Cici Christian Counseling

03/04/2026

Parent/Child Conversation Prompts
Katie Kenny Phillips

Katie Kenny Phillips, author of iDisciple’s God, You Make Me Feel children’s series, understands that children need to see God’s love put into practice at home each day. Oftentimes for parents, it can be challenging to create theological lingo for toddlers, so Katie has created several prompts that serve as understandable, proactive conversation starters about God’s love:
1. Narrate The Gospel for your kids. Some of the best parenting advice I ever got was from a friend in ministry. She said, “The good news is, you’re probably already doing things in your life that are meant to bring God glory. It’s as simple as narrating it for your kids.” For example, when you make that meal for a friend who just had a baby, your little ones are most likely going with you when you drop it off. It’s easy to say, “Do you know why we’re making dinner for our friends? We’re showing God’s love for them by bringing them something to eat because they’re busy with their new baby.”

I remember a time that our good friends told us their dog had died. I gathered my kids into the minivan, went through the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru, and drove straight to their house. I told the kids: “We’re going to our friends and bringing donuts because we love them and they’re sad about Daisy. God wants us to be sad with our friends when they are sad and to show them love while they’re in the middle of it.” Simple. We can easily point our kids to the REASON we’re doing what we’re ALREADY doing.
Practice narrating daily activities with your kids:
“Do you know why we’re making dinner for our friends? We’re showing God’s love for them by bringing them something to eat because they’re busy with their new baby.”
“God wants us to be sad with our friends when they are sad and to show them love while they’re in the middle of it.”
2. Have fun getting the kids involved in short, impromptu prayers. When you see a beautiful sunrise in the morning, say, “Look at the beautiful colors God used to paint the sky today!” Or when you hear sirens for ambulances or police, throw up a quick prayer like, “God, please help the people who are hurt!” As we are driving around in our cars or walking in our community, we have countless opportunities to point to things many people overlook. This is a great way to get kids in the habit of opening their eyes to see God at work — and that God can help.

Kids quickly start doing this on their own. When one of my kids was 2 ½, we were driving in the neighborhood and saw some roadkill on the side of the road. I heard his little voice whisper under his breath, “Dear God, please make more squirrels. Amen.”
Practice involving kids in talking to God:
“Look at the beautiful colors God used to paint the sky today!”
“God, please help the people who are hurt!”
3. Make prayer time fun at bedtime. Little ones thrive on routine and can you imagine a better one than getting them in the habit of talking to their Heavenly Father? Just as bath time and toothbrushing and snuggling together before bed are a part of our nightly rituals, we can start incorporating fun prayer time. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated. Don’t underestimate the power of praying for mommy and daddy and cookies and bellybuttons. And take special requests from your kids! You might be surprised at what they are thankful for or what they want to bring before God.
There was a time my toddler wanted to thank God for triangles. Absolutely! Shapes, sure! The alphabet, of course! Your pet worm in the garden? Let’s thank God for that! My goal was to make talking with God something they enjoyed. And for them to understand there was nothing God didn’t want to hear about — silly or not.

Practice involving kids into your bedtime prayer:
Ask for prayer requests.
Ask what they are thankful for.
4. Utilize solid Christian children’s resources like books, music and apps to help reinforce the message. Read books at bedtime that tell kids how their Heavenly Father feels about them like God, You Make Me Feel Special. Play music such as Seeds Worship that put Scripture to music.
We listened to VeggieTales music so much when my kids were little, that now, when I hear certain songs in church, I can almost hear Bob the Tomato’s voice! But I love that because it means we were surrounding ourselves with messages and music about God in ways my children really took to heart.
Practice involving children spiritual growth resources into your day:
Find children’s books that echo your beliefs.
Play fun kids’ music throughout the day.
5. And don’t forget to take care of yourself spiritually! You’ve probably heard the saying: “You can’t pour from an empty cup!” Take advantage of the amazing iDisciple Growth Plans and devotionals like Find Rest and Find Peace. Kids also learn by seeing us pray and read the Word. We may have little ones sitting around our feet arguing over toys or spilling their snacks, but trust me, it’s beautiful when they see us with our Bibles and making our not-so-quiet time a priority.

Back when I had a toddler and a new baby, I remember feeling so anxious every night around bedtime. What if the toddler gets sick? Will the baby sleep tonight? What if the baby wakes up the toddler? Will I ever sleep again? Help! And then it struck me: I was feeling so stressed and exhausted, but I had not taken even a few moments to read God’s Word that day. It had been a routine of mine that was quickly shoved aside when life got busy — but when I spent a few minutes reconnecting with God, it made me feel so much better. Was my life still non-stop busy with very little sleep? Yes. But reading the Bible gave me a fresh word each day that my soul desperately needed.
Practice visibly showing your kids your spiritual life:
Talk to your kids about your quiet time.
Let them listen to your worship music.

02/23/2026

7 Ways to Release Resentment
Tori Carpenter

“Forgive and Forget” is one of those age-old pieces of advice that is rarely helpful and much easier said than done. While I don’t typically hold grudges against people and tend to forgive pretty easily, forgetting is a different story. As a deeply emotional chronic overthinker, I replay every situation in my head and strongly remember how people made me feel.
It’s hard to let go when we’ve been hurt or wronged, especially if the other person doesn’t realize what they’ve done or takes no accountability. Yet, holding onto bitterness doesn’t do anyone any good. What does the Bible say about this, and how can we release our feelings of resentment towards others?

Acknowledge Different Perspectives
Our memory can be tricky sometimes. We might remember a situation completely differently from the other person involved. After the moment has passed, all we have is our own perspective of the situation. We’re well aware of where we were coming from and the emotions we were feeling at the time.
It’s often difficult in the moment to get out of that space and put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. This is why in relationships, there are often miscommunications and misunderstandings. Body language, tone, and even words themselves can easily be misinterpreted.
It’s important when we look back on situations that we realize our brain may be overemphasizing some parts and downplaying others. If we truly want to let go of resentment, the first step is recognizing our own biases and limitations. We need to acknowledge that we might not remember every detail accurately or know what was going on inside the other person’s head at the time.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV)

Gain Understanding
If the hurt you’re holding onto is from someone you can have honest conversations with, talk to them about it. Not in hopes to prove your point or hammer on how deeply you’ve been wronged, but more so, to listen and gain perspective on where they were coming from.
Understanding how another individual’s brain works and what was going on inside of them at the time can be truly helpful. Does it excuse negative behavior? No, but it can make it much easier to offer them grace.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19, ESV)
Hold Yourself Accountable
Accountability is huge in relationships. If you did something wrong, own up to it and apologize. Take responsibility for your part, if any, in the situation. Maybe you were already upset about something else and had an overly harsh response. Maybe you’re carrying past hurt from someone else, which created an unfair sense of distrust.
Whatever it may be, acknowledging some responsibility breaks down the walls and allows the other person to do the same.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)
Forgive
God’s Word is pretty clear about forgiveness. In the same way, God repeatedly forgives us when we don’t deserve it, we are to forgive others. Unfortunately, our humanity makes that difficult to do sometimes.
It would be much easier if the Bible said, “Forgive once the other person apologizes, takes accountability, says the right thing, validates your feelings, and owns up to their mistakes.” But it doesn’t.
Forgiveness isn’t about the other person; it’s about your own heart before God. His Word instructs us to forgive and warns against bitterness building up.
” Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)
Remember Their Character
When we have an issue with someone, it’s easy to let the conflict consume us. We can easily forget the positive interactions we’ve had and end up with a warped view of the other person.

We need to withstand the temptation to believe the enemy’s lies. Remind yourself who this person truly is that you’re having the conflict with. Are they trustworthy, loyal, kind, and
supportive 90% of the time? If their character shows they were, then we need to realize their intent was likely not to harm us.
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” (Hebrews 12:14-15, ESV).
Seek God’s Wisdom
This should probably be the first step in any situation you find yourself in! I know some things mentioned above are challenging, or even impossible, to do on your own. If you’re struggling to forgive or offer grace and understanding to a person who has wronged you, the best thing you can do is give it to God.
Seek wisdom in how to handle the situation and ask him to soften your heart. Pray for him to give you guidance on how to move forward in a way that reflects his love.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Restore the Relationship
Unfortunately, the things that hurt the most tend to come from the people we care about.
Not because they are worse than others or out to make us feel bad, but because their words and actions have the greatest impact on our emotional well-being.
A stranger could say pretty much anything they wanted about me, and it might sting for a bit, but then I’d shrug it off. On the other hand, if I get any inclination that somebody who knows me well has negative feelings towards me, I can’t rest until it’s resolved.
When someone we love hurts us, we have to remember that they are only human and are bound to fall short now and then. If both sides desire reconciliation, you can navigate the hurt together through prayer and communication.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)
Trade Resentment for Reconciliation
Relationships can be restored and even strengthened through reconciliation. It takes strength, humility, and vulnerability to make it work, but when there is reciprocated love, honesty, and loyalty on both sides, it’s well worth it.

02/21/2026

How to Repair Your Marriage After Conflict
Jenny Nanninga

Conflict is part of the human experience. As fallen creatures interacting with other fallen creatures, there is bound to be conflict and hurt. Even within the intimate ties of a marriage, this reality is true. As Elisabeth Elliot always said, “You marry a sinner. There is nothing else to marry, and your spouse married a sinner, too.”
So, what can two sinful people do to keep their marriage whole despite conflict? While avoiding conflict is a worthy goal, it is also impossible to do so all the time. God’s Word does provide specific guidance on how to deal with conflict in a marriage.

Men are to deal with their wives in an understanding way. Wives are to submit to and respect their husbands. Men are to lay down their lives for their wives. These broad instructions can be applied in specific ways when conflict has occurred.
With those principles in mind, here are some simple, hope-filled tools to help repair your marriage after conflict.
1. Validate:
Be sure to seek to understand your spouse’s experience and feelings. You may not see it the way they do, but their feelings might be very real. Don’t brush them off. Acknowledge their experience and seek to understand it, even if you need to remain firm in a conviction. You care about how the conflict made them feel because you love them. Showing that love can repair the pain that the conflict caused. (James 1:19-20)
2. Pray:
God wants marriages to thrive. Ask for his help in addressing the issue, restoring your relationship, and adopting the right attitude. You may even need to pray that God will help you to forgive your spouse or help you to defer to their opinion in an argument. God will enable you to live out your marriage according to His design.

3. Choose a Change
: Always be willing to look at yourself in each conflict, not only the other person. Seek one way in which you can make a change. Tell your partner about the flaws you saw in yourself and how you plan to work on them. When they realize that you don’t see them as the only problem, it will help to mend wounds. (Romans 12:18)
4. Gently Check-In:
Maybe you get over arguments quickly and can move on easily, but maybe your spouse does not. Don’t assume everything is forgiven and forgotten. Check in to make sure that the situation has been resolved. There may be more to discuss or iron out. When hurts fester, bitterness can spring up, and small conflicts can become large ones. Follow up with gentleness to show that you care more about your spouse than about the issue that caused the conflict. (Matthew 5:9)
Scripture is full of advice on how to handle conflict. Don’t neglect to seek out God’s wisdom on the topic. God wants us to avoid conflict whenever possible by thinking well of others, working to be peacemakers, and considering others more important than ourselves.
God also knows that sometimes we will disagree or even need to confront someone. He reminds us to do so in love, slowly, and without sinful anger.

All of these principles on how to treat our fellow man can be applied to how we treat our spouse. It isn’t always easy, but God’s ways are best. The more we study His plan for handling conflict, the more we can practice it. That practice will eventually give way to habits, which then become characteristics.
Though marriage between two forgiven sinners may produce conflict, it doesn’t have to stay there. After all, we serve a redeemer God. We can trust Him to redeem our conflicts if we seek to follow Him.

02/12/2026

“A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬ ‭

Proverbs 19:11 ("A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense") teaches that true wisdom and strength are displayed through patience and the ability to forgive, rather than reacting instantly to offenses. It promotes self-control, grace, and avoiding conflict for personal and relational peace.
Key Aspects of Proverbs 19:11
Wisdom Yields Patience: The first part of the verse suggests that intelligent, wise people do not react instantly with anger. Discretion helps a person slow down and evaluate a situation before responding.
Glory to Overlook an Offense: Instead of harboring grudges or seeking retaliation, "passing over" or ignoring a transgression is considered a mark of honor, beauty, and maturity.
Practical Application: It advises that many offences are best handled by letting them go, rather than engaging in confrontation. This includes refusing to be easily offended by someone's words or actions.
Spiritual Meaning: The act of overlooking offenses mirrors God’s grace and forgiveness, which is a core virtue of Christian character. It serves as a, "do not be easily offended" approach, which helps preserve harmony and demonstrates, "God-like" behavior.
In short, the verse highlights that it is more honorable to show grace and forgive than to act on the impulse of anger.

02/04/2026

3 Marriage Goals Every Christian Couple Should Set Together
Jenny Nanninga

From creation, God planned for couples to work together. God himself is three in one and values the power of shared goals and teamwork. He created those concepts. Our marriages can become stronger when we focus on growing together, whether spiritually, emotionally, or relationally. Life tends to pull couples apart through different work schedules, friend groups, hobbies and more. How can we improve our marital teamwork and the practice of supporting one another even when our days are spent in different locations or activities?
God’s Word provides guidance for married couples who want to strengthen their bond through spiritual, emotional, and relational means. What can that look like for us in our daily lives?

Grow in knowledge.
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 3:18 ESV).
Knowing God is the best way to know ourselves. Therefore, striving to know God together will unite you and your spouse in profound ways. As a couple, you should set spiritual goals for Bible study, prayer, scripture memory, and church involvement. You can encourage one another and keep one another accountable for your individual growth, as well as participate in these practices as a couple. Reading the same passages and books as a couple will allow many topics to surface that can be discussed, increasing your alignment on numerous issues. Your bond and faith will be strengthened. Choose a book of the Bible to read separately or to read individually, but discuss later. You could also choose a scripture to memorize each month. Continually listening to podcasts or reading Biblical books on God’s plan for marriage or on any Biblical topic can also enhance your spiritual connection as you work to align your theology.
Grow in compassion and understanding.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” (Colossians 3:12).

Scripture stresses the importance of loving our brothers in Christ, serving others, and being patient and compassionate. These attributes and habits should also be applied to our marriages. We married sinners, and therefore, forgiveness, compassion, and understanding will be necessary throughout our marriages.
Set a plan together for dealing with conflict biblically. Study Matthew 18 and strive to apply it to your disagreements. Create specific steps for talking through hard topics that allow for mutual understanding and emotional safety. Devote yourself to learning about your spouse, considering their interests, and valuing them for who God created them to be. Keep a list of your spouse’s positive qualities. Write each other notes of encouragement and praise.
Practice brotherly love in tangible ways. It may be helpful to schedule a monthly or weekly marriage meeting to discuss issues calmly rather than bringing them up in a heated moment. Practice pausing before reacting to your spouse. Read scriptures about loving one another to keep your mind and heart focused on the positive in your relationship.
Grow in our complementary roles.

God has given equal value to each partner in a marriage, but different roles (1 Peter 3:1-7). Take time to study your roles, discuss how they should play out in your personal family situation and then strive to excel in those areas. The world has confused these roles, and even within the church, there is often disagreement, hurt, and confusion. Search the scriptures as a couple to understand your God-ordained roles better. Talk with one another about how to live these out practically and be open to encouragement.
Just as you would want to work your best for a boss or company, you should strive to give your best to God, who has outlined various roles for His children in scripture. Have regular evaluation check-ins and challenge one another to level up in certain areas. The whole family benefits when everyone does their work to the glory of God and with skill.
Ultimately, marriage is a union that the devil desperately wants to destroy. United goals will create united hearts, minds, and lives. God always designed for the two that were joined never to be separated. Strive to keep that bond strong. This means more than regular date nights. It means diving deeper into your relationship through emotional connection, spiritual growth, and godly relational roles. Thankfully, we serve a God who designed marriage for our good and His glory. Seeking His wisdom will greatly impact the strength and beauty of our relationships.

01/29/2026

Something to consider.

With tears welling up, I shared with one of my closest friends about a really hard decision I had made. A decision that left me feeling both confusion and peace, sadness and expectancy. A decision to step away from something good in order to enter something better.

01/17/2026

Struggling with family tension? These 5 faith-based practices can help you protect your peace and respond with grace.

01/11/2026

This is a great resource.

This is episode 1 of an ongoing series that explores the origins, content, and purpose of the Bible. Here you'll be introduced to a condensed history of how ...

01/09/2026

Find peace during the holiday overwhelm with comforting scriptures that calm anxiety, refocus your heart, and anchor you in God’s steady presence.

01/06/2026

10 Promises From God to Lift Your Spirits
By:Amber Lia

All of us will go through times where we need to cling to the promises of God. These verses are a spiritual defibrillator for our downcast hearts. I hope these verses will lift your spirits and remind you of how loved you are! Take a few minutes to read through them and allow the Lord to speak to your heart in a personal way.
1. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

2. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)

3. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

4. “Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165, ESV)

5. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11 ESV)

6. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

7. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, ESV)

8. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, ESV)

9. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27, ESV)

10. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3, ESV)

What other promises of God speak to your heart? Do you need prayer?

01/05/2026

We will be offering an online version of these classes. Sign up today for these free classes.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BgtAcRaVC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We will be starting a new GriefShare class on February 3rd. For more details or to register, visit this link: https://forms.gle/Arjj2DkXLCnYPcrY7
Please share!

01/04/2026

Start the new year off right! Book your appointment now and sign up for a free consultation.