A child is promised who will be victorious over the enemies of the southern kingdom of Judah. The child’s name, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, means “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens,” prophesying that Syria and the northern Kingdom of Israel would soon be destroyed by Assyria.

The Lord will give you all the resources you need to withstand any enemy. There will be “children” for you in one way or another, who will continue to bear the name Immanuel: “God-with-us.”

Immerse yourself in the presence of God until what is awesome in your life is not what is coming against you, but rather the One in whose sanctuary you find refuge and in whose presence you are at home.

Isaiah 8

I welcome your response to these daily Firestarters and Bible readings 
by placing a like or comment beneath the posts. Thank you!

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 1-13.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Waiting and hoping in You v. 17

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.

One time while camping with my family, I created an outdoor shower. I lashed a hula-hoop to the branches of a tree in three places, a shower curtain hanging onto it. A plastic bag of water previously heated by the sun, hung from above. It had a hose and showerhead attached—all the comforts of a shower at home … almost!

There were three points to keep the hula-hoop stable. Three gives stability. Is this another reason why sacredness and completeness are associated with this number?

In John’s gospel, the episode of Jesus’first encounter with his disciples takes place on the middle day of three days. The first day is the meeting and baptism with John the Baptist; the third day is the Marriage Feast at Cana.

Feel this second day: transition from old water to the stability of new life, symbolized by the new wine.

Spend time with Jesus and the first disciples. He prepares a stable, new future for you.

John 1:29–42

I welcome your response to these daily Firestarters and Bible readings 
by placing a like or comment beneath the posts. Thank you!

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example:

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year A, we generally read from the Gospel of St. Matthew.

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.

The Book of Exodus is called Shemoth In Hebrew, meaning “The Names,” due to the Twelve Tribes, which link the history of the book of Genesis with the beginning of Exodus. Continuity was broken; there arose a king of Egypt who did not know Joseph.

The mounting slavery of the Hebrews is bitter. God raises up a new leader for new circumstances—Moses. He is saved at birth from an evil king, as was Jesus.

Moses’ name means “The One drawn from water.” He would be the one to lead God’s people through water, prefiguring the One who came from the water of Mary’s womb, the waters of the Jordan, and who let flow the saving water and blood from his open side. Spend time praising God for the wondrous intervention God makes in history.

I welcome your response to these daily Firestarters and Bible readings 
by placing a like or comment beneath the posts. Thank you!

Exodus 1—2

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Shemoth (Names)
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Exodus 1:1—6:1

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: When I’m down, You lift me up 1:12

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