ARE YOU LIVING WITH FAITH OR LIVING IN FEAR? 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’ 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 MELANCHOLY IN INCLUSION Fear of Rejection. They tend to fear rejection from people and will tend to reject them first. This is because they do not relate well to people and do not understand them. Since they tend to think a great deal, this fear of rejection may only be perceived. They must remember: They are the guardians of their mind and, as guardians, they need to continually submit their fears of rejection to Jesus.  If they do this, Jesus will alleviate their fears. When you feel secure in God’s love, you will not tend to fear rejection from people. Fear of Socializing. They tend to have a fear of socializing because they do not relate well to people; they relate better to doing tasks. They tend to fear that people will make demands on them to interact and socialize —demands that will make them feel uncomfortable. If they  are required to attend social functions, they would probably feel more comfortable working in the background doing tasks such as setting up sound equipment, building scenery, painting, cooking, etc.  They usually do not like to be questioned regarding their personal life as they prefer not to share their personal thoughts and feelings. Fear of Imperfection of Self and Others. They tend to fear that they do not measure up to their own ideals of perfection; therefore, no one else could ever see them as perfect either. In their own eyes they are never perfect enough. They need to learn that only Jesus is perfect and that they need to give themselves and others the freedom to be imperfect and to know that we are all works in progress. Since they cannot see perfection within themselves, they will then tend to look at others thinking that they are perfect; however,  they soon find out that others also have imperfections.  They may even begin to think to themselves: “Nobody is perfect and nobody can be perfect.”  Therefore, to compensate for their own feelings of imperfection or inadequacy they may become highly critical of others. Fear of Death and Dying. They tend to fear death and dying.  They tend to have many questions such as: “Will I linger in pain and die a slow death?”  “Will I be able to take care of myself?”  “Who will take care of me if I can’t take care of myself?” “Will I have to leave my home and go to a health care center?” The reason they have all of these questions in their mind is that they usually do not want to leave their home or even want to live with one of their children, and they do not want to live in a nursing home. This is because their home is their “castle,” their “safe haven” away from the rest of the world, and also, they do not want to have strangers take care of them.  They will not usually talk to people about this because they do not want them to know of their fears; but they will tend to think about all of this constantly. If they continually dwell on thoughts of death, and dying they may even think about committing suicide to escape these thoughts and to escape the inevitable leaving their home.  They need to learn that He is their true “safe haven” and they can always “run to Him.” Fear of Financial Security. They tend to be concerned about their finances.  Some tend to need to pay cash for everything; some tend to need to have a certain amount of money in their pocket; some tend to need to buy land as an investment; some will tend to clip coupons; and some will tend to only buy items that are on sale.  If they have investments, they will tend to watch the stock market reports daily.  If the market goes down, they tend to become fearful and become insecure. They may also tend to feel insecure with their job.  They may think:  “What will I do if I lose my job?” “How will I support myself and my family?” Dwelling on financial insecurities may even cause them to entertain suicidal thoughts to escape the pressure. They need to learn that God will supply all their needs. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FEARS OF A MELANCHOLY IN CONTROL Fear of the Unknown. They tend to fear the unknown.  This is because they are afraid to make a decision until they have all the details because of their need to be responsible and reliable. Fear of Being Controlled. They fear being controlled.  This is because they do not want to tell others what to do and they do not want others to tell them what to do. If someone tries to control them they will rebel and perhaps do the exact opposite of what someone told them what to do. Fear of Appearing Incompetent and Making Mistakes. They fear that others will think that they are incompetent if they make mistakes; therefore, they will check, check and double check their work just to make sure that everything is perfect. Fear of Failure. They tend to fear that they have failed if someone criticizes their decisions.  When others critique their decisions they should probably ask if they could make some suggestions. Then the Melancholy in Control will tend to not feel as if  they have failed to make the right decisions. Fear of being called Procrastinators. They tend to fear that others will misunderstand their reasons for not making quick  decisions.  The reason it takes them longer is their need to be seen as responsible and reliable. However, because it takes longer for them to make a decision, those around them may feel that they are just procrastinating. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FEARS OF A MELANCHOLY IN  AFFECTION Fear Rejection. They tend to feel that they never measure up to their loved ones and tend to feel inadequate because they do not respond the way their deep relationships expect them to. Fear of Being Smothered or Suffocated by deep relationships. They tend to fear that their deep relationships will suffocate or smother them with  too many hugs, snuggling, etc. Fear of expressing their deep, tender feelings. They are emotionally guarded and do not feel comfortable expressing their love and affection with hugs and touching.  They prefer doing tasks for their deep relationships. Fear of Losing a Deep Relationship Due to Death. 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 Displaying Love and Affection in Public. They are emotionally guarded. They have very deep tender feelings but they are not comfortable expressing them in public as they are very private and sensitive and they do not want others to know that they have these feelings. Temperament needs of the Melancholy in Affection cannot be fully met without a deep, emotional closeness/relationship with God. NOTE:  “A Melancholy is a Melancholy is a Melancholy.” In other words, a Melancholy needs quiet alone time to regenerate. It does not matter whether they are a Melancholy in Inclusion, Control or Affection, the bottom line is:  THEY NEED QUIET ALONE TIME. 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.

Experience Peace in the Presence of the Savior Who Is Always with You. The #1 bestselling 365-day devotional Jesus Calling is written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you—words of encouragement, comfort, and reassurance of His unending love. These writings are based on Jesus’ own words of hope, guidance, and peace within Scripture—penned by one who loves Him and reveres His Word. The much-loved devotions inside Jesus Calling will help you look forward to your time with the Lord. Experience a deeper relationship with Jesus as you savor the presence of the One who understands you perfectly and loves you forever. This version includes the beloved original content, but with a modern cover that will appeal to a younger audience.

FEED MY SHEEP SCHOOL OF COUNSELING An NCCA Certified Academic Institution Dr. Laura Hart of Old Hickory, Tennessee, is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor–Advanced Certified and a Clinical Supervisor with the NCCA Feed My Sheep School of Counseling has been an approved NCCA Certified Academic Institution since December 11, 2009. She is also an International Representative with the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling, After participating in an Experiencing God study by Henry Blackaby, I gained a profound insight into observing where God was already actively working in my life and desirous of aligning myself with His work. Blackaby would say, “Watch to see where God is working and join Him.” From then on, I began to make a conscious effort to attempt to recognize and discover God's workings and then join Him in His works to the best that I understood. Recognizing that I couldn't chart my own course and expect God to simply follow me, I committed to following His lead. That was back in 1990. Though I've stumbled and occasionally veered off course, the Holy Spirit consistently nudges me to refocus my eyes on God and His will. The impact of this experience remains etched in my memory, as it led me to the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA), shortly after my encounter with Experiencing God. In 1992, I received my first credential – a Certified Temperament Counselor Certificate. At that time, I had no idea of what the future held; thoughts of establishing a counseling center or school had not even crossed my mind. I simply followed where I saw God leading. By 1994, I had earned the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and was NCCA Licensed as a Clinical Pastoral Counselor in 1996. While balancing the demands of raising children and managing our household, I continued to pursue my education at a leisurely pace. At the same time, I served as a volunteer counselor at my local church, at their request. It was a very large congregation, where I was offered a nice office in the evening hours. As word spread about my counseling services, demand grew, prompting me to offer sessions from my home during the day for a very small fee. I counseled at church and at home for about 5 years. I began to recognize God's prompting to establish a counseling ministry outside my home and my church. I confess I was somewhat hesitant. While I promised to follow God's lead as I witnessed His work, I found myself at a loss on how to begin something without obvious evidence of God’s initiation or intervention in some way. This required me to place my trust in Him blindly. Despite my uncertainty, I reminded myself of God's faithfulness in the past and leaned on His promises for the future. Step by step, I began to let go of the uncertainty and allowed His plan to unfold before me, embracing the journey with faith. One of my favorite bible verses is. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV) I knew it was time to walk this out. With a multitude of tasks and decisions ahead, I found myself dealing with the reality of choosing a name for the ministry to navigating various logistical details. My mind seemed overwhelmed and lacking inspiration for a name. However, one day the name "Feed My Sheep" suddenly flashed into my mind, seemingly out of nowhere. At first, I attempted to dismiss it because it just happened too quickly. I kept thinking I needed more time to come up with a ministry name that had a testimony behind it so I could tell others how the name came to be. Despite my attempts to conjure up something with a catchier name or phrase, “Feed My Sheep” (John 21:17), kept resurfacing in my thoughts. I continued to feel a strong tug from the Lord towards this name for the ministry. So, the decision was made. I located a modest 800-square-foot rental space, signed on the dotted line, and I prayed for God's provision to cover my expenses: rent, utilities, advertising, and any unforeseen costs. My greatest concern was whether I could manage my finances adequately. In the initial month, I barely covered my expenses, but broke even. However, with each passing month, I surpassed breaking even by a small margin, eventually accumulating modest savings. Before long, I found myself in a position to attend NCCA conferences without having to rely on my husband for financial support, despite his willingness to assist. It was during one of these conferences I attended that I became convinced to begin to operate a Certified Academic Institute (CAI). Although God had already placed it on my heart that one day I would be teaching others about the counseling ministry, I had not pursued becoming a CAI previously due to information I received from another CAI member concerning regulations. However, when I shared my interest with Reverend Steve Baran, he informed me that this regulation had been eliminated. He urged me to attend a meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. that evening, where eligible individuals interested in establishing a CAI would be enrolled. I eagerly anticipated attending the meeting that evening. As a result, Feed My Sheep School of Counseling was established as an official Certified Academic Institute soon afterwards and we became committed to providing educational and training programs through the NCCA program. Our school is now dedicated to offering high-quality training for pastors and Christians who sense the call to Christian counseling by the Holy Spirit. Just as when the counseling ministry began, I had no idea what the future held for the school. It was again a time to walk by faith and trust in God. Uncertain of the specific path or outcome, I knew I immensely enjoyed teaching and had a desire to equip others for their counseling ministry journey. With each step, I relied on God's guidance and provision, knowing that He would lead me in the right direction. My passion for teaching and empowering others fueled my determination to press forward. I embraced the journey with faith, trusting that God would reveal His plans for the school in His perfect timing. I made a website and soon afterwards I enrolled a handful of students through that website. I began individual work with each of them. I found complete contentment and satisfaction with this arrangement. I persisted in my educational journey until I ultimately attained a Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Psychology in 2006. I soon began to recognize the need for more counselors grounded in Christian values, because it seemed everywhere Christians were discovering that the professionally trained Christian Counselor was more consistent with their beliefs and was able to provide biblical as well as psychological solutions, especially using the tool that our training provides, the Arno Profile System (APS). The APS is an exceptional solution to the challenging problems Christians face today. I firmly believe in the APS. To date, I have personally administered over 1800 APS assessments, excluding those conducted for students. While driving home from the counseling ministry one day, a "for lease" sign caught my eye, and for some reason, it captivated my attention. Without hesitation, I veered off the road, parked, and dialed the number on the sign. The person on the line mentioned a key above the door and granted access. With a little effort, I managed to reach the key and entered a spacious 1500 sq. ft. area. Excitedly, I called my husband and urged him to join me and see what I had stumbled upon. Upon arrival, he immediately began envisioning the layout, including office spaces and rooms for the school. It was remarkable how he seamlessly shared in my vision, even without prior discussion. Neither of us had ever discussed the possibility of me vacating the current space or seeking a new location. Within a month, my husband had all the necessary work completed, transforming the space into a suitable location with a large teaching room, 3 nice counseling offices, a waiting area, and a break room. Each NCCA Certified Academic Institute possesses its unique characteristics and approaches. Whether you're considering enrollment or have already embarked on this journey, it's important to recognize the diversity among CAIs. We are all unique, and our differences are what make us special. At Feed My Sheep, our primary objective is to ensure that every student receives the necessary guidance, instruction, and mentorship they deserve. I am deeply committed to addressing each student's individual needs. It's imperative that our training equips students with a clear understanding of their strengths, legal limitations, and ethical responsibilities before they enter the counseling field. I do place emphasis on ethics and legal considerations, as I do not want to send out a counselor to the mission field unprepared. I attempt to adopt an environment where personalized attention becomes paramount in our institute. Each student is unique and providing them with tailored guidance ensures their growth and development. Through one-on-one interactions and dedicated mentorship, we strive to nurture their skills, knowledge, and confidence, preparing them to make a meaningful impact in the field of pastoral counseling. At Feed My Sheep, we recognize the importance of investing in our students' success, guiding them with integrity and care every step of the way. All purposes and visions are grounded in our trust in God's guidance. Throughout the years, the significance behind the name "Feed My Sheep" became increasingly clear. It wasn't just about healing hearts and restoring lives, but also about nurturing pastoral counselors and developing their growth as disciples. This dual mission became the cornerstone of our ministry, guiding us as we seek to fulfill God's calling in our lives and in the lives of those we serve. Regardless of whether there's one student or ten enrolled at any given time, each individual holds paramount significance at our school. A surprising revelation emerged from my interactions with students in the classroom. I developed a growing desire to invite some of them to join Feed My Sheep Counseling Ministries. This possibility had not crossed my mind when the school first opened its doors. However, as I engaged with these individuals, I discovered a group of exceptional, God-fearing pastoral counselors who share a deep love for the Lord and a passion for serving others. They embody the values of integrity and compassion that are central to our ministry's mission. As a result, our Christian counseling center has now made it a primary objective to offer a place of ministry for pastoral counselors who complete our training program, align with our ministry's values and mission, express a calling to full-time ministry, and demonstrate a servant's heart. Today, our counseling ministry hosts three such NCCA pastoral counselors who received their training through the Feed My Sheep School of Counseling. Each counselor brings their unique approach and expertise to our practice, ensuring diverse perspectives and methods are available to those we serve. While our counseling styles may vary, we are unified in our commitment to utilizing the Arno Profile System and viewing every appointment scheduled with any one of us through our website as a divine appointment planned by God. With room for additional pastoral counselors, we eagerly await the Lord's guidance in bringing these individuals to join our ministry. As you look around to discern where God is at work, understand that it's not merely a one-time decision to align yourself with God, find where He is at work and then join Him. Rather, it's a lifelong commitment to identifying His movements and consistently partnering with Him in His works. This ongoing commitment advances the kingdom of God while also bringing blessings into your own life journey.

April Encouragement 2024 As I sought the Lord for direction for this month’s writing, the word I perceived from Him was “Obedience.” I have recently received many emails from our members, who are pressing on in the midst of great trials and tribulations. They are pressing on with their studies, with their marriages, and with their children. They are not giving up on anyone or anything, especially not on the promises of God. They remain obedient, holding tight to “the call of the Lord” for their lives! I’ve also been witness to this in my own life, my family, and my friends. Jesus says to His followers, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”[John 16:33b NLT Jesus speaks to His Church: “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.” [Rev. 3:10-11 NLT] So, stand firm, be obedient, and hold tight!

In his last week on Earth, Jesus knew the end was near. He knew the finality of Friday, but did he also know the victory of Sunday? Join bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado invites you to walk with Jesus in the week leading up to the crucifixion: feeling his passion, sensing his authority, and hearing his promise that death has no power. On Calvary's Hill paints a picture of Jesus in his final week: Jesus was commonly dressed but uncommonly focused. Leaving Jericho and walking toward Jerusalem, he doesn't chatter or pause. He's on his final journey. Even the angels are silent. They know this is no ordinary walk or week--hinged on this week is the door of eternity. With excerpts from Max's bestsellers, including 3:16, He Chose the Nails, and Just Like Jesus, On Calvary's Hill will take you into Jesus' last week, from the road to Jerusalem to the resurrection. Each reading includes a timeless verse, an in-depth reading, and a thoughtful prayer designed to help you draw near to the Savior and prepare to celebrate the resurrection--the greatest miracle ever conceived. As we observe Jesus' last week, Max challenges us to face difficult questions, including: When betrayal comes, what can we do? Why is the cross a symbol of Christianity? What would it feel like to witness this scene firsthand? Let's follow Jesus on his final journey. By observing his, we may learn how to make ours.

CLIMBING THE RIGHT LADDER By C. Michael Courtney There is a popular children's game called Chutes and Ladders in which you try to scramble to the top of the board by being on the right ladder at the right time and avoiding the chutes that slide you back down to places you've already been. Organizational development is much like that. We are continually deciding when to move up to the next rung, when to change to another ladder, and even if our ladder is leaning against the right wall. Branches was born in 2006. I was a newly licensed NCAA counselor with a desire to help people and a vision of how God might use both my story and my training to impact the Kingdom, at least the small circle that I had the ability to influence. Within a couple of years, we added to the counseling, training and equipping like-minded pastoral counselors by becoming a Certified Academic Institution. Dr. Laura Hart was instrumental as my personal supervisor and Drs. Richard and Phyllis Arno were amazing in their attention to and care for the fledgling counseling/training center. Very quickly both the counseling center and the C.A.I. began to grow and I began to recognize the different skillset and mindset that it takes to “start” some ministry or organization and to develop it into a viable, impactful entity that fulfills its mission and the call of God. The early years were Chutes and Ladders. We would climb to a new level of proficiency only to hit a roadblock and slip back to trying to figure out what we were doing all over again. My imagination is that we are not alone. Perhaps many of you reading this have experienced the up and down of trying to build your C.A.I. or establish your counseling practice. Owning a business, creating a ministry is very much a “three steps forward and two steps back” process. One month, one week, sometimes even one day, you feel like you have made some good strides and climbed a few rungs on the ladder, and the next you are sliding at breakneck speed back down the hill, trying desperately to stop the decline. After nearly two decades, and some fairly healthy growth, I have come to understand that, like Chutes and Ladders, much of the success of the endeavor is found in trusting God, not just to help you climb to the next rung, but to help you discern whether or not you are on the right ladder. “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him,” the Psalmist says, “though he may miss a rung (my interpretation) he will not fall.”   Psalm 37:23-24 So here is a quick examination of the ladders we face and the observations I make about climbing them. It seems to me that the ladders that our ministry needs to scale are activity, structure, and then systems. First activity. In the early days of Branches we were just trying to get the word out and keep the doors open. We were driven by the need to stay active. I went to ministerial meetings, took more NCCA classes, volunteered to speak at nursing homes, anything to let people know that we were here. I sent letters to every church in town offering to teach Wednesday night classes on Temperament and invited Mother’s Day Out programs to offer a class for moms on pastoral counseling. The ladder I was trying to scale was calendar driven. It was filling every available time slot with sharing the Branches story. I decided I would work fifty hours per week. If I only had four clients scheduled (that was a good week) then I had forty-six more hours free to be active. I have seen many organizations come and go because they failed to appreciate the activity ladder. We do our training. We complete our required profiles. We earn our degree. And then we sit and wait for clients or students to beat down the door. Get your activity ladder out, lean it against the work wall, and start climbing. After a while, the activity began to produce results and I realized I was now climbing the structure ladder. Branches was joined by Chandy Powell, a wonderful, NCCA trained pastoral counselor. Then Debi Russell came on board, another NCCA graduate. At some point I saw the need for a receptionist, a clinical director, a part-time marketing person. The school had grown beyond my ability to keep up, so we needed a dean to run the C.A.I. Dr. Marlena Butler was referred to us by the NCCA and came alongside. Slowly but surely, I was climbing the structure ladder. Now the goal was not just to stay busy but to build an effective operation, to work smarter and not harder. Today Branches has thirty therapists, five medical providers, four life coaches, and ten office personnel. The structure ladder was not possible until the activity ladder was scaled. And the activity ladder would have been pointless without the development of the structure ladder. The final ladder for us has been the systems ladder. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19) It seems to me that the mandate for any ministry or Christ-centered business is to reproduce, to be replicated in the lives and communities around us. The NCCA certainly appears to believe in the call of God to train and equip others. So should we. At some point we begin to climb the systems ladder. How can I put best practices and personal philosophies in place so that what we are doing here can be taught to and repeated by others? Branches has five locations in Tennessee. We are trying to continually climb the ladder of systematizing and simplifying what we do and what we teach. Your ministry will want to go on long after you have slowed down. Another word for this ladder might be legacy. In 2022, I stepped down as the executive director of Branches and turned it over to my son, Joshua Courtney. I still see clients, teach in our C.A.I. and write lengthy articles 😊 but the day-to-day leadership of the Branches system is in another set of very capable hands. The C.A.I. or counseling center that you lead needs to be both Spirit-led and missional. The Spirit-led individual or organization is astute at when to move to the next rung. But the missional individual or organization will know which ladder to use. Staying on a ladder too long will cause you to lose momentum, forget the mission, and plateau or decline. Changing ladders too quickly will cause you to become unstable, overreach, and eventually fall. The effective leader/counselor/teacher will always be looking closely at the wall and making sure he or she is scaling the right ladder. I do that by making sure I have securely navigated each rung of the ladder before I climb to the next. The first rung is foundational. What are our values and core beliefs? Make sure that they are instilled in every process, taught to every employee, and demonstrated by every activity. Next is the directional rung. The goals and objectives of the organization need to be crystal clear. Before I let go of a previous rung I want to know which rung I will grab next. The strategic rung follows. I know why we are here. I know what we should do next. But do I understand how to proceed? What resources, support systems, and skillsets will we need to climb to the next level. And finally, the communication rung must be in place. The missional leader is ineffective if the mission stays hidden between his or her ears. Tell your people what you are going to do. Tell your people what you are doing. And tell them what you just did. Communicate the activity, the structure and the system every step of the way. In March of last year, middle Tennessee suffered an unimaginable tragedy when a lone gunman went into a Christian school and opened fire. Three second graders and three faculty members were killed. Within hours, Branches was asked to come in and oversee the trauma training for those who would be trying to comfort this grieving community. We spent months caring for the caregivers, the first responders, the teachers, and parents. From that experience we were recently involved in training orthodox Jewish leaders to provide trauma informed care to their synagogue and community members after the October 7 attack in Israel. If we were still hanging on to the activity ladder, or trying to scale the structure ladder, we would have been unavailable and not even considered for such spiritually ordained tasks. God has a plan for your C.A.I., your counseling ministry. Knowing that you are climbing the right ladder is essential. I suggest these questions often for you. What ladder are we on right now? How long have we been on it? Have I navigated every necessary rung on this ladder? How do I move on to the next ladder? And does everyone in my influence circle know it is time to take the next step. It is a pretty old adage, but pretty true when it comes to ladder climbing, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will lead you to the next rung.” (Again, my interpretation 😊) God bless you and keep climbing. To know more about Branches go to www.branches.org and to keep up with Dr. Mike Courtney subscribe at www.branchesblog.com.

ARE YOU LIVING WITH FAITH OR LIVING IN FEAR? 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’ 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 CHOLERIC IN  INCLUSION Fear of losing control in social situations. When they are involved in a social event, they want to be the one in control. They need to learn to work together with others. Fear of being discovered that they are “A Great Pretender.” They tend to be like a chameleon; they can be outgoing and personable or they can be laid back and be an observer. Sometimes they may feel that they do not even know who they really are. They need to learn to be genuine with themselves and others and take off their “mask” when dealing with people. Fear of being called “people users.” They fear that people will discover that they are using them to accomplish their goals.  They need to learn that God wants them to motivate people, not use or manipulate them. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE  FEARS OF A CHOLERIC IN CONTROL Fear of not receiving recognition and approval. They may fear that they are not going to receive the recognition and approval that they believe they should receive for a job well-done. They need to look to the Lord first for their recognition and approval. Fear that others will not respect their leadership abilities. They may fear that others may rejects their leadership abilities, especially if  they questions their motives or disagree with their plan of action. They need to learn that not everyone will always agree with their ideas and plans; therefore, they need to learn to be open to the suggestions of others. Fear rejection so they may walk into a room full of people and become like a Sanguine and be the “life of the party or meeting”. They may fear that if they don’t become the center of attention and promote themselves, they will be rejected.  The attention of people is an encouragement to keep them motivated. They need to learn to seek the Lord first and He will give them all the encouragement that they need. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE  FEARS OF A CHOLERIC IN AFFECTION Fear of not being in Control with their intimate relationships. They may fear that their intimate relationships will not submit to their desires, fantasies and demands. They need to learn that their intimate relationships also have desires and fantasies. Fear their intimate relationships will find out that they may be using love and affection as a means to get what they want. They may fear that their intimate relationships will leave them if they find out that they are just using them for their own sexual needs. They need to learn to not use love and affection as a means of getting what they want. Fear their intimate relationships will discover that they can be cold, unemotional, domineering, angry and vindictive and that they wear a mask to charm them. They may fear that their intimate relationships will see through their mask and discover who they really are. They need to learn to be genuine with their intimate relationships as they also have feelings and do not like to be used or manipulated. In other words, they need to learn to be more considerate of the wants and feelings of their intimate relationships. “A Choleric is a Choleric is a Choleric.” In other words, a Choleric needs people.  It does not matter whether they are a Choleric in Inclusion, Control or Affection, the bottom line is:  THEY NEED PEOPLE! Please remember 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 must also remember 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.

February Encouragement 2024 I believe the Lord has impressed upon me to use a portion of a letter sent between AD 67-80, for the encouragement this month. The Holy Spirit has had it cooking in me for about a month now. This letter, I believe, if written today, would be highly relevant to our times. Here are verses 17-25 “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, [be] glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”Jude 1:17-25 It was very difficult not to include the whole chapter here. If you haven’t read it in a while, please go back and soak in it for full effect. Every time I engage with this very powerful letter from Jude, it convicts me, shakes me, and leaves an even more indelible imprint of the Holy Spirit on me! After I have repented, I am able to get back up, knowing more deeply the mission set before me, and move forward to complete it - saving others. After reading Jude, please feel free to share what the Lord is revealing to you. Love you!

January Encouragement 2024 "We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us." {2 Cor. 1:8-10 NLT} When I saw this picture I connected with it on a very personal level and immediately knew I had to use it in this encouragement. Jesus has rescued me so many times even before I began following Him and He still rescues me today. The face on this lamb reflects the helplessness we all feel at one time or another. It can feel as though we're lost in the woods, and the flames are all around us. Those flames can take many forms, such as the pain of heartbreak, loss, confusion, and feelings of worthlessness and depression. I go back to what Paul and his ministry team were going through in Asia. They didn't think they would live through the overwhelming crush of troubles. They expected to die! Paul also says, "But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us." Let me just stop and thank the Lord for a moment… THANK YOU LORD FOR RESCUING ME! THANK YOU LORD FOR RESCUING US! THANK YOU LORD! THANK YOU LORD! THANK YOU LORD! We pray you have a very blessed year!

The 2023 NCCA Conference was held at the Hilton in Memphis, Tennessee, from Thursday, October 17th to Saturday. October 21, 2023. THURSDAY Morning, October 19th SPECIAL EVENT We had a “Day in Memphis” event. We went to the National Civil Rights Museum , and it was awesome. We could have spent the whole day there. After we left the museum, we had lunch at Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs restaurant. The food was delicious! THURSDAY Evening, October 19th consisted of: CONFERENCE REGISTRATION 7:30 PM-8:30 PM FRIDAY, October 20th, we had a full day of sessions consisting of: WELCOME ADDRESS was presented by Rev. Steven M. Baran, President. SESSION 1 Counseling in a Culture of Faith Deconstruction was presented by Dr.Brett Travis. SESSION 2 Callings: Counseling and Evangelism was presented by Dr. Brett Travis. SESSION 3: The Ins and Outs of Rejection was presented by Dr. Al Jones. SESSION 4: The Power of Words was presented by Dr. Al Jones. SESSIONS 5 and 6: Maximum Counseling Ministry With Minimal Liability were presented by Attorney David C. Gibbs. SESSION 7: The Bible and the Counselor was presented by Dr. Charles Graham. SPECIAL EVENT: 6:30 –8:30 was presented by SHAWN HARPER. Shawn shared his powerful story of overcoming adversity and fulfilling God’s call on his life. SATURDAY, October 21st, we had a full day of sessions consisting of: SESSION 8: Are You Living With Faith or Living in Fear? was presented by Dr. Phyllis Arno. SESSION 9: Joint Session with the founders—was presented by Drs. Richard and Dr. Phyllis Arno. SESSION 10 and 11: Maneuvers Through Unexpected Detours was presented by Dr. Doug Stringer. SESSION 12 and 13: Healing From Abortion were presented by Dr. Abby Johnson. SESSION 14: The Messy Stuff was presented by Pastor Belinda Gruber. A BIG THANKS GOES TO…. Rev. Steve Baran, NCCA President, for his leadership abilities in lining up the conference location and all the behind-the-scenes efforts that it takes to make a conference a success. Rev. Baran was also the Master of Ceremonies and was available to give guidance to our members on a one-on-one basis. Jason Ferrell for all his work in helping to prepare for the conference and working with the hotel staff during the conference. Michael Andrews for his tech support as well as assisting the NCCA conference attendees during the conference. Mara Baran for doing a fantastic job laying out the conference notebook, as well taking photos at the photo booth and assisting wherever she was needed. Michael Dan, Linda Walker, Mark Winchell, Brian Colvin, and Erin Baran for keeping the main headquarters open to service our members who were unable to attend the conference. Dr. Richard Arno for his cheerful presence during the conference. And a very big THANK YOU to all of you who attended the conference in person or virtually! It was truly a JOY to be with you all! Most of all, we would like to thank the Lord for anointing the conference. We were all truly BLESSED! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR NCCA FAMILY! MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED, JOYFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Advent is for adoring Jesus. The Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year. But it is also a season of reflection and preparation for that special day when we mark Immanuel’s coming―the arrival of our eternal God in our own frail humanity. This is the greatest of history’s many wonders, something too stupendous to celebrate just on one day. Advent is a way of lengthening and intensifying the joy of Christmas. These 25 brief devotional readings from John Piper begin on December 1 and carry us to Christmas Day. Our hope is that God would use these meditations to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus and help you keep him at the center of your Christmas season.

In the Beginning…. As I was praying asking for God’s guidance for the words to write my Christmas message, He gave me these Words from the Holy Scriptures: John 1:1-4: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the light was the light of men. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:17: “For the law was given Moses, but grace and truth come by Jesus Christ.” John 14:6 “Jesus tells us in the Written Word—the Holy Scriptures, that He is the Living Word—The Way, the Truth and the Life.” John 6:51 Jesus tells us: “I am the living bread which came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the word.” Jesus is the living Word of God. John 6:63 Jesus tells us: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The Words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 17:17 Jesus tells us “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.” Luke 4:4 tells us: “But Jesus answered him, saying: It is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.” Hebrews 4:12 tells us: “For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Psalm 12:6 tells us: “The Words of the Lord are pure Words like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalm 138:2 King David tells us: “I will worship toward the holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy name.” Proverbs 25:11 tells us: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures silver.” Please know that when we accept Jesus, the living Word, into our hearts, He comes to abide with us to guide and direct us. This year, please remember that Christmas is not just a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, it is much, much more than that as John 14:6 tells us that He is our Way, our Truth, and our Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He is our only way to the Father! There is a beautiful Christmas hymn titled “Long Time Ago in Bethlehem” that reminds us that Jesus, the Living Word, came so that we can live forever more.' Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible says Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ Was born on Christmas day Listen hear the angels sing A new king is born today And man will live forever more Because of Christmas day I pray for you this Christmas season that you have a God-blessed, Jesus-filled Christmas! Shalom! Shalom! Dr. Phyllis