Come to Me
I’ve had my own share of counseling over the years, and no two experiences were alike. Counseling session number 1, as an eighteen-year-old, I entered what felt like a dark cavern of shame. No one could understand my pain, especially this old lady that my parents were requiring me to go to for counseling. I left that first session with the words of the counselor ringing in my head, “the truth will set you free!” Yet the message that struck my heart was, “you can’t come to grips with the truth, therefore you will never be free.” I don’t know if it was the counselor’s tactics or my insecure, immature teenage perception (more than likely the latter), but I never went back to her and instead attempted to discover the truth for myself which proved to be a long and painful process.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of the Israelites who were also in darkness, longing for the light that only the true Messiah could bring. Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shone.” And then? They rejoice! They were ready! Awaiting, anticipating the Messiah who would come. He would be a wonderful counselor who would guide them out of darkness and into the safety and freedom that comes from walking in the light.
This was also my deep longing. In that moment of despair when my counselor said those words, “the truth will set you free”, I too felt as if a spotlight was directed at me, but instead of seeing that light as a means of hope; an opportunity to rejoice in the freedom that awaited, I instead experienced it as shame. This is not what our Wonderful Counselor desires for his children. I was weary and I was carrying burdens that no one had asked me to carry, especially Jesus. It was some years later, in a place of total honesty before my Savior, that his sweet words in Matthew 11 brought comfort to my soul. Verses 28-30 say, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Easy? Light? Rest? That sounded like the freedom that I so earnestly longed for. I was fairly confident that the journey was far from over, but these words of Jesus offered hope. Maybe, just maybe, allowing Jesus to carry my burdens could provide the comfort, hope, safety, and freedom for which I so desperately longed…and it did.
Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, invites us to approach his throne of grace, to come to him in all our sorrow, pain, fear, discouragement, and shame. What we will find is a loving confidante and guide who is sympathetic, who listens, who offers wisdom, who comforts, who carries our burdens, and who longs to set us free!
Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor! And he has gifted his people to help provide wise and loving counsel to others. If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you and desire to receive counsel for yourself, please contact the Emmanuel Faith Care & Counseling Department. We would love to connect you with a counselor who cares and can point you toward the hope and freedom that only Jesus offers! Emmanuel Faith Counseling Resources
What’s Your Default?
Often we have to make a decision about a default on our computers or phones in regard to passwords, browsers, etc. Annoying in the moment, but usually helpful in the long run. That default choice then becomes the norm, unless we change it. A default is a preselected option or it could be a failure to fulfill an obligation, like paying a loan. Sometimes our default (option) leads to failure (default) when we lean on our own understanding and wisdom.
I want my default to be seeking God’s wisdom in my choices and decisions first instead of charging ahead in my own wisdom only to stop down the road when I’ve hit a roadblock to say, “oh by the way God, what would you do?” I wonder how many times I’ve done that?
My dad was often wise and instead of offering advice would say, if I were doing it, I would . . . In other words, you’re not doing it wrong, but here is a way that might be better. In the same way, God doesn’t force himself or his wisdom on us. Sometimes he lets us reap the consequences of our choices so we learn to seek him first, but he is always lovingly waiting for us to reach out to him. How do we gain his wisdom? Pray/ask for it, read scripture and commit it to memory, and be obedient.
Here are some practical scriptures about wisdom to ponder:
James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Proverbs 3:7–Don't depend on your own wisdom. Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong. Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong.
Proverbs 1:7- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
James 3:13: Who is wise and understanding among you? By his conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Our actions will reveal how wise we are and humility will also reveal godly wisdom. If we pray, study scripture, and are obedient to it, he promises to make our paths straight. No running into detours, or roadblocks then, isn’t that a great promise? Let’s set our default to God’s wisdom and acknowledge him in all we do.
Deb Hill
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor! And he has gifted his people to help provide wise and loving counsel to others. If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging and desire to receive counsel for yourself, please contact the Emmanuel Faith Care & Counseling Department. We would love to connect you with a counselor who cares and can point you toward the hope and freedom that only Jesus offers! Emmanuel Faith Counseling Resources
Here’s Looking at You, Kid
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8Have you ever sat across the table and had a conversation with someone who is obviously distracted? Sure you have. Have you ever been that distracted person? Sure you have. Fortunately, God is nothing like this.
As we think today about the fact that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, it’s very comforting and encouraging to be reminded that He is also our undistracted and attentive Counselor. The Scriptures teach in 2 Chronicles 7:15 that His eyes are open and His ears attentive to the prayers of His people. (This is also taught in Psalm 4:3, 116:1, and 33:13). If you can, take a moment right now to ask God to cause that to sink into your heart a little more. Why? Because there are about 8 billion people in the world, and yet, when you pray, He is looking directly at and listening intently to you. Because He is infinite and omnipresent, you have His full attention at all times.
It doesn’t stop there. Not only do you have His full attention, but you also have access to the joy that comes from knowing that the One looking and listening is also the One who is all-knowing. We find this truth taught in Psalm 147:5, which tells us that His understanding is infinite.
With all of this as context, we come to Psalm 32:8, which is quoted above, and which is a favorite of many a Christian. And when you take into consideration what we’ve talked about, you can see why. Our undistracted, attentive, all-knowing, Wonderful Counselor has promised to instruct, teach and counsel us in the way we should go. He will keep His eye on us, and I might add, on what is coming up in front of us. He knows the future and uses that knowledge to point us in the right direction. He sees what we can’t, He knows what we can’t, and He counsels us when we let Him.
I’m praying today that we will let Him!
Scott Smith
Care Pastor
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor! And he has gifted his people to help provide wise and loving counsel to others. If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging and desire to receive counsel for yourself, please contact the Emmanuel Faith Care & Counseling Department. We would love to connect you with a counselor who cares and can point you toward the hope and freedom that only Jesus offers! Emmanuel Faith Counseling Resources
Not Forgotten
Alone … even in a crowd. That’s how many people feel, even at a church like ours. For some these feelings are accentuated during the Christmas season. They stand out as symbols of failure or loss. Perhaps your marriage didn’t work out and your spouse has the kids this holiday season. Your mother or father recently passed away. Christmas just isn’t the same without them. Or you’re that socially awkward teenager in braces, the one nobody talks to at youth group. You don’t see the point in going to Christmas parties, because you’ll just stand in the corner by yourself all night anyway. For some, loneliness is the norm. Christmas makes it worse.
Thankfully, we don’t worship a deist god who creates and then abandons what he’s made to chance. Far from it. After all, the miracle of Christmas isn’t a tender, greeting-card-worthy scene: of the young parents and their adorable newborn nestled together in a cozy stable filled with straw and cuddly animals. That’s how society markets Christ’s birth, with Santa and his sled full of presents. No, the miracle of Christmas is the unchangeable God who is outside of time and space, stepping into human existence. Jesus assumes a human body with all its weakness, vulnerability, and temptations. Not only is he with us, but he’s also been in our shoes.
When Jesus “passed through the heavens” (Heb. 4:14), he was enthroned at the Father’s right hand, as our mediator, our high priest. Yet, in this new heavenly role, he exists in glorified, immortal, and human flesh. He’s our high priest. But, in the Garden of Gethsemane, while his disciples slept, he was lonely. Jesus was–as Isaiah 53:3 puts it–a man of sorrows. Hanging on the cross, struggling just to breathe, he was forsaken by his Father. He knew ultimate rejection, abuse, and grief. In exchange, we find acceptance with God.
Jesus loves you–he sees you too. He’s felt your pain firsthand. This makes us bold (Heb. 4:16). We can come to Jesus with anything. Show him everything, even the parts of you people reject. Reach for his hand this Christmas, and you’ll find, at least with him, you aren’t misunderstood or alone. In Christ, you are not forgotten.
Jake Solis
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor! And he has gifted his people to help provide wise and loving counsel to others. If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging and desire to receive counsel for yourself, please contact the Emmanuel Faith Care & Counseling Department. We would love to connect you with a counselor who cares and can point you toward the hope and freedom that only Jesus offers! Emmanuel Faith Counseling Resources
Jesus - Our Wonderful Approachable Counselor
I’ve had a few supervisors in the past that … well, let’s just say, were a little intimidating. Can you relate? I don’t know what your strategy was but I actually looked for reasons to limit my time around them because I was certain any feedback coming in my direction would feel more like a 2X4 than the gentle guidance my bruised but well-guarded ego could handle. One Monday afternoon, I found my best tactics of avoidance through intentional business and unavailability were no match for my supervisor's ability to punctuate my schedule. A difficult coworker had created a needless confrontation. I wasn’t about to get drawn into the foolish conflict, so I deftly cut him off at the pass with a volley of verbal correction. I was 100% right, but only about 3% tactful. This is what my supervisor wanted to discuss. I braced for shock as the meeting began, but almost immediately I realized my hard-nosed and gruff supervisor had a gentle and compassionate ability to offer correction. He identified in himself how he had made similar mistakes; how he too had grown and developed as a leader through learning the hard way. He encouraged me, offered advice he had found helpful, and provided a listening ear to my frustration and exasperation with my EGR (extra grace required) coworker.
As the short but profound meeting ended, I found myself as surprised as I was grateful for the encounter. Not only had I learned a few helpful leadership methods, I learned I didn’t need to live in fear or try to hide what I did wrong. The Holy Spirit used the moment and immediately I felt the love of Jesus say to me, “You don’t have to fix it before we discuss it.”
I realized then and there how much I avoided coming to God with my sin. I said the right words, and I talked about God’s grace, compassion, and forgiveness; but in reality, I lived like God was a harsh supervisor to be avoided with anything other than positive reports. Wow, how could I be so far from the truth? If my salty supervisor knew how to offer compassionate correction, how much more is God capable of bringing loving correction?
Listen to the words of Hebrews 4:15-16 describing Jesus: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses … Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Bottom-line friends, Jesus is an approachable and wonderful counselor who wants to heap grace, mercy, and help on us in our times of need. We don’t have anything to fear if we come to him in humility. Jesus had plenty of strong words for the pious and proud religious experts of his day, but only love and compassion for those who came to him with brokenness. Jesus will receive you like a golden retriever making a new best friend, not a wolverine on the hunt.
Jaisen Fuson
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor! And he has gifted his people to help provide wise and loving counsel to others. If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging and desire to receive counsel for yourself, please contact the Emmanuel Faith Care & Counseling Department. We would love to connect you with a counselor who cares and can point you toward the hope and freedom that only Jesus offers! Emmanuel Faith Counseling Resources
P.S. Refresh
Thanksgiving, not only a time of sharing delicious food, but also gathering to give thanks for God’s goodness.. As you know, (particularly the moms and grandmoms), a lot of planning and preparation goes into the meal. My favorite time is when we’re all chatting as we eat the pumpkin pie smothered in whipped cream. This is the P.S. time after the meal. There are always lots of shared stories, laughter, and memories. Then we departed, promising to see each other soon. While the meal is the main event, it is this finish when I am very tired that refreshes me.
In some ways, Corinthians 16 is like the P.S. to all that has gone on before. As Paul finishes this letter there are many things he wants to say in closing. Corinthians dealt with a wide range of issues facing the young church in Corinth and Paul’s advice helped them understand how the Good News related to living lives as Christ followers. It was very heavy stuff, but the tone seems to be Paul wanting to finish on an encouraging note. He speaks specifically about those who helped him and how they had refreshed his spirit.
“For they refreshed my spirit and yours also...” I Corinthians 16:18
Paul’s spirit needed refreshing and fellow believers helped him. The word ‘refresh’ means to revive or reinvigorate. We refresh plants with water. We refresh our computers when they get glitches. And in some way the very presence of these men refreshed him. Perhaps they just let him rest, told him stories of what God was doing, or let him be just a brother in Christ. We don’t know what, but it is something we can do for others, especially those who serve at church.
They may not know they need to be refreshed but you may sense God telling you to encourage them. One time as Children’s Director, a friend saw before I did that I needed to be “refreshed”. I took her advice and went away for two days to be alone with the Lord. The first night I went to bed at 8:00 pm and woke up 8:00 am the next morning. Twelve hours of sleep! I did not know my physical tank was that empty but her encouragement refreshed me.
Think about our staff at EFCC, from those who work behind the scenes, to those who are in front of the congregation, and please consider ways of refreshing their spirits. Perhaps your words of encouragement might be just the very thing God wants them to hear. Please be praying for all of them to be “refreshed” in their spirits.
Francie Overstreet
P.S. When a Friend’s a Friend Forever
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.
Darica, Fred, Jane, Dave, Ross, Kevin, Ralph, Dan, Sam, Gene, Jason, Jason, Isaac, Jim - these are just some of the names of the people in my life who have or who currently encourage me in my walk with Christ. They do this, like Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaicus did for Paul, by refreshing my spirit. And I am thankful for each of them.
Today of course, is Thanksgiving, and we have much to be thankful for, do we not? Starting, most obviously and appropriately with God, and with all we have received in the salvation He provides us through our faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, were we to stop there in our thanksgiving, we would realize we are the richest people in the world. As A.W.Tozer once wrote, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.” We hope and pray that everyone reading this today will take a moment to thank God for God!
Then we hope and pray you will move on in your moment of thanksgiving to the people God has placed in your life - people through whom He has or does refresh your spirit; people through whom you have or do receive love, friendship, encouragement, comfort, and a listening ear. While we probably don’t recognize or remember them enough, the truth is that these people have been sent by God into our lives and we know deep down in our hearts that we are thankful for them.
So spend a few minutes thanking God for them. Let Him know exactly why and how you are thankful - provide Him with specifics. Then, if you feel so inclined, let a few of them know of your thankfulness - send a text, make a call (you can use a phone to talk on - did you know that?!), write an email. As Paul says, “Give recognition to such people.” It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Paul sure wasn’t. Let them know they were on your mind and that you are thankful for them. You and they will be glad you did.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Scott Smith
Care Pastor
P.S. Strong + Love
King David strikes me as a bit of a paradox. He was complex, multi-dimensional, and complicated. He was a passionate poet, in touch with his emotions and the deepest longings of his heart. He wrote,
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63”1)
He was able to put into words a deep and abiding love for the Lord inspiring people for generations. However, he’s the same David who fought off bears, stood up to the giant Goliath, defended Israel against the Philistines, and led the nation of Israel to victory in battle. Rarely does one exhibit this combination of passionate love and uncommon strength.
This is the kind of paradoxical character that Paul calls Christians to develop. Listen to the way he encouraged the Corinthians,“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). His encouragement was to be on their guard because it’s easy to get lulled to sleep. To stand firm because the world, the flesh, and the devil are warring against their soul. To be courageous because there are so many things to be feared. And finally, they were called to be strong because their default posture might be to shrink back in weakness. This challenge could have been heard as the battle cry that prompted David to set his foot out onto the battlefield, and it could be the very encouragement we need to fight our battles with faithful fortitude.
However, the charge didn't end there. It culminated with the instruction, “do everything in love.” As Jesus' followers, we are not only called to be strong but also to be loving. To put it another way, we aren’t only called to live in his way, but to live with his heart. When we focus only on being loving, it might cause us to shrink back in fear when we need to stand. However, when we focus on only being strong, we lose the sensitivity and empathy we’re called to exhibit. We are called to have tough skin, but a soft heart. Strength and love.
My guess is you have a tendency to lean either in the direction of love or strength. We’re either wired to fight off the bear, or write a moving poem, but rarely do we do both naturally. Spend time today praying about your default posture and ask Jesus to teach you how to embody the full paradox of living with strength and love.
Pastor Ryan Paulson
P.S. Pursue Relationships
One of the joys of a life lived in multiple locations is establishing deep-rooted friendships. Likewise, one of the greatest sorrows is the same. I’m sure many of you can relate. In our first years of marriage, my husband pastored a church in Bakersfield. That is where our first three children were born and where one of my forever best friends still lives. She has walked with me through highs and lows over the last 26 years and would drop everything at a moment's notice if I called.
Upon entering the Navy we connected with an amazing Life Group at our church in Orange County. Four families with thirteen boys… praise God we were close to the beach and could let them run wild!
Other duty stations have brought precious, devoted women, keeping the home fires burning and encouraging each other while we awaited our husband's return.
And sometimes God brings dear friends into our lives and then takes them away… far away. Across the country, across oceans, across continents.
As much as I lament rarely being able to go for a walk, paddle board, run, or have coffee with these dear confidants, I would never trade the precious moments we have had. They are forever imprinted on my heart and when we do get to see each other, it is just simply sweet.
These relationships were similar to those that Paul references in 1 Corinthians 16. After fifteen chapters of elaborate instructions to the Church at Corinth, he specifically names seven dear friends, encouragers, and partners in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. In verses 10 and 11 he tells the church to take it easy on Timothy. He is a young disciple who is eager to learn. In verse 12 he communicates on behalf of Apollos. In verses 17 and 18 he speaks of being refreshed by other believers and then goes on to remind the church to greet all these beloved brethren with a holy kiss.
Paul has been encouraged by these relationships. They have exhorted him, cared for him, journeyed with him, and walked through suffering by his side. Paul is confident of his message and is equally confident that the message of truth that he proclaims is supported by fellow believers who have experienced the same.
We were created for relationships. Relationship with God and relationship with each other. It is through our relationships with others that we are strengthened and encouraged to continue on this journey, living out the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Next time you talk with a “distant friend”, don’t miss the opportunity to encourage him or her in their faith. You have been placed in that person’s life for a reason, even from a distance, to exhort them to be who God created them to be within their own sphere of influence.
Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director
P.S. Give Intentionally
I loved playing basketball growing up and it was great when the coach of the team was a friend’s dad or my dad. We had a couple of college-age coaches for a couple of years. It wasn’t anyone's older brother, just a couple of guys who gave their time to help our team. Not only would they give their time, but they would also buy snacks and reward us with Slurpees after good practices. Not to take away anything from all the dads who spent hours coaching, but this reward meant a lot to the team because of their intentionality.
In a similar manner, Paul answered a question about the collection for the saints and gave instructions to the church in Corinth. He gave a call to the believers to give missionally, intentionally, and honestly. There were other believers in need, who had given spiritual blessing to this church and others (Rom. 15:25-27). Paul wanted the church in Corinth to think missionally about how they used the grace and blessings God gave them.
Paul wanted the church to be intentional as well (v. 2). “On the first day of every week …” Paul encouraged the church to be thoughtful in setting aside money so they could bless others. He wanted this to be intentional so it would grow the community closer to God and each others by putting the focus on others. Paul also gave wisdom to this young church to put responsible people in charge of it. He encouraged honesty and accountability in the collection, so the church would not lose its way.
When we give our time, talent, or treasure, it is because God has given to us. He then gives a simple call to be missional and intentional in our approach so we give as an act of worship. Let me encourage you to take some time this week to think about what God is calling you to practice in this area, make time to talk to God about it, and then do your best to obey him. Praying for you all, we are here if you need anything.
Pastor Jeremy
