Jim Daly

How to Deal With a Controlling Spouse

When you hear the term “controlling spouse,” you might picture the stereotypical angry husband who barks orders and intimidates his wife through verbal and physical abuse.

Although some men control like that, some control more subtly. They’re not malicious and may not even be aware how their behavior is affecting their family.

Either way, the result is the same: the spouse feels frustrated, powerless, and alone in marriage. Even in loving, Christian relationships, manipulation, anxiety, and fear can lead to unhealthy forms of control between a husband and wife.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: marriage

The pro-life community is ready for a post-Roe world

Although it’s likely still several months away, anticipation and optimism are beginning to build ahead of the Supreme Court’s expected ruling on the constitutionality of Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. That’s because for the first time in a generation, there appears to be a legitimate chance that a majority of justices will affirm a state’s right to put restrictions on the horrific taking of innocent life.

Since December’s high stakes hearing in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, some have suggested the pro-life community isn’t ready for a post-Roe world.

Don’t believe it.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: pro-life

Thriving as a Wife and Mom in the Middle Years

Somewhere around the midpoint of life, the questions begin.

Am I on track with my goals? Or am I playing catch up?Should I make changes to my life?How am I doing in my marriage?How am I doing as a parent?

“Middle age” is often defined by age – somewhere between 40 and 60 – but it is also defined by stage. Some women feel like they’re in midlife in their early 30s because their children are older than other moms their age.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting

The Legacy of a Godly Dad

What makes a man a godly dad?

You’ll hear a powerful description on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “The Legacy of a Godly Dad.”

We’re airing a touching tribute paid by Brent Reaves to his father, “Smokey” John Reaves, the founder of Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que in Dallas. The family-run restaurant has a reputation for “serving up brisket with a side of Holy Spirit.” Not only did John serve some of the best barbecue in Texas, but he often hosted worship meetings and Bible studies in his restaurant.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting

Abandoning Idols to Cling to God

Have you ever felt so caught up in what you wanted that you struggled to seek God’s will?

I struggled with that in high school when I had hopes of playing pro football. But God had different plans for me.

Learning to trust God has been a long journey for our guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Abandoning Idols to Cling to God,” Christian recording artist Phil Stacey.

After growing up in a musical Christian family, Phil was featured as a soloist for the Lee Singers, one of Lee University’s premiere touring ensembles.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Focusing on Your Family’s Mental Health

Have you heard of the Better-Than-Average Effect?

That’s a term that arose out of psychological studies indicating that we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to. The Better-Than-Average Effect shows up in every area of life, but one of the most common is overestimating our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

The trouble is, when we perceive things to be better than they really are, we’re less likely to make improvements. Instead of investing in our well-being, we put things on autopilot.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family

Jim Daly Statement Opposing the Supreme Court Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

Americans have been watching and listening with interest to the ongoing confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. A federal appeals court judge and the first black woman to be nominated to the High Court, President Biden’s pick to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer possesses a highly decorated résumé.

But an academically and professionally accomplished biography doesn’t necessarily equate to suitability for the Supreme Court of the United States.

During the past three days of spirited questioning from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Jackson has confirmed suspicions that she subscribes to an expansive and progressive view of the Constitution.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: news

Nurturing Your Child’s Personality

God wires each one of us uniquely. Which is why learning who your children are, how they think, and what motivates them are critical skills to develop.

Years ago, when my older son Trent was in elementary school, he came home and said, “Guess what, Dad? I won a gold medal! In chess!” I still feel a guilty about that moment because I thought, “Really? Chess?” I had hoped that he’d want to be a football player like me.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting

Finding God on the Streets

By age 10, Dimas Salaberrios had discovered the seedy underbelly of Queens, New York, learned how it worked, and mapped out his future.

He would become the “Street God.”

Dimas became a drug dealer at age 11. By his early twenties, he’d been arrested nine times. Yet, he never served time in jail thanks to parents who had connections to judges and the money to protect him with well-paid lawyers. After Dimas’ tenth arrest, he was sent to Rikers Island for a year.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Surviving Divorce and Single Parenthood

The permanence of marriage is one of our foundational principles here at Focus on the Family. We believe that marriage is a sacred covenant designed by God that benefits not only husbands and wives, but society as a whole.

That’s biblical. Matthew 19:5-6 says, “A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh … what God has joined together, let no man separate.”

That said, we acknowledge that we live in a world that’s broken by sin, where the potential always exists for marriages to self-destruct because one or both spouses walk away from their commitment and aren’t willing to restore the relationship.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting