Six Marriage Tips for Newlyweds

By Saturday, May 28, 2016 Marriage Permalink
Newlyweds

T his June will be my 12-year wedding anniversary (the picture above is proof). We have been through several career changes, grad school, moves, mission trips and other ministry ventures together besides having our four boys. As I reflect back on twelve years of marriage and fourteen years of being together, here are 6 key ways God has shown us to maintain a happy, intimate and thriving marriage. Talk and then Pray Together Pray separately and together on a regular basis (everyday). Keep a prayer journal together to track the desires of your heart, prayers for each other and those ...

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Sexual Abuse: Beauty for Ashes [Book Review]

By Thursday, May 26, 2016 Book Reviews, Counseling Permalink

An Honest, Biblical Depiction of the Damage Done Sexual Abuse: Beauty for Ashes is one in a series of six new booklets from The Gospel for Real Life Series. Written by Dr. Bob Kellemen, the booklet serves as an invaluable resource because oftentimes as a counselor it feels there are few biblically-based resources on sexual abuse. As a booklet, it is not intended to be an exhaustive resource, but at the same time it still provides a thorough examination of the sexual abuse of Tamar from 2 Samuel 13 demonstrating how the Bible speaks to this type of suffering in our lives. The audience ...

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Spiritual Pruning

By Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Life in general Permalink

Spring is here! I love this time of year when the air is cool in the mornings, warmer during the day and cool again in the evenings. My tulips are starting to break through the ground and garden soil prep is underway or at least should have been under way by now Petunias are one of my favorite annuals and garden flower because they require little effort during the season to maintain even though you have to purchase and plant new ones each year. The care for petunias is pretty simple: direct sun, water every 1-2 days depending on the heat ...

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How to Choose the “Right” Counselor: The 4 C’s of Finding the Best Fit

By Friday, May 13, 2016 Counseling Permalink

M aking the decision to seek out professional counseling is a huge step for one’s personal growth and healing. It’s scary to share the details of your life with a stranger and takes courage to make that initial call and schedule an appointment. Sometimes we feel embarrassed or bad about needing to go to counseling and, for the most part, people are usually nervous about going to counseling, no matter what the issue is. However, getting the help you need (before things get really bad) is worth it. It’s like getting regular physical exercise. You do so in order ...

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When Your Husband is Addicted to Pornography [Book Review]

By Thursday, May 12, 2016 Book Reviews, Counseling, Sexual recovery, Vicky Tiede Permalink

A Candid Look at a Spiritual Battle Addiction to pornography, lust, and masturbation are often a taboo topic left publicly unaddressed in the church. While there are many resources for those actually struggling with addiction, the resources for those suffering from a husband’s addiction seem fewer. The pervasiveness of porn addiction in both the culture and churches makes it a topic not only for preaching and men’s accountability groups, but also for female biblical counselors as they journey with the spouses of porn-addicted men coming through our doors. When Your Husband Is Addicted to Pornography: Healing Your Wounded Heart by Vickie Tiede is ...

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