Daly Focus Blog
What kind of “sex-pectations” do you and your spouse have?
In the book Married Sex: A Christian Couple’s Guide to Reimagining Your Love Life, co-authors Gary Thomas and Debra Fileta define “sex-pectations” as beliefs about sex that couples have going into marriage.
Those expectations are often unhealthy. Aligning them with reality can be challenging. A great place to start is adopting a biblical perspective of sex, which will promote a healthy sex life in your relationship.
Forgiveness is transformational. But it isn’t easy. Because it requires a lot.
Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 18:23-35 about a servant who owes the king a debt of 10,000 talents. Estimates vary on exactly how much that converts to in today’s dollars, but many commentators suggest that one talent was roughly a year’s wages. Referencing 10,000 talents was Jesus’ way of communicating that the servant was hopelessly in debt to the king. Which is what makes the king’s gracious forgiveness so remarkable.
Every December I look forward to slowing down during the Christmas season and reflecting on God’s generous provision over the past year. Despite my best intentions, however, I struggle to find quiet time because there’s always so much going on during the holidays.
I know I’m not alone. Christmas is filled with unrealistic expectations. We put a lot of energy into shopping, decorating, attending parties, and wrapping gifts, and we wonder why we feel so stressed out instead of refreshed and closer to God and our families.
The United States Senate’s passage of H.R. 8404, the deceptively titled “Respect for Marriage Act,” is a blow to religious freedom and should it become law, which now seems more likely than not, threatens to further undermine the very fragile foundation of the family.
In opposing this misguided legislation, social conservatives put up a valiant effort. We’re grateful for friends of the family in the Senate, especially Senators Lee, Lankford and Rubio. Each of them offered amendments intended to protect the deeply held religious convictions of organizations like Focus on the Family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks. We’re encouraged to “give thanks to the Lord” (1 Chronicles 16:34), to pray “with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6), and to receive God’s provision “with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). We’re also told that our generosity in Christ stirs up responses of thanksgiving in others (2 Corinthians 9:11), spreading gratitude for God outward.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us and to express our gratitude for His bountiful grace and mercy.
With the economy still troubled and unemployment figures struggling to right themselves, thankfulness may be in short supply for many Americans this year. The early Pilgrims encountered extreme hardship as well. But their response is instructive.
The Pilgrims’ effort to colonize America was fraught with challenge from the moment they stepped foot on the Mayflower. The journey across the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days in cold, damp, and miserable conditions. A number of the passengers became ill, and one person died before they reached the shore of their new home.
As you read this today, you may have a prodigal child who is in trouble, or in danger. They’re seemingly lost in bad friends, bad choices, and bad consequences. Your other children feel left behind in the wake of their sibling’s chaos. And you’re questioning where you went wrong.
Few things are as painful as children who turn away from their family and the values they were taught. The deeper the pain, the harder hope is to find.
I’m an extrovert. I love to talk. But some people run into brick walls at the end of the day. They drag themselves into the house each night, and dread what’s coming: their spouse asking, “How was your day?” Their mind goes blank, or they groan at the thought of having to explain everything that happened at work.
Most couples need more than a simple reminder to talk more, they need a plan. So, here are a couple of practical ideas you and your spouse can put into practice tonight.
You want people to like you. We all do. Disapproval from others is not comfortable, so most of us put our best foot forward in ways that we believe others will approve. The Bible also instructs us to guard against selfishness, to sacrifice our own desires on behalf of others.
But when do we cross the line between serving others and becoming a “people pleaser”? Discerning between what’s healthy and unhealthy is murky for many people, which is why we’ve invited our good friend Dr.
This holiday season, give yourself a special gift: take a deep breath, relax, and laugh at yourself.
When I think of seeing the funny side of life, I think of Bill who wanted to cook his family the greatest Thanksgiving meal ever. Instead of a traditional dinner from the kitchen oven, he decided to cook the turkey on his new grill outside, a fancy built-in connected to the house’s gas line. He spent weeks planning the menu, and when the big day arrived, he executed it flawlessly.
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.
