One of my spiritual directors in life was a priest who became blind late in his life. He was also a very talented violinist. It was very difficult for him to learn how to be blind and continue to play the violin. Yet he told me that he had become an even better violinist, because his hearing had become extremely sensitive. He also witnessed that he had come to see things spiritually that he might never have understood if he had his eyesight. 

The joy of the man in the Gospel who came to see was made even greater because before he received his miracle, he had seen Jesus with his heart and knew Jesus could heal him. It’s as though his heart had been given eyes long before he received his sight.

Come to Jesus today with the same intense desire to know and love Jesus as the blind man of today’s Gospel. Be aware of keeping the eyes of your heart upon Jesus.

Mark 10:46-52

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year B, we read from the Gospel of Mark

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.

[From the original version]

Walk in Abraham’s sandals with his absolute trust in the Lord. The place where Abraham sacrificed the ram in place of Isaac was called “The Lord-Will-Provide.” Take a post-it note with this phrase and place it where you can see it clearly, so that you too may grow in total confidence in the Lord in all your circumstances.

Ponder the words of Isaac just before the sacrifice. “Look,” he said to his father, “the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Hear the response of Abraham in the verse for today and know of whom he really speaks—Jesus the Lamb of God.

Isaac and Ishmael would later become symbols in Paul’s letter to the Galatians representing the two covenants of law and grace (Gal. 4:28–31). Rejoice in the covenant of grace that empowers your life.

Genesis 21—22

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…

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 Mark 13:28-37.

[From the original version]

You have heard the expression: “Things have to get worse before they get better.” Jesus describes the end times in this way. There are many indicators that today’s world resembles the picture that Jesus makes. However, speculation about the time of the end distracts from the personal work that still needs to be done right now.

The end can always be near—the end of your life uncommitted totally to the Lord; the end of resentment, pain, confusion. Once you have died to yourself and are alive in Jesus, you are in heaven. You need not worry when “the curtain comes down” on everything. Watch for the signs that come your way telling you that you need more trust in the Lord.

Mark 13:14–37

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Your words will not pass away. v. 31

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 10 to 16.

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.