David Powlison, posted by CCEF, on "Marital Intimacy" 3-part video

Another one of my favorite counselors is Dr. David Powlison. He did a 3-part video series on marriage, and it's worth posting.

Ed Welch, "Addictions A Banquet in the Grave"

One of my favorite counselors, Ed Welch, on "Addictions."

Ed Welch---Crossroads/Addictions A Banquet in the Grave

"Bound as I was, not with another man's irons, but by my own iron will. My will the enemy held, and thence had made a chain for me, and bound me. For of a froward will, was lust made; and a lust served, became custom; and custom not registered became necessity. By which links, as it were, joined together (whence I called it a chain) a hard bondage held me entralled."

Augustine, Confessions, Book 8

I wanted to share some information on one of my favorite counselors and theologians, Dr. Ed Welch. I use his "Addictions" curriculum in my counsel, and there is none better out there, except it's foundation it's upon, and that is the Bible.

"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.
Let all who are simple come in here!" She says to those who lack judgment.
"Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!"
But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave.

Proverbs 9:13-18

Welch, Ed "Addictions A Banquet in the Grave" Preface

"A list of desires is limited only by our own imagination, as we see here:


alcohol

exercise

sex

anger

gambling

caffeine

love

nose drops

shop lifting

weightlifting

cocaine

lying

sleep

work

chocolate

nicotine

sports

risk

pain

sugar

success/winning

TV

people

pornography

(Pg. 12, "Addictions A Banquet in the Grave)
"There is an Addict in us all" (CCEF National Conference 2009)

Ed WelchEd is a faculty member at CCEF and holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a Neuro-psychology specialty from the University of Utah as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Biblical Theological Seminary. Ed has been counseling for over 27 years and has written many books and articles on biblical counseling including, When People are Big and God is Small, Addictions: a Banquet in the Grave, Blame it on the Brain?, Depression, and his newest book Running Scared. He and his wife, Sheri, have two married daughters and two grandchildren. In his spare time Ed enjoys hanging out with his wife and playing his guitar. Areas of interest/experience: depression and addictions.

"Because He Loves Me: How God's Love Transforms Our Life"

http://beta.becausehelovesme.com/


I just finished the final video of "Because He Loves Me", in my Women's Group. How much, I am reminded, of taking the Gospel for granted. Oh I know it's importance in my salvation, but as Elyse states, "we tend to say, the Gospel...I know that...now, what's next?" Let me give you a glimpse into this wonderful study, that I HIGHLY recommend Christian women to read...again, and again, and again. We need to wake up in the morning going to Calvary, and going to bed at night at Calvary. "It is finished."

Elyse tells us in Video 4, and from the book, "When reading Scripture, read with both of these:
a. Gospel Declarations: You have been raised with Christ; you are seated with
him at the right hand of God. He has cleansed us from all sins. Christ has
bore the wrath of God He had toward us, on the Cross.
Consider Colossians 1:15-23, "He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and
on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he
is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head
of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of
God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his
cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to pre-
sent you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed
you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope
of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation
under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

b. Gospel Obligations (Commands): Seek the things that are above.
Colossians 3:1 "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the
things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of
God."

c. We must never sever the Declarations of the gospel from the Commands
of the gospel. If we do, we will fall into one of these 3 categories:

i. The happy moralist. Does stuff on the outside, doesn't really
get what's been declared. (Pharisees)
ii. The sad moralist. A person that continues in a guilty state...
condeming of themself.
iii. The libertine. Whatever...I know God loves me...I can do what-
ever I want.

Who works, God or us? Yes! We must always remember that our works are engendered by God's PRIOR WORK and that our growth in holiness is completely in His hands."

Amazing, isn't it?!? "Obedience is in a context." Let's look at 2Peter 1:5-10.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. FOR WHOEVER LACKS THESE QUALITIES IS SO NEARSIGHTED THAT HE IS BLIND, HAVING FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS CLEANSED FROM HIS FORMER SINS. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."

Okay. I made it a little easier for you to see the context in which Obedience is in. Hint: it's all in capital letters.

I cannot say enough about this book and DVD, except, thank you Elyse for being an instrument in which God used you to bring me back to Calvary. I MUST go there everyday for the flowing out of obedience. (The list...that we can tend to make into an idol).

"We do this because: To the praise of His glorious grace."

Appreciating John Piper's Words on Depression

My husband and I have been following the ministry of Dr. John Piper for several years. I knew God gifted him with compassion, but it wasn't until one of the Desiring God Conferences, "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God", that I realized the depths of compassion this man of God truly has. He has been very candid in talking about his own depression that he dealt with, and it was at this conference that he stated how long----"several years." Since that time, Pastor John has written material on it, which I would highly recommend, and here lately he has posted a video. It is worth your time to watch it. And, by all means, get his book on it as well. Desiring God ministries offers alot of books as a Pdf to read.

Joni as His instrument, me & you as His instrument

I believe I have shared this before, if so, please indulge once again. We, as Christians, are called to counsel. God has given me a passion in this area, and in that, I have been given the privilege to walk alongside people, broken, hurting people. Over and over again I use the book of Lamentations.

Let's look at Lamentations 1: 12, 16:
"Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look around and see.
Is any suffering like my suffering
that was inflicted on me,
that the Lord brought on me
in the day of his fierce anger?

...My eyes overflow with tears.
No one is near to comfort me,
no one to restore my spirit."

This is the crying out of a heart so, so, broken. It is Hope this heart needs. An understanding of God in deeper ways. So counselor, what Hope do you bring? Is it love, compassion, understanding, grace and mercy? Or, is it a lack of compassion, lack of grace, and a lack of mercy?

Ephesians 4:4-7
"There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."

In my counsel there are times that the person needs to be held, hugged, prayed over, and sometimes just the opportunity to weep. Oh, believe me, I weep sometimes too.

Then, there is this turning point where the hurting person is ready to listen. It's at these times that I'm reminded of,

James 3:1
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."

I am a teacher of sorts.

I have had the opportunity to share God's word, His love for His people's...one person that I share her story and give out her books is Joni Eareckson Tada.




It is progressive sanctification that grows us into Him and the Holy Spirit hearkening our hearts, thoughts, words, behaviors and actions unto a Biblical response.

"He who descended is the one who also ascended far above the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Ephesians 4:10-16.

A Favorite Movie of mine

I viewed this movie again, last night, with my Mother in law. Each time I see this movie I am deeply moved. It resonates in me a caring of human kind that's deeply God-bearing.

I highly recommend you watch this movie, and if you're hesitant, watch the trailer. If you decide to view the movie, I'm interested in your response to it.


"I AM DAVID"