family Archives

Sharing Your Faith as a Family

Is your home a lighthouse?

The purpose of a lighthouse is to shine brightly through the darkness so that people on the open water can make it safely to shore.

That imagery illustrates the profound nature of the Christian life. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world” and then encourages us to let our “light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”

A Christian’s home ought to shine with God’s love and grace and be welcoming to the neighborhood around it.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family March 10, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Positive Words Can Change Your Life

My wife, Jean, is a living embodiment of Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Every time I call her on the phone, she answers with a positive tone that lets me know she’s glad to hear from me. Her voice is a moment of respite for me in what can often be a busy and stressful schedule.

Positive words bless people, but it’s not always easy to speak them.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, family, parenting January 11, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Getting Rid of the Clutter in Your Home

A lot of us should probably throw some stuff out. We’re bursting at the seams.

Did you know that America has more self-storage facilities than McDonald’s restaurants? At last count, there were 48,500 self-storage facilities in America compared to only 14,000 McDonald’s.

If your home is overwhelmed with clutter instead of being a place of comfort and peace, there’s something you can do about it.

Author and popular guest Kathi Lipp is with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Getting Rid of the Clutter in Your Home.” She’s a self-proclaimed recovering “clutter-aholic” with some great advice that will help you better understand the spiritual issues that are often behind clinging to your stuff.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family January 8, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How God Redeemed My Teen Pregnancy

“I’m pregnant.”

Would you know what to do if your teenage daughter made that announcement? It’s not a pleasant situation to think about. But it’s the moment of truth for you as a parent. How you react sets the tone of your relationship with your child moving forward.

When you first hear the news, you’ll feel like the floor has dropped out from beneath your family. It’s a scary, uncertain time for you and for your daughter.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, pregnancy December 15, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping Children Understand How They Feel

Kids experience big feelings inside little bodies, which means they can easily feel overwhelmed and confused. They don’t understand their feelings, so they don’t have the language to talk about them. And if they can’t talk about them, then they can’t ask for or receive help.

The problem for parents is that helping children identify their emotions and find words to express them is like trying to explain the color blue.

How can you help your children manage their feelings in healthy ways?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family December 1, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Living in Peace with People Who Drive You Crazy

Although your family Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers may look different this year, you still may be worried about spending time with that one family member who is sure to make the holiday season … interesting. Whenever they’re near, there’s friction.

What can you do to manage that relationship better and find peace in the midst of chaos?

We’re having a conversation with Dr. Mike Bechtle, author of the book People Can’t Drive You Crazy If You Don’t Give Them the Keys, on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Living in Peace with People Who Drive You Crazy.”

Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life

What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a tricycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle?

Attire.

Get it?

Okay, so I’m not much of a comedian. Which is why you’ll enjoy our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life” with a real comedian, Tim Hawkins.

Tim finds humor in everyday circumstances. Like the video below, about a time when fixing breakfast for his children didn’t go so well.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 16, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Embracing Grace, Fun, and Family This Holiday Season

Since Christmas will probably look different for your family this year, why not start some new traditions?

We’re talking about ideas for approaching the holiday season with grace, fun, and a deeper focus on God and your family on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Embracing Grace, Fun, and Family This Holiday Season.” Listen on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, holidays November 12, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Forging a Partnership with Your Spouse in a Family Crisis

A crisis can tear a family apart.

Evan and Elisa Morgan learned how to forge a strong partnership by going through the fires of crisis – one of which involved their teenage daughter.

Evan was the CFO of Denver Seminary. Elisa was the president of Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). Their daughter was an honor roll student, a state-ranked swimmer, and an active member of her youth group. She even participated in a mission trip to serve HIV/AIDS orphans in Kenya.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage November 10, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Restoring the Family in America

I once had lunch with author David Horowitz, a secular Jew who had written a book detailing cultural and political movements against Christianity. He asked me, “Jim, don’t you realize you’re in an alley fight, and the other side has switchblades?”

I nodded my understanding, then responded, “David, the problem is that the weapons of warfare our Lord has given us are joy, love, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, and faithfulness.”

That discourse raises an intriguing question for every Christian: How are believers to fight the good fight with the character of Christ when the other side doesn’t fight fair?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 2, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura