Family and Home Archives

Reflecting on Our Blessings at Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks. We’re encouraged to “give thanks to the Lord” (1 Chronicles 16:34), to pray “with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6), and to receive God’s provision “with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). We’re also told that our generosity in Christ stirs up responses of thanksgiving in others (2 Corinthians 9:11), spreading gratitude for God outward.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us and to express our gratitude for His bountiful grace and mercy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 24, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Day of Thanks

With the economy still troubled and unemployment figures struggling to right themselves, thankfulness may be in short supply for many Americans this year. The early Pilgrims encountered extreme hardship as well. But their response is instructive.

The Pilgrims’ effort to colonize America was fraught with challenge from the moment they stepped foot on the Mayflower. The journey across the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days in cold, damp, and miserable conditions. A number of the passengers became ill, and one person died before they reached the shore of their new home.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 23, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Removing Barriers Between You and Your Prodigal Child

As you read this today, you may have a prodigal child who is in trouble, or in danger. They’re seemingly lost in bad friends, bad choices, and bad consequences. Your other children feel left behind in the wake of their sibling’s chaos. And you’re questioning where you went wrong.

Few things are as painful as children who turn away from their family and the values they were taught. The deeper the pain, the harder hope is to find.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: parenting November 23, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When the Talking Gets Tough

I’m an extrovert. I love to talk. But some people run into brick walls at the end of the day. They drag themselves into the house each night, and dread what’s coming: their spouse asking, “How was your day?” Their mind goes blank, or they groan at the thought of having to explain everything that happened at work.

Most couples need more than a simple reminder to talk more, they need a plan. So, here are a couple of practical ideas you and your spouse can put into practice tonight.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 22, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Making Helpful Changes in Your Communication

You want people to like you. We all do. Disapproval from others is not comfortable, so most of us put our best foot forward in ways that we believe others will approve. The Bible also instructs us to guard against selfishness, to sacrifice our own desires on behalf of others.

But when do we cross the line between serving others and becoming a “people pleaser”? Discerning between what’s healthy and unhealthy is murky for many people, which is why we’ve invited our good friend Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 21, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

History’s Most Expensive Turkey

This holiday season, give yourself a special gift: take a deep breath, relax, and laugh at yourself.

When I think of seeing the funny side of life, I think of Bill who wanted to cook his family the greatest Thanksgiving meal ever. Instead of a traditional dinner from the kitchen oven, he decided to cook the turkey on his new grill outside, a fancy built-in connected to the house’s gas line. He spent weeks planning the menu, and when the big day arrived, he executed it flawlessly.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 21, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Jim Daly Statement on Colorado Springs Shooting

Saturday night’s horrific shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs exposes the evil and wickedness inside the human heart.

We must condemn in the strongest terms possible the taking of innocent life. Our hearts break for those families who have lost loved ones and who are suffering this unimaginable tragedy. We pray for them. And now the work turns to law enforcement who are tasked with investigating and determining the motive behind this senseless violence.

We pray for peace and for the welfare of our city.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events November 20, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Filling Your Marriage with God’s Best

Do you have a “barely enough” marriage?

If so, would you like to have one that is “filled to the brim”?

Those metaphors come to life in John 2:1-11, which tells the story of Jesus’ miracle at the wedding at Cana. A man who was hosting a marriage celebration ran out of wine. At the urging of his mother, Jesus instructed the servants to fill six stone jars with water, each holding 20 to 30 gallons.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage November 18, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Friendship or Flirtation

Marriages everywhere are at risk because of one of the most powerful drugs known to man – called infatuation.

Maybe you don’t think of infatuation as a drug. But Dave Carder, who has spent the past 30 years studying the causes of infidelity, says infatuation is as powerful as any substance out there.

If you think that’s overstated, consider this: when someone walks away from their family for an affair, you probably ask yourself: “What were they thinking?”

According to Dave, they weren’t thinking.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage November 17, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How a Dysfunctional Street Kid Became a Disciple of Jesus

Our guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “How a Dysfunctional Street Kid Became a Disciple of Jesus” is Greg Stier, an evangelist, author, and the founder of Dare2Share, a youth evangelism and leadership training ministry.

Greg’s life story is an amazing tale of how the Lord worked through his toxic upbringing to draw him to Christ.

Greg grew up in a community in northern Denver that was a tinderbox of racial tension, and where fights, gunshots, and knifings were common.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 16, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura