Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25, CSB Have you ever seen that picture come across your social media that depicts a depressed person hiding behind a smile? You know the one; the person is holding up a picture of herself…
Mental Health
Do not fear COVID19
I was listening to one of my very favorite hymns the other day, “Be Thou My Vision.” As I listened to words of this beautiful, Irish prayer fill the room, I was brought to tears of relief and gratefulness to my God. The world can be a scary place. Our current circumstances are unsettling, and…
How does God treat depression?
As a counselor, I talk with many people struggling with feelings of depression on a regular basis. Oftentimes, these people are Christians and their feelings of depression are amplified by an unnecessary guilt that Christians shouldn’t feel depressed. I believe one day, that will be true. When Jesus returns and we are with Him in…
Biblical Self-love
Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”…
Clarifying
As I sit here this first morning of the New Year, reflecting on 2019 and considering my hopes for 2020, one theme continues to surface: simplify. This is a concept God brings around in my life regularly; about every 2-4 years when my family gets new military orders and we pack up our home, say…
Beautifully Broken
Have you ever had a day when you’ve felt just completely broken? Like nothing you do is beneficial or good, no one seems to appreciate or enjoy you, and you just make mistakes at every turn? Maybe you’ve felt that way for more than just a day – maybe it’s been a few weeks, months…
Homemade Bone Broth
Bone broth is a staple I love to have on hand in my freezer, particularly during the cold and flu season. I can grab a jar and turn it into a healing soup full of protein and vitamins to help my family quickly and comfortably get over whatever bug we've caught. We've all believed for…
Attitude is Everything
I was sitting in a counseling session one day with a married couple. They were arguing, and I was listening, watching how they interacted with each other. I was hearing harsh tones, watching their body language fluctuate between aggressive gestures and then defensive, protective ones. They were both talking, loudly, but no communication was actually…
Does Food Control You?
There is a necessary overlap between nutrition and mental health when it comes to dealing with disordered eating. Disordered eating is any form of eating that causes “disorder” in a person’s life. Maybe it contributes to emotional problems, relationship difficulty, further health problems that then perpetuate the problem. Most people are familiar with the term…
Finding God
I remember a time when my oldest son was 4, he was upset because he’d lost his bouncy ball. He’d been bouncing it all over the house, and it bounced away to a remote corner of some room when my son wasn’t watching. He was so distraught over the loss, he just sat on the…