Casey has much to offer as she shares her journey to become a counselor and her passion to encourage healthy families. She talks about the pain experienced by parents and by the children. And the conversations that can lead to healing.

Casey Lewis is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist living in Chattanooga, TN. She worked with Cru for three years out of college before spending five years at the University of Alabama. From there, she attended Richmont Graduate University. She has worked for 11 years in private practice and has over 20 years of experience working with teenagers.

Casey’s Resources:

• Casey’s Blog: https://www.forwhatitsworthblog.com
• https://www.attachmentproject.com/

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Home: The Most Significant Place in the World: https://bit.ly/3Qo3FYg
• Read Joy and Pain Over Generations: https://bit.ly/4hGNt0b
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

The prophet Isaiah repeatedly mocks them for carving idols to worship out of half a log, and cooking dinner with the other half. How could anyone think that “god” could save them?

We read in 1 Samuel that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23).

Wow! I need to examine my rebellious tendencies.

God understands our struggles, but He gives us every reason not to rebel.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Words of My Life 4: Surrender: https://bit.ly/4aMx4o0
• Read My Rebellion, My Idols: https://bit.ly/40ZdDFi
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Today we are talking about liberation.

As we consider the strongholds in the lives of our loved ones—and perhaps ourselves—be sure to note the verses that will give you hope.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Breaking Life Bondages: https://bit.ly/3C79gP7
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

A new year lifts us up, shaking off the remnants of last year’s mistakes, opening a panorama of a better future. We love to leave the hurts and failures of yesterday, believing that tomorrow is filled with sunshine and promise.

Except, when you love a prodigal. Too often fears win out. You hope, but you dare not “get your hopes up.” You dream, hoping it doesn’t once again become a nightmare. You believe, but always with clouds of doubt blocking the brightness you desire.

Can we have hope for the new year? Assuredly so!

Judy’s Resources:

• Read “Can you dare to hope?”: http://tinyurl.com/mufeb349
• Read “The Lament of a Sigh”: http://tinyurl.com/2s3bvxu7
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Lord, please, for Christmas could my child come home? Would you set him free from his addictions? May they see the emptiness and destructiveness of their choices. And, Lord, may we have peace in our family for Christmas.

When you love a prodigal, your heart yearnings for your loved one seem to intensify at Christmas time. But we can ask for those heart’s desires—from God and from that prodigal.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read The Gifts of Advent https://tinyurl.com/34h24mjw
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

If you have listened to many of my podcasts, then you know I encourage all of us to give thanks in everything.

I got to practice what I preach in real life last week. And though this story is not about a prodigal, it’s certainly a practice to live out before a prodigal or someone you hope never becomes a prodigal.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Help for the Hard--no, Impossible--Times: https://bit.ly/3BpvxHp
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

Judy Nelson Lewis and I go way back. She's been a magazine editor, writer, and now a spiritual director. We had a great conversation about advent, waiting, and how that can help us through our prodigal journey. It's a gift to you.

Judy Nelson Lewis’ Resources:

• Website: https://www.judynelsonlewis.com
• Buy Judy's new book, Exhale: https://a.co/d/3DWRv2G
• Enter for a chance to win Judy’s new book, Exhale: https://judydouglass.com/bookgiveaway

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Waiting with Hope: https://bit.ly/3VlMolg
• Read Prayers of Hope and Blessing for Christmas: https://bit.ly/4iabk9f
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass

In Philippian 4:6 the instructions are more specific: Pray about everything, with thanksgiving.

Pray, of course. Give thanks? Much harder.

But that is exactly what we are told to do, even in scary, out-of-control circumstances. Give thanks. It has been one of the most important, helpful, even life-changing truths I have learned.

Judy’s Resources:

• Read Give Thanks:Pray with Thanksgiving - https://bit.ly/3VbqvoJ
• Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ
• Sign up for Judy’s monthly newsletter here: https://bit.ly/39TBlYt
• Purchase a copy of the When You Love a Prodigal book for you or a loved one here: https://amzn.to/3RuiUx9

Stay connected:

• Website: judydouglass.com/podcast
• Facebook: facebook.com/JudyDouglass417
• Instagram: instagram.com/judydouglass417
• Twitter: twitter.com/judydouglass417
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyddouglass/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JudyDouglass