Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version) - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and plans to give you hope and a future.

God knows you, loves you, and remembers the promises He made to you and all His people. He does not forget you or leave you in your times of crisis. His plans are for good. His love, grace and mercy are always available to you. This promise is both temporal (on this earth, in this time) and eternal.

He sent Jesus Christ to assure your eternal future, with his redemption and salvation. Jesus provides the way to eternity in heaven with Him. He wants you to be with Him forever.

He desires temporal peace and prosperity for all His children. He does not want us hurt but even hurt, pain, suffering can be used for our good. We live in a fallen world in the presence of sin and evil that brings about illness, pain, and suffering. Yet He does not leave us alone. He wants us to have peace of mind right now in what every situation we are in. He created a perfect world full of good; full of what was good for us. Unfortunately with the original sin came illness, greed, and craziness. He does not plan or send evil to you but when it comes He uses it to bring about good in you and for you.

There are also consequences for our actions. He loves you but as your Father, He allows you to learn from your mistakes. If you sit now in prison due to your actions ---sit there in peace, knowing that God will use this time for your good and very possibly for the good of those around you.

His plan for you is a desirable one. Rest in His peace, sing out in joy at His presence and work in your life. Share His love with others. Pray, ask Him what He wants you to do right now in this very moment. He has a plan for you today, tomorrow, and into eternity.

Father, thank You for Your perfect love, Your perfect plan for me. Help me pour out myself allow You to do your work within and through me. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dr. R. E. Hawkins - Model of for Guiding the Counseling Process

Dr. Hawkins (2006) model of counseling draws heavily on Crabb’s (1977) model and on the multi-tasking model of integration of Mark McMinn (1996). Hawkins states that his model is a result of attempting to be faithful to scripture, and faithful to general revelations of psychological theories. The model is illustrated with five concentric circles that diagram self and the forces that shape personality. He begins with the innermost circle representing what Hawkins calls the core of the person. This circle contains the human spirit, the image of God, sin or the sin nature and the breath of life. A believer’s inner core also contains the Holy Spirit, a major guiding influence in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit can work on from the inside out influencing not only the inner core and the soul but also all levels and parts of the individual and his or her life. The next circle contains what Hawkins calls the soul. The soul is made up of a person’s conscious, feelings, emotions, volition, and thinking. As you move out to the next circle, you find the physical body. The next circle contains the temporal systems, the groups or systems that a human interacts with on a daily basis. They include family, friends, the government, church, education, and society. Humans do not stand-alone. They are impacted directly and indirectly by the groups or systems in which they interact. The last circle illustrates the supernatural systems aspect of the person and their interactions with God, Satan, angels and demons.

Understanding the forces and systems that interact to create the personality is not enough on its own. This understanding must lead to an intervention strategy for dealing with wrong thinking and problems behaviors. Hawkins (2006) intervention strategy contains four simple phases includes a guidelines for tracking progress as the counselor and client move through the counseling process. As with many or most counseling models, Hawkins’s model begins with the client sharing his or her story. It moves to a collaborative process in which the counselor and client review beliefs and slowing begin to test or pretest a basic plan of action. In phase three, the client and the counselor use the information they have gleaned and learned during the first two phases to create a comprehensive plan of action. The final phase should find the client accepting responsibility and being committed to an accountability plan that the counselor helps implement and supports.

As a future counselor, this student has found further direction in integration of her Christian beliefs and the fundamentals of scripturally appropriate psychological interventions. Though Hawkins’ model is easy to pictorial comprehend; the Crabb model for filtering information and the way an individual evaluates and acts upon their basic assumptions are more comprehensive.

References

Crabb, L. J. (1977). Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring
Christians Become Capable Counselors. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan.

Hawkins, R. E. (2006). Model for guiding the counseling process.
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University.

McMinn, M. R. (1996). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian
counseling. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.

Bedtime -

Through studying for the night. Tomorrow have to turn these notes into a paper for my Theology and Spirituality in Counseling class. It is difficult to wittle down a book into a 2 - 3 page summary.

Father, thank you for the blessings of this day. As usual you have been truly awesome. Thanks for my daughter and the coloring page she gave me tonight. It is wonderful to see my 17 year old daughter find joy in a coloring page designed for a pre-schooler. She is so grown up most of the time, it is nice to have her crawl up in my lap because she knows that she is still moma's baby. I know when I am troubled, I will lay down and picture myself lying in the palms your hands. It is an awesome feeling. I hope she always finds that kind of security in your arms and in your love. I love you. Good night, I look forward tomorrow and our first meeting of the day.

Dr. L. Crabb's Model of Counseling

Once a counselor understands the goal of counseling, the motivation, and needs of individuals and the basics of personality, Dr. Crabb’s model for counseling is exceedingly simple. The model is based on Romans 12:2, “do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” [KJV]. Well-prepared counselors can, with the help of the Holy Spirit move the person towards transformation. First, a counselor must identify the problem feelings. The client may state they are angry, depressed, afraid or a variety of emotions but according to Crabb the come down to one of three categories (1) guilt, due to an unreachable goal (2) resentment, due to an external obstacle (3) anxiety, due to fear of failure. Once the problem feelings are identified counselors should focus on identifying the goal-oriented (problem) behaviors. This is where the counselor can begin to help the client with the move-over goal. This step is simple obedience to God’s word. They may not feel like doing it but can began to act the way they want to feel. However, the work cannot stop here. The counselor must then help the client work on the inside to the beliefs and attitudes that have caused the wrong thinking and therefore problem behaviors.

Stage three of Crabb’s counseling model is identifying problem thinking. A wrong basic belief about their significance or their security has caused the problem feelings and behavior. It is only when the wrong thinking is identified that the tough work begins. Stage 4 is changing the assumptions or clarifying biblical thinking. It can be extremely difficult to change someone’s core belief system no matter how wrong it might be. Changing their belief system will not happen overnight but stage 5 can began once they understand the new belief. Stage 5 is securing the client’s commitment to act on the new belief. They must act as if it is already part of their belief system, even if they do not feel it. They must say, for example, “I choose to believe it and commit myself to acting consistently with it even though I do not feel like performing the necessary behavior” (p. 155). Stage 6 moves to client to the planning and carrying out the biblical behavior. The final stage comes when the client feels like something is wrong when they do not act according to the biblical belief system. Stage 7 is the identification of spirit-controlled feelings. “The development of an sense of quietness, togetherness, and peacefulness is a gratify and reassuring experience” (p. 159). It is at this final stage the client truly feels the Holy Spirit moving in their life. They have reached the move-up goal through hard work and transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

Christian Counselors Need to Know

Before a counselor can begin to work with hurting individuals there are specific things they need to know. First, what do people coming into their office really need? What are they looking for? Crabb states that all people are looking for is a sense of personal worth. They want to be whole and accepted. In order to achieve this sense of personal worth individuals need significance and security. Significance comes from feeling important and having real meaning and purpose in their lives. Security at its most basic level is the need to for unconditional love and acceptance.

Next counselors need to understand the motivation individual have to do what they do. Motivation is best viewed as the energy behind an individual’s actions. When an individual’s needs are not currently being met, they are motivated to take action. Crabb feels counselors need to understand that when a need is not met individuals function from a deficit motivation. If the client cannot find a way to met the need they will be motivated to protect themselves. Unfortunately, most of the behaviors chosen at this point are those designed to “anesthetize or compensate for the emotional pains of fleeing worthless (p. 85). They may choose drugs, alcohol, food, or one or more of many other behaviors designed to help them hide from the deficit, failure, or loss.

Finally, a counselor must understand what makes a person tick. Here Crabb describes the person or breaks down the personality into the unconscious and conscious mind, the heart (or basic direction), the will, and emotions. When a counselor understands how events are processed and the affects it has on a person’s basic assumptions. It is how he feels about the event to determine the individual’s reactions/behaviors. Wrong assumptions result in anxiety, guilt, or resentment. Anxiety, guilt, and resentment can lead to crisis and problem behavior. When the goal for change is biblically aligned is promotes complete transformation. Romans 12:2 says “do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” [KJV]. Well-prepared counselors can, with the help of the Holy Spirit move the person towards transformation.

Good night!

I have studied all I can for the day, so I'm off to bed.

Father, thank you so much for the many blessings of this day. Thank you for allowing me to spend the day with my family. Father help me view everything I do through the lens of Your truth. It is so easy to get caught up in the world. Bless anyone that might come across this blog. Send them peace, joy, and your eternal love. Holy Spirit, open my ears and mind to His word, and His will. Let all that we do honor you. Good night Father. As always I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my personal savior. Amen.

Integration of Christianity and Psychology

Now if the goal is Christian maturity how does psychology fit in? Professional counselors spend years studying often in secular universities. They are taught many theories, theoretical models, and empirically tested techniques. How should a Christian incorporate or integrate psychology and Christianity into their counseling model? Dr. Crabb wants to make sure integration does not turn into a “tossed salad” with a little of everything thrown in. It is his view that Christian counselors should carefully test all models, theories, and techniques through the magnifying glass of God’s truth. His truth is found in the bible, in creation, and in His special revelation. God’s truth can be found in scientifically and empirical tested methods. The author reminds us that screening is not easy. If Christian counselors are not very careful, he will “tend to look at Scripture through the eyeglasses of psychology when the critical need is to look at psychology through the glasses of Scripture” (p. 48).

Christian Maturity

Larry Crabb - "Christian maturity is developed by (1) dealing with any immediate problem circumstances in a manner consist with Scripture: MOVE OVER; and (2) developing an inward character which conforms to the character (attitudes, beliefs, purposes) of Christ: MOVE UP" (p. 20).

As you can see I just finished reading Dr. L.J. Crabb's book "Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable Counselors". Now I am going back trying to absorb the material and complete the writting assignment which is a summary and critique of the book.

Goal of Christian Counsling - Dr. Larry Crabb

The goals of counseling are as varied as there are theories, models, methods, and counselors. Secular counselors tend to lean towards the goal of making the client happy. That is why the client is in their office. They want to feel good and be happy. According to Dr. Larry Crabb (1977) ‘there is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy” (p. 20). However, he goes on to remind us that a self-absorbed preoccupation with personal happiness can be an obstacle to finding profound, enduring joy. Therefore, Crabb’s goal of counseling is found in a biblical route to the joy found at the right hand of God, abiding in His boundless love. His goal leads to spiritual maturity. Crabb breaks down his goal in two parts. The over goal is responding to problem circumstances biblically or in obedience to God’s will. Responding in biblical obedience changes problem behavior but this is not enough. Counselors must work to change attitudes, change thinking, and create an atmosphere where clients can renew their mind. This is the up goal. The over goal is an external movement. The up goal however is an inward renewal and transformation.

Crabb, L. J. (1977). Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable Counselors. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan.

Why Precious Promises

Life is not easy. We all experience loss, hurt, illness, pain, and hurt. Christians are no different in that aspect. We live in a fallen world and experience the same pain as others. But there is a difference. We do not have to go through anything alone. We have the interacting presence of a truine God with us at all times. We can live on the Precious Promises found in the word of God. It is those promises that enable us to find joy, peace, love and happiness in every situation. Father thank you for your precious promises found in your word, in creation and in Your Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for placing your living spirit in us to guide us, give us peace, and the knowledge of your will for us today and everyday.

2 Peter 1:1-5 - Precious Promises

2 Peter 1:1-5 1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and [the] Saviour Jesus Christ: 2Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; 4whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. 5Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in [your] virtue knowledge;

The begining, Precious Promises

2 Peter 1:4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises.....

Father, I don't know how you wish me to use this time and space. I place it in Your hands. Lead me, guide me, direct me. Give me wisdom and knowledge to share your love with others. Maybe I should share my learning and struggles to the benefit of others. Whatever You call me to do let me hear Your word an Your Will. Father, what are You calling me to do today! In the name of my Precious Savior I pray. Amen