Real Hope Counseling Discipleship

When suffering comes (not if), what lens will we choose to help us process our pain? Ideally, that's a choice to be made ahead of time. This is some powerful, practical truth from Paul David Tripp. His book on hope, entitled "Suffering," is on my "top 5" list- My cell phone rang and woke me up. Luella, my wife, was on the other end. Get home as fast as you can, she said. The car journey seemed to take forever. Our daughter, Nicole, had been walking home from work in the ci...Continue reading

Moving is always hard on a counseling practice. It takes time to re-establish word of mouth recommendations. Added to that, I recently discovered that my website wasn't appearing in online searches for many months. The provider has apologized for their error, but I also should have been more proactive. After much thought and prayer, I deactivated my website this afternoon. Counseling is my heart and I'll keep my license current, but more than ever, I'll see those that God spe...cifically sends my way. I'm NOT retiring, but I am scaling back and making room for new possibilities. Over the last many months, my life has been radically enriched as I learn more about spiritual formation. I've been passionate about journaling for a long time, but there are numerous other beautiful tools available, to help us draw near to God and experience real intimacy with Him. What an ideal place for healing and growth! Thank you for journeying with me! Jesus has always been and will always be our "Real Hope-" See more

This is both meaningful and practical-

This is both meaningful and practical-

In those first few, semi-conscious moments upon waking, I wonder if I've dreamt about a virus. Then I realize that it's actually reality. What a strange new re...ality! Even fully awake, things still seem so normal! People go by, walking their dogs. There's a breeze coming through our windows and I can hear the birds singing. I still need to do laundry and unload the dishwasher. In spite of how things look, my mind is working hard to grasp the enormity of the new life that's been thrust upon us. I'm finding it challenging to be informed, while avoiding over-thinking a million possible scenarios. As a person of faith, this is the type of situation where the rubber meets the road. I've been humbled to have to admit how much I crave (demand) a sense of control and predictability. I want to know what to expect, in the midst of a time that provides only experts' best guesses. I'm finding irony in the need to "counsel" myself. How many times have I told clients, "While you can't control circumstances, you CAN choose how you're going to think about them." That's solid advice, but also hard work! I'm finding it helps to limit how much of the news I watch, while spending more time drawing near to God. I've been encouraged by finding a Bible verse that really speaks to me and then looking up each key word in the original language. I tell my phone, "Isaiah 26:3, interlinear," and it brings me to Bible Hub and all I do is click on each word. Then I write my own "amplified" version. Today's verse was especially meaningful to me and I'm hoping it'll encourage you as well. "God will keep (guard and protect) in perfect peace (safety, rest, contentment), all who trust (flee for refuge, rely on) Him, whose minds (intents, purposes, thoughts) are fixed (stayed, propped, leaned, supported) on You." Isaiah 26:3 The Lord's (perfect) peace be with you! See more

This is the verse that spoke to me as I chose the name for my counseling practice, 10 years ago, about now.

In those first few, semi-conscious moments upon waking, I wonder if I've dreamt about a virus. Then I realize that it's actually reality. What a strange new re...ality! Even fully awake, things still seem so normal! People go by, walking their dogs. There's a breeze coming through our windows and I can hear the birds singing. I still need to do laundry and unload the dishwasher. In spite of how things look, my mind is working hard to grasp the enormity of the new life that's been thrust upon us. I'm finding it challenging to be informed, while avoiding over-thinking a million possible scenarios. As a person of faith, this is the type of situation where the rubber meets the road. I've been humbled to have to admit how much I crave (demand) a sense of control and predictability. I want to know what to expect, in the midst of a time that provides only experts' best guesses. I'm finding irony in the need to "counsel" myself. How many times have I told clients, "While you can't control circumstances, you CAN choose how you're going to think about them." That's solid advice, but also hard work! I'm finding it helps to limit how much of the news I watch, while spending more time drawing near to God. I've been encouraged by finding a Bible verse that really speaks to me and then looking up each key word in the original language. I tell my phone, "Isaiah 26:3, interlinear," and it brings me to Bible Hub and all I do is click on each word. Then I write my own "amplified" version. Today's verse was especially meaningful to me and I'm hoping it'll encourage you as well. "God will keep (guard and protect) in perfect peace (safety, rest, contentment), all who trust (flee for refuge, rely on) Him, whose minds (intents, purposes, thoughts) are fixed (stayed, propped, leaned, supported) on You." Isaiah 26:3 The Lord's (perfect) peace be with you! See more

Helpful, practical tools-

This is the verse that spoke to me as I chose the name for my counseling practice, 10 years ago, about now.

Helpful, practical tools-

Let this percolate and consider journaling anything it stirs within you-

I love Ruth's heart (and her books)!!

I love Ruth's heart (and her books)!!

There's something about the Christmas season that seems to magnify our pre-existing emotions. Joys feel more joyful and sorrows feel even more heavy. 2019 is es...pecially sweet for us, but I only need reflect for a moment, before memories of Christmases past bring an ache to my heart. Friend, we can sit over coffee and chat sometime, but for now, please take my word for it. I know what it's like to barely control tears that are just under the surface, in the midst of celebrations. I think that's why this verse I read this morning really jolted me. Even now, years later, it's hard for me to grasp that affliction and fruitfulness can coexist. Yet in hindsight, I can see it's true. It's true not because of me "toughing it out," but because the One who is faithful and compassionate causes growth and good to blossom. One last thought- Did you know that in the original Hebrew, the word for affliction is depression/misery? Consider the verse again. "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my depression." I know what it's like to be in that land. Maybe that's where you are today. Our God of Hope sees us. We may feel anything BUT fruitful. Yet even there, God is at work in ways we often can't see. He's watering seeds that in His time, will germinate and blossom into something of beauty. Even in the "land of affliction," God is with us. Our Immanuel. See more

There's something about the Christmas season that seems to magnify our pre-existing emotions. Joys feel more joyful and sorrows feel even more heavy. 2019 is es...pecially sweet for us, but I only need reflect for a moment, before memories of Christmases past bring an ache to my heart. Friend, we can sit over coffee and chat sometime, but for now, please take my word for it. I know what it's like to barely control tears that are just under the surface, in the midst of celebrations. I think that's why this verse I read this morning really jolted me. Even now, years later, it's hard for me to grasp that affliction and fruitfulness can coexist. Yet in hindsight, I can see it's true. It's true not because of me "toughing it out," but because the One who is faithful and compassionate causes growth and good to blossom. One last thought- Did you know that in the original Hebrew, the word for affliction is depression/misery? Consider the verse again. "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my depression." I know what it's like to be in that land. Maybe that's where you are today. Our God of Hope sees us. We may feel anything BUT fruitful. Yet even there, God is at work in ways we often can't see. He's watering seeds that in His time, will germinate and blossom into something of beauty. Even in the "land of affliction," God is with us. Our Immanuel. See more

Helpful thoughts on Hope-

This is both meaningful and practical-

Some encouraging, grace-filled wisdom-

Beautiful comfort-

In those first few, semi-conscious moments upon waking, I wonder if I've dreamt about a virus. Then I realize that it's actually reality. What a strange new re...ality! Even fully awake, things still seem so normal! People go by, walking their dogs. There's a breeze coming through our windows and I can hear the birds singing. I still need to do laundry and unload the dishwasher. In spite of how things look, my mind is working hard to grasp the enormity of the new life that's been thrust upon us. I'm finding it challenging to be informed, while avoiding over-thinking a million possible scenarios. As a person of faith, this is the type of situation where the rubber meets the road. I've been humbled to have to admit how much I crave (demand) a sense of control and predictability. I want to know what to expect, in the midst of a time that provides only experts' best guesses. I'm finding irony in the need to "counsel" myself. How many times have I told clients, "While you can't control circumstances, you CAN choose how you're going to think about them." That's solid advice, but also hard work! I'm finding it helps to limit how much of the news I watch, while spending more time drawing near to God. I've been encouraged by finding a Bible verse that really speaks to me and then looking up each key word in the original language. I tell my phone, "Isaiah 26:3, interlinear," and it brings me to Bible Hub and all I do is click on each word. Then I write my own "amplified" version. Today's verse was especially meaningful to me and I'm hoping it'll encourage you as well. "God will keep (guard and protect) in perfect peace (safety, rest, contentment), all who trust (flee for refuge, rely on) Him, whose minds (intents, purposes, thoughts) are fixed (stayed, propped, leaned, supported) on You." Isaiah 26:3 The Lord's (perfect) peace be with you! See more