faith Archives - Jim Daly

Guest Post: In a Generation that is Staying Single, Here’s Why I Got Married

By: Kathryn Andersen

My name is Kathryn, and I’m a statistical anomaly.

I’m one of the 27% of millennials who are married.

Student debt, cohabitation, and the “failure to launch” phenomenon have all been blamed for the plummeting marriage rates for people my age.

While those may certainly be factors, I think there’s one, huge, underlying issue that is mostly to blame. The best way I can explain that issue is through my story of cliff jumping.

Ever since I can remember, just the sight of a place called the “Hole in the Rock” — a tall cliff jumping spot on the lake my family frequently visited — was enough to make my heart pound and my hands sweat.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage November 14, 2019 by Jim Daly

Healing the Wounds of War

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Today on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Healing the Wounds of War,” we’re paying tribute to every man and woman who has worn a uniform to protect this great land.

Joining us in the studio is Dave Roever. If you’re not familiar with him, you’re in for a blessing. Dave is a U.S. veteran with an incredible story. He is the living embodiment of Romans 8:28, which tells us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Dave was 21 years old when he married 19-year-old Brenda and joined the Navy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, military, veterans November 11, 2019 by Jim Daly

Winning Your Inner Battles

Did
you know that the average person has five hundred negative thoughts every day?

There’s
a narrative flowing through your mind about who you are and what you’re worth.
Some of it – perhaps a lot if it – is critical.

“Why’d you do
that?”“You’re so
stupid.”“Nothing ever
goes right.”“No one could
ever love me.”

Sometimes
we’re our own worst enemy. We have habits, behaviors, and emotional triggers
that we wish could be different. But they’ve been part of our lives for so long
that change seems impossible.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith October 31, 2019 by Jim Daly

Grieving, Healing, and Hoping After Miscarriage

Having a baby is supposed to be a time of great excitement and joy.

But what if it’s not?

What happens when something goes wrong? What happens when the joys of pregnancy become a devastating, heart-wrenching experience?

Adriel Booker has survived that experience three times. She’ll tell you that she has seven children, but only three sit around the dinner table. She gave birth to two boys, and then she and her husband experienced three consecutive miscarriages.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pregnancy, tragedy October 15, 2019 by Jim Daly

Sharing God’s Light Through Art

We’re doing something a little unusual on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Sharing God’s Light Through Art.” We recorded the program in a different kind of studio. Instead of microphones and recording consoles, we were surrounded by paintings, easels, and more paint brushes in one place than I’ve ever seen.

The art studio belongs to Morgan Weistling, who has been an artist since he was old enough to hold a crayon. He has studied under some of the most legendary illustrators and artists of the last century.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith October 14, 2019 by Jim Daly

Last Call! Students, Don’t Forget to Bring Your Bible to School Tomorrow

By now you’ve likely heard that tomorrow (October 3rd) is “Bring Your Bible to School Day,” our annual celebration designed to encourage kids to share God’s Word in a winsome and loving way, and to exercise their religious freedoms.

Beginning six years ago with 8,000 students participating, last year’s event saw over 650,000 young people representing all 50 states joining the national movement.

This year’s event hasn’t been without controversy.

Last month, New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees elicited the ire of some liberals for endorsing the celebration.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith October 2, 2019 by Jim Daly

Benny Hinn Renounces “Prosperity Gospel” – What About You?

I saw an article a few weeks ago reporting that televangelist Benny Hinn had renounced the “prosperity gospel” he had been preaching for years.

Hinn declared, “I think it’s an offense to the Lord to say give $1,000. I think it’s an offense to the Holy Spirit to place a price on the Gospel. I’m done with it. I will never again ask you to give $1,000 because I think the Holy Ghost is just fed up with it.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith October 1, 2019 by Jim Daly

Connecting with Your Teen or Young Adult

There’s no one way to raise children. Discipline that works magic with one child may be completely ineffective with another.

At the bottom of every effective parenting strategy lies a universal foundation to good parenting: relationship.

Author Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.” That means your child’s primary concern in life is not your rules.

What matters most to your teen or young adult is knowing that you love them.

That sense of intimate connection won’t come through your instruction, lectures, or rules.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting, relationships September 26, 2019 by Jim Daly

Preparing to Care for Aging Loved Ones

We don’t like to think about getting older. We especially don’t like to think about death.

Maybe that’s why studies show only a third of us prepare for the inevitable with advanced directives. It’s also why a growing number of people are finding themselves ill-equipped for the rigors and responsibilities of caring for an aging loved one.

Taking on the care of an aging parent or family member is a big job that rarely comes about at a convenient time for the caregiver.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family September 23, 2019 by Jim Daly

Guest Post: Pressing on through Rejection

By: Linsey Driskill

When a project I poured my heart and soul into was rejected, it stung. Badly.

While these painful moments happen to all of us, it’s easy to feel alone – thinking we’re the only ones.

But, even C.S. Lewis experienced rejection. Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected twenty-seven times. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. In 1919, Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor said he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Elvis was told he’d be better off driving trucks than singing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith September 20, 2019 by Jim Daly