The Session with Tom Russell

The Session: Important Priorities in Christian Marriage, with highlights From Tommy McCallister and Others Colossians 3:18-21 It is Important to: Prioritize the emotional needs of the marriage Prioritize the marriage over the children more than we do Prioritize going out of our way to do things that make our spouse feel happy and loved Prioritize our spouses love language. Taking an evening to ask...

The Session:  How to Keep Dating Your Spouse-Even After Kids Genesis 2:24 - Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.   Proverbs 18:22 - He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.  ·         Be proactive and intentional in your marriage. Ask Jesus for help to be a successful marriage partner  ·   ...

The Session: Fundamentals of Christian Marriage  Matthew 19:4-6   He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate....

The Session: 5 Marks of a Biblical Marriage Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” ~ Genesis 2:24 1) Selflessness A mark of a Godly Christian is their willingness to humble themselves and be selfless towards other . This is true especially in marriage, where we are called to be selfless to each other and put our spouses ne...

The Session: 4 Lessons We Can Learn about Biblical manhood from Joseph   https://www.lcbcchurch.com/articles/4-lessons-we-can-learn-from-josephs-story   Open with the Matthew account of Joseph, in Matt.1:18-24 1. Acknowledge the truth Joseph acknowledged the truth. When we’re stuck at the bad end of someone else’s decisions, it’s all too easy to point the finger and place blame. We tend to take it...

The Session-Help For Boomerang Parents-Potential Benefits From Being a Boomerang Child, from Focus On The Family, FaithFI and others I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5. In July 2020, 52% of young adults in the US resided with one or both of their parents, according to a Pew Resear...

The Session - Helping The Family Survive An Election ; from KSBY.com James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Respectful Communication  respectful communication helps both sides gain perspective Look at the big picture. Elections will come and go, but family remains. Focus on shared values Empathize with...

The Session: Living the Empty Nest Life to the Fullest, from Michelle Howe, Focus on the Family Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Rev Up Your Marriage This could be a marriage retreat It could also mean planning more 24-72 hour getaways It may also include going on a crui...

The Session: The Need For Rest, from Amanda Idleman, Crosswalk.com By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (Genesis 2:2) 3 Reasons Why it Is Crucial That We Rest  The inability to rest affects every part of our lives. It’s a lie from the enemy of our souls that we can do it all, that we can ignore our own…  1. God Commands U...

The Session: The Energy Vampire, by Dr. Mosunic Psalm 29:11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! First, let’s define the energy vampire…bleh bleh bleh Different types of energy vampires? Energy vampires are people who suck the energy right out of you. After talking to them, you feel exhausted and are not real sure why. Dr. Mosunic would say that energ...

The Session: Family Issues Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"  Family issues are when an actual or potential conflict between or related to family members becomes a constant source of negative emotions. When a family cannot resolve conflicts and and emotional intensity around the relationship becomes overwhelming, it can lead to symptoms of comm...

The Session:  Causes of Family Stress, from Better Help How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) Parental relationship problems Constant parent fighting causes unnecessary and unproductive tension in children’s lives Finances Job loss, inability to work, uncontrolled spending, gambling problems, or another reason, stress and conflict related to mone...

The Session:  The Middle Child  Mark 10:13–16   People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a l...

The Session:  The Five Cylinder Intimacy Engine of Marriage & Goal Setting in Marriage Genesis 2:24: “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The Five Cylinder Intimacy Engine explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 5.  Recreational ·  Hobbies ·  Sports 4....

The Session-Loneliness Psalm 68:5-6 ~ “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”  God is always present and provides comfort; Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit," emphas...

The Session-Trust & Honesty in a Relationship  From Bellevue Christian Counseling  (John 8:31-32)  “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples . Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   Today there is so much to be said about relationships being trust worthy. Often times if a relationship fails, it is often th...

The Session-Temptation 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Scott’s going to take us down a rabbit hole right out of the gate…Let’s talk about the original temptation…Eve in the...

The Session:  Living In The Victory Of The Cross The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. If the same Holy Spirit lives in you, He will give life to your bodies in the same way.  So then, Christian brothers, we are not to do what our sinful old selves want us to do. (Romans 8:11-13)  Living In The Victory Of The Cross Gives Us Confidence In The Battlefield Of The Mind The weapons we fight with...

The Session:  Lessons From The Life of Jesus How Our Relationships Are Impacted by Jesus Romans 12:9-13 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s pe...

The Session:  Self Forgiveness  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) What to Do When I Know God Forgives Me, but I Can’t Forgive Myself, by Becky Weber I Know God Forgives Me, But I Can't Forgive Myse...

DISCLAIMER:  IN THIS EPISODE, THERE IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT A.I. AND SUICIDE.  THIS EPISODE MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER, AND ESPECIALLY UNSUPERVISED, CHILDREN. The Session: Artificial Intelligence With info from: Focus on the Family, Daily Citizen, and “Artificial Intelligence will Never Compete with Our God-Inspired Imagination” by Paul Batura  Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the Lord is the begi...

Article by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin, Focus on the Family, Oct. 2023 Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Virtual Pitfalls Texting can be a very helpful tool as you get to know someone.  But there are some areas to avoid: B...

The Session: Dating Etiquette in a Digital Age Article by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin, Focus on the Family, Oct. 2023 Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Virtual Pitfalls Texting can be a very helpful tool as you get to know...

The Session / Love Month / Feb. 13 Release Expectations and The Communication Highway The communication highway primarily consists of the speaker and listener roles. Before the speaker makes an “I” statement. He or she can go before the Lord and ask Him for wisdom to make an “I” that is said lovingly and in a caring way. An “I” statement consists of a feeling followed by when it happens. An exampl...

The Session / Love Month / Feb. 6 Release Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor&ap...