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Biblical counselor Marie Clark explores what the Proverbs teach us about laziness and how we can recognize it in our own lives by answering the following questions: How does laziness create unnecessary difficulties in our lives? Can someone be busy and hardworking while still being lazy? What excuses do we make to avoid our responsibilities? How can procrastination disguise itself as productivity? How do we evaluate our productivity when experiencing a chronic illness? Why does a lazy person often resist correction? How can we make better use of the opportunities God has given us? What is the danger of desiring results without being willing to put in the work? And how can a love of comfort and ease reveal laziness in our hearts? Marie’s “Hedge of Thorns” graphic: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Q7vYuOqGVsFa0Bia6TEDfKx2-OTjSHK/view?usp=drive_link Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Biblical counselor Lynne Brown shares wisdom from God’s word and her own experience by answering the following questions about marrying a man who already has children: What are some initial questions a woman should ask a man if he already has children? How would dating look different for a man with children? What are expectations a woman should have when stepping into the role of "Mom," and how can she help make that transition smoother? What questions about discipline and parenting styles should be discussed upfront?  Episode on Divorce: https://smilingatthefuturepodcast.com/2023/08/29/ep-40/ Lynne’s Booklet: Help! My Husband Refuses to Work https://www.shepherdpress.com/products/help-my-husband-refuses-to-work/ Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Biblical counselor Greg Gifford helps us understand the biblical mandate to leave and cleave in marriage by answering the following questions: What does healthy leaving and healthy cleaving look like? What are things couples do in dating and engagement that can bring unnecessary tension to in-law relationships? In dating, what warning signs should a woman take seriously in how a man relates to his family? What aspects of your relationship should you share or not share with your family? If a couple is considering living with family post marriage, what are the risks and considerations for doing this? How can sisters-in-law cultivate friendships even if personalities clash?  Greg Gifford’s podcast: https://fortisplus.org/tabs/discover/podcasts/34123 Book Recommendations “In-Laws” by Wayne Mack  “Making Room for Her” by Barbara Reaoch and Stacy Reaoch  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Surprise! Christi’s sister Michelle Wendler takes over the mic to put Christi in the hot-seat on her birthday.  We’ll learn many things we didn’t know about Christi such as where she has traveled, her style, favorite foods, and some of her near-death experiences. But she also shares some behind-the-scenes details about how the podcast got started, a few of her favorite episodes over the years, and what God is currently teaching her. It’s a fun and personal episode you don’t want to miss!  Christi’s Testimony: https://youtu.be/uBATQamkDAQ?si=duTccDhBqW5LxCHn Wildfire Vlog: https://vimeo.com/460393791 Moments with Mom YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@momentswithmom3196?si=8bGHd4F4gJWYoFkZ Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Reagan Rose spurs us on in our Christian walk by answering the following questions about good works: What is the biblical definition of good works? Are the good works God has planned for us things that He spontaneously drops into our lives, or do we intentionally plan them? How can we keep our motives pure and faithfully do good works to glorify God instead of drawing attention to ourselves? Why are biblically sound churches sometimes weak in doing practical acts of service, and how can we avoid failing to become doers of the Word? How can we spur others on to good works? For someone who is growing weary of "well doing," or just lacking motivation, how would you encourage them to not give up or slow down?  Reagan's Website: https://redeemingproductivity.com/ Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Lauren Arif alerts the podcast listeners to the dangers of self-pity by answering the following questions: Life is hard, so why is self-pity wrong when we are experiencing a trial? What are some biblical examples of self-pity, and how did God respond to that?  Why is instruction or correction often a catalyst for someone to sink into self-pity? If someone has a habit of seeking pity from others, what might that look like, and how would you exhort them? How does practicing self-pity harm those around us? God often shows us mercy. How can this truth reshape our thinking when we are having a “pity party”? What practical strategies can someone practice when they sense self-pity pulling them down? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠ Recommended Book: "Dead End Desire: Biblical Strategies for Overcoming Self-Pity" by Phil Moser

Pastor Brad Klassen discusses the importance of Bible study by answering the following questions: Why is it important for every Christian to study the Bible on their own even if they attend a sound Bible-teaching church? What attitude should a believer have when approaching the Scriptures? What encouragement would you give the person who feels their time in the Word is dry? How can believers pursue disciplined study of the Word without allowing that study to become disconnected from a personal devotion to Christ? What helpful steps should someone take when setting up a Bible study plan? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠ Recommended Books: "How to Study the Bible" by John MacArthur "Living by the Book" by Howard & William Hendricks "How to Study the Bible" by Richard Mayhue "Grasping God's Word" Duvall & Hays

Christi’s older sister, Michelle Wendler, shares her wisdom on how to navigate change by answering the following questions: What are some common areas we experience change? What Biblical examples do we find of people experiencing change? What unique challenges during change can single women face? What are healthy ways to help process change? How can we encourage those around us who are experiencing change? What encouragement would you give the person who is afraid of change? For the person who is hooked on change, what should they be reminded of? What encouragement would you give someone when things don’t change and life feels static? Why is change important for us, and what character qualities are strengthened through change? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Returning guest, Pastor Travis Allen, shares the importance of discernment for every Christian by answering the following questions: What is the biblical definition of discernment, and why is this an important virtue for a believer to grow in? In what areas do you see Christian women in particular lacking discernment or being easily swayed? How can a single woman cultivate discernment without becoming overly cautious or fearful?  Scripture encourages us to seek counsel, but how would you exhort the woman who distrusts her own judgment so much that she relies primarily on others when making decisions? What would discernment look like in a dating relationship? And, what habits help sharpen discernment?  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

My favorite Uncle joins the podcast to share about his passion of enjoying the wonders of God's creation by answering the following questions: Can you tell the listeners about Creation Safaris and what motivated you to start that ministry? What are the spiritual and physical benefits a believer can gain from spending time in God's creation? What are your favorite Bible passages about God's creation? And what does good stewardship of God's creation look like for a believer? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠ Uncle Dave's Website: crev.info Uncle Dave's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@GeographicArtistry Creation Safari's Website: creationsafaris.com

Pastor Travis Allen joins the podcast to help us think biblically about singleness in the church by addressing several important questions: How does your marital status help or hinder your service to Christ? What encouragement would you give married couples and families for how to embrace singles in the church? What would characterize an intentional Christian single? Why has dating in the church been such a challenging area for many singles? And what would you tell the person who is unwilling to step into marriage until they are sure they will be more effective for Christ married than single? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Lit Tittel helps us navigate stressful seasons by answering the following questions: What types of stress are there and what are common life stressors? Should we try to gain relief from stress? What are things we can do to mitigate some of the physical and emotional toll that stress takes on us? Is it ok to medicate during very stressful times? How do people compound the pressures of life and make stress worse? What characteristics should you look for in how a man responds to stress? And how can we effectively serve others who are experiencing a season of stress?  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠ Recommended Resources:  “I’m Praying For You” by Nancy Guthrie  “Refresh” Shona Murray   Sermon by Micah Lugg“When God Allows a Marriage to End” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-god-allows-a-marriage-to-end-the-biblical/id447732584?i=1000656178145

Biblical Counselor Marie Clark skillfully opens the Scriptures to answer the following questions about modesty: What is biblical modesty, and why is this important to God? Is it possible to dress modestly and still not be pleasing to God? How does legalism show up in this area? Can you help us understand the dynamic of why modesty seems to be largely situational, cultural, and generational? Why is the "androgyny" trend something Christian women should be on guard against? And what are sinful motives that lead someone to dress immodestly? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Ashley brings both experience and discernment to this conversation to help singles navigate the world of online dating by answering the following questions: For someone resistant to online dating, what's a more balanced and hopeful perspective? What should women include in their own profiles and what are healthy things to look for in a man's profile? How can women show interest without taking the lead? What are good questions to ask in the first few messages and should you feel obligated to respond to every message you receive? What dating sites or apps would you recommend?  And when online dating feels discouraging, what truths should women remind themselves of?  Ashley’s Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11WO8uTruxB8xlBfwLMYd4?si=231ThWPqQiyefnEYd0EsmA&pi=UB2oRZLIRlWPv Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Reagan Rose helps us kick off this year with motivation and tactics to tame our smartphones by answering the following questions: What spiritual benefit have you noticed in the steps you have taken to limit technology in your life?  Beyond shortening our attention spans, how are smartphones changing people? What are practical tips someone can take today to put boundaries on their smartphone usage? And what encouragement would you give someone who is considering limiting or deleting their social media accounts? Reagan's Website: https://redeemingproductivity.com/ Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: [email protected]  Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠