Jim Daly

Damar Hamlin, Answered Prayer and Our Way Forward as a Nation

As we head into the final week of the NFL’s regular season, America is heartened by the encouraging news concerning the recovery of the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin. Still listed in critical condition and in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, doctors have said the star safety is “neurologically intact” and showing “remarkable improvement.”

Hamlin’s shocking collapse on Monday Night Football, along with an unprecedented outpouring of love, support and even public prayer for the 24-year-old, has riveted the country.

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Be a Selfless Man

Guys, how selflessly do you love your wife? Do you have a bit too much me, myself, and I in the mix?

Here’s a quick test to find out. Imagine that you and your buddies plan a get together at your house to watch the Super Bowl. The night of the big game, everybody shows up with drinks, pretzels, and pizza. You’re just settling in for the kickoff … when the phone rings. Your wife is on the other end.

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Applying the Love Languages in Families with Special Needs

Some of the most amazing people I have meet are those with special needs.

I think of Trevor Hendershot. He and his dad visited Focus on the Family a few years ago. Trevor is a vivacious young man with Down Syndrome who serves as a greeter for the Los Angeles Angels and the Anaheim Ducks.

Tyler Sexton is also a friend of our ministry. He has cerebral palsy and works as a physician specializing in pediatrics.

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The Greatest Joys

The family is under attack.

Two of the more disturbing examples are ideas that have gained acceptance more and more in recent years. The first is that dads don’t matter. The second is that kids get in the way of adult happiness. I’m here to tell you they’re both lies.

First of all, make no mistake, dads do matter. Every day at Focus, we hear from families all over the country. The stories they share confirm to me again and again just how crucial a father’s influence is in the lives of his children.

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Simple Tips for Growing Closer to Your Kids

Most couples expect the skills for raising children to come to them naturally. Certain parenting instincts “kick into gear” when you become a mom or a dad, of course, but most of us are surprised by how challenging parenting can be and how much hard work and energy it requires.

It’s human nature to look for short-cuts or “formulas” to make the job easier. But there are no formulas.

God puts every parent on a journey to discover who their children are and what their children most need to become who they were designed to be.

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American Faith

America was formed in the fires of war. The American Revolution – fought between 1765 and 1783 – once and for all secured our independence from Great Britain.

But America was also formed in the fires of faith. In fact, it was an extraordinary and historic movement of faith in the 1740s that laid the groundwork for the outcome of the American Revolution. “The Great Awakening,” as it was called, swept throughout the thirteen colonies and united the American people around three crucial principles:

One, a belief in inalienable rights.

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Discovering the Power of One

Author and speaker Kyle Idleman has always believed that God loves the whole world (John 3:16), but Kyle never fully understood Jesus’ dedication to individuals until his 2-year-old daughter became trapped under a fallen dresser. When Kyle found her and rushed her to the hospital, his focus narrowed and he forgot about everything and everyone until he knew she was safe.

Jesus ministered to people in the same way – one person at a time.

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LIVE Prayer on ESPN is a Witness to a Hurting World

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition following his shocking collapse after an on-field cardiac arrest this past Monday night.

Dorrian Glenn, Hamlin’s uncle, told ESPN on Tuesday night that while Hamlin is sedated, he’s “improving from where he was yesterday. We are just going to continue to pray, and I know he is in great hands with the medical team he has here. They have been doing a tremendous job.”

Many of us have been praying for this young man, whose on-field talents are dwarfed by his reputation for his off-field generosity and deep Christian faith.

“My faith is in God,” he once said.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

What’s More Important to Your Spouse

More often than we realize it’s the simple everyday things that make the biggest difference in a marriage. Here’s an easy one for you to try: Encourage your spouse to do something that’s important to them.

I had a chance to do that on a summer vacation my family took to Glacier National Park in Montana. We all hiked to a place called Hidden Lake. It was spawning season for the trout, and the bears were especially active.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: marriage

The Joys and Challenges of Parenthood

As a father, I’ve enjoyed every stage of parenting. From toddlerhood to adulthood, parenting offers wonderful surprises and opportunities to learn new things about your children.

Of course, there are always challenges along the way. At its heart, parenting is a marathon, not a sprint. When you start a family, you have to be in it for the long haul.

Which is why so many parents are emotionally exhausted. They believe the secret to a successful family is trying harder and doing more.