A desperate cry begins the reading. The outburst tears open your soul to release yet greater longing within for God with images that reveal the manifest power of God’s presence. Linger at verses where the Spirit especially sets fire to your heart. Pause … ponder … pray. Become an intercessor before the Lord for your city or town, expanding to the whole world that needs your prayer to bring it before the throne of God.

Firestarters are at the beginning of entrance into the Word; Embers are toward the end. These could be your reflections at the close of the day after living the day’s passage.

The Holy Spirit invites you to that inner place where you are still and quiet before the Lord who loves you and embraces you. See what Paul does in 1 Corinthians 2:9 with verse 4.

Isaiah 64

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: ou the potter; we the clay v. 8

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the seasons of Advent through Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 56 to 66..

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.

In the Epiphany to the Magi, Jesus was accepted by foreigners and rejected by his own people. The same resistance occurs when Jesus returns to Nazareth. Likely, an over-familiarity with Jesus breeds a kind of contempt for him when the ministry begins. Jealousy, pride, and indignation rob the hometown people’s hearts from being able to listen. They refuse to rejoice at the Messiah coming from among them. Sense the freedom that Jesus has to “call it as it is.” You might reread the Old Testament stories alluded to by Jesus in 1 Kings 17:9 and 2 Kings 5.

Reflect upon yourself. Do you live according to others’ images of you, or of God’s? Conversely, is there someone in your life who finds it difficult to fulfill God’s plan because you lack faith in God’s vision for him or her?

Luke 4:21–30

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Examples: Jesus at home in my heart v. 23

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read from the Gospel of Luke.

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.

A phone call came from our daughter one day in 1993, with fears that she had just miscarried twins. My wife and I prayed, turning to a Bible calendar for that particular day which had the verses from today’s reading. We claimed these promises. The crisis passed. Beautiful twin girls were born a few months later. We rejoiced in the fidelity of the Lord.

The reading continues in verse 27 stating that terror from the Lord will go before the people, driving back the enemies coming against God’s beloved. So it is with us. Those who resist the love of God coming inside them will find the power of God against them.

St. John affirms: “Perfect loves casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Those who cast out the Lord are the ones who need to be afraid!

Exodus 23:20—24:18

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: “I will take sickness away.” v. 25

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