Dude’s Guide to Marriage
#1 IN MY SERIES OF POSTINGS DEDICATED TO SUMMARIZING A WONDERFUL BOOK ENTITLED “THE DUDE’S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE: TEN SKILLS EVERY HUSBAND MUST DEVELOP TO LOVE HIS WIFE WELL” BY DARRIN & AMY PATRICK In my next several blog postings I will be summarizing a wonderful book that I read a few years ago. The…
Failed Expectations
Toxic shame is a tactic of Satan. God does not use shame. He uses conviction in the life of the believer, never condemnation. Therefore, all toxic shame is dangerous and needs to be dealt with decisively. Not Measuring Up To Standards We are born into a family and a world that is filled with expectations…
God’s Power Over Shame
God is in the business of making broken things whole. It is through the life of His spirit that we are brought back to wholeness. Nothing that has occurred in our past is allowed to have sovereign reign in our life when we summon the God of the universe for assistance. Those parts of our…
Imaginary Roles We Play
Within “dysfunctional” families, there are several roles that typically emerge. No one signs up for these. Individuals just move into them during the course of life in this family. And usually in an attempt to emotionally survive the toxic environment. Metaphorically, every member of a shame-based, dysfunctional system will do whatever necessary to exert his…
Shame-Based Families
We all grew up with families, relationships, and experiences that played a part in our sense of identity and set rules for life that have remained with us throughout adulthood. While growing up with these unique windows of perspective, we knew only what we were taught, and automatically assumed it was right and true. Responses…
Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
As God moves us from the brokenness of our past to a future filled with His wholeness and purpose, we will unquestionably experience times of uncertainty, anxiousness, and fear. Gifted author Lysa TerQuerst, in her amazing book entitled Uninvited, describes this season as “moving through the desperate in-between. Look at this incredible excerpt from Lysa’s…