Grace 809

Relationship expert, Dr. John Townsend, discusses three rules to help you be a better parent.

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Dr. John Townsend shares practical tips for parents struggling to set boundaries with their children. He’ll provide insights into relatable situations spanning every stage of the parenting journey, from teaching unruly toddlers to dealing with adult children who still live at home. Hear his advice for teaching kids to take responsibility and grow into healthy adults.  

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A lot of us make unnecessary messes, but we can change that. May I make a suggestion? Before you face the world, face your Father.

Take this pocket prayer: Father…You are good. Your heart is good. Your words come slowly at first, but stay at it. You are always right. The weather’s bad, the economy is bad, but God, you are awesome. Don’t underestimate the power of this moment. You just opened the door to God and welcomed truth to enter your heart. Who knows, you might even start to worship.

Is your world different because you prayed? In one sense, no. But you are different. You have peace; you’ve talked to your Father. Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

Read more Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Our reading today Psalms 105-107. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “They Forgot His Mighty Deeds.”  

Chapter 106 opens with a call to praise the Lord and give thanks because He is good and His loyal love endures. In fact, the first five verses are a joy to read. We’re sort of saying, “Yes! Amen!” along with the author.

And then at verse seven things take a darker tone. The author confesses that we have sinned like our ancestors. There is talk of sin and judgement, betrayal and anger. Deliverance and forgetfulness. 

And then, in the second to the last verse, the writer pleads for God to deliver us. He promises to give thanks and tell of God’s marvelous deeds. And the last verse proclaims that the Lord God of Israel deserves praise forever, and urges everyone to say, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”.

What I make of this is that even in the midst of judgement and pain, God is worthy of praise. Why? Because, as it says in the very first verse, “His loyal love endures forever.” Judgement and anger don’t come because God no longer loves us. On the contrary. If God didn’t love us, he would be indifferent to us. He would turn us over to our own wicked ways, which we know from scripture that He does do to those who have hardened their hearts to him. But if we seek him, if we turn from our rebellion, His love for us is shown by forgiveness and redemption. 

As a matter of fact, God already proved that over 2,000 years ago with the death and resurrection of Jesus, His son. We have only to accept that fact and believe that He died for our sins, and then allow Him to guide our actions and decisions, to experience that loyal and enduring love. I’m so glad I don’t have to depend on my own effort or my own faithfulness. I fail more often than I care to admit. But he sees it all, and he offers forgiveness. 

The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore. Say with me, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”

In this Psalm there are several calls to give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.  We hear this refrain four times: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people! ” 

The Psalm ends with this: Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love!

Have you been delivered from an enemy? Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, an

Dr. John Townsend shares practical tips for parents struggling to set boundaries with their children. He’ll provide insights into relatable situations spanning every stage of the parenting journey, from teaching unruly toddlers to dealing with adult children who still live at home. Hear his advice for teaching kids to take responsibility and grow into healthy adults.  

Receive a copy of Boundaries with Kids and an audio download of "Proven Strategies to Help Your Children Establish Healthy Boundaries" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Dr. John Townsend reminds parents to not have an emotional outburst around your kids.

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Receive a copy of Boundaries with Kids and an audio download of "Proven Strategies to Help Your Children Establish Healthy Boundaries" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Minute, please give us your feedback.

Dr. John Townsend shares practical tips for parents struggling to set boundaries with their children. He’ll provide insights into relatable situations spanning every stage of the parenting journey, from teaching unruly toddlers to dealing with adult children who still live at home. Hear his advice for teaching kids to take responsibility and grow into healthy adults.  

Receive a copy of Boundaries with Kids and an audio download of "Proven Strategies to Help Your Children Establish Healthy Boundaries" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Most people have small thoughts about God. In an effort to see God as our friend, we have lost his immensity. In our desire to understand him, we have sought to contain him.

The God of the Bible cannot be contained. With a word he called Adam out of dust and Eve out of a bone. He consulted no committee; he sought no counsel. He has authority over the world, and he has authority over your world. He’s never surprised. He has never, ever uttered the phrase, “How did that happen?”

God’s goodness is a major headline in the Bible. If he were only mighty, we’d salute him. But since he is merciful and mighty, we can approach him. If God is at once Father and Creator, holy—unlike us—and high above us, then we at any point are only a prayer away from help.

Read more Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Since today is Tuesday, we’ll be reading from one of the books of History. We’re currently working our way through  1 Chronicles, and today we’ll read chapters 20-24. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “A Special Spot.”  

1 Chronicles 21:18 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Gad. He said, “Tell David to build an altar to worship the Lord. David must build that altar near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

David went against the word of the Lord and ordered a census of the Israelites, which angered the Lord, and He punished Israel. David repented, and asked God to forgive him. God told David’s seer, Gad, that David must choose between three punishments, and David chose to put himself in God’s hands, instead of man’s.

In the midst of the punishment, which brought a sickness on the people of Israel in which 70,000 died, God stayed the hand of the angel which He had sent to destroy Jerusalem. At this point, the angel of the Lord was standing at the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan in other translations) the Jebusite.

David saw the angel, and he asked God to punish him and his family and not the people, because it was he (David) who had sinned. And the angel of the Lord spoke to Gad. He said, “Tell David to build an altar to worship the Lord. David must build that altar near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

There are some interesting facts concerning this event and this place. 

1) This is the only altar before any of Israel’s exiles that God had commanded to be built 

2) This threshing floor was on Mount Moriah, which is where Abraham offered Isaac and is in the same hills where Jesus was crucified.

3) Mount Moriah is inside what was to become the city of Jerusalem, and is where Solomon built the Temple, and where it will someday be rebuilt. So during the Millennial reign of Jesus, He will again stand on this land. 

I think it’s safe to say that this is one of the most significant places on earth!

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 20 NCV; Ch. 21-22 ERV; Ch. 23-24 NET

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Dr. Gary Chapman shares how you can make things right with your spouse, even if you forgot your wedding anniversary.

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Receive a copy of The 5 Apology Languages plus a free audio download of “Transform Your Marriage with the Power of a Sincere Apology.” Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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