Plan Now For Orphan Sunday

On November 8 you can be part of something really big. Learn about Orphan Sunday here. Get involved in something “God-sized!”

Horses and Healing

My youngest child has some special needs and is involved in a program that puts him on a horse every week. He loves those times, always smiling and giggling as the horses nuzzle him. It’s great to see him bonding with those animals that tower over him yet seem to know his weaknesses and vulnerability.

In case you missed it, here’s an unforgettable conversation that will bring tears to your eyes. Kim and Troy Meeder have an incredible ministry to horses – and to children – through their Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch. Check out the link for photos and more. Just be ready to be touched by God’s work in and through these dear folks!

Remembering 9-11

As we reflect on the 8th anniversary of those brutal attacks on September 11, there’s a truly powerful 90-second audio montage that opens today’s Focus on the Family broadcast. You’ve got to listen – it is a poignant reminder that we never forget what happened that terrible day.

God Changes Lives

Here are a couple of former star athletes who have seen God change lives – and they have some riveting stories to tell! Hear how a basketball stand-out and a successful football player have found spiritual transformation and are now watching God use them to touch lives.

Sleepless Nights

Today, a parenting thought that many can probably relate to, although I hope not!

Bleary eyed after a rather exhausting night, this morning I grabbed my Bible and took a puzzled look at Psalm 3, verse 5 this morning. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.” Hmm. I need to meditate on this verse a bit. See what is in here, as I feel like I am missing a point, maybe THE point.

OK, Lord, I understand the “wake again” part well enough. Last night ranked in the bottom third of my “restful evenings” rankings. Every two hours, nearly to the minute, we were awakened by our youngest. Usually he would cry out, and by the sounds he emitted we knew he was not merely stirring, he was awake. One of us would slide out of bed, go into his room and, sure enough, find him sitting up crying at the walls, disturbed by a dream or physical discomfort.

Throughout the night we found ourselves drifting off, only to be roused from any semblance of slumber by this poor boy’s tossing and turning.

Although we’re experienced parents, “ignore him we cannot,” as Yoda might put it. “Demands attention he does.”

We’ve struggled with sleep issues from the start with this boy. We’ve tried variations in his food intake prior to bedtime. This or that medication, or none at all. We’ve made him take walks and jump on the tramp, trying to wear him out. We’ve tried to make sure he is calm before bedtime. All of the routines have been considered, scrutinized, changed, noted. We’ve tried it all, hoping for a difference, only to be awakened throughout the night. Every night, it seems, for two months now. We are feeling old…and yikes, we are tired!

And the questions keep coming up.

It is apparent that there are no answers right now. Our son is not the enemy, he needs sleep as desperately as we do, and we’ve got to shepherd him through this season. We’ll learn the key, sometime soon, I hope.

Until then, sustain me, Oh Lord. Thinking back to that psalm, I am not sure You and I agree about what “sustain” means. Help me, though,accept YOUR definition. And for now, please sustain me during the season.

She Wants Her Own Facebook Account

Our oldest daughter is 15, and wonders when she can establish her own presence on Facebook. I’ve got to admit that I’ve been comfortable putting her off until now. The other day, though, I realized I will soon be teaching her how to drive. Yikes! And the thought struck me: In the next year or so I’ll be waving to her as she drives off in 4,000 pounds of sheet metal, and that if I am willing to let her navigate the roads and to enjoy the sort of freedom that accompanies a drivers license, I really should trusty her to navigate the most popular social media sites.

So, I’m pretty sure that quite soon we’ll be granting permission to have “friends” worldwide via Facebook. But I wonder how much – if any – oversight I should exercise with regard to that account. I can cut her loose, so to speak, and let her learn the rules of social media on her own, hoping that she makes good decisions and avoids the common troubles of over-sharing and such. Or, I might be more engaged and monitor her account – hey, I might even be her “friend” so I can see who she is interacting with and what she does online.

Any advice from parents who have “been there, done that?”

Offering one perspective on my dilemma, here’s an article that suggests that being engaged in my child’s online experience is really “helicopter parenting.”  Or is it?

I’ll ask again for input from moms and dads – or even teens! – with insights.

Help For Angry Moms

Sorry, Dad, we know YOU get angry with your children sometimes. This conversation, though, is especially for Mom. She’ll hear from someone who has struggled with angry eruptions, who has lost her temper and said things she didn’t mean to say, who has felt the guilt and shame of uncontrolled outbursts, who has learned how to say “I’m sorry” to her child. Guys can listen in, of course, but this one is for Mom.

Focus In The News

Here’s a link to the official statement about the Focus on the Family strategic realignment and staffing changes.

Financial Compatibility in Marriage

Prompted by an article in the Wall Street Journal about the challenges of being married to a “financial opposite,” I have pondered my own saving and spending habits – and those of my wife. We’re pretty fortunate, as we’re not polar opposites. We both delay spending, value savings and appreciate a good deal. Still, I think one of us is better at what I’d call short-term finances (like day-to-day budgeting) and the other is better at long-term finances (like big-ticket purchases and retirement accounts).

If your marriage is marked by some significant differences in money management, check out the numerous articles at this excellent Focus site with helpful advice about financial communication, solving practical problems like how many family checking accounts you should have, to achieving “financial unity.”

Our friend Dave Ramsey offers more practical tips for individuals and couples who want to have better communication about their finances in this article.

Here’s a forum featuring some Q&A with Mary Hunt, who at one time years ago had debts of more than $100,000. She has some great “been there, done that” advice for couples who need some help with money issues!

Finally, for those interested in the spiritual aspects of money and marriage, check out this page at Crown Financial Ministries.

← Previous Page