Family and Home Archives

Bringing Your Kids Back to Christ

So many young people are wrestling with their faith that there’s a term for it in the culture: deconstruction. Deconstruction basically means you strip your faith to the bone and see what – if anything – survives.

That process can be scary to watch if it’s your adult child who’s questioning every value they’ve been taught. It can also lead to confusing questions. What are the boundaries with someone who’s deconstructing? How do you come alongside your child while allowing him or her to struggle?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids June 20, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Beautiful Vow

Every couple hopes for a good marriage, but wishful thinking isn’t enough to sustain a relationship when life gets hard. For that, you need a vow.

One of the most beautiful examples I’ve witnessed of a couple who honored their marriage vows is my friends, Don and Barbara Hodel. Don spent his career in Washington, D.C. alongside some of the most powerful people in the world, even serving for a time under President Ronald Reagan. Don and Barbara seemed to have it all.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage June 18, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Understanding Your Spouse’s Emotions

For a stronger marriage, ask yourself, “What’s my EQ?”

Your IQ is a measure of your intelligence. Your EQ is a measure of your “emotional intelligence.”

The term “EQ” was coined in 1995 by Daniel Goleman, who first applied the concept to businessmen and businesswomen. As he defined it, emotional intelligence is the degree to which you are able to make healthy relational choices based on your understanding of your emotions and the emotions of those around you.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage June 17, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrating the Journey to Becoming a Dad

According to the National Center for Fathering, over 20 million children live in a home without the physical presence of a dad. That’s a staggering number!

I can relate to what each one of those boys and girls is going through. My dad left our family when I was five and died an alcoholic a few years later. Hank, my stepdad, walked out on my siblings and me the day of my mother’s funeral. Even my foster dad, Mr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: parenting June 14, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Shaming Kids

Unfortunately, many parents discipline their children with shame.

Shaming takes many forms – screaming, name calling, even humiliation. Shaming may produce an immediate change in behavior, but it results in long-term damage to the child. Shame teaches children that their mistakes lead to condemnation instead of support. They learn to avoid embarrassment and humiliation by hiding rather than seeking help. The parent, instead of being a resource for the child to learn and grow, becomes the cause of the child’s pain and isolation.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids June 13, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Positively Influence Your Husband

Is it possible for wives to change their husbands?

The answer to that is yes. And no.

Researcher John Gottman says that 60% of what characterizes a marriage will never change. That means you marry your spouse essentially “as is.” A person who’s perpetually late may never be on time. And a neat freak will likely never feel comfortable with dust and clutter.

Still, that leaves couples with 40% of their marriage that can be molded and shaped.

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

Inner Qualities of a Mate

If you’re dating, I’d like to share a few important qualities to look for in a mate. Whatever else you may hope to find in a person, these three qualities are a must if you want a marriage that lasts a lifetime.

First, you want a person who respects boundaries. When you ask them not to call late at night, do they honor that request, or do they call anyway? Do they act possessive when you spend time with other people, like family and friends?

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

Nurturing a Love for the Bible in Your Kids

It’s a sad reality that many kids grow up going to Sunday school, church, and youth group and still leave home believing Christianity is a list of dos and don’ts. Somehow, the core message of the Gospel doesn’t break through.

One solution is to read the Bible with your children. Many parents want to, but it can be daunting. Kids have short attention spans, and Mom and Dad are exhausted from busy schedules.

So what do you do?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting June 10, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Homemade Meals for Busy Families

You’re probably running a lot of directions at high speed. You’re so busy that even after your workday ends, there’s more work to be done. Somebody has to pick up the kids from soccer practice and run to the store for groceries. After that, you still have to get home and make dinner, which can take a couple of hours once you cook, eat and clean up the mess.

Who’s got time for that?

Hiring a chef or buying pre-packaged dinners can be expensive.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family June 7, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Turn Toward Your Spouse

Ten minutes. That’s all it takes to turn your marriage around.

Sound too easy? Widely respected marriage therapist Dr. John Gottman has published research that shows unhappy couples can dramatically change their relationship if they’ll devote at least ten minutes throughout the day to one another.

It’s what happens in those ten minutes that the magic happens. It’s where couples “turn toward” one another. That means couples shift their focus away from work, kids, and other distractions of the day and turn their attention toward their spouse.

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