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Life Around "The Fire"

Life Around "The Fire"
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© 2025 Life Around "The Fire"
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This podcast is dedicated to those wanting to experience a living and real relationship with God as well as growing together in love for one another. We consider that to be a true sign of spiritual growth as we journey along The Way. If this is you then come along with us as we co-operate with God in what He is doing around the corner and around the world!
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Send us a text Have you ever wondered if God cares about the small details of your life? Those seemingly random events that feel inconsequential might actually be divine appointments orchestrated with purpose. In our journey through 1 Samuel 9, we witness the fascinating story of how lost donkeys became the catalyst for Israel's monarchy. Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, reluctantly embarks on a search for his father's missing animals that leads him directly to Samuel the prophet. What appe...
Send us a text Our goal in life is to walk in the balance of righteosness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. However, there are timees when we find ourselves drifting off course and we need to make corrections. Irael was in that very place when we find them in 1 Samuel chapter 8. Samuel "The Seer" and one of The Judges of Israel was old and his sons weren't following in the footsteps of their faither. Their character was not like that of Samuel's. It was coming to a time when Samuel wo...
Send us a text Have you ever wondered what happens when God's glory collides with careless curiosity? Or why spiritual breakthroughs often trigger immediate opposition? This compelling journey through 1 Samuel 6-7 unveils ancient patterns that still define our spiritual lives today. The narrative begins with a remarkable scene: the Ark of the Covenant, captured by the Philistines, makes its way back to Israel on an ox cart, coming to rest in "the field of Joshua" beside a large rock. These a...
Send us a text Are you holding onto something inferior simply because it's familiar? The story of the Philistines and the Ark of the Covenant reveals our human tendency to seek workarounds rather than embrace transformation. When the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, they placed it as a trophy in their god Dagon's temple. But God wouldn't share His glory with demons. The statue of Dagon mysteriously toppled, and plagues of tumors and rats struck the Philistines' land. After seven...
Send us a text Have you ever felt like God was absent in your darkest moments? The ancient story of the Ark of the Covenant's capture reveals a powerful truth that transforms how we view seemingly hopeless situations. When Israel's most sacred object was seized by their enemies, it appeared to be a devastating defeat. But behind the visible circumstances, an invisible battle was unfolding. As we explore 1 Samuel 5, we discover what happens when the symbol of God's presence enters enemy terri...
Send us a text The consequences of our actions echo through generations—nowhere is this more evident than in the sobering account from 1 Samuel 4 explored in this episode. When Israel treated the Ark of God as a magical talisman rather than a holy vessel, they faced devastating defeat at the hands of the Philistines. This fascinating journey through ancient Israel reveals what happens when God's people embrace privilege without responsibility. The story unfolds dramatically—30,000 Israelite ...
Send us a text When life's dysfunction threatens to overwhelm us, we need the powerful reminder that God is greater. This deeply personal message explores how our heavenly Father exceeds any brokenness we face, whether in mental health struggles, addictions, family trauma, or relational difficulties. Through the remarkable story of Samuel, we witness divine intervention in profoundly dysfunctional circumstances. Born to Hannah in a tension-filled polygamous household, then handed at age thre...
Send us a text Have you ever wondered if God still speaks today? Samuel's story reveals how divine calling works even in the most dysfunctional environments. Samuel's very name—meaning "God hears"—carries profound significance. While we often encounter people who barely listen to us, God genuinely attends to our prayers with perfect understanding. But in this exploration of 1 Samuel 3, we discover something equally important: how we can learn to hear God's voice in return. Young Samuel serv...
Send us a text Have you ever found yourself treating sacred things a little too casually? The story of Eli from 1 Samuel 2 delivers a powerful wake-up call about the dangers of spiritual complacency and the consequences that follow when we honor others above God. This episode dives deep into the prophecy delivered to Eli by an unnamed "man of God" – a stern warning about how the high priest had failed in his sacred duties by allowing his sons to abuse their positions and by personally benefi...
Send us a text What would it feel like to live in a world completely free from evil? Jesus offers us precisely this—a kingdom characterized by the total absence of evil and filled instead with righteousness, peace, and joy. This reality stands in stark contrast to the corrupt priesthood we encounter in 1 Samuel 2. As we explore the story of Eli and his wicked sons, we discover a sobering picture of religious leadership gone wrong. These priests exploited their sacred positions for personal g...
Send us a text The waiting periods of our lives often feel endless, but Hannah's story reveals the profound purpose hidden within these seasons. For years, Hannah endured the pain of barrenness while facing cruel taunts from her husband's other wife who had many children. Her worth seemed diminished in a culture that valued women primarily for childbearing, yet this extended season of waiting was preparing the way for something extraordinary. When God finally answered Hannah's fervent prayer...
Send us a text Ever felt like you're praying without results while others mock your struggles? Hannah's story from 1 Samuel reveals profound truth about those seasons when nothing seems to happen despite our deepest prayers. The journey begins with Hannah, a woman desperately longing for a child while enduring cruel taunts from her husband's other wife who had many children. Year after year, Hannah's prayers seemed to go unanswered, leading to such deep grief she couldn't eat. Yet this appar...
Send us a text *** Editor's note *** The time span for the material in 1 Samuel is closer to 100 years. In the podcast 150 years was used as a time marker. That would entail both 1 and 2 Samuel. Woopsi... LoL ... but we caught it before you did... LoL. Stories have power. They captivate our imagination, preserve our history, and shape our understanding in ways nothing else can. In this deep dive into the book of 1 Samuel, we explore the rich tapestry of narratives that chronicle Israel's pivo...
Send us a text Dive into the ancient wisdom of 1 Samuel as we unpack the remarkable journey of David, Israel's greatest king before Christ. What makes this shepherd boy's story so compelling isn't just his victory over Goliath, but how he navigated the treacherous waters of jealousy and opposition from King Saul. The heart of this exploration centers on a profound revelation: having God's favor doesn't guarantee an easy path. Despite being anointed by God himself, David faced deadly persecut...
Send us a text What happens when your feelings and God's commands seem to pull you in opposite directions? The wild horses of our emotions—sometimes beautiful, sometimes destructive—need a steady rider to guide them. Without this guidance, we make decisions we later regret, especially when hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. That's why Jesus' words in John 13-17 offer such profound wisdom: "If you love me, obey my commands." This seemingly simple statement reveals a profound truth about ...
Send us a text Are you stuck in a cycle of merely existing from day to day? That "same stuff, different day" lifestyle leaves many of us feeling empty and unfulfilled, living for weekends that provide only temporary escape. But there's a profound difference between just getting by and becoming an overcomer. My own journey transformed when God's Spirit revealed Jesus to me in a powerful way. That divine encounter showed me the weight of my condition and offered genuine forgiveness—not somethi...
Send us a text Trapped between thinking too highly of yourself and not highly enough? You're not alone. This profound spiritual tension affects how we function within God's Kingdom and impacts everyone around us. The Apostle Paul's instruction to think of ourselves "with sober judgment" (Romans 12:3) provides a crucial navigational tool for believers. When our self-perception becomes inflated, we develop entitled attitudes that use people and love things. Conversely, when we undervalue ourse...
Send us a text *** Editor's note: David gave a Scripture referrence in point #4 concerning "Patience & Endurance". He said it was found in 1 Corinthians 3:4-8 and it should be 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.... woopsi... hey, at least we caught it... LoL *** The Kingdom of God stands as the central teaching of Jesus's ministry—a revolutionary concept that transforms how we understand our purpose on Earth. This episode unpacks the profound truth that Earth was created to be a physical demonstr...
Send us a text Ever wondered what makes the Kingdom of God so different from earthly systems and cultures? This eye-opening exploration dives deep into the core values that define God's Kingdom - a kingdom not waiting in some distant future, but active and available right now. At the heart of Kingdom culture lies love - not as a fleeting emotion but as the highest value that Jesus himself emphasized when asked about the greatest commandment. This foundation supports other vital Kingdom value...
Send us a text Have you ever considered what makes the Bible truly different from any other book? Beyond just sacred text, it stands as a unique collection of 66 books written across centuries that somehow speaks with remarkable relevance to our modern lives. This episode dives deep into the transformative message of 2 Peter 1:3-11, where we discover the pathway to spiritual maturity outlined by one of Jesus' closest disciples. Peter, writing to severely persecuted believers, offers timeless...