Coastal Counseling Services

08/29/2025

We get anxious and weary when we hoist the world’s problems onto our own shoulders. God is already carrying the world, so we don’t have to. We only have to carry what He puts in our hands for the day. And while Jesus promised that in this world we would have trouble, He encouraged us to smile anyway, because He has overcome the world (see John 16:33)

08/28/2025

💜 Jesus Over Busyness 💜

Busyness tells us we’re only valuable if we’re producing, striving, and checking things off our lists. But Jesus reminds us that our worth isn’t found in how much we do—it’s found in Him.

In Luke 10:38–42, Martha was busy serving, but Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. When Martha grew frustrated, Jesus lovingly corrected her: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”

Today, I chose Jesus over busyness. Instead of rushing past His presence, I paused to rest in it.

🙏🏽 Prayer:
Lord, help me to slow down and choose what truly matters. Teach me to sit at Your feet before I try to serve at Your table. May my worth be rooted in You, not in what I accomplish. Amen.

📖 “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
Galilee Life

08/28/2025

The saying in the adjacent graphic is a perfect analogy for those of us who have a relative or friend struggling with substances and possible coexisting disorders. When the wind knocks down trees and blows us in the face, do we respond by blowing back? Of course not. Think of the wind as our qualifiers. Think of our sails as all that encompasses the Families Anonymous program. When our loved one yells at us, steals from us and engages in self-destructive behaviors, our response should not be to do the same to them. Our response is not to hurt them like they hurt us. Our response is to adjust our sails and change our direction by doing the following: 1) Accept the reality of what is right in front of us, not clinging to some image of what we had imagined for somebody else; 2) Stop wrestling for control of the situation, no matter how difficult that is or how foreign that concept might be to us; 3) Adapt our thinking and actions to this new reality by learning new ways to process situations, make decisions and take care of ourselves, This is how we move forward in a storm. This is the FA way.

08/27/2025

Sometimes it helps to think of our recovery program in Families Anonymous as a rebuilding project. We are attempting to change our old ways of thinking, much like a contractor might need to make drastic changes to an old building to bring it up to code and adapt for modern uses. We may not quite be as outdated as an old trading post with a place for customers to tie up their horses, but it's kind of along these lines. We can't learn until we unlearn. Unlearning our old ways of thinking opens us up to new thought patterns and behaviors. It creates space for growth. In matters of dealing with a loving one with substance use disorder, we educate ourselves about the disease and become more empathetic, shedding our preconceived notions of this being a moral issue. We become more patient and less judgmental. We learn new ways to process problems and communicate with others. We learn not to isolate and find the courage to open up to others in our FA group. We become stronger and more confident in situations that used to devastate us than we ever thought possible. That is the miracle of the program. That is the flex.

08/27/2025

Shake off the dust of pettiness and pursue the higher road of prayer. Treasures await you there, and you will be transformed along the way.

08/25/2025

There's a good chance you've heard the expression, "Be where your feet are." When we're in the midst of trying to navigate life through trauma and chaos, this directive would be easier to remember if our feet looked like this duck's. But yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery, right? If we drain ourselves with thoughts about anything other than what is right in front of us, we can't make the best possible decisions for today and be the best version of ourselves. But being where our feet are is tough to put into practice when we're close to someone who abuses drugs or alcohol. We are driven by some combination of anxiety, fear, anger and hopelessness. We make decisions based on things that haven't happened, yet, and exist only in our imagination. We do ourselves and others a disservice because we're not being present. This is where Families Anonymous can help you. The program teaches us how to slow down our thoughts and emotions -- and look down at our feet when needed. Remember: Tomorrow hasn't happened, yet.

08/25/2025

Precious Lord, ⠀
I need You every hour. Help me to know when to stand and when to bow low. May my discernment be sharp that I might quickly put the enemy’s insults under my feet. May my heart be so humble that I am quick to bow and glorify Your name. Grant me vision and perseverance that I may find strength in the hard times. And when I’m tempted not to forgive, remind me once again what You’ve done for me. I want to give you a great return on Your investment in me. Call me higher, Lord. Amen.

08/22/2025

Happy FriYAY!!

08/22/2025

When the ground shakes beneath your feet or circumstances rock your world, say out loud for your own ears to hear, “I will trust You, Lord! I will not be afraid!” When slanderous words find their way to your ears, proclaim out loud, “You are the One who defines me, Lord! I will trust Your opinion far and above anyone else’s!”

08/21/2025

Old patterns. Old relationships. Old labels. Sometimes we keep them around just because we know them, not because they’re good for us. But clinging to what’s comfortable can crowd out what’s possible. Healing takes space. Growth takes space. Hope takes space. If your life feels stuck, maybe it’s time to clear some space.

Have the courage to let those old things go and open yourself up to new hope. You don't have the space for both the old and the new.
Credit- Henry Cloud

08/21/2025

When we plant seeds, they don't look anything like the pictures on the packet. All we see is a mound of dirt. No brightly colored flowers or vegetables. No long branches with thick foliage. No proof of existence of something great that is about to happen. Just dirt. But we have a plan and we have hope. So we water and fertilize. We keep the area clear of weeds. In Families Anonymous, we think of our recovery that way. When we work our program with discipline and consistency, nourishing ourselves and keeping the area around us free of distractions, we see results. With optimism, faith and work, we discover a new us. We bloom. When winds and storms come up, we are stronger and more prepared to handle situations that before might've traumatized us. It doesn't seem possible at the beginning. But it happens. It's in the 12 Promises of the program. Plant a seed. Attend a meeting. Let your work begin.

08/20/2025