Broken relationships require restoration. Restoration often brings expectations. Often, those expectations aren’t realized in a timely manner and we grow discouraged with the restoration process. For 22 years Joseph lived in Egypt while his brothers lived daily with the lie they had propagated about his death. For that same time Josephās father believed him to be dead, and never stopped mourning … Read More
The world in which you live is awash in anxiety with over 40 million Americans struggling. The apostle Peter struggled too. In a 1st-century letter to his friends he offered his three-step secret to battle it. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of Godā¦casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your … Read More
The 136th Psalm provides an excellent pattern for developing your personal praise journal. Read the Psalm, purchase a blank journal or notepad and get started. Step 1: Start with the Godās attributes. Psalm 136:1 declares āGive thanks to the Lord, for he is good.āĀ Even if you believe your Thanksgiving list might be short, you can begin a praise journal … Read More
How are you responding to the authorities God has placed over you? Submitting to those with whom we agree is rarely challenging. But surrendering our desires to those who wish to do something that we donāt, can be especially difficult. Particularly, if their wisdom is flawed, there are inconsistencies in their character, or they donāt have our best interests in … Read More
Jonah had an anger problem.Ā A really big one. Sure he could push it down for a chapter or two (his book only has four chapters), but before long it would come roaring back again. The final chapter closes with Jonah sitting on the side of a mountain being good and angry at Godās gracious ways. Ā It actually appears … Read More
Most people I know would like to know God’s plan for their life. They’d like to know that they’re in the center of his proverbial will. Often our peace with that truth is tied to whether we like the circumstances God has chosen for us or not. The apostle Paul’s life stands as a great reminder that God’s will for … Read More
Its not every day you get a chance to start a new decade. Three verses in Ephesians invoke three essential questions for the decade ahead. (1) Do I waste my time? āSo be careful how you live. Donāt live like fools, but like those who are wiseā (Eph. 5:15, NLT). Years ago, a wise counselor encouraged me to keep a … Read More
A musical Christmas card to remember Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection this Christmas. In all of our festivities, may we pause to commemorate the great sacrifice of Christmas.
This lecture was given at the annual conference of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. I’ve attached the notes here.Value of Scripture Memory Blog
Whenever I am ministering, I am consciously aware that there are those in the audience whose hidden past is painful beyond words. They are the victims of sexual abuse. Those who have been victims of such crimes often feel guilt and shame. There are questions that haunt them. Could I have told someone? Would they have believed me? Could I … Read More
