Money Made Faithful With John Putnam

Have you ever wondered why a season meant for peace so easily turns into pressure, especially around our finances?

In this two-part Christmas series, John invites us to slow our pace, clear the noise, and approach the holidays with intention and a Christ-centered mindset. With practical tools and a simple framework, he helps us push back against impulsive spending and recapture the heart of the season. 

Through Scripture, reflection, and a call to meaningful simplicity, John shows how both presents and presence can shape Christmas into a time of joy, connection, and true financial peace.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• How a simple Christmas plan can protect your peace long before the big day arrives

• Why thoughtful, intentional gift-giving matters more than pressure-driven spending

• Why Christmas moments—connection, presence, shared memories—outlast almost every physical gift

• How embracing simplicity and financial mindfulness leads to a more joyful and Christ-centered season

Key Takeaways:

• A Christmas plan isn’t restrictive—it’s protective. It guards your sanity, your January budget, and your ability to give generously without regret.

• Marketing pressure is designed to push you from intentional choices into impulsive spending; wisdom chooses clarity, boundaries, and stewardship.

• The gifts we remember least are the ones we bought; the “moments” we share are the ones that shape us. Presence, not presents, creates lasting joy.

• A financially peaceful Christmas happens through intentional decisions grounded in a God-centered mindset—one that prioritizes what truly matters over seasonal noise.
  

“Is there something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read? It just so happens to mirror the wise men bringing gifts to Jesus—not random or rushed, but intentional.”

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• ARTICLE: Shoppers Plan to Spend More Than $1,000 on Holiday Gifts:

What if the real challenge of Black Friday isn’t the crowds, the countdown timers, or the deals—but the quiet pressure shaping the way we think about money?

In this Thanksgiving episode, John invites us to pause, renew our minds, and approach the shopping season with wisdom, peace, and a Christ-formed mindset.

Through personal stories, scripture, and practical tools, he helps us recognize how consumer culture tries to conform us—and how a transformed heart can lead to faithful, joyful stewardship.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• Why Black Friday can subtly reshape our thinking and test our financial mindset

• How Romans 12:2 calls us to resist cultural pressure and embrace a renewed mind

• His lifelong lessons of value and quality that shaped wise decision-making

• Three simple questions that help us shop with intention, clarity, and peace

Key Takeaways:

• Black Friday can stir urgency and pressure, pulling us toward choices that aren’t always wise or grounded.

• A healthy money mindset holds both value and quality together—lessons shaped by family, faith, and a desire to live with intention.

• Wisdom in spending begins with simple questions: Is this wise? Is this planned? Will it last?

• When we stay mindful and rooted in truth—not swayed by marketing or hype—we practice faithful stewardship and step into a deeper sense of peace.

“We want to be transformed, not conformed, we want to be anchored, not pressured, and we want to be discerning rather than drifting.”

- LINK TO WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:

What if the greatest gift we could give this holiday season isn’t wrapped in paper but offered through presence, compassion, and awareness?

While the world rushes toward celebration, many quietly carry heartache, loss, or financial strain. In this episode, John invites us to slow down, open our eyes, and become the hands and feet of encouragement for those who are hurting.

Together, we’ll learn how faithful awareness and small acts of kindness can bring hope, restore joy, and reflect God’s love in a season that isn’t always easy for everyone.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Why the holidays can be a time of both celebration and hidden hurt
• The importance of spiritual endurance amid trials (James 1:2–4)
• How awareness becomes a spiritual muscle that grows through intentional action
• Four practical ways to bring comfort and hope to others during the holidays

Key Takeaways:

• True joy isn’t the absence of hardship—it’s the presence of God’s peace and purpose in the middle of it.
• Awareness is more than observation; it’s a spiritual discipline that helps us see people the way Jesus does.
• Small, faithful acts—buying a meal, offering a kind word, or simply listening—can lift heavy burdens and remind others they’re not forgotten.
• Stewardship is not only about managing money well; it’s about using all we have—our time, influence, and attention—to reflect God’s heart.

“Joy never runs out when you give it away. The more you steward it, the more it grows in you and through you into the world.”

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What if the peace we long for this season isn’t something to be bought, but something to be protected?

In a world filled with tempting offers to “buy now, pay later,” this episode invites us to slow down and make room for calm before the holiday rush begins. Together, we’ll uncover how wise preparation, mindful spending, and trust in God’s provision can quiet the financial noise around us and within us. Let’s rediscover the kind of peace that no purchase can provide—peace that flows from gratitude, wisdom, and faithful stewardship.

In this episode, John discusses:

• How financial “noise” increases during the holiday season and how to quiet it
• The spiritual and emotional dangers of credit cards and “buy now, pay later” offers
• Why debt can drown out peace and gratitude in our daily lives
• Three faithful ways to prepare your heart and finances before the holiday rush

Key Takeaways:

• Real peace can’t be purchased or financed—it’s received, protected, and practiced through faithful, daily decisions that align with God’s wisdom.
• Financial noise often comes from the world around AND from within us, especially when we rush to satisfy wants instead of resting in God’s provision.
• Every easy payment or credit decision today is a future commitment that can multiply stress, distraction, and debt.
• When we choose to pay in full, pause before purchases, and set God-honoring boundaries, we trade financial pressure for lasting peace and freedom.

“Victory over debt isn’t just about paying off balances. It's about transforming the heart that created them to begin with.”

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This time of year always make me think about how the leaves are most beautiful when they're dying.

Interesting, right?

And it made me think, we can be beautiful, too in a similar way! What if our most radiant beauty comes from 'dying to ourselves" - not from what we hold onto, but from what we release?

In this episode I share how letting go of our plans, possessions, and gifts allows God’s glory to shine more vividly through us. Join me as we explore the kind of beauty that heaven notices—the beauty born from faithful surrender and intentional generosity.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• Understanding the deeper meaning of true, lasting beauty

• How surrender transforms our view of giving and living

• Recognizing the power of faithful stewardship in daily life

• Embracing God’s design of transformation through release.

Key Takeaways:

• True, enduring beauty is found when we willingly die to our own plans and ambitions, allowing God to transform our hearts and reveal His glory through a surrendered life.

• Supporting those who serve—missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders—extends our reach beyond ourselves, making us active participants in the stories of lives changed through God’s work.

• When we intentionally use our unique gifts, experiences, and resources to serve others, we reflect God’s creativity and purpose while multiplying the eternal impact of our obedience.

• Releasing control of our possessions, influence, and desires opens the door to deeper freedom and reveals a kind of beauty that draws others closer to God and echoes beyond this lifetime.

“These beautiful colors—the reds, the oranges, the yellows, and the golds—just remind me about this beauty that God invites us each into, that isn't found in what you hold on to, but is revealed in what you release.”  

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Are you chasing the wrong results with your money?

It’s easy to get caught in comparison, or in building a certain lifestyle, but those paths often leave us with half-finished plans and unnecessary stress.

In this episode, we’ll uncover why God’s results are different—and better—than our own, and how His wisdom gives us the steps to finish well.

Together, we’ll explore five timeless principles that can bring peace, clarity, and eternal purpose to your financial journey.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Comparison and the pressure to measure success against others
• The tension between lifestyle choices and long-term life purpose
• Aligning financial decisions with God’s eternal results
• Practical wisdom for building a faithful financial foundation

Key Takeaways:

• Spending less than you earn provides a faithful and steady foundation, lowering stress and keeping your financial life sustainable over the long term.
• Avoiding lifestyle debt keeps you from building on shifting sand, freeing you to pursue God’s call without the burden of unnecessary payments.
• Keeping cash on hand for emergencies creates a margin that allows you to weather financial storms while staying rooted in God’s bigger picture.
• Practicing generosity directs your heart toward God’s results, reminding you that giving isn’t extra credit—it’s a centerpiece of faithful stewardship.
• Establishing and following a clear financial plan ensures your good intentions don’t stall out, helping you finish well instead of leaving “half-built towers.”

“When you spend your energy chasing THEIR results, you will rarely finish well in YOUR results, and you will likely exhaust yourself taking steps on a path that was never meant for you.”

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In this episode, we’re diving into some of the tensions of giving - too often, we wrestle with wanting our giving to be both obedient to God and effective in impact—and it can leave us feeling stuck.

Through stories from scripture and history, we’ll uncover three timeless lessons that bring clarity to how we approach generosity.

Join us as we learn how awareness, action, and alignment can transform our giving into a powerful partnership with God’s greater story.

In this episode, John discusses:

• The tension between obedience and effectiveness in giving
• Lessons from scripture and history on strategic generosity
• The role of awareness, action, and alignment in stewardship
• How generosity connects us to God’s greater plan

Key Takeaways:

• Obedience and effectiveness in giving are not mutually exclusive, and when we release control to God while also stewarding our resources wisely
• Developing awareness means looking beyond our giving plans and instead, begin discerning what a ministry or mission truly needs, whether that’s financial support, expertise, influence, or encouragement.
• Taking action in partnership with others multiplies the strength of our generosity, reminding us that collaboration—whether between families, friends, or businesses—can amplify the reach and effectiveness of what we give.
• Aligning our giving with God’s plans, rather than pursuing our own giving plans, magnifies His glory and transforms even ordinary gifts into powerful expressions of worship and participation in His greater story.

“The most effective giving is not always about funding our personal preferences—it’s about aligning with God’s plans.” 

Resources Mentioned:

In this milestone episode, we reflect on the lessons learned during our recent 'prayerful pause'. Instead of walking away with a grand plan, we discovered something deeper—a renewed spirit, a rested soul, and a thankful heart. 

Together, we’ll explore how seasons of waiting can shape our faith, guide our stewardship, and reframe how we view both scarcity and abundance.

Join us as we embrace the pause, lean into God’s whispers, and find peace in serving faithfully right where we are.

In this episode, John discusses:

• The value of a 'pause' even when it doesn't deliver a clear plan
• How waiting seasons can strengthen our stewardship journey
• Hearing God’s direction in subtle, quiet ways
• Staying faithful with what we already have

Key Takeaways:

• Pausing may not always reveal all the answers, but it can restore, refresh, and reignite.
• When clarity is missing, we can look back at what God has already done and faithfully use what we have.
• God often guides us through gentle whispers, not always in dramatic signs, teaching us to slow down and listen closely.
• Seasons of waiting are not wasted—they are times when God is preparing us for the next faithful step.

“Pausing does not come easy for me… but I knew that God was inviting me to walk closer to Him and to clarity and to you, this community around Money Made Faithful.” 

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Ever feel like your budget just won’t stick—no matter how solid it looks on paper? You’re not alone! In this special refreshed replay of one of our most popular episodes, we’re taking a fresh look at why so many budgets fall apart—and how we can align our finances with our faith to create a plan that truly sticks.

Together, we explore three simple, faith-centered steps to help us refresh our mindset, clear out distractions, and take small, intentional actions that honor God and bring lasting traction to our finances.

In this episode, John discusses:

• The importance of aligning budgeting practices with faith and values
• Common challenges that make sticking to a budget difficult
• How mindset shifts can improve long-term budget consistency
• Practical steps for removing distractions and staying financially focused

Key Takeaways:

• Achieving budgeting success requires a fundamental shift in mindset, viewing budgeting as a faith-driven journey rather than just a numbers game, focusing on aligning financial decisions with core personal values, spiritual goals, and life purpose.
• Consistently reviewing and refreshing your budget allows it to stay relevant to your current financial needs and spiritual objectives, ensuring it remains a true reflection of both where you are now and where you aim to go, all while staying connected to your faith.
• Identifying and eliminating small “financial idols”—like impulsive purchases, unused subscriptions, or habitual overspending—helps you clear distractions that can derail your budget, ultimately creating more space for intentional, values-based financial choices.
• Building a sustainable budget means starting with small, manageable spending adjustments that gradually strengthen your budgeting consistency, empowering you to experience financial peace while also helping you avoid burnout or frustration along the way.

“When you align your budget with your faith, you're placing your treasure, your heart, and your mind in God's hands, bringing more peace and purpose into your budgeting process.” 

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This refreshed replay brings back a conversation that still resonates deeply: the real value of college education in today’s changing world.

A Wall Street Journal article caught my attention—exploring why Americans are losing faith in higher education—and it sparked fresh reflections. With the rising costs of post-high school education and the shifting job market, it’s more important than ever to approach these decisions with wisdom, clarity, and intentionality.

In this replay, I’m sharing my interview with my dear friend Lisa Marker-Robbins, whose passion for guiding families, teens, and young adults through the college and career journey is unmatched. Over 25 years and more than 4,000 students later, Lisa’s experience offers an invaluable perspective for navigating post-high school decisions in a way that aligns both with practical realities and God-given giftedness.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Shifting confidence in college education
• How to navigate post-high school education choices wisely
• The power of early career clarity
• Practical ways parents can support their teen’s journey

Key Takeaways:

• Confidence in higher education is shifting due to factors like rising student debt and changing perceptions of value—making it essential to weigh educational paths carefully and prayerfully.
• Intentional conversations and exploring a wide spectrum of options (from four-year universities to trades and internships) can open the door to fulfilling, well-matched careers.
• Early career exploration—ideally beginning by mid-sophomore year—can have a profound impact on a student’s college and career path.
• Parents play a critical role in fostering open dialogue, challenging assumptions, and equipping teens to make informed, confident choices.

“There are a lot of benefits to going to college. It shows that you can do hard things; you build your adulting skills while living in a dorm or apartment. But the end goal is a career where your kid will flourish.”  — Lisa Marker-Robbins

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Ever find yourself with a little extra money and wonder what to do with it? Turns out, how you answer that question says a lot more about your mindset than you might think.

In this refreshed replay episode, I'm sharing a real-life street experiment I conducted years ago where I asked everyday folks what they'd do with an unexpected $100. Their answers? Revealing — and a perfect lead-in to today's conversation on a powerful (but often overlooked) concept in behavioral finance: mental accounting.

This isn’t just theory. It’s about the hidden rules you apply to your money — based on where it comes from — and how that impacts your financial decisions more than you realize. Grounded in biblical wisdom and packed with practical steps, this episode is your invitation to reset how you think about income, planning, and faithful stewardship. Let’s align our mindset and our money with God’s bigger vision for our lives.

In this episode, John discusses:

• The unseen impact of mental accounting on everyday financial choices
• How cognitive biases quietly shape spending decisions
• Strategies for bringing your money into alignment — spiritually and practically
• A faith-filled approach to financial planning

Key Takeaways:

• When you begin viewing all sources of money — whether a paycheck, a bonus, or an unexpected refund — as one unified provision from God rather than assigning different rules based on origin, you create space for clarity, consistency, and faithful financial choices that reflect your values.
• By reframing your mindset and refusing to compartmentalize funds into rigid mental categories, you open the door to a more strategic, intentional, and spiritually aligned approach to managing the resources entrusted to you.
• Building a financial plan that reflects biblical wisdom requires more than budgeting — it invites you to consider your habits, decisions, and priorities through the lens of stewardship, generosity, and long-term faithfulness.
• Bringing prayer into every financial decision — not just in crisis moments or big moves — allows you to develop a deeper sense of peace, direction, and confidence that you're walking in step with God’s provision and purposes.

“When we align our mindset and our heart set with God's wisdom, we don't just make better money decisions — we experience more peace, more clarity, more purpose in how we use the financial resources he's entrusted to us.” 

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Ever wondered why money conversations can feel so tense? You’re not alone…

It often comes down to how your natural Money MOs (short for 'modus operandi') interact—with each other, or with your bigger goals. In this refreshed replay of part two in our Money MO series, we’re digging deeper into how awareness of your unique financial wiring can be a powerful step toward unity, peace, and purpose in your money decisions.

This episode is about moving past the friction and into greater clarity, confidence, and connection—with each other and with God’s greater story for your life.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Creating financial harmony in your relationships
• Building stronger marriages through meaningful money conversations
• Celebrating the uniqueness of your Money MO as a path to spiritual growth
• Applying your MO to build wise, aligned, and peaceful stewardship

Key Takeaways:

• Your Money MO—whether you’re a spender, saver, investor, planner, or giver—isn’t about right or wrong; it’s about recognizing how you’re wired and using that awareness to move forward with more intention, alignment, and purpose in your financial decisions.
• When you start to see how your MO either blends beautifully or clashes with someone else’s, you open the door to more thoughtful conversations, less misunderstanding, and a shared path toward peace and partnership in money matters.
• Making space to meet regularly, speak honestly, and pray together around your finances is one of the most practical and powerful ways to reshape your habits, reduce conflict, and build a stronger foundation of trust and connection.
• Ephesians 4:11–16 reminds us that unity and maturity are part of our calling in Christ—and when your financial decisions are made through that lens, even money becomes a way to grow in faith, strengthen relationships, and reflect God’s greater purpose.

“When you are pursuing wise and faithful stewardship through prayer about being a part of God's larger story, your differences can be strengths when they're joined together in faith and wisdom.” 

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Money is more than math—it’s deeply personal. And for many of us, it’s also deeply patterned. In this refreshed replay of a listener favorite, we revisit a conversation that continues to resonate across seasons: understanding your “Money MO.”

Your money MO—short for modus operandi—is the natural way you approach money, shaped by your upbringing, personality, and experiences. Whether you're a spender, saver, investor, planner, or giver, your MO shows up around every financial decision you make.

In this first part of a two-part series, we unpack the five core Money MOs and why identifying yours (and those around you) can shift the way you manage money—and relationships.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• What a “Money MO” is and why it matters
• Five distinct Money MOs and how they show up in real life
• The strengths and struggles of each MO
• How your financial tendencies impact your relationships and your faith journey

Key Takeaways:

• Your Money MO is a deeply rooted pattern that influences how you think about, interact with, and make decisions around money, often without even realizing it.
• Gaining clarity about your financial tendencies can transform how you communicate and collaborate with others, especially within marriage or close relationships.
• Each MO carries both strengths and struggles, and recognizing these dynamics allows you to steward your financial behavior with more wisdom, grace, and intention.
• When surrendered within God’s bigger story, your Money MO becomes more than just a habit—it becomes a tool for spiritual growth, deeper connection, and faithful stewardship.

“The goal here is not to make you into the same person, but to be the person you were made to be with your Money MOs, to have them be surrendered into the context of God's larger story.”

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Today, we’re revisiting a quietly complex part of the stewardship journey—what I call “the weight of wealth.” Growing up on a farm with five brothers, I was introduced to the outdoors and especially backpacking. Just like carrying a pack in the wilderness, managing wealth carries its own kind of weight—ratios, balance, capacity—and no universal formula fits everyone.

We’ll look at five subtle signs that your wealth may be weighing you down, and four faithful steps to help you find your footing again. At the heart of it all is Proverbs 30:7-9, a prayer for just enough—not too much, and not too little.  This isn’t about guilt or fear - it’s about freedom. It's about carrying what you've been given with open hands and a steady heart.

In this episode, John discusses: 

• The surprising parallels between backpacking and managing wealth

• Why financial strain is often more spiritual than practical

• How to recognize when your wealth is 'managing you'

Key Takeaways:

• Managing wealth is a lot like carrying a backpack on a long trail—there’s no universal weight limit, but knowing your capacity and staying aware of when the load gets too heavy is essential to walking well.

• When financial concerns start overshadowing your generosity, peace, or spiritual focus, it’s a sign that wealth may be shaping your priorities more than God’s wisdom is.

• Prayer isn’t just a support tool for financial decisions—it’s the foundation that keeps your heart steady, your perspective clear, and your hands open to whatever God provides or redirects.

• Bringing others into your financial journey—wise counselors, trusted advisors, or Kingdom-minded mentors—can lighten the load and help you carry wealth with clarity, confidence, and grace.

“If you begin to feel a wealth hotspot, if you begin to feel financial strain in your life from the wealth that you have - there may be strain in your friendships, strain in your marriage, strain in your family, strain at work, whatever it may be - as soon as you feel this wealth hotspot forming, stop immediately and deal with it.”  

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As summer shines bright, it’s a perfect time to pause, reflect, and realign. Midyear often lands us in the messy middle—but what if we brought a little Christmas joy to the Summer season?

In this refreshed replay, we’re unwrapping a “Christmas in July” perspective to help you revisit your financial goals with renewed clarity and purpose.

Whether the year has flown by or felt heavy with unexpected turns, this conversation offers a thoughtful, Christ-centered reset to help you finish strong!

In this episode, John discusses:

• Why midyear is a powerful checkpoint for financial reflection
• The importance of revising plans in light of real life
• How to keep your goals aligned with faith and purpose
• Three practical steps to reflect, revise, and refocus

Key Takeaways:

• Taking time to reflect midyear gives you space to acknowledge progress, recognize what still needs attention, and reconnect with the heart behind your goals.
• Revising your financial plans allows you to adapt to life’s inevitable changes while staying grounded in a purpose that reflects your current season and needs.
• Realigning your goals with your faith and God's greater story helps ensure your financial journey is not just productive, but also deeply meaningful and spiritually aligned.
• Simplifying and refocusing your financial priorities can clear the clutter, ease the pressure, and help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and peace.

“We want to leave room for God to move. We want to plan. God asks us to plan, but not so much that we box him out.”  

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Summer is in full swing—a time filled with sunshine, shifting schedules, and all sorts of new opportunities. But as routines relax and plans pile up, it’s easy for our financial focus to fade without us even realizing it.

In this refreshed replay, we’re returning to a timely and practical conversation that really resonated with the Money Made Faithful community. We’re sharing three scripture-anchored tips to help you stay on track with your finances during the summer months so you can enjoy the season while still honoring your financial goals and your faith.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Three simple, biblical strategies to help you navigate summer money choices with purpose
• Why summer often challenges even the best financial plans—and how to stay grounded
• How aligning your money choices with biblical wisdom brings peace, clarity, and impact

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize how easily summer’s busyness and unpredictability can pull you off track. Building awareness—of your spending habits, current financial standing, and upcoming expenses—is the first step toward staying focused and faithful.
• Set clear, meaningful financial goals that reflect both your immediate needs and your long-term vision. By reviewing and adjusting your budget consistently, you can stay on mission—even when summer throws you a curveball.
• Make every financial decision count by choosing intentionally and resisting the impulse to spend without thought. Budgeting with purpose reflects your values, strengthens your faith journey, and allows you to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to you.
• Let scripture shape your summer decisions. When your financial plans grow from biblical truth, you’ll find yourself navigating this summer season with a sense of alignment, purpose, and gratitude—putting first things first and honoring God along the way.

“Every financial decision, even in the sun and fun of summer, is an opportunity to honor God and steward the blessings that He has given you.”

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We’re wrapping up our series on how to have your best vacation ever. We’ve already covered the power of setting and sharing expectations, along with eight intentional steps to make your time away more meaningful. But what happens when tech distractions sneak in and start to steal those special moments?

In this episode, we’re revisiting five practical tech tips to help you stay focused on what really matters during your vacation. A few thoughtful boundaries can go a long way toward keeping your attention—and your heart—right where it belongs.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Setting clear boundaries for technology use
• Using digital tools without letting them take over
• Modeling intentional tech habits for others
• Capturing memories creatively without relying on phones
• Getting active to help minimize screen time

Key Takeaways:

• Designate specific times and areas where phones and devices are off-limits—like meals, game time, or evenings. These tech-free zones help protect face-to-face connection and make space for deeper conversations.
• Schedule intentional moments for using phones—whether it’s snapping photos, checking in with friends, or finding local spots to explore—so tech use stays purposeful, not constant.
• Lead by example when it comes to phone habits. Others, especially kids, will often mirror what they see, so your own behavior can gently shape the group’s overall tech use.
• Bring along a digital or disposable camera to encourage creativity without defaulting to your phone. It adds fun to memory-making and invites everyone to see the trip from a different perspective.
• Plan active group moments that naturally draw attention away from screens—like a hike, a game, or a walk on the beach. Physical activity often creates space for presence, laughter, and lasting memories.

“Stay prayerful, flexible, graceful, and kind. Even with preparations and expectations set and shared, and tech tips in place, and doing your best, a plan is still only a plan.” 

Resources Mentioned:

• How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time by Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/03/11/how-teens-and-parents-approach-screen-time/

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With summer right around the corner, many of us are longing for a true break—but how do we make sure our vacation leaves us rested, and not just overly busy in a different location?

In this refreshed replay of a listener favorite, we revisit eight practical and faith-rooted steps to help you plan a vacation that restores your soul, strengthens your relationships, and honors your calling.

Inspired by Mark 6, where Jesus invites His disciples to “come away… and rest,” this conversation blends spiritual wisdom and real-world strategies to help you prepare well and return refreshed.

If you're already planning on getting away this summer, this is the episode you will want to hear before you go.

In this episode, John discusses:

• How to plan for true rest before, during, and after your vacation
• The importance of prayer, preparation, and support systems
• Creative ways to build margin into your time away
• Budgeting and financial strategies that align with faithful stewardship

Key Takeaways:

• Start your vacation with prayer—lift up your work, your family, and your time away, inviting God to go before you and be present in every moment.
• Build support and set boundaries at work—from assigning a vacation buddy to crafting a thoughtful out-of-office reply, prepare to unplug with confidence.
• Plan both structure and spontaneity—leave room for rest, play, delays, and the unexpected ways God may show up in unplanned moments.
• Stay financially grounded—determine your budget in advance and vacation at the speed of cash to enjoy peace both during your trip and after you return home.

“Your work can wait. Your rest cannot. Jesus is waiting. Your family and friends are too. And may this year be the year of your best vacation ever.” 

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Welcome to the first episode in a special season of 'refreshed replays'—a curated collection of listener favorites we’re revisiting with fresh perspective as we journey toward episode 200.

These episodes are packed with timeless wisdom, and we’re pausing to reflect on them with new eyes, fresh hearts, and deeper intention.

Today, we're diving into a highly practical and transformative conversation: setting expectations for your next vacation. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or friends, we'll explore five key areas that can turn your time away into a truly restful and spiritually renewing experience.

Join me as we step into this season of reflection and rediscovery—one faithful conversation at a time.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Why unmet expectations can derail even the most well-planned vacations
• How clear communication can transform family and group trips
• The spiritual and emotional benefits of vacationing with intention
• How physical, financial, and relational awareness shapes a fulfilling break

Key Takeaways:

• Identifying what you and others want from your vacation—like quiet, adventure, or space to recharge—helps you communicate clearly and protect your time for true rest.
• Having honest conversations ahead of time about how you’ll spend time together or apart allows everyone to feel considered and reduces relational tension during the trip.
• Discussing financial boundaries in advance, including budgets and expectations for shared costs, prevents stress and creates space for generosity and enjoyment.
• Intentionally planning spiritual moments—like prayer, reflection, or faith-filled conversations—invites God into your time away and brings deeper purpose to your rest.
• Choosing activities that match your energy, abilities, and capacity allows you to enjoy memorable experiences without returning home more exhausted than when you left.

“Your time and rest with family and friends, I just want to remind you, this is important to God. And I believe it's His sincere desire for you and for me to take a break after the hard work.”

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After 185 episodes, we believe it’s time to reset with intention and seek God’s direction for our next season.

We’re taking a 'prayerful pause'—some time to reflect, listen, and reimagine how we can serve you even better.

This isn’t about stepping back; it’s about leaning in, listening deeply, and preparing for even greater impact.

We’re sharing what’s coming, how you can stay engaged, and how we believe this journey is just getting started.

Key Takeaways:

• We're taking a 90-day pause from new podcast episodes.
• Please stay engaged with us with “refreshed replays” to highlight top past episodes with added insight and updated commentary.
• New resources and workshops are being considered and developed to help you deepen your stewardship journey.
• Keep in touch and let us know of any suggestions, topic ideas, and prayer requests to shape future content.
• We are returning on September 2nd with Episode 200, marking a renewed vision, forward movement, and we're anticipating a few surprises, too!

"I’m embracing this pause not as downtime, but as preparation time. To hear from God. To ask better questions. To get clearer on the mission. To envision what’s next."

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW MORE MONEY MADE FAITHFUL!

What if the way you’ve been thinking about money is completely upside down?

In this episode, we’re challenging one of the most deeply held beliefs in our culture: ownership. Through scripture, personal reflection, and powerful truth, we’ll explore what it really means to steward something that doesn’t belong to you—and why embracing that reality could change everything about your financial journey.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Shifting your mindset from ownership to entrusted stewardship
• How core beliefs about money shape your goals and decisions
• The connection between spiritual obedience and financial behavior
• Using everyday financial choices to honor and reflect Christ

Key Takeaways:

• When you begin to see money not as something you own but as something entrusted to you by God, your entire approach to money becomes more intentional and aligned with His story.
• Believing that all resources belong to God, invites you to hold your finances with open hands, asking not “What do I want?” but “What does God want, through me?”
• Aligning your financial actions with God's purpose allows your daily decisions—big or small—to serve as visible testimonies of your faith and spiritual maturity.
• True financial peace isn’t found in reaching a number or goal, but in surrendering control and faithfully asking, “Lord, what would You have me do with Your money?”

“Let's stop asking, "What can I do with my money?" and let's start asking, "Lord, what would You have me do with Yours?" Guys, that is the shift that leads to freedom. That is the heart of stewardship—and stewarding what's not yours.” 

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW MORE MONEY MADE FAITHFUL!

We’re finishing the series on finding calm in the middle of our financial storms—this time focusing on the incredible power and results when Jesus speaks.

In Mark 4, His words don’t just still the wind and waves around the disciples—He challenges the disciples and exposes another storm within. In this episode, we explore how that same voice speaks boldly and divinely into our financial fears today.

With biblical insight and practical application, we’ll unpack how to find real peace, take faithful action, and stay anchored when everything around us feels uncertain.

In this episode, John discusses:

• How Jesus models divine authority in the midst of chaos
• The difference between external and internal turbulence 
• Responding to financial stress with faithful belief
• Building a steady money mindset using biblical truth

Key Takeaways:

• Jesus’ command to the storm in Mark 4 shows that His authority brings instant calm to the external chaos, reminding us that we can rely on His power in our financial storms, too.
• True peace isn’t about having perfect conditions or a fully funded financial plan—it’s about intentionally inviting the presence of Jesus into our decisions.
• Believing in God’s promises, His purpose, and His provision allows us to face external and intermnal pressure with confidence and clarity.

“Peace isn't just a feeling. Peace is a person, and that person is Jesus.” 

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In this episode, we step into the tension of financial storms and reflect on how fear quietly shapes our decisions in times of uncertainty.

We revisit a real storm and story on the Sea of Galilee to draw timeless truths about trust, stewardship, and peace. As we consider unhealthy and healthy fear, we’re reminded that calm doesn’t depend on the storm ending—it depends on knowing who's already in the boat with us.

This conversation lays the groundwork for what’s still to come as we continue navigating faith and finances under pressure.

In this episode, John discusses:

• How fear influences our financial decisions during uncertain times
• What a biblical storm and story can teach us about our current reality
• Distinguishing between types of fear in the face of financial pressure
• Inviting spiritual perspective into money choices

Key Takeaways:

• When we allow unhealthy fear to take over, it hijacks our ability to make wise decisions and pushes us toward reactive, emotionally driven financial choices that often don’t serve us well.
• Healthy fear, in contrast, can sharpen our vision and help us stay grounded, encouraging intentionality, faithful stewardship, and renewed focus on what truly matters.
• Even when our circumstances feel overwhelming and the waves are crashing, we can experience calm by remembering that Jesus hasn’t left—we just need to let Him in.
• His kind of peace doesn't require perfect conditions; it requires awareness of His presence and the courage to trust His guidance even when our financial future looks uncertain.

“I know the storm can feel difficult. I know it can feel tumultuous, but you don't need the storm to stop for Jesus to bring peace to you. You just need to know where He is—and He's in your boat.” 

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW MORE MONEY MADE FAITHFUL!