Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Ezekiel 26:7-14.

As though encircling a trapped animal, six countries surround and menace God’s people. They are the objects of the Lord’s indignation in Ezekiel chapters 25 to 32, the readings for the rest of these weeks of the Easter Season. Phoenicia, with its capital of Tyre, borders God’s people on the northwest on the coast of the Mediterranean; Ammon, Moab and Edom lie on the east and south, Philistia on the west, and Egypt on the southwest.

The previous chapters were confrontations with God’s people. They were unfaithful to God through contamination with others’ gods. Now Ezekiel confronts these nations directly for their arrogance not only against God’s people, but also against God.

Those who despise the Lord or who simply patronize God, will be at the mercy of all the powers of darkness for destruction. Do not lose the cover of God’s protection on your life. Be faithful to God alone.

Ezekiel 25—26

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the Season of Easter this year we read Ezekiel 17-32.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Prayers for those who are bullied
Praying for those who bully

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 Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

The most beloved image of Jesus is the Good Shepherd. As though recalling Psalm 23, Christians etched these pictures of Jesus in the “dark valleys” of the catacombs of Rome where they hid from persecutions. From a very early tradition as well, comes the center-piece of the Easter Season, “Good Shepherd Sunday.”

Your Good Shepherd laid down his life for you and took it up again, to share it with you. He knows you by name; you are one of his beloved sheep. Do you believe this? Do you know the sweet sound of your name said with love and forgiveness? You and I know the abrasive noises of the present and the echoes of the past that poke at the heart with guilt and shame. I am sure you have many “Romans” who want to persecute you! Look at the Good Shepherd etched into your heart of flesh and rejoice.

John 10:11–18

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: You calling me by my name v. 4

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.

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 Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Leviticus 14:33-42.

Leprosy was not only diagnosed of people, but of places as well. As a modern pest or termite inspector, so the priest would come in to evaluate a house to see if leprosy was in the walls.

In the Spirit, we have been given the gift of discernment, which allows us to be as the priest in this passage. Through the Spirit, we can tell the spiritual atmosphere of a place—either the joyful spirit of holiness or the leprosy of strife.

Yet even more important than the physical house, is the house of the body in which you dwell. How is it? Do you allow feelings, resentments, fears etc. to eat away at this house which is you? Do you need an exterminator? Ask the Holy Spirit to drive far from you all the deceits and wiles of the Evil One, so that in your inner house, the Trinity may dwell with you and make you whole.

Leviticus 14:33–57

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Metzora (Afflicted) 
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.

Leviticus 14:1—15:33

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Holiness within my soul

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