Extending Grace Counseling Services

The deplorable behaviors revealed daily in the Epstein files are unfortunately in your homes, schools, and churches. I witnessed it as a former school counselor and was retaliated against and harassed for reporting. The predators were protected and often are.

Let's not accept this as the norm. Teach your children how to protect themselves as much as possible. Talk with them often and believe what they tell you. Don't hide the information. Share it with everyone as much as possible.

A child's language of violation may be their "unacceptable" behaviors like anger, withdrawing, not wanting to be around certain people, or stomach aches from anxiety. Another unexpected behavior is the child desiring the attention from the adult because the adult is grooming the child.

Don't confuse the title, the nice outfit, and the slogans of "we protect children" or "we do what's best for children" as evidence of real care and protection. People who care do what is right and not what is best for profits and wicked pleasures.

Those adults who battle with a fear of reporting do the right thing. I understand the fear. God will take care of you. I am living in His promises that He will never leave or forsake us.

#epsteinfiles #childsafety

1 day ago | [YT] | 0

Extending Grace Counseling Services

The problem with analyzing other people’s lives is that it makes us comfortable doing nothing with our own.

How can we be productive when we’re so focused on what and how others are doing things incorrectly? I saw a post from a church member that stated, “Satan doesn’t even want you to suffer. In suffering, we find Christ. He wants you comfortable.”

It is comfortable to analyze and criticize others. It is comfortable to sit back and observe. It is comfortable to say what could’ve or should’ve been done. All the while, producing nothing.

Practicing your gifts and talents helps us live fully and increase our life fulfillment. It gives the mind challenges and goals to look forward to. It creates a sense of purpose and builds self-esteem. Using our gifts and talents occupies our spiritual mind and improves our relationship with Christ.


The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:13-30 shows that God expects us to be faithful with the things entrusted to us. He did not accept the servant's excuse for giving one talent. Jesus called this servant wicked and lazy. The servant knew Jesus’ character. He analyzed it, but did nothing about his own life.

“Good and faithful servant” comes with a responsibility. It is Christ's expectation that we do our best to develop our gifts and talents and be productive, with a return.


When you find yourself focused on another person, ask what am I leaving unopened? What am I doing for the Kingdom of God that will allow Christ to call me “good and faithful servant”?

5 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

Extending Grace Counseling Services

Emotions are like waves—both come in many forms with unique behaviors. Just as waves transport energy, emotions carry energy that influences others’ emotions and environments.

Waves are a powerful force of nature that shapes and influences the Earth’s landscapes and ecosystems. In parallel, emotions shape our perspectives and environments.


Unlike waves, emotions can be managed. The overwhelming intensity creates a desire to act. However, intense emotions can lead to poor behaviors and negative consequences.

Allow intense emotions to rise and fall like a wave. Take slow breaths or listen to calming music. Surf the emotion, letting its energy release so you can focus on what matters most.

#mentalhealth #emotions

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Extending Grace Counseling Services

Faith in the workplace is challenging. Your decisions are influenced by the Biblical perspective. Often, this will not be popular and certainly not accepted. Faith that can be seen isn’t faith.

Faith is trusting in the One who is the Provider. Faith is an action that represents Christ and His Kingdom Agena. Faith submits to God, not the workplace environment, when injustices become evident.

How does one walk with God in a secular environment? One step at a time, conquering fears through tears and obedience. Trust in God requires faith.

This memoir shares shares the struggle between the soul and spirit of a school counselor from Garland, Texas. With only her faith, she walked the path of learning to trust God.

#faith #BlackHistoryMonth #memoirs

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 5

Extending Grace Counseling Services

Frustration, disappointment, or embarrassment from a relationship conflict can result from broken boundaries. Before lashing out, consider what you could have done to protect your emotions and choices. Each person is responsible for their choices and feelings. Manage your boundaries and you will be able to manage your emotions.

https://youtu.be/cUa3h7Yafqw?si=80H1I...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Extending Grace Counseling Services

Faith is the fundamental fact of existence. This trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd (Message Bible; Hebrews 11:1-2).

Faith is not our ability, but rather trust in God’s power to work through us. Faith is movement. We practice what is righteous, regardless of the outcomes. We believe that God will take care of what we cannot see.

Faith is not mystical. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. God gives the direction. We seek to find the path of obedience through blood, sweat, and sometimes tears. Faith rests on the Word of God that His will is our ultimate goal.


In my memoir, I Ate the Cake: A Journey for Justice, I learned how to move by faith and in faith. I didn’t know the outcome for maintaining my career or how I would financially make it without the income. My faith was not in my ability to negotiate and protect myself. My faith was rooted in my belief about who God says He is- a refuge in times of trouble and a very present Help (Psalm 46:1).


Faith is that steadfast conviction to say, “though He slay me; yet, I will trust Him” (Job 13:15).


Father, we pray that You grant us the measure of faith to trust You in the dark times. We pray that our faith be strengthened in You. Help us look to You, not to our own abilities and resources. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight. In the Name of the Mighty King, Ruler of All, and Unmatched in His Power, Jesus.

#faith #trustGod #devotional

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1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Extending Grace Counseling Services

These pictures are makeshift basketball goals. The one taped to the wall is from a former elementary student during my time as a school counselor. He created it after completing STAAR testing. The other is from my son, who was also in elementary school. Both creators enjoyed the makeshift basketball goals as if they were the NBA's top-of-the-line.

Boredom prompts the mind to seek activity. If we allow children to build upon thinking skills rather than always providing things for them to do, creativity will emerge. Praising the child for their creativity will reinforce the belief that they are creative thinkers and capable problem-solvers.

Creativity is a problem-solving skill that transfers to adulthood. Think about senior adults who took a few items and created a meal for an entire family. Consider many inventions that we now enjoy and benefit from creativity. A friend of mine needed money to pay a bill, decided to take an old sewing machine and sell the parts. Problem solved.

Never underestimate the power of creativity! Take time to explore and you may be the next inventor, entrepreneur, or simply increase your overall financial and mental well-being.

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2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Extending Grace Counseling Services

My memoir is the unhealed version of me. The pain and anguish are palpable. I wanted the reader to understand what workplace trauma does. It's not a game. It's not something you just get over or should expect. Every workplace environment should understand the cost of workplace abuse. It not only impacts the victim, but the victim's family. The workplace environment where bullies are allowed to control stifles productivity.

It may not feel as if you will ever heal, but you will heal!

Today I was asked about my previous employer. The person who asked retired from the same school district.


I responded, “I left the district.” This time I didn’t overexplain. Overexplaining with intense emotions can be a trauma response. I didn’t try to prove my innocence. I didn’t feel the same level of hurt as I did from the experience. Yes, I still care about what I fought for. However, I simply stated, “It was a mess, so I left in 2020.”


He asked, “What are you doing now?”


He was in my home. I responded, “I work right here as a Licensed Professional Counselor.” I tried to pay him for the service his company provided. He said. "No, it’s okay."


We talked about his retirement adventures and his love for the students, but not the layers of paperwork that never served the students. Before leaving, he asked for a hug. My spirit said to me, he knows the story. He looked at my boys and said, “You have a good mom. I’m sure you know that.”

God will send a constant reminder that He validates you. God saw the injustice. He saw your struggle, and He has not forgotten. His justice will come in due time. Keep healing. Keep living for you. Keep using your gifts and talents.

No one can tell you how long it will take to heal from workplace abuse. No one can tell you how to feel. No one can understand the level of frustration and isolation that engulfs your soul.

But what I can tell you from my own experiences working through my emotions over the last five years is that you will heal! Keep pressing forward to understand your emotions. Gain perspective. Use your experiences to help others on their journey when you have healed.

#workplacetrauma


www.amazon.com/I-Ate-Cake-Journey-Justice/dp/09820…

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2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Extending Grace Counseling Services

It's not about you!

Workplace abuse appears to make the targets think that they are in a personal war. However, it is often a spiritual warfare. Being emotionally reactive will allow the perpetrator to know how to attack you. Your weapon lies in the interwinement of two foundational Christian practices-study of God's word and prayer.

It's not about you!

Instead, workplace abuse is about spiritual forces in the heavenly places manifested on earth through those who allow the Enemy to use them. We are either a spiritual host for good or evil (Matthew 12:43-45).

During my fight against workplace abuse and the vulnerability of children unprotected from evil, I learned many ways God works in our lives. Allow God to work through you! "No weapon formed against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you" (Isaiah 54:17) when we fight God's way!

If you know of someone or you are currently experiencing workplace abuse, share my memoir. Listen to the podcast on recovering from workplace abuse.

https://youtu.be/OgBmTU1pPNc?si=sjK5W...

www.amazon.com/I-Ate-Cake-Journey-Justice/dp/09820…

2 months ago | [YT] | 4

Extending Grace Counseling Services

Judging is not a critical opinion. It is discernment based on God's word spoken after we have checked our motivations and behaviors for making the judgment. "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck form your brother's eye (Matthew 7:5).

Righteous judgement allows for grace for repentance and forgiveness. The motivation is always love for the other person, not manipulation. Righteous judgment allows the person to chose rather than be controlled.

Righteous judgment seeks the Father's will. "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just because I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me (John 5:30).

We also need discernment to know when and how to correct others. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces (Matthew 7:6).

If your judgment is not just, modeled by your behavior, and rooted in God's Word and His will, then you risk being ineffective in discipleship and evangelizing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3 months ago | [YT] | 3