Inept

Inept: Without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment (Dictionary.com)

I have been a mental health and substance abuse counselor for six years now.  I enjoy what I do because it is one career where you can directly see change in the life of another person.  My training, along with my compassion and spiritual gifts, helps me to connect with people on a deep level so that I am able to discuss topics with them that they have never shared with others.  There have been many occasions when I finished talking with a client that I felt that I brought clarity to their life and I promoted positive change.  Those are the days that I really enjoy and look forward to, however this is not always the case.

Today was one of those days where I wished that I did not even get up and talk to my clients. Obviously, due to the confidentiality I hold to my clients, I cannot be specific about the situations that I encounter, but they affect me nonetheless.  One situation I faced today made me literally want to cry.  As I sat there and listened to some secrets that one of my clients held it physically hurt me to listen.  I did not know what to say.  I wondered why do people suffer and go through horrible situations such as these.  I felt absolutely useless as their helper.  There were no scripts prepared for this situation.  It was not something that I was taught how to handle and yet I sat there feeling utterly inept.  I know that it is not my job to fix people but who in the world can help them. Medication is not always the answer.  Therapy does not always fix it either.  I know this is a situation that only God can bring healing to.

So what do I do with these feelings of inadequacy?  I know they will fade as they always do, but this is where I am right now.  I pray for peace from God because He is the only one who can make sense of this fallen world and all of its casualties.

Just A Matter of Time

I just noticed that I have not blogged in about a month. I have had so many things to say, but have not had the time to stop and express my thoughts. We are about one month away from our move to Searcy, AR. I am excited about the many opportunities that lay ahead, but am so inundated with the details of our move that I have not been able to truly appreciate what we are headed into.

We have had a few hurdles to overcome the past couple of weeks. Dana has not yet been able to secure employment so far. I do not blame her at all because she is a smart woman with many talents to share. I grieve with her over the situation because she has dedicated herself to being at home with the girls the past few years, but this has not helped her resume. Employers do not always give you credit for putting your family first. I am a little concerned about how this will affect us down there, but definitely not worried because God has ALWAYS taken care of my family and I am confident that He will continue to do so.

We are in the process of selling our house and this is not fun at all. I had no idea how much work it would be to get our house ready to show, and show and show again. Even when you get through all of that drama you still have to play the negotiation game with the buyers. It is our prayer that this part of our life comes to an end quickly. I most definitely don't want to be on the selling end again for at least another 10 years or so.

Overall God continues to be good to us. He continues to remind us that we need to depend on Him even though we do not understand His plans for us. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb. 11:1, NIV). I am certain and confident that this move will be a blessing for my family. Although we do not have everything neatly organized the way we want it I know that God is working out great things for us even if it has not materialized. I pray that each of you trust God today as His will is being played out in your life.

Unexpected Blessing

I have been unable to update my blog for the past 2-3 weeks due to an overwhelmingly busy schedule. God has put before my family some awesome opportunities that have kept our minds occupied.

Roughly 2-3 weeks ago I was offered a position to teach on the Bible faculty at Harding University in Searcy, AR. Teaching on the college level has been a dream of mine for several years, but I figured I would be in my 40's and finished with my doctorate before that would be a possibility. Who knew that God had different plans for me?



This decision would not be easy to make because it would mean: 1) Dana would have to return full time work outside of the home and 2) Leaving our congregation that I have only been the minister for almost 2 years. She has really enjoyed being home with the girls and has been a great blessing to them by being at home. We also feel that we have seen some good spiritual growth in the congregation here. Why can't these type of decisions be easy?



We have prayed so much about this decision and have been seeking the counsel of many close friends. After MUCH prayer and direction we have decided to make the move in August. It is very exciting, but will require much change on our part in such a short time period.



Our summer will go as follows: 1) Dana finding a job teaching, 2) Finding childcare for our girls, 3) Preparing our house to sell, 4) Selling our house, 5) Finding a place to live, 6) Preparing for my fall classes, and 7) Actually moving down there. This should be easy right!?



I will be teaching two sections of 'Christian Home'. This class will focus on how to prepare for marriage, mate selection, raising children, and integrating spirituality into this process. I will also be teaching two sections of 'Christian Counseling'. This class will focus on teaching counseling skills to those individuals who will work in the church.



Words cannot express the overwhelming feeling of God at work in our lives. It is awesome to see how He blesses His children even though none of us deserve it. Please pray for our family, the congregation here, and for the work at Harding.

An Excellent Mother

Mother's Day is Sunday and I wanted to talk about my mother: Thelma Jones.

My mom has always been dedicated to her children. She would go YEARS without buying new things for herself just to make sure that her three crazy boys were taken care of. She was never harsh or mean, but we knew our boundaries with our mother. She never had to threaten us because we ALWAYS respected her. She was, and continues to this day, a hard worker. We never heard her complain or moan even when she had more than a right to do so.

My mother is a godly woman. There has never been a time that I have heard a foul word come from her mouth. She made sure we learned the Bible and kept on us to live out our faith. She gives to anyone who has a need even though she does not have a lot to give.

I must admit I have her sense of humor. I do not want to embarrass her by giving some examples so I will just say that she is a practical joker and a good one at that.

She is a great wife to my dad. She has always supported him and stood by his side. Her dedication to their marriage has always inspired me. She created an excellent template for a Christian woman and that is what I used when looking for my wife.

I love my mom very much because she is a good friend, loves to listen, and gives loving advice even when her kids do some crazy stuff.

I remember in Kindergarten we had an opportunity to make a gift for our mothers and we could make any craft we wanted. For some reason most of the kids in class made ashtrays out of clay for their moms. My mother didn't smoke, but I made her an ashtray anyway. She loved it and was proud of my work.

These are just a FEW of the many reasons I feel blessed to have my mother.

Growing Up Too Quick

This week we were blessed to have family come in from TN and Ohio to celebrate the girls' birthdays. We had a full house all week, but it was well worth it to be around our loved ones.
Emily turned 1 on the 18th and Mikayla turned 4 on the 19th.



My girls need to stop growing! It just seems like yesterday that we brought them home, and they just keep getting bigger.

Mikayla officially moved into a booster seat in the car. She got her first pair of rollerskates and fishing pole. She is ready to take on the sidewalk and any fish that comes into her path. This means she is officially a big girl, but she will always be my baby.



Emily has five teeth now and is walking all over the place. She is as stubborn as she can be and I wouldn't change it for the world. She devoured her cupcake on her birthday. She destroyed it like it was her enemy. It is so neat to see her experience new things and have her many "firsts."



I want to just freeze them in time because they change so much. I know that is wishful thinking, but it doesn't change my dream. I want them to be good girls when they grow up. I want them to love the Lord. I want them to dream big and live a happy life. I know that they will face disappointments and be let down, but what an adventure they have in store for them!