Cedar Park Counseling Network

Shelter in a Time of Storm
Hear my cry, O God; Listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge,
A strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever
And take refuge in the shelter of your wings…
(Psalm 61:1-4)

We may have cutting-edge technology yet garbled phone calls or unclear emails. God still hears us when we call. God hears our prayers, even as it seems as if we are calling Him from the other side of the world. We may be growing weary with various elements in our lives out of balance. Seeking peace – finding none, feeling unsettled with no known cause. Or maybe there is a cause like an elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. Looking for answers, finding none.

Like David, our hearts may be burdened with depression and exhaustion. More anxiety. David the psalmist, who becomes the second king of Israel leads the reader into more and more surety.
Let us trust God for our safekeeping. He is our strong tower against the foe. Like seeking shelter in a tent among friends, He is our friend in this time of need. He gives us refuge from the storms.
Like returning to a loving parent’s home, like a mother hen watching over her chicks, we rest under God’s wings. We find accommodation by trusting in Him.

God is our refuge.

Praying for God’s continued direction for each of us as we seek His face and favor. May Christ’s blood cover us all. May the Holy Spirit continue to work in and through and for us. Let our hearts be calmed in the shelter of God’s wings. May we look back and marvel at the great things you, Lord continue to do for us.

Help us find rest in You.

Jesus is our Rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.

Have you ever been stuck?

Like, really, REALLY, REALLY STUCK?

I am not talking stuck in the mud type stuck with muddy water and tadpoles swamping your rubber boots type stuck. I am not talking about stuck in the ditch waiting for someone to pull you out stuck.

"What's the ETA on that AAA tow truck again?"

I am talking about getting stuck in your life....type stuck.

Like those situational times when no-on-you-know-and-try-to-talk-to-seems-able-or-willing-to-listen-or-help-get-you-unstuck...

stuck.

Or like being overwhelmed with feelings that "Life Has Lost Its Meaning" stuck.

Or you are stuck because of all the joy-suckers in your life stuck.
Those joy suckers that disrupt your joy. Those little joy suckers that sneak in like the foxes in the Song of Solomon that steal the good fruit.

Disrupting your relationship and joy in Christ. Or your relationship between you and your spouse, or your fiancée, or your children, or your friends.

Those foxes are sneaky, they steal things away from relationships.
And those foxes, with their sneaky ways and means can make you feel stuck. (Song of Solomon 2:15.)

There could be a whole host of reasons for being stuck.

Or you are replaying that 80's U2 song in your head: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Stuck.

Hey guess what? Good News! It is possible to get unstuck.

Jesus tells us He wants us to have life and have it more abundantly.
(John 10:10.)

Which means you could now have found what you’re looking for. And that includes not being stuck. U2 & Gospel Choir - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Wt3dhF4fU


Gary Bright
Cedar Park Counseling Network.

When to consider therapy?

At different times in our lives, each of us may experience difficult seasons or circumstances that may cause us to feel overwhelmed. The problems we come across in life may cause us to feel like they are beyond our control. A recent diagnosis, the loss of a job, or of a relationship; depression, stress, or burnout. These stressors, along with many others, of daily living can at times be ominously debilitating. Sometimes we need the help of a licensed counselor to work through these seasons.
Questions to ask yourself:
- Do I feel helpless or sad? Do my problems seemingly not get better even with my best efforts?
- Do I find it difficult to concentrate? To carry out everyday activities?
- Do I worry all the time? Am I expecting the worst?
- Are my actions harmful to myself or to those around me? Am I drinking too much? Am I overly argumentative? Have I withdrawn from those I love?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be a good idea to reach out for help. Click the link below to schedule an appointment with one of our compassionate, licensed therapists today.

Practicing gratitude often leads to an improved quality of life and well-being as well as greater relationship satisfaction and commitment. One easy way to do this is to write thank you cards! Make it a goal to write a thank-you note to one person each week.

***Practicing Gratitude***

Practicing gratitude can increase your happiness levels by about 25 percent according to social scientist Robert Emmons. In several recent studies, individuals were shown to have stronger brain structure in the areas of social cognition, empathy and reward processing after only eight weeks of practicing gratitude. It is believed gratitude may be helpful because it helps people see how much they matter to others. Those who practice gratitude regularly report lower blood pressure, stronger immune systems, less loneliness and isolation, and higher levels of positive emotions. In addition, gratitude has been shown to relieve symptoms of stress, depression and post-traumatic stress. Practicing gratitude also often leads to an improved quality of life and well-being as well as greater relationship satisfaction and commitment.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Gratitude is learning to recognize and express appreciation for the benefits we have received from God and from others. This means constantly being on the lookout for blessings, making each day a treasure hunt. It means being intentional about thanking God and others for the blessings that come our way.

Some ideas for practicing gratefulness are:

1) Saying grace before meals. Recognize all the people who worked to put food before you.

2) Put things into perspective. When faced with adversity ask yourself:
o “What’s good about this?”
o “What can I learn from this?”
o “How can I benefit from this?”
o “Is there something about this situation that I can be grateful for?”

3) Keep a gratitude journal. Each day record 5 things you are thankful for.

4) Write thank you notes.

Expressing thanks isn't just nice for the person on the receiving end; it's fantastic for the person doing the thanking! It can actually permanently alter their sense of well-being, so make some time to practice gratefulness today.

If you or someone you know needs help and support in dealing with depression or anxiety and is struggling with gratitude, please reach out to me! Additionally, feel free to share my information with anyone who may be interested in mental health or marriage therapy.

Many Thanks,
Rachel Caulk, LMHCA