This is my life. This is what God taught me. Counseling from God’s Word

Hey y’all the Bible is sufficient!  It is the words of Jesus and it has all the answers we need for our problems.  I can think of so many examples in just the Psalms alone!  “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall get praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 43:5 “But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” Psalm 3:3 3  “Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You” Psalm 56:3. There are so many more y’all.  I remember my mentor Mary Kaye Wonner quoting scripture after scripture we could turn to in the midst of trials or when things seem hard.  Jesus is your hope y’all.  You don’t have to walk alone.  He sent you His Holy Spirit to comfort you and to help you and He gave you the Bible to comfort you and help you in time of need. For people who struggle with the belief that there might not even be a God, I can assure you there is and...

I can’t believe my summer in Hawaii has about come to an end! It has gone too fast! My dreams have come true this summer and I have had an opportunity of a lifetime!  I feel like my life will never be the same after this summer and that it has become part of a new beginning for me.   There have been times here that have been really frustrating where I’ve wondered why I came and there have been really good and it has been so clearly evident that God was working in my life.  Every moment that has happened here though has stretched me and grown me and helped me to be the person God has created me to be.  It has helped prepare me more for God’s calling on my life.   I believe that each person God has brought into my life here and each experience that I have had here in Hawaii has helped to shape me into the person that God wants me to be. When I was at seminary I worked in landscaping for a semester.  The first day I got right into working and planted fl...

Hey y’all I had my second ukulele lesson today with Aldrine from ukulele underground.com!  It was so amazing and he was so sweet and patient and helpful!  Y’all it was a dream come true to have a lesson with him!!! To give you a little backstory I started praying about coming to Hawaii in November of 2017.  I’ve been wanting to come my whole life though!  I’ve always loved the ukulele and the sound of it and have wanted to learn how to play it!  I went on YouTube and was looking for video tutorials on how to play the ukulele.  I would always come to the videos by Aldrine and at the end they would advertise their website ukuleleunderground.com.  At first I didn’t really think much of it but then I decided to finally check it out and subscribe to it a couple of weeks or so before I went to Hawaii.  Y’all it was one of the best decisions I’ve made!  They are so sweet and helpful and are so good with teaching you how to play the ukulele an...

I’ve decided that I’m going to go back to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the fall to finish my degree on campus.  This is something I’ve thought about before but kind of fought against the idea and made excuses why I shouldn’t or why it wouldn’t work.  It’s interesting how God brought me all the way to Hawaii to confirm to me that where I need to be right now is Texas.  I feel like this has been a life changing summer for me.  I feel like it has made a great impact on the way my future will be.  I love Hawaii and the people here and hope to return someday soon.  It is only Aloha for now Hawaii but A hou hui!  I will see you again someday Lord willing!  In the meanwhile I feel it is important for me to go and finish studying bible counseling and preparing as best as I can for what God has called me to do.  I may not be sure of what that is exactly right now but I know God will show me.  I see this summer as a time of transit...

I was watching a video today for the ACBC certification.  Jim Newheiser was counseling a man named “Jesse”.  During the third session he counseled both “Jesse” and his wife.  They had talked about a situation where they had both wanted something. Jesse had brought his friend home for dinner and hadn’t told his wife ahead of time.  She was frustrated with him and maybe even angry because of that.  They both had wanted different things out of the situation and it had resulted in conflict.  Jim was talking to them about how it wasn’t what they wanted that was sinful, it was how they reacted when they didn’t get what they want that was sinful. I love these verses in James 4:1-6, “ Where do  [ a ] wars and fights  come  from among you? Do  they  not  come  from your  desires for pleasure   that war in your members?  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Y...

I’ve learned a lot of things in Hawaii and I’ve been able to do a lot of things and have had experiences that I never thought I would have. I’ve learned more about what it means to serve God wherever you are and in whatever area He has called you to at the time.  An example of this would be this last week we had sports camp. I didn’t really have a spot.  I started off doing arts and crafts and bible study and ended up going and kind of helping the cheerleading group.  I learned the cheers with them although sometimes I felt like probably they might not have been sure why I was learning them.  But I didn’t know at the time what God was preparing me for.   On Wednesday the Tennessee people went on a tourist day and I was given the opportunity to coach cheerleading by myself.  It went well because I had learned the cheers and was prepared.  I’m thankful that God provided me with that opportunity and with that experience.  He is always helping me an...

I’ve struggled with and through many different things in my life and sometimes I’ve wondered why.  Ive questioned and doubted things sometimes.  I’ve questioned and doubted my faith sometimes.  I think a lot of people have done that if they are really honest.  I’ve had questions I thought I couldn’t answer and that I thought no one else will be able to answer it either. But through it all God has always been there for me.  He has shown me how He is working in my life many times.  God has brought so many people in my life to help me with my questions from the Bible and from their own experiences in their life.  One is my friend God brought into my life! She has prayed with me and has shown me from God’s Word and from her life experiences.  It was always so good to talk to her and find out that some things I had struggled with were things that she had struggled with.  She was able to share with me what she had learned from the Bible and from pe...

I went to see the Pearl Harbor memorial on the Fourth of July! It was amazing to see history come to life! I was able to see the Arizona memorial and the Missouri memorial! It was amazing to think of all the men that went to fight for their country that lost their lives on the Arizona.  It got me thinking. As believers in Christ we are in a spiritual war! We may, may not have to lose our lives physically for Christ but we may!  We are called to die to self daily though! We are to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him!  God continues to show me what that looks like!  Sometimes I may, may not do it right.  Sometimes I fail to do what I need to do.  But God is teaching me Moment by Moment what it means to die to self!  Let us fight the fight and keep the faith that we may finish the race strong and win the heavenly prize that God has called us to in Christ Jesus!!!