Gentle Streams Counseling

07/22/2022

If you are a woman in ministry, this luncheon is a wonderful place to connect with other women and be encouraged.

03/04/2021

DEEPENING
MARITAL
CONNECTION
A free live online course focusing on:
• Experiencing your spouse differently
• Building mutual understanding
• Applying Christian values to your marriage

Thursdays April 1st - May 6th
Time 7 – 8:30PM
To learn more contact Ken at kend70@gmail.com or call 719-694-2354
We are limiting this to 8 couples, reply by March 22th to reserve your spot!!!

07/26/2020

This jar represents something that I tell couples in counseling. I tell them, “the problem is the problem ~ not each other. “ I am helped by this quote frequently as well.

This morning I was looking for this jar. It’s a special jar that I Use for my green drinks which I make and take with me to work. I couldn’t find it; and my first thought was, “oh no, I wonder if my husband threw it in the recycle bin last night when he did the dishes?”

I thought that could be an honest mistake since I hadn’t told him that I use this jar and another like it regularly. He might’ve thought it was just an empty mayonnaise jar ready for the recycle bin.
But as I was digging through the recycle bin, I was feeling anger rising, because I have asked him to check with me before throwing jars into the recycle bin that have had the labels cleaned off of them. Then I realized that my anger was revealing that I was making him the problem. I was indeed starting to feel anger rising towards my husband.

So, I ask myself “how do I make the problem the problem and not my husband?”

I thought, “well...the problem could be that I haven’t clearly communicated with him that I’m using these old mayonnaise jars regularly for taking green drinks and smoothies with me in the car to work.” Then I thought, “the problem could also be that I haven’t looked through the kitchen well enough to find the jar.”

So, I prayed, “Dear Jesus, you know where this jar has ended up. I do not want this missing jar to cause me to be angry at my husband. Please help me discover what happened to this jar and to keep the problem the problem, not my husband.”

Then, I went back to looking through the kitchen a third time, after looking through the recycle bin the second time ... and I found the jar. It was in one of the cupboards I had already looked in.

I felt both humbled and grateful to God. Now this jar will always be a reminder to me to make the problem the problem and not another person, especially not my husband.

05/25/2020

Part 2 of helping children with their Emotions

Child psychology professor Joshua Straub and his wife, Christi, offer parents helpful insights from his book, Safe House: How Emotional Safety is the Key to Raising Kids Who Live, Love and Lead Well. (Part 2 of 2)

05/25/2020

Great Help for Children's emotions

Child psychology professor Joshua Straub and his wife, Christi, offer parents helpful insights from his book, Safe House: How Emotional Safety is the Key to Raising Kids Who Live, Love and Lead Well. (Part 1 of 2)

05/25/2020

Here is a link for help with parenting
https://biblicalparenting.org/thrive/

05/14/2020

Interesting Summit to consider watching. It is free for viewing all day on June 1.

“This was very new and interesting information. It brought a new component to understanding my healing progress. Thank you! - 2019 Survivor Empowerment Telesummit Listener  

04/14/2020

Another great podcast by one of my favorite couples: Dave and Ann Wilson

In a discussion based on their book, Vertical Marriage, Dave Wilson and his wife, Ann, encourage couples to look to God instead of to each other to find purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in their life and their relationship. (Part 1 of 2)

04/14/2020

Listening to Podcasts about marriage is a daily thing for me. I love hearing how people work through anger and conflict. Here are a couple podcasts you might enjoy.

Joel and Nina Schmidgall want couples to know that prayer is their ally when facing marital conflict. They encourage couples to prayerfully seek the Lord for the root of their conflict.

04/08/2020

Live Virtual Couples communication workshop April 10. Just another option to consider for Friday night:

Add my father's, Dr. Gary Smalley, best selling video series of all time Keys to Lasting Loving Relationships for only $25 more!

04/08/2020

If you are looking for marriage advice, this link takes you to the Marriage Today channel with the Hope for Homes webinar created for couples during the "shelter at home" time.

MarriageToday with Jimmy and Karen is co-hosted by best-selling author, Jimmy Evans and his wife Karen. Jimmy is author of the best selling book Marriage on ...