Family and Home Archives

Thanksgiving — 20 things to still be grateful for in 2020 (yes, even in 2020)

If you’re already counting down the days till next year this Thanksgiving week, eager to be out with the old and in with the new, especially in this pandemic-torn year, I’d like to recommend that we still pause to count our blessings in 2020 – and even name them one by one.

Why?

Gratitude provides perspective and level sets today’s troubles, trials and tribulations.

I presume everyone could assemble their own individual list, but here are 20 things that I think many of us can be appreciative of as we approach Thursday’s celebration of Thanksgiving.

1. Doctors, nurses and medical professionals: Even at great risk to their own health, they have cared for millions of infected patients this year.

2. First responders: Because they’re willing to be available at all hours, you and I can sleep soundly each night.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: thanksgiving November 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Living in Peace with People Who Drive You Crazy

Although your family Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers may look different this year, you still may be worried about spending time with that one family member who is sure to make the holiday season … interesting. Whenever they’re near, there’s friction.

What can you do to manage that relationship better and find peace in the midst of chaos?

We’re having a conversation with Dr. Mike Bechtle, author of the book People Can’t Drive You Crazy If You Don’t Give Them the Keys, on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Living in Peace with People Who Drive You Crazy.”

Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Encouragement for the Single Life

Life as a single adult can be daunting, especially when it comes to maintaining a high moral standard in a romantic relationship.

How can Christian women honor God in their dating?

Cheryl Martin asked herself that question many times over the years about her own singleness. She decided, “Until I’m married, I don’t want to endure my singleness. I want to enjoy it. And since I’m God’s child, I don’t want to be an average single.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: singleness November 23, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Embracing Messy, Beautiful Forgiveness

C.S. Lewis once said, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.”

Isn’t that true? We all want a fairy tale ending to our pain, but we struggle to do the messy, difficult work of forgiving someone who’s hurt us so deeply.

Lysa TerKeurst didn’t think she could ever forgive her husband after he engaged in a long, drawn-out affair. She misunderstood the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, thinking they existed together, like two sides of a coin.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: forgiveness November 17, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life

What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a tricycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle?

Attire.

Get it?

Okay, so I’m not much of a comedian. Which is why you’ll enjoy our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life” with a real comedian, Tim Hawkins.

Tim finds humor in everyday circumstances. Like the video below, about a time when fixing breakfast for his children didn’t go so well.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 16, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Surprising News About Divorce

With the exception of the loss of a child, nothing takes an emotional toll on a family quite like the devastation rendered by divorce.

In fact, since Focus on the Family’s inception in 1977, the preservation and promotion of marriage has been at the forefront of our ministry’s efforts. From our broadcasts to our books, programs, articles and numerous other forms of media, championing the marital union and preventing divorce has been one of our top priorities.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: divorce, marriage November 13, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Rising Above the Labels That Bind You

Writer and speaker Esther Fleece Allen struggled under a list of labels well into her 20s and 30s:

Orphaned.Abandoned.Forsaken.Unlovable.Unwanted.

At one point, she wondered if those labels would always form the basis of her identity.

Then she began to learn about the concept of new names in Scripture. The Bible reveals the enemy’s strategy to keep us stuck in the labels of our pasts – labels that others attach to us or that we attach to ourselves.

Topics: Family and Home November 13, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Embracing Grace, Fun, and Family This Holiday Season

Since Christmas will probably look different for your family this year, why not start some new traditions?

We’re talking about ideas for approaching the holiday season with grace, fun, and a deeper focus on God and your family on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Embracing Grace, Fun, and Family This Holiday Season.” Listen on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, holidays November 12, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Forging a Partnership with Your Spouse in a Family Crisis

A crisis can tear a family apart.

Evan and Elisa Morgan learned how to forge a strong partnership by going through the fires of crisis – one of which involved their teenage daughter.

Evan was the CFO of Denver Seminary. Elisa was the president of Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). Their daughter was an honor roll student, a state-ranked swimmer, and an active member of her youth group. She even participated in a mission trip to serve HIV/AIDS orphans in Kenya.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage November 10, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sharing God’s Light Through Art

We recorded our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Sharing God’s Light Through Art” in a different kind of studio. Instead of microphones and recording consoles, we were surrounded by more easels, paint brushes, and canvases in one place than I’ve ever seen.

The studio belongs to Morgan Weistling, who has been an artist since he was old enough to hold a crayon. He has studied under some of the most legendary illustrators and artists of the last century.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 6, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura