Friday, August 11, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner: Move Forward: Don’t Quit, Don’t Go Back, and Don’t Give Up!



The journey for many has been long, and tiring. Some want to give up and others want to quit, and some want to stay stuck in the past. A word of encouragement is needed in this season. So many are in hardships, trials, tribulations, and despair. Our nation is in a state of crisis, and the world is experiencing violence, persecution, famine, and wars. Our nation and the world are all seeing in increase in violence and natural disasters. It is not an easy time for many. Many Christians are falling away from their faith, and some Christians are trying to compromise with the culture’s beliefs. If we keep our eyes focused on the things in this world, we will surely want to give up; the world is not offering us much hope.


In the last days, the enemy will try and win as many souls to his kingdom. Some will get so weary in the last days that will fall prey to the enemy’s deception. Many will be deceived including Christians. Now is not the time to be a lukewarm Christian and compromise your beliefs. You may be experiencing trials and heartaches, and feel like giving up, even going back to your old ways. You may feel like giving up your faith because you are not seeing many of your prayers being answered, and you are wondering where God is at in all this. While the world seems out of control and maybe even your life, God is still in control.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Revelation 22:20

We don’t know the hour or the day of Christ return, but Jesus is coming soon and unexpectedly. Quickly, means at any moment. God is also trying to get as many people to His Kingdom before He comes, we are experiencing a spiritual battle like never before. There is a fight for your soul and for your loved ones. That is why you may be experiencing such battles in your life, the enemy hopes to defeat you in this last hour and that you would turn from your faith and denounce Christ. Did this not happen to Peter? Did he say he would never reject Christ and yet he did three times! The enemy is clever and he knows how to wear you down.

The book of Revelation ends with an urgent request, “Come, Lord Jesus!” In a world of problems, persecution, evil, and immortality, Christ calls us to endure in our faith. Revelation is a book about hope. It shows that no matter what happens on earth, God is in control. It promises that evil will not last forever, and it depicts the wonderful reward that is waiting for those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. There is a day coming of glorious wonder for all who have remained faithful to the end.

For you yourself know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2


The day of the Lord is a future time when God will intervene directly and dramatically in world affairs. Christ will judge sin and set up His eternal Kingdom. This world is not all there is. There will be a time coming of a new heaven and earth. All of the pain and suffering will come to an end. Hold on to your faith and don’t give up, this will not go on forever. This home on earth is temporary and everything in it is temporary. We are spirit beings created to last until eternity with God the Father in our eternal homes. Don’t give up on God and don’t give up your faith. Remain faithful to the end.

Don’t go back to your old life and don’t compromise your beliefs to fit the culture’s beliefs.


The Lord will use all that you have been through to help others follow God. If you are feel like giving up and quitting, ask God for His strength and His rest for you. Ask Him to show you what you need to do in your life. There is a plan and a purpose for you, even if you don’t see it or feel like there is. 

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner: Tips for Taking Care of Your Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Health


Are you running on empty? Are you lacking joy, peace, contentment and energy? Is your relationship with God dry, distant or non-existent?


Neglecting your emotions, physical or spiritual needs is neither wise nor healthy.

If you are feeling drained, and are finding it hard to relax or even laugh something needs adjusting in your life. Most likely you are ignoring the warning signals in your body, spirit and mind that are telling you to slow down, breathe, and enjoy life.

►When we are not taking care of our physical bodies fatigue, sluggishness, headaches, stomach distress, muscle aches and pains, and malaise can happen. When we do not take care of our emotional state depression, anxiety, anger, guilt, addictions, and lack of contentment can occur. When we do not invest time spiritually with God we can flounder by going our own way, become confused, wearied, burdened and fearful.

If you have not been talking good care of your emotional, physical or spiritual needs stop today and reevaluate your life. Write down tangible goals that you can implement today to begin your journey to complete wholeness.

I will give you some practical ways you can start your journey to wholeness. If you are depleted in in of these areas at ANY TIME, place the “oxygen mask” on yourself first before trying to give it to someone else. You cannot give someone what you don’t have. If you don’t learn to take care of you, it will be futile to try and do this for others.

Tips for taking good care of your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs:

1.      Set healthy boundaries with others (especially the toxic people in your life). KNOW YOUR LIMITS-You cannot be everything to everyone without neglecting your needs. Know when to say, “No.” When you are depleted is not time to agree to something that will not be beneficial to you.
2.      Get alone with God as much as possible. Preferably in the morning (start your day right), seek God first before you check your email and Facebook page. Feed your spirit everyday with devotions, prayer, worship, reading the Bible, or just sitting still before the Lord.
3.      Exercise at least 3-4x per week. Walking is a great stress reliever plus it’s great for your heart. Don’t neglect taking care of your body.
4.      Eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Drinking a fresh fruit/vegetable smoothie first thing in the morning is a great way to jumpstart your day by increasing your energy naturally and boosting your immune system.
5.      Take a good multivitamin and any other nutritional supplements recommended by a health care provider.

►A GREAT WAY to start EVERY MORNING. Start off by taking a walk (pray and talk to God during your walk), followed by a fresh fruit smoothie with your nutritional supplements, and commune/connect to your power source, Jesus Christ through prayer, worship or reading the Word. This is mind, body and spirit nourishment.

6.      Do something that you enjoy several times a week. Don’t know what you enjoy? Keep it simple like a bike ride or reading a book until others things you enjoy come to your mind.
7.      Laugh more. Laughing is difficult if you have been neglecting your needs, so go easy on yourself at first. Start off watching a comedy or just be silly. If you are too serious to be silly at times, you’re too serious. Lighten up! (If you have been through trauma or grief be gentle with yourself, laughing may seem difficult but try anyways.)
8.      Unplug from your phone and social media during all meals at home, and disconnect one hour before bed. Unplug and disconnect from these sources when you need to as well. Set perimeters on when you will check your phone or social media.
9.      Take “mental health” days. If you need a day to recharge then do so and don’t feel bad about it. I recommend taking at least one “mental health” day a month, if you cannot afford to take that kind of time from your job then do it when you have time off. During your “mental health” day you should unplug from social media, phone and emails. You should also do something that makes you happy and causes you to smile.
10.  Connect with people who nourish your spirit and after you leave their presence you feel encouraged. Don’t have people like that in your life? Ask God to bring them in your path. Don’t connect with people that are life and energy drainers because there is no one else in your life, wait for God to bring those life enhancing people to you.
11.  Journal your thoughts or what God may be sharing with you. Journaling can bring a release to negative emotions that you may carry.

Taking good care of yourself should be your number one priority. If you don’t take care of yourself, who will? What can you implement to start taking better care of you

Featured Post

What to Do When You Are Disappointed

A relationship does not work out, a job does not go through, or your prodigal child that you have been praying for does not seem to lea...