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Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries

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Heritage Christian Counseling Ministries

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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 degree 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.

11/03/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

A Thief in the Night

Clearly the enemy has given us all kinds of things that deceive and distract us. He creates a focus for us that makes it appear as though Jesus is not a priority in our life.

Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 24:43, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.”

Paul writes in I Thessalonians 5:1-6 concerning the end times, “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

It is possible that we are so distracted in our daily living that we do not realize that we could meet our own “thief in the night” without it necessarily being the second coming of Jesus. At any given moment Jesus could call us home to be with Him. We are not promised life from one moment to the next. What would happen if you met Jesus today? Would you be ready?

Action Point
As far as the thief in the night coming, are you asleep like some, or are you awake and sober? It is important that you be awake and alert.
(Tom Russell)

11/02/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

We All Fall Short

One very important lie that we hear on the battlefield of the mind is, “We are just not good enough.” We have no hope and life will end without any encouragement for eternity. This can create difficulties for many people. It also causes a person to lack vision during everyday life.

The enemy also attempts to use Romans 3:23 to further our deception, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glory.”

However, there is good news. Jeremiah records in chapter 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Although the enemy wants us to think that we are not acceptable to God, that we will never be good enough and there is no hope, the epistle of John brings about a whole new hope and light. I John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What a blessing that God is faithful and will forgive us!

Paul further teaches and comforts us with Romans 8:5, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

There is still more good news. The enemy and his lies were defeated at the cross when Jesus rose again defeating sin and death for us.

Action Point
We have all fallen short of God’s glory; however, there is hope here. Have you taken the time to receive Jesus?
(Tom Russell)

11/01/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

The Hardened Heart

One of the most distructive conditions in a relationship is found in scripture as the hardened heart. There are a number of things that harden a person’s heart. One of the major ones is the inability to forgive.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:17-24, “You must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Paul shows the importance of our own inability to function with our own thinking. We can all relate to attempting to manage life on our own ability. It often times ends up with more problems and a high degree of frustration. Paul shares that we are running on our own strength because of the hardening of our hearts. We have gotten away from relying on the newness in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Action Point
What is the condition of your heart? Are you running on the power of Jesus in your heart or the futility of your own strength?
(Tom Russell)

10/31/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Worship

Worship has always been important to God. He desires worship so much because it is how we express our love to Him. It is important because it draws us closer to Him. God inhabits the praises of His people.

Webster’s Dictionary defines worship as, “to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.”

Christianity Today defines it like this, “True worship, in other words, is defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities. True worship is a matter of the heart expressed through a lifestyle of holiness.”

Paul has this interesting perspective on worship in Colossians 1:10, “...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” As we grow in the knowledge of God we will worship Him in ways that are very pleasing to Him.

Psalm 96:8 brings this encouragement concerning worship, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”

Isaiah worships God in this way in Isaiah 25:1, “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”

Psalm 150:6 encourages worship with this word, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

Isaiah 23:25 shares more on worship, “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.”

According to Michelle Liedke, who has done research on worship as well as prayer, worship has an incredible impact on us physically. She writes, “Worship and prayer have a well-documented positive effect on both the person who engages in the prayer and worship, and the person who is the subject of prayer.”

Action Point
It might be important to reassess how you feel about worship.
(Tom Russell)

10/29/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Being Aware

It is so important that we encourage those who are in Christ to be aware of the enemy’s attack. He can be so deceptive that it’s hard at times to see him working.

The good news, as an example, appears in Genesis 50:20, “As far as you're concerned, you were planning evil against me, but God intended it for good, planning to bring about the present result so that many people would be preserved alive.” What a great example of our God using for good what the enemy meant for evil.

It is important that we be aware when he tempts us. The enemy tempts us with thoughts that are packed with feelings which only make it more difficult to resist temptation.

Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” We defeat the enemy when we call upon our God in the midst of temptation through the power and victory of the Risen Savior.

Peter encourages us in I Peter 5:8-9, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

We should be so thankful that we can live in the victory of the cross. We can call upon the same power of the Holy Spirit in us whenever the enemy attacks us.

Action Point
It is important that we be aware of how the enemy attempts to make evil in our lives. It is important that we stand against him and live in the victory that Jesus gave us on the cross.
(Tom Russell)

10/28/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Living in Victory and Freedom

We have the opportunity to live in the victory and power that comes from the cross. It is such a blessing and is so securing to realize that because we have received Jesus, our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12 reports, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” We can rest assured that we will never be held accountable for those forgiven sins. They will never come back to haunt us.

If our sins are forgiven and removed as far as the east is from the west, what stops us from living in freedom from the bo***ge that we would experience without the forgiveness of our sins?
Paul puts it into perspective in Romans 6:17-18, “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Paul continues to teach about freedom in Galatians 5:13-14, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Action Point
The victory of the cross through Jesus our Lord, provided us with freedom. Are you living in that victory?
(Tom Russell)

10/27/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Who Can Cast the First Stone?

It is so easy in life to have our focus on other people and what they are doing. We are quick to point out that what they are doing is wrong. Have you ever been in a restaurant and noticed a person had food on their face and you think they should take care of it, and then you suddenly realize you have food on your face also? This is a very simplified example, but it shows how easy it is to assess our own spirituality by thinking that what we are doing is better than what another person is doing, when we might actually be doing the same thing.

John 8:6b-7 illustrates with this message, “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.’”

Matthew 7:3-5 teaches a very similar message, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

What causes a person to focus on the other person and their sin instead of their own? Although there are other reasons, pride is certainly a major one.

Paul brings this answer in II Corinthians 10:12, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”

Action Point
Where is your focus? Are you focused on the speck in someone else’s eye or the log in your own?
(Tom Russell)

10/26/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Unconditional- Not Conditional Love

Those who have seen Dad abandon the family have lost some valuable development that a father helps bring to his children. Those who have missed the loving affection of Dad can spend a lifetime attempting to earn love. The process creates a conditional love that causes a person to spend their life trying to be “good enough” to receive it. Young people excel beyond what is healthy to receive the conditional love that they believe will come from perfection in what they are doing.

We can be so thankful that our God offers unconditional love that is filled with grace and mercy. It is not earned or based on our success. Instead God loves us because it is part of His nature.

The prodigal son becomes a great example of unconditional love.
Luke 15:20-24 illustrates the Father’s love, “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this is my son who was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Action Point
It is vital in life to receive the unconditional love of Jesus.
(Tom Russell)

10/25/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Legacy

When we think about running with endurance, the race that is set before us, we should consider what that looks like. Are we living a life that is a role model to others? What are our children learning about being Godly men and women? Do we walk the walk that we talk? Are we men and women of authenticity? Are we genuine in our every day life?

The writer of Hebrews 12:1-3 has this to say about running the race, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.“

So we, as believers, should shed those things that are sin and entangle us, so that we can be Godly role models to those God has given us the responsibility of leading.

It is important to remember that there were so many who went before us that were great examples of Godly people that we should use as role models. People like Moses, Abraham and John the Baptist were great role models.

Action Point
Some day all our loved ones will have will be memories of us. Each and every day until then we are creating the memories they will have. What kind of memories do you want those to be?
(Tom Russell)

10/23/2026

Devotionals for Daily Living

Your Heavenly Father Knows What You Need

Our Father in Heaven knows what we need. It is sometimes difficult to know where the next meal is coming from or when the electricity will be turned back on. Having basic needs like clothes and medical care may not be taken care of. It takes a lot of effort and becomes quite a challenge to trust that our God is with us during these challenging times.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” It is so important for us to call upon our God for our provision.

Psalm 84:11 encourages us with this promise, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

There are times when it appears as though this is not happening because there are needs that are not being met, and it begins to impact the hope in a person. Often times it is like that because our God is teaching something that is close to His heart. It could be that He wants His people to be in the body of Christ which can act like a support system. Another example could be that He wants to help one of His children find victory over pride.

It is important that we include what Paul has to say about being provided for. He writes in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

There is also peace and hope in what Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”

Action Point
It is important to exist and manage life in His presence.
(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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