When we struggle to let go of something we think we can control, that path to letting go feels so difficult. It is a painful struggle that we often have to wrestle down. Maybe this will help if you are in that struggle. Letting go feels callous and uncaring. As we struggle with the learning […]
On Pushing Pearls: from The Divine Conspiracy
I love reading in Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy. I have read it several times. Lately I have been pondering and sharing his insights on pushing pearls (Matthew 7:6) (Pages 228-230). Growing up I most often heard this verse interpreted that we don’t waste our time sharing–pushing pearls–with some people because they won’t listen and […]
Guidelines for Sharing Stories
Sharing Stories: Five Kinds Sharing stories is an important part of Joy Groups. Stories are life-changing because they are one of the ways we help each other grow. They are living examples of how we have practiced the relational skills, of how we acted differently than our old ways, how we failed to act like […]
Some Guidelines for Joy Groups
In my 3 Joy Groups, each week we do appreciation and a brief time of sensing Immanuel’s presence and asking Him what He wants us to know. (A link to other details of my Joy Groups.) I noticed that our sharing time at the beginning was growing longer and longer leaving little time for lessons. […]
Breakfast with Jesus
I love listening to Dr. Wilder’s J.I.M. Talk CDs. One particular talk from #28 blessed me so much that I condensed and paraphrased some of it enough to share part of it here. This message shows us how Jesus healed Peter’s bad memory, giving us a Biblical example for Immanuel Prayer healing. After the denials […]
Fewer Bumps with Your Teen: Synchronize
Do you ever find yourself getting caught up in arguments with your teen? You see a situation one way; your teen sees it another. Disagreements are common and very frustrating. Arguing doesn’t feel good. We either want to escalate the negative emotions or run out the door, likely slamming it on the way out. If […]