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Hangin’ by a Thread? Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC In my home state of Wisconsin, October is a time of crisp fall days, crunchy apples, and vibrantly colored leaves. In Florida, fall is a time to enjoy sunshine and anticipate Christmas. For many, like me, it’s not too early for Christmas carols. During a New York…

Your Gift of 1,440 Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Today, imagine receiving official notice explaining you’ve qualified for a daily gift of $1,440! (Would you be excited?) Reading the fine print, you see there’s only one catch: you have to find a way to spend every cent of your gift the day it arrives. Could you…

Be Kind (but not nice)! Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Those words, from Ephesians 4:32, aren’t in the form of a suggestion; they’re a command. We can be kind—not because someone deserves it but because of what Christ did for each…

Difference Makers Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC In recent weeks, troubled by escalating civil unrest, I’m wondering how those of us who follow Christ can actively demonstrate the “ministry of reconciliation” described in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Amid the complexity of current concerns, we can appreciate the beauty of diversity. As Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey explained in Fearfully &…

How to Be Present in a Pandemic Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC While the world focuses on social, physical, and financial ramifications of COVID-19, increasing rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, suicide, and domestic violence point to a growing mental health pandemic. Research from Kaiser Family Foundation indicates “45% of Americans say the coronavirus pandemic is…

Shepherding Your Family During a Global Pandemic Joel McDonald Pastor Joel McDonald (Family Church West, West Palm Beach, Florida), is this month’s guest blog writer. We appreciate his encouragement for all of us navigating the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. As a father of three young children, Joel provides practical ideas, perspective—and hope to keep on…

Doubting Your Doubts Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC With news reports daily delivering reports of death and loss, it’s easy to begin to experience fear, uncertainty, and doubt. We know God says to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7); wouldn’t the opposite be to live by fear, doubting (distrusting) God?  Instead of having…

Godly Triumph in the Midst of Anxiety Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Our guest writer today is Steven Madonna, Pastor to Children and Families, at Family Church West in West Palm Beach, Florida. His life, family, ministry and work exhibit the ideas [and joy] he shares in today’s blog. Steven writes: “When I first came to faith…

From Russia, with Hope Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Today’s guest writer is Andre Furmanov, a Russian pastor who became a Christian in 1987, while studying English philology and translation at Leningrad State University. Now serving as lead pastor of Vyborg Christian Church in Russia, Andre focuses on making disciples, missions and family discipleship. With their…

Do Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures? Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Being quarantined drives many to a sense of desperation or fear. Instead, let’s consider the global pandemic with new perspective. If we allow COVID-19 to minimize our lives, it will. But we don’t need to give it that kind of power. We can discover…