Family and Home Archives

Helping Your Marriage Survive the Coronavirus

We’re
several weeks into the coronavirus outbreak, and by now you’ve memorized a
dozen methods for keeping your body’s immune system strong.

But what are
you doing to keep your marriage strong?

When we’re
stressed, we strike out at the people closest to us, namely our spouse and children.
That’s especially true when you’re cooped up together under quarantine. Good
marriages can be strained, and bad marriages can be stressed to their breaking
point.

A couple’s
differences can either serve as triggers for conflict or as points of tension that
can strengthen the relationship.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage April 16, 2020 by Megan Klackner

Trusting God When We Don’t Understand His Ways

A
lot of people wonder, “Can God truly be good, even when He allows pain and
suffering in my life?”

That
question deserves a serious, thoughtful answer. To that end, we’ve invited Dr.
Larry Crabb to join us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Trusting God When We Don’t Understand His Ways.”

Dr.
Crabb is author of the book When God’s
Ways Make No Sense. He has some
timely thoughts about how faith can anchor our lives in the midst of uncertainty.

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

How Our New, Free Streaming Service Can Help Your Family Celebrate Easter

Do you and your family find yourselves watching more movies and television these days?

If so, please don’t forget to check out Focus on the Family’s new streaming service, Focus@Home.We’re adding new content every day, including some wonderful special material for Easter from our friend Ray Vander Laan, perhaps best known for his teaching in our rich and meaningful series, That the World May Know.

We’ve also added The Truth Project, our award-winning Christian worldview series from Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: easter, family, focus at home April 8, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Giving and Receiving God’s Grace

Fortunately,
I got out of it. Not because I outsmarted anybody, but because somebody showed
me grace when I deserved judgment.

My final
year of high school I worked for a produce company in southern California. One
day my boss had me tag along with one of the truck drivers. We drove for hours
to drop off a load of potatoes, only to discover when we got there that all of
the workers had gone on strike.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith April 7, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

5 Things Every Family Needs to do Before the Coronavirus Pandemic Ends

If you’re like most people, you’re praying for a quick end to the coronavirus global pandemic. I don’t blame you. So am I. The virulent pathogen has taken over 10,000 lives and upended hundreds of millions more here in the United States alone.

It’s a tragedy unlike we’ve seen in America in over a century.

You’re doing your best to make the most of your time at home, possibly balancing your career with homeschooling kids – all the while trying to maintain your sanity and remain safe and healthy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: current events, family April 6, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Teaching Kids About Easter

Several years ago, when video stores were still around, Jean and I went looking for a movie that told the story of Easter. We couldn’t find the title we were looking for on the shelf, so we asked the young lady behind the counter if another copy was available.

When she heard the word “Easter,” she pointed us to
several kids’ videos that had something to do with decorating eggs. We said,
“No, we’re looking for a video about the real story of Easter, the death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Judging by the confused look on her face, she
had no idea what we were talking about.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: easter, family April 6, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family Launches Streaming Platform Focus@Home

Focus on the Family has launched a free streaming platform for families called Focus@Home. The platform features some of Focus’ most popular content, including the animated video series “Adventures in Odyssey” and “McGee and Me,” and video series and feature films such as “Last Chance Detectives,” “Every Boy Needs a Hero” and “Mully.”

Additional content, including Ray Vander Laan’s “That that World May Know,” “The Truth Project” and more will be added over the coming weeks.

To access the free content, simply visit www.focusonthefamily.com/streaming.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, focus at home April 3, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: 15 Things to Do Together as a Family

By: Danny Huerta

The news about the Coronavirus is unrelenting. There seems to be more bad news every day. Your home is filled with demands and stress, and this may squeeze out some moments of bad parenting.

But you can begin to create your own culture in your home. This
list is about giving you a quick playbook to work from for this time together
as a family. You are trying to navigate the literal blending of work and
home.

Start with a schedule

Think about how you might build a schedule for your family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family April 2, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Relax! Your Kids are Already Homeschooled

As several states announce that schools will stay closed for the remainder of the academic year and others have suspended classes indefinitely, I’m hearing from other moms who are overwhelmed at the thought of becoming their child’s teacher.

I understand the apprehension, but a little perspective might be helpful.

If you think about it, mothers already wear all kinds of hats. By some estimates, moms simultaneously hold between 40 and 50 different job titles from chef to cleaner to chauffer, as well as crisis negotiator and relationship guru.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: education, family, homeschool March 27, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Reducing Conflict in Your Marriage

Is it possible to enjoy an argument-free marriage?

Author Fawn Weaver says that you can.

Now, before you dismiss her vision for marital bliss
too quickly, give her a chance to explain. She’ll tell you plainly that building
an argument-free marriage takes some grit. Ironically, couples don’t find
harmony by striving for peace at all costs. They don’t avoid serious
conversations or sweep important issues under the rug, either.

You eliminate arguments through effective
communication that gets to the truth of a matter and that offers genuine
solutions.

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