Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries

Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries Tom Russell grew to know and love the Lord at an early age. In high school he began to date the young lady that he would eventually marry.

His early marriage consisted of both of him and his wife going to Ohio State University, but after an unsuccessful experience, he quit and worked to help his wife finish. After she graduated she encouraged him to try schooling one more time. All it took was her emphasizing to him that she believed in him, and he was back at school. He graduated after completing eleven straight quarters with a degree in elementary education. During his years as a teacher their three biological children were born, and they got full custody of their then, foster son. Throughout his teaching career he thoroughly enjoyed the teaching aspect and making a significant difference in young people's lives, but he always felt there was more that God had in store for him. It was also during this time that he had an incredible passion to help marriages. Because of that passion, he became involved in his church's marriage retreats. There were also times when he would be sitting at his desk after school grading papers and a fellow teacher would walk in and want to talk about their marriage. It was experiences like those that made him think that God had another plan for his life. Finally, after much prayer and wisdom from those he trusted most in life, he resigned from teaching and enrolled at Ashland Theological Seminary to pursue a degree in pastoral counseling. It was during this time that the Lord helped him start the origins of Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries. Tom would work at his job forty hours a week, attend seminary full-time, and still spend about ten hours a week building Heritage. After graduating from seminary in 1997, Heritage became a full time ministry. In 1998, Heritage became a Prepare/Enrich ministry and in 1999, it became a member of The American Association of Christian Counselors, and It has been on a steady growth pattern since.

10/06/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Your Words

It is very important that we regularly focus on how our words impact other people. Do our words create conflict? Do our words distance relationships?

The book of Proverbs 21:23 records this wisdom, “If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble.” Great words of wisdom Solomon shared with us there!

It is also very possible that our words can be edifying and a real blessing in relationships. We read in the book of James 3:2-3, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.” In the same way putting a bit in the horse’s mouth can cause the horse to turn in any direction, so also our words can turn a relationship in any direction. What we say and what we refrain from saying in a relationship can have a huge impact. Also, the tone in which it comes out can be a real blessing in a relationship.

Action Point
Take time in prayer to seek the Lord and His blessing on what comes out of your mouth. Pray that your words can speak life and growth in relationships that glorify the Lord.
(Tom Russell)

10/05/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Labeling People

If you’ve ever been labeled you know how much it can hurt. When you hear you’re too skinny, too fat, too lazy or a liar, it can be devastating.

Proverbs 12:18 tells us, “. . . . rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Labeling people can be like taking a sword and thrusting it in their heart. What an incredibly painful thought and experience.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29-30, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” Paul calls us to send words of encouragement that are good and helpful. Think about how that would make an individual feel compared to foul or abusive language. Imagine the impact it might have on your child if you called him a liar or lazy.

Paul writes in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” How gracious is it when we give people negative labels. Paul encourages us to be gracious in talking with others.

In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus explains it this way, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the fire of hell.” It is important that we be aware of the consequences of insulting a brother.

Action Point
It may be important to do a heart check. How are you doing with what comes out of your mouth?
(Tom Russell)

10/04/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Faith

It is important in life that we embrace our faith. One way the enemy attacks us is through the doubting of our faith. It is amazing the number of things that we put our faith in that are not necessarily regarding scripture or God. People put their faith in a bridge holding them up while they cross it. People put their faith in the pilot and the airplane when they are 30,000 feet in the air.

It is important that we grow our faith in God. The writer of Hebrews 11:1-2 explains faith like this, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”

Creation is another important area where we can grow our faith. Hebrews 11: 3 goes on to tell us, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Verse 4 says, “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”

It is good to know that when we do struggle there is help with our lack of faith. Paul writes in II Corinthians 12:9,
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’” So when we are weak in our faith God is made strong.

It is by faith that we receive from our God. Lamentations 3:22-23 teaches, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Action Point
John 8:24 teaches a very important lesson for us to focus on, “Unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” We must have faith in the Lord.
(Tom Russell)

10/02/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Nagging (10/2/25)

Although nagging has been a stereotypical complaint of husbands, current research mentions nagging as a problem for both husbands and wives.

“Danish researchers from the University of Copenhagen said having a nagging partner can significantly shorten one’s life, and could result in three extra deaths per 100 people per year. The study also said people nagged by their spouses are more likely to get heart disease and cancer.”

Nagging seems to be a communication problem that is likely rooted in a relationship issue. The individual with the habit of nagging oftentimes feels unheard and unimportant. The person being nagged oftentimes doesn’t feel respected. That leads to a lack of motivation.

However, Paul writes to the church at Ephesus in Ephesian 4:29-32, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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.”

Peter also encourages us to focus on things that will help prevent nagging in
I Peter 3:8-10, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Action Point
Is nagging an issue in relationships in your life? It can be easily impacted if we follow the teachings of Paul and Peter.
(Tom Russell)

10/01/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Do We Trust Jesus?

There are times when we are faced with decisions in life that often leave us at a crossroads. Do we trust our own decision making or do we trust Jesus with it?

The story of Simon is a great example of how it is less stressful and more beneficial when we trust Jesus and not our own decision making or strength. Luke writes in Luke 5:3-5, “Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” Simon chose to trust Jesus and he caught so many fish he had to signal his partner ship to come cast their net. They caught so many fish that their boats began to sink.

Paul is another example of someone who understood and showed us the importance of trusting Jesus. He survived prison because he trusted Jesus. In Philippians 4:13, Paul shared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches how to trust Jesus, “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.”

Psalms 37:4-5 reinforces the message of trust, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”

Action Point
Psalm 33:20-22 states, “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Can you say He is your hope and shield?
(Tom Russell)

09/30/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Repentance

In this day and age how important is it to repent of our sin? When we look at people who live together, for example, and claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus, it raises the question of, “Where is their repentance?” What would it mean for them to repent?

Where is the repentance for someone who is living a lifestyle that is clearly not Godly and yet pretending at church to be walking with the Lord?

New Spring Church lists five good reasons to confess and repent.

1. I John 1:6–9 states, “If we claim to have fellowship with God, and yet, walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2. It proves that we are not trying to hide our sin from God, others, or ourselves. It humbles us.

3. It shows that we are asking for and relying on God’s strength to help us change.

4. It allows us to be continually healed.

5. And most importantly, confession and repentance sustain our loving relationship with God.

Action Point
Do you need to repent? It is important to go before our God and repent from any known or unknown sin.
(Tom Russell)

09/29/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

An Important Part of Forgiveness

Because of the tremendous gift Jesus gave us when He went through the pain, torture and agony of the cross, we are forgiven of our sins. Psalm 103:10-12 teaches, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

I John 1:9 puts forgiveness in real perspective, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We further read in I John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

One very real way the enemy deceives us concerning forgiveness is making us think we can receive forgiveness of our sin from Jesus, but that we can not forgive ourselves. Because we don’t forgive ourselves we leave an opening for the enemy to continue to attack and deceive us. This creates problems when growth in Jesus is paralyzed because the pain from lack of forgiveness is very real and present.

Mark writes in Mark 12:30-31, “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.” It is made clear in the book of Mark that we are to love ourselves. One very important part of loving ourselves is to forgive ourselves when sin has entered our lives.

One could argue that David would have healed much faster if he had forgiven himself for his experience with Bathsheba. Instead he went through a long period of depression, which very likely was driven by a lack of forgiveness for himself.

Action Point
Have you forgiven yourself? Do you struggle with forgiving yourself? If so this becomes a very important concern to pray about.
(Tom Russell)

09/28/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

The Body of Christ, a Support System

One very significant help in life is to have a support system. Support systems are important for the growth of people and their relationships, as well as in their jobs or schooling. Caring, supportive people can be there to help a less experienced person.

Paul was a great example of someone who provided support for others. Romans 1:11-15 teaches, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.” Paul was there to help regardless of who they were or where they were in life. When the Gentiles felt criticized and rejected he was there to help them.

In I Thessalonians 5:11 Paul gives this encouragement, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” Lives are changed when we encourage one another and build each other up. Encouragement can be so powerful to the person who lacks hope, as it can help build hope.

Paul saw the need in the church in Rome. He encouraged the people to build one another up by bearing their weaknesses. He writes in Romans 15:1,“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”

Action Point
Are we open to helping encourage those who may be struggling? It would be important to pray about how God is calling you.
(Tom Russell)

09/26/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Intimacy with God, More than Knowledge

Having great understanding of God‘s word is not necessarily an indicator of intimacy with God. When we think about the Pharisees and the Sadducees they both had incredible knowledge of our God, however, they had no relationship with Him. Jesus said to them in John 5:39–40, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

Ultimately it is not only knowledge of God, but trust in God that brings intimacy with Him. Writer, Jon Bloom explains it with these words, “Our experience of God’s nearness or distance is not a description of his actual proximity to us, but of our experience of intimacy with him. Scripture shows us that God is intimate with those who trust him.”

Samuel writes in II Samuel 7:28, “Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy. . . .” It is so important that we trust the Lord because He truly is trustworthy. At the end of the day when you think about it, if you cannot find the Lord trustworthy who exactly is trustworthy?

The Gospel of John 15:4-5 is very encouraging to us. “Remain in me and I will remain in you…. apart from me you can do nothing.” If we remain in Him we will feel more intimate with Him and our trust will continue to grow.

Action Point
There is a direct correlation between trusting God and being more intimate with Him. The more we trust Him the more intimate our relationship will feel. What will it take for you to feel more intimate with God?
(Tom Russell)

09/25/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living 9/25/25

Be Prepared

God not only warns us, but also prepares us, for when the enemy attacks.
In the fifth chapter of
I Peter we are encouraged to give our worries and cares to God because He cares about what happens to us. In verses 7-11 Peter says, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

I find it so interesting that God promises to take care of us and He starts with giving our anxieties to Him. He also urges us to be sober and watchful, because the adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion waiting to devour us.

Action Point
Take time to read the fifth chapter of I Peter to see how our God will speak to you.
(Tom Russell)

09/24/2025

Devotionals for Daily Living

Caring

Caring for people is a very important part of life. Historically it was believed that the receiver of care was the primary person that benefited. More current research shows that the person caring for others can benefit, also.

Helping others isn’t just a commendable thing to do, it may also extend your life, according to new research. A recent study published in “The Journal of Evolution and Human Behavior” found that people who occasionally cared for others lived longer than people who didn’t.

Oftentimes our God uses his people to bring the comfort that usually comes from him to comfort others. Isaiah 41:13 speaks to how our God cares for us, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”
When we listen to God’s calling in our lives, he can use us to help others. We can be “Jesus” to others.

It is very well said that our God cares for us in Psalm 23:1-3, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” What a blessing that our God wants us to rest. How refreshing it is to think that He leads us beside still waters along the right path. We can help provide opportunities for others to receive the same peace and rest that God wants us to have.

Action Point
It is important that we take to heart that blessing others also becomes a blessing to us. Not only is that important, but it is also being obedient to what God has called us to do.
(Tom Russell)

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1066 Lexington Avenue
Mansfield, OH
44907

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Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

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+14195265523

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