How fast is your family running through life? If you always seem to be in a hurry and struggling to keep up with your activities, it’s time to slow down. That’s easier said than done, though. Real rest can only be found in Jesus, through the peace that He alone can give you and your family.
There is an aspect to your spending that you may never have thought of (and may not be able to get out of your mind once we put it there). Have you ever stopped to consider the potential "future value" of the money you spend today?
The fundamental difference between humanity and animals is that animals don't worship, but people do. God has essentially wired us this way. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, He has placed "eternity in our hearts." We sense there is something more, and it causes us to worship.
Do you believe God really answers prayer? Really and truly... that God hears your personal prayers and cares enough to respond? Your answer to those questions probably dictates if, when, where, and how you pray. You know, prayer can serve many purposes, but generally speaking, it’s an intimate conversation with God.
AND BE THANKFUL: A THANKSGIVING MEDITATION by Dr. Michael Youssef
What does God think of thanksgiving? He is blessed and honored by it because a life of thanksgiving is the mark of a saint who knows God's character and His position as God alone. The Lord is the giver of all good gifts and He is worthy of thanksgiving.
I recently heard someone make a wisecrack that the only two good financial positions these days are: Cash and Fetal. If you are a part of the human race, you are very aware that 2008 was a devastating year for investors. Now, there was a time when that wouldn’t have included most Americans. But that was then, this is now.
CONTENTMENT: A KEY TO KEEPING YOUR LOVE ALIVE by April Motl
My computer has been limping along, half broken for a while now. It has an internal electrical problem and shuts off whenever it feels like it. As you can imagine, the unpredictability is just thrilling! So, I have been keeping my eyes out for deals and trying to figure out what computer I should buy once I save up enough.
THE POWER OF A GOOD LAUGH: HUMOR IN TIMES OF CRISIS by Chuck Colson
As anyone who knows me knows, I love a good laugh. I’ve even been known to pull a practical joke or two, like the time years ago my assistant and I hauled a real stuffed bear into the hunting cabin of a friend late one night. Let’s just say he was surprised when he went back to the cabin and turned on the lights!
HE IS RISEN: EVIDENCE BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT by by Regis Nicoll
A short while back, philosopher Stanley Fish observed that religion was “transgressing the boundary between private and public and demanding to be heard.” That’s a dangerous thing, as Mr. Fish sees it, because religion is based on claims that are excluded from tests of “deliberative reason.”
Experienced spiritual leaders recognize that when it comes to spirituality, one size does not fit all. Discover your own, God-given spiritual temperaments. Clicking the link will take you to the first chapter of Gary Thomas' book, "Sacred Pathways."
ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER by Hank Hanegraaff
Most Christians are aware of their responsibility to reach a dying world with God's message. No less of an authority than Jesus exhorts us to proclaim the gospel (Matt. 10:27) and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). However, there is another dimension often neglected in evangelism; namely, the defense of the gospel.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE by Rich Chasse
In a recent study reported on by the USA Today*, “12.1% say their religious identity is ‘nothing in particular,’ outranking every denomination and tradition except Catholics (23.9%) and all groups of Baptists (17.2%).” And “nearly 20% of all men and 13% of all women say they are unaffiliated (with any religion). So are 25% of adults under age 30.”
The movie, Fireproof, starring Kirk Cameron, has been a great success. Mitch Temple of Focus on the Family writes about the impact of this movie in the lives of many couples! If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you catch it on DVD.
MOST ADULTS FEEL ACCEPTED BY GOD, BUT LACK A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW by Barna Research Group
How people react to moral issues is a common challenge these days. Many recent issues have brought people’s moral convictions into play. Yet, in spite of the fact that most Americans consider themselves to be Christian, very few adults base their moral decisions on the Bible, and surprisingly few believe that absolute moral truth exists.
When my brother-in-law Jim was 18, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and told he only had a few months to live. The Lord had other plans though, and following treatment, Jim lived a full life for the next twenty-two years.
TEACHING KIDS ABOUT MONEY TEACHES PARENTS, TOO by Mary Hunt
Children inherit physical traits from their parents. But there’s something else they inherit that many parents don’t consider—their financial behaviors. Most parents believe that kids should start learning how to manage money before they start kindergarten. But many admit they don’t know where to start or what to teach.
Ten years ago I felt like a candidate for Queen of the Unfinished Projects. A wife and mother of five, I also held leadership positions in four state and local organizations and helped run three home businesses. There was never enough To-Day for the To-Do's.
ENJOYING THE TRAPPINGS OF CHRISTMAS WITHOUT GETTING TRAPPED by Kit Coons
Listen. Can you hear it? Look around you. Can you see it? Christmas is everywhere. Are you ready? No, I don't mean your gift-giving list or the invitations to your Christmas drop-in or even the ingredients for your favorite Christmas cookie. I mean your heart, your emotions. Are they ready?
A 3-STEP MARITAL REALITY CHECK by Barry R. Leventhal, Ph.D.
If you’re married, you probably know the feeling that comes when the honeymoon ends and reality hits. Many husbands and wives then ask, “What have we gotten ourselves into?” When we first “fall in love,” raging hormones and emotional highs transform reality into romanticism and even idealism. Added to all of this, is the romantic spin that media puts on everything that is even remotely related to love, sex, and marriage.
We are, in a literal sense, pottery. We’ve been formed from clay. God physically shaped Adam from the clay of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life. We are all humans, a word that is akin to the term humus, meaning earth or clay. The apostle Paul referred to our bodies as “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV).
Take a moment and think about some of the familiar stories we heard as children --- like "Cinderella" or "The Ugly Duckling." What do they have in common? They are stories of transformation.
The athlete. The musician. The brain. The homecoming queen. The prodigy. The social butterfly. The class clown. The "Most Likely to Succeed." Let's face it, we all have a tendency for visions of grandeur at one time or another-you know, dreams of climbing the ladder and eventually reaching the top of the heap.
ARE FIRST THINGS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE? by Chip Ingram
The New Year is a time of renewing, reevaluating, and reprioritizing. It is a time to start over again. But if you are like me, the best intentions for a new exercise regimen or a new improved devotional plan seem to fade as quickly as they are made.
How fast is your family running through life? If you always seem to be in a hurry and struggling to keep up with your activities, it’s time to slow down. That’s easier said than done, though. Real rest can only be found in Jesus, through the peace that He alone can give you and your family.
There is an aspect to your spending that you may never have thought of (and may not be able to get out of your mind once we put it there). Have you ever stopped to consider the potential "future value" of the money you spend today?
The fundamental difference between humanity and animals is that animals don't worship, but people do. God has essentially wired us this way. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, He has placed "eternity in our hearts." We sense there is something more, and it causes us to worship.
Do you believe God really answers prayer? Really and truly... that God hears your personal prayers and cares enough to respond? Your answer to those questions probably dictates if, when, where, and how you pray. You know, prayer can serve many purposes, but generally speaking, it’s an intimate conversation with God.
What does God think of thanksgiving? He is blessed and honored by it because a life of thanksgiving is the mark of a saint who knows God's character and His position as God alone. The Lord is the giver of all good gifts and He is worthy of thanksgiving.
I recently heard someone make a wisecrack that the only two good financial positions these days are: Cash and Fetal. If you are a part of the human race, you are very aware that 2008 was a devastating year for investors. Now, there was a time when that wouldn’t have included most Americans. But that was then, this is now.
A short while back, philosopher Stanley Fish observed that religion was “transgressing the boundary between private and public and demanding to be heard.” That’s a dangerous thing, as Mr. Fish sees it, because religion is based on claims that are excluded from tests of “deliberative reason.”
Experienced spiritual leaders recognize that when it comes to spirituality, one size does not fit all. Discover your own, God-given spiritual temperaments. Clicking the 
Most Christians are aware of their responsibility to reach a dying world with God's message. No less of an authority than Jesus exhorts us to proclaim the gospel (Matt. 10:27) and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). However, there is another dimension often neglected in evangelism; namely, the defense of the gospel. 
In a recent study reported on by the USA Today*, “12.1% say their religious identity is ‘nothing in particular,’ outranking every denomination and tradition except Catholics (23.9%) and all groups of Baptists (17.2%).” And “nearly 20% of all men and 13% of all women say they are unaffiliated (with any religion). So are 25% of adults under age 30.”
The movie, Fireproof, starring Kirk Cameron, has been a great success. Mitch Temple of Focus on the Family writes about the impact of this movie in the lives of many couples! If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you catch it on DVD.
When my brother-in-law Jim was 18, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and told he only had a few months to live. The Lord had other plans though, and following treatment, Jim lived a full life for the next twenty-two years.
Children inherit physical traits from their parents. But there’s something else they inherit that many parents don’t consider—their financial behaviors. Most parents believe that kids should start learning how to manage money before they start kindergarten. But many admit they don’t know where to start or what to teach.
Ten years ago I felt like a candidate for Queen of the Unfinished Projects. A wife and mother of five, I also held leadership positions in four state and local organizations and helped run three home businesses. There was never enough To-Day for the To-Do's.
If you’re married, you probably know the feeling that comes when the honeymoon ends and reality hits. Many husbands and wives then ask, “What have we gotten ourselves into?” When we first “fall in love,” raging hormones and emotional highs transform reality into romanticism and even idealism. Added to all of this, is the romantic spin that media puts on everything that is even remotely related to love, sex, and marriage.
