Have you ever had a trauma from your past triggered? I have! “Trauma” may sound dramatic — I wasn’t in a war or abused. As an infant I required stomach surgery to survive. My mom wanted to be with me but wasn’t allowed, so it felt like abandonment. Recently, emotions I experienced as a baby…
Have you heard of “Immanuel Journaling”? It’s spreading like wildfire across America and beyond! Kristi and I have found it to be a wonderful and powerful way to foster a greater awareness of God’s care. It’s a helpful tool for praying through your stress, hurt, intercessions, or whatever you’re experiencing, and appreciating God’s empathy and…
As you may recall, for Lent I gave up judging others. Needless to say, it’s a grace-work in progress! Recently I was taking a prayer walk on the path around the lake and meditating on Jesus’ words “Do not judge…” Then I noticed a man in his late 20’s striding my way with bravado. I…
Into my thirties I was under pressure to perform, be ideal, help everyone, and control outcomes. It added up to lots of anxiety! I needed a lot of empathy from others and retraining of my mind and body. I did deep soul work in my own psychotherapy. And I started learning how to actually live each…
I feel stupid. Do you ever feel that way? People think I’m smart because I have a PhD in psychology and I’m blessed to have people like you listen to me. But in reality I often feel stupid. As far back as I can remember I’ve felt like I should know what to do and…
In the first Advent God keeps saying, “Fear not!” It’s a word we need to hear today too. Zechariah and Elizabeth were told that after decades of waiting they’d finally have a child in their old age. (Luke 1:5-25) But “Don’t fear being disappointed again.” Mary was a young, unmarried woman who was impregnated with…
“What shall we do together Jesus?” I asked. He smiled, “Let’s go running barefoot!” Surprised, because normally I run in my jogging shoes, my heart leaped, “Yes!” That sense of surprise, along with the calm authority of the words and the delight I felt in my heart, suggested that it likely was the still, small…
If I could have anyone lead me on a spiritual retreat with Jesus it’d be Brennan Manning. I wish I could do that and invite you to join me, but he died in 2013. But we can imagine what it’d be like to have Brennan guide us on retreat. That’s what we’ll do in this…
When I was small my mother held me and cared for me. Of course, she didn’t love me perfectly. But along the way God has provided spiritual mothers and fathers to help me grow further in his grace. Over the years in my counseling office many people have told me how badly they were hurt…
“I’m afraid of failing,” Kristi said to me at the kitchen table. “You mean about our new Soul Talks Podcast,” I verified. She nodded. “It’s been a dream of mine. What if it doesn’t connect with people? What if I look foolish?” We volleyed our emotions and compassion back and forth. “This feels like a big…