Joy does not come from a discouraged soul. Joy requires God’s reservoir of help. Our world needs needs a good dose of these virtues: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Most mental-health workers would agree with that statement. We would, however, sharply disagree on how to generate such virtues. If you…
“Those annoying people did it to me again!” Have you said that lately? There is no doubt there are many annoying people in this world. But why is it that we have to run into them so often? God’s Word gives us some insight in Galatians 5:20-21 which states that “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,…
Do you worry? Is worry an issue for you? Does it give you hang-ups or occupy your time and your mind? Does it keep you from having the peace that you need or from resting when you need to rest? Some people are worried that they might get anxious about something! Christians are not exempt…
Just what are the worst sins a Christian can commit? Would you say it would be to call someone a liar? Maybe it is for a married person to commit adultery. Or, what about deceiving others? Could it be that the worst of all is to murder someone? We know that all sin is an…
The Need for Grace Do you need grace? Have there been times when you needed others to share grace with you? Grace is a gift from someone who give us something we don’t deserve. Mercy withholds from us what we really do deserve. A local newspaper carried an article called “Road Rage” that demonstrated a…
Can this world find peace? Statistics indicate that this world is not offering the kind of peace that really sets people free. Time magazine reported, on September 15, 1986, that the health cost of drug abuse was estimated by one National Center for Health statistics study at 59.7 billion dollars. The medical bill for alcohol abuse…
Help or Hurt? Does truth help or hurt you? I guess it depends on how you respond to the truth! George wanted to clear up the gnawing sense of anxiety and growing unhappiness that plagued him, and hoped to do so before anyone else found out about his condition. So he quietly sought professional counseling.…
Feelings can really hurt! I hear that statement often. But just what does that really mean? Autonomic Nervous System There are certain emotional centers in the brain that are linked to the entire body through the autonomic nervous system. This system can be compared to the wires that carry electricity from a main power source…
24Have you ever made a decision and then wondered if it was good or godly wisdom that motivated you? Maybe you carried out an action plan based on the decision, and then discovered new information that made you wish you had never made the decision? You thought it was a good decision at the time,…
Decisions and Your Spirit Decision making is approached differently depending on the condition of your spirit at the time. What do you do in moments of loneliness and worry? Do you become alarmed, distressed, or maybe overthink the situation? Do you call a friend, talk it out with a counselor, or agonize over the situation…