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-Giving Stories Matter
The stories we tell of our lives and those that are told to us can shape who we become. Each of us absorb our stories from many different sources. These include the families we grew up in, our culture, and our faith traditions to name a few. It is not the things that happened in our past that define us … Read More
Transforming Traditions
You can begin new traditions of blessed rest in 2019. Staff counselor Donna Hart, whose article appeared first here, invites you to the three traditions of keeping a Sabbath box, offering a blessing, and a taking a Sabbath walk. There are traditions or spiritual disciplines for our time with the Lord that can be restfully transformative. Before we begin our … Read More
When You’re Lost in Exhaustion
Are you lost in exhaustion too? This insighful article by staff counselor Donna Hart, PhD, considers the reasons we’re exhausted and provides practical solutions. It appeared first on her blog and is used with her permission. One of the most common reasons for being exhausted is always being plugged in, available, and scheduled. We are striving too hard, competing too … Read More
You’re Part of a Worthwhile Legacy
A Legacy is a tradition that is handed down from one generation to another. It can be good or evil, valuable or worthless, spiritual or carnal. A Legacy is the impact that we want to leave with others. In our 30th year, we are both looking back at the Legacy that faithful men and women in the first thirty years of … Read More
Are You a Half-Way Christian? Or “All In”?
There are plenty of us who are half-way Christians, says biblical counselor Donna Hart, PhD. Wonderfully, she describes 4 steps toward “all in.” Her article appeared first here and is used with her permission. We will give up possessions, power, position, and friends and still not be able to submit ourselves in total obedience to God. But it is difficult … Read More
Uprooted? God Roots You in Christ!
Ever feel uprooted? When we step out of relationship with God, we experience uprooted disruption in our inner being. Dr. Donna Hart, PhD, shares thoughts on uprooting. Her article appeared first here. It is used by permission. Thunderstorms and fierce windstorms can cause tremendous damage to trees and property. A recent storm in our area snapped the tops off some … Read More
Balancing Work and Rest
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
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
