Utah's Hope

Dr. Greg Smalley and his wife Erin explain that 70% of marital conflict is about ongoing problems, like personality differences, that will never be “solved.” They encourage couples to live with one another in an understanding way by being humble and sharing from the heart.
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The Way Of Jesus, Peace, Abraham Lincoln Impersonator, Pre-Suffering, Breaking Animal News, Forgiveness, Shock Jock

 BONUS CONTENT: Dilemma Street…Mom Going To Church, Abraham Lincoln Impersonator Folllow-up

Quotes:

"I'm not going to be the problem."

"We're not equipped to control the future."

"I've been free from anger or a long time."

"A trap for parents can be trying to control their kids."

The right financial advisor can help you plan for the future. But the right kind of counsel can do something more: help you stay anchored to what matters most.

When we seek financial guidance, we’re not simply looking for information. We’re looking for direction. And for believers, that direction should be shaped by God’s Word—not merely by the market.

Money decisions are never just financial. They touch our hopes, fears, sense of control, and ultimately our trust in God. That’s why Scripture consistently points us toward the importance of wise counsel.

Proverbs 11:14 says:

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

That word safety matters. It points to the protection and stability that can come when we humbly seek wisdom beyond our own perspective.

Seeking counsel requires humility. It means admitting that we don’t always see the whole picture. That isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

Consider Moses in Exodus 18. God had called him to lead Israel, yet his father-in-law, Jethro, noticed something Moses had missed. People were lining up from morning until evening while Moses tried to handle every dispute himself.

Jethro told him plainly, “What you are doing is not good.” He then suggested a better way. Moses listened. He delegated responsibility, and both he and the people were better served.

If Moses needed wise counsel, surely we do too.

That is especially true when it comes to money. In a culture that prizes financial independence, it can be easy to confuse independence with self-reliance. But Proverbs 19:20 reminds us:

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”

Not all counsel is the same. Technical expertise matters. Credentials matter. Experience matters. But the worldview beneath the advice matters too.

Every financial recommendation carries assumptions about what constitutes success, how much is enough, where security is found, what generosity should look like, how we should think about retirement, and ultimately what wealth is for.

Advice may sound impressive and still quietly move our hearts toward goals Scripture never gives us. Jesus warned in Luke 12:15:

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

A spreadsheet can help us plan, but it cannot shepherd the heart. That is one reason values-aligned financial counsel can make such a meaningful difference.

Recent research from Pinkston compared clients working with Certified Kingdom Advisors® (CKA®)—financial professionals trained to integrate biblical wisdom into their practice—with clients of general financial advisors.

Among clients of general advisors, 64% prioritized investment returns. Among CKA® clients, however, 70% prioritized shared beliefs and values.

For many Christian investors, shared faith is not simply an added benefit. It shapes the entire financial conversation.

That alignment also appears to foster significant trust. CKA® clients reported a 98% retention rate and a Net Promoter Score of 83, compared with 58 among general-advisor clients.

But perhaps even more important is how values-aligned counsel can broaden the conversation beyond financial performance alone.

Eighty-one percent of Certified Kingdom Advisors® (CKA®) said they help clients incorporate faith or values-based investing into their financial plans, compared with 57% of general advisors. Clients working with CKA®s were also twice as likely to have significantly increased their charitable giv

More than 40 million young people walk away from faith by age 15. But faith doesn't drift overnight. How do you navigate the tough conversations that matter most? Author David Eaton offers practical ways to engage your teen's questions, doubts, and world without losing connection.

Show Notes and Resources

• Find resources to help connect with your teen at axis.org

• Listen to this podcast When Adult Children Walk Away from Faith: Practical Moves for Waiting Parents

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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When people hear what Jesus has done for us, they’ll see what Jesus can do for them. That’s the essence of sharing the Gospel. But what HAS Jesus done for us? If we’ve lost sight of how our life has changed, it may be time to for some soul searching before we go out soul winning. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us reignite the passion in our hearts, and ignite our afterburners in our efforts to share Christ with those who need to meet Him. Today’s study is from the series called Refresh.

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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.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

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Blending a family isn’t a Hallmark montage. It’s a minefield of hurt feelings, mixed loyalties, and second-guessing...everything. Debbie Alsdorf shares hard-won “do-overs” from 36 years as a stepmom—what she got wrong, what she’d never repeat, and what actually helped a fractured family slowly become one. From Debbie's book, Beyond the Brady Bunch, this stepmom advice skips fantasy and deals with real life.

Show Notes and Resources

• Access blended resources familylifeblended.com
• Give to Familylife Blended directly 
• Watch the show, Renewed Hope for the year, on Women & Blended Families 
• Read Debbie's article, "10 Things I Would Do Over as a Stepmom" 
• More about Debbie and her ministry 

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Discover how to develop confidence in the midst of stressful times.

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Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley host a rapid-fire episode answering common marriage questions from both a husband and a wife perspective - with timed responses! They discuss whether spouses should check in when apart, address hidden purchases as “financial infidelity,” evaluate location sharing and phone/social media access, and other common questions couples have. Ultimately, this is to help you and your spouse discuss what must be shared to maintain security, especially after betrayal, and how to respond without weaponizing.
The Reactive Cycle Assessment
Hope Restored
Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!
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