Content specific to relationships and your family life.
One of the most common calls that Christ gives to his followers is that they should forgive one another. It’s all over the pages of Scripture! And it is hard. When we sin or mess up, it is hard to apologize. We wonder what to say, how to say it, and sometimes if we even … Continue reading The Nuts & Bolts Of Forgiveness: How To Apologize, Forgive, And Help Others Do It Too
As a Christian counseling agency, one of the most common questions that we get from our local pastors is “How can I help this couple in my church who is struggling?” Today, let’s offer some resources! There are plenty of ideas for conversations, questions to ask, and things to try with couples who are struggling. … Continue reading Some Favorite Books To Help Christian Couples (From A Marriage Therapist’s Bookshelf)
I love Christmas. Sure, part of it is the spiritual truth of the holiday - Emmanuel, God with us! It is incredible. But I would be deceiving myself if I pretended that I didn’t equally, or perhaps even mostly, love and enjoy the experience of the Christmas season. It is all filled with good things … Continue reading Christmas is not about the idol of family
I love my children. I have no doubt that you love yours as well. It is simply human nature to love these little people, and to want the very best things in life for them. But most of us already know that loving our child and wanting the best for them is not the end … Continue reading How can I be a good parent?
When God created the world, the first thing that He declared not good comes in Genesis 2:18. He made the heavens and the earth, the animals and birds, and after he made Adam he said: “It is not good for man to be alone.” And so He made Eve. Had Adam and Eve rejected the … Continue reading Four Tips to Maintain a Strong Marriage
Want to know one of my biggest pet peeves? When someone talks about suicide, but those who hear it think “eh, they’re just seeking attention.” Want to know something that really bothers me? When someone self harms or attempts suicide, and those who find out think, “eh, they’re just seeking attention.” It shocks and horrifies … Continue reading Recognizing suicide risk
Perhaps it’s a friend. Perhaps it’s someone at your school, your church, your workplace. Perhaps it’s a family member. Many people deal with suicidal thoughts, and if we are worried about someone, we need to try to help. And you can help. No training needed. No special counseling degree required. You can help someone who … Continue reading How to help someone who is thinking about suicide
September is Suicide Prevention Month. On the iHope blog, we’ll be tackling three important issues related to suicide. We’ll start from the reverse, looking today at the question of how we deal with the aftermath of suicide. What if I have lost a loved one to suicide? If this is true for you, know that … Continue reading Dealing with the aftermath of suicide
It is difficult to wrap our brains around God’s call to “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). We’ve looked in past weeks at why we must forgive as well as the question of how to forgive someone who has hurt us. But sometimes, we struggle most at forgiving ourselves. Sometimes, when we look … Continue reading How can I forgive myself?
Last week, we looked at why we forgive others. It is not because they deserve it, they apologized, or because the issue no longer matters. We forgive because God first forgave us. Colossians 3:13 states it clearly: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” This statement also helps us to begin to understand how we are … Continue reading How can I forgive someone who has hurt me?