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Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries

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Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries

Tom Russell grew to know and love the Lord at an early age. In high school he began to date the young lady that he would eventually marry.

His early marriage consisted of both of him and his wife going to Ohio State University, but after an unsuccessful experience, he quit and worked to help his wife finish. After she graduated she encouraged him to try schooling one more time. All it took was her emphasizing to him that she believed in him, and he was back at school. He graduated after completing eleven straight quarters with a degr

ee in elementary education. During his years as a teacher their three biological children were born, and they got full custody of their then, foster son. Throughout his teaching career he thoroughly enjoyed the teaching aspect and making a significant difference in young people's lives, but he always felt there was more that God had in store for him. It was also during this time that he had an incredible passion to help marriages. Because of that passion, he became involved in his church's marriage retreats. There were also times when he would be sitting at his desk after school grading papers and a fellow teacher would walk in and want to talk about their marriage. It was experiences like those that made him think that God had another plan for his life. Finally, after much prayer and wisdom from those he trusted most in life, he resigned from teaching and enrolled at Ashland Theological Seminary to pursue a degree in pastoral counseling. It was during this time that the Lord helped him start the origins of Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries. Tom would work at his job forty hours a week, attend seminary full-time, and still spend about ten hours a week building Heritage. After graduating from seminary in 1997, Heritage became a full time ministry. In 1998, Heritage became a Prepare/Enrich ministry and in 1999, it became a member of The American Association of Christian Counselors, and It has been on a steady growth pattern since.

09/07/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

If Your Life Was a Cup

If your life was a cup, what would be important to you? Would you be concerned about the outside of your cup and what other people were thinking or saying about it? Would you be
worried about their disapproval? Would you spend time taking care of and cleaning the outside of the cup?

Proverbs 29:25 begins to bring great insight to this idea, “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.”

Paul’s understanding of seeking approval from man is clear in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul understood that it was not about pleasing man but about being a servant of Christ.

In Matthew 23:5-7 Jesus made it clear about how the Pharisees felt about the outward appearance, “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the market places and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.”

Action Point
Avoid being concerned about what others think of you and live your life to please the Lord.
(Tom Russell)

09/05/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Encouraging Blessings and Promises from God

It is encouraging to know that God has prepared so much for us. I Corinthians 2:9 says, “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived - the things God has prepared for those who love him.’”

It’s exciting to think that if we are steadfast we will experience peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

It is very motivating to know the Lord goes before us. In Deuteronomy 31:8 we read, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

We can take heart with what we read in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We can count on His instruction as it says in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

We can be thankful that the Lord makes firm our steps. In Psalm 37:23-24 we read, “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

II Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’”

Action Point
It is important that we take time to receive the blessings God has for us.
(Tom Russell)

09/04/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Gossip 9/4/26

Gossip is defined as casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

Gossip can be so destructive to people. Gossip tends to be more hurtful than anything, and it is not a good witness for Christians.

Proverbs 11:13 is helpful here, “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence."

In the fourth chapter of Ephesians Paul has this to say, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Think what life would be like if we did not allow any unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths. How much better would relationships be if we would guard our tongues.

Action Point
It is important to pray about how gossip plays a part in your life.
(Tom Russell)

09/03/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Biblical Answers to Pride

Pride is an over-concern with ourselves, a disposition to exalt self, to get above others, to hide our defects, and to pass for more than we are. It will keep us from intimacy with Jesus. It will keep us from realizing when Jesus is speaking to us about areas in our lives, such as our words that are not glorifying Him, or our lack of forgiveness. It deceives us to a point where we give ourselves permission to do something that is sinful, but in our eyes there is nothing wrong with it.

Scripture offers help for pride. Paul said in Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

James 4:10 brings this encouragement,
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” When we do humble ourselves before the Lord we open ourselves up to hearing from Him.

Action Point
It is important to humble ourselves before the Lord. If we do, we have more intimacy with Jesus.
(Tom Russell)

09/02/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Self-Control

Nehemiah is a good example of an individual who showed self-control. He was a man of God who knew that God would protect him in spite of the army that was approaching as he worked to finish the wall. Because he was secure in that belief he was very calm and demonstrated self-control.

Self-control is so important in the believer’s life. It is helpful in the daily management of one’s Christian life, but it is also vitally important in spiritual battles with the enemy.

Paul writes in II Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” In a world filled with chaos and the enemy attacking us with fear and temptation, it is reassuring that the Holy Spirit offers power and self-control.

David Mathis, in his article, “Self Control and the Power of Christ” writes, “True self-control is not about bringing ourselves under our own control, but under the power of Christ.” The good news is that we can call upon the Holy Spirit to help us come under the power of Christ.

Paul includes self-control in his writings in Galatians 5:22-23 concerning the fruit or evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is present self- control is much more manageable.

In II Peter 1:5-6 Peter emphasizes the importance of self-control as a supplement to our faith. He includes it with virtue and knowledge. We can have the knowledge of God’s word but without self-control we are powerless. He writes, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control…..”

Action Point
Are you spending enough time with Jesus to get closer to Him and experience Spirit empowered self-control?
(Tom Russell)

09/01/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Where Does Our Strength Come From?

Often, in life, there are times and circumstances that leave us wishing we had more strength or power to manage them. There are times when we want to step out in faith, but we don’t. There are times when helping in a situation would be the right thing to do, but we don’t.

Paul offers this prayer on our behalf in Ephesians 4:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

We are led by the power of the Holy Spirit when we find ourselves in circumstances where we feel that we should get involved or help in some way. The Holy Spirit can empower us to say or do whatever we are moved to do.

One very important aspect of being led by the Holy Spirit is faith. The writer of Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is the “assurance of things not seen.” We should be confident that what the Holy Spirit is putting on our hearts to do is from Him.

Action Point
It is important to stay close to the Lord. It is important that we regularly seek forgiveness from our sin and the cleansing from all unrighteousness so that we can fellowship with the Father and hear Him when He expresses His will to us.
(Tom Russell)

08/31/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Relationship Wisdom from Ephesians 4

It doesn’t take long if you look at the television or the Internet to see what relationships have become. It is very sad to see some sitcom‘s based on things that are extremely unhealthy. The standard that we have seen in scripture for as long as our country has been in existence is now being eroded away by human rights. It is so sad to see people making decisions about what is right or not without turning to God. As a result a natural anger and the absence of personality characteristics that reflect the Holy Spirit are present.

Paul teaches in Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Paul teaches us that we can be angry but not to sin in our anger. It is important to talk about things and not react in some unhealthy way that brings even more severe anger. Paul also encourages us to “not let the sun go down on our anger.” This is so important because if we do we will be developing significant depression.

Paul also emphasizes an important concern that if we do let the sun go down on our anger, we could be giving satan a foothold that could grow into a stronghold in our minds. We are certainly more vulnerable to deception if we do. He writes in Ephesians 4:27, “Do not give the devil a foothold.”

Another important impact on relationships is what comes out of our mouths. Paul goes on in verse 29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Action Point
What are you doing with your anger? What do you need to work on to have healthier relationships?
(Tom Russell)

08/28/2026

Devotionals For Daily Living

Negative Self Talk

We, as a people, are capable of having very negative thoughts about ourselves. It can lead to us saying things and thinking things that we would never allow someone else to say to us.

Blame, doubt, and deprecation can and will allow the negative self attitude to continue. Left untreated, negative self talk can fuel depression. It is critically important then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to take captive our thoughts.

Paul writes in II Corinthians 10:5, ”You are given the battle plan for victory in this area: casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

Writer, Kimberly Taylor, encourages us to think of our minds as “Kingdom Territory”. It is important that, if we do, we will more closely monitor our thoughts. She continues to teach that Philippians 4:8 is a major help in determining what will be in our “Mental Kingdom”. “Finally, brethren,
whatever things are
true, whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if
there is anything
praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”

Action Point
To develop what Kimberly Taylor calls “Our Mental Kingdom” we should focus on those things found in Philippians 4:8.
A final thought from her:
“While you can’t help if negative self-talk passes through your mental kingdom temporarily, you can certainly decide if you want it living with you!
(Tom Russell)

08/27/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Love Driven Grace

In life we perceive grace as something we certainly like to receive, but that we’re not always as motivated to give to others. If we do something that we think is not right we are eager for “grace to abound.” If we are the one who was “wronged” it is difficult to extend grace without forgiveness that is driven by love.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31, “...and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” If we are kind and tenderhearted, we can extend grace that is driven by love, a love that is centered in the love that Jesus extended to us.

Paul adds this concerning God’s love in Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The book of John 13:24 speaks of love, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Paul teaches more concerning love in
I Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful." If love is present, grace is easier.

I Peter 4:10 speaks to this, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

James 4:6 continues to expand on grace, “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” If we oppose the pride that is in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can extend more grace.

Action Point
It is important that we look at the love that is in us. Is it a love that will extend grace?
(Tom Russell)

Address

1066 Lexington Avenue
Mansfield, OH
44907

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 8pm
Tuesday	8am - 8pm
Wednesday	8am - 8pm
Thursday	8am - 8pm
Friday	8am - 8pm
Saturday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14195265523

Website

http://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com/

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