Comfort, comfort my people!
    says your God.
² Speak compassionately to Jerusalem,
        and proclaim to her that her compulsory service has ended,
    that her penalty has been paid,
    that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins!
Isaiah 40:1-2

In 1741, the great composer George Frideric Handel wrote “The Messiah.”  It’s one of the most famous choral works in music.  Most of the words come from the Bible.  After a musical introduction, the singing parts begin with a tenor voice ringing out: “Comfort ye!”  The lovely melody covers us like a soft blanket warming and comforting our bodies and our hearts.  Four times in one minute of the selection “Comfort ye!” sings out.  

Like clearing a space in the sand for a creating a castle, the music sweeps across the soul making an even space for reading the rest of the chapter.  Just like the verses proclaim, the places in your life that may feel rough and uneven, will become smooth and peaceful.  Listen to Jerry Hadley sing “Comfort Ye!” and “Every Valley.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dDjva1ecYo

Isaiah 40

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Comfort, comfort my people! v. 1
Clearing a way for the Lord v. 3
The Lord’s glory will appear. v. 5
The word of God forever v. 8

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

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.

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.

Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will certainly not pass away.
Mark 13:31

Imagine that all articles that are dear to you are spread out on a large quilt.  Take each of the four corners of the quilt into your hands and lift it up.  You might need help if it’s too heavy.

Jesus speaks about the end of the world when angels, from the four corners of the earth, will lift up to heaven those who have spent their life serving and loving.  Remember that in Jesus’ time, people thought the world was flat.

A new year of God’s grace begins today. Think of all the days in the year as though they are beautiful squares, stitched together in four large sections of a quilt.  These are the four seasons.  Feel the hours of each day as sacred threads God is giving you so that you can weave wonderful days together of love and kindness.

Mark 13:24-37

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Gathered from the four corners v. 27
You are near: door of my heart. v. 29
Your words not passing away v. 31
Watching out; staying alert v. 33

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

The Sunday Gospels follow the Revised Common Lectionary.
This is Year B the Gospel of St. Mark

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.

²² Then God remembered Rachel, responded to her, and let her conceive. ²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my shame.” ²⁴ She named him Joseph,^[e] saying to herself,
May the Lord give me another son.
Genesis 30:22-24

When I was a young boy, the pastor at our church came into our class one day and told us what each of our names meant.  He was so smart!  I’m named after my Mom’s father, Nicholas, meaning “Victorious People.”  St. Nicholas repeated over and over, comes out: “Santa Claus!”  

The meaning of my middle name, Joseph, is mentioned in today’s reading.  It was another son born to Jacob and Rachel.  Rachel was so grateful for another child, that she named him, “God gave me another one!”  Hebrew children were named by some circumstance that took place around their births. 

Here’s a website for you to visit that tells the meaning of first names. http://behindthename.com  Ask you parents how you came to have your name.  One more thing.  Often use the name of the person you are talking with;  It’s the word they most want to hear!

 Genesis 30:14—31:16

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Zebulun: “Wonderful gift” 30:20
Joseph: “God adds another son.” 30:24
You with me, no matter what 31:42
You camp with me on my way. 32:1

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.