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counseling resources

 

links | articles | what the bible says | books | support groups | pastoral counseling

 

links

 

Couple Checkup – How is your relationship? How about a Couple Checkup? Whether you are dating, planning an engagement, currently engaged, or married, assessing your strengths and areas for improvement in the relationship is important. Once you know how you are doing relationally, you can choose how to make it better and decide what needs to change. By accessing this link,couplecheckup.com, you will have the opportunity to assess your relationship through the Couple Checkup offered by Life Innovations. There is a small cost for this assessment, but it is worth the investment in your relationship.

 

Exodus International – Central Church is a member of the Exodus Church Association.  Exodus Church Association, Central Church promises two things – a commitment to the truth of Scripture and a community that will welcome you, no matter what issues you face. At Central, you will find freedom, support and peace–a compassionate church filled with grace and truth. We strongly invite and encourage you to get involved in the worship at Central and any of our listed resources, groups, or classes where the full truth and grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is both presented and lived out.

 

American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) – This is a Christian counseling organization which is committed to assisting Christian counselors and the entire ‘community of care,’ licensed professionals, pastors, and caring church members with little or no formal training. The intention of the AACC is to equip clinical, pastoral, and lay care-givers with Biblical truth and psycho-social insights that ministers to hurting persons and helps them move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity.

 

Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) - The Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation has set the pace in biblical counseling. This counseling organization teaches people how to explore the wisdom and depth of the Bible and apply its grace-centered message to the problems of daily living. Simply put the mission is to: Restore Christ to Counseling and Counseling to the Church.

 

The Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC) – The Biblical Counseling Coalition exists to strengthen churches, para-church organizations, and educational institutions by promoting excellence and unity in biblical counseling as a means to accomplish compassionate outreach and effective discipleship.

 

Living Free - Living Free is a small group strategy that has helped over 800,000 people learn to face life’s struggles and move toward freedom and wholeness in Christ.
The Front Porch:  This is a place where you can relax, connect with someone, learn about depression and anxiety, get in touch with resources and tools to help you on the journey.

books

The following is an ever developing list of books which are clinically sound, Spirit-inspired, and Christ-centered.  The topics contained in these books deal with important matters such as: practical guidance for living healthy in an unhealthy world; how we are to consider subjects like healing, suffering, prayer, God’s sovereignty, God’s silence, God’s goodness; the reality of Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare; God’s will and heart to make us more like Jesus in every way; dealing with various relationships in healthy ways.

 

 

Healing Life’s Hurts Through Theophostic Prayer by Edward M. Smith

Healing Care, Healing Prayer by Terry Wardle

Strong Winds & Crashing Waves by Terry Wardle

Wounds That Heal by Stephen Seamands

Ministry In The Image Of God by Stephen Seamands

The Search for Freedom by Robert S. McGee

The Search for Significance  by  Robert S. McGee

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

How People Grow by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud

Where Is God? by John Townsend

Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Beyond Boundaries by Dr. John Townsend

Who’s Pushing Your Buttons: Handling The Difficult People In Your Life by Dr. John Townsend

The Gift of Being Yourself by David G. Benner

Opening to God by David G. Benner

Surrender to Love by David G. Benner

Prayer: Finding The Heart’s True Home by Richard J. Foster

Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster

The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard

Hearing God by Dallas Willard

Disciplines Of The Holy Spirit by Siang-Yang Tan and Douglas Gregg

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

The Sacrament Of The Present Moment by Jean-Pierre De Caussade

The Seeking Heart by Fenelon

Seeing Is Believing by Gregory A. Boyd

When The Soul Listens by Jan Johnson

Enjoying The Presence Of God by Jan Johnson

The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge

Addiction & Grace by Gerald May

The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare by Ed Murphy

Soul Physicians by Robert Kellemen

God’s Healing for Life’s Losses by Robert Kellemen

The Land Between by Jeff Manion

A Place of Healing by Joni Eareckson Tada

Why A Suffering World Makes Sense by Chris Tiegreen

If God, Why Evil? by Norman Geisler

The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn

The Adversary by Mark Bubeck

Overcoming the Adversary by Mark Bubeck

Victory over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson

The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson

Living Free in Christ by Neil T. Anderson

Why Do You Do The Things You Do by Tim Clinton and Gary Sibcy

The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Chris Thurman

Healing by Francis MacNutt

The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels

You Gotta Keep Dancin’ by Tim Hansel

The Serpent of Paradise by Erwin Lutzer

Making the BEST of a BAD Decision: How to put your regrets behind you, embrace grace, and move toward a better future  by  Erwin W. Lutzer

BIFF: Quick Responses to High Conflict People by Bill Eddy

Trusting God When Times Are Tough by Ed Hinson

When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper

Satisfy Your Soul by Dr. Bruce Demarest

The Emotionally Destructive Relationship by Leslie Vernick

Overcoming Anxiety, Worry, and Fear by Gregory L. Jantz

God Can’t Sleep: Waiting For God on Life’s Dark Nights by Palmer Chinchen

Pray The Scriptures Bible: Psalms and Proverbs by Kevin Johnson

A Sweet & Bitter Providence by John Piper

Homosexuality and the Christian by Mark A. Yarhouse

Ex-Gays ? by Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse

The Smart Step-Family by Ron L. Deal

The Smart Stepmom by Ron L. Deal & Laura Petherbridge

The Smart Stepdad by Ron L. Deal

Families Where Grace Is In Place by Jeff VanVonderen

Redemptive Divorce by Mark W. Gaither

Good News for the Chemically Dependent and those who Love Them by Jeff VanVonderen

Hurt People Hurt People by Sandra D. Wilson

A Celebration of Sex by Dr. Douglass E. Rosenau

A Lasting Promise: A Christian Guide to Fighting for Your Marriage by Scott Stanley, Daniel Trathen, Savanna McCain, Milt Bryan

The Most Important Year In A Man’s Life: What Every Groom Needs To Know by Robert Wolgemuth & Mark Devries

The Most Important Year In A Woman’s Life: What Every Bride Needs To Know by Susan Devries & Bobbie Wolgemuth

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

The Five Languages of Apology by Gary Chapman & Jennifer Thomas

Caring Enough To Confront: How to Understand and Express Your Deepest Feelings Toward Others by David Augsburger

In Search of Balance by Richard A. Swenson

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard A. Swenson

Creative Correction: Extraordinary Ideas for Everyday Discipline by Lisa Whelchel

The Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande

How To Really Love Your Adult Child by Ross Campbell & Gary Chapman

Grieving, Hope And Solace: When A Loved One Dies in Christ by Albert N. Martin

The Relationship Principles of Jesus by Tom Holladay

Angels & Demons: Answers To Common Questions by H. Wayne House and Timothy J. Demy

It’s All YOUR FAULT! 12 Tips for Managing People Who Blame Others for Everything by Bill Eddy

Dealing With Depression: Trusting God Through The Dark Times by Sarah Collins & Jayne Haynes

Breaking Through Depression: A Biblical and Medical Approach to Emotional Wholeness by Donald P. Hall

How People Change by Timothy S. Lane & Paul David Tripp

Out Of A Far Country: A gay SON’s journey to God. A broken mother’s search for hope.  by  Christopher Yuan & Angela Yuan

Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure  by  D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

 

 

 

 

what the bible says

 

God’s Word has much to say about His Truth/Counsel, His willingness and ability to help us come into the light, and how desperately we have need for His help to be able to live a meaningful, balanced and Godly life.

 

Selected Scriptures – NIV

 

  • Genesis 18:14a - Is anything too hard for the Lord?
  • Job 12:22 - He (God) reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
  • Psalm 16:7a – I will praise the Lord, who counsels me…
  • Psalm 43:3a – Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me.
  • Psalm 119:24 – Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors
  • Psalm 119:130a – The unfolding of your words gives light.
  • Proverbs 2:6 – For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
  • Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
  • Proverbs 8:14, 17b – Counsel and sound judgement are mine; I have understanding and power… those who seek me find me.
  • Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
  • Proverbs 12:25 – An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
  • Jeremiah 17:9-10a,12-14 – The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.   Who can understand it?  I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind… Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
  • Jeremiah 20:12a – O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind…
  • Daniel 2:22 – He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with him.
  • Micah 7:8b-9b – Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light… He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.
  • Matthew 19:26 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
  • Luke 13:2 – When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman you are set free from your infirmity.”
  • John 8:32,36 – Jesus said… “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
  • John 10:10 – Jesus said… “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
  • John 14:6a – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
  • John 16:13a – “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
  • Acts 26:17b-18 – “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
  • Romans 8:6 – The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
  • Romans 12:2b – …but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:5b – He will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness…
  • 2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
  • 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.   On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
  • Galatians 5:1a – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
  • Galatians 5:1a – You, my brothers, were called to be free.
  • Ephesians 1:18a – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…
  • Ephesians 3:17b-21 – And I pray that you… may have power… to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory… for ever and ever!
  • Ephesians 6:11-12 – Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
  • Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
  • Hebrews 4:12-13 – For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him whom we must give account.
  • James 1:5-6a – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…
  • 1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God… who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
  • 1 John 5:6b – … the Spirit is the truth.