Isaiah in this final chapter joins Matthew 25 with the sheep and goats, along with Revelation 21 in proclaiming the justice of God at the end of the world. Yet the end has already begun; the New Jerusalem is the church.

Be challenged to come to true worship. Move into the fullness of joy as you rest in prayer at the bosom of the church where the Holy Spirit feeds you with the very love of God. Your imagination is the mouth that takes in all the nourishment that the mother church longs to give you as her child.

When you are troubled with the injustices that make the headlines of the morning paper, claim in your heart that the triumph of justice will come. Will you live with the faith that believes that what is coming is already here?

Isaiah 66

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Humble and contrite of heart v. 2

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.

Karate chops of Jesus’ blessings and woes of last week continue in today’s reading. The heart of Jesus’ revolution is about non-violent violence. Your enemy expects you to fight back, to hate, to curse, to strike out. When he receives the unexpected, he is thrown off balance and becomes disoriented and confused. The wind is taken out of the “sails” of violence.

The underlying message of the one turning the cheek is, “Your first attempt to insult and hurt me has failed; would you like to try it again? Is there not an alternative to violence?” The turned cheek has a spiritual violence about it—a karate chop to the soul.

Notice how Jesus gives a way out of chronic anger on the part of one attempted to be made a victim by some evil persecutor. If your heart is filled with prayer, blessing, and love for your enemy, joy can never be taken away from you.

Luke 6:27–38

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Loving all my enemies v. 27

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.

 This half chapter is neatly divided into five sections. Spread them through the hours of the day. Stay with what the Scriptures say about Mary Magdalene, resisting popular traditions about her as a prostitute. She was a demon-possessed person, as were others in the Gospel. Gratitude for her deliverance plummeted her into a profound devotion to Jesus, right up to the tomb, the morning of the resurrection, as recalled in John 20.

Your life is the field of “The Parable of the Sower.” What kind of soil is your soul? Learn about what it takes to become part of the family of God, and about the faith that we need when the storms of life tempt us to plummet into despair, instead of into devotion.

Luke 8:1–25

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Cleanse my ears so I can hear. v. 8

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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.