“Kids need to give back to the family.” – Kevin Leman
How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. (Proverbs 16:16)
Are you rearing your kids in a home or a hotel?
How do I get my kid to help around the home more?
My devotional on April 8 mentioned how Jerry  Graham’s Daily Gram titled “The Big Mo” led me to the outstanding video message by Darcy & Tim Kimmel titled “Godly Advice to Get the Romance Back in Your Marriage.” Tim …

“When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.”  – Joyce Brothers
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Titus 5:8)
What have been highlights for you in each of the past decades?
Today is my 50th birthday. Ten years ago I had plans to retire by the time I was 50 and was well on my way financially toward that goal. But God had other plans. He jerked …

Regular times of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reflection lead to peace, stability, and very purposeful living.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:27)
How am I doing in the major areas of my LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, WORK and CHURCH?
On December 28, 2007 I received this seemingly crazy instruction from the Holy Spirit, “Start 2008 by listening to all of …

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – President Calvin Coolidge
 
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)
What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
How does belief in Jesus change how you live?
My favorite thing to do during the Christmas season is to prepare and send our family Christmas cards and letters to …

You will fulfill your mission by serving your wife! – Holy Spirit
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
What does it mean to serve my wife?
While Diana Gonzalez was speaking during the very first hour of the two day Life Focus workshop in Virginia Beach on November 15, the Holy Spirit gave me one of the …

“Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” Mark Twain
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life….When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. She carefully watches all …

“Idolatry always leads to immorality.” – Rev. Mark Jarvis
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26)
What idols do I have in my life?
The purpose of these devotionals is to bless you and your family – to change your life – hopefully so you will bless other people and their families. These messages are intended to help build solid, Christ-centered homes.
Living in America, it’s nearly impossible not …

The truth found in the Bible offers hope and so much more. Your dedication to God’s Word is something we are grateful for. – excerpt from Pastor Poem
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God (Philippians 1:3)
What gift can I give my pastor in October to have a lasting benefit?
What choice will I make to catapult my pastor to a new level of effectiveness?
October is National Pastor Appreciation Month. Pastors are a lot like physicians in that they have high stress jobs dealing with life and death …

“Love is something you give, not something you buy.” – Brent Henderson
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
What will be the cost of saying “YES” to a relationship, and “NO” to something good, but not best?
If love is spelled TIME, what and who gets your love?
In yesterday’s devotional, I shared about Jeff and Jill Williams, cofounders of Grace and Truth Relationship Education. I promised to bless you by sharing their Sep 4 devotional titled “Love is Spelled TIME.” Here it is, …

Sin is like a roller coaster ride. Once you get on, there’s no getting off until the ride is over.
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18)
What does God consider sexually immoral?
In chapter 24 of The Power of a Praying Parent titled “Rejecting Sexual Immorality,” Stormie Omartian says, “Next to catastrophic injury, death, and eternal hell, sexual immorality is the most dreaded possibility for our children’s lives. That’s because the results …