Utah's Hope

Saying no to divorce, plus why Christian movies feel so cringe, and dating someone with a narcissistic family member.  

Featured musical artist:  John Waller

Roundtable: Safeguards Against Divorce

Building a healthy marriage is especially tough when your family tree is littered with divorce and dysfunction. But with God’s grace, good preparation, and a huge dose of humility, you can break sinful cycles and prioritize relational health in your family. Each of our guests has overcome the influence of generationally broken relationships and bad decisions, and they are now married and determined to do things differently. Their stories, commitments and strategies to accomplish this will inspire you.   

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Link To: The 5 Love Languages

Culture: Cringey Christian Films

Christian films historically have a reputation for low budgets, bad acting, and heavy-handed preachiness. Even though their motives and messages are good, bad art and low production standards mar their potential. Two of our Plugged In team members join the conversation this week to talk about why Christian movies tend to feel so cringe, but also how to redeem the genre and find the cinematic diamonds in the rough.  

Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family: How to Navigate a Media-Saturated World–and Why We Should                 

Link to Plugged In Website 

Inbox: Family Narcissists and Dating

You love the person you’re dating, but one of their family members is a narcissist. How do you work through that? Counselor Seyah Sparr weighs in. 

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Dr. Randy Schroeder recommends husbands and wives learn to forgive each other, be solution-focused in conflict, and infuse laughter into their relationship. He also warns about having secrets, interrupting each other, and using sarcasm. Couples can learn better ways to interact and communicate!

Receive the book Simple Habits for Marital Happiness and a free audio download of “How to Break Bad Habits and Cultivate a Healthy Marriage” for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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It’s girls’ day on FamilyLife Today, and Ann Wilson pulls back the curtain on the word so many women side-eye: submission. With wit, warmth, and surprising joy, pastors' wives Ari Todd and Brittany Gray reframe this God-first posture that fuels unity, honors strength, and brings real flourishing. If the thought of “submissive wives” makes you flinch or groan, this conversation might be the freedom you didn’t know you needed.

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Everyone wants financial freedom. But for many of us, freedom gets defined by “more”—more income, more margin, more accumulation. The irony is that the more we chase, the less peace we often feel. The issue isn’t just mathematical. It’s spiritual. Money is one of the clearest mirrors of what we trust. And trust—not strategies or spreadsheets—is where true financial freedom begins.

To explore that idea, we sat down with Ron Blue, cofounder of Kingdom Advisors and a pioneer in modern biblical financial stewardship. For more than fifty years, Ron has helped Christians think about money through the lens of Scripture, wisdom, and faithful discipleship.

Ron pointed out that financial behavior always flows from belief. If we believe we own our resources, then every financial decision carries pressure and fear. But when we acknowledge that God owns everything, that pressure shifts. Instead of performing, controlling, or protecting outcomes, we begin stewarding what belongs to Him. Surrender turns money from a fear-based issue into a faith-based one.

Many of us assume money is a knowledge problem—if we just learn more or find better tools, we’ll finally make progress. But Ron reminded us that Scripture treats money as a matter of wisdom. Knowledge alone can complicate money; wisdom simplifies it. Biblical principles don’t change with markets or trends, and when we make decisions rooted in principle, we gain clarity and peace.

Fear is one of the most silent drivers in our financial lives. Most people quietly wonder, “Will I ever have enough?” and “If I do, will it remain enough?” Fear focuses on what we lack rather than what God has already provided. Jesus counters that fear in Matthew 6:33 by calling us to seek first God’s Kingdom and trust Him with our needs—food, clothing, and shelter included.

Ron also stressed that generosity plays a unique role in financial freedom because it breaks money’s hold on the heart. He described giving as an open hand—letting God put in or take out as He chooses. Giving is unnatural and counterintuitive, but it declares trust in God’s provision and aligns us with His purposes.

If financial freedom is the goal, surrender, wisdom, trust, and generosity are the path. Tools matter, budgets matter, and knowledge matters, but none of them can replace a heart anchored in God’s ownership. True freedom doesn’t start with more. It starts with surrender.

• My son wants to buy a home, but it doesn’t qualify for a mortgage because of its condition. The owners offered a rent-to-own contract in which he’d make repairs and try to qualify for financing later. What are the pitfalls with that? And after making repairs under rent-to-own, would he still be able to get a mortgage?
• My husband and I are a blended family with adult children, and we’re working on estate planning. We were introduced to an A-B trust, but we don’t really understand the pros and cons. Is an A-B trust a good fit for us, and are there other approaches that would ensure our children receive their inheritance?
• I’m 68, and I rent a house on my landlady’s property. She’s 82 and declining in health, and my son thinks I should consider buying a home for long-term security. Am I too old to buy a house at this stage of life? And should I also be considering long-term care insurance?
• I inherited money from a family member’s trust. The first RMD was already taken, and I have ten years to withdraw the rest. Am I allowed to make a qualified charitable gift from an inherited IRA, or am I ineligible because I’m not 70 yet?

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecc

God is called by many names in the Bible, but one of the most comprehensive is the name "I Am." God has many titles that remind us of His attributes and can encourage us when we face difficult circumstances. Dr. Stanley uses the life of Paul to illustrate that God truly is the God of all comfort.

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Dr. Randy Schroeder recommends husbands and wives learn to forgive each other, be solution-focused in conflict, and infuse laughter into their relationship. He also warns about having secrets, interrupting each other, and using sarcasm. Couples can learn better ways to interact and communicate!

Receive the book Simple Habits for Marital Happiness and a free audio download of “How to Break Bad Habits and Cultivate a Healthy Marriage” for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Larry Burkett once observed, “The one principle that surrounds everything else is that of stewardship—that we are the managers of everything God has given us.” That’s a profound truth: God owns everything, and we’ve been entrusted to manage His resources for His purposes. But what does faithful stewardship actually look like? Today, I want to highlight seven marks of a good steward.

When Christians hear the word “stewardship,” we often think first of money—or maybe tithing. While generous financial giving is certainly part of stewardship, Scripture shows that it encompasses much more. God has entrusted us with the gospel, with gifts and abilities, with relationships and time, and ultimately with the love He demonstrated through Christ. Stewardship, then, isn’t merely financial; it’s holistic and deeply spiritual.

First, good stewards acknowledge God’s ownership. Everything belongs to Him, and we hold resources only temporarily to serve His purposes. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that even the ability to earn wealth is a gift from God, and 1 Peter 4:10 calls us to use whatever we’ve received “to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

Second, good stewards understand the mission. God has given each of us a role in His redemptive plan. We’re called to take that calling seriously, but with humility. Proverbs 16:3 encourages, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Third, good stewards are faithful. They follow God’s financial principles—earning, saving, investing, spending wisely, and especially giving generously. Jesus teaches in Luke 16:10–11 that faithfulness with little prepares us for faithfulness with much, and that how we handle worldly wealth is spiritually significant.

Fourth, good stewards are trustworthy. They act with honesty and integrity. Proverbs 12:22 tells us, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight.” Paul likewise teaches that “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).

Fifth, good stewards are diligent. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30), Jesus rebukes passive stewardship. Diligence honors God and reflects Colossians 3:23–24, which calls us to work “heartily, as for the Lord.”

Sixth, good stewards pray for wisdom. James 1:5 assures us that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. Prayer not only guides decisions—it guards our hearts from anxiety (Philippians 4:6).

Seventh, good stewards act when led by the Spirit. Peter urges believers to prepare for action and set their hope fully on Christ (1 Peter 1:13).

These marks set a high bar, and we won’t fulfill them perfectly. But stewardship isn’t about striving—it’s about faithfulness through dependence on God. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to manage the King’s resources for the King’s glory.

• I’ve been retired for about a year. I receive Social Security and a pension, and I’d like to update my tax withholding for next year. Do I have to pay taxes on my Social Security and pension income?
• I’m trying to decide whether to use a debt management program for my four credit cards—I owe about $6,500—or just keep making payments on my own. Which option is better for my long-term financial future?
• I’m a retired federal agent, and I recently inherited a house that I plan to sell for around $160,000. My wife and I want to use the money to pay off credit cards and a home equity line of credit rather than our mortgage. The equity line is coming due soon. Is that a wise plan?
• I’ve been hearing about no-penalty CDs. Can you explain how they compare to high-yield savings accounts for storing money?

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine (Become a Fai

Ever been the target of a scam? Many of us have, some without even realizing it. None of the scammers admit they’re trying to rip you off. They play upon your fear, or your kindness. They find a weakness or a vulnerability. Satan is like that, only he’s been practicing a lot longer. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie warns us about his tactics and strategies. We’re each in his crosshairs, but as believers we’re under the protection of The Cross.

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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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