“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 …

Love and hurry are incompatible.
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?  (Romans 9:20-21)
How do you start living the life you’ve always wanted?
What does that life look like?
For the past few months, the Holy Spirit has kept giving me a word over and over – that word …

Great service comes from the heart!
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)
What simple thing can you do every day at work or home to share God’s love?
One of my greatest delights is preparing these devotionals. When I first started these on July 1, 2006, about 280 people were receiving them daily. By January 1, 2007, …

“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, …

It is impossible to love others unless you love yourself.
“And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:39)
What daily choices do you make that show you love yourself?
My life slogan is “Blessed to be a blessing.” My life verse is the Greatest Commandment in which Jesus instructs us to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)
When I love God with all my …

The secret of a successful marriage is commitment.
Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
If you are married, are you dating your spouse every week?
A good marriage makes a successful family so much easier. In her book “The Positive Family,” Arvella Schuller shares a story about her conversation with a young psychologist who specialized in marriage counseling. Arvella asked him, “What are the most common problems you encounter with your patients?” His answer surprised her: “All of the problems in marriage fall into two categories: SELFISHNESS and/or IMMATURITY.” He went on to …

The path to transformation goes through dreams!
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
What really matters and why?
Today marks day #3 of lessons learned from the Real Talk Training (RTT) seminar held in Culpeper on January 27. Today’s content comes directly from the RTT manual.
Listening is a lost art and discipline in our fast paced, high gratification based culture. For most people, …

You can only give what you have! This includes your faith.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
If you have children, are you teaching them about God as you …

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” – Bobby Unser
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
Recently I discovered that my pastor is taking an engaged couple through a lengthy pre-marital preparation course. I think that is wonderful to avoid disasters since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound (ton) of cure.
While looking for links for this week’s devotionals, I was led to John Piper’s website called “Desiring God.” There I found a very practical message titled “Topics for Conversation When …

The Law of Legacy: A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Great Commission is Jesus’ very last statement to His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. Here, Jesus instructs His disciples to multiply themselves in all …