with several churches that had taken groups to week-long biblical counseling training conferences or purchased curriculum to develop a training process. Unfortunately, they are frustrated because they have little to show for their efforts. They received valuable teaching that they wanted to implement in their church, but they seem no closer to developing a biblical counseling strategy. … Read More
5 Benefits of Learning Biblical Counseling
We hear it over and over again. When people start training in biblical counseling, they are amazed by the outcome. They see so many benefits in their life and the lives of others. Here are some of the main benefits of learning biblical counseling. 1. You grow in your understanding of the Bible and how to apply it. So often, … Read More
5 Signs of Unhealthy Church Leadership
When people leave a difficult and painful church, they often ask in counseling, “Is this normal?” “Am I crazy or over-reacting?” “Is this unhealthy church leadership?” It’s a difficult question to answer without knowing all the details. However, I’ve been in that situation, and I’ve found it helpful to share what I’ve been learning since then. Shortly after I completed my … Read More
Characteristics to Look for in Church Leadership
This past fall, we wrote a necessary post entitled “Not all churches and pastors are like that.” We talked about the faults of some churches and leaders, but relayed that there are so many good churches that are led by godly and caring pastors. There are still many high profile churches that are struggling with very serious issues. We thought it … Read More
