Biblical counselor Marie Clark helps us understand the negative women in Proverbs so that we can avoid being characterized as lacking discretion, being contentious, bringing shame to our husband, tearing down our house with our own hands, or being an adulterous woman. 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠⁠

Sophie helps us understand how to guide our emotions in a way that pleases the Lord by answering the following questions: If a woman is emotionally stuck on a crush or previous relationship, why is it important that she actively address those longings? How can you be aware if your emotions after a relationship ends are healthy and normal or are sinful and idolatrous? When God has made it clear that a relationship is not moving forward, what steps can we take to accept God’s will and begin to move forward in our hearts? Is it ok to remove yourself from contexts where you will interact with the man? And how can we shift our focus from what we have lost or given up to excitement for the goodness and care of God and for what is to come? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠⁠

Recommended Book: “Picking Up the Pieces”  with Lou Priollo 

Recommended Episodes: 

30.False Starts: Navigating Rejection and Breakups with Lynne Brown: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/30-false-starts-navigating-rejection-and-breakups/id1526155723?i=1000523786604

63. A Biblical Understanding of Food and Body Image with Sophie Southedon: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/63-a-biblical-understanding-of-food-and-body/id1526155723?i=1000587968859

57. Recovering from a Breakup: Hope in the Midst of Heartache with Liz Tittle: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/57-recovering-from-a-breakup-hope-in-the/id1526155723?i=1000578555277

Pastor John Tucker and his wife Jane share comfort for those who have walked the painful road of sexual abuse by tactfully answering the following questions: Of all kinds of sin in this world, why is sexual abuse so devastating to the victim? For someone who has been abused, how do they know if it is something they still need to work through with a biblical counselor? What are wrong ways people deal with shame, and what is God’s prescription for how to move forward to healing? How can someone move forward in hope and trust into a future relationship, not protecting what happened in the past in this future situation? For those who feel that they have “baggage” or are tarnished in some way, how can they place their identity in Christ instead of a past event? And if you’re the friend of someone who has walked through abuse, how can you effectively come alongside and help bear that burden with them? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠⁠

Recommended Resources: 

“Treasure in the Ashes” by Maria Brookins 

“Trusting God” by Jerry Bridges

“God’s Battle Plan for the Mind” by David Saxton

“Making all Things New” by David Powlison 

“Instruments in the Redeemers Hands” by Paul David Tripp 

Pastor Jeremy Vuolo balances our mindset on play and recreation by answering the following questions: Does Scripture help us see play as a gift from God, or as a distraction to be minimized? What are helpful principles that can help Christians avoid falling into pitfalls in our approach to recreation? How would you encourage a Christian who may feel guilty about spending time not in work or specifically spiritual pursuits? And how can Christians be wise in selecting hobbies or recreation? 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠⁠

Returning guest Chris Hamilton brings helpful clarity to questions couples may have during engagement such as: What are the contents and benefits of premarital counseling? What are the different topics that should be discussed during an engagement stage as opposed to the dating phase? What advice would you give a couple considering elopement? How should a couple navigate “cold feet” if one or both experience this during engagement? What are appropriate reasons to break off an engagement? Can physical boundaries change during engagement? And how can a couple keep their priorities straight during the excitement and busyness of engagement? 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Biblical counselor Dr. Ernie Baker shares insights on how couples can grow in relational and communication skills by answering the following questions: What are God-honoring motives for pursuing growth in these two areas? What is the difference between character qualities and relational skills? What are the core areas of communication we need to put intentional effort into improving? What counsel would you give a couple who have different communication styles? What are the common ways that couples stumble regarding conflict resolution? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Recommended Resources: 

“Marry Wisely Marry Well” by Dr. Ernie Baker

“Help! I’m in a Conflict” booklet by Ernie Baker 

“Peacemaking for Families” by Ken Sande 

“Marriage Maintenance and Minefield Management” article by Ernie Baker: https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2021/04/26/marriage-maintenance-and-minefield-management/

Sarah Dougherty helps us understand the rich meaning and application of the virtue of “kindness” by answering the following questions: what is the biblical definition of kindness, and how is it different from the world’s version? How do we cultivate this fruit of the spirit? Why do we need to be trained how to be kind? And why is it so important that kindness flows from a heart of love? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Biblical counselor Greg Gifford brings clarity to understanding the motives of our heart by answering the following questions: Why do our motives matter so much to God? What are questions someone can ask themselves to identify their motives? How should we interact with the tension of mixed motives? What is the process for purifying our motives? And how can we grow in the habit of believing the best of other people’s motives? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠⁠

Recommended Resources: 

Greg Gifford’s website and podcast: Transformed.org 

“Heart and Habits” book by Greg Gifford 

“Motives: Why do I do the things I do” booklet by Ed Welch 

“Suspicion” booklet by Lou Priolo

Google: David Powlison X-Ray Questions 

Dawn Harcus explains the spiritual mothering model laid out in Titus 2 by answering the following questions: We have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, but why does God incorporate the human element of training into our sanctification? Is spiritual mothering best done in groups or one-on-one? Who is responsible for initiating this relationship? Should a woman have more than one discipler? What character qualities does this Titus 2 passage highlight that should exemplify a spiritual mother? What hindrances do you most commonly see that prevent women from obeying this command? And why is it best to have a real person mentoring you over an online influencer? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Recommended Resource: 

“Spiritual Mothering” by Susan Hunt

“Let The Women Be Women” By Chris Mueller 

Lynne Brown walks us through how to recover from failure by answering the following questions: How do we recover in those moments when we fail to live up to our expectations or the expectations of others? When a Christian fails and sins, what is the process of restoration? In what ways does the painful experience of failure serve as a gracious gift from God? And how should we respond when someone we are close with sins against us? 

Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Support The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/smiling-at-2024⁠

Recommended Resources

Lynne Brown’s website: https://lynnemariebrown.com/

Lynne's Email: [email protected]

Recommended Book: “The Gospel Primer” by Milton Vincent