There is an amazing gift that you can give this Christmas that is literally priceless. In the book 31 Ways to be a One Another Christian the authors remind us of the gift of doing good to one another. It is a gift so easily ignored, but there are few things in life that can match the power of the gift of goodness. The book explains it is this way: “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Paul uses the present tense to show that seeking after good for one another person should not be a temporary or sporadic action, but rather […]
Counseling and Discipleship
26 posts
There is only one thing about tomorrow that you can know with certainty. God will be faithful to you. You can plan for tomorrow, and that is a good thing. But tomorrow may not go according to your plan. World events may radically change your life. Your car may not start. Your kids could get sick. Your financial situation could change. Your pet could go missing. The uncertainty of tomorrow is the constant reality of your life. The way you anticipate tomorrow will impact the way you do life today. Worry about tomorrow comes from the lie that humans are in control of your life. This gives us reasons to do something other than to seek treasures of God’s kingdom […]
Jesus was the most extraordinary communicator in all of human history. He was the ultimate guide for bringing truth to everyday life. So it is not surprising that his craft as a carpenter provided rich illustrations for his teaching. Specks of sawdust were part of his life. He used words with the skill and grace of the ultimate master woodworker. His crafted vivid word pictures that connected his hearers to everyday life. Thus, in Luke’s gospel, he uses the common elements of his carpenter’s life to connect to my life and yours. Here is what Jesus says: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own […]
Fourteen-year-old Louis is moody. He constantly complains any time he is not absorbed in his screens. His parents fear for the things he might be viewing when no one is watching. It seems like it has been weeks since anyone has seen him smile. How did this happen? What needs to happen? The immediate, expected response is to demand his screens from him and require him to stop being so grumpy and moody. This plan may attain some temporary relief. But it will not address the real reason for his sin and unhappiness. If the focus is only on his wrong and unhelpful actions, it will miss reaching his heart and actually encourage him towards even deeper struggles and sins […]
We are heartbroken by the number of women and men in our churches who suffer silently. For so many of us, the silence is deafening. Our hearts’ desire is that Treasure in the Ashes will be a voice of hope for those who suffer (whom we call learning friends) and a means of equipping those who want to help (whom we call leading friends). Our workbook is an instrument for local churches and Christian friendships to discover places of refuge and healing as we learn to bear one another’s burdens, not just emotionally, but purposefully. Treasure in the Ashes was designed with the one another relationships of the Bible in mind, because we believe that lasting hope and healing are […]
Shepherd Press is pleased to announce that eight books in the LifeLine mini-book series are now available for pre-order. They are Help! He’s Struggling with Pornography Help! Someone I Love Has Been Abused Help! My Toddler Rules the House Help! Someone I Love Has Cancer Help! I Want to Change Help! My Spouse Has Been Unfaithful Help! I Have Breast Cancer Help! My Teen Struggles with Same-Sex Attractions The LifeLine mini-books are small books that address the difficult topics that people face every day. They are relevant, easy to read and apply, and affordable. They are rich in biblical content and are gospel-centered.The LifeLine mini-books are a valuable resource for people seeking real help.