Smiling at the Future

In this second episode on keeping Christ central in the home, biblical counselor Marie Clark highlights the relationships and roles within the family by answering the following questions: Why is it important for Christians to understand their God-given roles and how to live them out for the harmony of the family?  How do you go about developing a family culture? How do you keep practices like pray...

Biblical counselor Marie Clark shares from God’s word and her own personal experience on how to keep Christ at the center of your home by answering the following questions: What are the priorities a woman should focus on to keep Christ magnified in the home? What can we do if burdens from our past create fear for our future? How can we temper our desire to have a beautiful home without becoming ma...

Wife and Mom of 6, Cathy Olewiler shares her experience of how developing a life purpose statement helped shape their family life and culture by answering the following questions: What are the rewards of setting a life purpose statement for your life? How would someone go about developing a purpose statement? How do you say “no” to good things and keep from getting sidetracked with side issues rat...

Author and biblical counselor Martha Peace shares practical wisdom on how to navigate PMS symptoms by answering the following questions: What is God doing in our hearts through PMS? When do overwhelming emotions cross the line from being simply physical symptoms into being sinful responses? How should we respond when God does not deliver us from a long-standing trial? Why is it essential to think...

The common tendency to overthink can be overcome, and Taylor Jones provides helpful insight in this process by answering the following questions: What is "overthinking"? What are the fruits produced by mature thinking, and the negative fruit produced by overthinking? Is it possible to overthink the Christian life? How can we curb the tendency to overthink ourselves, and our relationships...

Biblical counselor Marie Clark helps us understand the negative women in Proverbs so that we can avoid being characterized as lacking discretion, being contentious, bringing shame to our husband, tearing down our house with our own hands, or being an adulterous woman.  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com  Support The Podcast:  ⁠ ⁠https://donorbox.org/s...

Sophie helps us understand how to guide our emotions in a way that pleases the Lord by answering the following questions: If a woman is emotionally stuck on a crush or previous relationship, why is it important that she actively address those longings? How can you be aware if your emotions after a relationship ends are healthy and normal or are sinful and idolatrous? When God has made it clear tha...

Pastor John Tucker and his wife Jane share comfort for those who have walked the painful road of sexual abuse by tactfully answering the following questions: Of all kinds of sin in this world, why is sexual abuse so devastating to the victim? For someone who has been abused, how do they know if it is something they still need to work through with a biblical counselor? What are wrong ways people de...

Pastor Jeremy Vuolo balances our mindset on play and recreation by answering the following questions: Does Scripture help us see play as a gift from God, or as a distraction to be minimized? What are helpful principles that can help Christians avoid falling into pitfalls in our approach to recreation? How would you encourage a Christian who may feel guilty about spending time not in work or specif...

Returning guest Chris Hamilton brings helpful clarity to questions couples may have during engagement such as: What are the contents and benefits of premarital counseling? What are the different topics that should be discussed during an engagement stage as opposed to the dating phase? What advice would you give a couple considering elopement? How should a couple navigate “cold feet” if one or both...

Biblical counselor Dr. Ernie Baker shares insights on how couples can grow in relational and communication skills by answering the following questions: What are God-honoring motives for pursuing growth in these two areas? What is the difference between character qualities and relational skills? What are the core areas of communication we need to put intentional effort into improving? What counsel...

Sarah Dougherty helps us understand the rich meaning and application of the virtue of “kindness” by answering the following questions: what is the biblical definition of kindness, and how is it different from the world’s version? How do we cultivate this fruit of the spirit? Why do we need to be trained how to be kind? And why is it so important that kindness flows from a heart of love?  Website:...

Biblical counselor Greg Gifford brings clarity to understanding the motives of our heart by answering the following questions: Why do our motives matter so much to God? What are questions someone can ask themselves to identify their motives? How should we interact with the tension of mixed motives? What is the process for purifying our motives? And how can we grow in the habit of believing the bes...

Dawn Harcus explains the spiritual mothering model laid out in Titus 2 by answering the following questions: We have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, but why does God incorporate the human element of training into our sanctification? Is spiritual mothering best done in groups or one-on-one? Who is responsible for initiating this relationship? Should a woman have more than one discipler? What ch...

Lynne Brown walks us through how to recover from failure by answering the following questions: How do we recover in those moments when we fail to live up to our expectations or the expectations of others? When a Christian fails and sins, what is the process of restoration? In what ways does the painful experience of failure serve as a gracious gift from God? And how should we respond when someone...

Musician and music educator Kellie Cunningham guides our understanding of the theology behind singing by answering the following questions: Why did God design and command us to sing? Can you explain why it's important to listen to and sing music that is biblically sound? Why is congregational singing so important for believers? For someone who doesn't enjoy singing, how can they grow to lo...

Pastor Philip De Courcy brings the comfort of God's Word to help us identify and overcome sinful fear by answering the following questions: How do we discern the differences between natural, sinful, and holy fear? How are we as Christians to understand the supposed disconnect between our theology of God’s protection and our experience? What is the antidote to sinful fear? Do you think single w...

Biblical counselor Hannah Fuller offers encouragement to persevere well through trials by answering the following questions: How does perseverance look different for a Christian, and what fruit is produced when we persevere well? When we are in an extended challenge how do we guard our minds and hearts from despair? How do we persevere through the mundane seasons of life? And how can we grow in ou...

Chris Hamilton shares the wisdom in seeking counsel by answering the following questions: what are the areas of life where counsel is useful? How many counselors should someone have in their life? What are the characteristics of a discerning counselor? What are the types of questions you should ask when seeking counsel? What weight should counsel have on your decisions? How do you process through...

ER Doctor Carlan Wendler joins the podcast to provide practical guidance on how to navigate a medical emergency by answering the following questions: What is a Christian's responsibility when confronted with a medical emergency in everyday life? How can you help a family member or friend navigate the healthcare system? How do I know if I should go to Urgent Care or the ER when I need to see a...

Biblical counselor and author Stuart Scott helps set the tone for this year by encouraging us to put off pride and put on humility by answering the following questions: What are symptoms of pride? What are common ways you see pride manifesting in singles and in dating relationships? How can we identify and steer clear of "counterfeit" humility? What would humility look like in a future h...

Author and pastor Tim Challies encourages us with the truths about Heaven, our eternal home, by answering the following questions: Why is the topic of Heaven particularly meaningful for you? Why is it that Christians think so little about Heaven? Can you share some of the common misconceptions about Heaven you see among believers? Can you help us understand the balance of longing for the gifts of...

Our vocational work dominates our time perhaps more than any other activity in our lives. Reagan Rose joins this podcast discussion to give a biblical perspective on work by answering the following questions: How should Christians view their work, and is it just a necessary means to an end? How would someone evaluate if they have a proper "work/life" balance? Because stress in the workplace is at...

As a pastor and biblical counselor, Lance Quinn provides encouragement on how Christians can demonstrate the love of Christ through bearing one another’s burdens by answering the following questions: What does the Bible say about bearing one another’s burdens? What are types of burdens we should help bear, and for how long should we bear them? How should you ask for help when you feel burdened bey...

Mother of five, Rachel Zwayne helps us understand the Titus 2 principle of "loving your children" by answering the following questions: How should Christian's view children, and what lies from the world do you see even Christians believing about children? How can the gospel play a central role in motherhood? What attitudes can single women "put on" that would make loving th...