20 Minute Christian Counselor

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Are there some things you want to change about your spouse? Have you been trying to change them, and been unsuccessful? Is it even possible to change them? In this episode I address this complicated issue, and offer some very practical strategies you can immediately begin to implement to promote change.

Here are some key passages from the bible which provide specific instructions releva...

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Broken relationships are painful, and may feel like they can never be restored. In this episode, I provide some practical counsel on how to respond in these difficult situations, and offer some reasons to maintain hope for reconciliation.

Here are a few of the Scripture references I mention:

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 1...

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Disappointment- we all experience it. Sometimes, it's heartbreaking. How do we cope with it? In this episode, I provide some practical recommendations by challenging us to examine three important areas of our lives: our expectations, our gratitude, and our knowledge of God.

Here are several of the Scripture references I mention:

“I have told you these things, so that in M...

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Just because your marriage isn't what you thought it would be, or what you think it should be, or what you'd hoped it might be, doesn't mean you're stuck being unhappy forever. The good news is there are practical steps you can take to increase the joy in your life. And, the best news is you don't have to take them on your own.

Here is the theme verse of this ep...

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Shame is one of the most powerful, influential emotions we can experience. It's also one feeling that's very difficult to admit or discuss. In this episode I define shame, talk about where it comes from, and most importantly, share how we can be set free from it.

Here are a few of the key bible verses I reference:

“I have sinned against you—only against you— and done ...

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You might be surprised at how much you "self talk," and how much it affects you. In this episode I explain self talk, demonstrate how it can impact your life, and share how God can help you change it- which in turn will change your life.

Here are a few (there are many more!) verses from Scripture which address the issue of self talk:

“Be careful how you think; your li...

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God calls us as Christ followers to help others. Jesus is our perfect example of this. However, not all "helping" is helpful. In fact, sometimes our helping can actually be harmful. In this episode I explain what this unhelpful helping, also known as "enabling," looks like.  I also discuss the deep reasons why we enable. And, I share some strategies you can implement to begin...

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I've learned that despite the fact the we know God forgives us, many of us struggle to forgive ourselves. What makes this so hard? Is forgiving ourselves even the right thing to do? If so, how in the world do we go about doing it?

In this episode I reference a website I use all the time and find very helpful:
www.blueletterbible.org. Check it out.

A couple of relevan...

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God designed the marriage relationship to be the most intimate of all. Yet, sometimes we don't feel the closeness and connection we'd like to experience with our spouses. In this episode, I offer three practical strategies you can begin to implement today, which I guarantee will help you grow closer and more connected to each other.

Here are the key biblical references I menti...

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We all have our fears-we may not even be aware of some of them. They're impacting our lives more than we realize, and we tend to try to cope with them in unhelpful, unhealthy ways. In this episode, I share some healthy responses to fear, and explain how God can help us deal with it.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will ...

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Marriage is challenging for all of us, because no spouse is perfect. But, some spouses are extremely difficult- even to the point of being "toxic." In this episode, I describe characteristics of a toxic spouse, and I offer some practical strategies to implement to help you cope in a very difficult situation.

Some excerpts from the Bible describing God's plan for marriage:...

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Temptation is something we all deal with. What makes it so difficult? What can we do to avoid giving in to it? How can God help us? In this episode, I offer some answers to these critical questions.

Jesus' challenge to do "whatever it takes" to avoid giving in to temptation can be found in Matthew 5:29-30.

God's promise to get us out of any temptation we fac...

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Do you ever feel confused, ashamed, or frustrated about how you feel? Have you ever wondered why you feel a certain way? Are you struggling with how to deal with your emotions? Should you deny them, ignore them, or go with them? In this episode, I address the issue of what to do with our feelings, and how we can learn to manage them in a godly, biblical way.

Here's what God says ab...

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Have you been through a tough season of suffering? Are you experiencing significant suffering right now? In this episode, I wrestle with why we suffer, and share realities about suffering that can help us get through it.

Some of the Scripture I reference in this episode:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thi...

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Are you struggling with feelings of loneliness? All of us do. In this episode, I explain how, with God's help, you can not only cope with these feelings, but even allow Him to use them for good in your life. 

Some of the biblical references I use in this episode include:

Psalm 31:1 (David's cry to the Lord)

Matthew 27:46 (Jesus' cry to His Father)

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What makes you mad? How do you handle your angry feelings? Is it sometimes OK to get angry? What does God say about anger? In this episode, I examine reasons we get angry, I discuss "righteous" vs. "unrighteous" anger, and I share some practical strategies to help you better manage your angry feelings.

Some of the Scriptural references included in this episode:
<...

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The holidays are often a difficult season for many of us. One in which we experience a variety of emotions.  We can be torn between how we want to feel, what we think we should feel, and what we actually experience. In this episode, I examine some specific reasons why our holidays can be so difficult. I also present three intentional strategies we can implement to help us better enjoy them.
...

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Are you feeling stuck in an unhappy, unhealthy relationship that seems like it’s never going to get better? Do you sometimes feel no matter how hard you try, you can never change? In this episode, I examine five ways in which you might be contributing to your own problems, and I offer some practical suggestions for how, with God’s help, you can move forward.

Biblical references I mentio...

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What is the "secret" to being emotionally healthy?
Why are some relationships better and more satisfying than others?
How come some people are so much easier to get along with than others
(and, vice-versa)?
In this episode, I discuss the one essential factor I believe answers these questions.
The bad news is not everyone has it; but, the good news is each of us...