Smiling at the Future

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: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 
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: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 
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: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 
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: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 
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: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com 
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