Welcome to April! The sun is shining and it’s beautiful here in South Carolina. (If you’ve survived the pollen.) April also means that we’re through the first quarter of 2019. The start of a new year is a common time for setting new goals, or “resolutions,” and I wonder how yours are going so far … Continue reading Quarterly evaluation of New Years Resolutions
This week, I was reminded by God (and my discipleship group… and a secular book that I’m reading… and the conviction of the Holy Spirit…) that words are powerful. Words shape our perspective. Today, it’s rainy here in Florence. It’s been rainy for months, frankly. Every hint of rainfall leads to a flood warning from the … Continue reading Words shape our perspective: Thoughts on a(nother) rainy Saturday.
Our thoughts are incredibly powerful. They direct how we feel. They lead what we say. They influence what we do. Unfortunately, our thoughts are not always true. As we learn to recognize, evaluate, and change our thought life, this has a big influence on problems like anxiety, fear, suicidality, anger, or depression. And it helps … Continue reading Practical strategies to “take every thought captive to Christ”
I am confident that you want to celebrate next New Years - January 2020 - with memories of happiness, peace, comfort, and an overall fun 2019. Of course you do. We all do! I certainly want to enjoy a wonderful 2019. But how do we ensure that happens? How do we set goals, create rhythms, … Continue reading Are you ready for a spectacular 2019?
Your family probably has some great Thanksgiving traditions. Turkey. Pie. Football. Many families go around the table to share something that they are thankful for. But why? Does it really matter if we “give thanks”? In a word… YES. Social science research that clearly shows how gratitude positively impacts our own happiness, energy level, relationships, … Continue reading Does it really matter if I give thanks?
The holidays are a very difficult time for those who are grieving. Whether a loved one has died, your parents recently got divorced, or you lost a job, grief comes in many forms and impacts us in different ways. How do we manage that during the holiday season? Expect many emotions. During the grieving process, … Continue reading Managing Grief During The Holidays
I may not know you, but I know that you have been hurt before. In fact, I am confident to say that at some point, you’ve been hurt by someone who is really important to you. We all have. When hurt comes, our natural response is to defend ourselves. Sometimes, this means running away, leaving … Continue reading What does forgiveness look like in real life?
How “adult” do you feel on a daily basis? If you’ve been grown-up for a long time, this may feel like a silly question. But there is a new trend in our culture of young people “adulting” – acting in a way that an adult would. Reading through recent Twitter posts about #adulting seems to … Continue reading The hard work of adulting
Did your parents teach you to say please and thank you? Are you teaching these courtesies to your kids today? Hopefully, the answer is yes. We train our kids to say these things as a picture of the kind of heart and character that we are trying to instill. Our goal is to create a heart … Continue reading Developing a Heart of Gratitude
All of us want to enjoy life. We want meaning, happiness, and satisfaction. Sure, we know there will be seasons of hardship, but we also know that life can be so much more. Perhaps the best way to answer this title question is by answering a few questions about your own life: What is the … Continue reading How does someone live a full, abundant, good, joy-filled life?
