From Religion to Relationship
I, Lisa, accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 25 years old. I thought that was the only thing I needed to do to get to heaven, and I was good with that. The years that followed were difficult, and I had no idea what a personal relationship with God was. In those early years of being a Christian, I went to church, attended a few Bible studies, but nothing was compelling enough to capture my heart and my mind. Still looking for something more, I turned to the world and all it had to offer.
Years would pass, and I found myself disheartened with empty relationships and deep struggles with depression. I decided to enroll in college and take psychology classes — maybe that would help me to understand human behavior and to identify what was going on in my life. While the psychology classes had been helpful in helping me to understand more about human behavior, I still struggled with depression and had not yet discovered what a real relationship with God was.
In 2006, I had a spiritual encounter that would forever change me.
Healing Trauma and Strengthening Attachment: What We Learned from Our Pilot Study
We’re at the United World Conference for the American Association of Christian Counselors this week, sharing the results of our pilot study!
When we first dreamed of offering a trauma-focused group therapy experience that combined both evidence-based clinical treatment and spiritual direction, we weren’t sure what the outcome would be.
Could Christian college students really find healing in a group that honored both their mental health needs and their faith, in light of carrying trauma and relational wounds?
In January 2024, with the approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Fuller Theological Seminary and Vanguard University, and with participant compensation support funded by Travis Research Institute, we launched a 13-week pilot study. And, what unfolded was both deeply personal and statistically significant.
The Race of Faith: Resiliently Running with Perseverance for Hope and Healing in a Hurting World
What 13.1 miles taught me about running the race of faith and why we keep showing up for healing!
I, Emma Rose, have been training for a half-marathon for the last 8 months. On September 7th, I finally ran the race. Several of you generously gave towards the causes I ran for (THANK YOU!).
As my body slowed down last week, recovering from the race while processing dark headlines in the world, the Lord reminded me of 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV): “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Paul wasn’t just talking about a footrace. He was talking about a life’s journey marked by endurance, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to the light and love of God. As I trained while also preparing to do trauma story-work with Integrate You, I kept seeing the parallels between running a marathon and cultivating a resilient life in Christ. Read more to see the 10 PR Lessons on Resilient Rhythms to Run with Christ He taught me!
What Is Inner Healing Prayer and Why Do We Need It?
Hi there, Pastor Lisa here — When I sat down to write this blog, I felt torn. Part of me wanted to avoid anything too heavy — after all, who wants to read about hard things?
But, another part of me knew I couldn’t write about inner healing prayer without first being honest about the pain so many are experiencing. Here’s the truth: as a nation, we’re struggling. Spiritually. Emotionally. Relationally.
Even if you’re doing okay right now, I bet you know someone who isn’t. Someone walking through a dark season. Someone hurting. If you’re unsure, just glance at the headlines; our world is filled with stories of trauma and pain.
I believe God’s heart is to meet us right in the middle of that reality. And that’s why I’m passionate about inner healing prayer.
Integrating Physical Well-being for Growth and Healing
To the person who feels fragmented, like your body, mind, soul, and spirit are running different races, this is for you.
My journey with my marathon training has been a powerful, physical reminder of all the commitments I've made on a deeper level. The last eight months have been a testament to both the beauty and the struggle of pressing forward, even when everything feels like it’s going wrong.
I recently hit my peak run: 12 miles, followed by a 1.45-mile walk, leaving me with just two weeks to taper and rest before my first half marathon race this upcoming Sunday. That peak run was a beautiful mess.