All Things Biblical Counseling

  Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Like Barnabas, Esther's husband Nick Viola has been a much needed friend and an encourager to me. We met when he moved in next door and a 100' pine tree fell and missed his house by ten feet. I watched it fall then walked over and we met. I could tell he wasn't from around this neck of the woods of Georgia. Nick was born in Italy and his family moved to New York when he was younger.  At the time we met, my father was alive and had dementia. He lived with us for several years as we helped him through it until it was more than we were capable of. We had to put Dad in a home. Nick was battling the same thing with Esther. Oddly enough my wife Stacy and Nick are from the same county in upstate New York. They discuss old landmarks and places familiar to them. Nick and I have very similar ministry experiences. Nick is about 20 years older than I and the Lord new I could use his wisdom. God Himself put us

1 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB) For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. We have a Helper. God sends Him to those who believe in the name of Jesus. The Spirit of God Himself. John 14:17 tells us He will be in us. If the Spirit knows the thoughts of God, how important is it that we are in tune to Him? Frequently, we have a choice to make. John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. Nothing can separate us from the love of God or from His forgiveness but there are times when you can  be out of tune with His Spirit. Sin brings death to your joy and peace. Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and  no one is able to sna

Proverbs 20:25 (NASB) It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry. Have you ever said, “I felt led to...” or, “the Lord told me?” Sometimes we rashly state that something is from God and then feel disappointed when things don’t work out as we had hoped. We can feel disoriented or disillusioned. If you’re not careful, a circumstance you once were excited about can now become a source of contention in your life. How can we avoid this in the future? In the workbook,  Experiencing God , Dr. Henry Blackaby wrote about knowing God's will, God is always at work around you. God pursues a love relationship with you. God invites you to become involved in His work. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through: the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal this. God’s invitation always involves a crisis of faith for you. You must make major adjustments to your life to join God’s work. You come to know God by your experience as you obey and God

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” When we face hard times, we must steadfastly look to Jesus...in all things consider Him. Many times, weighed down by our struggles, we grow tired and weary and we began to doubt worry and grow faint under the challenges and trials we face. Worry and doubt make us grow tired, but faith in Christ strengthens us! We must not faint under trials, but believe and stand, knowing that we are under the care of a wise and gracious Father, and that as born again believers, all things work together for our spiritual good. We must fix our eyes on Jesus! We must be rooted and grounded in Him, knowin

Two friends went to be with the Lord this week. Also, my eye doctor diagnosed me with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the last stage before going blind. I scheduled an appointment because I was talking to a pastor/friend and noticed blood enter my vision while looking at him. What do you do when you receive bad news? Panic? Fall apart? Or, do you—TRUST? The good news is that advancement is preventable by heeding the warnings and doing the right things. The effect of doing the right thing is an assurance that all will be ok but the choice is up to me... Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. I have been aware of the effects of diabetes for years but lived in a state of denial regarding the hard things. Other than lethargy, I wasn’t experiencing any effects of the disease. I thought the severe affects were in the distant future. A silent killer was crouching at my door... Genesis 4:7 "If you d

Although the list may be extensive, here are 3 things we can define that can delay us from experiencing miraculous living. We approach God's Word without some key ingredients that are necessary for becoming a doer and not a hearer only. We approach it without abandon... And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62 (NASB) We must look forward and press on in surrender if we are going to follow Jesus.You cannot give allegiance to anything but Him. If we are to follow Him we must be all in. We approach it without right intention... Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pr

  Jeremiah 2:5 (NASB) Thus says the LORD, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?   What injustice can be found in God? Is He not good and just? Christian’s dare not say God is unjust. We wouldn’t say it to anyone for fear of sounding ridiculous. The same holds true for saying, “I don’t love Jesus” but some do it with the way they live their life (see John 14:15-27).  Many feel empty because they have gone far away from God. Some have even rejected His Truth and turned to their own speculations. They hear His Truth and walk away denying it because it doesn’t agree with their experience. Just because the Bible’s teachings haven’t been what you have experienced in life does not mean that the Bible is invalid. It is possible to say that the Bible is valid while living your life like it is not. A pastor friend used to say, "the part you know about God is the part that you obey." Romans 1:21 (NASB) For ev

There is no freedom felt as when you have confidence that your fellowship with God is intact. Joy and freedom are the result of obedience. Your mind is at rest (Isaiah 32:17). There is no tension. There are no tracks to cover and no stories to keep straight.  I like to build things. My dad always said, “Measure twice, cut once. You can’t put it back on.” Measuring your life is the same. If you miss the mark you can lead yourself astray. If you try to get as close as you can to the line between sin and holiness your measurement will be off.  Mark 4:22-24 (NASB) For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. Trying to be right with God, trying to manage your reputation, and trying to manage sin is not the same as just surrendering all to