Articles
Five Bible Passages for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Do you dread the season of winter? Do you find yourself struggling to get through the short hours of daylight? Does your motivation for work decrease in the months of cold? If so, you may be struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Here are five Scripture passages that may be helpful if you’re dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’ and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’ He causes everyone to stop working so that all people may know his work. The wild animals go to their lairs, and in their dens, they remain. A [...]
The Importance of Honesty in Relationships
What traits did you look for in a spouse before you got married? Or what are you looking for now? Is honesty an important characteristic to you? If not, it should be since it is one of the most foundational aspects of healthy relationships. Why? Because anything built on a lie isn’t made to last since it doesn’t provide security and comfort. Imagine you bought a house that you were told was sound. Then over the first few years of ownership, you noticed cracks in the foundations begin to develop, and you’re forced to address the issue, lest everything you had cultivated [...]
Overcoming Depression: 8 Bible Verses for Inspiration
We all fall into a state of depression at some point in our lives. It can be of a short-term nature, connected to the need for money or a job. Or something more long-term, like a debilitating illness or injury to which we see no solution and which doctors cannot cure. King Saul had a lot on his mind. As the first ruler of Israel 3,000 years ago, reading between the lines, some have suggested that he was either psychotic or bipolar! He was not the only one struggling with overcoming depression. David was troubled and despairing; Job suffered great loss, [...]
Why Forgiving Others is So Important
Forgiveness is a process that involves at least two people, one who has injured the other in some way. This injury may be minor, but it can also be a major offense, such as trauma or abuse. In a perfect world, forgiving others is a process whereby the offender repents of their harmful ways and apologizes, the injured person forgives the offender, and there is a restored relationship between the two people at the end. Unfortunately, this world is far from perfect. It can be very hard to forgive those who have hurt you deeply, and the offender might be unrepentant [...]
Couples Counseling: Creating a Marriage that Thrives
Imagine that you are an artist, and your marriage is the canvas. If you want to create a piece of art, you must first realize that your canvas is unique. It does not need to be compared to those around you. It does not have to blend in with the crowd. A genuine and radiant piece of art is produced through a lot of sweat and dedication, but that demanding work pays off. It withstands the test of time. It inspires. It radiates. It is unique. It mirrors the way God created us - to be formed beautifully in His image [...]
4 Parenting Tips for Any Phase of Life
Every season of has its own set of joys and challenges. Whether you are the parent of a newborn, middle-schooler, or young adult, you face constantly changing tides as you navigate your relationships, your child’s personality, and their wide variety of needs. Parenthood is an ever-winding road. It might feel like you are never just “coasting,” because there is always something new to see, learn, and discover. Robert Breault said, “Parenting is a stage of life’s journey where the milestones come about every fifty feet.” In the newborn phase of parenting, you are faced with the around-the-clock hunger cues, coffee chugging [...]
Overcoming Passivity in Your Life
“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” These lines from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley clearly overstate things, because humans aren’t as in control of themselves or their lives as much as they would like to be. God is in control, but he demands that we make something of the life he’s given us. We can deal with the circumstances life throws at us by meeting the challenge. The common saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” reminds us that while things go south on us, and the twists and turns [...]
7 Things to Do When You’re Feeling Sad and Lonely
In life, mountaintop experiences bring us exhilaration, a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and meaning. When you hit a job interview out of the park, tie the knot with your beloved, move into your dream home, get through a difficult surgery with excellence, witness your child give a performance in a stage play, or finish chemotherapy and learn you’re in remission – all these things bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts. It is as it should be. However, we also do experience other seasons in life, and these bring emotions such as sadness, anger, or feeling out [...]
How Can I Keep From Singing? How Music Can Heal Your Brain and Your Heart
We often turn to music as a source of entertainment, amusement, or distraction. Ambient music streams in the background of supermarkets, book shops, restaurants, the local gym, and the dentist’s office. How empty our everyday lives would seem without the sound of music. And yet, it is accomplishing more in our brains and hearts than we often recognize. Ways Music Can Benefit You Music Invites Us to Engage Internally and Externally, Healing Us from the Inside Out Often, when you hear music that you like, it makes you want to get up and dance or tap your feet and your fingers. [...]