EVOLVE: Transformative Biblical Counseling Center

Evolve Monthly Momentum October 2022

1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

In a world full of chaos, confusion, and destruction, violence of all kinds is at an all-time high, and the only weapon against evil is love and kindness. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, a time where we can all learn some preventative tips for keeping peace amongst each other.

Even though we are in this world, we are not of this world. Violence is not only physically harming someone but speaking evil and having evil in your heart against someone. Let us speak words of life and love and be the light of this world that we were created to be.

Below are some tips for preventing violence from the Violence Prevention Initiative, that can be used by adults and youth:

Tell someone. If you are the victim or are witness to violence, tell someone. It can be anyone you trust, such as a friend, parent, teacher, coach, brother/sisters, or a neighbor.

Take all violence and abuse seriously. Remember that many acts of violence and abuse are against the law.

Take a stand. If you witness any form of violence or abuse, stand up, step in, or shout out that the offender is the uncool one, and the violence has to stop.

Be an individual. Think for yourself. Don’t follow the crowd and don’t give into peer pressure. Don’t participate in any forms of violence or abuse just because your friends are.

Take back the power. Offenders act violently or abusively to gain power. By not participating, you take the power away from the offender and pass it to the victim.

Remember, putting others down doesn’t raise you up. There is never a good reason to be abusive or violent towards anyone.

Wrong. 24/7. Violence and abuse of any type that happens at any time is wrong. Period.

Be a friend. Help the person who is being abused by inviting them to participate in school activities. This will take away the feeling of being alone.

Spread the word. Comfort the person who was hurt and make it known that what happened was not fair or deserved.

Stay cool. Try not to respond to violence with anger. Anger can make things worse.

If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, an Evolve Soulcare member is available to help. Call 931-905-2200 or email [email protected] www.evolvetbcc.com

Evolve Monthly Momentum September 2022

Philippians 2:5- “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”

September is designated as National Suicide Awareness Month. Suicide can happen to anyone, at anytime, anywhere. Even as believers in Christ, it is sometimes challenging to keep our minds stayed on Jesus. Life can be overwhelming at times, distracting us from our purpose and assignments with fear, guilt, heartache, illness, and hopelessness.

We all face stressful challenges from time to time, which can cause overwhelming emotions. Traumatic events can leave strong lingering reactions. Feelings of stress, anxiety, worry, and grief are natural. Having healthy coping skills can be helpful. Here are some healthy ways to cope with stress provided by the CDC:

Take a break from watching, reading, or listening to news.

Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, take a break if you feel stressed.

Take care of your body.

Make time to unwind.

Talk to others.

Connect with your community, or faith-based organizations.

Avoid drugs and alcohol.

Recognize when you need more help.

Children and youth sometimes struggle coping with stress, especially when recovering from a traumatic event. Here are some tips for parents and caregivers to help children cope with stress:

Maintain a normal routine.

Talk, listen and encourage expressions.

Watch and listen for behavior changes.

Reassure your child about their safety and wellbeing.

Connect with other parents and teachers about ways to help your child cope.

Incorporating healthy ways to cope with stress and finding support can help reduce feelings and symptoms of stress.

Isaiah 41:10 states, “so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” It is during those challenging times that we must shift our mind and focus on the creator and sustainer of life, remembering that God can turn any life situation around for His glory. Claiming the power of God gives supernatural strength and healing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or need someone to talk to, contact an Evolve team member by calling 931-905-2200. Check out our website at www.evolvetbcc.com

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number is 988

tn.gov – “Be the One” to save lives and prevent suicide

cdc.gov

Evolve Monthly Momentum

Going Back to School with Jesus on My Mind

By Bishop Calvin B. Lockett

Over the past twenty years or so, Back-to-School events have become common in Clarksville and in communities around the country. The individual that brought the Back to School Bash to our city was the late Pastor Raleigh Jones—the former pastor of the Greenhill Church. Hundreds of people attended the affair as it galvanized students and their families in our community. Thousands of dollars worth of school supplies were given away and each child in attendance left the event with a smile on their faces. The event culminated with the Back-to-School Bash choir leading those in attendance to the lyrics of, “I’m going back to school with Jesus on my mind.”

The words of the finale were a reminder of the importance of balancing Christian and public education. If there ever were a time that our children need to have the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and be grounded in Christian doctrine, it’s now. It is vitally important that children are confident in the fact that God’s Presence is with and shall never leave them (Hebrews 13:5) and His Power shall sustain them while they are away from their parents/guardians (Ephesians 3:20). It is my prayer that parents will afford our children the opportunity to take advantage of the Christian education times that our church and the Christian community offers and that they’ll, “hide God’s Word in their hearts.” ( Psalm 119:11) As our children go back to school, may they grow and mature in God’s Word as they are being educated in school. I pray that not only will our children go back to school with Jesus on their minds, but that they’ll keep their minds stayed on Him all year long.

Are you anxious, worried, or just bored and need someone to talk to? If so, The Evolve Team is available for you. The Evolve Team has counselors that are trained mental health professionals. Currently, all team members are elders in The Lord’s church. There are six (6) twenty (20) minute slots that are available per day. You may contact us by messaging Evolve on Facebook or leaving a message at 931 905 2200.

Q. Does getting a divorce mean that I have no faith in God?

A. No, absolutely not! Getting a divorce does not diminish your faith or your love for the lord. A divorce could be life saving and the action need for your overall wellness. Your sanity, physical, emotional health could be in jeopardy by staying in a toxic relationship— and your children’s wellness.

Actually, it takes mammoth FAITH to say, “I love myself and my children and actually understand how God loves us and cares about us." It takes mammoth faith to say, "I am removing myself from this toxic relationship. Faith causes you to make difficult decision that others may not approve of but it is best for your situation. Your journey is your journey, and does not require for others to understand your process. Your FAITH in the Lord requires you to take care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally and divorce is the right course of action. Using your FAITH to make tough decisions requires mammoth FAITH to take action.

Dr. Delores Lakes, MMFT

Marriage and Family Therapy

FREE talk sessions available. Contact Evolve at 931-905-2200 or email [email protected]

National Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-8255

Question: What are some ways to keep your mind focused on positives of life with so many world changing negatives?

Answer: There are so many distractions(good and bad) in our daily lives that it is easy to become overwhelmed and negative in our thinking. But Gods word in Philippians 4:8 instructs us to ‘think on these things’- things that are lovely and of good report.

How do we do this:

1. set the intention to find the beauty, the positive in your encounters.

2. Have a routine that includes self care moments( deep breathing, visualization, stretching, exercise).

3. Identify a positivity partner, who can support and help you develop insight.

4. And of course pray, cause prayer really does change things.

Dr. Elizabeth Pritchett,

Board Certified Psychiatrist

Free Talk Therapy sessions are available. Call 931-905-2200 to schedule an appointment.

Monthly Momentum

May 2022

“Her children arise and call her blessed”

Proverbs 31:28

It has been said that “to the World you are just a mother, but to your family you are the WORLD!”

It is the month in which we celebrate motherhood. God’s Word in Psalm 127.3 says that “children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him”. In other words, children are a blessing from the Lord and it is a blessing to be a mother. But if the truth be told, some days mothering feels more like a burden than a blessing.

Mothering is not easy, especially in this present day. Mothering involves all-consuming responsibility for helpless new life; years of sacrifice for growing life and never ending support of continued life. Though it is a joy to see your children grow and develop, it can be exhausting. Mother’s must balance caretaking with self care. While we may be the world to our children, they must not become our world, our idol.

How doe we find balance in mothering?

Prioritize time for self renewal

Have a sacred date with God daily. It may be 5 minutes or an hour, but be consistent in

sitting in His presence, talking to and listening to God’s Word for you.

Read Mark 1:35

Read 1 Chronicles 16:11

Practice thought control

God says that as a man thinks in his heart , so is he. Our bodies react to our thoughts. If we

dwell on gossip, negativity and fear, our lives will manifest more of the same.

Read Philippians 4:8

Place your Boundaries

God’s word says let your yes be yes and your no be no. Boundaries help us to define expectations, set limits , show respect so that we can reach our goals. We cannot give our all to everyone and everything, and have some of us leftover for ourselves. Boundaries allow others to grow through their own choices.

Read Matthew 5:37

Read Galatians 6:2-5

May Every Mother Have a Happy Mother’s day

Ques. My child has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and medication was recommended/suggested. Are there any alternative treatments that have shown positive results?

Ans.

Alternative Treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) is one of the most common disorders that affects children. The signs include difficulty staying on task and following age appropriate directions(distractibility), as well as doing things without thinking (impulsivity), and overactivity (hyperactivity).

All kids may have times when they are unfocused, very active, squirmy or fidgety, or not following directions but those with ADHD have these struggles all the time. They affect school performance, behavior and even making and keeping friends.

ADHD IS NOT ‘JUST BAD BEHAVIOR!’ It is a disorder affecting brain chemicals. There is no cure for ADHD.

There are treatments that can decrease the symptoms and help the child focus and learn. Medication is one of those treatments and is often used with positive results. However, many people are uncomfortable with the idea of medication. In my practice, we often start with other treatments including, therapy, behavior therapy, nutritional supports used with medications or separately.

Behavior Therapy is a broad term that generally provides support, strategies and techniques of helping the child take ownership of their behavior. It might include parent and child making a structured daily schedule with a system of rewards to reinforce the desired behavior; teaching self-monitoring(am I doing what the class is doing or what t he teacher has said?) and social skills (waiting turns, asking for help, dealing with losing).

Educational Interventions include classroom behavioral management, organizational skills, workload and testing management.

The National Institute of Mental Health offers the following suggestions:

Establish and Keep a daily routine

Organize everyday items (a place for everything)

Orgnaize school and homework folders

Write down assignments

Have clear and consistent rules

Look for and praise/reward positive behavior

The EVOLVE TBCC Team Adds:

Pray for your child, teachers and surrounding everday!

“Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go and When He is Old He will Not Depart From it

Proverbs 22:6

Dr. Elizabeth Pritchett,

Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Ordained Minister, Christ The Healer Church