Law and grace, faith and works, human righteousness and Jesus’ justification: Paul holds these polar opposites before the face of the Roman recipients of this letter. He goes beneath the level of debate, linking the apparent newness of his teaching about the law of faith with the prototype of all faith—Abraham. Citing Genesis 15:6, Paul grounds his case upon the righteousness of Abraham in his faith.

May the energy of Paul’s teaching bring you beyond and beneath mental understanding of his thought, to a spiritual grasp of this teaching. It is not what you do that brings salvation, but rather your surrender by faith to the One who saved us through the blood of the cross.

Here is the essence of our joy—the gratuity of God’s grace.

Romans 3:21—4:25

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: You called me into being. 4:17

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

For all the Firestarters in the original version, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these Firestarters with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Tap on the image for a video meditation on Psalm 24.

The gates of heaven—picture them in your faith-filled imagination. The heaven you hope to enter after death has its gate here on earth.

Heaven can be now! Enter into that heavenly space at this moment. The Psalm does give you some prerequisites—“clean hands and a pure heart.” Come empty-handed and empty-hearted into the presence of the Lord who will fill your hands with spirit-riches, and your heart with spirit-love. Keep the focus upon the majesty of the Lord this Pentecost season.

Jesus’ hands and heart were opened for you on the cross and are open now as your resurrection-refuge in the Spirit. Be aware of the majesty of God today as you open the door of your heart to God.

Psalm 24

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: You coming into my heart v. 7

We continue to follow 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

If there were faces on clocks three millennia ago, countless would have been the turnings of their hands from one day to the next, from one year to the next without a clear word from the Lord God. Listen to the sounds of sadness of Hannah. Eli the priest thought she was drunk. Her grief contrasts with the joy of the outpoured Spirit at Pentecost. The disciples were also thought to have been drunk!

The Holy Spirit of God is about to move again. We begin with God’s unique intervention through Samuel. The story of the birth and dedication of this pure and gentle boy will be a joy for you. Watch for similarities with Jesus. Mary’s Magnificat that we sang six months ago in Advent, is the echo of one of its sources in the song of Hannah, mother of Samuel.

The purity and wickedness that are to come are set against each other in the opening chapters of this great book. Where do you find yourself in these contrasts?

1 Samuel 1—2

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Pouring out my soul to You 1:15

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Proverbs 13 and 14 and 1 Samuel.

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