Dr. Josh Williams is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor with Advanced Certification through the National Christian Counselors Association. He graduated with a degree in Pastoral Ministry from Family of Faith College in Shawnee, Oklahoma before going on to obtain a Masters in Biblical Counseling and eventually a Doctorate in Christian Education from Andersonville Theological Seminary. He is also a Certified Temperament Counselor through N.C.C.A. Josh has over thirty years of experience in ministry, education, and relationships. He's served as a teacher, middle and high school principal, worship leader, pastor, and counselor.  At age thirty-six, I hit bottom.  This wasn’t supposed to happen. Son of a pastor. Graduate of both a Christian high school and Bible college. My three older brothers were all lead pastors. I’d been in ministry myself for over two decades as a worship minister, youth leader, and various stints as a professional chair-stacker (code for church “intern”). At the time, I was the middle school principal of a large and highly respected Christian school in Texas and had been married for more than ten years with two beautiful daughters. I’d never “strayed” from the faith since I knelt by a tree on our 40-acre farm when I was barely six years old.  Why wasn’t I on the mountain top? Because there was something else going on below the surface. My mind would not shut off. EVER. I’d been “coping” with it (unsuccessfully) as far back as I can remember. Thankfully, a strong, moral upbringing kept me from some of the more dangerous, self-soothing mechanisms: drugs, alcohol, risky behavior. Instead, I resorted to the more socially acceptable vices. Why eat one piece when you could have the whole chocolate cake? And why not wash that deliciousness down with twenty glasses of soda? And this was only a supplement to my daily portions of coffee and sweet tea while binge-watching the latest TV action series.  I was nearing the tipping point. If one desires a stress-free career, middle school principal is far from the top of the list. The internal conflict was overwhelming. My wife would look out the window and watch me as I mowed the lawn. Embarrassingly enough, she’d notice my internal chaos spilling out into conversations and body gestures to someone not there. No doubt, I was rehashing a painful conversation for the millionth time with no relief, failing to contain the monster inside its cage. Why was I different from everyone else? No one prayed more than I did. No one read the Bible more than I did. In fact, my college buddies nicknamed me “The Walking Concordance”. What more could I do?  The saddest part? No one else knew the answer either. Through great embarrassment, I’d talk to family, friends, and pastors I trusted. Among the more common pieces of advice were things like “Read and pray more” or “Cast your cares on the Lord” (as though worries are heavy books I could simply remove from my mental backpack). “Rebuke the devil, Josh!” Yep. Tried that a time or two. Zero relief. Not to say that any of these words of wisdom were of no value. Quite the contrary.  However, I was running into one of the largest crises in the Church today: ignorance surrounding emotional health. The conventional wisdom: treat emotional pain as a spiritual problem. Even further, within my early Christian circles, it was implied (if not flat-out stated) that emotions need to be crucified with the old nature.  One fateful day, my wife Tammy and I attended the wedding of a dear friend, and she strategically sat us next to her therapist. Kate was not like any therapist we’d ever imagined. Young. Vibrant. Shockingly, she looked nothing like Sigmund Freud. And she was a believer! This widened our previously limited perspective. Counseling was seen as shameful in our families of origin. It wasn’t overtly preached as such. However, if one needed counseling, he was seen as a 3rd grader being pulled from regular class because he couldn’t read. I remember being so relieved in elementary that I wasn’t the poor bloke on that walk of shame to the remedial room. “Those kids should know better” was the resounding phrase in our wagging heads.  As Tammy and I drove from the wedding venue, she whispered softly, “I think I’d like to go see Kate.” I nearly wrecked the car. “Sure, babe.” That was the beginning. A month after Tammy had her first session, I sat my barely-functioning self on the couch of Kate Goodell. Thus began the healing journey. I found out my upbringing, while spiritually strong, did not promote the best emotional health. “Old school” parenting can be devastating for a person of my temperament. As we uncovered old beliefs I didn’t even realize I held to and healed painful experiences, anxiety faded away. I didn't really even have to white-knuckle addictive behavior. It simply disappeared. A minister once told me, “If you get your mind renewed to who you are in Christ, you don’t have to quit bad habits, they’ll quit you.” This was certainly proven to be true.  Kate taught me about OCD, which was hard for my Word of Faith background to swallow. We’re not supposed to claim those kinds of labels. Yet I moved from “name it, claim it” to “name it, tame it”. I found out OCD, rather the trait that spins out of control and becomes OCD, is a superpower and something God made for our good. If given the proper self-care and healing, the gift of thinking ahead can calm from racing at 9000 rpm to idle and work for me at a gentle 1000 rpm.  I never imagined how much my life would change. Not only was I walking in a peace I never knew possible, but others were hungry to hear more about my journey of healing from anxiety. I lost count of how many Nicodemus’s found me “under the cover of night,” evading public notice. They, too, had debilitating anxiety, a socially unacceptable admission in many church circles.  A few years later, I connected with the NCCA.  “Where has this been all my life?” I whispered it over and over as I completed the first few courses. I can’t say enough about Temperament and the Arno Profiling System. It is the single greatest resource for counseling and personal emotional health. In the fall of 2021, I received my license as a Pastoral Counselor with Advanced Certification.  In January of 2022, I founded Joshua Williams Counseling in Norman, Oklahoma. Since then, I’ve unpacked almost 500 temperaments and held over 3,200 counseling sessions. Last summer, I became a Certified Academic Institution and presently have several students enrolled. When asked if I like what I do, I reply, “I have the greatest job in the world: I get a front row-seat to watch Jesus heal people.”

Encouraging Words   by David Jeremiah Find comfort in the midst of life's chaos! Drawing from his decades of study and times of discouragement, Jeremiah offers biblical examples of hope to help you during challenging seasons; inspiring teaching on how to claim victory even in the hardest times; and practical wisdom for holding God's promises in your heart. 208 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

Cross and Crown Counseling An NCCA Certified Academic Institution Cross and Crown Counseling, founded in February of 2013, is a counseling office and NCCA Certified Academic Institution. Kate Walpole, the founder, and director is an NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor and NCCA Clinical Supervisor. She is also an International Representative of the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling. From a very early age, I loved the Word of God. I began reading it on my own when I was 9 years old searching for God my protector, finding safety in His righteous judgement of evil and hope in His patience and love. I could hardly believe that His beloved Son Jesus Christ would die for my sins.  The more I read, the deeper my hunger to understand God, His ways and what the Word of God really meant for me grew.  Little did I know, the Melancholy mind of my inner child was already on God’s path for my destiny in the kingdom of God. One of the most significant passages of scripture for my life has been Isaiah 61:1-3. “ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,  Because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted;  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God;  To comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in  Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the  mantle of praise instead of a spirit of faintness, so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  This passage became the foundation of Cross and Crown Counseling.  By God’s grace, He led me to Lisa Winchell’s CAI, In His Image Counseling and Training. I often chuckle at God’s sovereign reign over my life. In His wisdom and foreknowledge, He had planned so much more for my life than training in Christian Counseling. After completing my BA in Christian Counseling and ordination through The National Conservative Christian Church, now Experience Ministries, I founded Cross and Crown Counseling in February of 2013.  I was working for another ministry teaching Bible during my schooling and had a little office which they graciously granted to me for use for counseling for a small fee. It was official.   I knew Jesus Christ had come to fulfill the passage of scripture in Isaiah, not only in my life but in each person who would sit across from me sharing their heartache, confusion, and desire for change. Everything the clients could possibly need in this life was found in the person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. I eagerly searched out additional resources for counseling and practical ways to apply God’s Word with the understanding of the mind, will and emotions of humanity.  God had called me to a mission; Counseling in Dallas, Oregon, a small town of about 16,500 people just west of the state capital, Salem.  As lives began to change and word of mouth began to spread that something different was being offered at Cross and Crown Counseling, I found myself working with believers and unbelievers. Some referrals would say, “just don’t talk to me about the Bible, but I heard you have a lot to offer.” My first real challenge was learning how to glorify God as a pastoral counselor and not talk about Him. God lovingly showed me that their hearts cry was to be loved and feel significant. They needed a purpose that was not dependent on the changing emotions and beliefs of others but on a steadfast truth that would never change. As I spoke to their hearts and showed them ways to make healthy changes, I soon found many of those previously shut off from God became willing to consider what He had to say. The second challenge I faced was the rapid growth and demand for counseling. I was not able to meet the needs of the many people looking for help. Some clients were driving for over an hour for their sessions.  I began to pray that God would send more laborers to share in the work.  In 2016, He provided just the right person who I referred to In His Image as I was not yet aware that God wanted me to start the CAI. When she finished her training in 2018, she joined the team. As her schedule filled up quickly, she soon began her own family reducing her availability and I realized more help was needed. In January of 2020, Cross and Crown Counseling, Certified Academic Institute launched. Within a few months students were led to us by word of mouth. Most of the students that have come through Cross and Crown CAI have been local individuals called to ministry. I have not advertised the school yet and believe God will show me how and when to do that. My focus has been to raise up counselors right here and to help them grow and become successful in serving God. Local students have been able to intern in the office during Phase 3 of the BA program and upon completion of the BA, some have the opportunity to be hired on and work at Cross and Crown Counseling as an employee and continue training. Cross and Crown Counseling now consists of myself, one Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor, two Licensed Pastoral Counselors, one intern who just completed her BA and two office staff. We will soon be adding another intern when he completes his ordination.   God has blessed us with office space in our church building where my husband and I also pastor. My goal for growth consists of opening another counseling office in a different town within thirty miles of Dallas and continue to add staff to our counseling ministry team as God brings those He has called to counsel.  We have clients all over the country as word of mouth continues to be our greatest advertisement and we praise God for His wisdom shared so that His beloved children can walk in peace and freedom.  Multiplication is a powerful principle, and it demanded a release of the me, myself and I mindset I had established during the early years of Cross and Crown Counseling.  I will never forget the day I relinquished control of Cross and Crown Counseling completely to God and let go of fear of man and the fear of losing our reputation when the counselors made mistakes. God challenged me many times in my perfectionism tendencies so I could grow and walk in humility and love for my team. We have a wonderful team that prays for each other, encourages each other, and believes in each other. What an honor and joy it has been to see them grow in grace and confidence.  They have become trees of righteousness planted by the Lord where many can find shelter and truth while facing the storms of life. I give God all the glory and appreciation for His kindness to allow me to be part of such a wonderful plan. When I reflect upon my life, especially the last 10 years, I am in awe of how much bigger God’s plans were and that He chose me to not only counsel but to minister to and support the counselors that come through the CAI as they fulfill God’s plans for their lives.

ARE YOU LIVING WITH FAITH OR LIVING IN FEAR? SANGUINE IN INCLUSION-CONTROL-AFFECTION AUTHOR Dr. Phyllis J. Arno Faith is a fruit of the Spirit and available to all. Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, FAITH, Meekness, Temperance Galatians 5:22-23 KJV Living with faith means that you are grounded on the solid rock-JESUS. Living in fear means that you are NOT grounded on the solid rock. Living in fear means that your house is built on the sand.  The sand contains: hatred                                       sadness                      retaliation insecurity                                 frustration                  bitterness  stress                                        unforgiveness            violence  disbelief                                   unhappiness               hypocrisy guilt                                         jealousy                      depression anxiety                                    criticism                      murder prejudice                                 drugs                           vengeance anger                                       resentment                   alcohol WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FAITH Hebrews 11:1:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Romans 10:17:  So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God I Peter 1:7:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and   glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ I Timothy 6:12:   Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life… II Timothy 4:7: I have fought a good fight.  I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. James 2:26:  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT REWARDS OF FAITH Power to become the sons of God.  See John 1:12 Power to do mighty works.  See John 14:12 Kept in perfect peace.  See Isaiah 26:3 Kept safe.  See Proverb 29:25 Having assurance of prayer answered.  See I John 5:14 Will not be confounded (confused).  See I Peter 2:6 WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FEAR There are good fears and bad.  The latter kind come from wrong believing and open the door to doubt and hinder the flow of God’ power. The Greek word “deilia” is for a cowardly fear; not being able to face a problem, but rather, running from it.   There is also the fear of people or things, based on perceptions and/or lies. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. See I John 4:18 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears.  See Psalm 34:4 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  See II Timothy 1:7 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  See Isaiah 41:10 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (fear of dying). See Psalm 23:4 See also Psalm 91 and Psalm 121. PLEASE REMEMBER, FEAR CAN PARALYZE YOU SO THAT YOU CANNOT OPERATE IN FAITH.  IF FEAR IS IN CONTROL, IT WILL PUSH OUT FAITH . LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE  FEARS OF A SANGUINE IN INCLUSION FEAR OF REJECTION    They will tend to take on the morals of the crowd in order to keep from being rejected. This sometimes means that they will say and do things that they know are wrong.  FEAR OF BEING UNABLE TO SOCIALIZE They need to be out with the crowd, as they are fast-paced and need to be where the action is--socializing with people. This is because people tend to energize them.  They may swing downward and become depressed if they are unable to socialize. FEAR OF BEING AROUND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK/TASK ALL THE TIME  They tend to become stressed and impatient with people who want to work/task all the time.  This is because they are relationship oriented not task oriented.   FEAR OF NOT BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION They tend to require a lot of intention and if they do not receive attention, they tend to say and do things to receive this attention. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE  FEARS OF A SANGUINE IN CONTROL FEAR OF NOT RECEIVING RECOGNITION AND   APPROVAL FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS When they do not receive recognition for their accomplishments, they will tend to become self-indulgent, drop everything they are doing and swing from being independent to dependent.  During this time, they tend to become unproductive. FEAR OF PEOPLE TRYING TO CONTROL THEM  They tend to want to be in control; however, they tend to want people to work “with” them but not to control them. If people do try to control them, they will just  walk away from what they were doing and go and self-indulge.   FEAR OF BEING CRITICIZED They tend to not receive criticism very well.  If people do criticize them, this can throw them into their Sanguine swing.  When this happens, they will go and self- indulge. Then, when they begin to feel unproductive they will swing back up and take charge. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE  FEARS OF A SANGUINE IN  AFFECTION FEAR OF REJECTION  They tend to try harder to please their deep relationships, however if their expressions are rejected, they may stop initiating and seek love and affection elsewhere. FEAR OF NOT RECEIVING ASSURANCE THAT THEY ARE LOVED BY THEIR DEEP RELATIONSHIPS The tend to pull away, sulk and be devastated if not constantly reassured that their deep relationships love them. They need to learn that they cannot expect their deep relationships to act and react as they do because their deep relationships may not express or respond to the same amount of love and affection. FEAR OF NOT BEING LOVED EXCLUSIVELY  They tend to fear and be jealous of their deep relationships when they express love and attention to others.  When this happens, they tend to swing downward and pull away from this deep relationship. NOTE:  “A Sanguine is a Sanguine is a Sanguine.” In other words, a Sanguine  needs to be with people because people energize them.  It does not matter whether they are Sanguine  in Inclusion, Control or Affection, the bottom line is: THEY NEED PEOPLE.  Please remember that these are temperament tendencies.  Their walk with the Lord,   their birth order and their learned behavior will tend to affect their temperament .   It is important to let them know these are tendencies and because of the effects of the above, some of the tendencies may not apply to them. You need to explain to your counselees that there are no good or bad  temperaments.  God created  all temperaments with strengths, weaknesses, and needs . When you are disseminating the APS tendencies to your counselees, you need to start out by saying:  “People with your temperament tend to do….”. By doing this, you are letting them know that they are not the only ones with this temperament.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." [Acts 1:8 NLT] Jesus had told his crowd of disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the promise of the Father, and they waited. If there were those in that crowd who weren’t quite sure about everything, they were about to get fired up!  Truly! “Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” [Acts 2:3-4 NLT] But…that crowd of disciples came down from that room, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit! Remember, there were crowds of people running to see what was going on when they heard the roaring of a mighty windstorm! “When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.” [Acts 2:6 NLT] When Peter came down with the other disciples and spoke (Acts 2:14-41), 3,000 people cried out and were baptized and added to the church that day! This was the birth of ‘The Way’, the Church! The world would never be the same! Please remember: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." [Acts 1:8 NLT] We are all witnesses, telling people about Jesus to the ends of the earth, RIGHT?

June Encouragement 2024 “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’ " [Matt. 26:39 NLT] Conflict. What thoughts, feelings, or images does this evoke when we read it? Many conflicts are going on around me and in me right now! Can we all agree that Jesus must have experienced a lot of conflict as He walked amongst the people of his time? He was preaching the truth of the Word of God concerning the Kingdom! The desire of Jesus’ heart was to see their eyes and hearts open up to who He was and bring them back to the Father. His words in the Garden of Gethsemane still ring loud and clear as to how we should handle conflicts: “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’ " His “flesh” didn’t want to suffer, just as ours does not want to suffer, but He surrendered His desires because He chose to do the will of His Father. Faced with His conflict, He did the will of His Father, as should we! Isn’t this what we want?

180 Christian Counseling & Training An NCCA Certified Academic Institution 180 Christian Counseling & Training, has been an NCCA Certified Academic Institution since 2012.  Dr. Juli  is an NCCA Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor, Advanced Certified.  She is also an International Representative of the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling. Dr. Juli Wilhite is the founder and director of 180 Christian Counseling & Training.  She received her License with NCCA in 2010 and is Advanced Certified.  She became a CAI in 2012 and is an International Representative with the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling.  She achieved her PhD in Christian Leadership from Kingdom Christian University in St. Petersburg, FL in 2021.  Juli has been in private practice since 2011, prior to that she served on staff at a large church in the metroplex as the Director of Celebrate Recovery and Counseling.  Juli and her husband Arthur of 18 years have a Christian Boarding School and Church in Uganda.  They reside in a Tiny House on Wheels (currently in Texas) with their Chorkie, Lola. I grew up in Michigan and launched my career right after graduation with American Express Group and Incentive Services, which allowed me to travel the world. Later, I transitioned into the field of Voice Mail. After 21 years in the corporate world, I felt a divine calling to ministry. I had always been the go-to person for those who were hurting or needed someone to talk to. This led me to my church's Celebrate Recovery (CR) program, which addressed a broad spectrum of issues, not just substance abuse. My first small group comprised women dealing with codependency. Initially, I questioned whether codependency was a real issue, but I soon realized its profound impact. I became a leader and eventually the director of the program. A large church in the Dallas metroplex then recruited me to direct their Celebrate Recovery program, a role I held for seven years. During this time, I decided to pursue counseling credentials and discovered my favorite counseling tool: Temperament. Temperament has been a significant asset for me, enabling me to build a thriving private practice and help others achieve their counseling goals. Over the years, I've worked with many families, often extending to multiple generations. This experience has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve found that Temperament is not only excellent for building a practice but also for developing a Certified Academic Institution (CAI). Many counselors struggle with attracting clients and conducting sessions. Temperament provides a clear pathway, as clients complete a questionnaire before our first session, allowing me to prepare thoroughly. Early in my practice, I worked alongside Functional Medicine Doctors and Functional Neurologists. Our patients often overlapped, and it was gratifying to see neurologists impressed when I identified a person's brain type using the Temperament Questionnaire, something they confirmed after lengthy evaluations. This solidified my belief that Temperament defines our brain types, which helps me attract whole families eager to understand their Temperaments. Throughout my life, I’ve faced numerous challenges that tested my resilience and adaptability. Each obstacle was an opportunity for growth. Whether it was moving to a new city, starting a new job, or navigating personal relationships, I approached each situation with an open mind and a positive attitude. The past few years have been particularly challenging for everyone. Running a virtual practice during 2020-2021 was eye-opening and allowed me to expand my reach globally. My husband and I realized our dream of living away from the city, selling our home, and building a Tiny House on Wheels. Now, we reside an hour outside Dallas on a lake, where life has slowed down, and my passion for helping others has deepened. During my time at the church, I developed additional tools that I now share with my students and clients. My 3-stage approach to counseling includes: Temperament: Understanding one's unique temperament or brain type, which helps clients understand their information processing.  Psalm 39:13-16 Communication: Utilizing Non-Violent Communication (NVC), a model that emphasizes empathy and precise language.  Eph. 5:19-20 Trauma Model: I developed Transformation Today/Spiritual Mapping, a tool for processing severe or situational trauma, which clients can use for life.  Jeremiah 17:9-10 My journey reflects a commitment to continuous learning and growth, both personally and professionally, with a deep-seated drive to help others achieve their goals and overcome their challenges.  Beyond the professional realm, I have many interests that keep me invigorated. Reading, kayaking, cooking and spending time in nature is vital to my health.  There's something incredibly refreshing about immersing myself in nature.  I find it physically rewarding but it also provides me with a sense of peace and mindfulness. Reflecting on my journey so far, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences that have shaped me. Each step, whether a triumph or a setback, has taught me invaluable lessons and contributed to my growth. As I look to the future, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. My goal is to continue pursuing my passions, making a positive difference in the world, and living a life filled with purpose and joy. Thank you for taking the time to learn a bit about me. Here’s to the adventures yet to come and the endless opportunities for growth and discovery!

ARE YOU LIVING WITH FAITH OR LIVING IN FEAR? PHLEGMATIC IN INCLUSION-CONTROL-AFFECTION By Dr. Phyllis J. Arno Faith is a fruit of the Spirit and available to all. Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, FAITH, Meekness, Temperance Galatians 5:22-23 KJV Living with faith means that you are grounded on the solid rock-JESUS. Living in fear means that you are NOT grounded on the solid rock. Living in fear means that your house is built on the sand.  The sand contains: hatred                                       sadness                      retaliation insecurity                                 frustration                  bitterness  stress                                        unforgiveness            violence  disbelief                                   unhappiness               hypocrisy guilt                                         jealousy                      depression anxiety                                    criticism                      murder prejudice                                 drugs                           vengeance anger                                       resentment                   alcohol WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FAITH Hebrews 11:1:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Romans 10:17:  So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God I Peter 1:7:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Timothy 6:12:   Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life… II Timothy 4:7: I have fought a good fight.  I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. James 2:26:  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT REWARDS OF FAITH Power to become the sons of God.  See John 1:12 Power to do mighty works.  See John 14:12 Kept in perfect peace.  See Isaiah 26:3 Kept safe.  See Proverb 29:25 Having assurance of prayer answered.  See I John 5:14 Will not be confounded (confused).  See I Peter 2:6 WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FEAR There are good fears and bad.  The latter kind come from wrong believing and open the door to doubt and hinder the flow of God’s power. The Greek word “deilia” is for a cowardly fear; not being able to face a problem, but rather, running from it.   There is also the fear of people or things, based on perceptions and/or lies. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. See I John 4:18 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears.  See Psalm 34:4 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  See II Timothy 1:7 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  See Isaiah 41:10 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (fear of dying). See Psalm 23:4 See also Psalm 91 and Psalm 121. PLEASE REMEMBER, FEAR CAN PARALYZE YOU SO THAT YOU CANNOT OPERATE IN FAITH.  IF FEAR IS IN CONTROL, IT WILL PUSH OUT FAITH . LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE  FEARS OF A PHLEGMATIC IN INCLUSION FEAR OF BEING PRESSURED INTO BECOMING TOO INVOLVED IN  PROJECTS AT WORK. In order to keep people from pressuring them to become too involved in projects at work that may drain their energy, they may tend to use their sense of humor in a sarcastic way. FEAR OF BEING “PRESSURED” TO SOCIALIZE. They tend to be stubborn and may use their humor in a sarcastic way to keep people from pressuring them to socialize.  They relate to tasks better than people. This is because they are task oriented and people tend to drain their low energy. They have no real need to socialize.   FEAR THAT PEOPLE MAY FIND OUT THAT THEY ARE USING THEM TO DEFER A SOCIAL AND/OR WORK SITUATION They tend to fear that people will find out that they are motivating them to handle situations so that they, the Phlegmatic, does not have to become involved.  FEAR OF BEING ACCUSED OF BEING LAZY They tend to need to move at a slow, steady pace; therefore, people often accuse them of being lazy.  They are stubbornly resistant to change, especially when it directly affects them.  They also tend to be highly organized and want to think through in advance of their actions. FEAR OF REVEALING PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THEMSELVES They tend to fear revealing personal information about themselves as they are very self-protective;  therefore, when asked about their private life, they may tend to use their humor to change the subject. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FEARS OF A PHLEGMATIC IN CONTROL FEAR OF LOSING THEIR INDEPENDENCE They tend to be self-protective.  They do not want others to control them as they are highly independent and like to work at their own pace. They need to seek employment where they are not controlled so that they can work at their own pace. FEAR OF MAKING CHANGES REGARDING THEIR WORK They tend to be stubbornly resistant to changes because they believe they have done their very best, and they do not want to drain their energy fixing or changing something that they believe is “not broken.” FEAR OTHERS WILL MAKE DEMANDS ON THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS OR EVENTS They tend to fear that this will drain their energy so they will tend to not obligate themselves. FEAR OF BEING PUSHED TO MOVE AT A FASTER PACE They tend to need to move at a slower pace because of their low energy.  Being  pushed to go at a faster pace will drain them physically and emotionally. However, even though they have this fear they may, at times, take the path of least resistance to protect their low energy. They tend to prefer working at a job where they can sit and work at their own pace. They tend to like to do detailed work such as data entry, bookkeeping, cataloging, maintaining records and research work. FEAR OF CONFLICT They tend to want peace at all cost as they know conflict will drain their energy.  They will need to learn to maintain balance in their life so they do not take the path of least resistance that could adversely affect others. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FEARS OF A PHLEGMATIC IN  AFFECTION FEAR OF BECOMING INVOLVED IN DEEP RELATIONSHIPS They establish very few deep relationships. They tend to not want to get involved.  This is because they do not have the energy; therefore, they tend to be overly protective of their low energy in this area.  FEAR OF MAKING COMMITMENTS  They tend to be overly protective of their low energy and they fear making commitments as they do not want to expend the energy required of them to maintain these commitments; however,  If they do make commitments, they may tend to express love and affection to their deep relationships by doing tasks for them rather than hugging and touching, etc. in order to meet their need for peace. FEAR OF BEING CRITICIZED FOR BEING UNEMOTIONAL  They tend to respond to their deep relationships rather than initiate. They do this in order to keep from being criticized for being unemotional. This is because of their low energy. They will respond to their deep relationships just to keep the peace. FEAR THAT THEIR DEEP RELATIONSHIPS MISUNDERSTAND THEIR SENSE OF  HUMOR They tend to fear the loss of a deep relation due to death because they only allow a  few people into their deep affection area. They can mourn the loss of a deep relationship for years. FEAR OF EMOTIONALLY EXPRESSING THE LOSS OF A DEEP RELATIONSHIP  They tend to fear expressing the loss of a deep relationship because they are not comfortable expressing their grief emotionally with hugs and tears.  They prefer to express their grief by performing tasks for the family; however, people tend to feel that they do not care. NOTE:  “A Phlegmatic is a Phlegmatic is a Phlegmatic.” In other words, a Phlegmatic  needs to move at a slow pace because they have low energy. It does not matter whether they are Phlegmatic  in Inclusion, Control or Affection, the bottom line is: THEY NEED TO MOVE AT A SLOWER PACE.  Please remember that these are temperament tendencies.  Their walk with the Lord, their birth order and their learned behavior will tend to affect their temperament .   It is important to let them know these are tendencies and because of the effects of the above, some of the tendencies may not apply to them. You need to explain to your counselees that there are no good or bad  temperaments.  God created  all temperaments with strengths, weaknesses and needs. When you are disseminating the APS tendencies to your counselees, you need to start out by saying:  “People with your temperament tend to do….”. By doing this, you are letting them know that they are not the only ones with this temperament.

About The Book This book is an invitation into a realm of daily conditioning to strengthen the inner man so you can embark on a journey that will help you evade spiritual terrains that war against God’s people. We must activate the benefits of daily deliverance as an exercise and an execution. We have the commands to take an intentional seat in heavenly places to strategically battle well—to identify tactics, to annihilate hindrances, and to dismantle bricks that block the activation of divine purposes so we can recover and resume the path set before us. Governing all that we do, spiritual warfare is in every influence and sphere of the mountains upon the earth. Intelligent spiritual warfare allows maximization of power and authority over the deeds, actions, devices, and schisms of the enemy warring against everything promised to us from GOD in every area of life. Sometimes we feel that we are losing battles even though we know that the war is already won. The author shares the extremity and intensity of Psalm 149:6–9 and Jeremiah 29:11 as an anthem for principles of deliverance. About The Author Dr. Damita Lucas is a native of Vailsburg Newark, New Jersey. She holds a Doctor of Christian Clinical Counseling with a minor in Christian Education. Dr. Damita Lucas is the Chief Operating Officer of her own counseling ministry practice. She is licensed through the National Christian Counselors Association as a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor with Advanced Certification with seven board advanced certification specialties, and she is also a Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor. Dr. Lucas is honored to be a Presidential Member of both the National Christian Counselors Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors. She has been an ordained elder in the Lord's church for over twenty years. As a certified Mental Health Advocate with several certifications, Dr. Lucas visualizes ministry everywhere through love and passion and has learned that everything is a "disguise to evangelize."

Just as we consult with the manufacturer’s manual to know how to properly use a product, so also we need to consult with God, the Creator of marriage. No two marriages are alike, but there are godly principles that will work in every marriage. You will learn how to advance your marriage to a new level, repair the damage done over the years, become more aware of your individual and spousal needs, effectively communicate and improve your problem-solving skills. God-made Marriage will provide opportunities to discover how to enrich and empower your marriage.

Jesus Calling for Moms By: Sarah Young Experience Peace in the Presence of the Savior Who Is Always with You. A cherished keepsake for your mom---or somebody who's like a mom to you! This beautiful compilation of 50 themed selections from Young's bestsellers include meditations on the power of love, strength, courage, God's guidance, and more. A new introduction from the author, journaling space, stunning imagery, and Scripture verses will inspire and encourage mothers of all ages. 160 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

May Encouragement 2024 “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” [Gen. 1:3 NASB95] God spoke! There was light! God’s creative Word defined our world and how we are forever to relate to it. He then made it very clear that He separated the light from the darkness. “God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.” [Gen 1:4 NASB95] God also called the light good. I don’t see Him calling the darkness good. Now, let’s jump ahead and see what Jesus has to say about light and darkness. Oh look, it’s still separated! He said, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it”. [John 1:5 NLT] Just pause for a moment here. What do you imagine when you read this Scripture? When I read this, I picture myself as strong in Christ, but I also see darkness trying to overtake me! Who we are according to God’s Word is what really matters in the midst of this world’s darkness. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world!” So here we are friends, in a world that not only looks and feels incredibly dark, but is dark. We can read all about it and see it on a daily basis. Ephesians 5:13-16 says: “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.” For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Walk wisely! Fully awake! LET THERE BE LIGHT! BE THE LIGHT OF JESUS!