Navigating the Christian Counseling Path to Healing Without Exhaustion Imagine coming to someone with your burdens who is truly never tired of listening to you, never weary from the weight of your suffering, able to endure every tedious detail and keep every tear. This is Christ our Savior—the one who invites us to "come unto … Continue reading Christian Counseling: A Journey, Not a Sprint
Death of a Spouse, Part V: Rising Hope in a Risen Savior
Preface: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." - Romans 8:18 Four years later, I am still rummaging through Heidi’s personal effects. Trinkets, cards and notes she wrote and received, gifts and other items that hold no substantive … Continue reading Death of a Spouse, Part V: Rising Hope in a Risen Savior
What to Expect in Your First Counseling Session
Welcome If you've never undergone a formal counseling journey, that very first counseling session might prompt some mild anxiety, uncertainty and even doubt. Those thoughts and feelings are not out of the ordinary, however. In my view, it takes courage to seek help, especially if you're new to asking for help from a complete stranger. … Continue reading What to Expect in Your First Counseling Session
Death of a Spouse, Part 4
Preface: This segment is dedicated to the friends of widows and widowers. If you are the friend of someone who recently lost their spouse, the aim of this article is to assist you in supporting your friend who is now a widow or widower. Beginning with the Word of God 13 But I do not … Continue reading Death of a Spouse, Part 4
The Sufficiency of God’s Grace in our Everyday Weakness
* * * * 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of … Continue reading The Sufficiency of God’s Grace in our Everyday Weakness
Walk By Faith in 2024
By the grace of God, we pressed through 2023 and entered a new year today. Yet, I wonder how last year went for you. Are you looking back in discouragement and disappointment? How much were you beset by troubles and hardships? Are you looking ahead with fear or worry? Because each day has enough trouble on it's own, I … Continue reading Walk By Faith in 2024
Death of a Spouse, Part III
Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.[Genesis 23:19 NIV] Introduction Today marks the 3rd Wedding Anniversary that will pass since Heidi's death and what would have been our 10th wedding anniversary. I write these special notes in memory of … Continue reading Death of a Spouse, Part III
Give Careful Thought
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV) LOOKING In our western, 21st century culture … Continue reading Give Careful Thought
Learning to Forgive
Because Christ is risen from the dead, therefore can forgive.
Top 10 Most Read Blogs, Articles & Hymn Reviews
2022 In Review - By the grace of God, the CCFS viewership has continued to grow over the last 2 years. Consider passing along these blogs, articles and hymn reviews that others may benefit from them. Below is a list of the top 10 Most read blogs, articles and hymn review throughout 2022. 1. True … Continue reading Top 10 Most Read Blogs, Articles & Hymn Reviews
Where is God? (Pt 2)
God has the prerogative of silence, but we must also always realize, he has already spoken. He will not speaking anything new. Rather, he will, by his Spirit, use his Word to cause you to hear what is he saying to you in your pain.
Consider the Wildflowers
The further we consider the wildflowers, the more the doors open up in our heart to seeing the gospel. Jesus wants you to consider wildflowers because he wants you to be captivated by his love and provision for you.
Transformed by the Power of the Gospel
Transformation by the power of the gospel is a transformation wrought by the work of Spirit of Christ in us as we come to him according to his invitation. Transformation by the power of the gospel bears certain kinds of fruit that enable us to know whether transformation is occurring; whether Christ is supplying our needs according to his promise.
Where is God?
Close yours eyes. Contemplate the essence of your pain. Consider your loss, your suffering, your hardship, your ailment, your difficulty, your struggle, the thing in your life you desperately wish were different…then, as you go to that deep, dark place of silent aloneness, ask the question: God, where are you?
3 months
Today marks three months since Heidi's passing. I wanted to share brief note to give you a sense of where is my heart today. My heart still grieves but it does not grieve as one without hope. And though it grieves, I know the Lord has been comforting me. Each day, there is some news … Continue reading 3 months
The Aim of Wisdom
In the closing verses of Proverbs 2:20-22 Solomon kindly explains the ultimate aim of wisdom. After explaining how we get wisdom, where true wisdom comes from, 6 ingredients to fear and know God and two ways wisdom saves us, Solomon concludes with a stark picture of the high aim of wisdom itself: To differentiate life … Continue reading The Aim of Wisdom
A Man of Perseverance
INTRODUCTION I want to share a few things about what it means to be a man who perseveres. When I think of perseverance, I think of persevering in the faith. This really is the most important facet of your life where perseverance is necessary. You fail in the faith and the rest of your life … Continue reading A Man of Perseverance
Words Matter
The one who rightly guards his mouth is intimately acquainted with the readiness of the sin in his heart and realizes, knowing in advance, that his words can be his undoing; that his words may harm others and pierce like a sword and could possibly even destroy his neighbor; that words have power to not only ruin the life of others, but even his own life...his own soul (as Henry puts it).
Wisdom, the greatest desire
What do you want most in your life? Freedom from burdens? To get married and have a family? Career opportunities? More money? More time? More choices? More authority and responsibilities? More status? More this and more that?
How to Avoid Over-Commitment
Have you ever committed to something only realize sometime afterwards that your commitment was a serious mistake? If so, then Proverbs 6:1-5 will be the advice you need, and serve as counsel to help guard you from foolish over-commitment in the future. My, son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you … Continue reading How to Avoid Over-Commitment
Counsel For Sexual Purity: Proverbs 5
At the end of your life, what sort of things will be said about your heart as it relates to the track record of receiving and following the counsel you needed in order to live a life that was honorable and pleasing to God with respect to your sexual purity?
Have you ever been a victim of racism?
Have you ever been a victim of racism or felt like you were treated differently because of your skin color?
Eight Things to Meditate on During COVID-19
Part 2 of 2 MEDITATE ON ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE Psalm 143:5 - I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the works of your hands. Tweet What all has God done? Aside from creating heaven and earth and all that is in it; aside from … Continue reading Eight Things to Meditate on During COVID-19
The Boundless Word of God
This is why counseling exists. We experience lack in our lives; trouble and hardship and need help moving forward. The need for counseling proves the existence of our limitations. Yet, even counseling has limitations.
Rest for the Weary
The weary in heart, the burdened soul; the man and woman who've been beaten up with temptation and struggling with the sin to manage life on their own terms can find the needed rest in Jesus. Jesus knows our soul-need and is ready to provide rest for the weary.
Eight Things to Meditate on During COVID-19
Part 1 of 2 INTRODUCTION As time rolls on over the last two weeks, it's increasingly apparent that anxiety, fear, worry, and doubt about the future are sinking deeper and deeper into people's hearts. As a christian counselor, I find myself concerned for those who may already be prone to feeling anxious, even when there … Continue reading Eight Things to Meditate on During COVID-19
Suicide Will Not Help But The Gospel Will
I, like many others, sometimes wrestle with questions about why does God allow bad things to happen to people. No doubt that question applies here. Why would God permit the spread of COVID-19?
Control Issues – Part 2
Control Issues - Part 2 of 2 I propose that as the heart believes more and more the truth of The Gospel, and is convinced of its truthfulness, the more and more we will give up our 'control issues' so as to be controlled by that which is good, right and best, the love Christ.
Control Issues – Part 1
Control Issues - Part 1 of 2 We all have control issues. The problem really isn't so much identifying whether we have it (because we know we do); rather, the problem is to what degree, and to what degree are we aware of what drives or "empowers" our need for control.
Let Nothing Move You
Like many others, I was taken aback hearing the tragic news of the NBA basketball legend, Kobe Bryant's sudden death, along with several others, including his 13 year old daughter this past Sunday. It was another sad moment when someone we love, respect and admire are suddenly gone. The pain is felt everywhere. I was … Continue reading Let Nothing Move You
Looking Ahead in 2020
Entering 2020 We are 18 days into the new year and the new decade. For me personally, it's been a long but fast 18 days. 18 days of intense work, engaging in activity both serious and light, but at the end of it, has already reminded me that no matter how deliberate I can be … Continue reading Looking Ahead in 2020