Daly Focus Blog
The Lord moves in mysterious ways.
Which is why author and humorist Patsy Clairmont doubted God was speaking to her when He asked her to share Genesis 1:3, “Let there be light,” with her friend who was sick with cancer.
Patsy knows how dark life can be. She has lived through some difficult seasons herself. In fact, for many years she suffered such crippling anxiety that she feared leaving her house, and some days she couldn’t even get out of bed.
Not much can exploit a couple’s differences like Hollywood. So, when Kirk and Chelsea Cameron married in 1991, they knew they were attempting to build a life together in a place notorious for tearing marriages down.
They spent the first several months on the lookout for outside dangers to their relationship. But a conflict one night in their kitchen taught them that the culture surrounding them wasn’t the most significant influence on whether or not their marriage would be successful.
As a father of two young men, the topic of how young people and faith coalesce is close to my heart because Jean and I are living it right now. We have diligently tried to raise our sons to be men after God’s heart. Some days we feel like we’ve hit a home run. Other days, we fear we’re striking out.
Maybe you feel the same way. Christian parents are competing with a lot in the culture when it comes to believing in God and living for him.
I’d like to begin by reminding you about our pro-life event this weekend, September 26. See Life 2020 will be streamed at 6:00 p.m. MT on Focus’ Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram channels, as well as at focusonthefamily.com/see-life/. This program will feature powerful pro-life stories, compelling commentary from dynamic Christian leaders, soul-stirring music from award-winning artists, and will culminate with a 4D ultrasound of a baby – offering a window into the reality of life in the womb. Join us!
Money is one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage.
There are two important reasons husbands and wives struggle in this area. The first is that a lot of couples assume that the solution to their financial problems is more money. It’s not. Extra income may ease a few immediate financial pressures, but it’s usually not a long-term solution.
Generally, the more money a couple earns, the more likely they are to elevate their standard of living and, therefore, their spending.
Does this formula remind you of your parenting style?
You probably recognize that from a math class somewhere in your past. It guarantees that every time you add A and B together, you get C. So, 3 + 2 always equals 5. Every time. It’s simple. It’s reliable.
It’s predictable.
Which is why formulas are the go-to parenting method for so many moms and dads. And many don’t even realize they’re doing it.
Here’s the test.
Dara’s son Timothy was turning three, and to celebrate, friends, grandparents and other family members gathered for his birthday party. All had a great time filled with cake, presents and pictures. Proof was captured in Dara’s numerous social media posts. It was the perfect day that every parent looks forward to.
Unfortunately, Dara had no idea that it would be her last normal day in a long while.
It was the day before she discovered her husband’s pornography use.
Odds are, you or someone you know has stepchildren. According to a recent statistic, 40 percent of families in the United States are blended.
That is a lot of people who are trying to build something new out of the ashes of their former lives. Divorce. Death. Blended families come together for many reasons, but they each face a number of challenges.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Cultivating Love in Blended Families,” authors Dr.
Sara Williams and her husband, Paul, have learned how to trust God by walking through the fires of suffering.
A routine 20-week pregnancy scan revealed a problem. Sarah’s baby had a lethal skeletal issue called thanatophoric dysplasia, a malformity of the skeletal structure where the bones don’t develop sufficiently to allow the proper development of the lungs. The baby was safe inside the womb but would die at birth or shortly thereafter.
Sarah remembers the shock of hearing that the best medical recommendation for her situation was to terminate the life of her baby.
Author and speaker Patsy Clairmont is well known for her wit and sense of humor. But she also has an amazing testimony of overcoming a chronic anxiety disorder and panic attacks.
Anxiety is about the scary “what ifs?” in life. Patsy imagined horrible scenarios about everything that could happen and rehearsed them over and over again in her mind. Her anxiety was so acute that she felt emotionally paralyzed and hid away at home.
Patsy says:
“Fear has friends – anger, guilt, shame.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
