The Session: The First Christmas (and other holidays) Without A Loved One

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"

Highlights And Reactions To The First Christmas Without A Loved One from Tom and Scott.

It Is Important To Prioritize Your Needs. Take Time To:

• Walk
• Nap
• Have important conversations
• Take time to have your space.
• Crying and hugs are to be expected and enjoyed

Find new family traditions that help after experiencing loss

• New traditions could include cruises
• Rent a house in a vacation spot for the family

Continue with routine that helps normalize life

• Have your regular coffee time?
• Continue watching your favorite shows or news on TV
• Praying
• Seeking God And His Word
• Eat healthy
• Connect with a friend you haven’t talked to in a long time

3 Suggestions from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

1. Look to the past. God gave you and your spouse many years together; have you ever stopped to thank Him for this? In other words, don’t let the loneliness of the present crowd out the happiness of the past. iMovies, photo albums

2. Look to the present. All around you are people who are lonely or grieving or discouraged. Ask God to help you reach out and be a friend to them this Christmas. It may be someone you already know—in your church or among your circle of friends. Invite them to dinner; take them to a Christmas program at your church; in small ways let them know you care. They need you—and you need them.

3. Third, look to the future. Jesus came into the world for one reason: to make it possible for us to be with Him in Heaven forever. The more we focus on eternity, the lighter our burdens become. In Christ we have hope, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session - The Christian Response to AI

• The Golden Calf (Exodus 32): While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites created a golden calf to worship, a blatant act of idolatry that angered God.
• Exodus 20: 3-5 You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.

The Setup from Scott: We did some training and orientation to A.I. in the office. Some of us were a little uneasy with it. Including me. My position has been that I would prefer to use the A.I. God gave me…my brain.

Advantages to AI

• Translating scripture into different languages CBN
• When creative with ethic Christian values, it can be helpful
• AI and promote God’s values like compassion and justice, encourage and
• Promote God’s sovereignty

AI Dangers

• Believing anything that would distort God’s plan or will in this world
• Avoiding any form of worship or unmerited importance that would be more important than our God
• Unhealthy dependence on AI
• AI becomes an unhealthy control over society

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

Sorry, no show notes for this one. This is the conclusion of a two-episode conversation I had with my daughter, Erin about her daughter, Allison. My hope is that our conversation raises awareness about just how truly beautiful and special kids with exceptionalities are, and that they have a role in our world today.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

Sorry, no show notes for this one. This is the first of a two-episode conversation I had with my daughter, Erin about her daughter, Allison. My hope is that our conversation raises awareness about just how truly beautiful and special kids with exceptionalities are, and that they have a role in our world today.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: Helping the Pastor’s Spouse

Lord of peace, may You give our pastor(s) and their families peace at all times and in every way (2 Thess. 3:16).

Support your spouse without being

the assistant pastor.

1. Be a loving, supportive spouse

2. Do not neglect the training of your children.

3. Take care of your home.

The Unique Challenges

· Living under constant scrutiny

· Unrealistic expectations

· Perfect social behavior

· Thorough knowledge of the Bible

· Attendance at all meetings

· Ready entertainer

· Spiritual giant

The Unique Circumstances

· Limited finances

· The demands of church members

· Loneliness

· Absent Spouse

How to Succeed As a Pastor’s Spouse

· Love and accept yourself.

· Concentrate on being the best you can be.

· Have realistic expectations of yourself.

· Build your own spiritual life.

· Work on self-improvement.

· Love and accept your spouse.

· Try to understand your spouse’s ministry.

· Decide on what you are comfortable doing in your church.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: Celebrating the Success of your Pastor

1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV): “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”

Celebration suggestions

Write a letter. Handwritten is best! For example:

We are grateful for your leadership and the love you show through your service. May God continue to bless you and your ministry. Your dedication to the Lord's work touches our hearts. Thank you for being our shepherd and always guiding us towards God's love.

It would be very important to celebrate your pastors, preaching style and the enthusiasm and love that they present God’s word in.

Another example, if your pastor helped you or someone else you know:

Thanks for your help with [specific action or situation]. I really appreciate all of your hard work. You've been so helpful with [specific action or situation]. Thanks

Have a church potluck in their honor

• Possibly have people lined up ahead of time to honor the Pastor after the meal
• It is possible to have no cards at each table setting that would say one thing I appreciate about the Pastor is…

Start a prayer chain of having people sign up to pray for the pastor(s) for a week.

Start an email chain of celebrating the pastor all month. Maybe talk to the church office manager about sending out emails to the church.

Other Ideas:

Through the years of ministry, the pastor suffers from the spiritual attacks by the enemy on their emotions and well-being. It is important to encourage them in their life outside of leading the church. We should encourage them to take care of themselves and acknowledge the success of their family and their life.

• Let them know what a great job they’ve done in their marriage
• Equally important is to let them know how great they have been as a parent
• Find something that is special in them to acknowledge and celebrate. As an example. Your pastor may have a great way of greeting you that is heartwarming. Take time to acknowledge that.
• Let them know that they do a great job of leadership of the staff and church members
• It might sound odd, but celebrate them by sending them on a sabbatical?

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: A Pastor’s Struggles Part 2

“7 Struggles of Ministry That Aren’t Talked About Enough” by Stephan Cote

You Have Doubts About God

• Doubting Thomas wanted evidence for his beliefs. He was known for I won’t believe it unless I see the Neal ones in his hands and put my fingers into them and place my hand into the wound in his side. (John 20:25) Sarah didn’t believe she could get pregnant, Mary, mother of Jesus, doubted an angel (Luke 1:34)
• Confusing devotion in vocation you allow your job is a pastor take over your personal devotional life. Your time in the Bible is more for a Bible study or sermon than it is your own charging of your battery.
• Pastoral Stress Levels Are Off The Charts 75% of Pastor’s report being extremely stressed or highly stressed

Tight finances, emotional turmoil, and long hours are all stress factors for the Pastor. Carrying a stressful load that was not yours in the first place.

• Pastors Find It hard to deal with the 3’ G’s: Girls, Gold and Glory

57% of pastors and 64% youth pastors report porn use.

Affairs, both physical and emotional, Accountability partners, and computer

filters are very important.

• Feeling Alone

Easy pray for the enemy when you find yourself low and in a dry spirit to

stay. Support groups or counselor or mentor or a coach can be very helpful.

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: A Pastor’s Struggles Part 1

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

“A third of pastors who leave ministry cite burnout, conflict with church”: Study from Christianpost.com

Reasons Pastors, Leave The Ministry

• Around one-third of pastors who leave the ministry cite burnout or conflict with the church as the reasons, according to a study by Lifeway Research. 18% in 2021 cited conflict for their reason to leave the church. Look at how four years has made an incredible increase in leaving the ministry
• 40% of respondents cited change in calling as the cause of their departure
• Of those who reported conflict as a reason for leaving 45% of respondents reported experiencing significant conflict during the final year they served as pastor.
• Among former pastors, 87% faced “conflict at some point in their last congregation,” with 56% experiencing it over proposed changes and almost half (49%) saying they experienced a “significant personal attack” as a result.
• Lifeway also reported that, despite leaving the position of pastor, 53% of respondents said that they continue to work in ministry, though in a different capacity.

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.