Tri-Cities Center for Christian Counseling

03/06/2026

Good Friday Morning! God bless you!

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp with lyrics.

03/06/2026

Jesus says, in John 8:12, He is the light of the world!

Ask Him to shed His light on your situation.

Ask Him to help you see the prayers that have already
been answered and the strength you have been
gaining.

Ask Him to help you see things from His perspective.

I really believe it won’t be so dark with a little Light
cast upon it.

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

CONSIDER
As I took the photo of this scene at the park this morning, the scripture verse from Psalm 8 rose up inside my heart: “When I CONSIDER thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him?” (Psalm 18:3-4). I thought about that word “CONSIDER” for a moment. I guess you could say I “considered” the word “CONSIDER.”

Have you ever thought about the art of “considering” before? So often in life we go from one thought to another so seamlessly that we never take time to CONSIDER the deeper meanings behind the things we experience. CONSIDERING takes time and meditation. It’s one of the ways God works His thoughts into our thoughts when we take time to CONSIDER. Look at the morning sky. Watch the colors of the sunrise. Observe the clouds as they float by. Listen to the birds singing. Take a moment and contemplate Creation. People who do that sort of thing usually have a better connection to God than those who are so busy that they can’t find time for contemplation.

This world doesn’t want you to take time to CONSIDER the deeper meanings of life. Busyness is the order of the day. The “god of this world” (Satan) is well pleased when we busy ourselves so much that we don’t take time to CONSIDER. But, Jesus encourages us to take time from our busyness and CONSIDER. He said, “CONSIDER the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Luke 12:27). Speaking on God’s behalf, Elihu told Job to “Stand still, and CONSIDER the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us to “CONSIDER the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13).

If you think you’re really going through a difficult time, the writer of Hebrews encourages you to “CONSIDER Him [Jesus] who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:3). In Haggai 1:5, God encourages His people to “CONSIDER your ways” as they took care of their own business but neglected the House of the Lord.

I don’t know why, but that word CONSIDER was really striking a cord in me this morning. I hope it’s a word that you’ll CONSIDER for a moment today.

Luke 12:24
CONSIDER the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

02/24/2026

OVERCOME ILLNESS WITH STILLNESS
On a recent morning walk, I was praying for people who struggle with confusing thoughts, depression and dysphoria. As I was praying, these words rose up inside my spirit: “Mental illness can come from a lack of mental stillness.” I believe those words came from the Spirit of God. A mind that never rests is a mind that will suffer fatigue, in the same way a body that never rests will eventually break down from continual stress and strain. A doctor will tell you the only way for a broken bone to mend is for the bone to be immobile and inactive for several weeks. STILLNESS is the answer.

In our fast-paced world, though, we rarely ever slow down from all the busyness of life. Even when we do slow down for a minute, we always have our phone handy and continue to weigh our minds down with social media posts, videos and political controversies. We don’t know how to “rest our minds” so we wear them down by constant overuse.

One of my favorite scripture verses is found in Psalms 46:10: “BE STILL and know that I am God.” STILLNESS is as necessary for our minds as it is for our bodies. A mind that is STILL and focused on God can be healed. Throughout the book of Psalms you’ll find a word that’s often repeated after important passages … it is the word SELAH. Most scholars agree that the word SELAH means som**hing like “Pause for a moment and reflect.” That’s som**hing we humans don’t do enough of. We go seamlessly from one activity to another with our minds constantly engaged in all that’s going on around us … never giving our thoughts a rest (all the more reason why God gave us a sabbath).

No, it’s not a “Cure All” necessarily, but we all would do well to take a little time each day and STILL OUR MINDS. It can be a very healthy thing to do. So today, remember, some ILLNESS can be cured with STILLNESS.

Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.

02/24/2026

So to tell you my story across my life I’ll start with the basics I’m 44 years old I’m a mother to three Wonderfull children I’m a daughter a sister I have two siblings and I’m auntie to many nieces and nephews . My path of life started rough and went downhill and even though it turned around for several years it still took a turn for the worse . Which now I couldn’t be more thankful for . I truly believe that God allowed all the bad and the good to build this very testimony I’m writing today . We started out life poor me and my family . My grandparents had us all the time I didn’t know then at such a young age why I only learned later in life it was because they chose a party over me my brother and sister. And I learned that because I also chose a high and party over my kids . When I was 16 I found out that I was adopted by my grandparents and on that same day my mother found out she had been adopted at birth so on that day my grandparents who raised us .Then suddenly they were no longer my grandparents . So all the things growing up I thought that I had gotten from them became a LIE like for example my attitude came from my papaw and his bloodline and all the country girl stuff about me came because my bloodline came from Kentucky .I saw my life in a flash of minutes and in my mind it was all LIES .My grandparents had took us from a life of nothing to having everything. We want from a run down house and cloths handmade toys to a life of in-ground swimming pools and shopping sprees and vacations . Then I was 18 years old and the FBI came in our house I didn’t know the means which they had to obtain that life my grandmother ended up and spent years in a federal prison for her crimes to robbed the government . Shortly after all that I had my own child on the way .I had gotten married at the young age of 16 the day before my birthday in October in a way to escape my life and by the following summer I had my first child there again my life took a turn .Me and my husband couldn’t get along for a lot of reasons arguing became fighting and fighting became abuse. Along the way my other two children were born. So with that my kids were exposed to the same chaos I wanted to protect them from the kind I had already lived. It turned into affairs and divorce which was on both of us . After the divorce I entered into relationships that the other person was using drugs and eventually I also started using them and then they became a way of money and then a way of escape. At the point they had took over my life was after being in a 9year relationship with someone and just as much also in a relationship with a clinic for m**hadone then Suboxone . You could say that those years was the worse I’d seen at that time but I would’ve told you “ I’m living my best life” . In 2019 I started down a road that was a road of destruction complete death . I started using m**h . I know that the drug takes everything from first hand experience it takes and takes and takes and then you tell yourself it’s okay everything is as good as I need it to be ! I told myself “who needs power or water I got this “ so for years lived without it. Then more hit my house was burnt down so I took to being homeless . Considering I had lived so long without the basic stuff one needs I had learned how to survive without them so at first what someone would consider tough living situations I saw as just another day. So when the first trial of staying with people didn’t work out I took to the sidewalks in Coeburn Va . The bubble sharpie and book bag I carried became my only belongings I owned . Most all people I know would tell you I never had shoes on my feet . This is true rain sleet or snow I never had shoes . I walked more miles lost in that addiction and place in time than I would care to admit . My life was completely hopeless and it landed me in jail . I was trying to do better in my life had came up off the sidewalk for a few months and then I was indicted on distribution of m**h . So then Duffield jail became my new home . It’s there where I spent my time in a cell alone I couldn’t live people because isolation had became my new best friend . I have to say right here is where Jesus first showed up . Not that his hand wasn’t in my life before to save me from being in my house fire . Also not saying his hand wasn’t in my life to keep me alive when someone gave me dope that almost killed me . Not saying that his hand wasn’t in my life to keep me alive in weather conditions that people shouldn’t be in 24 hours a day extreme heat and cold. Not saying Jesus wasn’t with me every step I took because he was or I wouldn’t be alive to write this. By me telling you Jesus first showed up is saying this is where he showed up that I took notice of him . The Chaplin inside that jail gave me a bible and became my friend and became someone very important in the decision I made to come to the program RSM. Her advice and verses and our talks was vital to my coming to realize Jesus was real . So after my time I wanted to do the right thing and didn’t . I got out and went back to it . So repeat of a cycle that is so hard to beat well without GOD it is . So finally coming to where I am in my life now . I give all Glory to God for closing all the doors needed and opening the one I also needed the door to a relationship with him. I now have a life as it should be . I live in my hometown of Wise VA somewhere a year and a half ago I knew I couldn’t come back to. My family had been so torn apart by my addiction and now God has restored that. I have so many things that I thought was just things other people had things I never thought I would have back . Because Jesus loved me so much and keeps his promise that he will provide all your needs I have a home , I have a car , I have a driver license , I have a job ! The most important thing is I have someone that will always be there for me I have a friend a savior who never gave up on me I have a support system that is true to God and his word .I don’t have a life chaos anymore because God is my foundation. He is an anchor in my life . Prayers I pray are being answered. Ive got a heart of compassion . God has took all things in my life and is working them for the good another promise he tells us that’s true. I live in peace . I wake up and no matter what the day holds I know God had ordered my steps I no longer walk aimless. I don’t carry around guilt or shame. My prayer is for anyone reading this that may be lost in their own life that it gives hope . Hope that things can turn around for them . I serve a God that can do all the things for you that he has done for me !!! Everyone has a story mine is a story of gratitude . Im truly grateful for what God has done in my life and with my family and friends lives . I’m now back to being a mother to my children and a sister and a daughter and auntie. Im so thankful for RSM and all that I learned . Everything that this program is designed for all the structure and correction is a program built for the purpose of life application that I use daily. God can and does change lives through experience . Im living proof of that !
“ JESUS SAVES “

01/20/2026

Yes!! 🙌🏻 It is all because HE lives!

NEW ALBUM "BECAUSE HE LIVES" IS NOW AVAILABLE ON Apple Music, SPOTIFY, AND MORE! ► DOWNLOAD/STREAM more music from the West Coast Choir: http://hyperurl.co/f...

01/11/2026

❤️
“Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.
God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.
Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
Train them up in the authority of His Word.
Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control.
Empower them to know they can change the world.
Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do som**hing about it.
Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.
He knew Daniel could handle the lions den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Haman.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it!
Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose YOU to parent them! Teach them God's love and to share it with everyone!
Rise up to the challenge.
Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers and Peters! 💪🏼
••••
I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.”
— Alex Cravens, Arkansas