4 thoughts and a cup of coffee

Every stage of life has its own set of struggles and blessings.

Kristen Larson on July 31, 2014

2 compliments to give more often

Scripture promotes God-honoring compliments. Here are 2 ways to compliment others

Bethany McIlrath on July 23, 2014

A whole different way to look at the Golden Rule

How can "I" become better as a leader, coach at work? Can I do performance reviews differently? Can being an encourager become my spiritual gift if I grant it and exercise it?

Dave Ryerson on July 10, 2014

Stay positive

When your thoughts are positive, you become a positive influence in your life and in the lives of those around you. The same is true if you think negatively because you can become a negative influence on others. In fact, negative thoughts can take over your mind and block out the truth of who you are. Living an Intentional Life is about…

Randy Carlson on July 1, 2014

Slaying the dragon of self-hatred

One of the most frequent problems I deal with in counseling and coaching is self-hatred. People often tell me, “I know God loves and forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself. I hate myself.” Self-hatred is every bit as much a sin as other-directed hatred. We are all God’s image bearers and, although we might not like aspects of ourselves,…

Leslie Vernick on June 19, 2014

Healthy boundaries

I grew up a good Dutch Reformed girl in the lovely town of Pella, Iowa, where people are expected to be well-put-together, responsible, hardworking, God-fearing and independent.  I never got in trouble.  People liked me (at the least most seemed to like me).  And I genuinely loved God and desired to follow His commands.  So, imagine…

Heidi Vermeer-Quist, PsyD on June 12, 2014

You can’t make me angry

You can’t make me angry. I have an anger problem. However, I made a decision some years ago and it’s been life-changing for me. Here’s a conclusion I reached. Try as you might, you can’t make me angry. For me, that decision has made me a better, kinder, more-relaxed person. It took me a while to get there, and I’m still learning,…

Wayne Geiger on June 5, 2014

The relationship reset

Sometimes the emotional, frustrating, grief-laced and often crushing experiences that come with the ride of a difficult relationship cause us to want to get off the roller coaster and walk away. We don’t want to deal with the pain and process of working it out. Sometimes the anger we feel has us acting out in ways that make it hard to…

Luanne Christensen on May 22, 2014

The relationship reset

Sometimes the emotional, frustrating, grief-laced and often crushing experiences that come with the ride of a difficult relationship cause us to want to get off the roller coaster and walk away. We don’t want to deal with the pain and process of working it out. Sometimes the anger we feel has us acting out in ways that make it hard to…

Luanne Christensen on May 22, 2014

Audio

I love my mom, but…

With Mother’s Day over, some adults may be dealing with fresh wounds associated with a poor relationship with their mother. Sure, she raised you well and she’s good at making cookies, but there can be some facets of a mother-child relationship that can really act like a stick in the mud in the effort toward the two parties…

Faith Radio Mornings on May 15, 2014