Author Archives: GettingCloserToOurGod

About GettingCloserToOurGod

This blog is written by Todd Christenson. He was raised in Nebraska and currently lives on Long Island in New York. Though out my childhood, my family attended church. We prayed together at meals. I thought I was prepared for life. After college, I moved to New York City. Shy, unsure of myself, building an identity in worldly things, increasingly prideful, self-righteousness, a controlling nature. In 2013, God spoke through someone, suggesting I confess my sins. I did. I realized that every day, I’d been glorifying myself, not God. Today, God’s teaching me to have my identity in Him, only, my dependency in Him, not myself, being who He wants me to be, not the world, loving Him first, loving others as myself.

Feeling Wheel

Posted on 02/07/2023 by GettingCloserToOurGod

I am not sure when I was introduced to a “feeling wheel,” but in the last few months, I was given a feeling wheel at a meditation class, and a college professor discussed how counselors use them to help clients … Continue reading →

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Ted Talks with Tips on Navigating the Challenge of Anxiety

Posted on 08/31/2022 by GettingCloserToOurGod

Just listened to these two Ted talks where the speaker is honest about their difficulties with anxiety; they offered solutions to anxiety struggles. Note: A while back, someone suggested I watch a Ted Talk on not taking things personally. After … Continue reading →

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I was/am an Emotional Externalizer, but with God’s grace, the bible, prayer, counseling, 12-steps, deep relationships, and more, making forward progress to becoming an Emotional Internalizer, only complete in Heaven.

Posted on 05/08/2022 by GettingCloserToOurGod

Have you ever interacted with someone who regularly projects themselves as the victim, is easily offended, and is passive-aggressive? That was me and even today when I am tired, I can fall back into these types of behaviors. Dr. Weiss … Continue reading →

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Grace and the Consequence (s) of Bitterness

Posted on 03/03/2022 by GettingCloserToOurGod

Something that I have always struggled with is not feeling heard or feeling misunderstood and when I don’t feel heard or feel misunderstood, I harbor resentments. Thankfully, in the last several years, God has given me an awareness of this … Continue reading →

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Why I Finally Read Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Posted on 12/26/2021 by GettingCloserToOurGod

Over the years I have been encouraged to read Pilgrim’s Progress by Paul Bunyan. I purchased the book more than once, but each time, I just read a few pages of the book. Recently, someone suggested I read Pilgrim’s Progress, … Continue reading →

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“The Best Explanation of Addiction I’ve Ever Heard” – Dr. Gabor Maté

Posted on 07/19/2021 by GettingCloserToOurGod

Thankful to have someone suggest I listen to wisdom from Dr. Gabor Mate’

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A Friend recommended I watch the TEDx talk “How not to take things personally?” by Frederik Imbro

Posted on 07/05/2021 by GettingCloserToOurGod

If you were to meet me, you would quickly learn that I have a pension to take most anything personally. As I develop better self-awareness, I am beginning to understand that for almost every instance of me taking things; personally, … Continue reading →

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Emotionally Healthy Relationships by Pete Scazzero

Posted on 05/10/2021 by GettingCloserToOurGod

I am close to completing my second 8-week journey through the Emotionally Healthy Relationships material. The material is helpful and convicting. My problem, turning the valuable EHR tools into a habit, tools like “climbing the ladder of integrity.” I climbed … Continue reading →

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God’s Faithfulness in Mom’s Special Life

Posted on 03/02/2021 by GettingCloserToOurGod

Psalm 23 tribute to Mom – read during Mom’s funeral (click here to watch funeral) My Brother, Sister and I want to thank you all for being with us in this room and on the livestream today March 1, 2021) … Continue reading →

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Why Do I Get Defensive?

Posted on 02/08/2021 by GettingCloserToOurGod

If you have spent time with me, you have seen me get defensive over both the trivial and the significant. It has only been the last few years that I have started to have self-awareness of my defensive nature, and … Continue reading →

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