Smiling at the Future

Lisa Hughes, author of the book "Unmet Expectations," shares how we can biblically handle the disappointments and thwarted plans in our lives. She answers questions such as: is it wrong to have expectations? If we have expectations of other people, should we voice those? How do we handle the disappointment that comes when we don't live up to our own expectations? And how should single women handle the feelings of compounded unmet expectations of not being married or having a family? 

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Lisa's Book "Unmet Expectations" https://www.amazon.com/Unmet-Expectations-Lisa-Hughes/dp/1633422437/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18RWLB9N508IN&keywords=unmet+expectations+lisa+hughes&qid=1656281973&sprefix=unmet+ex%2Caps%2C576&sr=8-1

Informative for women (as well as and helpful guidance for men!), Chris candidly shares what he advises men to be looking for in a woman as they seek marriage. He answers questions such as: What do you tell men about the process of "looking for a wife"? What should every man be looking for? What are areas where every man may NOT be looking for the same thing? And are looks, intelligence, education, career or shared interests important?

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In this episode, Lynne Brown discusses how loneliness can strike in any season of life, but especially during singleness. She brings gospel truth to bear when answering the following questions: How can I handle the loneliness I feel when attending weddings and showers? What truths of Scripture should I meditate on when feeling alone? How should I respond to the loneliness that grows from others not being in the same life season? How should I cope with the loneliness I experience after a break-up? 

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"Smiling At The Future" Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4VDsn8RqjdBA8zN3CdBGpN?si=twbdrEW0Rpa0GFPEfxDF2w

Book Recommendation:

"The Path of Loneliness" by Elizabeth Elliot

Here to launch us into season two, Pastor Kurt and his wife Julie address how Christian dating is different from dating in the world, how important mentorship is in the dating process, and how to lessen the pressure found in some Christian dating cultures. Along the way they offer practical encouragement for how the gospel and our hope in Christ are the foundation for finding peace in the challenges of singleness, or any period of life. 

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Dating Talk by Kurt Gebhards: "8 Tactics for Spousal Acquisition"https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/2136?fbclid=IwAR090dOguGgjbMGTuSfdQtHE6pb40-qDun4SpQmgY4CcfX1kAYCjwjXJpT4

Dating Series by Kurt Gebhards: https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/series/305

Just a quick announcement about the podcast! 

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We make decisions every day, but sometimes this can be a difficult process. Chris Hamilton joins the podcast again to bring clarity to this topic by answering the following questions: How do we discern the will of God when making a decision? How can you tell if asking for help in making a decision is actually a crutch for not thinking an issue through yourself? How do you pray when seeking the Lord's help in a decision? How do you avoid "paralysis by analysis"? What Scriptures have you leaned on when in a decision-making process? What are telltale signs of a bad decision?

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No matter the season of life we find yourselves in, contentment is a quality that we often need to rekindle.  In this episode, Lynne shares powerful, biblical truths on how to cultivate contentment in your heart.  

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Lynne Brown's podcast: https://anchor.fm/s/44148a40/podcast/rss

Book Recommended: "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" by Jeremiah Burroughs 

Marci Ferrell from "The Thankful Homemaker" podcast, answers helpful questions such as: what is the biblical support for women to be homemakers, even single women? What homemaking skills do you wished you had mastered before marriage and family? How do you keep the right attitude in homemaking so that you don't neglect or idolize it? What if you don't enjoy cooking and cleaning? What are your favorite homemaking tools? And do you think single women have an allowance to put homemaking on the back burner so that they can prioritize other ministries better?

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https://thankfulhomemaker.com/podcast/

Recommended Resources

Recipe Organization App: https://www.paprikaapp.com/

SH-MOP :https://www.amazon.com/SH-MOP-SH-WIPES-TELESCOPING-ALUMINUM-HANDLE/dp/B0039PEB6W/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=SH-MOP&qid=1642626720&sr=8-2

Wool Dryer Balls: https://www.amazon.com/Wool-Dryer-Balls-Alternative-Softener/dp/B014WOWNAY/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ASPOB0TC68CV&keywords=wool%2Bdryer%2Bballs&qid=1642626780&sprefix=wool%2Bdryer%2Bballs%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-5&th=1

"Laundress" Detergent:  https://www.amazon.com/Laundress-No-Laundry-Detergent-fl/dp/B00M9ZQW5Q/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2V58TXN8N2P8D&keywords=Laundress&qid=1642626824&rdc=1&sprefix=laundress%2B%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-5&th=1

Foundational and mysterious; returning guests John and Jane answer the following questions about marriage: What are wise or unwise reasons to get married or remain single? Should a person who desires to be married, expect to be married? What is the difference between a contract and a covenant? What involvement does the government or church have in regulating marriage? What is the difference between egalitarianism and complementarianism? And what does being a "help-mate" look like? 

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Happy New Year, and why this podcast was named "Smiling at the Future." 

Join us January 11th for another full-length episode :) 

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