Daly Focus Blog
Dr. Gary Chapman never asks troubled couples, “Do you want to work on your marriage?” Wanting something is a function of the emotions, and emotions rely on desire to get things moving.
Instead, he asks, “Will you work on your marriage?” The will involves a commitment and a decision to act. If a couple can say “yes” to that question, then good things can happen with the right guidance.
Some couples are headed for a divorce because they don’t know how to resolve their conflict.
If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve grown accustomed to saying “no” – and for good reason.
By their very nature, children love to test the limits. If there’s an edge, you can bet they’ll find it.
Back when our sons, Trent and Troy, were young, I remember how they often wanted to go faster, higher, farther and deeper.
When we allowed them to watch one movie, they’d ask to make it a double feature. If one dessert was good, two would be better.
I love meeting new believers in Christ. Their faith is so alive and vibrant that it bubbles over into every area of life, and they want to serve and worship Him at every opportunity.
Do you remember feeling that way?
Unfortunately, we can lose passion for our faith over time. We get busy with work, children, and household responsibilities, and the fire that once burned bright for Christ begins to fade.
If you’re wondering how to keep your passion alive or to reignite it if it’s gone dull, tune in to our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Reigniting Your Passion for Jesus.” We’re speaking with Kim Meeder, author of the book Revival Rising: Embracing His Transforming Power.
Is your home a lighthouse?
The purpose of a lighthouse is to shine brightly through the darkness so that people on the open water can make it safely to shore.
That imagery illustrates the profound nature of the Christian life. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world” and then encourages us to let our “light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”
A Christian’s home ought to shine with God’s love and grace and be welcoming to the neighborhood around it.
Every dating couple believes their marriage will be a string of mountaintop experiences.
In the early stages of a relationship, couples can’t imagine feeling discontent with their significant other. They can’t fathom their romance fading or their conversations not stretching into the wee hours of the night. And disagreements? What disagreements?
But once a couple is married, those expectations often hit speed bumps. There’s the monotony of work and paying bills week-in and week-out. There are stressors – a job loss, the death of a loved one, financial struggles, the birth of children.
Many couples contact Focus on the Family because they feel like married roommates. Their intimacy has faded, their relationship is no longer deepening, and they’re growing apart instead of becoming one.
Drifting in marriage happens when couples stop making their relationship a priority. After the fun of dating and the splendor of the wedding celebration, other things begin to distract husbands and wives from each other.
Spouses stop talking to one another about what they’re thinking and feeling.
From his days playing on the field, coaching on the sidelines and now, serving up insight in the broadcast booth on NBC’s Football Night in America, many of us have admired Tony Dungy.
But while Coach Dungy has a keen football mind, we especially appreciate him for his commitment to his family and the boldness with which he shares his deep Christian faith.
“My job as a dad is to point my children to the Lord, and everything else in life will take care of itself,” he once observed.
With eleven children, Coach Dungy exemplifies and models Christian fatherhood.
Would you be able to forgive the person who shattered your life?
In a recorded message on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Journeying from Tragedy to Triumph,” Bryan Koch shares how a drunk driver turned a pleasant Sunday afternoon motorcycle ride into a horrendous tragedy for his family.
After a lovely summer afternoon drive, Bryan and his wife, Lynn were less than a mile from their home when their motorcycle was run off the road by a driver whose blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit.
Our culture is so toxic for young girls that an increasing number are suffering from a growing list of troubles – from low self-esteem and anxiety to depression and eating disorders. What’s the answer?
It isn’t so much a “what” as it is a “who.” Mothers are instrumental in helping their daughters navigate a world that is often against them.
One of Mom’s key roles is being a good listener. Teen girls usually seek out Mom for advice and feel most comfortable sharing their heart with her.
Jesus’ mother was Mary.
The prophet Samuel’s mother was Hannah.
King David’s mother?
The Bible doesn’t tell us. But she must have had tremendous insight into how to raise a boy to become man. Everyone remembers David for conquering Goliath. Yet, his strength and trust in the Lord were developed as a teenager in the field:
“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth.
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.
