Daly Focus Blog
A lot of moms say they feel overwhelmed and stressed. Is it any wonder? They’re struggling under the burden of unrealistic expectations – some self-imposed, and some imposed by the culture.
In both cases, the “ideal” mom is often portrayed as a woman who is not only a full-time mom at home, but a fulltime employee outside the home. In her free time, she’s a Girl Scout troop leader, bakes treats from scratch for her kids, and still has time to accompany her children on every school field trip.
With nearly 20,000 people jammed into New York City’s Times Square, this past Saturday’s historic “Alive from New York” ultrasound event exceeded all expectations.
Some of you may have been there. Many others may have watched.
As an event, it had it all: beautiful and inspirational music from Christian recording artists Francesca Battistelli and Phil King, passionate and compelling speeches from evangelist Alveda King, former NFL star Benjamin Watson, actress Ashley Bratcher, pro-life stalwarts Marjorie Dannenfelser and Christina Bennett, and abortion survivors Melissa Ohden, Josiah Presley and Claire Culwell – and the live 4D ultrasound of former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson’s baby.
Remember the name Ivan Pavlov? He was the Nobel Prize-winning physiologist, best known for his experiments involving ringing bells and salivating dogs. It may not surprise you to learn that he conducted other scientific tests as well. One in particular, I believe, illustrates a significant challenge facing our culture.
The project went like this: Pavlov trained dogs to distinguish between circles and ovals. When they pointed their nose at a circle, they received a reward. When they selected an oval, they suffered a penalty.
Have you ever felt discouraged because God doesn’t seem to be answering your prayers?
Pastor Mark Batterson has. He was diagnosed with asthma at age 3 and suffered life-threatening attacks for years. At age thirteen, he was rushed to the hospital and spent days in intensive care. Both he and his parents feared that he might soon take his last breath.
For 40 years, Mark never went anywhere without his inhaler and used it almost every day.
On today’s Focus on the Family radio broadcast, I mentioned that corporate forces have refused to lease us space on some of the massive digital billboards in Times Square for our upcoming “Alive from New York” event.
In many ways, this blockade only confirms what we’ve long known. There are many people who don’t want the world to see these images of pre-born life, because the abortion industry is predicated on a lie – namely that a baby is just a blob of tissue inside the womb.
When you walked down the aisle, what was your vision for you and your spouse? Did you want a “nice” marriage?
A “friendly” marriage?
A “we get along” marriage?
Probably not.
Most couples are searching for intimacy, connection, romance, and excitement. But years into their marriage, many husbands and wives are bored. Life has settled into a routine – a rut, really – and they’re not connecting like they once did.
If you’ve reached that place in your marriage, you might be thinking, “This isn’t what I had in mind.” The good news is that’s not what the Bible says God has in mind for you, either.
Stephen Arterburn calls the negative repercussions of abortion on men our nation’s “silent shame.”
Every abortion involves a man, and there have been almost 60 million abortions since 1973. That is a breathtaking number of men who either couldn’t or wouldn’t defend their own flesh and blood.
The physiological effects of post-abortion syndrome on a man can be devastating. It can include things like depression; an inability to bond with future children; a fear of loss or more pain; shame; survival guilt; or self-punishing and self-degrading behaviors like getting into relationships that are abusive because you don’t think you deserve anything better.
Do you have a hard time believing that God loves you?
Many people do. An accusing voice in their heart or mind says, “If God really knew me, knew the things I’ve done, He wouldn’t love me.”
Jamie Ivey used to see herself that way. She’s sharing her story on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Living Free from Shame and Guilt.”
Jamie grew up in a Christian home, went to youth group, signed purity pledges, and did everything Christian parents hope their teenagers would do.
My family loves to take breaks from our daily responsibilities – to relax, to connect with one another, and to laugh a lot. It’s good for the soul.
In keeping with that spirit, we thought we’d take a break from some of the serious issues we’ve talked about on our Focus on the Family Broadcast over the past several weeks to enjoy a little humor from our friend, comedian Ken Davis.
Ken grew up on a farm, so he knows sheep.
By now you’re aware that Focus on the Family will be hosting the largest pro-life event in Times Square history on Saturday, May 4th. We’re calling it, “Alive from New York,” and it will feature live music, inspiring speakers – and live 4D ultrasounds.
Ultrasound technology is a proven tool to help save pre-born life. In fact, over the course of the last 15 years, Focus on the Family has helped save an estimated 425,000 babies by placing ultrasound machines in high-abortion-risk areas of the country.
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.
