• We are moving into our house this weekend! It is our first home, so we are excited
• Almost finished with the first half of the semester for seminary – 2-3 papers a week is wearing on me!
• Youth Pastor Summit was awesome – favorite speaker was David Ferguson – He prayed with me and really spoke into my life.
• Right after the conference on day 1, they give out free tickets to Islands of Adventure/Universal Studios! We got to ride the Hulk twice! Had a great time bringing my wife, Cassidy and friends Josh and Ellen!!

• Baptizing two students this Sunday – thankful to see God changing lives!
• Cassidy’s new CD “New Day” is in process of being duplicated – PRE-ORDER a CD!
• Heidi (golden retriever puppy) is growing fast! I’m training her to be a good gun dog!
• Finishing up plans for a Disciple-NOW beach retreat on April 9-11! Excited to have a weekend focused on students learning to live a lifestyle of worship. My brother Jeff is coming to speak, younger brother Justin will lead “Late Nite” and Tim and Em will lead worship!
• Praying for our Puerto Rico Mission trip this June. I’m taking 31 students and parents for a week to build homes and share the gospel.
• Last but not least. At the conference this last few days, I saw some great hairstyles, outfits and looks of youth pastors! I love what I’m able to do and enjoy hanging out with youth workers. The video below is awesome and very true!

Below are some snapshots of the day!

“Heart Throb“- Proberbs 4:23 (NLT)

Main Thought: Guard your heart for God’s best in marriage (We focused this night on speaking to the girls, My wife Cassidy shared a testimony in the middle of the message)

“Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.”

1. The Lure of Love (Emotional love)

• Does your emotions CONFLICT your thinking?
• “But…I want to be happy!” – Eve in the Garden – God wanted Adam and  Eve to be happy but he didn’t give them everything.
• The Heart refers to the “mind as the center of thinking and reason” = Mind, Will and Emotions
• “From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you.”      (Matthew 15:18-20).
• A girl should not pursue a guy – that is the guy’s job

2. Guard your heart = Direction of life

• Addiction to relationships leads to absence of wisdom (OBSESSION)
• “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
• ILL: Deflated tire…returning back over and over to addictive relationships, it leads to heartbreak…
• The person you marry is the second largest decision of life (after salvation)!

3. Give your heart to serve Christ (What do you love the most?)

• Wait for God’s best for you…In the meantime serve GOD!

Close – ILL: Open Heart Surgery*

• Are you guarding your heart for your future spouse?
• Are your decisions focused on honoring God or yourself?