When Sheri Rose Shepherd was crowned Mrs. United States in 1994, the achievement felt the culmination of a long, hard journey.

People throughout her life stripped her of self-worth, driving their hate through her like a spike through her soul.

Her English teacher once told her, “Sheri Rose, you will never amount to anything in life.”

Another time, she received a gift in the mail from her mother. When Sheri Rose opened it, her birth certificate was inside with a sticky note that read, “I wish you had never been born.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 16, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

If an area of your life hasn’t become what you’d hoped, you need an apocalypse.

The word “apocalypse” usually brings to mind catastrophic end-of-the-world scenarios. Earthquakes, toppled buildings, destruction everywhere. But the Greek word for “apocalypse” doesn’t mean “destruction.” It means “to uncover or to reveal.”

An apocalypse is what happens in a court of law. Everything is exposed and measured against truth. There are no secrets. Nothing is off limits because it’s embarrassing … or worse yet, incriminating.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 11, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

There’s no easy way for doctors to tell patients they’re going to die, but some ways are better than others. At the very least, I’m sure that you’d prefer a doctor take the time to meet with you in person, explain your condition, and answer your questions.

So, you can probably imagine what Ernest Quintana must have felt when he received bad news about his health. He was in his hospital bed anxiously awaiting his diagnosis when the door opened.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 10, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When I think about living the Christian life, I am reminded of what Christ teaches in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

The young man in the story blew his inheritance on foolish living. When he returned home, broke and humiliated, he feared that his father would disown him or, if he were merciful, hire him as a servant. Instead, his father loved him and celebrated his return, rejoicing that his lost son was now found.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 8, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When was the last time you waited for something … and were happy about it?

We often think of waiting as an obstacle, something that stands between us and whatever it is we’re anxiously anticipating. As it turns out, waiting is essential to happiness.

A Dutch study concluded that people who had a vacation to look forward to were measurably happier than people who didn’t. While that conclusion may seem obvious, it demonstrates that the anticipation leading up to an event is key to infusing that event with joy and happiness.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 5, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Withholding food from children in order to force compliance is considered a form of child abuse, and yet that’s basically what the Biden administration is doing through its draconian new guidelines for schools.

At issue is funding for school breakfast and lunch programs for underprivileged kids. According to new rules from the USDA, schools that receive funding for these programs must “update their non-discrimination policies and signage to include prohibitions against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.”

In practical terms, this means that public, private, and religious schools nationwide must embrace the Biden administration’s radical gender ideology or risk losing funding for school lunches for the students entrusted to their care.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 3, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sometimes you need a little luck.

Park ranger Roy Sullivan had a lot of it. In fact, he holds the dubious honor by the Guinness World Records of having survived more lightning strikes than anyone.

Seven to be exact, between 1942 and 1977.

In one incident, Sullivan was driving along a mountain pass when a bolt of lightning struck trees on opposite sides of the road from each other. After hitting the first tree, the lightning passed through Sullivan’s open windows and struck the other one.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith August 3, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

If you’re getting married soon, which image best reflects your love for each other – a beautiful bouquet of flowers? Or a packet of seeds?

Some weddings are a flower extravaganza. There are flower centerpieces, elaborate flower decorations, and even a flower girl. And don’t forget the most important arrangement of all – the bridal bouquet. All those flowers are intended to represent the couple’s love: vibrant, alive, and in full bloom.

But the late Gary Smalley, who officiated a lot of weddings, used a unique illustration to help couples understand the true nature of their love.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith July 29, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Finding Hope in the Messiah,” we’re listening to Lily Isaacs – vocalist and matriarch of the southern gospel and bluegrass group The Isaacs – share her testimony.

Lily was born in Europe after World War II to two Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors who moved the family to the United States when Lily was two years old. She grew up in the Bronx, NY and studied theater and performed off Broadway.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: faith July 29, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura