Author: Lilly Park

Emotions in Making Decisions

We could discuss many reasons for being indecisive. Here, I’d like to point out one of the paralyzing factors: our emotions. Sometimes, we wait for peaceful emotions to make decisions. If peaceful emotions mean seeing signs of a “burning bush,” then we might be waiting for a long time. While we’re waiting, the temptation is to analyze again and again the present options and, of course, the better options. Then, there are the “what if” possibilities that keep us from moving forward. We might talk to family or friends but hear different opinions. It doesn’t help if we’re wanting certain people’s approval, such as parents, friends, or work/church leaders. These factors combined could add to our internal turmoil of wanting to know God’s will. If we’re not careful, however, we may overanalyze as a way to be in control of our lives. It could be a tactic to avoid regrets, suffering, or embarrassment. Continue Reading →

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Imitating Jesus in Cross-Cultural Counseling

This week’s mini-series on the Grace and Truth blog addresses cross-cultural counseling. In this first article, Lilly Park encourages us to model Jesus in His example of crossing cultural barriers. In other contributions to the series, Dave Deuel discusses the importance of creating a family context and a discipleship context in a two-part article, Kyle Johnston offers three tips for being a learner in cross-cultural counseling, and Andy Farmer considers how the majority/minority dynamic affects our role as counselors. Continue Reading →

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Imitating Jesus in Cross-Cultural Counseling

This week’s mini-series on the Grace and Truth blog addresses cross-cultural counseling. In this first article, Lilly Park encourages us to model Jesus in His example of crossing cultural barriers. In other contributions to the series, Dave Deuel discusses the importance of creating a family context and a discipleship context in a two-part article, Kyle Johnston offers three tips for being a learner in cross-cultural counseling, and Andy Farmer considers how the majority/minority dynamic affects our role as counselors. Continue Reading →

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Sharing God’s Story in Counseling

Emotions reveal underlying issues in our lives. For example, we might wrestle with questions such as, “What is it that I want so much that I’m willing to lie to others? What do I think I deserve from God or others? How have I used emotions to bring attention to myself?” These are heart questions that can be properly addressed by pointing people to a bigger perspective of the Christian life. Our stories are complicated because of sin. We sin against others. Others sin against us. Ultimately, we sin against God. But God never sins against us. That’s why God’s story of goodness, sacrificial love, and hatred of sin is needed to help people who are living by emotions. Continue Reading →

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Initial Skills for Sensitive Cases

This week’s mini-series on the Grace and Truth Blog offers guidance for counseling a married couple where the wife suffered abuse prior to their marriage. In this first article, Lilly Park suggests three crucial skills for counseling such sensitive cases. In other contributions to the series, Tim St. John offers three relational patterns he encourages husbands to initiate, and Jeremy Pierre applies 1 Peter 3:7 to the specific situation of a husband seeking to love a wife who has suffered past abuse. Continue Reading →

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