Rick Thomas | Your Daily Drive

There are instances when Christianity’s baggage can entrap a person, and they never realize it. They never connect a lack of consistent joy, constantly trying to control how people perceive them, and hiding longstanding flaws to the Christian life they live. They genuinely love God, but there is an oppressive weight that feels more like religion than the freedom Christ offers. Mable was this person. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-god-delivered-an-entrapped-soul-from-christianitys-baggage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When you fall out of love with your spouse, your marriage takes a drastic turn that few couples can alter. Long before the love sets sail, there are signs that point to a future disappointing season. Mable saw the signs but did not reach out until her love ship vanished over the horizon. There is still hope. What about you? If your love boat is adrift, I recommend you take heed to what I have to say. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/will-you-please-help-me-i-do-not-like-my-spouse-anymore/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes the job is so enormous that you can't do it alone. You don't have all the right gifts, the personality, the strengths, or the necessary know-how. It's at these moments when you need something (or someone) more fabulous than you, a person who can deliver. Being a husband is like this. None of us have what it takes to "do husbandry" well. It's a job for Superman. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-good-husband-is-a-job-for-superman-not-for-us-lesser-mortals/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Our minds are an integral part of ourselves. The mind establishes a definitive trajectory for how we do life in God’s world. Did you know the Christian mind is an evolution into four different ones. Like mile-markers up the Interstate, you begin with one type; it evolves into something better, with the intent of possessing the purest version, which is the mind of Christ. What type of mind do you have? Are you ready to analyze the evolution of your mind? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/an-analysis-of-the-evolution-and-superiority-of-the-christian-mind/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Statistically speaking, the chances of your son or daughter being married as adults are higher than them being single. This likelihood is not inside information, but public knowledge. Boys like girls and girls like boys, and most boys and girls will tie the knot in holy matrimony. How do you prepare your son to be an excellent future husband? When do you begin? The answers to these questions may surprise you. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You have a friend in trouble. They appear to be at the end of themselves, but you're not sure. You're not uncharitably judging them, but you know that the only way they can experience restoration from God and satisfaction in Him is by being at an authentic end of themselves and willing to do anything—biblically speaking—to change. How do you know your friend is genuine? What are the things you're looking for to assess them the right way? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-tell-if-a-person-in-trouble-is-genuine-about-wanting-help/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a problem trusting God when His ways seem foolish, and we have a well-worn habit of getting what we want through our self-reliant means. Of course, when we choose human wisdom and strength over God’s, it will have a debilitating effect on our lives and relationships. In this case study, I present to you how trusting God practically can alter your relationships. Let’s take a deep-dive into the hearts of Biff and Mable. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/learning-how-to-trust-god-with-your-communication-problems/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Children should not work for affection. Christian parents imitate God; one way to do this is by loving them just because they are their children. We are not perfect, and there is a time to deal with their imperfections, but love should be an uninterrupted expectation in a child’s life. When it is, you have a foundation that shapes them toward God-centered maturity. If we don’t love them well, they will be like the four complicated kids in this story. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-make-your-child-work-for-your-affection/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Are you able to use sin sinlessly? I am asking how do you respond to the inevitableness of sin in your life, whether it is your’s or someone else’s? When wickedness comes, it will drive us in one of two directions. We will either fixate on the cause of or the solution for the problem. Another way of saying it is that our doctrine of sanctification will either be sin-centered or Christ-centered. The sin-centered reaction is a setup for ongoing complications. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-know-how-to-use-the-unwanted-sin-in-your-life-sinlessly/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Anger from a parent complicates a child's heart regardless of the content, tone, or direction of their anger. Because all children crave love and protective care, a parent's anger will disrupt their hope, and if the parent does not change, it will send the child down the wrong path. It's vital for all parents to know this and have a practical plan to clean up all their angry messes. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-quick-and-easy-way-to-disqualify-yourself-as-a-parent/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes in life, you have to get in a conflict with someone. This dreaded reality is not a wish, desire, or prayer request, but a common-sense perspective that comes with living in a sin-cursed world. It is impossible to have two humans living close to each other for an extended period, and not have relational conflict. Sin does not accommodate our desires for peace or a hope for the path of least resistance. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/there-are-times-when-you-have-to-get-into-conflict/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

To say, “I’m busy” is like saying I breathed air today. Being a Christian and not being busy is an oxymoron. The un-busy Christian is the problem of the person who does not take the gospel seriously. To use another analogy, we’re like kids in the candy store—opportunity is everywhere. Thus, if a person is not busy or busy the wrong way, you want to follow-up to see what the problem is so you can help them to be busy with a gospel-centered emphasis. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/its-not-are-you-busy-but-how-do-you-spend-your-time/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Our published mission statement is to help people by providing practical tools and ongoing training for effective living. If you ask me, that is what I will tell you. But there is another mission statement I’m more passionate about, and it’s the driving force behind all that I do. I going to share that with you and hope to inspire you to create your version of it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-challenge-you-to-live-25-years-after-you-die-do-you-accept/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What expectations have you had that did not come to fruition? How did you respond when you did not get what you had hoped? All of us have had dashed expectations. To expect stuff is human. So is not getting life the way you planned, on your terms. When misfortune comes, what is the process of recovering from the disappointment? Let me tell you where to start. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/to-recover-from-broken-expectations-you-need-to-know-this/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a surprising backstory to why this ministry exists today. You don’t know this story because the person the Lord chose to elevate this ministry was just a regular guy who was obedient to the Lord’s call on his life. I want to tell you about this man while encouraging you that no matter what your life is like, you can have a long-lasting, redemptive impact on others. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-is-the-untold-story-of-god-using-one-man-to-change-thousands/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Most relationships begin with a lot of talking and not so many frustrations. As the communicators continue in their relationship, complexity increases. Sometimes one of the partners becomes silent. He becomes quiet while the other partner is left to speculate on what happened. In this case study with Biff and Mable, they are at that place, but not without hope. There is a way for them to navigate the quiet contours of the non-talking husband. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-navigate-the-quiet-contours-of-the-non-talking-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The temptation for all of us is to conform to the status quo. We have a herd mentality that drives us to conformity. Of course, a bully culture will cancel you if you step outside their clearly defined lines. There are not many unique personalities who dare to develop their voices that are unlike anyone else's. We must learn how to find our voice to be the unique person God is calling us to be. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/finding-your-voice-to-be-who-god-wants-you-to-be/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It’s possible to let your thoughts run to places that are not redemptive during frustrating and disappointing times. We are in those times. The two primary strongholds are fear and anger. Fearfulness captures too many of us in dire situations while others respond angrily at what is happening to them. Because anger is so common, it’s vital to have a clear understanding of our “go-to” form of anger when we’re disappointed. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-overcome-our-most-damaging-response-to-frustrating-times/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Disappointments come into our lives nearly every day. Getting what you want, how you want it, when you want it is not always possible in a fallen world. One of the essential assessments you could ever make about yourself is learning what your disappointments reveal about you. It’s God’s mercy to use those challenging moments in our lives to make us better people. The world does not know this type of grace. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/one-positive-purpose-for-your-disappointments/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

An algorithm is a formula for collecting data about you to make your life better, so they say. It’s a collection of data bits that reflects your Internet habits; it’s a cyber-reflection of you. In marketing, an algorithm on a person helps sellers target specific demographics and individuals, which is why they have created an algorithmic version of you in cyberspace. The tech gods want to know about you so they can help you, so they say. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/warning-there-is-an-algorithmic-version-of-you-on-the-internet/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – I recently announced that I have cut back on my article writing and Your Daily Drive podcast production. This change is effective immediately. For the past five years, I wrote three articles per week, with a podcast for each one. This change is because our user demographic has shifted from long-form article content to listening to podcasts and watching videos. There are other reasons, too. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-269-huge-changes-and-all-the-reasons-were-doing-it/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the crucial keys to building a ministry or business is the process of redefining yourself. If you don’t do this, you will lose your impact and relevancy. Your voice in the marketplace will not grow. The “this is how we have always done it” mantra only works in a static universe. We don’t live in that place, which is why you want to spend time and energy thinking about how to have the most impact in your sphere. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/the-best-reason-to-change-is-so-you-can-reach-and-help-more-people/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are two large groups of people in America today. They are the winners and the losers. The happy and the sad. The glad and the mad. The hopeful and the fearful. Which one are you on this morning after an American presidential election? What does the state of your heart reveal about your faith? Regardless of which camp we’re in, there is probably work to do in our hearts. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/assessing-my-heart-the-morning-after-an-american-election/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When recently doing a study on Moses, something grabbed my attention this time, and it wasn’t the usual question of how anyone can live off manna for so long. The first chapter of Exodus gives us a glimpse into the lives of a truly remarkable family, particularly the parents who trusted God in a country that did not. There is a practical application for all of us as we go through another election cycle. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-does-your-faith-govern-your-heart-this-election-season/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Paul said, “to live is Christ.” In four syllables, he explained why and what for his earthly existence. Apart from asking the Lord to regenerate you, there is no more life-transforming statement you could make. Why was Paul living? Christ. What was his point of living? Christ. How do you explain your “why and what” for living on this planet? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/letter-to-god-i-need-to-die-will-you-help-me/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When you think about your sanctification, what do you believe regarding your role in it? Are you beholding to passive or active obedience or both? Passive is sitting, soaking, and trusting while active is doing something with your faith. When suffering comes, is trusting God all you need? Or are there things you should do that flow from your affection for Christ? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/trusting-god-is-good-but-you-need-more-when-suffering-comes/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Have you been on the receiving end of gossip? How did you respond? What did your reaction reveal about your walk with the Lord? One of the most challenging relational opportunities is when someone gossips about you. When it happens, there are several options for you to consider. In some situations, you overlook it. Other times, you must do the messy work. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-respond-to-a-gossiper-who-wants-me-to-do-more/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What impact can the President of the United States have on our country? With so many moving political parts needed to make our country function well, can one person make that much difference? Is it possible that we have placed too much weight on the President’s job? He is not a king. A reflective question about any President’s power is worth considering. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/does-it-really-matter-who-becomes-our-next-president/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The wedding day is not the best time to learn how to be a spouse. For too many young couples, they begin this way. Without prior training, they had to figure out how to get along with each other in the school of hard knocks. Some of them do not endure, which is why we chose to give our son three wives. If practice makes perfect, the assumption is that we could help him get close to what it means being a biblical husband—should that day come. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-son-has-three-practice-wives-to-make-him-a-better-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What kind of school environment should you place your child into for their good and God’s fame? How would you describe your worldview when it comes to children and education? What are some of the elements of your decision-making that led to your choice? Rick speaks to this emotional topic, bringing biblical wisdom to help guide anyone wrestling with what to do with their child. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-the-best-kind-of-school-that-your-child-should-attend/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are specific conditions where it’s more challenging to help a child change. It’s vital to know these things if your child is not walking with the Lord. The great news is that there is always hope because you can do something about it. Hope is an active responsibility; you hope in God to change people and cooperate with Him in the process. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/7-conditions-that-make-it-more-difficult-to-help-a-child/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Evil has never been as infringing on our families as it is today. If you wanted to find ubiquitous sin twenty years ago, you had to go somewhere to find it. Today you can get there in five seconds. Not only is wickedness easily accessible for inquiring minds, but the non-blushing culture makes it their business to impose their perverted passions upon us in manifold ways. How do you react when it’s your child on the receiving end of society’s perversions? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-respond-when-someone-introduces-your-child-to-bad-things/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

To live a life that is honoring to God requires a person to rest well. If you rest well, you will work well and the other parts of your life will be satisfying, too. So important is rest that without a sound theology and practice of it, your work diminishes and your relationships suffer. What is your theology of rest? How do work and rest intersect and complete each other? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-have-to-work-to-rest-if-you-ever-want-to-enjoy-this-gift/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Part of every Christian’s calling is to take care of their Father’s money. Stewarding finances is one of the many privileges that He gives to His children. It’s a stunning thought to think that God would entrust something so needful to steward (Psalm 24:1-2). This practical mind map will help you spread God’s fame by how you manage His money. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-practical-mind-map-that-teaches-you-how-to-manage-money/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Every individual is part of the same human family, made by one Being, and connected to one another because of His creative work. The linkage that binds us together came from God’s mind and flowed this His creative hands—anthropomorphically speaking—in Genesis 1:27. Each person—regardless of their relationship to their Creator, has to decide how to interact with other fallen people, our family members. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-you-react-to-fallen-people-reveals-what-you-think-about-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Our pastor said, and I paraphrase, “Toxic people are magnets who draw shards of truth and untruth into their orbit to build an image of their making to accomplish their purposes. Their hearts are fictional factories. If you permit them to do so, they will draw you into their universe and shape you into a version of their fiction.” (Sermon preached 10.04.20) Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-practical-message-to-help-you-with-that-toxic-person-in-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Christians are aliens who live in a foreign land. This home is not theirs, but while they are here, they must live on a practical mission that penetrates the culture, hoping that others will follow them to their eternal home. Sadly, some alien Christians lose their way, forgetting that their citizenship is in heaven. You may recognize them by their worry over losing some of what this land offers. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-live-your-best-alien-life-today/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The angry heart does not have to direct its frustration toward anyone to complicate that relationship. Of course, you can be mad with someone, and it will damage your redemptive goals with them. But whether you have a general condition of anger or you go off on someone, all partners, parents, pastors, and peers must learn how to bring their sinful anger into submission to Christ. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-parents-anger-complicates-the-life-of-the-child/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What is the goal for your child? It’s a good and fair question. What do you hope for him or her to be when they grow up? Most Christian parents would rightly say they hope their children love God with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strength. I hope that happens with your children, but what does it mean to help them become this practically speaking? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-is-the-perfect-goal-for-your-child-and-how-to-do-it/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

No book can help your unique husband to become a better husband like you can. Sure, there are a zillion books, and we have the Bible, too. But when it comes to a wife’s role in helping her husband mature in Christ, she is his most effective means of grace to transformation. A man’s wife is in a unique position to help a unique man to grow into a unique representation of Jesus Christ. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-unique-wife-helping-a-unique-man-change-is-the-best/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The Internet is an angry place. It’s one of the sadder revelations about the Internet period in church history, how it has become a context to put our sinful hearts on full display before the world. Revealing my wicked heart is not a new thing to those who know me, but having a new place to display it is new. The Internet is that space for too many believers to lower the gate and march their words out for the world to see. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-internet-is-the-new-frontier-for-angry-people-hang-out/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Daniel Berger and I talked about the word victim and how many biblical counselors are abusing the term, which has led to insufficient care within the biblical counseling movement ranks. Daniel told me the word victim comes from the Latin root vicarious, which means taking someone’s place. In the world of victimology, the tragic consequence of being a victim means you’re taking on another’s sin—the sin of the person who abused you. An ongoing vicarious soul becomes a complicated, trapped one. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/thinking-of-yourself-as-victim-is-one-of-the-worst-things-you-can-do/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Have you ever looked at something you disliked in the culture, and then realized that you may be seeing a partial reflection of yourself? I hope so. If you can see yourself, at least some of your tendencies, weaknesses, and untoward desires in the things you dislike, you’re maturing as a Christian. Recently, I saw myself in Bruce Jenner, the man who became Caitlyn Jenner, the woman. https://rickthomas.net/do-you-see-how-similar-you-are-to-caitlyn-jenner/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A counseling office is a place for trust, truth, and honesty, but sometimes getting to this place is not straightforward. For example, a counselee may withhold the truth about themselves because they are not confident the counselor is trustworthy. They are vetting the counselor. Every counselee who does not reveal all the facts is not lying. Are you a trustworthy disciple-maker? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/every-person-who-withholds-the-truth-is-not-lying/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When you’re right about something, you know you’re right, the Bible affirms you’re right, and your friends do too, how do you steward your knowledge? Have you ever been right in the past, but now you believe differently? You were not right, but you thought you were. There is a danger in being dogmatic without grace. Omniscient people can become accidental Pharisees. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/comparing-yourself-may-make-you-an-accidental-pharisee/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A struggling teen is every parent's concern. We all know that there is something dynamic happening to our teenagers, and the decisions they make during this season of their lives will set the course for the rest of their lives. If they are not doing well, we worry. Sometimes a parent believes counseling is the right option. Perhaps they are correct. But before you do that, will you consider these seven things? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/7-things-to-know-if-you-want-me-to-counsel-your-teen/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Being a victim of anything is one of the most challenging circumstances for a hurting soul to negotiate. The journey out of the effects of victimization is long. Some contours will challenge the victim to the broadest expanse of their soul. Their ultimate goal is to become a victor in Christ, not a victim of sin. It’s not easy, but the good news is that there is a path forward. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-know-if-your-victimhood-has-become-your-identity/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When abuse forms the lens through how you view what is happening in your life or among friends, it may discolor how you interpret and react to those experiences. I’m not suggesting that bad things are not happening to you or your friends, but I am saying that the lens through which you view those things will give you an interpretation, which might not be the most accurate assessment of the problem. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-abuse-you-see-clouds-biblical-interpretations/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

In each election cycle, finding the best candidate can be a daunting and challenging task. To vote or not to vote is rarely the question, but who to vote for can be a problem. This year is no exception. The adage is true: What you see is not always what you get. I’m here to help you to choose the best candidate. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/not-sure-who-to-vote-for-this-year-heres-the-perfect-candidate/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Whenever we bring words, language, and constructs from the culture and wedge them into a biblical paradigm, things become awkward, and emotions tend to erupt. This problem is what has happened with the word abuse. We grabbed it from the world, with all its accompanying baggage, and have created an integrated way of thinking about a real problem. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/abuse-is-not-the-best-way-to-talk-about-the-problem-with-abuse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of today’s most popular and accepted lifestyles is LGBTQ+. The plus (+) symbol at the end means it’s a living label; you can keep adding to it. How does this new and accepted way to think about gender and gender roles make you feel? How are you engaging and instructing your children and the rest of your friends? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-should-you-talk-to-your-children-about-lgbtq/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The word abuse has become a catchall phrase with too many Christians. It’s a construct that is full of all sorts of things, and it’s now in danger of losing its worth. When you dilute a subject to include virtually anything you do not like, the original meaning is lost, and your problems do not find solutions. This outcome is what’s happening with the word abuse. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-abuse-of-abuse-is-complicating-legitimate-abuse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Parents are powerful. They have a transformative impact on the lives of their children. The most effective way they do this is how they live their lives inside their homes. More specifically, if you zero-in on their family life, the one aspect that has the most influence is how a husband and wife relate to each other. The following fictional story explains what I mean. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/dear-parents-will-you-stop-your-arguing-please/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Cornelius Van Til said there are no neutral facts. Meaning, two people can look at the same thing and come away with differing perspectives, and both of them are right. For example, a married couple can talk about the same event in different ways, and both be accurate. Not understanding this aspect of conflict resolution could exacerbate the tension. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-help-people-with-different-opinions-who-are-right/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You must have friends. To say that God is all you need reduces your life to you and God in a silo. You need others to live out the grander purposes of the gospel. The question is never, do you need friends, but what are the objectives of those friendships. The “over-spiritual only needs God” person will see their spirituality drain from them. Pursue others. You need them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-want-more-than-god-is-it-wrong-to-want-someone-to-love-me/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If a family member or friend does not meet your expectations, what is your primary way of motivating them to change? Do you encourage them toward a better way of living, or do you use other methods like criticism, nagging, and condemnation that tempts them to fear? I will address this problem in the ongoing life and times of Biff and Mable. The answer is more complex than you might think. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/learning-how-to-encourage-disappointing-people-to-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Are you an attractive person? I’m not speaking of cultural attractiveness. The peak of attractiveness has a biblical look to it. Jesus was a holy and righteous man, and non-religious people were comfortable hanging with Him. That’s the picture of attractiveness that I’m going for here. Do difficult, fallen, imperfect, and challenging people find you attractive? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/are-you-attractive-a-way-to-know-is-if-sinners-hang-with-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Every family in America has experienced the adverse impact of sexual-related issues. The Internet, sexual abuse, fornication, adultery, and our bent toward immodest clothes, makeup, and presenting ourselves a certain way are part of the word cloud that describes this sexual pandemic. What may surprise you is how easily you can identify with and imitate the porn addict, as you choose other soul-shrinking solutions to feel better about yourself. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-need-to-know-how-choices-to-feel-better-are-addictive/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Roll through your mental index, identifying the kind of person or demographic you do not prefer, like, or try to avoid? Perhaps it’s something your spouse, child, parent, wife, or church member does. Maybe it’s that Christian hypocrite who needs to get a life, or someone who has opposite strengths and weaknesses than yours. Do you have that person in mind? Great! Let’s proceed. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/pick-an-enemy-now-will-you-do-what-jesus-said-love-them/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

People are not equal. It’s a rational idea, but not everyone believes it. Some folks think there can be no disparities between individuals. Everyone gets a trophy. They teach that all outcomes must be the same, even if we have to twist the truth and pretend. We call these folks far-left liberals. Did you know that many Christians act like the far-left liberal? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/7-surprising-ways-a-christian-acts-like-the-far-left-liberal/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I listened to a podcast from Bret Weinstein and his wife, Heather Heying, where they talked about what is happening to our country, how we got this way, and a possible path forward. I will not repeat what Brett and Heather said here but will borrow the three words they used and run them through a biblical filter, anticipating this will bring clarity and hope to you and a path forward in bringing healing to any family, church, or country. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/an-analysis-of-how-to-destroy-a-family-church-or-country/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Proverbs 26:4-5 says that I’m supposed to respond to a fool, and then it says that I’m not to respond to a fool. What is the difference? How am I to know when I should respond to a foolish person or move on with my life? There’s a lot of foolishness out there these days, and sometimes I’m not sure how to react to some folks. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-am-i-to-know-when-or-when-not-to-respond-to-a-fool/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How many ways are available from the Lord to help you grow up in Christ? Most folks would say things like the Bible, prayer, church, and close friends. They are correct. Those are four essential means of grace for maturing in Christlikeness. Here’s one more. Perhaps the Lord would permit sin in your life to rattle your cage for Jesus. What do you think about the redemptive purposes of sin? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-think-about-a-god-who-permits-sin-in-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you don’t look out for number one, you will fall by the wayside. Don’t expect anyone else to do it for you. Thus, the question is, If you don’t do it, who will? Who is going to take care of you? Probably nobody, which is why your best course of action is to look out for yourself. Make you the number one priority in your life. It’s wise and biblically smart. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-i-am-number-one-and-look-out-for-myself-most-of-all/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s not just a question for the high school graduate. I did not figure out what I wanted to be after I grew up until I was 38-years old. Some of us are a bit slower than the average bear. If you’re uncertain about your niche in life, I have some useful advice for you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up-heres-some-advice/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Should you wear a mask in public? Perhaps you do, and it’s a non-issue for you. Praise God. I’m sure you’re aware that many of your friends are not where you are. It never occurred to me write on this subject, but it has proven to be a paper-thin problem that has turned into a mountainous stumbling block for too many people. As most of our dilemmas go, we usually begin by asking the wrong question. In this instance, the first question is not, “Should I wear a mask?” Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/to-wear-a-mask-or-not-is-not-the-most-important-question/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the hottest trending terms the last decade is the word woke. It means to be aware, as in, “I have woke up to [this cause].” Formerly, you were not aware; now, you are. The word woke is most often used in the context of oppression, and within this group of woke people, you will find a spectrum of adherents. On one end, there are the innocent idealists, and on the other, there are angry activists. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/two-degrees-of-woke-the-innocent-idealist-and-angry-activist/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Abuse is a broad category. In today’s culture, it may include micro-aggressions, which can be anything from subtle to intentional slights toward another person. On the other end of the abuse spectrum are some of the most heinous events that can happen to a human being. For those who have gone through the darker and weightier aspects of abuse, I have four vital things that will help you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-things-to-know-when-working-through-abuse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What do you expect from life? If you’re like me, you have many expectations, and some of them have not come to pass. To have expectations is to be Christlike. To have your expectations managing you is not like Christ. Your attitude about God, self, others, and life will reveal how you think about your expectations. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-are-your-expectations-and-how-do-they-manage-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Biff wants to begin a counseling ministry in his local church. The leadership is aware of the church’s sanctification needs; they want help and humbly acknowledge this need. They asked Biff to propose a plan. He asked me how to go about this new endeavor. What are the critical details for starting and sustaining a counseling ministry in a local church? Here is what I told Biff. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-i-begin-a-counseling-ministry-at-my-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the essential goals of parenting is the practice of releasing your children to the culture where they will eventually live. Part of this process is for them to live less under the governance of the parent’s rules and more under God’s authority. As they leave the parent’s protective care, they come up under the Lord’s. Knowing how to assist them in this transition is vital. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/vital-teaching-for-releasing-your-children-to-the-world/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What do you want? What would you like to have? Do these desires come from the heart of contentment? To want something does not have to be wrong. We should always want all kinds of things throughout our lives. To not to want things is not to live. The heart of the matter for any of us is when our wants begin to control our thoughts. When that happens, another “god” begins to rule our lives. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/learning-how-to-keep-what-you-want-from-controlling-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Is there someone in your life with whom you struggle? Stated differently, who bothers you? Has someone done something that has brought friction into your relationship with them? What if you flipped the question around: have you done something to someone that has caused friction? Did you know that you have no other choice but to resolve this problem? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-have-no-choice-but-to-resolve-conflict-with-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are many benefits to living in our world, and you should not feel guilty about these good things. However, we can become so accustomed to “our way of life” that when something disrupts our expectations, it can dismantle us. It’s precisely in these moments of difficulties that we need to reevaluate and realign our hearts to our calling as God’s children. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-experience-future-glory-in-present-difficulties/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a twist of irony when one person condemns another person, even when the accusation is correct. If you do not guard your heart when you critique those who are doing wrong things, you may forget that you, too, are not a guilt-free person. If you do forget, you will become guilty of the things that you accuse others of doing. This scenario is playing out a zillion times a day in our country. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-one-thing-that-is-worse-than-admitting-youre-a-racist/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

As the divide in our country continues to widen, the temptation to be harsh, sinfully angry, or retaliate in ungodly ways toward those who think differently from you is high. There are times when we can think more highly of ourselves and less considerate of others, especially when they do things that frustrate us. It's in these critical moments that the gospel must level our hearts. If not, we may go to some dark places. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/thinking-about-those-people-who-are-not-like-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Our country is in a tailspin. The most popular word in America today is racism. Two-hundred plus years of striving and tension around race are spilling over into our streets. The noise is so loud. It’s annoying, tedious, and concerning. Some people are reacting with no filter, while others want to bury their heads in the sand. Why are we here? What happened to us? More importantly, what can we do? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-new-slave-owner-is-a-liberal-paternalistic-government/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

“Tough love” has become one of the mantras in modern Christian culture. Like many popularized sayings, it has taken on an unintended—harsh—meaning that does not bring about the peaceful fruit of righteousness. How do you think about tough love? What comes to your mind? How do those who have experienced your tough love think about it? Is there a more biblical worldview for corrective care? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/your-love-should-not-be-tough-it-should-be-merciful/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You’re only as strong as your hope, and if your main hope is not in Christ, you are not as strong as you should be. The way to know where you have placed your primary hope is by how you react to the difficulties and challenges that come into your life. If your trouble manages you more than Christ, the most courageous thing you can do is ask the Lord to break you from that bondage. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/youre-only-as-strong-as-that-which-provides-the-most-hope/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There is something about the title that sounds counterintuitive to our self-reliant and self-protective lives. Even so, doesn’t it have a biblical ring to it? You die to live (Matthew 16:24-26). You humble yourself to be exalted (Matthew 23:12). You give up something to gain something (Philippians 3:7). You get out of the world to get into another one (Hebrews 13:13). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-can-experience-rest-if-you-give-up-what-you-want/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

In God’s mind, your life is over. He sees the end from the beginning. The Lord stands outside of time—a macro view, looking inside your timeline, which has a start and end date, and He’s helping you navigate your journey. You’re not sure where you’re going or the pitfalls along the way, but from His vantage point, He does. You must know that your story ends well, which is the antidote for fighting off fear while living in the freedom and power of a secure future. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-you-should-live-in-the-freedom-of-knowing-the-future/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Husbands and wives have a hard time putting a broken marriage back together. Typically, the expectations and disappointments create a backlog of unresolved conflict. When a couple gets to this point, pride becomes the unscaleable wall between them. They have lost the vision for Christ and His church in their union. I’ve developed this reflective study to help you tear down that wall. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-is-practical-help-to-restore-a-broken-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Many marriages, families, and churches have a common link, a missing one. In a word, it’s fellowship. I’m not speaking of having a social conversation with someone. Biblically speaking, fellowship is when two or more people willingly, humbly, openly, transparently, honestly, and vulnerably share themselves reciprocally, which is easier said than done. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/fellowship-is-the-missing-link-in-most-relationships/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Describe the aroma of your home. Would you say it’s a place where joy, gratitude, and thanksgiving are regularly wafting through the rooms? As you think about the environment in your home, perhaps you can narrow the focus down to yourself (Matthew 7:3-5). How aggressive are you in expressing gratitude to your family members? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-create-the-aroma-of-gratitude-in-your-home/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When your companion is darkness rather than light, and your circumstances are overwhelming you in a season of acute need, there is no more of a critical time in life for God to reveal Himself to you. But sometimes your answer to your praying is more darkness. Silence! How in the world does the gospel connect to a God who is silent? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/connecting-the-gospel-to-a-god-who-is-silent/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God creates children in His image. Parents have a responsibility to shape the child for God, with the hope and prayer that when they are old enough to understand, they will follow Him. Then things get off track. The parent makes mistakes. The child reacts poorly. The remarkable news is how the Lord can use the bad things that happen to bring these broken children to Himself. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-remarkable-way-god-uses-your-brokenness-to-heal-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Gaslighting is the mental manipulation that someone does to another individual. It’s a psychological maneuver of abusive type people who want to control you by making you believe you’re guilty of something that you did not do. If they persist, you may give up and accept what they say even if in your heart of hearts you don’t believe it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-gaslighting-its-effects-and-how-to-react-to-it/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Audio Series: Change Me – The Ultimate Life-Change Handbook, by Rick Thomas Change Me: Chapter Five, Only Four Problems In Life You may purchase this book from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Audio Series: Change Me – The Ultimate Life-Change Handbook, by Rick Thomas Change Me: Chapter Four, Five Things to Know You may purchase this book from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Audio Series: Change Me – The Ultimate Life-Change Handbook, by Rick Thomas Chapter Three: Perfect Self-Help Book You may purchase this book from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Audio Series: Change Me – The Ultimate Life-Change Handbook, by Rick Thomas Change Me, Chapter Two, First Unique Step You may purchase this book from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Audio Series: Change Me – The Ultimate Life-Change Handbook, by Rick Thomas Chapter One: Make the Most of It You may purchase this book from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Audio Series: Change Me – The Ulitmate Life-Change Handbook, by Rick Thomas Introduction You may purchase this book from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I was chatting recently with a Christian counselor who said that her mentors taught her that Christian counselors should not show emotion during a counseling session. She asked me what I thought about this kind of teaching. What do you think? It is okay to cry in front of the person you’re helping? What about laughter? How does emotion relate to God and Him making us in His image? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/is-it-wrong-to-show-emotion-when-helping-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Rick, recently you talked about how you tend to live on “military time,” and Lucia lives on “island time” and how you both have had to work through your conflicting personality traits in your marriage. You also tied this to how the gospel speaks to every area of your lives. How did you both eventually apply the gospel to your personality differences? How can the gospel help two people live in relational harmony? – Supporting Member Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-the-way-to-work-though-personality-differences/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What is your primary way of relating to people? Do you connect superficially, or do you engage them where they live? I’m talking about reaching a person at their heart. It is imperative to reach folks at the right place so they can experience biblical transformation. If you don’t connect at the heart-level, you won’t help them become more like Christ. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-best-way-to-connect-with-someone-to-help-them-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The litmus test for a true Christian leader is their ability to replicate themselves into someone else. For the Christian leader, he’s exporting his Christ-life to another individual so that person can be Christlike. If a leader does not replicate himself into another, the Christian mission stops—at least in that Christian’s immediate sphere of influence. Though each of us is different, we have the same call: go, and make disciples. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-the-litmus-test-for-a-leader-and-are-you-one/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most natural things you will ever do is respond sinfully to the sin of another person. When you do this, it reveals a lot about how you think about yourself, the other person, and the Lord. Part of this problem is we don’t “plan for sin” to happen. I call it a lack of “budgeting sin” into our future experience. Not living in the reality of human fallenness will have tragic consequences in our lives and relationships. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-need-to-budget-the-expectation-of-sin-into-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Once a parent, ever a parent. Even after a parent loses hands-on oversight and care of their children as they get older, they never stop thinking about them—always wondering and praying for their well-being. Before that sad day of their departure comes, I want to provide you with three powerful parenting strategies that will help them after they become adults. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-are-three-powerful-and-practical-parenting-strategies/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Teenagers don't have to be angry or disconnected, but many of them are. Rather than speculating on why they are this way, some practical advice on how to change would be appropriate. This article is for that teenager who is looking for help to change their thinking, behaving, and life trajectory. I used to be one of those directionless, frustrated teenagers. These seven things are proven and they will bring change to your life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/7-things-that-will-bring-change-to-any-angry-teens-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A rebellious teenager is a complicated problem with many sides to it. Loving parents want to motivate this kind of child to change, but too often, they are not aware of all that is involved in helping him. Here are ten practical things that any parent can implement to motivate their teenager to move from a selfish, rebellious person to a potential Christ-follower. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/10-things-that-will-motivate-your-teen-child-to-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

My friend has a hidden, secret sin, which she is afraid to confess to me. I see her in bondage to what she has done and was wondering if it is right or would it be helpful if she confessed her sin to me. What do you think? How important is it to reveal hidden sins to another person? – Supporting Member Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-people-you-know-confess-their-sins-to-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I have heard that you cannot counsel non-Christians with God’s Word. It’s not true. You can help anyone with the Bible, no matter what their relationship is like with the Lord. The more relevant question is, how do you do it? What are some practical ideas that would help when talking to unbelievers? Here are a few ideas that I trust will serve you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-practically-help-non-christians-with-marriage-problems/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God is acting decisively at the cross to work out His purposes to bring everyone from all nations, at all times, to Himself. Apart from the cross, there is no way to understand or enjoy life the way God intends. It’s a mystery as much as it’s the practical centerpiece of the gospel. How well are you living in the presence of the cross? How does the cross define your life today? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-ultimate-solution-to-all-your-problems-a-cross-examination/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What are your strengths and weakness, the primary ones that come to mind? I’m sure you guard against letting your weaknesses rule over you. But how vigilant are you in protecting yourself from your strengths? How aware are you that your strengths could be more detrimental to your soul and relationships than your weaknesses? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-your-unguarded-strength-can-become-a-double-weakness/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The gospel connects to every aspect of our lives, regardless if it is things of primary importance or tertiary matters. One of those lesser but valuable loves in all our lives is Christian music, which makes knowing how to connect the gospel to your music choices vital. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-connect-the-gospel-to-your-music-choices/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Paul had a gospel-centered perspective on personal suffering. In 2 Corinthians 12, we learn that the Lord gave Paul a thorn in the flesh. Though we are unsure what his “thorn” was, Christians generally agree that it was a physical debilitation. I have written on connecting the gospel to physical suffering, so here, I am addressing a gospel connection to personal suffering of any kind. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-paul-connected-the-gospel-to-personal-suffering/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Parental discipline is not just a behavioral interaction between a parent and a child. There are hearts in play, too—the heart of the parent and the child. If the parent does not connect the gospel to his heart, the discipline will not go well, and there is a high chance that it will leave a negative shaping influence on the child’s heart and life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-connect-the-gospel-to-parental-discipline/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Connecting the gospel to physical suffering is one of the most essential things you will ever do. The “good news” is always perfect when there is bad news, but how to make those gospel connections are not quickly apparent, especially when your pain is acute and ongoing. Here are seven practical ways to think about the gospel and physical suffering. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-connect-the-gospel-to-physical-suffering/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How you think about life determines how you practically respond to life. Living in a broken world is hard, chaotic, stressful, and challenging. And if you have a skewed understanding of the doctrines of man, sin, salvation, and the Lord, you will not engage your life experiences from a God-centered perspective. This reality makes connecting the gospel to everyday life vital. One of the more crucial gospel connections is how you think about loneliness. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-connect-the-gospel-to-being-left-alone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You can’t come out of the world because you live in the world. This problem means that we need to make decisive actions about how to guard our hearts against the influences of the culture. Some choose legalistic separation, while others love the world too much. Paul’s plea to the Corinthians applies to us today because the temptations are similar. Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/ Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-influences-you-the-most-is-what-you-love-the-most/

Hold on and brace yourself for these two bold and sobering truths. Today's sophisticated culture does not accept them, and they may offend you. Everyone is going to hell, and the Lord has set up the agency of humankind to let the whole world know there is another option. Now, the big question: Do you believe in the exclusivity (Jesus is the only way to heaven) of the Christian message? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-deadliest-infection-and-greatest-cure-you-can-have/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Living in a relationship with someone requires a practical awareness of how to do it well. Each person is on a private and personal journey that is unlike any other, which means there will be times when helping your friends will be challenging. Before I get into the six practical thoughts for helping a problematic person, let me give you three examples of folks who do not know how to live well with others and have relational tension with them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/six-practical-thoughts-when-helping-friends-and-enemies/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Have you ever had a good run with the Lord, and then all of a sudden, you were surprised by your lack of faith? Something caught you off guard. It's one of those, "Just when you're doing well, then, bam, something bad happens" scenarios. I'm not pessimistic here, but sometimes our faith is hit from the blindside, and we're perplexed and in need of a reboot. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-to-do-when-you-cant-see-what-you-should-see/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What if God is not an American, and His primary concern is not to keep us from having first-world problems? Is it possible that the Lord has another plan than our pursuit of happiness that is not according to each person’s unique desires to have their lives their way? Sometimes we can fall asleep at the wheel of life, and the Lord brings a correction that reminds us where our focus should be. It is in those moments of challenge that we finally realize that God is not an American. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-finally-realize-that-god-is-not-an-american/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Having two genders is not just a neat way to think about the human family. There are functional and irreplaceable roles for each gender. When it comes to parenting, the dad and mom have unique purposes, practices, and effects on children. In this article, I’m addressing the critical need for fathers to step into the responsibility of rearing their boys and girls in the way that only they can. This job is for him, and the Lord has gifted fathers to do it well. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/speaking-to-the-practical-role-of-fathers-with-children/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The Christian life is progressive and transforming. To hang with Jesus means to be moving, growing, and changing. It’s a privilege of grace to experience a transformation that leads to maturity, but we’re not all in the same place. There are stages of the Christian life. As you read further, assess yourself to see how you’re doing with the four stages of the Christian life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-stages-to-the-christian-life-where-are-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are times in a relationship when winning the argument should not be your first call to action. Jesus talked about turning the other cheek and going the extra mile with some folks. What relationships do you have where it would be a better experience if you could practice these things? Perhaps this advice will serve you well as you seek to connect the gospel to your arguments. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-is-a-useful-way-to-connect-the-gospel-to-arguments/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You have a recurring temptation. It won’t go away. How are you supposed to think about it? What does it mean? A friend asked, “What if I keep getting tempted by the same sin over and over again, and I worry it will eventually win its war over me? Does this mean I haven’t gained victory over this sin? If someone has changed, will they no longer experience temptation in the same way?” Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/will-i-ever-be-free-from-my-recurring-temptation-to-sin/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Being right is a tricky thing. Did you know that being right does not always mean you have to communicate what you know to be true? How good are you at discerning when to speak and not to speak as you consider the person who should hear from you at that moment? Did you know there were times when Jesus did not speak the truth because it was not best to say it at that time, even though He was right? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/sometimes-its-better-to-say-nothing-when-youre-right/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How do you help a teenage son when he does not want your help? You feel him distancing from you and the family, but he won’t communicate with you. Should you relax your expectations? Perhaps a more in-depth question is how is his behavior a reflection of your parenting and, perhaps, your marriage. A supporting member is struggling with her son and wants our help. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-i-help-my-teen-when-he-does-not-want-my-help/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most tedious and mysterious questions you will ever ponder is the tension between God’s role in our lives and our responsibility to respond to Him. Ultimately, the problem is unanswerable in a satisfying way. But it does not mean we should refrain from thinking about such lofty things. One of our supporters wanted to know how to help a person if repentance is a gift that needs God’s preemptive interaction. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-should-i-disciple-if-god-has-to-grant-repentance-first/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

To believe in someone or something is part of what it means to be human, and there are many options from which to choose. When you think about all the things that you believe, what is the most vital one? What defines you above everything else? There is one right answer to my question, which you can sum up in five words. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/these-five-words-are-the-most-life-altering-youll-ever-believe/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Everyone is carrying a silent disease in their body. You don’t know it and won’t know it until there is a visible manifestation of it. In some cases, it’s too late. The local church is similar. Sin is a silent killer that can infect an entire body. Without careful attention and practical engagement, it can destroy. Your church could become a Corinthian church, and you only wake up to it after it happens. This reality is why Paul was writing to an infected church. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/excellent-ideas-that-will-help-your-church-before-its-too-late/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Social media draws from our hearts a mixture of like and dislike—all at the same time. We are thankful for these media platforms because of our ability to reach others easily, quickly, and helpfully. We struggle with these platforms because of the many inherent problems. For example, a lack of self-control, no social discretion, perpetuating isolation, and other addictive issues, which makes a little honesty about their limitations appropriate. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/being-honest-about-the-limitations-of-social-media-relationships/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When someone does something that you don’t like, you have several options from which to choose. You can consent to what they said or did and be like them. You could confront and rebuke them. Or you can try to ignore what just happened, which typically leads to a weird type of awkwardness. The temptations of fear and insecurity are strong when it’s time to take a stand. How do you respond when friends do things that make you uncomfortable? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/responding-to-friends-who-do-things-that-make-you-uncomfortable/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Conviction is one of God’s kindnesses to His creation. In the spiritual realm, the concept of experiencing conviction is analogous to the pain we feel in our physical bodies. Actual guilt that leads to conviction is God’s way of telling us that something is wrong with us and the vital need to be free. The most common-sense response to conviction is to respond to the Lord’s warning signal biblically. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-ironic-and-liberating-truth-about-feeling-conviction/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

No human has absolute authority over another. This perspective should be common sense, but it’s not for everyone. A dictatorial husband and father can put wives and children in a difficult spot, which begs the question, do you think it’s right to correct my authoritarian husband? One of our supporters asked me that question, and here is what I said to her. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-think-its-right-to-correct-my-authoritarian-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Dear Gay Friend, as you read this or listen to the podcast, I appeal to you to differentiate between my affection for you and my opinion about your life choices. Agreement with your lifestyle choices and love for you are mutual necessities. Likewise, I do not expect you to agree with my views about everything. I do not hate you. Disagreement and love can coexist. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/gay-logic-how-in-the-world-did-you-ever-believe-this/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Let’s talk about slavery. I’m not speaking about what happens around our world every day, or what went on in our country 150 years ago. I’m speaking to Christians who willingly came to Jesus and said, “I want to be your slave.” I’m talking about Christian slavery. There are times when reminding yourself that you are not serving an Americanized version of God is vital. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-slave-battles-his-master-for-ultimate-control/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Living in hope while resisting the temptation of victimhood can be the hurt person’s most significant struggle. Hope is vital when bad things happen to any of us. Too often, legitimate victims place their hope on the wrong things, even if it’s anger or revenge. These inferior hopes do not have to be wrong, but they are not redemptive. False hope never provides what you need. Thus, these victims embark on a journey of ever-changing hopes until they find the one right answer. I was one of these victims. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/reflective-study-on-victimhood-and-the-need-for-hope/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

This presidential election cycle is my sixteenth. Admittedly, the first one I do not remember because I was one-year-old. It was 1960. I do remember the second one in 1964 but had no opinion other than keeping Lyndon Johnson in there since he had not had a full run. But the rest, I do remember and have had varying views depending on my awareness of what was happening. The question is always, who should we elect as our next president. And few cycles have been as troubling as the last two. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/who-are-you-voting-for-as-president-this-november/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Perchance you have been living under a rock for the past few months, which has kept you out of the political loop, there is a presidential election happening in the United States this coming November. Americans will go to the polls and cast a ballot for the person they want to be their next President, and for the Christian, it’s a time where faith and responsibility intersect at a high level. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-christian-perspective-on-the-presidential-election/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Before you go any further in this article, please answer this question. The reason I want you to do this is that your definitions of empathy and sympathy will describe who you are, how you think, and the kind of care you provide for others. Because of this radicalized #metoo, egalitarian, caustic world in which we live, knowing the problem with empathy is vital for every follower of Christ. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-destructive-force-of-empathy-and-why-you-need-to-know/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When you think about doing ministry, what comes to mind? What thoughts do you have when you hear the words "being missional through ministry." Two things that should be somewhere near the top of your list are a biblical understanding of missional ministry and where to begin. I'm going to answer those two questions, and then give you a sequential action plan to help in your care for others. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/if-you-do-these-things-you-will-be-a-missional-friend/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Recently, I had a meeting with a pastor. He wanted to know how he could lead his church more effectively in discipleship. I am going to share with you the fruit of that conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed thinking with my pastor friend about how to love God by helping others do soul care. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-disciple-someone-so-they-will-care-for-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It is exceptional for a lazy person to be lazy. If you observe their lives, you will see many biblical qualities like intentionality, pre-meditation, work ethic, and imagination. The primary problem is not their laziness, though you may feel that the most. The underlying heart issue is that they have a “pleasure disorder” that motivates them to use their God-given abilities to serve themselves more than others. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/lazy-people-arent-lazy-primarily-but-have-a-pleasure-disorder/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Matthew 7:1 is not your best defense against unfair judgments. It’s the gospel-orientated mindset that becomes the soul’s most potent anchor against those who are unkind toward you. The question for you to ask if someone’s unkind words manage your emotions is, what are you missing to where they have that kind of power over you? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-unkind-and-unfair-judgments-about-you-control-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Is your small group living in-depth, transparent, intentional reciprocating lives, who have strong desires to change personally and as a group? Perhaps it’s a men’s group or a community of ladies. It could be a mixed group that meets to go over the sermon or a book. How would you describe those gatherings? Here is one of the pitfalls that can stagnate any community group in shallowness, no transformative force, and frustration. Read here: https://rickthomas.net/the-revolutionary-cure-for-shallow-small-group-frustration/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you ever feel fear when it comes to the responsibility that comes with counseling people biblically? I teach with much fear and trembling, but not just because I am held accountable. When it comes to counseling people one-on-one, I find it fulfilling yet also extremely terrifying. Does that ever change? – Supporting Member Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-can-i-do-about-being-fearful-of-discipling-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Pretend your tongue is a paintbrush, and your heart is a bucket full of paint. You dip your brush into your bucket so you can paint a picture on a canvas for the world to see. The picture that you paint reveals your relationship with Christ. And it has an immediate and long-term impact on all those who experience it. What kind of Jesus are you painting? What effect do you have on others? Read More: https://rickthomas.net/people-learn-about-jesus-by-the-things-you-say/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the downsides of dividing the Bible into chapters and verses is that it can create a principle-driven discipleship methodology. What I mean is that we can turn the Bible into nuggets, snippets, and tips that are not in the context of the passage or motivated by the Gospel. Besides this eisegetical approach to Bible study, it leads to behaviorism. One of the downsides is no heart transformation. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-unintended-danger-of-the-principle-driven-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What are your thoughts about the warnings in the New Testament regarding wolves in sheep’s clothing, or about weeds among the wheat? How am I to think about them, as well as respond to them? What is the best approach when dealing with this subject? Do you have any practical advice? – Supporting Member Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-are-your-thoughts-about-wolves-and-weeds-in-the-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Physical intimacy in a marriage is a vital assessment of how a couple relates to each other. The challenge is having transparent conversations about their sexual relationship. If left unattended, sexual desires rarely cease but take on distortions that adversely impact the couple. Mable found herself in this unenviable situation with her husband, Biff. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/biblical-sexuality-and-its-distortions-from-bad-to-good/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you love Jesus with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:36-40)? Do you not particularly like or care for all of His children? Is there any individual in the body of Christ with whom you find it hard to like? Perhaps you can ask this way: do you love the Head of the Church, but not all of His body parts? There are times when it’s useful to self-reflect to see if there are any folks in the body that annoy you, especially those close to you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-perfect-remedy-for-those-people-who-annoy-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Navigating a disappointing and painful relationship is something we all have to do. And though you can bounce back quickly from some of these strained relationships, others require more work. In the article, I am responding to a person who went through an unwanted divorce and is struggling with forgiving his ex-wife. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-victim-of-an-unwanted-divorce-learns-to-forgive/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It used to be that everyone identified as a male or female, based on objective anatomical evidence at a child’s birth. In the past few decades, what has always been evident to the naked eye is now fluid; it is “to be determined,” based on other criteria that you can’t know until the child become an adult. Today’s sexually confused society is not hard to understand if you interpret the problem through the correct filter. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-make-sense-of-todays-sexually-confused-culture/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Secondary preferences at times can move to primary prominence in some peoples’ minds. When this happens, division comes and strong opinions prevail. One of the most hotly debated secondary issues in the church, historically speaking, is whether it’s a sin to drink alcohol. When helping believers to think biblically about alcohol, you must have patience, wisdom, discretion, and courage. One of our supporting members asked me how to help a church change its perspective on alcohol use. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-my-church-change-its-practice-on-alcohol/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The unchanging person is the loving caregiver’s greatest struggle. You love them and want to help them. You pour out your heart for them. But they do not change. Sometimes you push too hard. Other times, you give up. Knowing how to respond to each individual is a wisdom issue, but being a restful soul is non-negotiable for all of them. Are you a restful soul as you think about the person you love so much but is not changing? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-find-comfort-knowing-you-cant-change-people/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Technology can be redemptive instruments in the hands of individuals who want to do good and know how to accomplish those positive purposes. Conversely, technology in the hands of someone who does not have redemptive values, it can damage their souls and all of those around them. The question for you is, what is the cyber effect of technology on your soul? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-the-cyber-effect-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The time it takes you to ask for forgiveness and feeling forgiven while enjoying the freedom of that forgiveness reveals your practical understanding and application of the gospel. For some folks, when they sin, they go through a “worry period” because they have not come to the place of enjoying the gospel thoroughly or practically. Mable was like this. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-worry-about-your-sin-you-hinder-the-gospel/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical discernment is a huge issue for anyone who wants to care for another person. Anytime you’re discipling someone, you have to make judgment calls about the person you’re helping. There is no way around this truth. All good disciple-makers have to be comfortable with discerning people. Do you know how to biblically assess those who receive your care? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/practical-advice-for-discerning-the-differences-in-people/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Everyone has asked God for things. And nobody has gotten all that they asked the Lord to provide. For the unbeliever, the denial of the request will generate disappointment, cynicism, and even anger. For the child of God, temporal disappointment or frustration may come, but the believer quickly recalibrates his heart because Christians know that no matter the response, God is good, and He’s working good for us. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-you-can-trust-god-when-he-withholds-your-desire/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Marriage is a marathon, and if you want to do it well, it’s vital that you understand and implement these seven practical keys. If not, it’s likely that hostility will come and harmony will be a lost dream. There is transformative hope in God’s Word. Follow along with this case study and assess your marriage to see how it needs to change, and then make your plan. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-move-your-marriage-from-hostility-to-harmony/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Fundamentalism is one slice of Christian evangelicalism. Christians are like good wood: we split easily. Fundamentalists typically hold to strict sub-biblical, ascetic practices. Though they love Jesus and are passionate about following Him, many of them embrace legalistic preferences. The negative effect of this kind of teaching is immediate and generational. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-negative-effect-of-fundamentalism-on-the-soul/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Our Mastermind course is an all-online training curriculum that teaches Christians how to grow in their discipleship, biblical counseling practices. We had a seasoned educator, who is also a student in our program to provide her assessment and personal experience of our training course. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/an-educator-shares-her-perspective-about-our-training/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Every day you have to make many decisions, big and small. Some of them are life-changing events, while others aren’t as consequential. Having a good grasp of biblical decision-making is vital. I have for you a decision-making case study, and then a few practical guidelines that will serve you in all of the decisions that you have to make. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/helpful-tips-on-how-to-make-decisions-big-and-small/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most counterintuitive messages for anyone to accept is their inherent badness. If you are feeling bad about yourself, the key to overcoming this struggle is to accept that you’re not a good person. The culture says you are somebody. The Bible says you’re not, other than made in God’s image. I’m not addressing self-worth that is found in image-bearing, but our futile pursuit to feel good about ourselves outside of Christ’s alien righteousness. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/knowing-youre-bad-is-the-beginning-of-being-good/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

No doubt, being a good husband is a good goal. And you can throw in being a good wife too. You could say the same thing for being a good dad, mother, child, employer, employee, or a good friend. All of these roles are important, but did you know there is a difference between “good and best?” When you think about your life, there is a “best goal” that transcends all of the single-dimensioned ones that I’ve listed. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-good-goal-for-husbands-stop-trying-to-be-a-good-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Depression is a complicated problem that is the center of much debate. And though those arguments will always continue, there are a few things that you can do when depressed. These practical suggestions will give you hope even when in despair. What you will have to determine if you want to be faith-centered or feeling-centered, both real and competing worldviews. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/hope-and-practical-help-for-those-struggling-with-depression/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you are not able to counsel with tears, you're not counseling the way Jesus did (Matthew 23:37; John 11:35). Biblical counseling is not as biblical as it needs to be if it does not happen in a context of compassion for the struggling soul. That type of "counseling context" transcends the counseling office; I'm also talking about marriages, families, homes, churches, work environments, and any other place where you're helping someone with God's Word. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-to-do-when-your-biblical-counseling-is-harsh/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How you answer this question will give you the insight to why your life is the way it is. To answer it correctly and live it practically will set the stage to one of the most incredibly adventurous experiences you can have. Are you ready for my question? Oh, and don’t forget to use Scripture to support your answer. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/this-worldview-will-change-everything-about-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The more you want someone to change, and the more you are pulling for someone to change, and the more you’ll be tempted to feel too much pressure regarding your role in the change process. Here is one thing that you must remember: if a person wants to change, he can in spite of your inadequacies. The grace of God is more vital than your strengths and weaknesses or their hopelessness and resistance. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-sobering-truth-for-why-some-people-do-not-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Everybody suffers. It does not matter who you are. It doesn’t matter who you belong to—the world or God’s family. Suffering is suffering, and nobody is exempt from it. The difference between Christian and non-Christian suffering is how we view and respond to it. When the world suffers, they lose hope. When God’s children suffer, they grow in confidence that God is there and working on the believer’s behalf. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-purpose-of-suffering-is-to-grow-your-confidence-in-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When most folks think about giving, they automatically default to money. Sadly, if money is the only thing they think about, they are missing out on the most incredible life that they could have. God is calling all believers to a level of generosity that touches every sphere of their lives. And when you get to this place, you’re about as Christlike as you can become. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-give-more-than-money-youre-more-like-christ/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The most satisfying relationship a person can have with another is when they are mutually sharing their personal experiences with God. They cannot be more honest, transparent, humble, vulnerable, courageous, and life-giving. Though you can’t be this way with everyone, it’s vital to have one person in your life with whom you can penetrate the barrier of loneliness. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-have-a-relational-adventure-with-someone-you-love/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth is a good goal, but it is not always wise to reveal everything that you know within any relationship. There is a time to be quiet and a time to speak, and you must know the dangers of withholding truth and speaking the truth. I will address some of these dangers while offering a few biblical solutions. Let me start with two typical illustrations. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-wisdom-of-revealing-and-concealing-the-truth/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you discipline your children? How do you do it? When it comes to corrective care, how does your child experience it? Just as important, what is your motive behind your discipline? Anytime you’re talking about parental discipline, you want to make sure you are beginning at the right place, which is with the Lord. The Bible says, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/parental-discipline-is-born-out-of-a-heart-of-love/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you were living in a larger story, what difference would that make? How would the knowledge of living in a bigger story shape and influence your life? Are you shaped and controlled by the self-awareness that you are a bit player in a grander epic? The Christian life is God inviting you into His story that is coming true, rather than you inviting Him into your life so your preferences will come true. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/learning-how-to-trust-the-author-of-your-story/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It is not possible to keep from talking about others behind their backs. But when it happens, how are you to respond? Do you have the courage to lead conversations when the information is negative, or are you more apt to follow along while not being a redemptive solution in your community? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/practical-wisdom-and-courage-for-your-gossiping-friends/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

"I'm a single girl, and I read your article titled, "When Looking for Porn, Begin in the Heart." It was a fabulous article, and several parts of it shocked me, though it makes sense now after reading it. May I ask you a few questions about guys and porn? I'm thinking about getting married, and want to understand this issue better." Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-should-a-single-girl-know-about-guys-struggling-with-porn/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You’re helping a friend work through his porn addiction. Where do you begin? What is your starting point? To identify his most significant problem, where would you look? Would you start with what the struggler is viewing? What about the social effect? How about modesty? When you address the porn problem, are you more inclined to begin the discussion with the prevalent, pervasive, cultural, immodesty issues? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-looking-for-pornography-start-in-the-heart/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I have often said, in certain situations, that Biblical counseling is not the best way for sanctification to happen. Repentance is a gift given, which implies a need to think and strategize carefully about how we soul care. I will address one aspect of this problem here. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-truth-about-repentance-is-you-cant-make-it-happen/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What does “bear all things” mean when Paul was talking about loving others from the love chapter? Am I supposed to permit or endure others to do what they want to do with me? Is this a “grin and bear it” theology of love? When preachers quote the “love chapter” at weddings, it sounds nice, but what about when the honeymoon is over and the marriage is hard? Read. Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-weak-view-of-love-will-damage-your-relationships/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Have you ever thought about the difference between spending time with God alone versus doing a Bible study? Did you know there is a transformative, relational difference between those two disciplines? Though both of them are vital for your growth, one is better than the other. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-better-than-bible-study-spend-time-with-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a problem for the Christian who believes he can live any way he wants to live because God has saved him. Though he is free from the penalty of sin, he is not free from the consequences of idolatry. Grace does not give him the freedom to live a self-indulgent and idolatrous life. The big question is, how can a person like this change? Paul gives us help from 1 Corinthians 10:1-14. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-trap-and-the-escape-of-the-christian-idolater/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How do you stay true to what you believe while not offending those who aren’t willing to get on board with your perspectives and practices? What if you have a weaker brother or sister that you can’t correct? Does the “weakest link” in the relationship, group, or church determine how things will be? When do you take a stand for what you believe or capitulate to the other person? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-love-a-difficult-person-without-them-controlling-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are two general categories of people who attend a local church meeting on any given Sunday. Those who sin and admit it and those who sin and are unwilling or tentative about admitting it. Two people groups and one common denominator—we all sin. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-your-friends-permit-you-to-be-imperfect/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Mable met Biff when she was seventeen. He seemed to be the perfect guy, at least to her. Biff showed love to her, and she liked the idea of someone loving her. Within a year of dating, they were having sex. She realized her “value” to him, but she dismissed his selfishness as a “guy thing,” never realizing that his devaluing of her would manifest in many other ways. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-surprising-truth-of-why-a-husband-devalues-his-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The people that you spend the most time trying to help may turn on you quicker than anyone else. Not every individual that you serve will react that way, but a few of them will not be responsive to change and may retaliate against you and your efforts to help them. What started with the best intentions can devolve into an acrimonious parting. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/people-you-love-the-most-can-hurt-you-quicker-than-anyone-else/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Overcoming past disappointments are hard enough in themselves. But sometimes, our inability to move forward is self-inflicted, as we use our past disappointments to gain acceptance, love, respect, and pity from others. Biff was such a person. Clinging to the past, not only gave him an identity, but it was a manipulative method to control his friendships. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/manipulating-others-with-the-things-that-have-happened-to-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Let’s free associate: name two people in your life that you cringe when you think about them. They are a pain in the neck. How about the person you would rather not be around? Do you have a person in your mind? A friend? A church member? A relative? Great! Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/here-is-some-motivation-to-love-that-pain-in-your-neck/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you know of any Christians who do not act like Christians? Are they your friends? How would you help them? A friend asked me this question, and I gave him nine ideas that provided some clarity on how to help those who claim to be believers, but their lifestyle contradicts their profession. Perhaps these things will serve you too. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-friends-say-they-are-christians-but-dont-act-like-it-how-do-you-respond/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It is typical for all local church members to struggle with fear of man issues, including how to help others that this sin has captured. This problem has a two-part solution: we must teach on the issue and create contexts so we can help each other overcome our universal problem with fear, shame, and guilt. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-sobering-reason-its-hard-to-overcome-insecurity/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Two people have a similar struggle. Both of them struggle with discouragement because of their ongoing patterns of sin. Rather than seeing sin as an opportunity to lean into God, they are heading farther down the path of frustration and fear. Sinning plus struggling with ongoing discouragement about your sin is a double-sin-paradigm. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/struggling-with-sin-is-one-way-the-lord-strengthens-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The backstory is the story behind the story. There is always a backstory to every story. The story that you know is not all there is to what is happening. Behind every story, God is mysteriously working. How does not knowing the whole story affect how you think about the Lord and what He’s writing into your life? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/if-you-knew-the-back-story-would-it-make-any-difference/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How would people know you if you had no filter on your inner person? How would folks experience the authentic you? We live in a duality: our authentic self and the person we present to the public. Closing the gap between the two happens when the power of the gospel starts transforming us from the inside out. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/breaking-down-my-heart-when-its-breaking-bad/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you read approximately 4.25 chapters a day, you will be able to complete the Word of God in a year. Okay. But the more significant questions are, “How much of that reading is changing you? Is God’s Word transforming you, or are you a duty-reader, assuming you read the Bible at all? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/seven-keys-that-will-transform-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A man’s job was never meant to be like the tail wagging the dog. In this illustration, the tail is the job, and the dog is his family. When the job becomes the most significant thing to a man, the family will become a lesser thing. This problem is what happened to Biff and Mable. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-change-a-home-from-job-centered-to-god-centered/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It is not unusual for a marriage to be out-of-balance or spiritually off-kilter. There are many reasons for this problem. Here are a few ideas of how two partners can be so “in love” at the beginning of their marriage and drift apart within a few years. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-husband-does-not-see-a-problem-with-our-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What would it be like if you had to qualify for marriage? What if being a husband or wife was like meeting the qualifications for a high-ranking job? I know it’s silly, and nothing like that would ever happen, but it is something to ponder. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-qualify-to-have-a-spouse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You may have a good desire for someone, but if your methods are manipulative and forceful, you will blow-up the relationships. Each person is different, and you must understand them before you attempt to help them change. Knowing your audience, whether spouse, child, or friend, is critical. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-manipulate-change-you-damage-the-relationship/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Comparing yourself to other people can be a huge blessing when you do it the right way. Of course, that is the key—the correct way. The implication is that you must not choose outward behaviors as the only way for assessing people. If you do, you will rank people according to those behaviors, whether good or bad. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-insightful-advantage-of-comparing-yourself-to-people/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

My son is pushing away from my wife. He’s fourteen years old. I’ve noticed a growing embarrassment from him toward his mother. I’ve tried to talk to him about it, but he hardly responds, only to say it’s weird to be still hanging out with mom. He’s a good kid and seems to have a heart for God. This issue is one of those rare times where he has been obstinate. How should I approach him? What would you advise? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-intricate-reasons-why-a-teen-boy-rejects-his-mother/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The best relationships are the messiest ones. At first glance, it sounds odd, right? How can good friendships be dirty? Because we’re fallen, broken people, and to live well with others requires getting into the muckiness of each others’ lives. If you’re interested in going beyond the superficial with others, read on. I have seventeen helpful tips that can transform your relationships. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/quick-and-dirty-tips-for-building-a-relationship/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Every time I sin, there is a required response needed. The question is not, “Will I respond to my sin?” but “How will I respond to my it?” There are four incorrect reactions to sin and one correct one. The right choice will set you free. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-things-we-do-to-make-life-hard-on-ourselves/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a psychological positive within any community that has a shared belief system. You believe the same things, and you benefit from the relationships that flow out of those shared beliefs. The dangerous dark side of these communities is when you compromise what you believe because the benefits of connecting with a relational community are more vital to you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-dangerous-dark-side-of-a-shared-belief-system/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

“How can I help you?” “We don’t communicate well.” And that is how many counseling sessions begin. The truth of the matter is that they do not have a communication problem. Or to say it better, that is not their primary problem. Rarely does anyone have a communication problem as the central issue in the relationship. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-talk-more/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You have a desire that you want your spouse to meet. That wish does not have to be a bad thing. Desires only become evil when we demand them from others while punishing them if they don’t meet them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-respond-when-a-spouse-will-not-meet-expectations/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Volunteering to serve in a local church and within the surrounding community is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus best capsulated the idea of how the gospel connects to serving in Mark 10:45. The non-serving Christian is an oxymoron. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-motivate-church-people-to-volunteer/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The question you never ask anyone is whether something is controlling you. The reason because something or someone is always controlling us. The most independent and autonomous person you know is not as he presents himself to be. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/these-six-things-want-to-control-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God makes children in His image, but parents have a way of reshaping that image by how they treat them. This sad letter from a wayward teenager to her daddy reflects the devastating power in parenting. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/dear-daddy-im-not-your-little-girl-anymore/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God’s mercy comes to us without conditions but does not proceed without our cooperation. So too our aid must begin freely, regardless of the recipient’s merits. But our mercy must increasingly demand change, or it is not really love. – Timothy J. Keller Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/knowing-what-to-do-but-not-doing-it-is-a-problem/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A true story. Trouble came into my life. I hurt without mitigation. In time, the hurt was so bad that I didn’t care if God killed me. The burden was beyond my strength utterly. I began to despair of life. (2 Corinthians 1:8) Slightly Paraphrased. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-does-all-things-work-together-for-good-really-mean-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Have you ever been discouraged? Silly question, I know. You are human, and you have battled discouragement. Finite people living in an uncontrollable, infinite world creates a formula that leads to discouragement. Throw sin into the mix, and discouragement is a guarantee. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-are-discouraged-you-need-your-soul-restored/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

All people have a desire for approval and acceptance. When God made us in His image, He also gave us a natural yearning to be part of a community (Genesis 2:18). The problem arises when we try to satisfy our longing for others outside of God’s perspective and intention. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-you-believe-you-need-will-control-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Is it possible to get to the point in your spiritual life where external things do not control you internally? The Bible says it is possible, but only through the portal of adversity. This truth is what Paul was hoping the Philippians would learn. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/adversity-is-the-condition-that-teaches-you-contentment/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Every relationship will be a disappointing one to some degree. This truth is unavoidable. The key to living well with others begins by having an attitude of forgiveness toward offenders. You develop this mindset by realizing how God extended His mercy to you when you did not deserve it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-to-do-when-your-spouse-disappoints-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes “extending grace” may mean you’re about to get into conflict. Though you should never look for a fight, you should also not be looking for ways to avoid soul care when it is within your competency and influence to help someone who is struggling. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/hiding-behind-grace-to-avoid-the-hard-things/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A husband and wife are not just two people within the marriage. Yes, they have independent relationships with the Lord and with other people, but they are also one-flesh. Like our blessed Trinity, there is perfect oneness that unites the three Persons. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/does-your-marriage-look-like-this-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are not many things that will happen to a person more perplexing and painful than finding out that your spouse committed adultery. How do you survive? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/surviving-adutlery/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When the gospel is moved from our functional center and replaced by other interests, even biblical things like obedience, we will begin to grow in discontentment. And along with our restlessness will bring the temptation to satisfy our God-given longings through human-centered means. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/in-search-of-significance-careys-story/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I was counseling a teen who said to me, “Mr. Thomas, you don’t wear Walmart to high school.” It was great! In his simple way, he clearly articulated what every human on the planet feels. He’s insecure, and he’s willing to give up his life choices to groupthink. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-story-of-the-boy-who-was-controlled-by-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The heat in Biff’s life usually has more effect on him than the gospel. Biff is like a lot of us. He can quickly become more controlled by his troubles than the Savior he loves and professes to follow. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-to-do-when-your-suffering-reaches-the-limits-of-your-ability-to-endure/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When the weight of your sin weighs you down, you must make sure that you understand which sin you have in view. I’m speaking of the most significant problem. Typically, people struggle more with what they can see but don’t discern how the hidden motives of the heart blind them to the primary issue. This result causes them to be “blind to their blindness.” Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-weight-of-your-sin-weighs-you-down/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How much power should a para-Church organization have over a local church? Should a local church submit to a para-Church organization? When your para-Church ministry is interfering with a local church, where will you stand—with your ministry or the church? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-a-para-church-ministry-tries-to-run-the-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Mailbag – I was wondering if God treats His people the same way regarding giving “blessing for obedience” in the new covenant. It seems all over the Old Testament—if God’s people obey, they receive a blessing; if they don’t obey, they receive discipline. Does God still treat us this way after Christ came? Is there still a blessing for obedience? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-and-how-does-god-bless-us/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Suffering is the expected, ordinary life for Christians living as aliens in a fallen world. God knew this, which is why He equipped us to live as victors when engaging the realities of fallenness. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-mix-suffering-and-sovereignty-into-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You were in a horrible pit of sin. The Lord passed by, saw you, and lifted you out of your hopelessness. He left you better off than when He found you. His actions toward you gave you a goal in life: to imitate His gospel activity by helping, serving, encouraging, and challenging others. You want to leave them better off after they encounter you—a beautiful picture of the gospel. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-leave-people-better-off-than-when-you-found-them/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Generally speaking, there are two types of dads. One sees his job in a 9 to 5 construct. The other father sees himself as a full-time, 24/7 dad, who provides spiritually and physically for his wife and children. Are you a part-time dad or a full-time one? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/biblical-dads-continue-working-after-coming-home-from-work/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The fact any person would listen to me boggles my mind. I am a nobody who struggles like everybody, and when anybody pays attention to what I say, it is sobering and I am cautious. There is a profound responsibility for all of us to disciple well. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/dont-tell-folks-what-to-do-because-they-may-do-it/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are at least two parts to every crisis: what is happening to you in real-time and space; what is spiritually happening to you as the Father matures you through the trial. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-you-communicate-in-crisis-communicate-a-lot-about-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

To fear God is not to be afraid of Him, but to be drawn into ever-growing awe, amazement, and wonder as you think about and relate to Him. The love of our heavenly Father is extraordinary, though it’s not always a child’s first experience with a father. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/being-afraid-of-your-daddy-may-make-you-afraid-of-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Who are your friends? How do they help you mature in Christ? What contexts have you created that help you pursue Christ together? Take a look at this verse about the importance of companions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-your-friends-help-you-mature-in-christ/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What if your husband was awesome? What if your wife was awesome? How do you help your children to live in awesomeness? These are important questions and, fortunately, the Bible does not leave us in the dark when it comes to being remarkable individuals. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-be-awesome-in-three-easy-steps/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Travel Update – On June 1, 2019, our family set out for a 60-day trip through Florida. The purpose of this travel season was to speak, counsel, consult, and connect with churches, key ministry leaders, and donors who support this work. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/impacting-lives-near-far-time/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Show me a person’s friends and the content that he consumes, and I will tell you what kind of man he is. The quickest and most straightforward way to know a person is by assessing their relationships and the things that they put into their minds. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-quick-and-simple-way-to-know-a-person/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Biff destroyed his marriage. Shortly after that, he experienced conviction from God for what he did. In response to the Lord's maneuvering in his heart, Biff made an authentic confession to God and his wife. Sin has entangled Biff (Galatians 6:1). He was actively participating in a hedonistic lifestyle. Now he is walking out repentance, which means he is actively walking away from his ungodly life. Part of this process was his request to come alongside his wife in a mutual effort to rebuild what he destroyed. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-man-who-destroyed-our-home-wants-forgiveness/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Some conflict does not end with an agreement. There are times when the best you can do is "agree to disagree." As you think about this popular cliche, it's vital to start with your heart motivations rather than the thing that is dividing you. In this podcast, I'm going to show you how to assess yourself biblically. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-agree-to-disagree-and-still-enjoy-each-other/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The Father regenerated me when I was 25-years old. My parents did not rear me in a Christian home, and you could describe my childhood years as dysfunctional. My parents could not have done a more mediocre job, but the Lord chose to save me anyway. Some parents need to hear how God can save in spite of their mistakes. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/seven-tips-for-the-parent-who-blew-it-with-their-children/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When a problem happens or someone does something to hurt you, where do you begin working through this relational problem? What is your starting point? May I make a suggestion to help you work through hurts, whether they are of your making or what someone did to you? Read Here: rickthomas.net/start-here-when-w…ur-personal-hurt/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Nobody loved people more than Jesus. Nobody was less controlled by people than Jesus. He found and lived in the perfect relational sweet spot of, “I love you, but you will not control me.” How about you? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-keep-from-being-overwhelmed-by-people-problems/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If God is good, why is evil in the world? How can these two things—good and suffering—exist at the same time, especially if there is a loving and omnipotent God? A glance around the Internet says evil is in our world that is increasing and the Lord has had several millennia to solve this problem, but He has not done so. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/ill-do-my-own-thing-since-god-does-not-have-my-back/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Mailbag – Will you write about the differences between the secular view and biblical view of ADHD and depression? I would like to know if there are ever times when treating with medications are appropriate. I have multiple friends dealing with these issues. Thank you so much for your ministry. It has been helpful and edifying. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/being-honest-about-adhd-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A blogger’s nightmare is when a person reads their article, pulls a point from it, and responds unkindly to the post. It often happens after I have posted a blurb on Facebook. Someone will respond uncharitably without doing the work of understanding the context or taking the time to ask questions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/slow-down-before-you-map-your-experience-over-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most significant unintended consequences of the biblical counseling movement is the idea that counseling is for a select number of Christians. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/any-christian-can-counsel-are-you-counseling/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How you answer this question will impact the quality of your life on earth. Do you believe God sends people to hell, or do you think hell is the result for people who reject God? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-am-a-saved-legalist-who-struggles-with-depression/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Part of God’s kindness to us is that He wired us to be habitual people. Habits are excellent things because they make us better people. Of course, the opposite is also accurate in that habits can be our worst nightmares. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-power-of-habits/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Our memories can play tricks on our minds, and if we’re not careful, we can grow in dissatisfaction for the life we have while giving unmerited honor to a past that we revised to fit the cravings of our hearts. Learning how to capture these rogue thoughts and submitting them to the obedience of Christ is crucial. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/memories-forgetting-past-relationship-thoughts/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical counseling has generally been part of a two-tier Christian system: those who can counsel and those who cannot. The average Biff, the pew sitter on Sunday morning would more than likely recommend a counselor to someone than offer counsel to them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/take-the-am-i-a-counselor-test-3/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The motivation for change must be a singular desire to glorify God while giving little thought to the cost of discipleship. Transformation starts in the heart that is relating to God first of all and refuses to make excuses for why things are the way they are. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-knew-i-could-not-stay-angry-and-progress-in-my-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Newsflash – I have always known that there was something wrong with me. But for the longest time, I did not know what it was. As I became older, I realized that I tied my “internal awkwardness” to a sense of shame that propelled me to crave acceptance from others or a desire for them to value me. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-most-effective-way-to-feel-better-about-yourself/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Most of the counseling that I do is marriage counseling. The reasons are that most folks who seek help are married and marriage is a context where two sinful people have to live within proximity to each other for an extended period. Sin is always a recipe for trouble. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/powerful-and-practical-questions-to-change-your-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Some relationships can become so painful that you must retreat while implementing self-protective measures to keep from being hurt again. The unintended consequence is that the strategies for protection can imprison you, which is what happened to Mable. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-thing-that-protects-you-becomes-your-prison/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The best marriages are those where the distinct uniqueness of each partner works in a beautiful symmetry that enhances each person’s strengths and weaknesses. The worst marriages are those partners who do not know how to help the other person to mature into the best Christlike versions of themselves. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/let-me-draw-you-a-picture-of-a-marriage-in-trouble/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3-4 that we should count others more significant than ourselves. He presses the point further by saying that we should not only look to our interests but the interests of others. This perspective, in his view, is what it means to have the mind of Christ. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-i-count-my-mean-husband-more-significant-that-i-count-myself/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God provides ordinary disappointments for us to live out our faith while taking those everyday moments to do extraordinary things. Do you believe the Lord can make your regular life and typical troubles, and do extraordinary things? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-experience-extraordinary-favor-during-disappointing-times/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Every discipler knows that they cannot change anyone. This worldview becomes acute when you’re trying to help someone transform. Though you cooperate with the Lord in the “change process,” only He can grant repentance. This case study presents this dilemma with an angry, stubborn couple. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/rick-i-need-help-counseling-a-stubborn-couple/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

My number one all-time prayer is for the Spirit of God to give me awareness and perception regarding His work in my life and into the world that I live. Each day and throughout my day, this is my prayer. I want to know what He wants me to do, which is why it’s vital to know how to walk in the Spirit. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/practical-steps-on-how-to-walk-in-the-spirit/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Would it be better to have a Bible or a mentor? You could say my question is a trick question, though it is not meant to be one. The puzzle is intended to provoke you to think first, respond second, and discuss thoroughly. The obvious answer to the question is both. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/which-do-you-need-for-your-maturity-a-bible-or-a-mentor/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

In our culture today, the phrase “I’m sorry” has become our first response when we sin against each other. The term has nearly wholly replaced biblical forgiveness. Though it may be a good start in relational reconciliation, it can never get the job done when sin is in play. Only transactional forgiveness neutralizes and removes the sins that come between us. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/dont-apologize-dont-say-im-sorry/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

We live in two worlds at the same time. There is a physical world that we see. We can touch, taste, smell, hear, and observe this world. There is the spiritual world. It is all around us, too, though we cannot touch, taste, smell, hear, or see it, this world is just as real. Knowing how to do battle in the spiritual realm is vital. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/spiritual-warfare-some-tips-on-how-to-fight/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The quiet husband, father, or friend is not the most authentic picture of Christ. Biblical leadership is verbal because to lead well requires words. God leads us with His Words; He is a talking God. If you want to impact and guide others, you must talk. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-note-to-quiet-people-its-time-to-start-talking/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Forgiveness is one of the hardest concepts for the Christian to come to terms with, particularly when someone has hurt the believer. The victims of crimes suffer the most. I know that was true for Jesus: He suffered for my sins, which makes the call to follow Him all the more complex, challenging, and compelling. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-i-wont-forgive-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I aim to take your thoughts about leadership and expand them while making a case that every Christian is a leader regardless of where they stand within any hierarchical structure. For example, a husband is a leader, as you already know, but so is his wife. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/three-characteristics-wonderful-leader/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

A few years ago, Lucia bought four milkweed plants and eleven caterpillars for our children. It was one of those science experiments in our laboratory, also called our home. And, per usual, God had additional plans for us. Going above and beyond our expectations is part of His nature (Isaiah 55:8-9). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/warming-butterflies-also-called-how-to-treat-your-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

From the New York Times Magazine article, Coveting Luke’s Faith. This commentary provides excellent insight from a practicing atheist rearing a son, Luke, who is not embracing her atheistic faith. She is “open but cautious” as she strains to understand what is happening with her son. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/weekend-shorts-i-am-unable-to-believe-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Imagine being untethered from the controlling opinions of others. Imagine not thinking about what other people think about you. Imagine being so connected to God that your daily experience is the enjoyment of His pleasure. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-have-the-right-to-be-comfortable-in-your-own-skin/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When it comes to our reputations, the Christian has two choices from which to choose. We can build a personal, sacred monument to ourselves or we can choose to enhance the reputation of Christ. The critical difference between the two options is theoretical or practical holiness. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/whose-reputation-is-most-important-to-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When a person says that they failed as a parent, they are sharing the concern of every parent. Though parental failure can differ significantly, none of us do it ideally, which is why you want to think about your limitations and imperfections, as well as what God might be doing in your life and family. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-failed-as-a-parent-now-what-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Being rule-centered may bring (pseudo) comfort because you are living your life within a “secure structure” of codes, but it will suffocate the life that God would give you if you were willing to walk in the Spirit. Rule-based living is a self-reliant way that leaves you in charge while restricting God’s work in your life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/give-your-children-less-rules-and-more-attitude/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

There are three stages to the Christian life. They are the innocent, naive stage. And then the complex, suffering stage. If you trust the Lord through your season of complexity, you will experience the restful and wisdom stage, which will be where you’ll find your most significant usefulness in God’s world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/three-stages-to-the-christian-life-where-are-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The things they did not tell me when the Lord regenerated me would have affected my decision to become a Christian—humanly speaking, of course. Looking back on it now, I’m glad the Lord did not give me a peek into my future because I probably would have “passed” on the opportunity to become a Christian (Matthew 6:34; James 4:13-17). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-want-to-talk-you-out-of-becoming-a-christian/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Is this statement true or false? Love is a commitment accompanied by action with no expectation of anything in return. The answer is “false” because loving someone should come with a hope that the other person will reciprocate your love. To think otherwise would be odd. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-its-not-wrong-to-expect-love-in-return/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

It is easy to make a decision when things seem clear, and the future appears bright. With an optimistic heart, you decide on that thing, only to find out months or years later that maybe it was not wise to do what you did. What if that decision was to marry someone that you now believe was the wrong person? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-think-i-married-the-wrong-person/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

DISC is one out of hundreds of psychological creations that the non-Christian world has developed to understand themselves. Because everyone has to believe something, it makes sense for our unbelieving counterparts who reject a “sufficiency of Scripture worldview” would create a system of thought that would enable them to live well in God’s world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/shallowness-incompleteness-disc-assessment-model/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Becoming a Christian does not remove the fear of being rejected by others. Becoming a Christian provides you with a new people group and new opportunities to belong to something. It does not mean you are to live with your new friends while wearing a mask. I did not know this after the Lord regenerated me. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-problem-with-letting-religious-people-know-the-truth-about-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you sin but choose not to get rid of it by repenting, there will be an adverse effect on your soul and relationships. Mercifully, Christians can accept the “punishment of Christ” for their transgressions. But what about non-Christian children? This problem is why you must help them to be free from the “evil wages” for their actions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/spiritual-constipation/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you have unlimited time? Do you have friends with a lot of needs? If so, you're blessed, and so are your friends. You have the time, and they have the issues—what a beautiful world. Sadly, I don't live in your world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/if-you-have-limited-time-and-friends-with-unlimited-needs/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

On April 18, 1997, I got the call that nobody ever wants to receive. My sister-in-law called to let me know that she killed my brother. I remember writing in my journal that it was a sunny, 67-degree day. It was a perfect day—until that phone call. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-brother-was-murdered-in-1997/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

You can trace a poor relationship with God to a child’s relationship with their dad. Though a bad dad is never the ultimate cause of a person’s problems, there is a connection between any father and God the Father. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/unkind-dads-tempt-children-to-be-afraid-of-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Building trust in any discipleship context can be a challenge. Some people's hurt is so deep that they fortify their guardedness. Understanding the interpersonal dynamics between an untrusting counselee and the discipler is critical. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/letter-counselor-counseling-rebellious-teenager/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Many teenagers still long for a relationship with their parents, but they are unsure how to have one or what their role could be in thinking correctly about a parent and the possibility of restoring what the parent has broken. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-you-help-a-teen-girl-who-longs-for-a-relationship-with-her-mother/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

All four of these companions (1 Corinthians 15:33) must be synchronized and deployed in our lives all the time—every second of the day, to walk in a path of righteousness. This vital point is where we can so easily make a misstep, and go off track (Psalm 23:3). It is so common for fallen folks to do this. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-essential-elements-live-well-grounded-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

This article is not making a case for or against a college education. It is about creating a worldview for biblical discernment and effective parenting that best suits and equips a child, whether male or female, to glorify God in His world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-your-child-go-to-college/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I sat down with Darrell Harrison and interviewed him on race-related topics that have been current and long-standing issues in our American culture. Darrell is a Christian black man who writes about race and culture. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/white-guy-talks-black-guy-black-things/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I sat down with Darrell Harrison and interviewed him on race-related topics that have been current and long-standing issues in our American culture. Darrell is a Christian black man who writes about race and culture. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/white-guy-talks-black-guy-black-things/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I sat down with Darrell Harrison and interviewed him on race-related topics that have been current and long-standing issues in our American culture. Darrell is a Christian black man who writes about race and culture. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/white-guy-talks-black-guy-black-things/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

What comes out of your mouth when you do not get your way reveals your theology of suffering and theology of God, which shows your Christian maturity. Jesus was correct when He said that what comes out of our mouths explains what is happening in our hearts (Luke 6:45). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-whine-meter-why-cant-i-have-life-on-my-own-terms/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When your 3-year old turns 27-years old, and he can only have one takeaway from your parenting, what would you want him to retain? What is the one thing that is more important than all the rest? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/if-you-could-only-export-one-thing-to-your-child-what-would-it-be/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The gospel practicalized is a transcendent lifestyle over cultural and religious traditions, preferences, and expectations. If you practically understand this idea, you will learn how to live with others who have preferences, desires, and wants that are different from you. Of course, if you don’t get what I’m saying, you can expect ongoing frustration and dysfunction with folks who are not like you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-live-with-people-with-different-preferences/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Insecurity, peer-pressure, or fear of man has many names. You can examine yourself to see how much you struggle with insecurity. The labels below are synonyms or characteristics to what we call fear of man biblically. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/synonyms-for-insecurity-or-fear-of-man/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

All sin is the same in that any transgression will put Christ on the cross, but all sins are not the same consequentially. Divorce is one of those sins that ranks higher from a consequential perspective. Adequately describing is hard. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/being-divorced-is-like-a-man-in-a-tux-and-brown-shoes/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I have a like/dislike relationship with Facebook. On the positive side, I see Facebook as a great opportunity to stay in touch with family members and friends, especially those who live across the country or around the world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/creating-critical-free-community-facebook/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

When things in your life turn dark and difficult, how do you usually respond to those circumstances? When trouble comes, you will either experience guidance and protection from a biblical understanding and application of the fear of the Lord or a sinful fear will complicate and command you and your circumstances. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/tackle-biggest-battle-soul/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Children are one of God’s many gifts to parents. And as parents, we have the responsibility and the privilege to guide them into a practically biblical experience of knowing and loving God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-reason-a-kid-rebels-against-his-parents-and-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Where in the world is worldliness? How you answer this question will determine how you live out your Christian experience in God’s world. Your “system of Christian practice" flows from how you answer my question. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/investigating-legalism-world-worldliness Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Legalism is a complicated subject. It stirs emotive responses from many Christians. If you’re in it, it’s hard to get out. If you did come out of it, it’s easy to overreact and go to some dangerous places. In this two-part series, I’m going to attempt to identify some of the problems while offering biblical solutions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/legalism-is-a-fear-based-culture-that-leads-to-a-complex-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most common counseling questions I am asked, if not the number one counseling question is, “What am I to do when (such and such) happens in my life?” Anxiousness about a future desired outcome is a common concern for all people. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-find-answers-today-for-tomorrows-problems/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How you think about a person, good or bad, will be evident to that person if you are close to them. You may be able to hide your authentic attitudes from those who are not your most intimate acquaintances, but for those you love and who need your care, you must guard against a bad attitude toward them because they will know it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/marriage-problems/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you are married, do you hate yourself? Let me ask it another way, “Do you dislike your spouse?” If you do struggle with your wife, you struggle with yourself because you’re not two individuals but one flesh. Whatever your thoughts are about your spouse reveal how you think about yourself because you and she are one. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/to-be-the-man-you-must-nourish-and-cherish-your-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

How do you discern the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow? Though the question may seem to be your “run-of-the-mill” Bible question, how you answer it will determine the quality of your life and relationships. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-vital-difference-between-godly-and-worldly-sorrow/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The path to dysfunction is unmarked and hidden. Nobody knows they are on it until it’s too late. There are subtle indicators, but we rarely discern them. The most apparent one is an “I deserve better” attitude, which is what happened to Biff. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-path-to-adultery-and-a-plan-to-restoration-in-thirteen-steps/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most challenging situations in my counseling ministry is trying to place counselees in a long-term, “sanctification context” in their local churches where they may receive ongoing care from competent disciple-makers. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-proactive-plan-for-pastors-to-help-people-to-care-for-people/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you had the opportunity to confront a person about a mistake they made, how would you go about it? What are a few key things you should consider when facing a friend with their problem? May I suggest three vital ideas that you must know? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/three-keys-when-confronting-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If your life was put in three different file drawers that represented your past, present, and future, which of the file drawers drains the most joy out of your life? If there is a disruption of your contentment, it would indicate something has gone wrong in your thinking. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-change-your-thought-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Frequently, our most pressing need is not our most important need. Sometimes God works in unsuspecting ways, maybe ways we did not perceive or even want. Ironically, His ways can seem foolish to the natural mind. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/submitting-life-foolishness-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I wrote this piece seven years ago, and I’m republishing it today with a few edits since the events of this sad saga continue to unfold. I was part of Sovereign Grace Ministries from 2003 to 2008, and four of those years, I served as a pastor. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/appeal-former-sovereign-grace-ministries-pastor/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

If you want to change your life, you need a self-help book to guide you through the process. The good news is that there is a perfect book for you. It’s called the Bible, the world’s most perfect psychology book. In the Bible, you have a system of thought that can radically change your life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/perfect-self-help-book-that-will-change-your-life/ This chapter is from Rick's book, Change Me, which you may get from his Amazon Author’s Page http://amzn.to/2aXDEuO Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God will fully receive anyone who accepts what Christ has done on their behalf. It’s an incredible opportunity as Jesus takes all your sin and gives you His righteousness. But this gospel message is not practically transforming for everyone. Some Christians continue to live under the power of what others think about them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/breaking-the-bondage-of-people-pleasing/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Imagine a person standing in the center of a universe that he has created. All of the roads lead to himself. To get near him is to be drawn into the vortex of his selfishness. Me, my, and I describe his primary relationships and daily thoughts. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-help-the-little-bit-of-narcissism-that-is-in-all-of-us/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The most significant test to examine your maturity is how you responded when you did not get what you wanted, especially if what you hoped for was a good thing. Responding with humility to disappointment magnifies the strength of God through your weakness. And that is biblical maturity. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-assess-yourself-to-see-if-you-are-mature/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The counterintuitive irony of the gospel is that God calls us to a place of weakness so He can perfect His strength in us. This perspective sounds good conceptually, but it hard to live out when you'd like to give someone a piece of your mind. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-wisdom-in-boasting-in-your-weakness/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Member Question – I was recently divorced, and now I would like to remarry. I’m 42-years old and do not consider myself a serial dater. What advice would you give a person like me? I also have two children, ages 10 and 12. I have custody of the kids. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/im-divorced-and-want-to-remarry-what-advice-would-you-give-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Because of the problems of evil, unfairness, and injustice in our world, a right view of the gospel is essential to understand these problems with our fallenness correctly. Why is this? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/connecting-the-gospel-to-evil-and-unfairness/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Disappointment with God is one of the unmentionables in the Christian community. There are some things you don’t say out loud. It’s like family problems that some folks prefer to sweep under the rug. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/diagnosing-disappointment-with-god-when-trouble-comes/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

We surround ourselves with the things that we enjoy. The life we build around us reflects the values in our hearts. You’ll always find unity between a person’s inward desires and the life he lives, which is a good thing unless the inward value is not God-centered, a result that will lead to a mid-life crisis. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mid-life-crisis-a-story-of-redemption/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Are you the victim of a generational curse? Is there something wrong with you that only makes sense when you filter it through a generational curse construct? Did you know that some Christians believe this? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/generational-curses-are-you-cursed/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Both husbands and wives can be mean to each other. This truth is sad as well as a call to mobilize your attitudes and actions to come alongside the erring spouse. How do you do that? How do you care for a mean spouse? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/means-husbands-and-their-wives-who-want-to-love-them/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

I want you to think about the last person who disappointed you. Do you have that person in mind? Great. What are your thoughts? How is the gospel guarding your mind from thinking unkindly or in other negative ways about that person? The critical question is where do you place the "log and speck" when you think about those who have hurt you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-critical-difference-between-a-log-and-speck/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Being holy is not legalism. Being an obedient and disciplined Christian does not have to be legalistic either. If something is wrong, an overreaction to that bad thing is also an inadequate response. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-benefits-of-legalism/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

In a perfect world, you can go the distance with any person who has sinned against you. Our problem is that we do not live in an ideal world. There are times when all you can do is forgive them, no matter how great it would be to reconcile with them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-reasons-you-cannot-reconcile-with-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

The Apostle Paul was asking one of the most critical questions a Christian can ask another Christian--are you in the faith? How do you know? The real issue here is what does it mean to test yourself or to examine yourself and how do you do it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/two-ways-to-examine-yourself-to-see-if-youre-in-the-faith/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Individuals who accomplish great things are willing to step into uncertainty rather than sitting back and doing nothing. Most people prefer certainty because their fear is more significant than their faith. People who are open to uncertainty not only walk on the moon but they walk on water too. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/wise-risk-taking/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

God is not looking for a few good men or a few folks with specific character traits. It’s not your personality or your wit that God wants. That is not how it works in the "grace of God world" in which you live. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/can-god-use-me-thinking-through-the-non-disqualifying-grace-of-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

An unprepared heart will not receive disappointment well. And when it comes, which it undoubtedly will, the temptation to become a cynic will be powerful. The cynic cocoons himself from hurt while distrusting the active goodness of God in his life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/cynicism-the-response-of-the-disappointed/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Let me go ahead and say what many of you are thinking: trusting the Lord does not mean everything will go okay for you. There is a thing called “disappointment with God,” and if you do not know how to navigate this truth when your difficult time comes, you will have a hard time recovering. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-trusted-god-and-my-life-fell-apart/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Show me a happy person. Are they generous? Probably. Show me a discontented person? Are they selfish? Probably. There is a circular Bible logic that goes like this: God loves happy givers, and if God loves on a giver, the giver is happy. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-wanna-be-happy/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The gospel is only radical when you bring its transformative power into your life and relationships. If any two people do what I’m suggesting here, they will experience the practical ability of the gospel in your life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/radical-marriage-conflict-resolution-tip/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Every merciful, loving, and wise parent will not bail out their children but let them learn and mature through the difficulties in their lives. Thankfully, the Lord does this too so we can learn to rise above our troubles. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/making-clear-and-practical-plans-to-rise-above-your-trouble/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

An intentional and purposeful community can draw out the noise in your soul while replacing it with compassionate and competent care. If you are part of a small group, especially your family, I urge you to make this a topic of conversation soon. Challenge your group to come alongside you to pursue you for the glory of God. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/can-you-be-quiet-ten-keys-to-noise-reduction/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Imagine the Apostle Paul coming to you with a thorn stuck in his flesh, metaphorically speaking, and wanting your help. What would be your primary goal as you try to serve Paul? Would you try to help him change his circumstances, or would you try to help him make personal heart changes in light of his unchanging problem? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/discipleship-is-not-primarily-about-changing-your-circumstances/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The animating center of your life should be a growing, adventurous, powerful, satisfying, and reciprocal relationship with God. If you are not incrementally and consistently heading in that direction, stop and turn around because you are going the wrong way. Let me explain how to do that. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-secret-that-will-change-your-life-forever/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The noetic effect of sin means our thinking can be stinking at times. Humans, born in the image of God, fell into sin. Our fall broke the purity and clarity of the mind that God gave to us. We need a change of mind, which this mind map will help us do. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mind-mapping-stinking-thinking-thoughts-on-how-to-change-your-mind/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Your emotions can be good or bad, but in either case, they reflect what is going on in your thought life. If the emotions are right, the person is thinking and responding biblically. If the emotions are not good, the person needs your compassionate and patient biblical care to help them change their thinking. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/emotional-problems-point-to-a-poor-thought-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Where you place your hope will determine how you finish your journey. You will either live well or die hard, depending on what makes up your hopefulness. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-hope-drives-you-insane/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Self-righteousness is a sense of moral superiority that appoints us a prosecutor of others people’s sinfulness. At times, we relate to hurtful individuals as though we’re incapable of the sins they commit, which is why governing your heart is your first call to action before you engage hurtful people. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/six-questions-when-engaging-others-especially-those-who-have-hurt-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Trying to be perfect in an imperfect world to garner the good opinion of others will hurt your relationships with God, family, and friends. Let me illustrate how this works with my friend Mable. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-you-help-a-person-who-is-stuck-on-herself/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It is common for there to be other participants in any relational conflict. Whether they want to be involved or not, bystanders will have more than a passive role in the problem. How will you respond? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/12-tips-to-help-a-person-who-is-angry-with-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Thinking like a victim is easy to do. Becoming a professional victim takes more work, but it can happen, especially if you've experienced repeated hurt for an extended period. And even though you're hurting, the Lord is calling you to a better life, a victorious one. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-love-care-for-and-help-the-professional-victim/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The Lord and the Bible will not work well for you if those two wonderful things are all you have. There seems to be a consensus of affirmation among many Christians who believe the Lord and His Word are all you need. The Bible would not support this narrow claim on how sanctification happens. Let me tell you a story. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/god-and-the-bible-is-not-all-you-need-to-change-well/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A wife can be a husband’s most significant asset or his greatest liability. I think most of us know this, but I wonder how many wives have thought through how to be an asset to their husbands by humbly leading them, even while being submitted to them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/setting-aside-your-desires-to-lead-your-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Mailbag: Are the spiritual gifts to the elders sufficient to meet the church counseling needs? Should more elders acknowledge their God-given sufficiency to counsel? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/cant-the-local-church-do-this/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

If you are an excellent discipler, most of your “friends” will be folks who want something from you and are less inclined to give something to you. Like a man with a truck, who has a lot of friends because of the service he provides. Good disciplers are “Rent-a-Friends.” Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/rent-a-friend-is-what-a-counselor-is/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the biggest misunderstandings in the church today is how some people believe that a personal relationship with God is a private matter. To these folks, to follow Jesus does not mean that you follow Him into a personal experience with other believers. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-cant-see-what-you-cant-see-you-need-a-friend-heres-what-to-do/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Biff and Mable have pockets of silence between them. They used to talk all the time. They forgot the four absolute musts that all relationships need to know. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-absolute-musts-if-you-want-to-get-along-with-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you have a friend who could use your help? Are there some people in your sphere who are not looking for your help, but you long to speak into their lives? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/tips-help-person-want-help/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

We are totally depraved but uniquely fallen. Sometimes our unique fallenness can tempt individuals to give into the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. If you know someone struggling this way, this resource will help you to respond well to them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-child-is-gay-lesbian-transsexual-transgendered-help-me/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

All external, behavioral idols have the same insidious root cause. If you don’t deal with the heart problem, you could easily stop one sin while switching to a different idol. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/idol-swapping-i-stopped-looking-at-porn-but-gained-30-pounds/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The gay guy says you cannot discriminate against him because he was born that way. To hate on him because of how God made him is wrong and, according to him, you should not punish, boycott, or deride him because of his identity. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/open-letter-culture-identity/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Violence is born out of ignorance. It’s an ignorance that does not care to understand another individual. Without empathy or understanding, it’s not possible to reconcile with someone who is different from you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/engagement-without-understanding-leads-violence/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

New Testament sanctification typically happens in corporate contexts, not in isolation. The apostle Paul wrote mostly to local churches, teaching those communities how to do mutual, reciprocal, life together. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-art-and-care-of-correction/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Our behaviors reveal our hearts. If you get a discerning handle on a person’s actions, you will find clues to what may be going on in their heart. This kind of careful consideration of others will position you to be a “more effective Jesus” to them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mind-mapping-a-marriage-from-bad-to-good/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When someone corrects you, and it hurts, one of the most significant tips for you to remember is that God has already said the worst things about you on Calvary’s hill. And with the most horrible comments about you previously communicated, you have nothing to fear, hide, or protect. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Your Christian friend is struggling and seemingly cannot change. Something has caught them (Galatian 6:1-2). Do you believe your friend can change? Perhaps that person is your spouse, child, or parent. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-believe-a-sinning-christian-can-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most important responsibilities a man will ever have is the discipleship care of his wife. Apart from his affections for Christ and the attention that he provides for his soul, he does not have a more significant privilege. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-disciple-your-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It is possible to be a Christian and struggle with personal problems. Distinguishing between struggling believers versus unbelievers who wrestle with similar issues is critical. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-become-a-believing-believer/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of our members asked me about a worldview on having fun. She wondered if she was supposed to have fun, and she expressed how there seems to be an element of mystery about what fun should look like for a Christian. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/are-christians-supposed-to-have-fun/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

An individual characterized by worry is a person who is uncertain if God will get things right. Not only is the worrier unsure as to whether God will get it right, but the worrier will typically take matters into their own hands. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/will-god-get-it-right-the-accusation-of-the-worrier-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Member Question – I have a friend that I believe needs to make some changes in his life. How should I let him know what I am thinking? He is not sinning, but I believe he is making some unwise choices. If he changes, I think it would be much better for him. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-i-say-something-about-someone-who-is-messing-up/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Legalism is the bane of religion. It’s the persistent nemesis in all of our hearts. Though we usually discuss legalism as it pertains to our salvation, I’m speaking more here of how it affects our sanctification. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-kind-of-unworthy-are-you-the-good-kind-or-the-bad-kind/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Recently, I posted a case study about honoring parents when you are married. This idea is a common question that counselors have asked me, hence the case study. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-i-honor-my-parents-or-obey-my-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The word gospel has been the most popular word in Evangelicalism for many years. You can’t go wrong with the gospel. Or can you? Is it possible for God’s creation to take a good thing and twist it into something not right? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/signs-of-the-gospel-becoming-the-new-legalism/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Parenting is challenging for every family, but it does not have to be an unresolvable puzzle. The Bible is full of information that can help any parent as they cooperate with God in this leadership opportunity. I’m going to share with you some of those tips with you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/parenting-tip-stick-to-the-basics/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Being a believer does not keep sin from trying to capture you. Regeneration is the way to heaven, but you need more to live victoriously while on earth. Learning how to appropriate the gospel to your sanctification is vital for you to live well in God’s world. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/seven-solid-tips-that-will-change-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

If you fornicated during your dating relationship, don’t be surprised when other sins happen after you marry each other, even adultery. If God does not impose Himself on both of you, life will only become worse between you, as this case study reveals. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/yes-we-fornicated-while-dating-but-why-did-he-commit-adultery-in-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It seems that nearly every person who becomes a believer and then walks away from their faith or away from the church does so because of disillusionment or disappointment. The simple response is to say that they never believed God, but that response lacks nuance that dismisses rigorous reflection and more effective soul care. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-i-do-not-believe-in-god-any-longer/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A person's experience can be so powerful and painful that it discolors how they see life, even how they interpret God's Word. Being blind to your blindness is the worst kind of blindness, which is where the feminist culture is today. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-am-woman-hear-me-roar-thoughts-on-christian-feminism/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a gap between who we are and who Jesus is calling us to be. And you’re working hard to close that gap, or it’s widening. It never stays the same. The issue is not so much about the “imposter” that is in you, but what are you doing about it? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/confession-of-an-imposter-how-to-close-the-gap-between-who-i-am-and-who-i-should-be/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There is a temptation with all of us to keep certain things hidden from others. Our high sense of shame and self-awareness tempts us from the purpose of the gospel, which is transformation in a community of grace. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/secret-keeping-destroys-lives-and-relationships/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

You cannot create unity from disunity. "Kind begets kind," as the King James Bible tells us. What goes in will come out. If disunity is what is in your marriage, disunity is what will come out of it Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-best-thing-some-parents-can-do-is-stop-parenting/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical decision-making is not that difficult if you are the only one making the decision. There are challenges, of course, but it's much easier if you're the only one affected by the decision. Once the number of contributors to the decision-making process increase, the more challenging it will be to navigate with humility and no sinful reactions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/guidelines-for-making-decisions-as-a-couple/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes the Lord puts you in situations that humble you. Other times it's your decisions that put there, but either way, it's critical to learn from these moments. The humbled heart is a grateful heart. How are your struggles teaching you a humility that leads to compassion for others? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/some-days-you-feel-like-a-counselee/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

"Trust God" is an overused cliché that some folks often scorn as over-simplistic counseling advice that can, at times, come across as harsh or uncaring. Then again, to trust God is our greatest challenge as well as our greatest need. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/three-reasons-our-god-is-not-able-to-help-us-in-our-time-of-need/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the more interesting observations I have made from years of counseling is how little I teach people about the truth of God’s Word versus how much time I spend helping them apply the truth of God’s Word. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/too-much-truth-can-keep-you-from-the-truth-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Talking about change and willing to change can be two different matters. If you have not prepped your soul for change, you won’t change. You may modify your behavior. You may be able to do damage control with your relationships, but transformation is a gift that God gives to hearts who want it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/ten-things-to-know-before-you-begin-helping-someone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When you get to heaven, what will be the first words out of your mouth? I suspect it will be something along the lines of “thank you” for many of us. Two words. Two syllables. Are you practicing today what you'll be saying throughout eternity? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-gospel-and-gratitude-are-you-characterized-as-a-grateful-person/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What would you do if you had the opportunity to get even with someone who hurt you? What if the hurt was irrevocable? What they did to you changed you forever? What would you do? Would you want revenge? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/revenge-when-evil-comes-to-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

All Christians bring parts of their past lives into their new salvation experience with God. If they do not see these things, they will accommodate these old practices, and the consequences will be awful. This case study teaches how to escape the old patterns so you can live a life for God and others. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/anger-alleviation-a-quest-to-be-god-a-case-study/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When my daughter was eleven-years old, she asked, “If you do something wrong, are you still a Christian?” It was one of those “can you lose your salvation” questions. She asked it during a time when other things were going on, so I did not take the time to talk to her about it. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-discussion-with-daddy-and-daughter-about-justification-and-sanctification/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

I have a miserable marriage, and my spouse does not want to work to make things better. My church sent me to you because they said I needed a professional. I’m discouraged, and I’m not sure I want to continue in my marriage, though I know I do not have biblical grounds for divorce. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/ten-habits-that-can-change-your-life/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

How can a good and loving God allow such a horrific event in my life? It’s a valid question. If you have not asked some version of this question, you have lived a charmed life, or you have a faith that all Christians desire. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/sometimes-god-has-to-make-you-do-things-you-dont-want-to-do/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

God’s Word is perfect for helping non-Christians. Learning how to use it to serve unbelievers is critical to your evangelistic efforts. Here are a few ideas to assist you in bringing God’s Word to bear on those who do not know Jesus. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/can-you-counsel-non-christians-with-gods-word/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The most effective way to know if you can live out biblical love is when you find yourself in a relational context in which you are disappointed by someone. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-hurt-me-so-i-dont-love-you-anymore/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

God’s grace is sufficient. God can change anyone. The Spirit can empower a person to change. God’s Word is sufficient. So why do some people not change? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-think-about-and-respond-to-someone-who-wont-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you know how to distinguish between the symptomatic problems of a person and the causal issues? Most people become irritated with the symptoms that they see while missing the real cause, which keeps them from grace-motivated, Bible-centered solutions. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Competent discipleship starts with your engagement of God on behalf of the person you're helping and then communicating in faith what you believe the Lord wants you to share with that individual. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/discipleship-is-mostly-about-prayer-and-prophecy/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

If you are discipling someone, I’d like for you to share this article with them. You will not find better counseling advice than what I'm going to share. I have also included a few assessment questions that will help you to care for them more effectively. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-simplest-counseling-advice-youll-ever-receive/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Which is more important to you? To receive a leader's attention or receive their care? What if you turned the question around and looked at it from your leader’s perspective? "What is possible: to give each person all your attention or to give them your care?" Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-want-my-attention-or-my-care-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

During the IABC National Conference, I saw a creature slithering around the conference area, and since I had my mics set up for recording, I snagged him for this brief interview. If you're interested in my friend doing voiceover work for you, contact us at support@rickthomas.net Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Receiving counseling can be a good idea, which is one reason that we provide it with our ministry. But if you place the weight of your long-term change on a brief season of counseling, you will be sorely disappointed. Counseling office success should never shoulder the primary responsibility of transformation for anyone. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/counseling-is-not-the-best-option-if-you-want-to-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

How you listen and respond to someone will determine the kind of help you provide. Everybody does not problem-solve biblically, and you must know how to come alongside the hurting so you can bring the best care to them. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/is-it-necessary-to-use-biblical-categories-to-problem-solve/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Pride is a catch-all word for sin. You could say that pride is sin and sin is pride. Pride is a helpful word in that it accurately describes our fallenness. It is a word we know and a word we understand. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-it-is-hard-to-repent-of-pride/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The process of transformation is not mysterious, though it is a big secret, hidden from most Christians. The steps are objective, sequential, and transforming. You can change, and you can help others in their progressive sanctification. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-is-change-how-do-you-know-if-someone-has-changed/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Loving people is the biblical thing to do. Over-loving or over-caring for them is not right. And if you do "over-care," you'll damage your relationship with them while hindering what God could do in their lives. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-problem-with-caring-too-much-or-over-caring/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There are times when you have to do hard things to those whom you love. You do these things because it's the best way to honor them. Honoring others does not mean letting them run all over you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/honoring-someone-does-not-mean-to-give-them-everything-they-want/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Everybody you love will not change into people that love God and others more than themselves. How you respond to this fact will determine the kind of rest you experience in your soul and how you relate to the unchanging person. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-is-enough-enough-the-hardest-thing-you-will-ever-do/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Every person that you meet will not change after you talk to them. Your dilemma will be deciding on how long you should continue with them or terminating your care for them. This issue requires wisdom, as each situation is different. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-to-do-when-counseling-is-not-going-anywhere/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Does your wife show concern about what you do? Does she check up on you? Is she mostly aware or unaware of your thoughts and activities? Which of the following three categories best describe your wife’s attention to the details of your life? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/there-is-a-blessing-to-be-found-in-an-unconcerned-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Divorce is the worse thing that can happen in a marriage because it never ends. Death is final, but divorce has another life. And in that life, the ex-spouse can continue to complicate matters, which in many cases has something to do with the children. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

I had a conversation with two counselees, and the issue of lying came up. I mentioned to them that telling falsehoods is a regular part of my profession. It was a sad, but true statement. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/counseling-is-a-lying-profession/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

This mind map walks you through why a husband does not love his wife well while choosing to love others more. The ruling motives of his heart are twisted, as well as how he uses the Bible to support his actions. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/my-husband-does-not-protect-me-a-mind-map-case-study/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The path to a "small god" begins in childhood. It leads to self-reliant living, which is always destructing to relationships. The way out of this type of dysfunction is possible with a little help from competent friends. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mind-mapping-a-lady-with-a-small-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Being married and being a Christian does not automatically mean you will connect and relate to your spouse at the most secret part of your soul, which is your intimate knowledge of and experience with God. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/cant-tell-spouse-everything-im-thinking/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A counselee asked why I won’t counsel another way. She discerned a death feel to my counseling, and she was struggling. Though she does not disagree with my counseling approach, she did feel compelled to share her internal angst with me. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/rick-why-wont-you-counsel-another-way/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Individuals within every group are guilty of making every person within a specific demographic or category the same. E.g., all whites are the same. All blacks are the same. All right is alt-right and all left is alt-left. It just is not true. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/let-tell-white-privilege/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

To understand someone effectively, you have to listen on two levels. You listen to what they are saying, and you must listen at the heart level. There are two reasons you want to do this. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-good-listener-listens-on-two-levels-are-you-a-good-listener/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The Bible teaches that those who forget God will not last (Job 8:13). Whether we’re talking about a nation or an individual, the truth is evident: it is God who sits on the circle of the earth, and all of the inhabitants are like grasshoppers (Isaiah 40:22). Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/great-nation-falls/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Member Question - How do you encourage someone toward the Lord when they are angry at God for past difficulties? They are mad because God did not protect them or deliver them from their problems. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/im-angry-at-god-because-he-did-not-help-me-when-i-needed-him/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

We have been visiting with Lucia's sister in western Minnesota. She told us about the "Trump rally" next door in Fargo, North Dakota. We need to get our van worked on at the Toyota dealership in Fargo, so we made it a twofer. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/went-president-trump-rally-last-night/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The question is, “Do I need to be certified to be a counselor?” The answer is, “No, not necessarily. You are already certified.” Let me explain, speaking from a Christian worldview. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-i-need-to-be-certified-to-be-a-counselor/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A desire to be understood can create a false continuum with some individuals. It happens this way: a person is so impressed with how someone understands them that they accept their solution for their problem without reservation. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/have-you-fallen-for-the-being-understood-trap/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Homosexuality is one of the more sensitive issues today, which should cause heightened awareness for Christians to guard their attitudes regarding how we respond to this problem. Following Paul's advice would be wise when it comes to interacting with the gay culture. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-gay-guy-said-i-was-born-this-way/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

As long as there is a sin, there will be divorce. Sin divides, and one of the places where it enjoys carving up relationships is the marriage bond. You could argue that divorcing is at the “head of the class” when cobbled together with all our other cultural blemishes. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-33-are-children-better-off-with-divorced-parents/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Leading your family should not be a mystery because God has given to us everything that we need for life and godliness. For most Christians, the issue is not a lack of knowledge but an unwillingness to apply the information that they already know. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-fallout-of-fatherlessness/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What do McDonald’s, Walmart, your local high school, Christian school, any back alley, and your church facility have in common? I suppose there are several ways to answer this question. How about this? You can “make out” or smoke weed in any of those contexts. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-upside-to-smoking-weed-and-making-out-at-your-local-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Let’s say that you’re discipling an individual. How would you know when you’ve finished the process with them? What does comprehensive and completed discipleship look like practically? This mind map gives you a step-by-step process that takes you through a full discipleship process. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mind-mapping-christian-maturity-you-know-youre-mature-when/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Parents have the opportunity to export security or insecurity to their children. The type of behavior they exhibit to their children will have a generational impact on the kids, for good or evil. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/fussy-parents-make-insecure-kids/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Have you ever tried to motivate someone to change, only to become frustrated because of their unwillingness to humbly and practically respond to your care? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-problem-with-expecting-someone-to-change-1-0/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical counseling has a place in our community, and as long as we keep it in its place while elevating a better "means of grace" for people to change, we will see more people changing. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/counseling-is-not-the-best-context-for-longterm-effectual-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

This article is a response to my friend, who is working on his thesis requirement for his MA in Biblical Counseling. He asked my opinion on a the necessity of a biblical counseling strategy for the church. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-19-should-you-have-a-biblical-counseling-strategy-for-your-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

I have been accused (my word, not theirs) of writing too much about how husbands need to change. Of course, my accusers are husbands. They may be right. I do think a lot about husbands for two primary reasons. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mean-wives-and-their-husbands-who-should-love-them-anyway/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When someone hurts you, the natural thing is to run from it. No person should submit to abuse. The danger is that we can run into another kind of trouble. This marriage storyboard walks you through this predicament. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/storyboarding-marriage-from-dysfunction-to-restoration/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most challenging things a person will ever do is let others know the secrets of who he honestly is. It is ironic in a way. We’re all messed up. We’re all the same. Nobody is perfect. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/im-imperfect-youre-imperfect-lets-get-over-ourselves/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Our culture is quite clear: the path to success is through education. No doubt, becoming smarter is essential, but academic equipping is not the most important thing according to God's Word. For all of you students who did not make all A's this year, I want to encourage your heart and refocus your priorities. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/striving-for-character-is-better-than-making-as/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the most blessed things about the gospel is the transformation that it brings to us. And one of the most challenging things about the gospel is how many Christians find authentic and sustainable change elusive. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/eight-sequential-steps-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Biblical shame is genuine. It was one of the first things that happened to Adam after he sinned against the Lord. His response to shame was to grab a few fig leaves, which began a cover-up process that we all emulate. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/shame-i-dont-want-anyone-to-know-whats-happening/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Divorce is an awful experience. It is one of the more dreadful events a person could ever have, especially if the person going through the divorce doesn't want it and is unsure how to proceed. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-divorce-well/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The phone rang. Lucia picked it up but did not answer the caller. She handed it to me because she knew two things: It was probably about work, and my profession was more important than her and the children. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

In some relationships, the communication is more about winning and losing rather than understanding each other. Guarding hearts and harnessing tongues is hard. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/competitive-communication-winning-is-all-that-matters/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A proactive plan to care for others assumes that you care for and love people. If you don't love people, your starting point is repentance. But if you do count others more significant than yourself, here are some helpful thoughts to motivate you to care for them well. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/a-proactive-plan-to-care-for-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When I was a single man during the 90s, I worked a third shift, dead-end job at a glue factory. I was grateful to have the job, but it was a difficult place to work. There were about thirty employees, three of whom were practicing lesbians. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-dated-a-lesbian-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There are many sides to gossip. Sometimes it's a sin. Other times it's not gossip at all. How you think about and respond to what others say about you will make all the difference in the world. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/gossip-when-someone-says-bad-things-about-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A happy home does not just happen. Like all good things, you must have a plan and be willing to execute hard work (Luke 14:27). The good news is that Christians have the "schematic" for happiness, which begins with forgiveness. The question for us centers on whether we’ll do the hard work of forgiving each other. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-non-negotiable-first-step-to-build-a-happy-home/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

One of the more intriguing oddities that our psychologized culture has foisted on our Christian communities is their way of thinking about and explaining the reasons why people do what people do. I'm speaking primarily about psychologized personality tests. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/personality-tests-like-psychological-selfies/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Member Question – I’m trying to help a wife figure out what to do with her future. She’s working on her marriage but wants to be used by God in ministry. And she desires to make money. What advice do you have for me? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/deadbeat-husband-wife-left-to-ponder-her-future/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Every person has an idea of the kind of life they want. There is nothing wrong with thinking about your life while planning for a preferred outcome. But because of our universal fallenness, things do not always work out the way we hoped. And how we respond in those moments is what matters most. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-cant-i-have-life-on-my-terms/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Submission is a hot topic in today's culture, but it's nothing new for the Christian. The Bible gives us guidelines on how to think about submitting to one another person, even unrepentant spouses. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/should-a-wife-submit-to-an-unrepentant-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Future-predicting is easy to do. It's a remarkable gift that the Lord gives to any person who asks for it. With this ability comes the privilege and opportunity to change your future as well as serving your friends in doing the same. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

You've heard that love is a verb, right? That's not a bad idea since love is an action word. Love without actions is like faith without works. Both would be dead. But the question is, who are you going to love? Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Genuine faith is always on the mind of any discipler because it is crucial to discern such things with those who receive your care. As much as you can subjectively understand, the actual spiritual condition of a person is essential to know. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Being a Christian is not all you need to have satisfying relationships if your Christianity does not connect you deeply with God and others. The Christian experience is spiritual first and functional second. If you're not connected spiritually, your function will be religion, and nothing more. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Some people do not have a biblical worldview on the family. For them, the family is always number one regardless. The Bible teaches a different perspective. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/can-a-persons-family-become-an-idol/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Some individuals teach that you should forgive and forget. This teaching is correct within specific guidelines, but it can also be dangerous if you don't talk among friends about what you did wrong. Without community, you may repeat the sinful behavior. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-good-reason-to-remember-sin/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Everyone is a victim. Nobody escapes life without experiencing hurt from others. The real question is not whether someone has hurt you but how are you responding with humility to God, so you're not controlled by what has happened to you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-natural-regression-of-a-woman-how-she-went-from-bad-to-worse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Every person has two heads. The human community is a world of two-headed people. James called this double-mindedness. At times we think and act one way, and at other times we think and act another way. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-help-a-two-headed-person/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Christianity is not rocket science. The Lord saves you, and it's a matter of deciding whether you want to live for Him. Are you living for Christ practically? Read More: https://rickthomas.net/dear-christian-are-you-a-christian/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Can God use sin sinlessly? Can God allow sinful things to happen to you? Can these sinful allowances be for your good? I think the answers to these questions are obvious. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/your-enemy-is-gods-kindness-to-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations.

We don’t like thinking about our awfulness because we resist the biblical declaration that we’re rotten to the core (Isaiah 64:6). Only a person with a high view of himself would get hung up on his fallenness. Ironically, it is the acceptance of your wickedness that releases the fullest expressions of the gospel in you. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/the-joy-depleting-problem-of-being-reared-in-a-christian-home/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Pity is a feeling of sorrow that you express toward someone who has suffered loss. Self-pity is when the person you are pitying is yourself. The self-pitying person looks at himself and feels sorry for himself because he realizes he has lost something that he wants back. Maybe the self-pitying person has done something that he regrets, or he does not like the kind of person that he has become. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/self-pity-a-window-into-the-soul/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

You have two choices. You can strive to be perfect, or you can accept the perfection of another. That’s it. The only way to be perfect is never to make a mistake or find someone who will vouch for you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/cheap-law-lowering-gods-standard-in-order-to-be-perfect/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Death. Look at that word. Say it out loud. There is nothing happy about the word. It is gray, dark, sad, and hopeless. It is unflinching and unyielding. It makes no apologies. It is the point of no return. It is the end of the road. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/surviving-suicide-when-left-standing-at-the-end-of-the-road-alone/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Spiritual abuse is a broad category in that it can encompass many different kinds of relationships, contexts, and situations. Wherever there is a two-tiered system of leaders and followers, spiritual abuse can happen. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The progression from pain to purpose begins with God-centered thinking that elevates God over the suffering, which is the opposite of a problem-centered worldview. The perspective is the sufferers greatest challenge. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-progression-from-pain-to-purpose/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Some of the unsung heroes in the Christian community are foster parents. One of the most beautiful pictures of the gospel you’ll see are parents laying themselves on the line for the sake of a helpless child. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/foster-children-the-forgotten-victims-of-abuse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Someone once said a rut is like a coffin with both ends knocked out. I’ve been in one of those coffin-like ruts. It’s an awful place to find yourself. My "rut" lasted nearly a decade. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/four-people-types-who-get-stuck-in-a-rut-and-cant-get-out/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When my life does not go the way I hoped, it is easy for me to disengage and become discouraged. These are the moments when it is imperative I remind myself that when things are not working out the way I hoped, the Lord still loves and cares for me. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/god-is-an-extravagant-lover-especially-in-your-suffering/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Adultery is a “form of death” that causes a “grief” like something died. In a way, there was a death. The difference is that there can be a “resurrection” of the marriage, but that does not change the grief. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/interview-with-a-victim-of-adultery/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It takes grace, courage, faith, humility, patience, and a passion for wanting to grow in your walk with God. And though it's counterintuitive, suffering is one of the primary means the Lord uses to mature us. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/episode-31-abuse-suffering-and-other-painful-disappointments/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When trouble comes, what do you do? When conflict happens, how do you respond? Let's face it; turmoil is part of all lives. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-argue-well-with-others/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Emotional abuse is real and painful. If ongoing, it can have a detrimental effect on your body and soul. Understanding emotional trauma biblically is vital Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/emotional-abuse-its-origins-its-cure/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes God is provocative in how He responds to us. The degree of provocation or outrage from us is proportional to our understanding of Him and His good desires for us. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-are-suffering-and-i-am-glad/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

If you were helping a couple build a stable marriage, where would you begin? What is the main thing you would want to establish in their minds to help them? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/defining-establishing-life-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Fundamental Ideas - In this podcast, I want to accomplish two things: (1) Envision husbands about their job description while (2) placing the first responsibility of the marriage in the lap of him, rather than his wife. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-art-of-husbandry-thoughts-on-being-an-effective-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What you are about to read are five core elements that are practical and replicate-able in your home. These ideas, when practically applied, can have a transformative effect on those that you want to influence the most. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/five-core-elements-of-a-healthy-marriage/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It is crucial to accurately recognize how God is working in you during times of suffering. There is a greater temptation to see the pain in your life as something happening to you, rather resting in a great God who is doing something in you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-we-should-embrace-the-crucible-of-suffering/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

I’m 18-years old and have been thinking about becoming a biblical counselor. I love the Lord and would like to serve Him in some capacity. I also love the idea of counseling. What would you suggest for a person like me? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/10-things-to-consider-if-you-want-to-be-a-counselor/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There are some things that Christians say that are so catchy that they catch on as we popularize them. After a while, they become Christian cliches, which does not have to be a bad thing. But then some Christian cliches lose their force because of their lack of theological precision. The cliche, "head knowledge versus heart knowledge" is one of those misguided mantras. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/problem-head-knowledge-versus-heart-knowledge/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

You probably won’t find a guy at the bookstore looking for a book on how to get a girl. Why? It's not necessary: we all know. Here's your dating advice. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/great-advice-date-your-wife-forever/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Giving the abused your listening ear is the most important thing you can provide for them. And then you must begin the process of helping them practically. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/listening-to-sexual-abuse-part-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

To have a biblical friend is to be a wealthy individual. Do you want to be rich? In this article, I provide for you ten sequential steps to help you to find and sustain good friends. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/ten-ways-to-find-develop-and-enjoy-wonderful-friends/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Are you aware how the Lord permits personal suffering to mature you? Our kind and generous Father permits heat into our lives to protect us from ourselves. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-problem-with-cursing-the-sun/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Sexual abuse does not resonate with everyone who hears about it. The reason is that sexual violence is not generally on our radars. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-cry-for-those-who-have-been-victimized-by-sexual-abuse/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Wisdom would say we should not quickly dismiss how the Savior approached picking His friends. It might benefit us to give scrutiny here to learn how friend picking could help us personally, impact our community, and bring glory to God by advancing His kingdom. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-wisdom-in-handpicking-your-friends/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Death, taxes, and being sinful are assured until Jesus comes back to take us home. This chapter is not about death or taxes. It is about the prospects of being sinful–a sad reality we can never entirely eradicate from our lives. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-wisdom-in-giving-your-friends-and-family-room-to-sin/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes you can forgive a person and reconcile. Other times you can forgive but can't reconcile. The first opportunity is transactional while the second is attitudinal. Either way, you can experience freedom from the sin of others. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-need-to-forgive-even-if-you-dont-reconcile/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Imperfect people is a universal problem. Most of the time we do not struggle with this truth about our fallenness. Until we start living with one of them. These seven tips will help you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/seven-tips-for-living-with-an-imperfect-person/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What is the consistent spiritual direction of your home? And who is leading the family in that direction and who is following? There is only one right answer to these questions: the Lord is the one leading, and everyone else is following. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-necessity-of-the-double-dependent-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

These are the actual counseling notes from a friend that I met with for counseling. She permitted me to share them, which I altered slightly and flattened out for public distribution. Read More: https://rickthomas.net/ricks-counseling-notes-on-guilt-and-fear/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Often a subordinate in a relationship comes to our ministry, asking if it is okay to have a voice within their hierarchal structure. The follower is afraid to bring critique to what they are experiencing. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It took a few years of doing our marriage the wrong way before we decided to blow it up and start over again. The first call to action was for both of us to experience brokenness before the cross of Christ. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

A husband and wife are one flesh, not two. There is nothing that should come between them, including their children. When a parent places the children in the center of home life, the family is out of order. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-you-love-your-children-better-than-your-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Because of God’s mercy to us, He puts us in places where we cannot fix our problems. From this position of weakness, He perfects His strength. Marriage is the perfect place for the Lord to accomplish this kindness. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/is-god-harassing-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Building a close network of friends inside a local church is one of the most challenging things you'll ever do. If there is a temptation to dismiss this idea, will you consider how you could position yourself for this kind of community? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/three-keys-to-make-your-small-group-dynamic/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Don’t assume others will love you the way you want to experience their loving care. It is hard to care for someone, which is why one of the best things you can do is make it easy for someone to care for you. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Providing for our families is an expectation the Lord places on us. But we rely on Him for the results. We work hard while trusting Him to provide what we need. Whether you're poor or rich, God will take care of you. Our job is to work hard while trusting Him with the results. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-danger-of-a-man-providing-for-his-family-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

We all know to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), but that simple piece of biblical advice can create significant problems particularly in those moments when we fail in our obedience. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-be-perfect-and-the-dangers-of-trying-to-be/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Parenting children is one of the hardest things you'll do. The temptation is to be result-oriented because it's easier to make kids behave than train them. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Unresolved guilt leads to beating oneself up on an ongoing basis for some shameful deed. Without the gospel, guilty hearts will seek to atone for wrongs. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-danger-of-guilt-and-the-need-of-a-few-good-friends/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Grace and gospel go hand-in-hand. You cannot have one without the other. The first is the means to the second. Grace is the undeserved favor that permits you to enjoy the gospel. The danger with these two doctrines is the "grace mistake." Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-dangerous-doctrine-of-grace-and-how-it-misguides-christians/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Job’s wild ride through the crucible of suffering was coming to an end. The devil was defeated. The Lord was glorified. And Job changed. I knew the first two things were going to happen; Satan would lose, and God would win. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-know-your-faith-is-really-real-when-you-can-do-this/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Christ told us to love others as we love ourselves, but how do you do that in fallen souls that have mixed motives that are continually driving us to love ourselves more than others? Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mean-love-god-love/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When things do not go according to your plans and the losses keep mounting, it's only a short step from walking away from God and caring friends who can persevere with you and your suffering. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-can-i-trust-god-when-he-does-not-act-the-way-i-think-he-should/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

If a Christian is going through the motions of Christianity, his Christianity is on par functionally with religion. God may have regenerated him, but his "doer of the Word" faith (James 1:22) will be lifeless and uncompelling. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/excellent-way-to-assess-a-persons-authentic-faith/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

I have stated my "love-hate relationship" with social media (SM) many times in different places, but because our ministry is growing daily, there are always new folks coming along who do not know why I don’t engage people on social media, especially those who want to disagree. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/why-i-wont-argue-with-you-on-facebook/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Does anyone love God because of who He is exclusively or do we love God for what we can receive from Him? More personally, do you have faith that is larger than your self-interests? Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

We have two possible responses to our problems. We can be problem-centered or God-centered. The first reaction leads to anxious complaining while the second is the path to peace even in the midst of suffering. Read Here: Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Good desires for a relationship can cause us more problems than other temptations. We can want something so much that manipulating the other person to give it to us by sinning against them is easy to do. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-danger-of-trying-to-make-someone-change/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Do you find it difficult to look your spouse in the eye so you can communicate intimately? Is it hard for you to be vulnerable with your spouse? If so, I have some practical advice for you. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/weekend-shorts-the-reward-of-doing-it-in-the-dark/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

There are times when God can seem distant and seemingly disinterested about what is happening in our lives. On the ground level, we feel all alone. We are muttering and sputtering through life, while God is off fighting battles that seem more important to Him than tending to our business. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/do-you-really-want-to-know-what-god-is-thinking-2/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

When the circumstances are the most adverse, the temptation will be the strongest to bring God down to your level so you can argue with Him. "Letting" God be God is one of our greatest fears. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/i-brought-god-down-to-my-level-so-i-could-argue-with-him/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Silence does not have to be a bad thing, even God's silence. His quietness can communicate some of the most profound truths if you're willing to listen. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/the-importance-and-benefit-of-god-being-silent/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What do you do when a Christian does not want to restore his relationship with God? Fortunately, the Bible does not leave us in the dark about this vital subject. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-help-a-person-get-right-with-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The loneliness of being alone is a sting that penetrates to the depths of a person’s soul. This kind of isolation is different from being by yourself. It cannot be solved by merely hanging out with people. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-god-is-not-with-me-3/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

What if the special thing you hoped for did not happen? Your dream come true did not come true for you. In those moments of not getting what you want, it's imperative that you not only see Him who is invisible, but He must govern your innermost thoughts. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/loving-god-when-you-dont-get-what-you-want/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

It is impossible to live in a fallen world and not argue or disagree with another individual. From birth to the grave, disagreements are part of our life. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/5-helpful-tips-for-arguing-well/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

The insecure husband and critical wife is a complex relational problem but not one without a gospel solution. This case study and Mind Map will carefully walk you through how to untangle this marriage problem. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/mind-mapping-insecure-husband-and-critical-wife/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Loving others the way God loves you can be a challenge anytime, but during the holidays the difficulty is intensified because some family members rub you the wrong way. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/dealing-with-difficult-relatives-during-the-holidays/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

All people born in Adam have no choice about personal suffering (Genesis 2:16-17). That is the bad news. The good news is we can choose whether we want to experience our problems with or without God. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-do-you-want-to-suffer-with-or-without-god/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes the words we share when our friends are hurting are not the best things to say. It's easy to become nervous and even say unhelpful things in those moments, which is why I'm sharing seven ideas to help you navigate these challenging times. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/seven-tips-to-help-your-friends-who-are-going-through-suffering/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here rickthomas.net/donations/