True Freedom is Spent on Others by Cheryl Laurenza

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Galatians 5:13-15

True Freedom is Spent on Others

Been thinking about this recently, what does it mean to be truly "free"? Being from Massachusetts originally, and now living back in New Hampshire after a long stay in the Southeast, it comes to mind often. This is the land of Patriots (not the football team, though go Pats!"), Minutemen, Paul Revere, Concord and Lexington, and many battles for Independence.  In Christ, the battle has been won, yet we must walk in the position he purchased for us, not for our own benefits, though there are many, but to bring the greatest of gifts to others.  These brave souls back more than 300 years ago didn't just fight for their own benefit, as many never realized them, but their blood paid the price for what we now enjoy. We have to be mindful and watchful so as not to lose so great a heritage that others paid the highest price for. How much more shall we also give our lives for others in the context of what God has done for them?

I've spent a good portion of my life working with the brokenness of others, seeking and collaborating with them, God and others for their release from the bondage of many things, and I believe we are called to this, and yet it is not the highest goal. Dr. Larry Crabb often writes on this as "First and Second Things." As I look forward I want to continue the work he has for me as far as being a counselor, yet I want to be more focused on their need, your need to accept Christ's amazing gift that cost his life, not on the lesser things that we all chase after thinking that this will be what finally makes me .....I am not saying your present struggles don't matter, beloved they do matter to me, to God, yet he desires your heart to seek him only, for us to serve him to bring others, to have that type of camaraderie within the ranks that this will be a sign to others, our love for one another, and pointing to him.

Walk in the freedom and the strength of our patriots and move out and take ground, and defend that which we have inherited!!! It's not just about us

 

Cheryl Laurenza, LCMHC, LPC, NCC

The Refuge Counseling Center, LLC

155 Main Street

Salem, NH 03079

678-693-2281

www.refugecounselingcenter.org

Part 1 of 2. Expectations vs True Needs

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

God, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer's;

he makes me tread on my high places.

This sounds a lot like 

Job 13:15New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 “Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways [a]before Him.

I know this is not a typical Christmas Eve type of post, it will be in 2 parts, today and the 26th. Yet given the state of our nation, what we see in consumerism all around us, and in the media urging us to buy this or that, stand in lines for hours, or fight with others to obtain a treasure we believe we cannot live without, it does seem timely.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating, giving gifts, or enjoying the season. It seems though as Christians, we may have lost our focus a bit. I am all about grace and freedom in Christ, but I find it hard to understand what passes for devotion at this most blessed time of year. Folks, if He had not given the ultimate gift, where would we be? What possible hope for the future could we have? It would make sense then to indulge and run around trying to fill ourselves up externally if this life was all there was. It may be my age, or life experiences, yet I believe we only give a perfunctory glance at the Manger in our lives. 

What if our lives our not working out? We thought we would be in a better place by now? What if there is divorce, unemployment, loss, pain and suffering? Are we to give up and conclude God has abandoned us or despair and assume He is only a myth? 

Friends I know what all of these feel like. Life can be hard, the  pain all too real, yet we are not alone, God made sure of that. So as the above verses say, we of course feel the pain and loss, we struggle and process, it's ok to feel it all, yet we must, by faith agree with the writers and praise Him, trust when we cannot see, and cling tightly to His hand because He never let's go and He sees us and loves us.

So of course give gifts and enjoy the celebration of life, after  all it is His birthday. Be ready to share this most precious and costly gift with your family and friends. We have been given so much and so we give much. 

God came to Earth as a helpless baby, born of NO station, and lived his life among us so that He might know us intimately, and show us the way, and give us the best hope ever.  Check out One Passion, One Devotion by Kim Walker Smith from Jesus Culture, it will bless you.

Merry and Blessed Christmas,  🎄

Cheryl Laurenza, LPC, LCMHC
For more information on aloneness in marriage or otherwise, check out Center For Relational Care out of Austin, TX or contact me via email.
calaurenza@comcast.net
www.refugecounselingcenter.org

Thankfulness, Veterans of the Faith & Heroes by Cheryl Laurenza

Hebrews 11

This is a great time of year to think of what we are thankful for. I am especially grateful for my Dad as it’s his 86th birthday on Thanksgiving, he is a veteran of the Korean War serving in the Air Force, and was my first hero.

When I read Hebrews 11 God reminds me of all those who "by faith" followed and believed, though they had not yet received what was promised, only believed, and kept marching on. Life can be so hard and confusing at times, and we wonder where God is in all of it. It's important to have "heroes" that we can look back at, read their stories, and be encouraged. It's a good idea to look to those who've struggled but remain faithful, but real, not denying their journey, but trusting that God has them in His hand.

I have had quite of few of these folks throughout my faith journey for these last 30 years. Some are Pastors, Sunday School teachers, leaders etc; but a good number are just regular folks who love Jesus, people and me. They lived their lives consistently like they did when alone. 

I am thankful for Hebrews 11 people I can read about, but also for those in my own life and pray that I am more and more becoming one to others coming behind me.  We may never have monuments erected or holidays named for us, but we have something far more precious and rare: we bear His name and get to join Him in blazing trails and taking ground.

It is a battle isn't it? It does not matter what branch you serve in but that you are faithful to carry out what your position requires with honor and integrity. 

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

Cheryl Laurenza, LCMHC, LPC, NCC

The Refuge Counseling Center, LLC

155 Main Street

Salem, NH 03079

678-693-2281

www.refugecounselingcenter.org

Relational First Aid by: Cheryl Laurenza

 Psalm 30:5 ..."weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning." NIV

Have you been in a valley, a so called "dark night of the soul" that seemed to go on and was relentless? My former pastor used to say “you’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or heading into a storm." This life has many seasons, some are fun, rewarding, exciting, and others are deeply painful, confusing, and lonely. The enemy uses these to put us out of commission. It has been said that discouragement is one of the sharpest tools used against Christ followers. We are warned in scripture about these tactics and exhorted to be alert.

We also need comfort, care and support. It seems we have been taught the above which is truth, yet most have left out that which ministers to the soul as well as mind. We must put on the armor, we must tell ourselves the truth, yet it's not all about what we do, it's about what He does, He holds us, shelters us, and uses others to remove our aloneness. Remember Job's friends? When we are in a pit of despair, grieving or feeling hopeless, we don't need to be given a "spiritual pep talk," we need to know we are cared for, heard and understood, then we might receive the truth given. Jesus understood this clearly as he cared deeply for people.

So let's choose to be the love of Christ, care for the hearts of people, not just that they think right, that's out of order. Jesus loved on and accepted people that gave him a platform to speak to their hearts and minds which then had eternal ramifications. I believe part of what brings "joy in the morning" is having people who care about us there in the "night" who show us his love and walk through these times with us. It's our choice to do likewise, it is messy and we may find we are blessed by giving to others in this way as well as they are.

Blessings, Cheryl

Cheryl Laurenza, MA, LPC, NCC

CPCS, ACS

The Refuge Counseling Center, LLC

3211 South Cherokee Lane

Suite 640

Woodstock, GA 30188

P: 678 693 2281

F: 888 971 3910

Cheryl@refugecounselingcenter.org

Grace is Enough... By Cheryl Laurenza

 

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What a time of year this is? !  It's a great time to reflect on Luke 2, the ultimate gift to humanity. God stepping down from his throne to "pitch his tent among us."  So often we look at the wise men, gifts, giving, family, friends etc. These are all blessings and perfectly ok to celebrate. Let's not forget that the baby in the manger is God's love for humanity expressed through a helpless, powerless child whose destiny was Calvary. Talk about grace, knowing that most would either reject or deny him, some mock him, others would be so angered by his truth that they'd seek to kill him or to shut him up thereby hopefully putting an end to the message. Today we are still the same though aren't we? Some mocking, rejecting, denying, living in rebellion...But wait, what's Gods response again to those who do the above? Grace. Can we who profess to follow him show the same to them?  Remember at one time you and I were in those ranks as well. Seek how you can be BOTH grace and truth this season and always, without a relationship with him, how are we to expect anything different from folks? Be Jesus to others if you have  his spirit alive in you. Earn the right to speak into another's life, don't stand in a remote, pious judgement. 

So much has been swirling around Phil Robertson this month from Duck Dynasty. I'm not going to debate this here today. I would remind you that there is a standard, and we are to uphold it in our lives, be an example to others, yet there is more to it. There is a Savior who longs to show his grace and love not because we do or don't do something, but because of what he has done and can do in the lives of those who accept him. Again, we are saved by grace through faith, not because of what we do...that comes as we open our lives up to the only one who has the right to judge, He will direct and guide our path into all truth.  

Focus on him, let his grace and truth flow through you and remember he came as a baby not as a warrior, not as a dictator or task master. Love God, love others, then when tough topics and situations arise, people know your heart even when you speak a hard truth to them. They may still reject the truth, but recognize that's a spiritual battle friend and be on your knees for them. 

Merry Christmas dear sisters, may grace and love abound in you.

 

Cheryl Laurenza, MA, LPC, NCC

CPCS, ACS

The Refuge Counseling Center, LLC

3211 South Cherokee Lane

Suite 640

Woodstock, GA 30188

P: 678 693 2281

F: 888 971 3910

Cheryl@refugecounselingcenter.org