Over the last several years I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to minister to people struggling with shame. As I’ve witnessed its power to crush the spirit, inflict suffering, and cultivate despair I’ve been driven to scripture seeking the Lord’s help to know how to love the victims of shame wisely. Read more »

Counseling angry and indifferent young people typically begins with presenting issues. But counseling does not stop there. The youth counselor who tries to identify the teen’s problem for him and then offers his own solutions, even his understanding of biblical solutions, does not have to wait very long— maybe five or ten minutes—to see the counseling session fail. The teen tunes out the counselor with polite tolerance, impatient for the session to end. Most often he does not return for a second interview. The angry teen believes that most adults who try to help do two things. They pick the problem(s) to work on, then offer solutions they believe will resolve the problem. In such a session, the teen mentally checks out in short order. Read more »

We don’t often get to see the inner-workings of peoples’ hearts. Here is an encouraging exception. Read here about how one woman worked through her feelings to find God’s rest as she made plans for her son’s wedding. Read more »

Sometimes the ministry home can stoke the fires of rebellion in a child’s heart. Even though you may saturate your family with all the resources you have in Christ, you may see your child make wrong choices and take the path of rebellion. This is the hardest thing for parents to go through! It is agonizing to see a child for whom you’ve prayed, in whom you’ve delighted, and to whom you’ve given your life, turn away from Christ. Dear friend, I want to look at this issue with you. I will speak from a very personal perspective as a parent of a rebellious child. I pray you’ll be encouraged through the wisdom found in God’s Word and by seeing God’s faithfulness to our family. Read more »