"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." --Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) Have you ever been on a self-improvement kick? You know what I mean. You make a firm promise to yourself, or perhaps you make a New Year's resolution. You decide you'll start to diet, or do your best [...]

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." --1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Sometimes we all need to get away and rest from life’s stressers. A time to clear our heads can be very meaningful. A change of pace can help us evaluate where we have been, and where we are [...]

"Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." --Romans 13:14 (NLT) When I was a kid, an old felt cowboy hat was a cherished part of my wardrobe. I used to play in that hat for hours. But there were [...]

"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad, for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the [...]

"And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”" --Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT) Do you like to [...]

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a [...]