Feelings get hurt; we all know the experience. Anguish and anger collide, at times irrupting in strong outbursts as rejection or even betrayal occurs in our lives.

Avoid falling into fear as you read about a “punishing God” that might echo from your upbringing. God hurts; the Holy Spirit grieves. Here God expresses exasperation and profound sadness at the outright idolatry of the people. Movement beyond the Chosen People is intimated by the irony of the verse for the day. There are many who seek God in their heart without knowing it. Conversely, there are those who profess faith in the Lord, but whose hearts are devoted to everything but God. Is God your first love?

Isaiah 65:1–16
Example: Trusting You, my faithful God v. 16

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..

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…

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.

Hours of the night—the time for a fisherman to be successful on the Sea of Galilee. Get in touch with the fatigue, the frustration, the failure, and finally that looking forward to sleep after the nets are all cleaned, folded, and readied for the next evening’s return to the deep.

However, all of this changes when Jesus comes on the scene. Picture Simon Peter and his friends listening to Jesus while they finish cleaning. Something begins to shift inside them as they listen to Jesus. Hearts begin to glow. Along with the sun, gentle smiles dawn upon their faces. They are ready for the command of Jesus to “Put out into the deep.” Against all odds and contrary to their professional opinion, Peter obeys; Jesus commands. Take the net of God’s Word and cast it across your day.

Luke 5:1–11

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Wide reach of the joy in me

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.

While the second commandment forbids the making of images adored as God, the Lord knows that our senses need to be active so that we can go beyond them to the realm of the Spirit.

In order to get a sense of the size of the court for the tabernacle in the wilderness, imagine the dimensions of a football field. Stretching across the field is the length of the tabernacle—about 50 yards. Its width is from the 25^th yard line to the goal line. Within that sacred space, clear directions from the divine architect are given to Moses.

Now leave the “football field” and enter into the tabernacle as you listen to the exact dimensions, adornment, and location of every object … the color of every thread. All these are symbols, meant to act upon our senses to stimulate the awe of being in the presence of God. Sense the colors. What spiritual feelings does each one stir in you? Let all your spaces today be sacred.

Exodus 26:31—27:19

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: My heart an altar for You 

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