Daly Focus Blog
Author and speaker Patsy Clairmont is well known for her wit and sense of humor. But she also has an amazing testimony of overcoming a chronic anxiety disorder and panic attacks.
Anxiety is about the scary “what ifs?” in life. Patsy imagined horrible scenarios about everything that could happen and rehearsed them over and over again in her mind. Her anxiety was so acute that she felt emotionally paralyzed and hid away at home.
Patsy says:
“Fear has friends – anger, guilt, shame.
I never knew my grandparents, but family friends – Mr. and Mrs. Hope – became surrogate grandparents to me. They led my mother to the Lord and treated her and me and my siblings as part of their family.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are visiting with Grandpa Hope. He would sit in a big recliner in his garden atrium, play checkers with us kids and – like any good grandfather – lose on purpose often enough to build our self-confidence.
Don’t let anybody ever tell you that kids can’t do big and significant things.
I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of meeting some remarkable children in my lifetime. In fact, I met one just last week here at Focus on the Family.
His name is Sawyer Hagberg, and he is 12 years old.
Sawyer was playing a video game one day this past summer when a Focus on the Family video came on. It’s a special spot we created to help call attention to our SEE LIFE 2020 online event that’s scheduled for Saturday September 26th at 8 P.M.
Some of you recognize Lacey Sturm as the former lead singer for the alternative rock band Flyleaf and now as a solo artist. If you’re not familiar with her journey to new life in Christ, it’s an amazing story.
Lacey Sturm was just 10 years old when her three-year-old cousin was beaten to death by his stepfather. The tragedy rocked Lacey’s world so hard that she lost all assurance that God noticed or cared about her.
Have you heard of the popular MTV programs “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant”? I’ve only caught a random segment or two, and only to keep a pulse on the culture and the messages it communicates to our children.
You have to dig to find redeeming value to such “entertainment.” If you’re not familiar with these shows, they’re so-called “reality” TV programs that follow the lives of young girls between the ages of 13 and 16 who are pregnant, having babies, and involved in intimate relationships.
Mike Singletary is a great example of the word “overcomer.”
Although he is best known as a Hall of Fame linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears, Mike’s challenges began before he was even born. His mother already had nine kids when she became pregnant with him, and she was struggling in a bad marriage. Her circumstances seemed so dire that some encouraged her to abort Mike.
Mike’s mother refused. Before he was born, she said to him, “Son, I want you to know that there’s greatness in you.
By now you’ve likely seen the images of the maddening maelstrom outside the White House last Thursday night following President Trump’s acceptance speech to conclude the final night of the Republican National Convention.
Mobs of individuals behaving in a vile and vicious manner harassing and haranguing departing attendees, including Senator Rand Paul and his wife, Kelley. The Pauls believe they would have been killed if not for the police escort that surrounded them as they walked along the sidewalk after departing the grounds of the Executive Mansion.
If your teenager is struggling to discover his or her identity in Christ and to live boldly for Him, extend an invitation to sit down with you and listen to our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Living Boldly for Christ in School.”
Emma Mae Jenkins is our guest. She’s a 21-year-old college student and a YouTuber with over 75,000 thousand followers. Her videos are filled with positivity and hope. In each one, Emma Mae encourages young people to live out their faith right where they are.
They say the eyes are a window to the soul.
If so, husbands, what are your wife’s eyes telling you? Are they alive and vibrant? Or are they tired and withdrawn?
The difference could lie in how she sees herself in your eyes. Does she see a reflection of herself as described in Scripture? Genesis 2:18 says, “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’”
The Hebrew word for “helper” conveys the idea of a “completer.” Far from being subservient or inferior to their husbands, God has designed wives to be equal companions.
Political campaigns are heating up and election day is right around the corner on November 3.
Are you ready to vote?
Elections offer Americans the opportunity to vote for candidates who align with their values. However, you can only vote your values when you’re clear what those values are. That’s why I believe it’s wise for Christians to understand how the biblical worldview addresses key issues at stake on Election Day.
We want a society that believes every single human life has value and deserves respect and dignity.
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.
