Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Exodus 25:1-16.

God turns his attention to instructing Moses to build a sanctuary for God’s presence in the wilderness. Though they are a people on the move, they are to come to rest for times of worship, enjoying the presence of their God in an uninterrupted manner. The tent-like tabernacle will prefigure the Temple to come, anticipating even more, that permanent resting place of Christ Jesus in the Church: “The Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us.” (John 1:14)

The design of the tabernacle begins first with the Ark of the Testimony, the place where the Ten Commandments are to be reserved. As you read these instructions, imagination saturates inner senses with colors, smells, and beauty of design.

The two angels that face each other with hovering wings … leap forward to the tomb of Jesus in John 20:21 where a similar description is given: “(Mary Magdalene) saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”

Exodus 25

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Terumah (Portion) 
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.

Exodus 25:1—27:19

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: You pitched Your tent among us. Jn 1:14

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

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

Jesus uses the image of the secret place in his teaching about fasting. This is one of the six “means of grace,” taught by John Wesley and uplifted in other spiritual traditions. By setting a limit to our response to the appetite for food, the soul is purified, the focus shifting to God alone as nourishment, as is found in found in Deut. 8:3 and Matt 4:4: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (NRSV). The other four means of grace are prayer, searching the Scriptures, Holy Communion, and holy conversation.

Listen to these words from the Sermon on the Mount as special inspirations from the Lord to live this season in the grace that flows from that mountain.

Matthew 6:16–34

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Where my treasure, there my heart v. 21

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 7.

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 Philippians 2:1-11.

As shining silver rising from its setting, so does this chapter contain a precious gem in an ancient hymn in verses 5 to 11. Meditate upon its circular movement. Just as the minute hand of a clock moves in a circle from top to bottom, rising to the top again, so is the movement of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity from heaven to earth’s depths in the embedded cross, and back to heaven again. It is as a dancer raising his/her hand and eye. The hand drops in a graceful swing, suspended on high again. This is the movement of saving grace in Christ leaving heaven, swinging down to earth, rising again to heaven. Though the earthly descent plummets Jesus into a horrific death, the cross carries the glory and the energy of the Resurrection because of Christ’s great love.

Philippians 2

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Jesus, you emptied yourself v. 8

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Titus, Philemon, Galatians and Philippians.

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