Family and Home Archives

The Search for a Godly Spouse

Not many people know how to pursue marriage with purpose.

For example, when you ask single men and women what they’re looking for in a spouse, many seem unprepared to answer that basic question. The most common responses generally have to do with physical attraction. And that’s not unimportant.

But couples who want a marriage that stands the test of time rise beyond that initial connection point. They keep deeper character traits top of mind, understanding that they’re in a relationship with a whole person, not just a body.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage July 27, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Crucial Role of Men Standing for Life

Author Stephen Arterburn is our guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “The Crucial Role of Men Standing for Life.”

What I appreciate most about Steve is his vulnerability. On our program, for example, he’s sharing about the abortion he compelled his girlfriend to have when they were both college students. He also acknowledges that he believed at the time that abortion was an acceptable medical practice.

In the years since, Steve has discovered how woefully uninformed he was.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: father, pro-life July 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dreaming with Your Child

Shelia Erwin is the mother of filmmaking duo the Erwin Brothers, known for the popular Christian films October Baby, Moms’ Night Out, and I Can Only Imagine. Her sons, Andrew and Jon, were always discovering new interests in junior high school, so Shelia wasn’t surprised when they became passionate about the visual arts.

She couldn’t foresee at the time how her boys’ newest hobby would someday blossom. Still, she and her husband Hank encouraged them however they could.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, family July 22, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Healthy Living for Age 50 and Beyond

Wisdom comes with age. So do health concerns.

Turning 50 is a major milestone in a person’s health. Maybe you’ve noticed that regular activities that used to cause no side effects now leave you with stiff joints and muscles. Little aches and pains aside, most of us can live long, healthy lives if we’ll remember a few good, common-sense ideas.

My friend and former colleague Dr. Walt Larimore identifies five habits that can help those over 50 live an average of 10 years longer than those who don’t adopt them.

Topics: Family and Home July 20, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Authentic Christianity: Counting the Cost

I wake up every day with a desire to serve the Lord. I want other people to see Christ in me when I’m confronted with challenges. I want them to say, “Wow! I would’ve reacted entirely differently in that situation. What do you have that I don’t, Jim?”

But then someone cuts me off in traffic.

…Or my boys don’t behave the way I’ve told them to a dozen times.

…Or I’m exhausted after a long flight and an unexpected delay complicates my plans.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: christianity, faith July 15, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Showing Unconditional Love to Your Children

It’s easy to bless a child. It really is.

Not long ago, I asked my son, Troy, if he remembered the day almost ten years ago when I blessed him while we were out hiking on a camping trip. Somewhere along the trail, we stopped, I placed a hand on his shoulder, told him how important he was to me and his mother, and how much we – and God – loved him. Then I prayed over him.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, family July 14, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Standing for Life in the Black Community

Christina Bennett begins her testimony like this:

“I could have been a statistic. Just a number. I had an appointment to die. My mother went to a clinic to have me aborted, but God stepped in at the eleventh hour and rescued me. And I’m going to tell you what He did.”

What follows is a remarkable story about how God intervened in Christina’s life and made her an overcomer. Far from being a victim of abortion, she has championed the pro-life cause, particularly in the African American community, which she believes is being targeted by pro-abortion advocates.

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

Leading Others by Following Jesus

Whether you lead a business, a church, or a family, the wisest approach is to pattern your leadership after people who know how to lead well. And who better demonstrated leadership after than Jesus Christ himself?

Willie Robertson of A&E’s Duck Dynasty is with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Leading Others by Following Jesus,” sharing an inspiring message on how to emulate the leadership principles that Jesus modeled while He was on Earth.

Topics: Family and Home July 10, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Healing the Hurts Behind Your Addiction

What does addiction look like?

Johnny Baker compares it to a small water leak he discovered on the side of his house one day. He wasn’t sure of the cause, but the leak seemed small and posed little risk.

A few weeks later, the water stain had grown, and moss was growing.

A few weeks after that, Johnny’s wife called him at work and said, “You have to come home right now. Water from our house is flooding the neighbor’s yard.”

The small leak had grown into a full water line break.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: addiction July 7, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Praying for Your Sons

Are your boys rambunctious? Messy? Loud? Are they always falling off of their bikes? Wrestling with the neighbor kids? Forgetting the same instruction you’ve reminded them of a hundred … no, a thousand times?

Boys will be boys, but author Brooke McGlothlin says that her boys were so wild she was embarrassed. They were strong-willed from birth and their behavior grew wilder the older they became. Some days, her household felt like one big wrestling match.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: prayer, sons July 6, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura