Moving Forward

New Year’s is usually a time of reflection. Use your time of reflection as a way for you to continue forward in your journey.

There may be things that still trouble you. There may be a need for grieving and forgiveness. Be mindful of these, but don’t let them weigh you down. Do the work necessary to help you move on.

Celebrate your awareness of what you need to do. Too many times we allow our awareness of our struggles to become bondage. Realize that your awareness gives you a new perspective.

Realize that your circumstances have changed. Realize that you have changed. Begin by letting go of more of the old. Bring with you the best from the past and create a new beginning using prayer and meditation to guide you.

“See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare.” Isaiah 42:9

Blessings in 2015!

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.

Divine Inspiration Through Meditation

The business of the day may over take your focus. Stressful situations can cause our minds to go in one direction or the other: either reliving past mistakes and challenges or imagining future obstacles or fears.

Each of these patterns of thinking keeps you from being mindful. Losing mindfulness in the moment takes you out of relationship with your child.

When you find yourself being challenged, take several deep breaths and connect with God through meditation. Meditation helps you focus and is the foundation for greater awareness.

During meditation, you take control of all of your thoughts and turn away from negative thoughts. Sit in a comfortable position, and imagine your mind as an empty room. If thoughts occur, gently push them away, and concentrate on the emptiness. As you become regulated, you become open to divine inspiration.

Meditation can allow us to listen for God’s answers to challenges facing you and your child. As your burden is released, you can be present and mindful of your child. You connect with your child and follow God’s guidance.

Meditation helps us to be prepared mentally and spiritually so that we receive what God intends for us.

“All my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart.” Ezekiel 3:10

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.

Divine Order

The Christmas season brings many things into our lives. Our worldly focus is shifted to the birth of Christ. We are able to see family members who live a distance away. We exchange gifts and focus on giving.

Christmas also brings stress. Our schedules are disrupted. We eat less on the healthy side. Christmas festivities can easily cause over stimulation which leads to dys-regulation.

Divine order, just like love is always there. We need to be mindful of ourselves and our children. We then need to slow down and become attuned to the Holy Spirit. When we breathe and slow down, we are able to seek God that is in us. We begin to realize that God is working through us. Connecting with God gives us the inner peace we need to allow our lives to unfold as has it planned for us. Confusion and challenges disappear.

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.

Loving Behaviors And Loving Words Are Stress Busters

Loving behaviors put into action a very powerful force. That force is God’s love that is in us. We have the ability to release this love when we stay connected to God. Love connects us to others and we then help them release the love of God that is within them.

This allows us to appreciate and respect our family members and friends. We demonstrate forgiveness and grace. We see the good in ourselves and the good in others.

The more love I give, the more my love grows because it is fueled by those around me. Conflict is replaced by a spirit of cooperation.

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths…”

What a powerful statement. Through your words, you have the power to change situations. You can choose to provoke anger, discouragement, resentment, and shame.

Breathe, relax, and think before you speak. Allow yourself time to regulate and connect with the love of God so you can chose your words wisely. Chose words of grace, peace, appreciation, and encouragement. If you take time to reflect and become regulated, you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you and the person you may be having a conflict with.

Given time, the person who has upset you will have time to regulate. They will be open to connecting with the love you offer through your words.

Give more love this Christmas season and experience more love in your life. Love is always available. Take a few deep breathes and step into the love that is available. Need help in getting regulated and connecting with God?

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.

All We Have Comes From God

Philippians 4:19 says “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” In the previous blog I discussed God is our supply of hope; he is dependable and gave us Jesus.

Furthermore, God gives to us not out of, but according to his riches in glory. This means that we don’t get the leftovers. We sit down and experience the entire banquet. God is on always on time. God always does it the right way. His works are designed specifically for each one of us.

During our journey we experience many wounds, failures, and scars. These are also taken care of through forgiveness and God’s healing power. John 10:10 says “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Don’t miss out this Christmas season. Freely accept what God has freely given. If you’re traveling alone along your journey, you’ll miss it. Connect with God and be blessed.

           

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.

The Gift Of Hope That Dwells Within Us

Many parents who come to me for help are at their wits’ end. They have exhausted all of their resources. Nothing they have tried works consistently for any length of time. These parents feel like they’re on a treadmill that takes them through crisis after crisis and things don’t get better.

This is a common story from parents who have adopted or take in foster children.

Parents of children with challenging behaviors don’t need judgments or criticism. They are exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. They need answers, support, and hope.

Using the Post Stress Model and my own experience as a Christian family counselor, I can help guide parents to those answers, support, and hope they are seeking.

Even when using these strategies, parenting children with challenging behaviors can be exhausting. This is when we need to use our spiritual resources. Philippians 4:19 says “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

God is the source of our hope. He gave us Jesus which is a gift that dwells in us. We do not have to depend on our own abilities or strength. All our needs are met through God’s endless supply. We can always depend on God. God pursued us. God is loyal and faithful even when we are not and don’t deserve it. The gift of Jesus gives us hope as our savior. We then look forward to the promise of mercy and grace that came from the resurrection and empty tomb. Be grateful this season for the gift of Jesus, who is the source of hope within us.

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.

Building Faith

The Bible gives us so many stories about on waiting on the Lord, on having faith, and living with grace. God supplies us with the scriptures that we need for any of our life experiences, we just need to turn to Him.

Waiting on the Lord: Isaiah encourages those who wait on the Lord. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31; 8:17; 25:9. Another one of Isaiah’s encouragements comes in conjunction with God’s promise to give power to the weak. Isaiah 40:29; 40:31.

Faith: By faith, Moses called God’s people to apply the blood of the Passover lamb that they might be delivered from the judgment that was to befall Egypt. Hebrews 11:28 - “by faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them”. Then, Moses led the people out of Egypt, eventually passing through the Red Sea, by faith.

Grace: Romans 5:17 - “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” That’s a mouth full. My little theological mind tells me that God’s grace gives us what we need each day to do what God would have us to do. I have the power to do anything in God’s will. I like the simple version from, Phillipians 4:13 - “I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.”

As you build the faith within yourself, you will become more aware of how God orchestrates all the details in your life. The process of A to Z has 24 letters in between. We need to keep our eyes on the goal Z, i.e., Heaven. However, we need to be mindful of the letters in between A and Z.

These letters represent us building relationships on our journey. If we miss the letters in between, then we miss out on the blessings. We all do our part in each other’s lives. We are responsible for sowing seeds. We are not responsible for the harvest. Remember, relationship is the key. Keep your oxytocin flowing, connect in relationship, sow seeds of love, and watch God work.

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Ken Thom, MS, LPC is a nationally recognized Christian counselor and writer. He is available for parent and individual coaching. Ken is a Post Institute Certified Family Regulatory Therapist, Certified Coach and Great Behavior Breakdown Instructor as well as a certified BCI parent trainer. Ken's book Christian Parent Wisdom is a daily scripture based medication book for parenting children with challenging behaviors. Contact Ken.