Love God First

In this episode we explore the story of Hagar one finalt time as we focus on the character of God as El-Roi, the God Who Sees. I emphasize the importance of understanding God's constant presence in our lives, especially during times of loneliness and suffering. Through Hagar's experience, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the fact that Jesus is ever-present with us, whether we can feel it or...

Keywords   Hagar, biblical stories, faith, obedience, strength, divine intervention, motherhood, character growth, spiritual healing, God's promises     Summary   In this third episode from the account of Hagar, we explore the story of Hagar from her own perspective, highlighting the truths about her character and looking closely at God's interaction with her. Through Hagar's journey in the desert...

In this episode we delve into the story of Hagar, Abram, and Sarai, exploring themes of decision-making, passivity, and the importance of living out an active faith. I emphasize the need to learn from Abram's mistakes, particularly when looking at his passive responses to Sarai's actions. Looking closely at Abram's part of the story will encourage listeners to actively pursue God and engage with t...

In this episode, I explore the story of Hagar from Genesis 16, focusing on the themes of dependence on God, the struggles of Sarai, and the cultural context of her decision to give her maid as an extra wife to her husband. Through Sarai's story we can see how easy it is to try and generate our own human solutions to God's leading and promises instead of relying on God Himself to do what He has pro...

In this episode Pastor Kari Bulman and I continue our conversation about covenant and its significance to us today.  Through covenant, God's shows us His unwavering commitment to His people. Hopefully by the end of this episode we can get closer to truly understanding the depth of God's commitment to us.     Keywords covenant, love God, Old Covenant, New Covenant, marriage, promises, faith, relati...

In this episode Pastor Kari Bulman and I explore the concept of covenant and its significance in both biblical and modern times. We talk about the difference between the Old and New Covenants and discuss how covenants represent trust and commitment, contrasting them with the contracts we make in our modern-day world. Ultimately, we highlight the beauty of God's unwavering commitment to His people...

In this episode, we delve into the profound theme of God's covenant love as illustrated through the life of Abraham. We explore the nature of covenants in the ancient Near East, the significance of the covenant ceremony between God and Abram, and how this covenant foreshadows and is fulfilled by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. The episode emphasizes the level of commitment God has to His promises...

  We explore on a little bit more of the journey and life of Abraham, focusing on him becoming a father of many nations because he believed in the Lord. I touch on the the importance of honesty in prayer, but the real focus is on the significance of faith and its connection to righteousness. Ultimately, we must make the choice to believe God just like Abram did.   Keywords Abraham, faith, God's pr...

With the example of the priest-king Melchizedek in Genesis 14 as a springboard, we take this episode to look at what the author explains in Hebrews about the similarities between Melchizedek and Jesus. And by the end we see how having a high priest like Jesus can be such a comfort to our souls.   

In this episode, we watch Abram and his allies fight and defeat some Mesopotamian kings, save Lot, and head home to the hills. But on the way back, Abram meets a unique individual who is unlike almost every other person in the Bible. Join me as we lay some groundwork on understanding Melchizedek. We will discuss his and Abram's interactions and how Melchizedek's priesthood has some big repercussio...

In this episode we watch the next chapter of Abram's story unfold with his nephew Lot. We are focusing this episode on the theme of spiritual growth and on being patient with the process the Lord has us in because there is an absolutely wonderful reward in store for us at the end. Listen to find out what unique reward we have to look forward to!   Keywords spiritual growth, Abram, Lot, God's promi...

In this podcast episode, we explore the process of decision-making for Christians using biblical examples from Abram and David. I emphasize the importance of faith, the need to renew one's mind and the necessity of seeking God's guidance in making decisions. The discussion highlights the consequences of fear-driven choices and provides practical steps for making decisions aligned with God's will....

In this episode I discuss the significance of building altars in our lives as a means of remembering God's promises and sustaining our faith. I emphasize the importance of returning to these altars to strengthen our relationship with God and to remind ourselves of His faithfulness. Through practical examples and personal anecdotes, I illustrate how modern-day altars can be created through journali...

In this episode we explore the concept of building altars in the life of a Christ follower, using Abram as a model. We talk about why it was so important for Abram to have built an altar and call on the name of the Lord. We'll see the importance of committing to our own current spiritual assignment, and we'll look at an example of drawing on the Lord's transformative power and presence through wor...

In this conversation, Marc Hagman and I explore the concept of calling in the Christian faith, discussing the different types of calls believers have, including the call to salvation, holiness, and ministry. We emphasize the importance of understanding that a person does not need to be perfect to step into ministry and that calling can manifest in various forms throughout our lives. The discussion...

In this episode, I shares reflections from my son's wedding, drawing parallels between the preparations for that wedding and the spiritual preparation of every Christian as the bride of Christ. I emphasize the importance of growing our inner character as we depend on the righteousness of Christ to clothe us. The conversation culminates in a hopeful vision of the eternal life that awaits believers,...

In this last conversation, Sarah Miller and I continue to explore the concept of calling in a modern context, discussing how God can call each of us to different ministries, jobs, and even locations in our lives. We delve into the importance of understanding one's identity and values, the process of stepping out in faith, and the significance of community in confirming God's call to us. Through pe...

In this second conversation, Sarah Miller and I continue to explore the concept of calling in a modern context, discussing how God can call each of us to different ministries, jobs, and even locations in our lives. We delve into the importance of understanding one's identity and values, the process of stepping out in faith, and the significance of community in confirming God's call to us. Through...

In this conversation, Sarah Miller and I explore the concept of calling in a modern context, discussing how God calls individuals at different times and in different ways in their lives while at the same time calling us always into more of who He has made us to be. We delve into the importance of understanding our values, the process of stepping out in faith, and the significance of community and...

In this episode, we begin the story of Abram (eventually Abraham), focusing on his journey of faith as depicted in Genesis 12. We discuss the significance of God's promises to Abram, the challenges he faced and how these experiences will eventually contribute to the growth of his faith. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trusting God, stepping out in faith, and recognizing that struggle...

In this second episode about the Tower of Babel, we are focusing on the motivations behind its construction. And you might be surprised to see some similarities between these ancient tower builders and yourself! We highlights the significance of humility, contentment, and the dangers of seeking fame and power. And we end by encouraging listeners how to find satisfaction in their current circumstan...

In this episode, we delve into the biblical account of the Tower of Babel, exploring its historical context and archeological confirmation. In this two-part episode, we focus first on understanding the fine points, so that next time we meet, we will be ready to look closely at the personal application. If you like knowing the juicy details of a story, especially if it's a story that may have bothe...

We're continuing our conversation with Donna Jones today!  Check out Donna's new book on Amazon: Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life Also listen to her on: That's Just What I Needed Podcast found on Spotify, Podbean or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Donna and I shift the focus from discussing how to bolster our own child's faith level to talking about any unbelieving members of the family. The...

We have author and speaker Donna Jones with us today to talk about prodigals!  Check out Donna's new book on Amazon: Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life Also listen to her on: That's Just What I Needed Podcast found on Spotify, Podbean or wherever you listen to your podcasts! In this conversation, Donna and I explore the challenges and strategies related to prodigal family members who have turned away...

In this episode of Love God First, we explore the story of Noah and his son Ham, focusing on the themes of personal responsibility in faith and the consequences of one's actions. The discussion highlights how Ham's choices affected his father and emphasizes that each individual is responsible for their own faith journey. The episode also addresses the challenges moms and dads face when their child...