One of the more challenging ideas to understand in the Christian faith is the concept of freedom. The apostle Paul wrote that, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, NIV) This freedom is from sin and from the behaviors, attitudes, and mindsets rooted in it. Codependent behavior is one set of patterns that many people need freedom from. [...]
Shame is one of the greatest weapons that the Devil uses to keep us from feeling worthy and achieving God’s plans for our lives. John 10:10 (NKJV) says, “The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy.” Satan lies to us using shame as one of his most devastating tools to keep us stuck in toxicity, bad behaviors, addiction, and a life filled with regret. Shame Brings Condemnation Shame attacks our identity and is a blackmailer, forcing [...]
Life comes with its fair share of challenges, and every couple will face these in their relationship. In the vows that a couple makes as they commit to each other, there is usually a line about remaining steadfast through the lean seasons, when things get hard, “in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer”. Such a vow is a huge undertaking, but it’s a sober reminder that challenges will come, and they’ll be hard to weather. One [...]
Looking for some low-pressure date ideas for couples in Stone Oak, Texas? If so, this article is for you. Life gets busy, and it’s easy for things, even the most important things, to get squeezed out. It’s not uncommon for couples with a lot of responsibilities to lose track of opportunities to check-in with each other, or to just be together without needing to discuss chores, school pick-ups or other things that need doing to keep their lives going. [...]
My Experience With Trauma I remember it like it was yesterday. I knew I had bad dreams and had trouble sleeping. But it was my “normal,” and as I grew into adulthood, I thought nothing of it. It was the fall of 1991, just days after I was married. We spent part of our honeymoon visiting her family in Nebraska. We were staying in a guest room at her parents’ house on an air mattress. We drifted off to [...]
Have you ever truly loved someone and given of yourself for their well-being? It might have been Plato or Shakespeare who said something about love being a sort of madness, and that has a ring of truth to it. Love, however, doesn’t have to be self-destructive or uninformed. It certainly doesn’t need to be codependent to qualify as love, and that’s one reason why knowing the signs of codependency can help you show love well. Several signs of codependency will [...]
Infidelity can turn your world upside down, causing you to feel shocked, angry, wounded, betrayed, and confused. You may find yourself wondering if and how you can possibly heal from this overwhelmingly devastating experience. If so, take heart. As shattering as the betrayal of infidelity can feel, it does not have to mark the end of your relationship. With hard work and dedication, trust and intimacy can be restored. It may, however, be a long and painful process that involves [...]
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, we invite you to consider finding support from Christian grief counseling in Stone Oak, Texas. Experiencing the loss of a loved one or something important to you can feel overwhelming. In addition to grieving the actual loss, thoughts of what your life could have been may also weigh heavily on your heart. You may want to isolate and withdraw from others as you try to navigate through the intense emotions [...]
Many things are good and helpful in moderation, but bad and destructive in excess. One of those things is anger, which is a natural human emotion that we’ve all felt at one point or another in our lives. Maybe you last got angry when you felt that the wrong politician got voted in, or when someone was late to a meeting and didn’t apologize, or when your children sassed you. Whatever the occasion, we’ve all felt anger in one [...]
You were never meant to stay wrapped in anxiety’s grip. The fight-or-flight response is a remarkable response activated by the nervous system to protect us in times of danger. However, our minds can take this one step further and leave us in a state of chronic anxiety. If anxiety is interfering with your life, you need to make lasting lifestyle changes to lessen its effect. At Stone Oak Christian Counseling in Texas, we offer practical ways to help with [...]
Not everyone alive today will reach old age. However, it’s hard to see aging as the gift and privilege it is because society is geared toward youth and the young. The beauty and wellness industry, advertising, entertainment, and professional sectors have drilled it into our thinking that old age equates to mental decline, disease, and unhappiness. Not only is this insulting to those who are aging, but it’s incorrect. While there are new challenges to face as you age, [...]
Have you ever wondered how and why your emotions flare up during stressful situations? Our emotional responses often dictate our actions more than we realize; thus, monitoring them becomes essential for growth. Luckily, everyone has a natural in-built internal mechanism to gauge their temper – an Anger Thermometer. Yes, you read that right. You have an anger thermometer that measures frustration levels, which can help you identify when feelings of irritation start spiking and help you recognize triggers. By understanding [...]
