Greetings to you and welcome to another great moment here as we examine a faith related issue in this WWCT.  Do you know that it could be depressing and traumatizing to WAIT UPON THE LORD for a long time with no clue as to what is yet to be done after praying,  fasting,  and several other godly endeavours as a child of God. 

On several occasions,  if I ask people to quote Romans 8:30, immediately they say "them he also called", they would say, "them he also glorified". It is an assumption that once we accept the call of salvation or call to ministry,  the next thing is to swim in glory.  Especially those who accept Christ as their problem solver,  not their personal Savior.  But what does the Bible actually say 

"them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

I had a revelation overnight that I was preaching in a radio station with this very Bible verse and i was correcting that mindset by asking people to see for themselves that JUSTIFICATION is important before being glorified by God.  There are many children of God going about with depression and even doubts about the existence or the saving power of God through Jesus Christ,  not knowing that they need to pray for JUSTIFICATION from the consequences of repented sins including parental and ancestral sins. 

Let's see what the bible says about JUSTIFICATION 

♡ SELF JUSTIFICATION MUST STOP : Job 9:20 : If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

♡ AS LONG AS WE ARE BORN OF A WOMAN,  WE NEED JUSTIFICATION  FROM GOD  : Job 25:4 : How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

♡ GOD IS OUR SOURCE  OF JUSTIFICATION AND GLORY  : Isaiah 45:25
In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

♡ THE ADVERSARY CONTENDS WITH US WITH ALLEGATIONS  : Isaiah 50:8 : He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

♡ WE HAVE NO SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE TO JUSTIFY OURSELVES  : Isaiah 53:11 : He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

♡ WHAT ABOUT OUR AREAS OF BACKSLIDING  : Jeremiah 3:11  : And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

♡ IF GOD SHOULD MARK INIQUITIES,  ARE THERE NOT AREAS WE HAVE DEFAULTED AND NEED JUSTIFICATION ? Acts 13:39 :  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

♡ ARE WE OBEDIENT TO ALL OF GOD'S COMMANDMENTS? Romans 2:13 : (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

♡ THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS OUR SPOKESPERSON: Romans 5:9 :  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

♡ JUSTIFICATION PRECEDES GLORIFICATION  : Romans 8:30 : Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

I believe that these scriptures has said enough about the topic.  Yes, the year is wounding up and the ember months starts in a week time.  Rather than blame yourself or anyone else or the devil or anything else or God for every delay so far, why not cry to God for mercy,  forgiveness and JUSTIFICATION from the accusations resisting the manifestation of God's glory. 

Your comments are appreciated.  You may choose to be anonymous.  Thanks and see you soon with another edition of WWCT.  Like I always say,  as a Christian Therapist,  my mission is to fulfill the whole of Isaiah 61:1..

I'm a Relationship,  Couples and Family Counselor specialized in Christian  Therapy which is professional pastoral counseling and care, especially in trauma and addiction recovery.  Online and onsite invitations are welcomed including trainings,  seminars and counseling sessions bookings. 

Momma. 

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of WWCT.  I would like to share something with us about any kind of ADDICTIONS.  I read a post where a medical personnel shared online about the death of the father of someone he knows.  The man was treating diabetes but was sneaking to drink soda drinks even while on medication.  When he died,  he was seen as someone who was deceiving himself all the while. 

This broke my heart,  honestly.  At least,  he deserves some respect after death.  His child who announced his death is in trauma already. That medical personnel would be arrested in advanced countries because his patients deserves CONFIDENTIALITY for his medical condition. 

They were treating diabetes, BUT DID THEY SEE A TRAUMA AND ADDICTION RECOVERY THERAPIST to first discover if the diabetes is caused by trauma and depression?
My broad training from overseas has really exposed me to see several ignorance in Africa and especiallyin the church in Nigeria. Check your Google, you will see that in overseas, hospitals usually have mental health personnels who do mental evaluation of chronic conditions like diabetes.
During my Brain Science training last year, I learnt that diabetes usually first start as a trauma response because the brain is under attack and the insulin too.

So, whether the person takes sugary things or not, DIABETES IS ACTIVATED! The bible is correct when it says God's people or anybody else, perishes because of lack of knowledge.If you read that Hosea 4:6 very well, you will discover that the knowledge was actually available but the people rejected it, so they lacked it.
I did a course on Nutrition and Weight Management too . I am a professionally trained DIABETES EDUCATOR, I got a certificate from Belgium and India, and currently connected with International Federation for Diabetes.
Sugar and soda addiction recovery therapies must be considered if diabetes treatment would be effective. To stigmatize any diabetic patient SECRETLY TAKING SUGARY FOOD AND SODA DRINKS, is a proof that you lack empathy and you are not trauma informed at all! What if it is a genetic and biological related diabetes? Have you studied at least a little about neurology and physiology?

I'm currently on a certificate course on Alcohol Use Disorders and Recovery from the faculty of medicine / department of nursing in University of British Columbia, Canada . You think it's for fun? 
What led to the taking of the substance, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, soda, or item? What efforts has been put to stop it through therapy? Is everything spiritual and in need of only prayers? 
For your information, mental health concerns causes of aggravates medical problems! And vice versa! Enough of public stigmatization of those who died of any addiction, especially if you did nothing about ensuring their mental wellness! 

I am a trauma and addiction recovery therapy to an Orphanage for STREET BOYS. They sent an invitation yesterday for their September anniversary.You know why?The first day I went there in February, I mentioned sicknesses connected with trauma especially diabetes and stomach issues. They were amazed. Maybe because I said I am a CHRISTIAN THERAPIST and they taught it would be another advising and sympathising or judgemental presentations.
Testimonies abound, including spiritual, mental, and medical conditions. We have received testimonies about PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS HEALING from there, because Neuropsychiatric Disorders analysis is part of my training..
The summer camp program we are going next week is the fourth invitation from that organisation this year. Results are everywhere as we combine Scriptures with detailed professional pastoral counseling and care! 

We can stop this stigmatization because in advanced countries, you will be arrested for doing so. We can do better by GETTING KNOWLEDGE to intercept John 10:10. Death is inevitable and nobody is perfect! Eternity in heaven should be number one goal for everyone. 

I believe that this message is enlightening enough.  You can please drop your comments. And you can share it if you don't mind.

Online and onsite invitations are welcomed including trainings and seminars and counselling / therapy sessions bookings. My books are still available in hardcopies and ebooks on selar apps.  Our Christian Therapy course is also open for enrollment till October. 

Momma, The Sought After Christian Therapist in her world and class with a difference 

May God continue to disconnect me/ us from wrong relationships . Please read read this message because you may need to pray that prayer intentionally today.
For some months, my deep freezer hasn't been freezing at all, it just chills and that's all. I think this started in January. So, once there is power outage, almost everything would be spoilt. 
I had to stress myself to the fridge in my prayer room and use the freezer which is not really too big . You can imagine the stress. I even planned to get another small one as soon as I'm rich enough so that I can stock up as I used to. 

Yesterday night, I discovered that the freezer was off but the stabilizer was on . I touched it and it was hot. I tried to push in the plug very well but it didn't enter well. Then I said "Could it be the stabilizer?"
It's the bigger one and I don't even have the funds to repair it right now, and it's my retreat time when I'm usually completely indoors. Then I remembered a stabilizer which is half of the one I suspected has spoilt. I bought it in 2021 but couldn't use it for what I bought it for. I tried it and IT WORKED WITH THE FREEZER.

I woke up this morning and saw that the things in it are already freezing. Those who know my deep freezer will testify that if there is power outage for 24hrs , it won't show. And everything in it gets defrosted after five whole days. 
As a relationship, couples and family therapist, I can relate with this. For eight months, my freezer malfunctioned because it was connected to a malfunctioning stabilizer which is connected to the power source.

✓ This shows the risk of having dysfunctional parents or leaders or anyone people depend upon!

✓ This shows that when all eyes are on us as the bad one, the people around us must be checked 

✓ This shows why God had to tell Abraham to leave his family and nation before anything good can happen in their relationship, in Genesis 12. We remember that Isaac wasn't born until Lot left!

✓ This shows why Achan had to be dealt with before the team under Joshua could win .

✓ This shows why God had to sift the army of Gideon and removed 300 from 32000 he gathered!

One of my best bible verse in Isaiah says "Come out from among them, ye that bear the holy vessels of God" 
A functional stabilizer had been waiting since four years. It was considered too small for the freezer without trial. Yet, the bigger one had been dysfunctional thereby rendering the freezer dysfunctional. Until it is repaired, it would remain abandoned! 
May God open our eyes to see our dysfunctionalities, may we take steps to be repaired and restored, may God open our eyes to see dysfunctional relationships in our lives, and may we be rational enough to separate from them.

For me OLUWAFUNMIKE, I am saying in the name of Jesus that MAY I MISS THOSE WHO I MUST MISS SO THAT I CAN MEET THOSE I MUST MEET 🙏. MAY THERE BE A DISCONNECTION BETWEEN ME AND WHOEVER OR WHATEVER IS CAUSING DYSFUNCTIONALITIES IN MY LIFE .

Momma, The Sought After Christian Therapist in her world and class with a difference 

Online and onsite invitations are welcomed including Christian Therapy sessions.  Please remember to drop your comments.  See you next week. 

Greetings everyone.  Welcome to another edition of WWCT  and i pray that the Lord would use it to bless us all in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

A lot of emphases are made on BIPOLAR  and rarely do people talk about UNIPOLAR.  Hence,  the possibility of misdiagnosis is high because of the generalization involved.  As a trained Christian Therapist,  i don't do diagnoses or prescriptions,  but i have an obligation to know them.  We'll be looking at the two this week,  then we'll be back next week to do a detailed analysis with the case study of King Saul. 

🍀 UNIPOLAR DISORDERS 

* They are also considered as a Major Depressive Disorder. The sufferers usually perceive distortions which causes negative misconceptions of the world and this generates negative thoughts / emotions. There are unnecessary conflicts everywhere because we're not considering the possibility of one or two persons having UNIPOLAR DISORDER. Knowledge about mental health issues is important to everybody. 

* There may  be persistent and regular depressive episodes. The major difference is that it does not include manic episodes like Bipolar  disorder which is usually characterized by alternating feelings of highs and lows in mood.
* Some signs  are sadness, anger or irritability, which can last throughout the day. We can also notice loss of interest in several activities that were enjoyable before, change in appetite, sudden weight loss/gain, difficulty falling asleep, or wanting to sleep more than before, feelings of restlessness.

As long as there is no maniac display (like when king Saul threw his javelin at David), it would be better to consider it as a UNIPOLAR DISORDER.

🍀 BIPOLAR DISORDER 
* This very disorder is associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from DEPRESSIVE LOWS to MANIAC HIGHS. The maniac attributes differentiates it from unipolar Disorders. The exact or major cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but a combination of genetics, environment and altered brain structure and chemistry may be analysed. So, a balanced mental Health must interest us because of the next generations. 

* During Bipolar Manic episodes, there may be sudden high energy, reduced need for sleep and loss of touch with reality (checkthe person'swords). Let's not take it lightly when people take medication or tea not to sleep or to sleep.  Or terrible display of verbal and physical anger. 

* Bipolar Depressive Episodes can be low energy, low motivation and loss of interest in daily activities (like unipolar). That's why I am so interested in Depression Therapy. 

* Bipolar Mood Episodes can last longer from days to months at a time and may also be associated with suicidal thoughts and ideations. Im sure that we remember that king Saul eventually killed himself by falling on his sword. 

* Bipolar is more than what we would sit down and be advising or judging the person involved. Treatment is usually lifelong and usually a combination of medications (medical health) and psychotherapy (mental health). A proper psychiatric evaluation must be done and the situation must be well explained.  

* Signs and symptoms: Suddennly being more active, energetic or agitated than usual, distorted sense of well-being or too self-confident (words andact of pride), sudden sleeplessness, unusually talkative and talking fast than expected, racing thoughts, jumping quickly from one topic to another, easily distracted, poor decisions and wrong advices like wasteful shopping or buying, taking sexual risks like sleeping around or even make foolish investments. We can even see  Anxious distress like feeling anxious and fearful or that the person  is losing control, melancholic by feeling very sad and a deep loss of pleasure, psychotic when the person's thoughts or emotions is disconnected from reality.

* The most noticeable signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers may be severe sudden swings. When I return next week to focus on king Saul,  I'll dig out his  CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND DEPRESSION that journeyed with him till his last minute when he committed suicide. Bipolar disorder can start at any age, but usually diagnosed even in the teenage years or early 20s.

* Risk factors : it's important to know what can create the tendency of it, which should be watched out for if nobody has it around us already: Having a first-degree relative (genetics), such as a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder, periods of high stress or traumatic event, drug or alcohol misuse. So,  Christians who advocate for the use of alcohol may possibility know nothing about this.  And if anyone has bipolar around us, let's ask if they take alcohol or has taken it before or maybe their parents were taking it or had taken it before they were conceived. 

* What can be done? . The first thing is to see your therapist,  especially a trauma and addiction recovery therapist.  If it's detected that it's not a UNIPOLAR,  referral for psychiatric diagnosis should be done immediately.

Then, we can consider things like going to bed on time and naturally without medication, relax regularly even if you don't feel tired, cut off alcohol and caffeine, eat well regularly, avoid stimulating activities like  games,  mental mathematics calculations, clubbing etc, avoid noisy, too bright or busy environments and go somewhere quiet and calm, do more of activities that calms or sooths

🍀 CASE STUDY OF KING SAUL  : He may have been afflicted with either manic episode or mixed or major depressive disorder with psychotic. Thus, it is likely that he suffered from the category described as bipolar I disorder.

* Do you know that  : Bipolar disorders are described by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a group of brain disorders that cause extreme fluctuation in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function.

To be continued next week..

I believe that we have picked one or two things to evaluate our words and thoughts and even behaviors as God's people and children.  Knowledge is powerful because it exposes what would take lots of spiritual strength, especially as parents or ministers of God.  My Christian Therapy goal is to ensure that Everyone enjoys the eightfold dimensions of wellnes,  that's why I don't just preach or intercede,  but I am also anointed to heal the brokenhearted  (Isaiah 61:1) . 

My passion for knowledge and training on Neuropsychiatric Disorders increased during my M.A in Christian Therapy last year when i discovered that I had lived with undiagnosed depression for years.  King Saul was anointed,  yet he displayed signs and symptoms of trauma,  depression and bipolar.  We'll dissect his story next week.  Remember to share the link with your family and friends,  your comments are appreciated and you can check my profile on this website from time to time because I'm still training more on Trauma and Addictions Recovery. 

Momma.  Online and onsite invitations are welcomed including therapy sessions bookings 

PARENTING BOUNDARIES 

Last week was really engaging in our WWCT topic, and today's edition would be like its concluding part. I would go through some key points made by the contributors but let me emphasis on what parental boundaries are.

* They are clear, consistent expectations communicated effectively to children. So as to define acceptable behavior, respect personal space, and promote self-control. 

* They help children understand limits and consequences of going beyond such limits, thereby fostering a sense of security and responsibility for them. 

* They are not about punishment, but about guiding children towards making healthy choices. So, inform them about it before giving out punishment. Back to our last week post, 

🍀 SOMEBODY SAID : Children don't forget easily. We have to go back to the days of our parents. A child can't sit and talk whenever the parents had visitors. I remember this very well and we grew up in this style. It's important to know that if you haven't been raising your child or children in this way before, you would need to first tell them to always excuse you when visitors come. 

If they are not used to it, give them eye signals or body languages. As a Christian Therapist, I understand that a child can react to anything looking like shame from age five. They are your children and you should let them know why they are not allowed to be with you when you have guests. You can ask them to read their story books or do something else.

What if you limit the number of times you are available for your guests? You can tell them when you would be free and tell them to remind you when they are coming. Your home first?

🍀 SOMEBODY SAID : Not just about discussions that are sex-related or adult -themed that our children hear but discussions on so many things that need not be in the presence of children. Talking about work, colleagues, in-laws, spouses, parents, banking/financial transactions even spiritual. Most adults talk on phone in the presence of children or to their hearing.

This is a very good point because children have their own way of processing information. It's going to require some emotional balance to do this anyways. 

🍀 SOMEBODY SAID : Be mindful of the kind of early signals you indirectly, unconsciously give to young kids as it will form their thoughts, thinking and reasoning in future on a lot of things. Before shouting to them that "where did you learn that from?", kindly be sensitive as Parents now.

Our children are our imitators, that's why we must model the right words and behaviours before them. 

🍀 SOMEBODY SAID : Early exposure is damaging but early detection of it through their behaviours, actions or inactions, and prayerfully addressing can mitigate the consequences.

When the parents of Jesus found Him in the temple, the bible in Luke 2:51 that 

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Mary was an observant mother. Reuben may have been saying or doing some things reflecting his sexual consciousness even before bringing the mandrakes to his mum. What are the red flags they are likely showing? Any signals?

🍀. SOMEBODY SAID : . I never knew what mandrakes were until now. What we discuss and do around children is very important.

I already mentioned what mandrakes are in the previous post. Yes, not just what we say, BUT WHAT WE DO! 

* That is why we need PARENTING BOUNDARIES for ourselves and for our children. There are limits and guidelines parents should set for their children, aiming to create a safe, predictable, and supportive environment for their development. 

* These boundaries are not about authoritarian control, but rather about fostering emotional safety, teaching self-regulation, and promoting healthy relationships. Boundaries in parenting should be healthy without being perceived as a harsh parent.

 If Leah had not been discussing fertility issues with her son Reuben, he wouldn't have identified or brought it home. SET THOSE BOUNDARIES TODAY.

I am a Relationship, Couples and Family Counselor specialized in Christian Therapy which is professional pastoral counseling and care. Online and onsite invitations are welcomed including trainings and seminars and counselling / therapy sessions bookings.

Momma 👑 🍀 The Sought After Christian Therapist in her world and class with a difference 

Remember to drop your comments.  😊

PREMATURE SEXUALISATION OF CHILDREN: Case study of Reuben and his mum in Genesis chapter 30.

Hello everyone.  Welcome to my new website and the first edition of my Weekly Website Christian Therapy here. 

🍀  While compiling a chapter in my ongoing Christian Therapy book project for TTC couples, I reflected over the story of Reuben and his stepmum, Bilhah. We all know that Jacob laid a curse on Reuben for having sex with Bilhah, but I've always been curious about this story for several years . When I came across this bible verse, I paused.

Genesis 30:14 ... And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

🍀  Mandrakes were used to aid fertility, so, how come a boy who should be age 12-16 at that time KNOW ABOUT MANDRAKES? Definitely, he had been listening to conversations about FERTILITY if not directly about sex. His mother's desperacy to have more children for his father so that she would be the LOVED WIFE, must have pushed her to speak carelessly with her maid in the presence of her children!

🍀  Definitely, she had been taking it to get pregnant again or even gave some to her maid. For Reuben to IDENTIFY MANDRAKES and bring them to his mum, also confirmed that he was already trained to see Rachel as a rival who must not have a child so that Reuben and his brothers would be the only ones to inherit the properties. So we can see a TERTIARY EMOTIONAL CONCERN why Reuben and his brothers hated Joseph! As a trauma therapist, I dig deep into several factors behind a case brought to me.

🍀  PREMATURE SEXUALISATION of children through early exposure to anything connected with SEXUAL INTIMACY, will incite them to experiment it with sexually explicit behaviours just to make sense of it. They can normalize it and become DESENSITIZED to high-risk behaviour like rape, immoral words, seductive dressings, and love for blue films and errotic music. It will / can even shape a child's expectations in marital relationships as adults.

🍀 For girls and young women, a negative impact on their self-image and healthy development is created. Social media has now been associated with an increase in child sexual exploitation and abuse, especially girls, ladies and women.

🍀  As parents and adults, are we mindful of the fact that certain sorts of images and messages are harmful to children in the long term, especially emoticons?. In terms of an 'average' age for this SEXUALISATION to start majorly, it seems to be 11 for girls and 12 for boys or even less. But if their physical body says they are ready, they are intellectually not be on the same wavelength with what SEXUAL INTIMACY is just yet. 

🍀  Jacob worsened the situation by growing old with the trauma. Forgetting that Reuben had been sexually exposed even before Joseph was born. The curse is a reflection of what UNHEALED TRAUMA can do when it comes to human thoughts, words and behaviours. 

Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

 🍀  I'm not justifying Reuben for having sexual intimacy with his father's concubine right on his father's bed, that was horrible! I am only saying that the beginning of the issue should be considered. I visited my daughter in the girls boarding school she attended when she was age 7 because I was a missionary pastor in RCCG and the mission field had no school. It was a boarding secondary school for only girls and they also have a nursery and primary school.

 🍀  I visited her EVERY WEEK since it wasn't too far from the provincial HQ and I reported there every week. I got there one day and I saw one of the teachers changing her pad in front of some of the students and the other staff. She was talking to the other staff about her boyfriend and the other staff started talking about her relationship heartbreaks . I kept quiet since it was few weeks to the holidays. She didn't resume back there again. 

 🍀  What are we discussing before young children as parents, teachers, neighbours and guardians? What are we asking them to go and buy for us? Because a lot of children and teenagers got into alcohol, drugs and substances uses and disorders through early exposure!

 🍀  I'll be back next week again for another edition on Weekly Website Christian Therapy. Please put your comments so that we can learn from each other. My contact information is in the website incase you want to check my social media platforms or invite me for online and onsite programs or book your Christian Therapy sessions. Thanks for engaging.

You can just write anonymous as your name in the comment section if you like. 

Momma 👑 💕 The Sought After Christian Therapist in her world and class with a difference ❤️ 

Get a copy of this book and you will be glad you did so. 

Christian Therapist Olufunke Lawrence