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Navigating Depression: Hope for Heavy Hearts – This humble booklet is by no means a comprehensive study of depression; rather, it is a collection of reflections and lessons that Joni has learned in her long battle against the thick fog of dark emotions. It’s her hope that the following insights will help equip you to be more than a conqueror in your fight to find emotional and mental health.

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Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.

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Most Christians want to be generous. But wanting to give and actually following through are two different things.

With so many worthy causes, competing needs, and financial decisions to consider, even the best intentions can become overwhelming. Without a plan, our giving can become reactive rather than purposeful, driven more by the requests we receive than by a thoughtful understanding of how God has entrusted us to steward His resources.

So, how can we move from good intentions to meaningful action?

Kendra VanderMeulen, CEO of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), joined the show today to discuss how developing a thoughtful giving strategy can help Christians become more intentional, generous stewards.

For more than four decades, NCF has helped believers put their generosity into action, facilitating more than $25 billion in grants to over 100,000 churches and charitable organizations.

According to VanderMeulen, one of the greatest obstacles to intentional generosity is simply the number of decisions involved.

What should we give? How much? When? And to whom?

Without a clear strategy, these questions can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Instead of giving with confidence and purpose, we may respond to requests as they arise, unsure when to say yes or no.

The solution begins with Scripture. Proverbs 3:9 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."

Generosity isn't merely a financial transaction. It's an expression of worship and a recognition that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God.

VanderMeulen encourages Christians to begin by considering the causes and needs that stir their hearts. What brings you joy? What breaks your heart? Where do you see opportunities to participate in the work God is doing?

From there, consider the resources God has placed in your hands and how you might use them to serve others. And remember, developing a giving strategy doesn't have to happen overnight. The goal isn't perfection. It's taking one faithful step at a time toward greater intentionality.

When most people think about charitable giving, they picture writing a check or making an online donation. But cash represents only a portion of the resources many households possess.

VanderMeulen highlights an important distinction: Roughly 90% of charitable giving comes from cash, even though approximately 90% of wealth is held in other forms. That means some of the greatest opportunities for generosity may be found outside our checking and savings accounts.

Non-cash assets that may be suitable for charitable giving include appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, privately held businesses, and other investments.

Families can sometimes donate these assets directly to charitable organizations or donor-advised funds, potentially giving more efficiently while supporting causes they care about.

For Christians who have spent decades building a business, investing, or accumulating other assets, this opens the door to thinking about generosity in entirely new ways. Instead of asking only how much they can give from their income, they can consider how the wealth entrusted to them might bless others.

One of the most important principles in asset-based giving is to consider generosity before a major financial transaction.

For example, someone preparing to sell a business, investment property, or appreciated securities may have an opportunity to structure a charitable gift before the sale takes place.

Depending on the circumstances, donating an appreciated asset before selling it may reduce certain tax liabilities and increase the amount ultimately available for charitable purposes. Howe

A coward who endangered his wife to protect himself. That doesn’t sound like someone you would want to model your life after. So what could the Lord want you to learn from a man like that? Find out as John MacArthur looks at how Isaac—despite some spectacular failures—is a lasting example of faith. Don’t miss the next lesson in John’s study called A Faith That Pleases God.

Rob Jackson has some helpful thoughts on if your child says they want to live an LGBT lifestyle.

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When Grace Meets Conviction

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Rob Jackson addresses common questions parents have when their children identify with the LGBT lifestyle. Offering guidance rooted in faith and love, Rob discusses topics such as gender confusion, same-sex attraction, and approaching difficult conversations. He reminds listeners to find hope in God while navigating their child’s journey.

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From Transgendered to Transformed

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Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!

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Words can bring life and healing; and words can wound deeply. If you have been hurt by vicious words, or if you struggle with controlling your tongue, join Chip as he explores how to guard our tongues and how to bring healing to a damaged relationship.

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On April 21st, 2008, Katherine Wolf suffered a massive stroke. She lost her ability to walk, talk clearly, and care for herself. She went from being a California model to a wheelchair-bound patient. God stepped in.

In her wonderful book, Hope Heals, she writes, “I felt a deep awakening of the Word of God, which I had known since I was a little girl. It was my epiphany of hope. I would never lose heart in this situation because my soul was not what was wasting away.”

Don’t try to weather this storm alone, my friend. He is still the great I AM. The next time you pray, “Is anyone coming to help me?” listen for the response of Jesus. “I AM with you in this storm.” Remember my friend, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Most of us just want to feel secure in who we are, no matter what happens. But every identity we try to manufacture ends up being so fragile. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller points us to the lasting identity God gives us as His children. Discover why you can't answer "who am I?" until you first answer "whose am I?"

This is part three of the sermon, "Living as a Child of God."

This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://livinghopeoffer.net or call us at 1-800-215-5001.

00:03 – Fragile and Crushing: Why self-made identities leave us exposed.
02:28 – Creation-Based Identities: The strategies that can't hold.
04:58 – Sons and Daughters: Secure in the love of the King.
07:32 – Light and Momentary: Suffering set against eternal glory.
10:04 – Becoming Ourselves: To be in Christ is to be a child of God.
13:13 – Remembering Who God Is: The starting point for knowing ourselves.
15:36 – Who He Is, Who I Am: How knowing God defines us.
19:00 – The Daily Practice: What growing in this identity looks like.

Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Living Hope" and "Moody Church Hour," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.

Dr. Philip Miller is the 17th Senior Pastor of The Moody Church. He is the featured speaker on "Living Hope" and "Moody Church Hour," with programs broadcasting on 700 outlets in the U.S. He and his wife Krista live in Chicago with their four children. Pastor Philip is passionate about proclaiming God's Word, cultivating healthy ministry, and investing in future leaders.

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