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Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God’s glory.

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Billy Graham once said, “A checkbook is a theological document. It tells you who and what you worship.” It’s a striking statement—but an important one.

Most of us make financial decisions every day without thinking much about them. We buy groceries, renew subscriptions, grab coffee, replace something that broke, or make an impulse purchase that feels harmless in the moment. These choices can seem ordinary and disconnected from our spiritual lives.

But Scripture invites us to look deeper. Our spending habits often reveal more about our hearts than we realize. They can uncover what we value, what we pursue, and where we place our trust.

A bank statement may look like a list of numbers and purchases, but over time, it tells a story. It reflects priorities.

Where our money goes often shows what matters most to us. That’s why money is never just about math—it also has a spiritual dimension. Financial decisions can expose desires, fears, habits, and hopes that might otherwise remain hidden. The prophet Isaiah asked this searching question:

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2)

That’s not merely a budgeting question. It’s a heart question. God is asking His people why they keep investing themselves in things that can never truly satisfy. It’s a question worth asking today as well.

Jesus adds another layer in Luke 16:

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:11)

Jesus is not condemning money. He is reframing it.

Money is temporary. It is a tool. But how we handle that tool reveals something deeper about our readiness to receive what truly matters. In that sense, money becomes a test of trust.

Every purchase, every swipe of the card, every budgeting decision expresses something about what we love.

And because of that, even everyday spending can become an opportunity for worship.

The early church martyr Polycarp of Smyrna is often credited with this insight: “The world asks, What does a man own? Christ asks, How does he use it?”

That gets to the heart of biblical stewardship.

The question is not simply what we possess, but how we use what God has entrusted to us. Scripture consistently reminds us that everything belongs to the Lord, and we are called to manage His resources faithfully.

That changes the way we think about spending. We are not merely consumers deciding what to do with “our money.” We are stewards seeking to honor God with what He has placed in our hands.

The book of Haggai gives us a vivid picture of what happens when priorities drift.

After returning from exile in Babylon, the people of Israel came home to ruins. The temple—the center of worship and identity—had been destroyed. At first, they began rebuilding it. But as opposition grew and enthusiasm faded, their focus shifted.

Instead of restoring God’s house, they concentrated on their own comfort, building paneled homes while the temple remained neglected. So God sent the prophet Haggai with a piercing message:

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? … You have sown much, and harvested little… and he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:4–6)

Their spending reflected misplaced priorities. And the result was frustration, emptiness, and lack of satisfaction.

That same dynamic can surface in our lives.

When spending is driven more by comfort than conviction, we may find ourselves chasing more while enjoying less. The satisfaction we expected never quite arrives.

Sometimes the issue is overspending. Other ti

There’s a famous poem about defiant independence featuring phrases like “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” The Lord probably finds that poem pretty funny. The Bible says the earth is God’s footstool. And He hears a wee, little voice say I am the captain of my soul. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us a fresh perspective from Jacob’s attempt to wrestle with God.

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You love your kids. But some days you lose it, replay it, and carry the weight. Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler, authors of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments, meet you smack dab in the middle of your mess, not the highlight reel. They challenge the suffocating pressure to be the “ideal mom” and point to something far sturdier when your guilt, comparison, and chaos are hitting home.

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It’s easy to fall into a cycle of correcting behavior problems instead of truly relating to your child. Pastor Bill Smith will help you draw out and guide your child – and ultimately build a deeper relationship.

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Erin and Greg share their thoughts on the value of women and we hear excerpts from author and former CEO of Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS), Elisa Morgan. She shared how women should find their beauty by looking through God's eyes. We'll also talk about the upcoming Mother's Day podcast series from Focus On The Family called Legacy of Love.

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