Family and Home Archives - Page 2 of 149

How Should Christians Respond to Domestic Abuse?

Of the many calls, emails and letters we receive at Focus on the Family, those involving the tragic subject of spousal abuse are among the most heart-wrenching. They’re also inquiries that demand an unequivocal response with no room for misinterpretation.

I raise this issue today in light of the current controversy involving Southwestern Seminary President Dr. Paige Patterson. The former head of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Patterson has been rightly credited with helping lead a conservative theological revolution within the denomination at a time when progressives were attempting to liberalize the understanding of Scripture.

Topics: Current Events/ Family and Home Tags: Domestic abuse, paige patterson, southern baptist convention May 8, 2018 by Jim Daly

How to Put Christ on Display in Your Marriage

Most couples come into a relationship with a sense of idealism. They’re so much in love and so much alike and so happy.

Over time, though, they discover that they’re really not that much alike – and maybe not so happy, either. That’s when a marriage ends up being all about “me” and “my happiness,” instead of “us” and “our happiness.”

Dr. Larry Crabb says the central problem in marriages like that is “unrecognized self-centeredness.” We ask, “What can my spouse do for me?” rather than “What can I offer my spouse that would make a difference in their life?” Instead of ministering, we manipulate.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, husband, marriage, wife May 7, 2018 by Jim Daly

Harnessing the Power of Word Pictures

Early in their marriage, Dr. John Trent’s wife would get up early and cook him breakfast. One morning, he came into the kitchen and instead of bacon and eggs, he found a book. It was one of John’s textbooks from college.

She said, “Do you remember when you first got this book? You couldn’t wait to read every page. Now you use it as a door stop for your study.” She paused then said, “That’s what our marriage feels like.”

John’s wife had given him a word picture.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, marriage, wife May 4, 2018 by Jim Daly

Helping Your Child to Embrace Their Future

Making big decisions can be frightening for teenagers. They get overwhelmed thinking about buying a car, deciding on a college, choosing a career, and even eventually getting married. We want to help them in these big decisions, but we don’t always know how.

I’ve got good news for you. John Ortberg is our guest, and he has some great advice for parents who are trying to help their teenagers decide their next steps.

His ideas resonate with me.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting May 1, 2018 by Jim Daly

Find the COURAGE to Save Your Marriage

Ann and Mike’s counselor told them: “I’ve never seen a marriage in as big a mess as yours that’s ever made it.”

How had things gotten so bad? They had ignored the impact that stress, unforeseen hardships, and frustration with each other had made on their relationship. Over time, the cracks between them had grown wider and wider, to the point that even their counselor held out little hope for reconciliation.

Truth be told, no one knew their marriage was so far gone.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage, relationships April 26, 2018 by Jim Daly

Living Well in Middle Age

Comedian Ken Davis was 65 when he told his audience, “These are some of the best years of my life.”

He wasn’t joking.

He’d been a Christian for years, but it wasn’t until he was older that he’d begun living the truth of Philippians 3:10, where Paul says that he desired “to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” Christians will experience the fullness of Christ after we die, of course, but Paul reminds us that we can also know the power of God’s resurrection in this life!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, relationships April 24, 2018 by Jim Daly

Thriving as a Single Parent

Solo parenting is one of the toughest jobs in the world.

I’ve seen firsthand just how tough. I was from a single-parent home. After my parents divorced, my mom took care of five kids. Jean and I have also worked with a young man who lost his wife and has been struggling to raise his kids. It’s been eye-opening to see the world through his eyes as closely as we have over the last few months.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting April 23, 2018 by Jim Daly

Discovering God’s Plan for Your Parenting

I wonder if you’ve ever thought of raising your children as an act of worship to the Lord.

Author Gary Thomas calls that “sacred parenting.” That term isn’t meant to drum up imagery of a mom and dad who have “arrived” spiritually and emotionally and are pulling their kids up to their level of perfection. It’s more the idea that we’re guiding our children along the same journey that we’re on. We’re all experiencing victory and stumbling from time to time, all the while seeking forgiveness, redemption, and growth in God’s grace.

Topics: Family and Home April 19, 2018 by Jim Daly

Discovering Your Money Type

There’s a reason that Jesus talked so much about money: Our relationship with God and our stewardship over money are inextricably connected. He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV).

God wants to help us align the desires of our hearts – what we love, what we’re passionate about – with the stewardship of our resources. Stewardship isn’t about building our own kingdoms. It’s about using money in a way that brings God glory and furthers His kingdom.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, finances April 16, 2018 by Jim Daly

She was Aborted … and Survived

For over 40 years, our society has promoted the idea that abortion is as simple as a woman’s choice. Abortion affects her and no one else.

Pro-abortion activists never mention the babies, the men, and the families who are impacted forever by an abortion.

They also never talk about children like Melissa. Her 19-year-old mother was in her third trimester when she was given a saline abortion. The procedure injects a toxic salt solution into the amniotic fluid surrounding the womb.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, church, pro-life April 12, 2018 by Jim Daly