“Kristin Colino was and continues to be an amazing resource and wealth of knowledge within the mental health field. When my family member was at their lowest point and I had to carry the weight of it, she did not let me go through it alone. She was present, fast with responses, and always leading me to more resources and solutions. I value people like Kristin that have huge hearts and are able to go through these difficult and unclear moments with others. Mental illness is extremely difficult, and it should not be done alone. Thank you for being such a great support and for all the prayers!” - 24 year-old, Family Member, August 2019

THE MIND

An action starts as a thought, hence the term cognitive-behavioral. A spiritual journey is lifeless without the full participation of your mind. Of course we need a knowledge of Scripture, but we also need to be purposeful and proactive about sharing the Gospel. Perhaps the best testimony for Christ is our own experience.

How can we direct our minds toward God’s Kingdom and expand it as opposed to arguing for our own selfish motives? It starts with perception. The Church and how we love our God, our neighbors, and especially one another must be front and center. Knowing verses in the Bible is fundamental in the practice of Christianity, but are we applying them to our daily lives? It takes introspection and a quietness of the mind to hear the whispers of our Heavenly Father.

In the chaos that is our device-driven world, we must remember our humanity, our frailty as well as our dominion. We are given the opportunity to be God’s hands and feet, but how do we become of the same mind? It starts with letting go of worldly attitudes, and becoming living sacrifices. As my pastor always says, “The problem with living sacrifices is they keep crawling off the altar.” Yes, even I am one to hold tightly to the things I so want to control. Relinquishing our thoughts to God and letting Him take them captive is the hardest part of the Christian faith.

Letting go of what you deem important as opposed to what God has in store for you is consistently a back and forth, give and take process. Full surrender is required to truly be on the path, God’s will for your life. My husband and I have a life verse that reminds us of this very windy road and how we are to navigate it, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Are you all in?

#wellness COLLABORATION

Physical, mental, and spiritual wellness cannot be fostered in isolation. As a community of believers, we need to bring our struggles into the light and share our burdens with others. Some essential parts of wellness are being social, achieving goals, and learning new skills. We will endeavor to provide an online environment that collaborates, so the Body of Christ can fully function and share talents. Whether its the fruit of the Spirit or spiritual gifts, we are called to lift one another up and not hoard the blessings God has bestowed upon us.

#mental health

Mental health is very different from mental illness. However, people often use both to mean the same thing. Taking care of one’s mental health is significant. If you cannot care for your mind, how can you serve others? A mental illness, however, is clinical and often times requires medical treatment. Approximately 46.6 million adults in the United States face the reality of managing a mental illness every day. If you or someone you know is in an emergency situation or crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or call 911 immediately.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:1-2