CIAM Radio

The family isn't just a social unit — it's the foundation God built society upon. In this episode, Dr. John works through Deuteronomy 25:5–19, examining four laws designed to protect family life in ancient Israel: caring for widows through levirate marriage, safeguarding future generations, ensuring honest dealings in business, and remembering the ruthless attack of Amalek on Israel's most vulnerable. Ancient laws with a timeless message about why family still matters.

The Law and Holy Living: The laws of ancient Israel can feel distant and irrelevant to modern readers — but look closer, and you'll find they reveal something timeless about the character of God. In this series on Deuteronomy 18–26, Dr. John works through the detailed national laws given to Israel, uncovering what they teach us about justice, worship, and holy living — and pointing us to the one who came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.

Whether it’s your family, friends, job, or home, everything you have is from God. Look within—are you more enamoured with the gifts God gives you than with God Himself?

*For more information on David Jeremiah and Turning Point ministries, visit DavidJeremiahPodcast.org.

Faith isn’t just about starting strong—it’s about finishing well. In this message, we uncover the strength, stamina, and determination required to follow Christ through life’s hardest moments. Discover how trials can actually build endurance and prepare you for a victorious finish.

Be encouraged and stay engaged with God’s Word by downloading the free Turning Point mobile app for your smartphone or tablet. Whether you are a new believer or a seasoned Christian, you will be encouraged and strengthened in your walk with the Lord as you spend time learning, growing, and exploring God’s limitless love. Search in your App Store for Turning Point Ministries to access our content.

Mom shame doesn’t just whisper—it isolates. Maybe this looks like snapping, hiding, the “I’ll fix it myself” cycle. And meanwhile, you’re exhausted and still feel like you’re coming up short. Abbey Wedgeworth, author of Help! I'm Ruining My Kids: A Gospel Guide for the Mom Who's Desperate for Change, names what’s really going on—behind the anger, the silence, the pressure to hold it together. She digs into why going it alone keeps you stuck longer than you think.

Show Notes and Resources

• Find out more about Abbey Wedgeworth and her books at abbeywedgeworth.com

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
• Follow us on all social platforms: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
• Find resources from our podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• Download FamilyLife's app!
• Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
• Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Discover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll three imperative questions every believer must answer to leave their distinguishing mark (2 Thessalonians 3:16–18).

From the Series: Steadfast Christianity

read more

This special edition encourages moms on their journey of motherhood, and it's hosted by Whitney Lowe and Erin Smalley. We're covering why becoming a mom is a gift, finding your identity in Christ, hope for tired moms, and ways to celebrate Mother's Day!

Praying The Scriptures For Your Children: Discover How To Pray God's Purpose For Their Lives

Take the Mom Appreciation Social Media Challenge

Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email

Support the show!

If you enjoyed listening to Practice Makes Parent with Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James, please give us your feedback. 

There's something invigorating about being the first one out and around in the morning; you sort of feel like the conqueror of your environment. Like when you're the first one out exercising in those first hours of the new day. I had that feeling one morning as I went out for my fitness walk.

I really like to walk when I'm away from home, too. And I was in a setting where right behind me there was this really scenic 18-hole golf course. I'm not a golfer, but I am a walker. There was a beautiful path around there, so I struck out on my early morning walk, and the mist was there, and the dew was all over the golf course. And I said, "You know what? I am the first one to conquer this golf course today. There'll be a lot of people out here later, but I have beaten all the golfers." I felt like the world was all mine, or so I thought. Then I got to one hole and I saw a carpet of dew covering the green, and footprints all across the green. Someone had walked there before me.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Someone Else Has Walked There First."

Our word for today from the Word of God is from John 10:4. Jesus beautifully, intimately describes His relationship with us here as being like that of a shepherd with His sheep: Him shepherd, me sheep. John 10:4 says this, "When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and the sheep follow Him."

I discovered this verse many years ago, just before we moved from all of the "knowns" that we had in Chicago, to all of the unknowns of northern New Jersey and New York City. We moved there to begin a youth ministry. We had no supporters, we had no place to live, we had no office, we had no staff. We knew nothing. We just claimed this verse, "when He brings out His sheep, He will always go ahead of them." We got there and we found out that God had picked out an apartment, He picked out friends, He had picked out a church, He had picked out an office for us, He picked out supporters; people who could open doors that we needed opened, and that's what God does for all His kids.

Everywhere Jesus will lead you to walk, He promises to walk there first; He goes ahead of you. That's how a shepherd operates. Wherever he's going to take his sheep, he goes ahead of them to see if there's enough pasture for them to be fed, if there are any wolves there that he needs to take care of, and where the cliffs are that they might walk over. He makes sure that He checks it out before they get there. He prepares it for them. That's just the kind of Shepherd He is.

Think of the fear that takes out of the future; the uncertainty. Like the old song says, "I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." Right now maybe you're looking ahead at the next few weeks, maybe months and you're anxious about it. Honestly, there's a whole lot of question marks; there's a lot of unknown out there.

Well, there is one known in the midst of your unknowns. Guess what? That one known covers all the unknowns. Jesus will always be your "go ahead" Shepherd. He always does that with His sheep. He has promised that He would, and He always keeps His promises.

In fact, today He knows your situation, and I think He brought us together and brought this verse to my heart for you, as a personal assurance from Him to you that He is already stepping ahead of you. There's nothing to fear on a path that Jesus has walked before you. It's the blessed security that only a follower of Jesus Christ can know.

So, wherever He takes you, yours won't be the first set of footprints you'll find there. Your Shepherd got there first.

Read: Luke 12:22-28

Nari sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at her math assignment.

“You’ve been looking at the same problem for ten minutes,” said Mom. “Is something the matter?”

“I’m worried about the game on Friday,” Nari replied. “What if we lose?”

Mom stopped chopping vegetables and put down her knife. “Follow me,” she said.

Mom led Nari to her bedroom and pointed to a cage on Nari’s dresser, where Mr. Whiskers, Nari’s pet hamster, was running on his little hamster wheel.

Nari arched an eyebrow at her mom. “Mr. Whiskers is supercute, but I don’t understand what he has to do with my game on Friday.”

“Mr. Whiskers runs on his wheel quite a bit, doesn’t he?” Mom said. “How much time do you think he spends running on his wheel every day?”

“He runs on it all the time,” Nari answered. “He probably spends four or five hours a day on it.”

Mom nodded. “And he uses a lot of his energy to run on the wheel too.”

“Yeah, he sure does!” Nari looked at her mom. “But I’m still confused.”

“With all the time and energy Mr. Whiskers devotes to running, how far has he run?”

Nari giggled. “Mom, that’s a silly question. He hasn’t run anywhere! He’s still right there in his cage.”

“Well, honey, it’s the same with worrying,” said Mom. “You can spend a lot of time and energy worrying about something, and you’ll still be in the same place you were when you started. That’s why the Bible tells us not to worry. Instead, we need to give our cares to Jesus.”

“How do I do that?” asked Nari.

“First, remember that He loves you so much He died to save you from sin and that He cares about every worry and problem you have. Pray about whatever it is you’re worried about and ask Him to give you peace and strength. Then trust Him do what’s best—even if it’s not what you were hoping for. Play your best at the game on Friday and leave the results to God.”

The wheel in the hamster cage grew quiet as Mr. Whiskers slowed down and then hopped off. Nari picked him up and held him in her hands. “Okay, Mom. I will.”

–Casey Comstock

How about you? Do you ever worry about things that are out of your control? It’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of worrying that doesn’t get you anywhere. That’s why Jesus wants you to give your cares to Him. Pray about your worries and look to Him to give you peace and strength. Then trust Him to do what’s best in any situation, knowing He’s in control.

Today's Key Verse: Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. Psalm 55:22 (NLV)

Today's Key Thought: Give worries to Jesus

Be encouraged in knowing that your relationship with Christ fuels your ability to succeed in life.

Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/general

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.