Daly Focus Blog
In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, we’re introduced to 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.
My wife Jean and I have had a wonderful marriage, but we’ve also faced challenges along the way.
One of the biggest – ironically enough – was when I became president of Focus on the Family. I was assuming leadership of an organization created to help families around the world. Although we supported that mission wholeheartedly, we were concerned about the impact it would have on our family. Would people expect our marriage to be perfect?
Since then, we’ve learned a lot about what it takes to build a great relationship.
It’s a helpless feeling to suffer negative emotions caused by a troubling past. The question is this: Is it possible to break free from bonds that hold us down? I say yes, if we rely on God’s grace and deal with our past one step at a time.
If your past negatively impacts your life today, you may feel like the main character in the tale, Gulliver’s Travels. After a storm at sea, Gulliver swam to shore and fell asleep on the beach.
How would you like to eavesdrop on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War?
Imagine witnessing the dumping of nearly 350 crates of tea into Boston Harbor. Or searching for lanterns in a church tower while riding a horse at full gallop to warn colonists about a British invasion.
You and your family can experience the drama of the American Revolution and Paul Revere’s midnight ride on a special edition of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly featuring an episode of Adventures in Odyssey called “The Midnight Ride.”
If you’re new to Focus on the Family, Adventures in Odyssey is a radio drama for children (click here for more information).
Are you a “Dead Sea” or a “babbling brook”? Those odd labels describe different communication styles that often exist between husbands and wives.
Dr. Gary Chapman says some spouses communicate like the Dead Sea in Israel. The Jordan River flows into it, but nothing flows out. A Dead Sea spouse takes in the world around them, but he or she is perfectly happy not to talk about any of it.
Babbling brooks, on the other hand, are a constant flow of water.
Many single men and women don’t know how to pursue marriage with purpose.
When asked what they’re looking for in a spouse, most will say something about good looks. While physical attraction is not unimportant, for a marriage that stands the test of time couples must rise beyond that initial connection point. They must keep character top of mind, understanding that marriage is a relationship with a whole person, not just a body.
A second idea for single men and women to consider is the length of their engagement period.
If your marriage is in trouble, I have one question: Do you believe God can work a miracle in your relationship?
Even if your answer is no, I encourage you to tune in to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to hear the story of Ron and Jody Zappia. To say that they had a shaky start to their marriage is an understatement. Within the first six months, Jody was overcommitted in her career and Ron had an affair with a co-worker.
Never step in quicksand.
That bit of advice may seem obvious, but it’s not always easy to follow. In nature, quicksand is hard to spot. It looks like regular soil, but it behaves like a liquid. That’s why if you stand on it, you sink. And the further into it you go the harder it is to get out.
Quicksand is just as dangerous in modern society, only it takes the form of things like excessive gambling, drug and alcohol abuse, or pornography.
According to a recent Barna study, a lot of moms feel pressure:
95% of mothers said they want to do better in at least one area of their lives.
80% say they feel stressed.
62% say they are dissatisfied with their work/life balance.
56% say they are overcommitted.
Many moms feel riddled with guilt. Author Alli Worthington researched “mommy guilt” and found that the number one trigger was social media. Online influencers give tips on feeding children “properly,” keeping a home clean, being a fun mom, and fostering a thriving marriage and relationship with God.
Humorist Erma Bombeck once said, “There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain.”
Chonda Pierce has been tip-toeing that line for a long time. She’s been doing stand-up comedy for 30 years and has received more Gold and Platinum awards than any female comic in history. She has a unique ability to describe life’s most challenging moments all while making you laugh out loud with her humor.
Focus on the Family was privileged to have Chonda as a guest speaker at a chapel service here at the ministry.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
