Blog
What is a Religious Cult? 7 Signs to Watch For
Many people don't recognize when a church or religious movement has taken on the traits of a religious cult. It’s hard to look honestly at a movement when the leader is someone you admire, has helped you through a dark time, or seems very gifted. Since many individuals have been hurt by toxic leaders, it’s important to take a closer look at what the Bible teaches so that we can recognize the difference between a true move of God and a religious cult.
Spiritual Confusion, Counterfeits, and Deception
There are imitations and counterfeits in our lives. If you pay for a designer purse or pair of sneakers, you don’t want a cheap knockoff. You don’t want counterfeit paper money when you go to the ATM. There is real and there is fake all around us. Likewise, in...
Quiz: Do You Have Spiritual Discernment?
What is Biblical or Spiritual Discernment? Discernment is the ability to tell the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, the truth from a lie, the deep motives of other people, spiritual light from spiritual darkness, and the things that are good for us...
Prayer to Release Life’s Baggage
This is part of a prayer that goes step-by-step through different layers of emotional baggage and trauma. These layers of baggage interfere with your confidence, comfort, and connection in daily life. Lord, I choose to forgive those who have harmed me. I release...
Quiz: Do I Have Healthy Boundaries?
If you grew up in highly stressful environment, then you may tend to get stuck in one mode of relating. That style may be very successful professionally, but personal relationships often become a replay of childhood family patterns. This article will help you...
Trauma, Boundaries & Relationship Addiction
If you grew up in a dysfunctional family or have suffered some kind of trauma, then you may have difficulties with boundaries and self-care. You may struggle to find ways to set boundaries. You might get stuck in a passive role or as the perpetual caretaker for...
How to Detect False Teaching
Jesus tells us to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). It takes an intentional sensitivity to read what is behind a person, a teaching, or a practice. Fortunately, the Bible does teach us some simple principles to activate our discernment....
4 Steps to Success in Reaching Your Goals
Are you looking to make a change, but have trouble getting started? Or do you get started and then lose your motivation? Use this little acronym to help you start and then succeed in making lasting change to reach your goals. Are You RIPE for Change? One of the...
How Can I Understand Myself Better?
The more that you have insight into your motives and personality, the better you will cope, make good decisions, live an authentic life, and understand what is driving other people. You may find that you struggle with finding that balance between seeing only the...
How to STOP Self Criticism, Guilt & Shame
Problems with guilt, shame, and self-criticism are usually rooted in a sense of rejection. These roots start when you grow up with the feeling, from family or harsh religion, that you are always wrong or bad. This attitude is usually tied into a distortion of God...
12 Steps to Survive a Breakup or Divorce
After a break up or divorce, you may feel like you will never be okay again. But there are steps you can take that will help you move forward. In time, you can be yourself again. In fact, if you learn some things about yourself and relationships, you might be...
3 Ways to Build Self Confidence
You may have been taught that it is conceited or selfish to recognize the good qualities that you have. But a person who depends on external sources to give them a sense of worth will bounce up and down depending on what is happening around them. We want more...
15 Ways to Reduce Your Stress
Here are 15 tips to help you manage stress. These are taken from my book: Anxiety, Depression & Helplessness: Keys to Break Free. 1. Spend 15 minutes per day doing simple things that are SOOTHING, such as listening to quiet music, sitting in nature, looking at...
Jesus Offers You Peace
John 10:27 says that “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Jesus tells us that those who belong to Him, who listen for Him, will hear Him. They listen so that they can follow. They listen because His Words give life even in the midst of...
A Prayer to Find Your Voice
I crafted this prayer for people who have come out of trauma or dysfunctional families. This prayer is based on the “rules” you may have made for yourself to survive a toxic situation. I have the mind of Christ as a follower of Jesus. Your word says that I have...
How Does Trauma Interfere with Coping?
You might respond to unrelenting stress or intense pressure and control by becoming passive. This passivity makes sense in that there can be severe emotional or physical consequences from fighting a parent, partner, or system that lacks mercy. Later in life, you...
Finding WISDOM for Difficult Circumstances
It’s often necessary, when we have suffered a significant loss or stress, to reevaluate how we have been coping. Habits and allegiances that worked in the past might not fit the new terrain of life. When our circumstances change we often need new strategies. Some...
Dealing with a Narcissist? Why Common Sense Won’t Work
Many people are aware of the symptoms of narcissism when dealing with a difficult coworker, family member, or romantic partner. However, recognizing the symptoms is not enough to help you manage the field of land mines that can accompany interactions with such...
A Prayer to Heal From Trauma
Lord, I want to be free from the past and from trauma. I want to move on with my life and be free from hurt, anger, and pain. I CHOOSE to forgive ______________ for what they did to me. I release them to YOU to handle them. I ask You for wisdom about this person. I...