An Exchange of Gifts

Friends,

I have a gift for you. I’ve been working on it for the past few months and have finally finished it. Like any gift you make yourself, I’m eager to give it to you.

One of the most common questions I get is, “Do you have any books you’d recommend on ______?” Recommending resources is an important part of this ministry, whether assigning homework in counseling, helping a pastor as he counsels his people, or simply encouraging a friend.

With that in mind the gift I’ve put together for you is a page on our website called Recommended Resources. It has about 200 resources to read or listen to on about 20 topics of biblical counseling and practical theology. A number of the recommendations are articles. If there is an article you want to read, email me and I’ll be glad to send it to you, no questions asked. Like I said, this is part of our ministry. I’ll continue to add and edit the list as we come across helpful resources.

Now, I did entitle this post “An Exchange of Gifts.” Would you be willing to exchange gifts?

For one, as you read this, say a prayer for Shreveport Biblical Counseling. Pray that God would make us useful to his kingdom, keep our counselors rooted and grounded in the gospel, and work powerfully through us to help his people become more like Jesus. Charles Spurgeon once said of his prayer team, “This is the powerhouse of the church.” Likewise, our effectiveness depends on your prayers, which we consider a great gift.

Second, consider giving to Shreveport Biblical Counseling. Our ministry depends on donations for about 25% of its revenue. These donations allow us to give sliding-scale discounts for counseling, to underwrite the costs of hiring new counselors, and to spend time writing resources and giving them away as needed. This also allows our counselors to be relational, unhurried, and generous with our time - something our Lord modeled when he walked this earth. I’m grateful for your consideration.

In conclusion, to quote what my three year old has been shouting abruptly at unexpected moments, “Merry Christmas Everyone!”

David