The Dwelling Co

09/04/2026

Conversations regarding body safety can be challenging for a myriad of reasons, but our kiddos need us to manage our discomfort, keep learning how to have these conversations, and create a safe space for ongoing dialogue.

08/28/2026

Pimps, traffickers, and coercive controllers share a similar aspiration: control over another person.

Pimps and coercive controllers often have a laundry list of justifications for the ways they control, intimidate, and/or dominate their partners. Near the top of that list is often placing the blame at the feet of their partners.

When someone lives for the kingdom of self, other people can become accessories—valued primarily for what they can provide, how they can serve, or how they can further the person’s intended purposes.

08/20/2026

If you are a counselor reading this and trying to determine whether you should charge—and how much you should charge—I would encourage you to consider the following:
🪴Pray - God may lead you to a different number than you initially anticipated.
🪴Consider your business expenses - What will it cost to operate your practice effectively, efficiently, and with longevity?
🪴Consider your education and training - What have you already invested in your preparation, and what continuing education and training do you want to maintain?
🪴Consider your short- and long-term goals - What do you hope this ministry will look like over time?
🪴Consider your family - If this ministry takes time away from your family, ask yourself: What would make this sacrifice worthwhile—not only for me, but for my family as well?

Charging for biblical counseling does not mean that the ministry is less ministry.

Sometimes, sustainability is what allows us to keep showing up—with excellence, consistency, humility, and care—for the people God has entrusted to us.

08/14/2026

Have you found yourself feeling the weight of life’s storms and questioning who in this world is truly safe? As you survey the ruins of your current circumstances, may your eyes catch a glimpse of the One who truly is safe—the One who will never fail, mistreat, or devour you. When life is shaken by depravity, may you continue to place your faith in our only reliable foundation, in complete defiance of the one who sought to break you.

08/05/2026

Somewhere along the way, many counselors and people helpers begin to believe that because we help others, we should somehow need less help ourselves. But the gospel tells a different story. We never graduate from our need for Christ, His Word, and His people.

If you’ve been feeling disqualified because you’re struggling, I hope these reminders encourage you today.

One important caveat: this encouragement is NOT meant to excuse those who abuse their position or prey upon the vulnerable. Those who exploit the trust and authority entrusted to them have disqualified themselves from that role and should step down or be removed. Sin must never be minimized in the name of grace.

Rather, this is for the counselor who is faithfully pursuing Christ while also walking through the ordinary realities of living in a fallen world—the one who still battles sin, experiences suffering, and is daily reminded of their need for God’s mercy. The good news of the gospel is that our qualification has never rested on our own perfection, but on Christ, who was and is perfect in our place and who faithfully equips those He calls.

07/31/2026

In this world, there is no shortage of devastation. Our bodies and souls are routinely reminded of the horrific impact of sin. Even deeper is the pain that comes when that havoc hits close to home, and the places we once believed were untouchable prove to bear the marks of this broken world as well.

Yet even on the receiving end of our most gutsy and darkest laments, we find our God—a Friend like no other. He always makes time for us. He does not rush us but holds us in our pain. He never grows weary of our recurring struggles or dismisses our cries as too much. Instead, with patience and tenderness, He gently lifts our gaze back to Himself.

In this honest exchange, our hearts are invited to take root in Him—our shelter in the storm, our firm foundation, our Rock, and our Redeemer.

If you picked up the phone today and called your ever-present Friend, Jesus, what burdens and heartaches would you unload before Him?

07/31/2026

07/26/2026

Dan Allender, in his book The Wounded Heart, goes on to say:

“Any personal change that can be achieved solely through human (in contrast to supernatural) intervention will neither satisfy nor change our heart. A proper focus on the deep wound is therefore neither negative nor does it promote despair. Rather, it sets the stage for the dramatic work of God.”

07/17/2026

If our definition of strength encourages us to cultivate an image that looks different from our strong Savior, perhaps it’s time to reconsider our definition of strength.

07/10/2026

Your response to a survivor's disclosure of sexual abuse can either add to the burden they already carry or become a shield beneath the weight of what has been hurled upon them. May we respond with wisdom, compassion, and care.