Maintaining Control

Maintaining Control After someone has shared their story, I ask, Would you like to resolve these issues? Nobody has ever said, No. Then I say: With your permission then, I will lead you through these Steps to Freedom in Christ. Before we start I want you to understand...

The Wreath

The Wreath The following was given to me by an inquirer for Christmas. It was written in the middle of a wreath she made out of grape vines. It hangs in my office as a constant reminder to be patient. A friend of mine whose grapevine died, had put it out for trash. I...

More Patience

More Patience Discipleship Counseling takes patience (and big bladders!), because some freedom appointments may last hours. Just mentioning that causes some pastors to shy away from using our material. They reason, I don’t have enough time to do that! I beg to differ....

Why Share?

Why Share? In conferences around the world, I asked: How many would be willing to share all the dirt in their lives, just for the purpose of sharing it? Nobody raises their hand. What is to be gained in doing that? Then I asked: How many would be willing to share all...

Patient When Wronged

Patient When Wronged Working with people will test one’s patience. Being an engineer was easier than being a pastor. In those days I could build something and it stayed built, and what I built never gave me a hard time. You may get bit pulling a thorn out of your...

Able to Teach

Able to Teach The apostle Paul said the effective encourager is dependent upon God, kind, and not quarrelsome. He then lists, “able to teach” (2 Tim. 2:24) as the next requirement for an encourager. The emphasis is not on the ability to communicate. The focus is more...

The Wonderful Counselor

The Wonderful Counselor Inquirers may be reluctant to share intimate details with us, but what happens if they share openly with God? What does God do with the information we share with Him? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins...

Overcoming Reluctance to Share

Overcoming Reluctance to Share When I taught pastoral counseling, I would give the students a blank piece of paper. I instructed them to write on the paper the most offensive sin they have ever committed, i.e. the best kept secret of their life. The anxiety level in...

Kind to All

Kind to All For years I have made the following comment in conferences, “What is desirable in a man is . . .?” A wait to see if anybody wants to respond, but nobody ever does. After a pause I say, “What is desirable in a man is his kindness” (Prov.19:22). Then I would...

Not Quarrelsome

Not Quarrelsome “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome” (2 Tim. 2:24). Notice how the word “quarrelsome” is used in Acts 7:25,26, “And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand....

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