First Shallowater: FIRST THINGS FIRST

First Things First : Steve Nieman

Isn’t it crazy how our lives can be headed in one direction and then, all of a sudden, God can move us in a startling, exciting new direction? This week we talk with Steve Nieman about good friends, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, entrepreneurship and the ways that our spouses sometimes save us from ourselves.
Click here to listen to Psalm 13, Brad's song that mentions in this episode.
Click here to listen to Even If, by MercyMe featuring the testimony behind the song.
Here are the books that Steve mentioned:
Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
 

First Things First : Annie Abney

Sometimes, just when you think things are getting good, life throws you a curveball. Sometimes a LOT of curveballs. How do we respond when hard things, even painful things, pop up in really unexpected places in our lives? This week welcome Annie Abney to the podcast. We talk about dogs, fish, and rap superstars. We also talk about loss, about marriage, about mental health and about God’s grace in the middle of all of it.
 

First Things First : Roxann St. Clair

Sometimes, our most painful experiences, our darkest struggles are the things that lead us to Christ. We experience, in real and profound ways, God’s healing in these moments. This week on the podcast, Roxann St. Clair shares the inspiring story of how God showed up in the middle of her struggle and gave her peace, healing and victory. We also talk about being an entrepreneur, and if you’d like some more information about Roxann’s family business, you can go here: https://drinkhotruby.com
 
WARNING: We talk about some serious stuff in our episode this week. If you are a victim of sexual assault and you need counseling or help, here are some resources that may be of help to you:
 
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673
 
https://onevoicehome.org/
 
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, here is a good place to start for information and help: Eating Disorders Helpline | Chat, Call, or Text | NEDAhttps://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org › help-support
 
Please feel free to contact the church at 806.832.4511 if you would like recommendations for counselors who deal with some of the issues we deal with in the podcast. Our list will not be exhaustive, but it may be a good place to start.

First Things First : Jackson Abney

Liminal - Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold. This week on the podcast we’re joined by Jackson Abney who talks about, among other things, how God is faithful in the liminal times in our lives -  those times when we know we are at the threshold of change, but we have no idea what is coming. We talk also talk about dogs, rap icons, the lineup for the Super Bowl halftime show. You’ll be encouraged and inspired by Jackson’s story.
 

First Things First : Joe Kirk Smith

Be careful when you ask God to clearly reveal his will to you. Sometimes he does it in exactly the way you asked! This week on the podcast, Joe Kirk Smith shares a story about a time when God did just that for him. We talk about what it means to surrender our lives to God completely, how to hear and follow God’s voice, what it takes to have a healthy marriage, and how God rescues us from ourselves sometimes.
Are you interested in the Marriage Maintenance class that Joe Kirk and his wife Angie lead? Email Ministry Assistant, Annie Abney at annie@firstshallowater.org and she will get you on the list for the next session!

First Things First : Kristi Barker

We all have that one friend, that one person who has really made a difference in our lives. This week on the podcast, we talk to Kristi Barker. She shares a powerful story about how God used a precious friend to change the course of her life. Not only her life though, but also the lives of many, many other people. We weren’t able to find the book we mention in the podcast (it’s out of print), but here is a link to Brie Gomez’s blog: https://briewhitegomez.blogspot.com/