Uncategorized
-
Difficult Relationships — One Strategy
Hello friends, Ann here. We’ve been talking about difficult relationships for a while on here now. So many of us have difficult relationships, either in our home, or in our extended family. Some of these difficulties are quite severe. There are a few strategies, spiritually, for dealing with difficult people. But one I like the
-
When God Gives A Promise …
Friends, Ann here. I want to talk about the topic of promises today. I am doing so because my book, The Pair-Shaped Promise describes the story of how I carried a promise from God deep in my heart, I believed it would happen. And it did. But without meaning to spoil the book…. there is
-
Difficult Relationships – Is It Demonic?
How much is our struggle with Difficult People is Emotional, Physical, or Spiritual? This is a very real question that is actually difficult to definitively answer. In a couple of my books such as Marching Around Jericho and Spiritual Enforcer, I share very real struggles that are spiritual in nature. Let me share a real
-
When a Man Prays …
Hey friends, Ann here. Want to hear something cool…? Two weeks ago on Monday I had a really difficult time. Things in my extended family have been difficult for about 18 months – but they rared up again on the day my book was released. Grr. The timing, huh. It was so bad that I
-
Um, Babe, I’ve Written a Book… Part Two
To read part one of this story, click here. My friends, we left off on Monday with my husband sitting on a rocking chair, reading my book manuscript, quietly… This act alone sent me into a spiral of serious trauma. I basically fell into bed unable to function for that whole Sunday. Every now and
-
Um, Babe, I’ve Written a Book… And It’s Sort of About Us
Hi my friends, Ann here. Ok, now I’m going to tell you the back-story to this book, and how I shared it with Bryce. Let’s go back nine years ago. Bryce and I were in our early forties then and we were in the thick of our SUM situation. He would take the boys out
-
Would He or Wouldn’t He? Would My Husband Join Me in Faith?
I believed I had been given a promise from God that my husband would join me in faith, and we would be of one mind. It seemed God was giving me signs. But was it truly a promise from God, or was it my imagination? I was sufficiently convinced. So, I decided to believe the
-
Introducing Ann’s New Book
Hello friends, Ann here Over the last few years, I have been writing my testimony up into a book, and it is finally about to be published! Here it is — The Pair-Shaped Promise: A True Story of Faith and a Promise Kept. It is a story of my own coming to faith, it is
-
Easter is the Centrality of Love
Easter, the death and resurrection of Christ, is an event that altered the fabric of humanity. Easter is the centrality of love. By this everyone will know that you are… Easter, the death and resurrection of Christ, is an event that altered the fabric of humanity. Easter is the centrality of love. By this everyone
-
The Upper Room
Today I would like to challenge you to read the Upper Room Discourse, John, Chapter 13-17. These chapters are some of the most meaningful, powerful and life-transforming in the entire Bible. I become lost in pondering these passages. For example, a couple of weeks ago one of my prayer clients asked me, “How to do
-
Easter, And A Break in Our Relationships Study
Easter is next Sunday so we will take a break from our Healthy Relationships Study. Let’s focus our time on the Greatest Event in History, the Holy Week. It’s Monday for most readers here at Sum. Today marks the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King 11 As they approached Jerusalem
-
God’s Unique Mix of Traits
Sandra BleserElkhorn, WisconsinMarried 20 years – no children“I’m not short, I’m fun-sized!” “The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.” (Psalm 69:32) Thank you so much for your dedication to this ministry. I can say that God spoke to me through a comment within
-
Prolonged Abuse
Kendra Leathen is a mental health counselor at Elite DNA Behavioral Health, where she works with individuals and families healing from trauma, addiction, and relational wounds. With a background in teaching and a Master of Science degree in Mental and Clinical Health Counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University and Master of Arts in Theological studies
-
What I Know For Sure
Barb Twigg here with another What I Know For Sure GO with or without him
-
Patterns of the Heart, Part Two: A Faith-Based Reflection
In part one, I shared some of my personal experiences with relational patterns that left deep emotional and spiritual marks on my life. Circling back to Lynn’s question about a faith-based study on narcissism and personality disorders, while I have spent years researching the clinical aspects of these dynamics, I have not deeply studied the
-
Crisis & Resilience
Hi SUM Nation, Lynn Donovan here. Last November I was honored to share with my long-time SUMite friend on her Podcast, Warrior Words, about thriving in a mismatched marriage. You can hear that here. Heather invited me once again to share another story on her podcast. I share how our faith carries us through a
-
Patterns of the Heart (Healthy Relationship Series)
Part 1: My Personal Experience Hello SUMite family, Joy here. When Lynn mentioned the possibility of a faith-based study on narcissism and personality disorders, I felt deeply led to share more from my own lived experience. I believe the term narcissism is one of the most loosely used personality labels in our culture today. It’s
-
Seek to Understand; Not to be Understood
During the summer Bible study that Lynn, Ann, and Ian led on the book of Psalms, I wrote a guest blog entitled, King David’s Heart was Like a Pitcher, to show that David poured out all his emotions to God, both positive and negative. (Psalm 142:2) I also told the heartbreaking story of Maria and
-
What I Know For Sure
Hi everyone. This is Barb Twigg with another What I Know For Sure Be Quick To Listen!
-
It’s About to Get Very Real
Hi Sum Family, Wasn’t Ann’s post on Monday amazing? I’ve pondered and prayed to try to determine what to share about personalities, emotional health and healthy boundaries. I’ve undertaken hours of review and study from the psychological/educational pundits to gain some small understanding of the vast amount of information available. It’s a lot! What I
-
The Gift of Others!
Lent! We’re now 2 weeks into this annual pilgrimage to meet Jesus at the Cross and then to experience His resurrection of that wonderful Easter Sunday. For those of you who’ve been here for a while, you’ll know I love Lent. For me, it’s always a season to recalibrate, to assess my relationship with Jesus.