Family and Home Archives

Managing Your Money During Uncertain Times

Over the last year, we’ve seen a rise in unemployment and devastating financial crises among many families.

In difficult times, the temptation is to place our trust in the amount of resources available to us rather than in the One who promises to meet all of our needs “according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Managing Your Money During Uncertain Times,” Deborah Pegues is with us to help you stop, take a deep breath, and stand firm in your faith in God and His promises.

Topics: Family and Home January 7, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Simple Ways to Love Your Daughter or Son

My wife Jean and I have raised two boys, Trent and Troy. Throughout their childhoods, I was able to enjoy a lot of father/son time with them. Just the three of us. Baseball games. Football games. Camping. Fishing.

Looking back on it, the one thing I would change is that I would have done more with each of them individually, to invest one on one time with them. Individual quality time is a great way to show a child love.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, parenting January 5, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Starting Off the New Year Right

A new year is upon us, and you know what that means, don’t you?

It’s time to get the next 12 months off to a great start.

Some of us may choose to make New Year’s resolutions. Others may prefer to think in terms of goals, objectives, or plans. Whatever lingo you choose, the challenge remains the same: making it happen.

That’s where things get tough because there’s nothing magical about the flip of the calendar.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, New Years January 1, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Parenting the Heart of Your Teen

You can learn a lot from your kids’ report cards. Letter grades may not tell the whole story behind your child’s education, but they do give a sense of where your children are struggling in school and where they’re doing well.

Years ago, I started using the same idea to help me better connect with my two boys. Every few months, I’d ask, “How well do you feel I listen to you when you have a problem to share?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, parenting December 31, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Discovering the Truth About My Identity

A homosexual activist once asked me, “When are Christians going to leave behind their medieval beliefs about sexuality and come into the 21st century?”

He was referring to the Bible, of course – which confronts all of us with some pretty powerful ideas that are not always easily digestible.

So, I responded, “Christians are followers of the Bible, not editors. We’re compelled to follow God’s Word because it’s His truth, and we believe Jesus when He says the truth sets us free” (John 8:32).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality December 29, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

It’s a Pokenberry Christmas

One of the best things we’ve ever come up with here at Focus on the Family has been Adventures in Odyssey, our radio drama for children ages 8-12.

When it first began, a lot of people were skeptical the venture would be successful in the age of television, movies, and other visual entertainment. But our Adventures in Odyssey team members are some of the most talented people in the business. As a result of their creativity, this little radio program that could has been capturing the hearts of young and old alike for almost 30 years.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adventures in odyssey, christmas December 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home at Focus on the Family to yours!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: christmas December 23, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Christmas in Isolation

As the COVID-19 global pandemic rolls on, Americans are faced with the prospect of spending a much quieter Christmas than usual.

Sadly, many will be celebrating it completely alone, isolated out of concern of infection or blocked from seeing loved ones unable to make the trip.

Forty years ago, halfway through my sophomore year at Cal State San Bernardino, I found myself in a difficult and similar situation. There was no pandemic or call for social distancing, but for me there may just as well have been.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: christmas December 21, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Discovering the Secrets to a Lifelong Romance

Did you get married to work a job? To do laundry? To pay bills?

Of course not. Yet, most couples wind up with marriages in exactly that kind of “ho-hum” condition. Sooner or later, the euphoria of the wedding ceremony fades away and life settles into a daily grind of often-mundane activity. Careers are chased, children are born, and ever-larger homes are purchased. Or newer and newer cars sit outside of garages filled to the roof with stuff we’ll never use.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage December 21, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Best Choices You Can Make for Your Marriage

Researchers say that, on average, a person makes 35,000 decisions a day.

Creamer in our coffee or black?

Get out of bed now or later?

Scratch our head with our left hand or our right?

Answer our phone or not?

There’s one decision that we often don’t think of as a choice – loving our spouse. We talk about love as if it’s an outside force. We say, “It was love at first sight.” Or we “fall in love.” Love is a feeling that we chalk up to chance or chemistry rather than making a conscious decision to act toward our spouse in loving ways.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage December 17, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura