Mental Health
Posted on December 20, 2024
by Ruth Barz, tLMHC
Like the Jews of the Old Testament, many of us assumed that the Messiah’s birth was supposed to protect us from all the pain and struggle of this world. We thought you moved into the neighborhood, Lord? All the pain, disappointment, fear, and uncertainty in life can leave each of us wondering where the hope is this Christmas.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on December 9, 2024
by Angela Kollbaum, LIMHP, CPC, DCE
This season can be overwhelming, depressing, and a challenge for some to manage. We need to be aware of how the devil uses the busyness of this time to distract us from focusing on the true meaning of the seasons. As church workers, we are called to care for those God has placed in our ministry areas. But who cares for you?
Adoption
Posted on December 5, 2024
by Brandon & Ashley
Hear from Brandon & Ashley, four-time adoptive parents with Lutheran Family Service, and how their feelings of nervousness and anxiousness with Clay’s open adoption melted away meeting his birth family and seeing God’s hand in everything.
Mental Health
Posted on December 2, 2024
While there can be a lot of stress associated with gift-giving, studies have shown how thoughtful generosity boosts happiness. This is especially true when you throw a bit of creativity into the mix! Lutheran Family Service has a few tips to ease your gift-giving anxiety.
Marriage & Relationships
Posted on November 8, 2024
by Karen Gotto, LMHC
When I was training to get my counseling degree, we often did a group activity that I liked so much that I adapted it to use with my kids, extended family, and even my Sunday school class. My son labeled it the “Positive Circle.”
Godly Living
Posted on October 29, 2024
by Andy Wyss
The United States doesn’t always feel so united. Especially during an election cycle. How can we maintain friendships with people who disagree with us on very important issues, and how do we support elected officials we didn’t vote for?
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on October 20, 2024
by Rev. Dave Gunderson
There are many ways to demonstrate your care for your pastor and professional church workers, but the best way is to be forgiving, tenderhearted and kind to one another.
Mental Health
Posted on October 17, 2024
by Rev. Jonathan Conner
If you want to avoid being swept down the cultural river toward the ocean of disordered minds, fractured relationships, and listless lives, these are the significant life changes you need to do. If you want richly meaningful lives defined by a mature spirituality, robust relationships, and profound wonder and gratitude, these are the changes you must make.
Parenting
Posted on October 14, 2024
by Karen Gotto, LMHC
Anger is a normal emotion we all experience, from infancy through old age. It is, however, a feeling that often gets labeled as “bad.” Starting to work with children at an early age on how to recognize and manage their anger is an important way to eliminate bigger anger issues in the future.
Adoption
Posted on October 7, 2024
by Adam & Sara
This story was written by Adam & Sara, an adoptive couple sharing the “God moments” during the beautiful and crazy emotional roller coaster adoption of their son, Zeke, through Lutheran Family Service.
