Smiling at the Future

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 Heaven, but ultimately the Giver of those gifts? How can we use the topic of "Heaven" in our evangelism?  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com  Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com  Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637  Tim Challies Website: https://www.challies.com/ Recommended Books on Heaven "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn "We Shall See God" Charles Spurgeon  "The Glory of Heaven" by John MacArthur "Biblical Teaching on the Doctrines of Heaven and Hell" by Edward Donnelly  "Heaven on Earth" by Derek Thomas 

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 an all-time high, when should someone consider switching jobs or careers? What are your tips for how to have an exemplary work ethic? For women who desire marriage, a vocational job can feel like plan "b" in their lives...how would you encourage women who struggle with this attitude? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637  Reagan's Website: https://redeemingproductivity.com/ Reagan's Recommended Resources: App and Website Blocker: Freedom.to Internet Time Tracker: Rize.io

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 beyond your ability? If you become aware of a need for someone, how do you know if you should be the one to meet that need? With technology, we are aware of more burdens than ever before. How do we understand our responsibility in that realm?  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

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 their children easier in the future? What attitudes can we "put off"? When is it appropriate to talk about children when you're dating, and which areas should you align on in child-rearing? And is it wise for single women to consider adoption or fostering?  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637  Recommended Resources: Rachel's website: https://rachelzwayne.wixsite.com/joyfulmothers "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Ted Tripp "Parenting" by Paul Tripp "Age of Opportunity" by Paul Tripp  "What the Bible Says About Parenting" by John MacArthur  "Found God's Peace" by John MacArthur 

Heidi Kinzel joins the discussion today to give practical guidance on how to prepare in singleness to love your husband in the future by answering the following questions: Why is this the first priority in the Titus 2 principles? We have the Scripture and the Holy Spirit, but why did God design that we also needed to be taught this by older women? What are attitudes that women need to "put off" that would make it more difficult to love their husband in the future? What are attitudes to "put on" that would make it easier? How have you and your husband maintained such a strong marriage after so many years?  Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Lynne Brown helps us regain a Biblical perspective on the timing of events in our lives by answering the following questions: How does God relate to time in a way that's different from us? Why is it important to understand God's unchangeableness? What are some examples of God's perfect timing in the Bible? How can we train our minds and hearts to respond rightly when we're confused about the God's timing or are struggling with impatience? Website: smilingatthefuturepodcast.com Email: smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Pastor Chris Mueller helps us understand the important quality of sensibility by answering the following questions: What is sensibility as defined by Scripture? Why is the way you think important for your spiritual life? What does sensibility look like played out in a dating relationship? How does being sensible affect our emotions? What would sensibility look like practically lived out in the life of a godly man? And what are practical ways we can grow in sensibility?  smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637  Chris Mueller's Church: https://www.faith-bible.net/ Series of messages Chris gave from 1985:  Let The Women Be Women: https://media.faith-bible.net/audio/vintage/women-be-women/ Let The Men Be Men: https://media.faith-bible.net/audio/vintage/men-be-men/ Book Recommendations: "Let The Men Be Men" - https://a.co/d/7NPdpN5 "Let The Women Be Women" - https://a.co/d/3B7p9pY

Pastor Jerry Wragg brings a balance of comfort and conviction to the following discouragements that singles face: What truth can you offer women who are experiencing loneliness? How would you encourage the woman who sees a lack of marriage-minded men in her context? How would you direct the single woman who is unsure where and how to invest her life outside of the defined roles of wife and mom? What hope can you offer the woman who is losing heart in the waiting? How would you recommend women to be praying during this season of singleness? What exhortation would you give to the men listening?  smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Lara McVicker and Heather Wiebe jump into the discussion to share their wisdom on how to support a bride as a bridesmaid during the wedding planning process by answering the following questions: How should we think about the role of being a bridesmaid? How can we honor God when we face the disappointment of expecting to be asked to be a bridesmaid and are not? How can you interact with the bride if you have certain convictions on modesty? How should we think about spending and how can we have those conversations with the bride if finances are tight? How can we point our friend to Christ throughout the logistics of the wedding planning process? How can we encourage the bride even when geographically far away? How can we practice rejoicing with those who rejoice when we ourselves long for marriage? smilingatthefuturepodcast@gmail.com Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637 

Returning guest Chris Hamilton unpacks this topic by answering the following questions: How far into the dating process should you get others involved in vetting a man's character, and is this an ongoing process? If a lady doesn't have believing family members she can turn to for help in discerning a man's character, how should she go about seeking this out? Would "vetting" look different in a long-distance relationship? How can you extend grace, understanding that no one is perfect, while still being discerning? Are there questions the lady can ask that may give insight into the man's heart? Do you have any advice for how the woman can stay sensible / sound-minded in a relationship? How do we stay humble ourselves in the vetting process, not assuming in our hearts that we deserve the perfect man, and not viewing ourselves more highly than we ought? Support $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62433637