Utah's Hope

You gave in last time. And the time before that. When marriage starts feeling lopsided, keeping score can feel less like selfishness and more like simple fairness. Counselor Debra Fileta joins Dave and Ann Wilson on FamilyLife Today to unpack selfishness in marriage—and finding your way back to “we.”

Show Notes and Resources

• Choosing Marriage: Why It Has to Start With We > Me.
• Debra Fileta.
• Weekend to Remember.

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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Respond to God's calling in obedience, and discover the blessings He has waiting for you. 

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Generosity often begins with good intentions, but how do we turn those plans into action? Many Christians genuinely want to give, but generosity doesn't always happen as purposefully as we'd like. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Kendra VanderMeulen explore how a thoughtful giving strategy can help us make the most of what God has entrusted to us. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Topics: 

Brant and Sherri talk about patience, spiritual maturity, and what happens when we allow irritation and anger to shape how we see others. Plus, a birthday gift straight from Middle-earth.

Quotes:

"If I am patient and I can slow myself down and be calm inside, I can see people and still add value to people. 

"That woman's life story is more important than my not wanting to be insulted."

"If I get into this downward vector of just anger at circumstances and frustration, I start to think more selfishly. I don't see other people."

"I think the least compassionate thing I can do would be to not tell someone what Jesus said about anger."

"If I'm only affirmed, I can't be renewed.

"You can be for truth, but you don't do it out of contempt."
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Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order!

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For many kids, as the days count down to the end of a school year, there’s excitement . . . no more homework, no more tests! I think Alice Cooper sang about that. But those final hours of a school year can go by so S-L-O-W-L-Y. A lot of us feel that way about the return of Christ. We’re excited to see our Savior, but we’ve been waiting a long time. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the reasons for the wait, and shows us what God would have us do with our extra time.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Most Christians want to be generous. But wanting to give and actually following through are two different things.

With so many worthy causes, competing needs, and financial decisions to consider, even the best intentions can become overwhelming. Without a plan, our giving can become reactive rather than purposeful, driven more by the requests we receive than by a thoughtful understanding of how God has entrusted us to steward His resources.

So, how can we move from good intentions to meaningful action?

Kendra VanderMeulen, CEO of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), joined the show today to discuss how developing a thoughtful giving strategy can help Christians become more intentional, generous stewards.

For more than four decades, NCF has helped believers put their generosity into action, facilitating more than $25 billion in grants to over 100,000 churches and charitable organizations.

According to VanderMeulen, one of the greatest obstacles to intentional generosity is simply the number of decisions involved.

What should we give? How much? When? And to whom?

Without a clear strategy, these questions can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Instead of giving with confidence and purpose, we may respond to requests as they arise, unsure when to say yes or no.

The solution begins with Scripture. Proverbs 3:9 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."

Generosity isn't merely a financial transaction. It's an expression of worship and a recognition that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God.

VanderMeulen encourages Christians to begin by considering the causes and needs that stir their hearts. What brings you joy? What breaks your heart? Where do you see opportunities to participate in the work God is doing?

From there, consider the resources God has placed in your hands and how you might use them to serve others. And remember, developing a giving strategy doesn't have to happen overnight. The goal isn't perfection. It's taking one faithful step at a time toward greater intentionality.

When most people think about charitable giving, they picture writing a check or making an online donation. But cash represents only a portion of the resources many households possess.

VanderMeulen highlights an important distinction: Roughly 90% of charitable giving comes from cash, even though approximately 90% of wealth is held in other forms. That means some of the greatest opportunities for generosity may be found outside our checking and savings accounts.

Non-cash assets that may be suitable for charitable giving include appreciated stocks, bonds, real estate, privately held businesses, and other investments.

Families can sometimes donate these assets directly to charitable organizations or donor-advised funds, potentially giving more efficiently while supporting causes they care about.

For Christians who have spent decades building a business, investing, or accumulating other assets, this opens the door to thinking about generosity in entirely new ways. Instead of asking only how much they can give from their income, they can consider how the wealth entrusted to them might bless others.

One of the most important principles in asset-based giving is to consider generosity before a major financial transaction.

For example, someone preparing to sell a business, investment property, or appreciated securities may have an opportunity to structure a charitable gift before the sale takes place.

Depending on the circumstances, donating an appreciated asset before selling it may reduce certain tax liabilities and increase the amount ultimately available for charitable purposes. Howe

Rob Jackson addresses common questions parents have when their children identify with the LGBT lifestyle. Offering guidance rooted in faith and love, Rob discusses topics such as gender confusion, same-sex attraction, and approaching difficult conversations. He reminds listeners to find hope in God while navigating their child’s journey.

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From Transgendered to Transformed

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What do you do when your child starts questioning everything you've taught them about faith? John Fuller and Dr. Danny Huerta are joined by Jim Daly, Alisa Childers, and Tim Barnett to unpack the rise of "TikTok theology" and faith deconstruction among young people. 

The Deconstruction of Christianity

Navigating Faith Deconstruction with Your Loved Ones