Family Matters

Family Matters is a 5 minute programme offering practical advice from Focus on the Family. Receive a daily dose of encouragement and advice for the family with keys to stronger marriages, effective parenting, deeper relationships and a more satisfying lifestyle.
Daily English South Africa Society & Culture · Religion & Spirituality
1,149 Episodes
1100 – 1120

Sex At Its Best

Is marital sex really more satisfying? I'm in a difficult marriage, and one of the biggest sore spots between me and my wife is the whole issue of sex. I feel deprived. Sometimes I'm even tempted to explore the possibility of getting my needs met somewhere else. I read an…
10 Jun 2019 11PM 4 min

Sorting Out Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

What's the difference between obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder? I'm confused about the terminology, which complicates my efforts to find help for my spouse, who (in my opinion) exhibits a number of obsessive compulsive traits. Can you clarify the difference for me?
9 Jun 2019 11PM 4 min

Struggling With Same-sex Attractions

Is there any way I can overcome my life-long struggle with same-sex attraction? I've tried to resist, but it seems inevitable that I will eventually act on these feelings. What should I do?
6 Jun 2019 11PM 4 min

Talking to Children About Tragic Events

As a parent, how should I deal with my children when mass shootings, natural disasters, and other tragic events involving loss of life occur? Should I do my best to shield them from this information – an almost impossible task in the face of today's constant news media cycle? Or…
5 Jun 2019 11PM 4 min

The Apostle Paul on Marriage and Singleness

The Bible and the Church talk about marriage being God’s design, and there is much emphasis on the sanctity of marriage being the foundation of family. There are, however, people who choose a life of singleness as they consecrate themselves to God here on earth. We’ll reveal what the Bible…
4 Jun 2019 11PM 4 min

Wife Doesn't Get Along With Husband's Friends

Have you ever been fed up with your spouse’s friends? It’s hard to get excited about a social event when you really don’t have much in common with the crowd of people your spouse like to hang out with. However, in marriage there has to be some give and take,…
2 Jun 2019 11PM 3 min

Wondering If Spouse Is Truly Repentant Over Affair

How can I be sure that my spouse is really repentant for the pain he has caused me? A year ago, I discovered he'd been involved in an emotional affair with another woman for nearly a decade. He also has a history of explosive anger which has often led to…
30 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Divorce and Its Impact on Children

We're in the process of getting a divorce, and it seems to be taking a heavy toll on the entire family. Our kids have been acting out in a wide variety of ways. Some of their behavior has been so extreme that I'm becoming seriously concerned about them. What's considered…
29 May 2019 11PM 4 min

How Dads Teach Daughters About Modesty

How can fathers help their girls learn about modesty? I want my daughter to get a handle on this concept before she becomes a teen, but I feel awkward about raising this subject with her. I realize that as a dad I can either be a big asset to her…
27 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Help for Victim of Cyber-Bullying

What can I do about kids texting intimidating messages to my cell phone and posting mean rumors about me on Facebook? At first I tried to ignore them, but the situation has gotten so bad that I don't want to show my face at school anymore. These people are destroying…
26 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Child Is Afraid of the Dev

How can I calm my child's fears of Satan? Over the past few months my five-year-old has become obsessed with this subject. She's always asking questions about the devil, and she seems terribly afraid of what he might do to her. She goes to Sunday school, and we pray and…
23 May 2019 11PM 4 min

A Grown Child's Attitude Toward Parental Authority

Now that I'm past 18, should I still "submit" to my mom and dad? The Bible says that children should "obey" their parents (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20), but at what point do I become fully independent of their control?
22 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Attracted to Spouse's Best Friend

Should I tell my husband that I'm attracted to his closest buddy? I've heard it said this kind of information should be shared between spouses for purposes of accountability, but I'm not sure that this would be wise. Neither man has any clue of my struggle and I don't want…
21 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Unfaithful Husband Wants to Date Other Women

How should I respond to my husband's repeated infidelities and his blatant request to date other women? We've had a troubled marriage for years. Recently he confessed to extra-marital affairs. I've forgiven him for adulteries, but now he says he wants to develop "outside relationships" while continuing to live in…
20 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Three-Year-Old Boy Plays Dress-Up With Sisters

Should I allow my three-year-old son to play dress-up with his older sisters? He not only enjoys putting on the same frilly dresses they wear, but the costume jewelry as well. This doesn't seem like healthy behavior to me. What can I do to stop it?
19 May 2019 11PM 4 min

The Importance of Marital Sex: A Biblical View

Is sex really that critical to a healthy marriage? Here's why I ask. I'm having a disagreement with my spouse. He tells me that sex is a "sacrament" and "a holy mystery," and that it needs to be central to our relationship. He even uses Ephesians 5:30-32 to support these…
16 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Sharing Marital Frustrations With Family

Should I share my marital frustrations and problems with my parents and siblings? We've always been a very tight-knit family, and there are few people I trust more. Our marriage isn't in crisis, but there are times when I need some support or simply want to vent. Is that okay?
15 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Reconciling Christian Suffering and "All Things Working for Good"

How can pain and suffering be good? It seems whenever Christians talk about this subject, someone always quotes Romans 8:28. Is this verse literally true? I've seen Christians go through the same kinds of sufferings as unbelievers, and in most cases nothing "good" has come of it, at least not…
14 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Preschooler Terrified of Bugs

How can I help my small child deal with his overwhelming fear of insects? He's always been a little scared of bugs, but recently he was bitten by something at school during snack time, and now he gets hysterical every time the class is supposed to go outside. What's the…
13 May 2019 11PM 4 min

Opposite Sex Friendships in Marriage

Is it wrong for a married person to have a friend of the opposite sex? While my spouse was away on a week-long missions trip, I enlisted a male friend from work to come over and help me care for our eighteen-month-old daughter. In the process, we ended up watching…
12 May 2019 11PM 4 min
1100 – 1120