It’s inevitable for most people. We break out of the routine and spend lots of time doing little more than anticipating and preparing for the biggest holiday in our culture. Some of us get energized (and rightfully so. It does celebrate the birth of Jesus and a...
Neale Davis
The Impact of Misdirected Identity
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People "Ministry had become my identity. No I didn't think of myself as a child of God, in daily need of grace, in the middle of my own sanctification, still in a...
Thoughts on “Shame Interrupted: How God Lifts the Pain of Worthlessness and Rejection”
Your dad says he’ll pick you up Friday afternoon and the two of you will go camping for the weekend. You don’t see him much because your parents are divorced and you live with your mom. The thought of your dad taking you camping feels so great. In fact, it makes...
The Absence of Providence
Bill & Connie were devastated by the miscarriage on their first pregnancy. It was especially hard sense their closest friends were pregnant at the same time. In fact, the loss was devastating to both of them. But now that Connie was pregnant again the painful...
It’s a Shame
In his book, “Shame Interrupted” Ed Welch asks the question, “What is shame?” “Shame is a deep sense that you are unacceptable because of something you did, something done to you, or something associated with you. You feel exposed and humiliated. Or, to strengthen...
Facing Life’s Pain
When I was in my twenties I used to think that when I got older life would become easier. I thought that at least it would remain the same. When I pondered retirement I thought with the idea that my body and mind would be in its present condition and that I would...
The Art of Perspective
Flying over the earth in the upper stratus of the atmosphere it is often a beautiful experience. The minutia of life and all the daily demands that accompanies it seem far away and easily forgotten. The flight provides perspective that drowns out the endless lists,...
Thriving in Struggle
Here’s what bugs me about my heart. It seems that in my life, the times where I grew the most and the times where I saw the Lord do the most were times when I was in the pit of despair and struggling. That bugs me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m willing to surrender to...
Thoughts on Marriage
Communication: One of the most effective things I’ve heard in how to maintain communication in a healthy marriage has been the encouragement to think theologically. This is the best launching point to live and grow in the most important relationship outside of...