Where is our hope found?
The first six months of 2020 have been full of unrest. In the US, COVID-19 is still not under control, racial tension tears at the fabric of our society, forces are attempting to rewrite or erase our history, and some voices are crying out to abolish the police. As we navigate this confusing season, we need to remember Who is really in charge. We must remember who we are and Whose we are.
Psalm 33:20–22 reminds us that our hope is in the Lord, who is our help and our shield. No matter what else is going on around us, our hearts can rejoice in Him because we trust in His holy name. Remember to include verse 22 in your prayers: “Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord for our hope is in you alone.”
We need to stand up for KINGDOM values and pray that the One who holds all the world together has not left the house. He is still on the throne and He is the answer to our problems. We are to be His spokespeople and ambassadors. And we will be if we will let Him speak through us. And we need to P R A Y.
When people are desperate, God suddenly becomes relevant. May we, His people, focus on Him, remembering Colossians 1:15–17:
He is the image of the invisible God, / the firstborn of all creation.
16 For in Him were created all things in heaven and on earth, / the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, / and in Him all things hold together.
*NEW* COMING SOON TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU!
Watch our introduction video for free by pushing the “play” arrow above.
Our Communication Connections Workshop videos (teaching and modeling effective ways of talking and listening) will be available online by the end of July. These valuable skills will be as accessible to you as your own computer. Watch your intimacy grow as you try out the skills yourself or with an interactive group via a videoconference such as Zoom.
I am also available for one-on-one coaching to walk you through your use of the skills. This workshop will help you connect like never before. Go to walkandtalk.org for details on how to purchase it for yourself. During August, we will give you 30% off to be one of the first to go through the workshop!
A WORD OF THANKS
Walk & Talk has been in existence for almost 30 years. We have seen thousands of marriages healed and many have gone through our seminars and read our books on marriage and trust. Pauly and I thank all of you who have supported us with your gifts and prayers from the beginning. You make it possible for me to counsel and minister in the unique way I do. Pauly and I are grateful for your prayers and gifts and wish we could give you a big hug in person. May the Lord bless you as you have blessed us and those we minister to. Below are a few stories of life change and HOPE.
Wife of 30 years
“Alan helped keep us centered on God and to focus on the root of the issues and not the symptoms by giving us good counsel and resources. He gave us the tools to be able to communicate with each other effectively. These skills have strengthened our marriage and taught us to have total honesty and transparency with each other. Our marriage of 30 years is stronger than it has ever been & our love for each other is deeper than ever before.”
Married couple
“Alan has much wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of relationships and counseled us with these God-given gifts.”
Wife
“I didn’t think my marriage was savable, but I figured [Alan] could help me personally move on. He did help me! To be able to forgive my husband, not what I expected. He gave me scriptures on forgiveness and all [his] advice was backed up by scripture. My husband and I are back together thanks to Alan’s counseling.”
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Because the Phoenix heat adversely affects Pauly’s MS, we are in Flagstaff for the summer. We are making connections with several churches here: Christ’s Church of Flagstaff (CCoF), Redemption, and FlagNaz. We joined a small group through a “Rooted” Bible study that meets on a Zoom call every Monday night. I participated with them in a service project that packed 300 boxes of necessities to be given to marginalized people on the nearby Navajo reservation.
I continue to counsel in person by appointment at the CCoF office in Flagstaff or by phone, FaceTime or Zoom.
Packing food boxes for the Navajo reservation in Flagstaff.
IN THE PRESS
We are dedicated to providing input and resources to people who need help processing the impact of this pandemic on their lives. We wrote an article called, “How to Reduce Stress and Increases Connection in a Covid-19 World,” which was linked in the May 27 online issue of Forbes magazine: