Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy Part 2 -Natalie Varonne- Have you ever heard someone compare their sins with the sins of major characters in the Bible? “At least I’m not as bad as David…murder and adultery!” or “My sexual sin is nothing like Rahab the prostitute!” I’ve heard people wonder aloud “How could the Israelites not have learned from everything God had done for them? They’re so ungrateful!” But are we not the same in our own … [Read more...]
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy- What I Learned in Unexpected Places
January 22, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Pt.1 The Value of Repetition -by Natalie Varrone- For many Christians, reading parts of the Old Testament can be tedious and boring. The books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy seem to be especially dry reading. My experience reading these books was no exception. In my Bible reading, these were the books that I was the least excited to read and felt like an obligation, really just to say that I have read the whole Bible and hadn’t … [Read more...]
The Holidays- The Best of Times and The Worst of Times
November 29, 2023 by Leave a Comment
-Natalie Varrone- Holidays are a frequent topic in counseling. Holidays are a time when current and past issues come to the forefront of people’s lives. Family issues, grief and loss, life changes, and loneliness have an extra sting during this time of year. Comparing families and personal lives with other people becomes very frequent. Many people feel that they must live up to the hallmark movie standard of a perfect holiday season, which … [Read more...]
Sad About S.A.D.? There is Hope for Seasonal Affective Disorder
November 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
As the vibrant colors of autumn fade and winter's chill settles in, many find themselves grappling with a subtle yet profound shift in mood and energy. This phenomenon, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), often referred to as the "winter blues," casts a shadow over the lives of those affected. Below, we explore the nuances of SAD, its symptoms, and practical strategies to navigate and conquer this seasonal challenge. Unpacking … [Read more...]
Free Resource for Your Family!
November 16, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Gratitude changes everything. We have a great, FREE resource for your children and teens: a month-long Daily Gratitude Journal. Print as many copies as you'd like and take a few minutes each night individually or as a family to journal what makes you thankful, what inspires you, and what Scripture you are focusing on. We all have busy schedules, but this is a great way to set aside time to be intentional and to model gratitude for our … [Read more...]
Working on Yourself: One of the Most Selfless Things You Can Do
September 6, 2023 by Leave a Comment
-by Natalie Varrone, LPCC- I know many people who are extremely giving. They spend most of their free time and energy focusing on and helping others. Their thoughts are consumed with thinking of how they could be of assistance to people in need and bettering others’ lives. They are others-focused. Of course, these are beautiful qualities. However, in this writing, I would like to encourage one of the less obvious ways of helping others. … [Read more...]
A Journey of Gratitude and Divine Encounters
August 8, 2023 by Leave a Comment
-by Dr. Michael Misja- Life has a way of surprising us with unexpected turns, taking us on a transformative journey that touches the deepest recesses of our hearts. I’d like to share with you a personal odyssey that led me to experience profound gratitude, unearthed guilt, and ultimately, divine encounters. Some years ago, the pain in my hips had reached an unbearable level. Despite trying all available remedies, it was … [Read more...]
Learn to Ride the Waves
July 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
-by Natalie Varrone- One of the few weather perks of living in Cleveland, Ohio is our changing of the seasons. Most of us love the variety of having four different types of weather throughout the year. I am grateful for the weather seasons we experience for they also mirror the changing seasons of life. Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. There are good times and bad. One of the few constants in life is … [Read more...]
“Ouch, That Hurts!”- Being Pruned
April 19, 2023 by Leave a Comment
-by Natalie Varrone- The Bible is full of beautiful metaphors that we can unpackage each time we encounter them. We find one such passage in John 15 when Jesus describes a grapevine and its fruit. Much of the passage is about our need to stay connected to the vine (Jesus) in order to be able to bear good fruit. But in verse 2, Jesus says this, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear … [Read more...]
