 |
|
by Russell D. Moore
How Much Do I Need to Know About My Potential Spouse’s Sexual Past? My Response
Dear Dr. Moore,
I am a young single Christian woman. I made a commitment at a very young age to remain sexually chaste, and I’ve done so. I have dated other boys, but always just in groups in a very casual setting. Now, however, I am seeing a young Christian man who seems great in every way. We have dated for about a month, and I really like him. He treats my family (my father is deceased but my mother and sisters live near me) great, and all my friends like him.
Here’s my question. I am wondering what his sexual past looks like, in order to know what I’m getting into. read more... |
|
by Chuck Roberts, M.A., L.P.C.
At the beginning of a new year we often make resolutions to change certain things about our circumstances or ourselves. Many of us would change some things about ourselves if we could yet we often feel powerless to do so. What must happen in order for us to change? Several things come to mind, including receiving God's love and grace, and relating intimately to him through Scripture and prayer. In my own life I see the role those have played. I've also been impacted by friends who've believed in me, even when there wasn't much data to suggest they should.
There is another factor that stands out, and that is the way God has used people and circumstances to show me more about how I related to him and others. There is an example of this in Jacob's story as well, as it's told in the Old Testament. He was the second-born of twins and he came out of the womb grasping Esau's heel. For that reason he was named Jacob, which literally means, "he grasps the heel," and figuratively means, "he deceives."
read more... |
|
|
|
|
Parent Tip - What to Expect in Your Growing and
Changing 8-12 Year Old |
What to Expect
Child:
- Learns to care for her body (bathing, grooming, dressing, eating healthy foods, physical activity)
- Feels good about how she looks
- Has energy and a sense of well-being
- Takes pride and pleasure in mastering new physical skills
- Develops gender identity (by 5 years)
- Is aware of changes that will take place during puberty (8-10 years)
Parents:
- Encourage safe, healthy habits (healthy foods, physical activity, seat belts)
- Talk with child about sexuality and puberty; offer age appropriate information, answer questions honestly
- Reassure child about the positive changes of puberty
- Talk together about changing body image and how to resist pressures to look "perfect" (shape, weight, height)
When to Seek Help
If your child:
- Wets the bed
- Has trouble sleeping or wants to sleep much of the time
- Lacks basic self-care habits (bathing, brushing teeth, dressing)
- Returns to baby-like or silly behaviors
- Shows signs of early sexual development (before age 9)
- Seems unaware or fearful of puberty and sexuality (ages 9-10)
- Has a distorted body image (thinks she's "fat" when she's not)
- Uses food to self-soothe or escape uncomfortable feelings
Or if you, as parents:
- Worry that your child sleeps or eats too much or too little
- Notice that your child can't keep up physically with others the same age
- Are concerned that your child does not speak clearly or communicate well with others
- Need tips for how to talk with your child about sex or puberty
- Think your child is overly concerned with weight or body image
|
| Searching Your Heart - a therapeutic group for women |
Please join us for a 10 WEEK
“For Women Only” Group
Mondays
10:00—11:30 am
March 22 to May 31
This interactive group will run for 10 weeks and cover a variety of topics pertinent to women’s lives. The group is open to women of all ages. The topics are designed to meet the needs of women in not only different age groups, but different life stages as well. The goal of the group is for members to discuss topics and share so they will be able to gain new skills and insight applicable to their daily life. The group will use discussion as well as practical tips and exercises. Group will be facilitated by Christy Billings and Jill Dillashaw.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Insecurity
- Purpose
- Anger
- Trust
- Forgiveness
- Relationships
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- and much more...
 
Christy BillingsJill Dillashaw
MS, LPCMA, LPC
Space is limited, so call and reserve your spot today!
Cost is $50/week for 1.5-hour group session
214.585.4859
|
|
|
| Deuteronomy 7:9 |
The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. |
Exercise: Nurturing Fondness in Your
Relationship - WEEK 3 |
Adapted from: 10 Lessons to Transform Your Marriage, by John M. Gottman, Ph.D., Julie Schwartz Gottman, Ph.D., and Joan DeClaire; Three Rivers Press, 2006
"Have you ever had a gripe or an angry thought about your partner that you just couldn't release? Perhaps you had an argument and afterward you just kept playing that same negative thought over and over again in your mind. Or maybe you were feeling sad or angry for some other reason, but negative thoughts about your relationship kept coming up as well.
Our research shows that continually replaying negative thoughts about your partner can contribute to a downward spiral of distance and isolation in a marriage.
One solution is to train your mind to replace what we call 'distress-maintaining' thoughts about your partner with 'relationship-enhancing' thoughts. Doing so takes time and practice, but it's worth it because it can build feelings of fondness and admiration in your marriage."
We will feature a few of Gottman's tips in each of the next few newsletters. You may want to purchase a journal to write your entries in, or if you don't like writing just spend some time thinking about these topics and your ideas. It will take some time, but as someone once said, good marriages take time but bad marriages take even more time.
Here are this month's relationship-enhancing thoughts:
| Think |
|
Do |
| We have common goals. |
|
List two such goals. Think about how it will feel to achieve them together.
|
I remember many details about deciding to get married.
|
|
Describe them in a paragraph.
|
| There are some things about my partner I don't like, but I can live with them. |
|
List one of your spouse's minor faults that you feel you have learned to tolerate.
|
|
| Meet Natalia Joseph |
 Natalia Joseph
MBS, LPC
Favorite verse: Ephesians 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Favorite Movies: Home alone, Aliens, The Notebook
Favorite TV Shows: Dancing with the Stars, Bunch of shows on the food network, New Detectives, ID investigates.
Favorite Music: Anything that can be listened to while working out to give you energy; Celine Dion and pop.
Favorite Books: I love reading crime stories that have been taken from real life cases, also anything dealing with the Holocaust, as this time period is of great interest to me.
Favorite Hobbies: I did competitive ballroom dancing from the age of 3 to 19; currently I enjoy going to the movies, collecting shoes, going to wine tastings, reading when I have time, and spending time with my dogs.
Dream Getaway: My husband and I have been wanting to go to one of those overwater bungalloes and I think there are some in Tahiti? We have yet to do that. This would be one of those vacations with no TV, computer, or any other technology, just relaxing at the beach!
Most Adventuresome Thing Ever Done: I would have to say that moving here from Russia is pretty up there, and also traveling across Europe alone to meet my group when I was 19 on a college trip.
3 People at Fantasy Dinner: Ummm this is a hard one.... Im going to go with people who are currently living: Celine Dion, Bobby Flay, and Brady James.
Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in psychology from Austin
College; Master's of behavioral science at Southeastern Oklahoma State University; current LPC license; 4 years experience in working with numerous populations in a number of different settings.
|
|
|
|
MOORE to the POINT