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Inspirational Articles
Dogs Know Things
I have always had a dog. I really don't remember life without a dog, until now.
by Suzette Brawner | 02/26/07
You Can Choose to Get on Course
Do you want to know the deep satisfaction that comes from being in love? It's your choice.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 01/09/06
Buried Alive by Anger
Let me tell you how anger worked its damage in the life of a friend, Larry, who for nine years, was angry at me.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 12/27/05
A Woman's Call to Courage
Courage is the inner commitment to pursue a worthwhile goal with out giving up hope.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 12/19/05
Me? Perfect?
The very idea of being perfect is enough to scare some of us out of our shoes.
11/28/05
Anger Springs from Three Separate Emotions
Anger is an emotion. Like all of our emotions, there's nothing wrong with it in and of itself. It's our human response to something that occurs, or at least to our perception of the problem.
by Gary Smalley | 11/14/05
In His Steps: Following God's Lead In Helping People Grow
We can't make people follow God, but there are some things we can do in partnership with the Holy Spirit to influence them.
by Alice Fryling | 11/07/05
When Someone You Know Has Cancer
The room was dark; the staff had gone home. Only minutes earlier a host of doctors and technicians had been scurrying about, sinking long needles into various places in my back before passing my body in and out of a CAT-scan machine.
by Anne Frähm | 10/31/05
Gaining a Positive Attitude
I once counseled a young wife who had been sexually attacked when she was a young girl. I could see by the expression on her face that she was still discouraged and distressed about the incident and embarrassed to talk about it. Feeling she had been cheated in life, she was somewhat resentful that God had allowed such a horrible thing to happen.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 07/25/05
The Secret of a Close-Knit Family or Relationship
The real secret to becoming a close-knit family is shared experiences that turn into shared trials.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 07/11/05
Discovering the Value of Your Personality
All of us have distinct personalities, and all of us can, without knowing it, push some of our inborn characteristics to an unhealthy extreme that can wreak havoc in a marriage.
06/06/05
Treasure Hunting Your Trials
Years ago, I talked with a young wife who had been sexually attacked when she was a young girl.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 05/30/05
The Language of Love
Do you ever find yourself trying to express something important and your mate, friend, or boss didn't seem to get it?
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 05/23/05
Disaster Protection
When a crisis strikes, we can be like two boys running along near the safety of home and finding themselves in the middle of a field of deadly snakes.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 05/16/05
Align Expectations with Reality
One of the biggest energy draining experiences most adults stumble through is a strained marriage.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 04/18/05
Isaac's Blessing: Creating Safety by Honoring Your Children
To value something means to attach honor to it. In fact, this is the meaning of the verb "to bless."
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 04/11/05
Great Faith or "Dinky" Faith
Do you remember the story of the centurion who came to Jesus for the sake of his servant? It's one of the clearest descriptions in the Scriptures of exactly what "faith" entails. Read Luke7 to see if I'm telling the story correctly.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 03/28/05
The Incredible Worth of a Woman—Part 2
If we're serious about honoring God, our children, and others, we'll begin to combat our natural bent to dishonor them by not taking them lightly.
03/14/05
The Incredible Worth of a Woman—Part 1
Discovering the incredible worth of a woman begins by understanding that genuine love is a gift we give. It isn't purchased by actions nor contingent upon our emotions. It may carry strong emotional feelings, but isn't supported by them. Rather, to love is a decision we make daily toward someone who is special and valuable to us.
03/07/05
Abraham's No-Losers Policy
Journey with us back to the days of Abraham. Genesis 13: 5-18 tells the story of Abraham and Lot, and it gives us a demonstration of the no-losers policy.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 02/14/05
Keeping Your Battery Charged: Discovering God's Best
Jesus' parables in Luke 11 helped me understand one of the greatest secrets of life.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 02/07/05
Finding Fulfillment In Life
From different painful experiences that I have been through, I've learned that I was looking for love, peace and joy in all the wrong places. In other words, I had spent a lifetime looking for a sense of significance and security. But I was looking for that in the wrong location.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 01/31/05
Step Out of Fantasyland
Many Christians, frustrated by the lack of fulfillment they've found in people, things, and career, have fallen for the deception that God's Word is not entirely true. They live as though the Bible was a book of myths rather than a living and active guide to fulfillment.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 01/24/05
The 4 Lessons I Learned in Prison
Prison is a lonely place filled with heartache and headaches. Read on to find out what I've learned from living in my own emotional prisons.
by Michael Smalley | 04/13/04
Gary's Outdoor Adventure
from the book Men's Relational Toolbox
Not long ago I was at a dinner party where a friend of mine—I'll call him Junior—talked at length about his outdoor adventures of turkey hunting. He talked of the brown and green camouflaged clothing he wore, the weight of the gun on his shoulder as he tiptoed through …
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 04/10/03
The Gift of the Blessing: In Search of the Blessing
All of us long to be accepted by others. While we may say out loud, "I don't care what people think about me," on the inside we all yearn for intimacy and affection. This yearning is especially true in our relationship with our parents. Gaining or missing out on parental approval has a tremendous effect on us, even if it has been years since we have had any regular contact with them. In fact, what happens in our relationship with our parents can greatly affect all our present and future relationships. While this may sound like an exaggeration, our office has been filled with people struggling with this very issue, people just like Brian and Nancy.
01/27/03
Joy That Lasts: Overcoming Emotions That Destroy Joy
Have you ever walked confidently out on a limb only to look back and see someone sawing it from the tree? That's how I felt recently when I realized what I'd done to Norma.
01/27/03
Joy That Lasts: Yes, You Can Have Joy
Nancy Bramlett was miserable—trapped in an abusive marriage with no hope of improvement. For her, divorce wasn't an option, but shopping was.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 01/27/03
Learning to Forgive - Part I
Love … What a powerful experience to know you are with the one person you believe to be the only person right for you! There's a magical moment when you realize you can't imagine ever spending another day without this person next to you. Every thought is consumed with fantasies and incredible expectations for the future! Sound familiar?
by Michael Smalley, M.A. | 01/27/03
Learning to Forgive - Part II
We live in a fallen world. We are going to make mistakes that not only affect ourselves, but the people around us. Particularly the people that are most important to us, and there is no relationship more influential than the marital relationship. But why is forgiveness important?
by Michael Smalley, M.A. | 01/27/03
New Forgiveness Research
Recently, we surveyed 200 married adults in regards to forgiveness. We were wondering how one's ability to forgive others would affect their marital satisfaction and personal well-being. The results were astounding!
by Peter J. Larson, Ph.D. | 01/27/03
Anger
Question: I was at the Prayer breakfast this morning, and I thought of a question after we were done. You told us NOT to push anger down and leave it unresolved. Well, that's about the way I deal with things, unless they're super serious. How do I fix it?
by Michael Smalley, M.A. | 01/23/03
Reaching Bottom Is the First Step Up
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-3)
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 01/13/03
The Command to Forgive
I admit the Bible can sometimes be difficult to interpret and understand. However, when it comes to the command to forgive, the Bible is very obvious in what is expected of Christians. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your sister or brother has something against you leave your gift there in front of the alter.
01/13/03
Is the Grass Greener?
"It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in a passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God." I Thessalonians 4:3-5
by Michael Smalley, M.A. | 01/09/03
How to Avoid Getting Emotionally "Bulldozed" by Others
Have you ever wished for something all your life, but you figured it would never happen, and then suddenly your dream came true?
by Dr. Gary Smalley & Dr. Greg Smalley | 01/09/03
In the Midst of Tragedy
Why is it that tragedy turns us toward the people we love the most? Why does it take something catastrophic to make us realize how important our wives, husbands, children, parents, siblings, close friends are to us?
by Michael Smalley, M.A. | 01/09/03
Gaining a Clear Purpose in Life
Terry never anticipated that his boss, who was also his close friend, would lay him off after twenty-two years with the company.
by Dr. Gary Smalley | 01/08/03
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