[From the version for families with children]

The suffering of Jesus begins.  He has been telling this to the disciples; now it’s here. Jesus takes three of his closest friends to be with him during what we call, “The Agony in the Garden.”  Look what happens to the three friends: they fall asleep!

Jesus says that his hour has come, as well as the cup of suffering.  Centuries past, an hour glass would tell the length of an hour.  Can you see something similar between the cup of suffering and the “glass” of the hour that is before Jesus?  

     Today, be aware of the actual hours of your day as so many glasses or cups that you fill with wakeful prayer.  As each empties and fills like a cup, stay close to Jesus in his suffering. You know, Jesus continues to suffer in the hours of this day through innocent people losing their lives such as refuge children from countries persecuted by tyrants. Pray in an alert way for refugees as you help them in their suffering through your prayer.

  Mark 14:32-72

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…

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.

[From the original version]

Sealed inside each of us are energies both dark and bright. Danger comes when the darker side of us is repressed. Better to break open the seal and let the darkness find appropriate and even creative expression, than to deny the darkness and have its energies explode in rage, irritable reactions, unkindness, and gossip.

Accept the entire range of your feelings. Feelings are neither good nor bad: they just are. Recognize and accept them and they will tend to flow outward in ways similar to the images of today’s reading.

Inner energies: be aware of this as you read about the opening of six of the seven seals. Strong contrasting images explode in each one. Color vary from bright to grotesque. How do you identify with these vibrant images? Revelation: it is the book, as well as God showing you God’s face from deep within your being.

Revelation 6

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In season of Kingdomtide this year,
we read 1 and 2 Thessalonians; Revelation 4—11.

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.

Tap here for a video-meditation on Psalm 91.

[From the original version]

Make this psalm more personal by changing the pronouns. If you are praying this on your behalf, place the first person personal pronoun in place of the second person. If you are praying with someone else, place his or her name into the psalm.

The loveliness of the psalm is found in savoring the secret place, the refuge, the dwelling place. All these words in Hebrew suggest the absolute safety of being in the presence of the Lord. There is protection from all outside attacks, the Lord being a place where you can run and hide, just as a little child runs to hide in the arms of a loving parent. The whole psalm breathes the air of trust, confidence, peace, and assurance. As you read the psalm, what other words come to your heart to describe what it is like to be one with the Lord?

Psalm 91

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More

We follow a reading of 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