Amanda Idleman
Codependency is when one partner sacrifices all for or ends up being defined by their relationship. The term codependency is defined as “excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction.”
Codependent relationships are one-sided where one person relies on the other for meeting virtually all of their emotional and self-esteem needs.
Here are some symptoms of codependency:
Low Self-Esteem
The feeling that you are never good enough, don’t deserve love or affection, and always viewing yourself as inferior are all signs that you are suffering from low self-esteem. This is something only you can...
Katie J. Trent
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV) says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” This is a beautiful picture of what life looks like when we merge our unique gifts, talents, and ideas to...
Jen Jabbour
What Is Freedom in Christ and How Do I Obtain It?
Freedom means you have a choice. It means you are no longer restrained or controlled by the thing that once held you back.
All of us are born as slaves to sin (Psalm 51:5). Our sin nature separates us from God’s love and His freeing power of the Holy Spirit. The moment you decide to place your trust in God and follow Him is when sin loses the power to control you (Romans 6:6).
Freedom in Christ means that you are no longer controlled by sin. The power of the...
By Daniel DeWitt
In asking the question, “Where did we get the Bible?” ultimately we must answer that we received it from God. This is, in fact, the claim the Bible makes for itself. The apostle Paul says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
The biblical word for ‘inspired’ means Scripture is “breathed out” by God. The apostle Peter describes this process, “First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the...
Becky Harling
Though many of us grew up hearing about God’s love for us and singing songs about God’s love for us, living in the joy and security of that deep love can be a challenge. In part, this has been because the love of God is extraordinary in every way. It is incomparable in nature and unfathomable in depth.
What Does Scripture Teach about God’s Love for Us?
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks of God’s love for us. The book of Psalms alone has many verses describing God’s love for us. The Psalmist David described God’s love with these poetic words, “Your...
Dr. David B. Hawkins
Touch is important from the beginning of our lives, and the touch between mother and infant has been shown to impact and enhance the attachment between mother and child. Touch is the first of the senses to develop in the infant and the connection between mother and child is fostered by touch.
Touch is critically important to our emotional development. A mother’s touch has been found to even mitigate pain with infants. Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute has linked touch, in the form of massage, to many benefits including better sleep, reduced irritability and...
Linda Gilden
1. Pray
There are so many elements involved in relationships that there is usually more than one area that needs work when communication is broken. And, the One who can help break through the lines of hurt and miscommunication is God. So the very first thing we need to do is ask Him to help us restore the family relationship. Tell Him what is in your heart and how you feel about what has happened. Sure He already knows, but vocalizing that hurt and your desire for restoration of the relationship will open the door for you to listen...
R.C. Sproul
(John 3:16) is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. It’s also one of the most distorted passages in Scripture. Today, R.C. Sproul explains what this verse actually teaches about the depths of God’s love in salvation.
Transcript:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son and whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This surely is the most famous verse in the New Testament. It's the one that people color their hair all different kinds of shades and hold up and signs at sporting events, (John 3:16). It's probably...
Lane Jordan Burday
1. Touch Them.
Yep, another simple tip. But wait. When was the last time you touched him/her? And I’m not talking about what goes on between the sheets but when was the last time you touched just to touch? I will tell you that one touch will go a very long way in keeping you connected. How? Because we need to be loved and touched by other people.
Just because you may have sex sometime today or this week isn’t the issue. It’s reaching out when he gets home from work and giving a hug and a kiss. It’s...
Here are a few helpful tips and resources for studying the Bible together as a family.
by Tim Pollard
1. Start early.
You can begin studying the Bible together as a family the moment your child is born.
Will she understand? No. But she will grow in understanding as you spend this special time together. Your kids spend more time with you than anyone else. You get to see who your kids really are—not the ones that show up when you're in public and make you wonder, Who is that kid and where did she come from?
When your kids grow and get older, they will...
