"God is guiding your marriage. Marriage is more than your love for each other. It has a higher dignity and power, for it is God’s holy ordinance, through which He wills to perpetuate the human race till the end of time." (excerpt from "A Wedding Sermon from a 1943 Prison Cell", Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

"Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." Psalm 55:22 God will not leave you, He is with you.

God doesn’t always allow His servants to see the results of their work. He may do so, but when He doesn’t, He wants us to walk by faith. When we walk only by sight, we lose the ability to trust God. But when we trust in His plan for our lives, His words will not be in vain (Isaiah 55:11). Think of Elijah in 1 Kings; burned out, completely exhausted, and Queen Jezebel had just threatened his life. Elijah told God, “The people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). He was scared, stopped trusting in God and felt alone. It was time to quit. Maybe you're in a similar dreary place, where you have no control over our circumstances. In the midst of stress and faulty introspection, we may believe we’re not making a difference. Like Elijah, we may conclude that we have no value and should just give up. But the Lord responded to Elijah in 1 Kings. He didn’t speak through the mighty power of nature but rather in a whisper. His quiet voice reminded Elijah that He was still in control.

Where do we draw the line?

“Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.” ― John Piper In life, we often witness suffering all around us. War, famine, and sin seem to be widespread across the world, leading many believers to asking, “Why does God allow suffering?” Unfortunately, we don’t have the answer. While we may not understand the reasons why God allows specific instances of suffering, we can turn to Scripture for hope, healing, and peace. He never leaves us with nothing - we always have Him, and therefore, eternity.

Have you ever heard a wedding vow that struck you as, well, odd? Or maybe you heard this simple set of vows, wondering if there was any biblical basis to them. We looked at each vow, and then compared it that what the Bible says on the subject: "I take thee to be my wedded wife/husband." Marriage is a personal choice and comes with life-long responsibility. There's a reason a wedding is such a big occasion. It's a joining of two unique people in holy matrimony, becoming one flesh. “And the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:8-9 "To have and to hold." This vow isn’t talking about cuddling (though of course intimacy in marriage is a rich blessing from God, and is really part of this vow as well), it’s referring to a deep bond of oneness and unity. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health" This promise is about choosing love and commitment through life’s ups and downs. We aren't promised happiness in this life, so this vow holds us to endurance in love. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 "’Til death do us part." This last vow is a vow of lifelong commitment. In a world of temporary things, an emphasis on seasons, replacing what's broken instead of fixing it, this vow both biblical and counter-cultural. Marriage is a bond that only death should dissolve. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Mark 10:9

To an entire generation of younger Americans, the tragic events of 9/11 are ancient history. But to the families of the 2,977 victims killed in four separate terrorist attacks on that fateful September morning, the days remains a source of deep and lasting scars. Now, a quarter-century after evil was unleashed in New York City, Washington, D.C., and in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, we pause once more to remember those whose lives were taken, the families who continue to grieve, and the brave firefighters, police officers and other first responders who saved countless others. We were reminded on that awful day that life is fragile and can be fleeting. The horror also triggered a temporary spiritual revival, as churches filled in the weeks following the attacks. A patriotic fervor swept across the country as Americans proudly displayed the flag. There was also political unity. Just days after the attacks, Republicans and Democrats gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and sang “God Bless America.” Twenty-five years later, we have the benefit and painful reality of perspective. We know the wounds of 9/11 did not disappear, and neither did the challenges that have gathered since that tragic day. But neither should we forget the lessons of those terrible days: faith in Jesus Christ can sustain us through the worst of trials, all life is worth celebrating, and there is extraordinary strength and power to be found in the ordinary beauty of community. On this sober 25th anniversary, may we never lose sight of our need for the Lord, for one another, and for courage to confront the evil that motivated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It’s my prayer that the Lord will comfort those who still mourn and bless those who continue to serve to defend our nation from future aggression. - Jim Daly, Focus on the Family President

One year ago today, the murder of Charlie Kirk left a young wife without her husband, two children without their father and a generation of Christians mourning a courageous voice for biblical truth. Today, we remember Charlie as man who understood something every Christian must likewise grasp: Truth is not ours to invent or revise to fit the whims of the culture in which we live. God is the author of Truth, and our responsibility is to know it, live it, defend it and proclaim it. And to do so with courage, conviction and compassion. Charlie was willing to enter places where his beliefs would be challenged at best, despised and denigrated at worst. But he talked, winsomely and persuasively, with people who disagreed with him. He refused to surrender his convictions simply because they were unpopular with some. Charlie’s assassination was an attempt to silence a voice. But his death issued a challenge to those of us who believe what he believed: Will we have the courage to stand up and speak out? Our culture doesn’t need Christians who are angry at the world; it needs Christians who love the world enough to tell it the Truth. So, the greatest tribute we can pay Charlie Kirk on the anniversary of the day he died is to consider how he lived. And then ask ourselves what God is calling each of us to do with the time we have been given. America needs a generation of Christians willing to answer that call. Charlie’s voice may have been silenced, but the Truth he stood for never will be. Jim Daly President and CEO Focus on the Family

In circumstances that are painful and difficult, it's hard to be grateful. We start seeing only what's going wrong, only the earthly perspective. Slowly, we stop striving to see what God is doing, we stop thinking of the multitude of blessings, and we lose sight of the eternal perspective. No matter what we go through here on earth, Heaven is waiting. That alone is enough to be grateful for, and "rejoice in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Colossians 3:15 — “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful.” Hebrews 12:28 — “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Ephesians 5:20 — “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our daughters are vulnerable to lies that have been crafted by the enemy and fortified by culture. Between social media, social pressure, and maybe even the unhealed wounds of family members, these 5 lies can tear them apart. Are you falling for these lies? Lie 1: What I feel defines who I am. Truth: Our feelings are fickle, fleeting, and unreliable. But Christ is constant, and if we are in Him, we have an identity that is eternal as His child! (2 Corinthians 5:17 - "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old is gone, the new is here!") Lie 2: God could never forgive me. Truth: Christ's death on the cross was not a one-time, limited forgiveness. Our sin is not only forgiven, it's removed entirely from us. Because of the cross, when we repent of sin, nothing can keep us from the love and forgiveness of God. (Psalm 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.") Lie 3: I have to be everything, perfectly. Truth: We simply are not perfect. Not just you, not just your daughter - no one. And in that imperfection, we get to experience incredible works of God in our lives, because His power is perfected in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness") Lie 4: I need a boyfriend/husband to be complete. Truth: No human relationship will fulfill us, complete us, or make us perfect. Even the healthiest, happiest, most wholesome relationship can truly fulfill us the way that Christ does. In fact, it is only when we are in deeply intimate relationship with Christ when we can have truly fulfilling relationships with others. (Psalm 73:25-26 - "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you...God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.") Lie 5: I am not enough Truth: On our own, we aren't enough. We can't absolve ourselves from sin, and we will struggle endlessly to change our hearts, habits, and mindset. It is God who is enough. (2 Corinthians 3:5 - "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,").

Take a moment to consider your life - is there something that feels like it's trying to separate you from the Lord? Cover that situation in this verse. God's love is enough. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38–39)

Your child’s decisions are not your fault, at least not entirely. None of us are perfect, of course, which means our parenting influence is always a mixture of good and bad. We have to own our mistakes, but we also have to remember that our children are individuals. Ultimately, they’re accountable for their own decisions. We are accountable to cover them in prayer, daily.

“Keep short accounts and extend forgiveness regularly. Nothing will ruin a desire to be with your spouse faster than resentment and bitterness. In return, it also ruins your spouse’s desire to be with you. Fights are going to happen in marriage; there’s no way around it. But you can choose to handle these conflicts in the right way and build up your marriage instead of tearing it down.” Sabrina Beasley McDonald

Starting conversations about sexuality early helps build a foundation of trust, respect, and understanding in your child's life. By fostering open, honest communication and teaching biblical values, you empower your children to navigate relationships and intimacy with wisdom. It’s never too early to create a safe space where they can ask questions and learn what God’s plan for healthy relationships looks like. So where do you start? Each child is unique in how you should start these conversations, but keep these guide rails in mind. ➡️Start conversations about sex early for a strong foundation. ➡️Approach the topic with honesty and age-appropriate language. ➡️Teach biblical values to guide children’s understanding of sexuality. ➡️Create a safe space for open dialogue and questions. ➡️Encourage respect for their own and others' bodies. ➡️Reinforce positive attitudes toward relationships and intimacy.

The days are long, but the years are short You are living a noble calling. The time you invest in your child’s life will have a lifelong impact on them, their children, and their children’s children, not to mention the generation into which they will launch. When it’s your turn to launch your child, you may experience a bittersweet sense of joy and sorrow, love and loss. And you are not alone. God is with you. #motherhood #emptynest #help #parenting #hope #notalone

Lord, Today I lift up my children to you. I pray they would put on as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Help them to be constant in bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven them. Lord help me to also above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Over all of us, Father, I pray that the peace of Christ would rule in our hearts, over the noise and anxiety of the world. In your Holy Name – Amen. (Prayer excerpted from Colossians 3:12-15) #dailyprayer #focusonthefamily #christianparenting

No matter your child's age, you will always be their parent. We want to encourage you to continuing praying for your adult children. We have a faithful Father who listens to the cries of our hearts. Lift up your children in prayer, ask the Father who knows them best to guide them. #focusonthefamily #christianparenting #prayer #prayingparents

5 Keys to trusting God with your children as they grow up 🧡 Embracing God's Sovereignty: Recognize that God knows and loves your children deeply, working in their lives beyond your understanding. Focus on the Family 🧡 Anchoring in Scripture: Allow God's promises to shape your perspective and prayers, aligning your desires with His will. Focus on the Family 🧡 Praying Specifically and Persistently: Intercede for your children with detailed requests, trusting God to act in His perfect timing. Focus on the Family 🧡 Communicating Your Prayers: Share with your children that you're praying for them, fostering openness and demonstrating your support. Focus on the Family 🧡 Releasing Control: Understand that as your children become adults, your role shifts from authority to support, entrusting them to God's guidance. The shift from being "on" all the time as parents to cheering our children on the sidelines is not easy for many parents. Know you aren't alone - God is with you, and your children.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Remembering that God is in the room makes how we treat each other more meaningful, especially in marriage. My wife is dearly loved by God, so she should matter deeply to me, too. When God says, "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them" (Colossians 3:19), it carries weight knowing He's watching. Focusing on God's presence has shifted my perspective, leading me to ask, "How does God feel about the way I treat His daughter?"

Jesus didn’t come to make us comfortable—He came to make us new.