Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

Saul’s jealousy mounts to blind fury as he recklessly seeks to kill David. How similar it would in for the blind pride and jealousy of the Pharisees seeking to kill Jesus, son of David, a thousand years later!

In David’s desperate need for food, he partakes of the Bread of the Presence. The three synoptic evangelists tell of Jesus’ reference to this incident as an example of how sacred regulations yield to human need (Mt 12:3,4; Mk 2:25,26; Lk 6:3,4). Though David flees from Saul, David is ever in the Lord’s presence.

Amid the tide of Saul’s hatred, which mounts to a massacre of priests, there flows the sweetness of profound friendship between Jonathan and David. Cherish such gifts of friendship in your life. Covenant with such a friend to share the daily scriptures—a spiritual accountability that will give energy for you to walk always in God’s presence.

1 Samuel 20—22

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: The Lord between you and me 20:42

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

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

There need be no fear as you read these chapters, referred to as “Isaiah’s Apocalypse.” It is not “Apocalypse Now,” but “Apocalypse When.” In figurative, rather than literal language, Isaiah prophesies that God will come against unrepented evil.

But for now, God’s mercy is in full measure. God wants you to put an end to unrepented sin in your life, lest such sin put an end to you!

Isaiah wants the power of the images to make deep impressions upon you. There can be much denial in how sin gets to us. Isaiah’s poetry can loosen the hold that any sin has upon you. Do not get stuck in guilt; guilt is a gridlock that freezes movement into the eternal life that can be yours now.

The chapter sounds like the reversal of the power of God in the creation account in Genesis. The truth is that unrelenting, unrepented sin destroys the beauty of God’s creation. However, there is still time! Be loosened by the sweet joy of repentance.

Isaiah 24

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Isaiah 13 – 27; Lamentations 1 and 2 in the Ninth Week.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Praising You for rising sun v. 15

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.

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

The gruesome death of John the Baptist urges Jesus to seek solitude. However, crowds track Jesus down, interrupting the gift of spending time alone. Compassion for the crowd shifts Jesus’ awareness from grief over the death of his beloved cousin. The multiplied loaves and fish prefigure another miracle related to his own death—Holy Communion.

The miracle of the loaves and fish does not occur without the cooperation of the disciples: “You feed them,” commands Jesus.

Do the needs of others—and sometimes their unreasonable claims upon you—seem so hard to juggle? Slow things up, through prayer and contemplation. Spend time alone with your Lord; God will teach you how to have your few gifts pass through the Lord’s hands into yours for multiplied cycles of flight to heaven.

Matthew 14:13–21

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: “You give them something to eat.” v. 16

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of 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.