family Archives

Loving the Spouse God Gave You

One of the most exciting programs at Focus on the Family is our Hope Restored marriage intensives. For couples struggling in marriage, even those on the brink of divorce, Hope Restored goes a long way toward facilitating healing and bringing restoration to a broken relationship.

Just one example is Sadie and Bill. Bill’s marriage betrayal was so significant that Sadie held out little hope that their relationship could be saved. During their intensive counseling, Bill embraced his need for change and dug in to his relationship with the Lord.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage December 12, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Memories of Christmas Past

What do you remember most about last Christmas?

How about Christmas ten years ago?

I’m sure a gift or two comes to mind, but I’ll bet family is what you remember most. I remember my boys Trent and Troy jumping into our bed Christmas mornings before the sun even came up. They had patiently waited for December 25th, now it was time to get things going. Jean and I would grab some coffee and watch the boys disappear behind a tornado of wrapping paper and excitement.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 11, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Christmas Secret

Most of us like predictability in life – things we can count on. But then Christmas comes along and reminds us that life is full of surprises.

My boys, Trent and Troy, are grown now. Which is probably why they decided it was time to reveal a Christmas secret they’d been hiding. For years at Christmas Eve, they sneaked downstairs and unwrapped their presents. After seeing what they got, they carefully rewrapped each gift and went back to bed, stifling excited whispers.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 9, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Your Choice for the Holidays

As the old saying goes, “You can choose your friends, but not your family.”

You discover how true that is during the holidays. Spending time with family members who see the world differently than you do can be stressful. To fill this season with joy and peace instead of frustration and conflict, here are a few ideas to keep in mind:

First, try these three magical words: “Tell me more.” Conflicts are less likely to escalate when people feel heard.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 6, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Slow Down at Christmas

Every December, you pledge to slow down at Christmas. And every December, the season rushes by in a blur.

You’re not alone. It’s tough to hit the brakes during the holidays. There are parties, decorations and a mountain of gifts to wrap. Is it any wonder we feel stressed out instead of relaxed and closer to God and our families?

I’ve learned a few things over the years that help me make the holidays as fun, meaningful and stress free as possible.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family December 4, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Pursuing Our Untamable God

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, we learn about Aslan, a great lion who rules Narnia. Susan, a little girl who stumbles into the enchanted world through a magic wardrobe, asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is safe.

“Safe?” Mr. Beaver replies. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King.”

God, whom Aslan symbolizes, isn’t safe, either. We never know when or how God will show up in our lives.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 3, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Unwrapping the Real Christmas

Christmas is all about Jesus. We celebrate the historic reality that the Creator of the universe cloaked Himself in flesh and blood and submitted Himself to the care of human parents as a vulnerable, dependent child – the ultimate expression of humility.

“Unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, British evangelist Canon J.John has a challenge for you this Christmas: as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, allow your heart to consider the rest of His life as well.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family November 29, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thanksgiving is What You Do

Thanksgiving is one of our nation’s most cherished traditions. Before America was even founded, the Pilgrims expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings – even when life was hard.

And life was hard. The Pilgrims’ voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days in cold, miserable conditions. Many of them became ill, and one person died before the Mayflower reached Plymouth in November of 1620. Less than half of the Pilgrims survived that first winter.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family November 28, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Shared Vision for Marriage

When two people share the same vision, they can change the world.

Take Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak for example. Their vision for home computers revolutionized the tech industry and made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield did the same thing with ice cream. They turned Ben and Jerry’s into one of the most popular ice cream brands in the industry.

In the world of music, think of Lennon and McCartney, Mick and Keith, or Simon and Garfunkel.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family November 26, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child

Jean and I have two boys, Trent and Troy. They’re in their 20s and on a good track through life. They’re active, so we don’t see them as often as we would like, but we stay in touch almost daily and have a good time when we’re together.

Unfortunately, that experience is not true of every parent with adult children. They disagree about lifestyle choices, job choices, dating choices, or faith choices. Even loving families experience tension when young adults and their parents don’t see eye to eye.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 21, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura