Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter

Tap here for a video meditation on Psalm 20.

 A series of loving blessings flow from the heart of the psalmist. He is an intercessor for you. The Holy Spirit groans inwardly to set you free and brings the gift of God’s helping presence to you. What are the circumstances in your life that come to mind that concretely unfold for you just how and where you need help from the Lord?

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. Take verse 7 and treasure it. The power of Jesus’s name has been given to you. He stands before you now as the risen Lord. See the smile and feel the arms of Christ who embraces and protects you.

Psalm 20

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: You grant me my heart’s desire. v. 4

We continue to follow the Psalms in numerical order.

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 Song of Songs 5:1-8.

The readings from The Song of Songs come in sharp contrast with Monday’s stark passages from Ezekiel. The tender, sensual love poetry of the Song is set against the violence, famine, death, and exile spoken by Ezekiel. However, God’s intense love for his people and their absence from this love still emerge in both readings as a common theme. Surely, chapter 5, verse 2 was in St. John’s mind when he developed the scene of Mary Magdalene searching for Jesus in this year’s Easter Gospel.

Though faithful, yet without her proper clothing, the security guards of the city believe the Shulamite is a prostitute. Even when love is faithful, there are disconnections, misunderstandings and confusions that can have the timing of love be out of sync.

Receive the description of the Shulamite of her Beloved as expressions of the beauty of the Body of Christ.

Song of Songs 5—6

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: I belong to You, O Lord. 6:3

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Easter this year we read Proverbs 11—12 and The Song of Songs.

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 Ezekiel 12:8-20.

The word “prophesy” literally means, “to speak on behalf” of God. However, in addition to the voice, God often speaks through symbolic gestures of the prophets such as Jeremiah commanded not to marry and Hosea ordered to marry a prostitute. These gestures express the infidelity that wounds the heart of God who loves so much. In today’s reading, Ezekiel is to gather up his belongings as though going into exile—sign of what is going to happen to God’s rebellious people.

Beyond the anger of God, read God’s hurt as that of a beloved treated with indifference and infidelity on the part of the spouse. The denial of bread, a consequence to immanent siege, is similar to the refusal of the Bread of Life in last Friday’s reading.

What symbolic gestures does God suggest to you, to express how you are relating to the Lord these days?

Ezekiel 12—14

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Easter we read Ezekiel 1—16.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: You taking hold of my heart 14:5

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.