You want to encourage real change in your counselee. Your counselee or friend says she wants to change. And she talks and talks and talks about her struggle. Her follow-through on assignments—say, reading several Bible passages and jotting insights—is poor at best. So how does a biblical counselor encourage a counselee to commit to change? Knowing Versus Believing A place … Read More
Do You Give to Get?
Do you give to get? Is this selfish? Jacob wrestled with God and when God said to stop, Jacob replied: “I will not let you go until you bless me” Gen. 32:26, ESV Is your friend like Jacob too? Wanting, wanting, wanting. Does she want blessings too? Do you? Here’s a tool to find out. A Tool to Help You … Read More
Newlyweds Need Help
Newlyweds need help and lots of it. Couples spend nearly 30 grand, on average, on their Big Day! And June is one of the two most popular month for weddings. Stats were from the WSJ. The focus seems askew. The music, Scripture readings, bridesmaids’ dress color, flowers, food, photography, invitations, programs – these are carefully considered and decided. Yet most … Read More
Counsel for a Life-Dominating Sin
A life-dominating sin overtakes your thoughts and emotions. How can you help the hurting find freedom? Listen to this story: Conner (a pseudonym) struggles with a life-dominating sin. A life-dominating sin slips in like a ninja and then overtakes all activities and beliefs, becoming the foundation from which future activities and beliefs are based. He hates this sin and longs … Read More
How to Know God’s Will
A common question among Christian is, How can I know God’s will? Twice in two days someone asked me: How does one know if she’s seeking her own way (her will) or God’s? Great question. The folks who asked this question had been dealing with difficulties for a long time. Both were frustrated. They were sick and tired of waiting … Read More
Fearful? Watch Out for Anger!
Fearful? Anger may get you too. Have you felt anxious when suddenly something inside you just snapped? Fear morphs into anger and you feel even worse. If you let yourself slide into self-pity, which is a sneaky face of anger, you may begin calling yourself “a waste of space.” If you let your anger turn to outwardly directly rage, don’t … Read More
How Do You Define Yourself?
How do you define yourself? People tend to think in categories, but don’t see that the parts make up the whole person — the man or woman or child who represents Jesus everywhere they go. By What You Do Let’s say a Christian man named Todd gets up in the morning and kisses his wife and kids before heading off … Read More
“I’m Only Joking”
Sarcasm is a style of conversation you hear almost daily. Late-night talk show hosts use cutting remarks to entertain audiences. Politicians use sarcasm to convince their constituents that the opponent is unworthy of their vote. And we use ironic criticisms in our daily communications with one another at work, home, or church. So is sarcasm a godly – or ungodly … Read More
Finding a Better Way in Ministry, Part 1
MINISTRY: Recently I found myself in a conflux of emotions. Too many things demanded my time, and I ran myself ragged: ministering very late into evening, trying to get up early and have a meaningful time with God, taking care of my wife and my children, responding to people from various local churches. My Life Became a Blur Drained and … Read More
