Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Isaiah 50:4-11.

You will think of Jesus in some of the verses in this reading, just as do Matthew and Luke in their Gospels. Again, make this Servant Song personal.

There is an image that Isaiah uses related to the basic image of these reflections—Firestarters. In verses 10 and 11, he describes what happens when people walk with their own fire and sparks, instead of being led by the light of the Lord. When one relies upon one’s light alone, the walking will be around in circles with a frustration resulting in one “lying down in torment.”

The fire that I want started for you in these introductions is the Lord’s own light and fire. While there is a cycle at work in these readings, when the Lord leads the way, it is a spiral. The movement of these readings in their special weekly cycle is designed to move your life forward with the light of the Lord leading the way and God’s fire igniting your heart.

Isaiah 50—51

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the Winder Season of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 40 – 55.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Led by the light of Your fire v. 11

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 and the reading.

While the Gospels are very different from what we know as biography, we catch a glimpse of a typical day in the life of Jesus in Galilee. The Jewish day begins at sunset. An entire city with its sick of soul and body presses at the door where Jesus is. As the sand of an hourglass waiting its turn to pass through the tiny opening of the now in the course of an hour, so does each person wait until Jesus lays his hands upon them to receive the healing and joy that only Jesus can give.

Among the precious hours in the days of Jesus are those alone with his Father. While the city sleeps in peace after the healings, Jesus quietly makes his way to a dark and quiet place for prayer. Soaked in this darkness, Jesus who is the light refreshes himself, gathering the energy for the travels to the next towns where the cycle of healing begins again. As a disciple of Jesus, are not these cycles of prayer and healing meant to be relived in our own flesh?

Mark 1:29–39

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Finding the night for praying v. 35

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Winter Season of Advent to Epiphany this year, we read the Gospel of Mark, chapters 1-2.

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 and Exodus 22:25-28.

There is a saying in recovery groups: “Principles, Not Personalities.” The Lord puts forth principles for right and holy living. The first verse of today’s reading has the Lord give us a sobering principle through Moses: “Do not curse a ruler of your people.” Complaining about those who hold public office is a form of curse, since what is needed is prayer for the leader, not complaints. Your prayer will be a blessing upon the person; your complaining, a kind of curse. There is a sense in which we are doing one or the other—blessing or cursing; praying or complaining. Anger is to be directed to the building up of good principles, not the tearing down of personalities.

Next, there are regulations designed to keep the passions for greed and competition in check. The passage then contains the basic prescription for keeping the Sabbath and the three major pilgrim feasts. All of this comes directly from the Lord.

Exodus 22:25—23:19

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Mishpatim (Laws)
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 21:1—24:18

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Praying for those in office.

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