You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3
I said in a sermon a couple of weeks ago that I would post some recommended books on mental health in our weekly email. Here are some of those in no particular order. This is a broad net and wide variety as well. I have posted the link to Amazon, so you can quickly read about it and the reviews to see if it might be a good fit for you. As any resource, ‘eat the meat and leave the bones’. Each one is a tool for your toolbox.
I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression by Sarah Robinson
Anxious For Nothing by Max Lucado
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen
Running Scared by Edward T Welch
The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope by Curt Thompson
Depression: Looking up from the Stubborn Darkness by Edwards T Welch
Spurgeon’s Sorrows: Realistic Hope for those who Suffer from Depression by Zack Eswine
Mastering Our Emotions: Biblical Principles for Emotional Health by Kevin Chapman
Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness by Matthew Stanford
Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church's Mission by Amy Simpson
The Wounded Warrior by Dr. Steve Stephens
The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson
Also, I have a friend who is a Part-Time Youth Pastor who owns a clinic in Lock Haven. He has given me permission to let our church know as he is accepting new patients. The place is called 'Overcomer Medical Clinic' in Lock Haven. They also do Telehealth for all of PA if you choose not to drive. They treat mental health, addiction & a broad spectrum of counseling for individuals and families. Their entire team loves Jesus & understands that's part of the journey. The owner’s name is Adam LaMey. His number is 272-202-8111. The office number is 570-585-5720. When you call, please mention to them that I am your pastor from Liberty Church. Here's the website
Please let me know if you read any of these books because I would love to hear your thoughts.
Also, please let me know if you schedule counseling with Overcomer Medical too. It’s confidential and just between us.
WINS
It was a powerful Sunday in our ‘Saved But Struggling’ series as many received help & healing with their personal mental health and believing for someone they care about. Some of our Williamsport core champions were able to pray over a man after the celebration as he took his next step toward healing.
Thank you, Wheeland’s Lumber, for the mulch to help refresh Liberty Location. And several Champions like Mckenzie Morean, Jeniece Patterson, Rebekah VanDergrift & others have been investing time into some landscaping/ weeding/ cleanup at both locations. Thank you for quietly taking ownership behind the scenes.
We are grateful to pray over & celebrate 13 Graduates from our church, and encourage them in their next chapter.
We celebrate new people walking through our doors every week. A personal invite, driving by one of our locations, a google search, etc. In fact, last Sunday, somebody came for the first time because of a simple Google Search. So, would you do us a favor & give us a great review on Google to help encourage more people searching for hope? This helps immensely when people are searching the word church, we want to be at the top of the page. Thank you. Most people look us up online before ever walking through our doors. You just never know the impact of your genuine words of encouragement could do for someone else searching for hope.
A Fingerprint of God from this week: On May 7, my father was involved in a devastating accident in Florida that left him with first, second, and third-degree burns on approximately 80% of his body. Emergency responders arrived quickly, and he was taken to one of the best burn units in Florida. Doctors warned us that because of the severity of his burns, he faced a high risk of infection and would likely need skin grafting and surgeries.What began as a tragedy became a testimony of faith, sacrifice, healing, and God's grace. Through every step of this journey, God reminded us that even in our darkest moments, we are never walking alone. Before his surgery, we asked family, friends, and prayer warriors to pray. Countless people lifted my father up in prayer, and we trusted God to carry him through. My father underwent surgery, followed his doctors' instructions, and never developed an infection. Even more remarkable, his healing exceeded everyone's expectations. At a follow-up appointment, his surgeon was amazed. Not only had he avoided infection, but he also did not require the skin grafting that had been anticipated. The surgeon said his burns appeared to be healing as though they were four months old, even though less than a month had passed. When I look back, I see God's fingerprints everywhere: in my father's courage, the pool that saved his life, the wisdom and training that protected his lungs, the glasses that protected his eyesight, the quick medical response, the excellent burn team, the prayers of so many people, the absence of infection, and the incredible healing that followed. What began as a tragedy became a testimony of faith, sacrifice, healing, and God's grace. Through every step of this journey, God reminded us that even in our darkest moments, we are never walking alone. Thank you, Prayer Team, for offering your faith to believe for these miracles. There is power in a church family.
We have some Brand New Instapots to bless you with. We have given away several, and we still have several more. If you would like one, please email office@mylibertychurch.com We will put your name on it, and you can pick it up at church on Sunday.
NEEDS
If you can help provide some food/snacks/ drinks for SQUAD Youth on 6.19 please email office@mylibertychurch.com for more information. Thanks!
We desperately need to get both parking lots filled, sealed & painted. This needed to be done last year but we could not afford it. This summer we have no choice. It must get done or we will lose the parking lots & cause much more expense to fix them up. It’s expensive. But we have the money in this church family. Please pray about giving above & beyond to help us get this done. You can write ‘Parking Lot’ in the memo of your giving. Liberty is $10,975 & Williamsport is $1,825.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
6.14 Week 5 of ‘Saved But Struggling’ & P.Lon will helping us with the areas in our lives that need healing, but we’ve now just accepted as normal and have stopped seeking healing. Bring a friend. This is really gonna be a blessing.
6.14 KidLand begins a new series ‘Be Like Jesus’. We plan, prepare, & pray for your kids each week! Paul writes about the qualities, or spiritual fruit, that develop in us as we follow Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit. As the fruit of the Spirit grows in us, we become more like Jesus!
6.16 Make a Difference Day Liberty Location 10am-Noon
6.16 KidLand Creative Prep Night in Liberty 6-8pm
6.17 KidLand Creative Prep Night in Williamsport 6-8pm
6.18 Make a Difference Day Williamsport Location 10am-Noon
6.19 SQUAD Youth 6:30-8pm. Yes, we have had to take a break from Squad the last few months, but we are excited to have this Friday night scheduled at our Williamsport Location. This is for those completing Grades 6-12.
6.21 Father’s Day - We’re honoring the incredible dads, grandfathers, and father figures who make a difference in our lives every day! We’re creating a special Father’s Day video to go along with a special song and would love for you to be part of it. Send us a couple of your favorite photos of your dad, your kids with their dad, or a father figure who has impacted your life. 📸 📧 Email your photos to office@mylibertychurch.com by June 17th. Whether it’s a recent picture or a treasured memory, help us celebrate the men who lead, love, encourage, and inspire. 💚 Let’s make this Father’s Day one to remember!
7.5 Celebrating the 250th Birthday of America. We have some powerful & personal things planned. Invite your Patriotic friends.
8.2 Guest Speaker Pastor Anthony Milas from Massachusetts
8.3 Champion’s Night 6:30-8:30 - Liberty Location - includes dinner
8.18 Little League World Series Parade
8.23 Guest Speaker Pastor Jason Brown from San Antonio, Texas
9.6 Champion’s Night Mini Golf Lil Half Pint in Mansfield, Pa.
11.10 Night of Worship - 7-8:30 - Williamsport Location
12.3 Champions Gala - 6:30-8:30 - Liberty Location
