Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Isaiah 14:13-14; 24-27.

The three examples of salvation in yesterday’s reading are contrasted with three doomed to destruction. Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia are singled out for their unique arrogance toward God that results in their downfall.

The outcome of these three countries is the result of what Mary sings in the Magnificat: “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly” (Luke 1:52). Again with the image of the beach ball pressed down for later release, the pride that seeks to puff itself up before others, actually results in their being pressed down to death.

In this context, the fall of Lucifer is described. Tradition has linked him to Satan. Ponder the five arrogant assertions in verses 13 and 14 that begin with the words “I will.” The one whose name means “light-bearer” is plummeted into darkness.

Which is it for you—your will or God’s?

Isaiah 14

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Isaiah 13 – 27; Lamentations 1 and 2 on the Ninth Week.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: What You design, You will do. v. 24

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

Three persons find themselves in Jesus’s presence—a tax collector, a bleeding woman and a dead girl. The Lord invites the first one to follow him. Like the abandoned nets of the three disciples, Peter, James, and John, Matthew drops the nets binding him to the unholy task of exacting taxes for Rome. The woman pursues Jesus, bound by a severe hemorrhage threatening her life. If only she can touch the hem of Jesus’s cloak, she will be healed. Finally, there is the young girl bound by death.

Relate with all three. Are you in a work that binds you? Are you bleeding emotionally? Is there a little child within you that has died? As a beach ball pressed beneath the surface of the water, so are each of the three until the touch of Jesus releases them to rise to the surface of the saving waters, dancing with joy and freedom in the breeze of eternal life that blows across their faces.

Matt. 9:9–13; 18–26

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Clearing my way to Jesus

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of Matthew.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter  ad Numbers 9:1-5.

Seven lights, number of fullness, shine within the Holy Place. There is an inner light as you read God’s Holy Word.

The cleansing of the Levites reminds us that those at the center of worship need to be pure. Though here limited to a single class of people, the New Covenant extends to every person found within the Body of Jesus. Your surrender to the Lord is what brings you within Jesus and makes you a priest. Every action of yours can become a gesture of worship, bearing witness to the world of the holiness of God.

The second celebration of the Passover is announced. The root of the word in Hebrew for the “appointed” time, mo’ed, is the same as the word in Genesis1:14 for the seasons. God has outlined cycles of time by days and nights, seasons and years, giving rhythm and serenity to the passage of time. Respond to these shifts and changes as one candle shares its light with another.

Numbers 8:1—9:14

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Behaalot’cha (When You Kindle) 
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Numbers 8:1—12:16

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: NOW is the appointed time. 2 Corinthians 6:2

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information