Then he brought Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you think you can count them.” He continued, “This is how many children you will have.” ⁶ Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character.
Genesis 15:5-6

One of the very pleasant experiences about camping is seeing the stars. Campsites are usually away from cities that send their light up to the sky.  However, without this extra light from cities, millions of stars break through the black night showing the wonder and beauty of the universe.
No problem with Abraham being around bright cities!  So when God invited him to look at the sky and promised that his descendants would be a many as the stars, you can imagine how he must have gasped!  But he was almost a hundred years old and his wife Sarah was ninety!  God would have to do the impossible for them to have a child that would then have more children than the number of stars. God would do the impossible: their son Isaac will be born. 

The same God who had very special plans for Abraham, has wonderful plans for you.

Genesis 15

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Lord my God, You are my shield. v. 1
Believing in Your promise v. 6
You deliver from suff’ring v. 14
Finding signs of Your presence v. 17

Check out Study Tools in BibleGateway.
I especially recommend the free resource
in Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

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.

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or table! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
Matthew 26:39

The Last Supper is over.  Jesus slowly walks with three of his closest friends to the garden where he often went to pray.  This time he’s very sad—and frightened too.  He knows that one of his disciples is going to betray him to the Jewish leaders.  Peter, James and John fall asleep as the sadness of Jesus creeps over them like a great shadow. Jesus is alone with his thoughts and his prayer to his Father.

Imagine being there in that garden—only you’re awake to watch all that’s happening  A shaft of moonlight shines on Jesus’ face.  It is very quiet—like the calm before a storm. Feel your love for Jesus and your sadness for what is about to happen.  Stay next to Jesus as he gets questioned by the mean religious leaders.

For two more Fridays we’ll stay close to Jesus as he walks toward the hill of Calvary where he died for you and me. Let’s be with him to the end.  

 Matthew 26:36–75

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Jesus grieving unto death v. 38
Not my will, but Yours be done. v. 39
Awake and watching with You v. 40
Peter remembered and wept v. 75

Check out Study Tools in BibleGateway.
I especially recommend the free resource
in Matthew Henry’s Commentary.‘s Commentary.

In Year A, we continue to read from the Gospel of St. Matthew.

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or table! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

¹² Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. ¹³ We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink.
1Corinthians 12: 12-13

Before you read the Bible today, I invite you to sit very still in a chair. Your body is balanced, your muscles relaxed.  Beginning with the top of your head, be aware of your whole body as your mind moves down your body to the soles of your feet.  Though your eyes are closed, turn your attention to your eyes and then your ears, then to your hands resting on your lap, to your feet, resting for a moment from the job of moving your body from one place to another.  Now sense your whole body, feeling its weight and how each part of your body makes up who you are.

Who you are is more than just yourself. You are part of a “self” that is greater and more wonderful: Jesus alive in his risen body.  Like waves that widen when you drop a stone in a lake, think bigger and wider about who you are to include how you are one with Christ.  Now you’re ready to hear what St. Paul says about all this.

 1 Corinthians 12:1-27

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Many gifts, but one Spirit v. 4
Welcoming Your gifts to me v. 4ff
All drinking of one Spirit v. 13
We are the body of Christ v. 27

Check out Study Tools in BibleGateway.
I especially recommend the free resource
in Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or table! Check the menu options at the site for more information.