Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and selected verses from Proverbs 19.

Give yourself time to become quiet. Be aware of your breathing slowing down. Watch the movement of your breaths. Proverbs are the flow of the breath, with exhales and inhales. Meditate on the first line of each proverb as you breathe in, the second part as you breathe out. The satisfaction one feels when breathing deeply and completely finds its counterpart in the completeness of each proverb.

Verse 2 catches the essence of this, noting the danger of hastiness with one’s feet, before one has knowledge. Wisdom is an inner spiritual knowledge that takes time to receive. Do not be rushed when you read Proverbs. Go slowly. You will be richly rewarded.

Proverbs 19

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Overlooking all offense v. 11

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the Easter Season this year we read Proverbs 17 – 19 and Ezra.

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 Ezekiel 24:15-27.

Ezekiel confronts the people with three powerful symbols, convicting them with their chronic unfaithfulness to God. First, Samaria and Jerusalem are harlots. They prostitute themselves in alliances with foreign nations, placing trust in them, instead of in the Lord. Second, there is a filthy pot. Just as we clean a modern oven by emptying it and turning up the heat, so the pot, which is Jerusalem, is to be emptied and burned in exile, so that the city becomes clean again for the Lord. Third, Ezekiel’s wife dies and God forbids him to mourn her. So too are the people forbidden to mourn for the Temple which will be destroyed in the near future.

How do you relate to these symbols? Let the fire of the Holy Spirit cleanse the “pot” which is your life so that you can be whole and pure in the Lord’s sight.

Ezekiel 23—24

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: Purify my heart, O Lord.

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.

Jesus appears to the frightened disciples. There is a tone of delight as Jesus gently releases them from their fears. The first signs of Jesus’s presence are not enough to shake them loose from their embedded fears. They think he is a ghost.

However, ghosts do not eat. The disciples recognize Jesus when he eats some fish and honeycomb. Then they recognize the Lord, just as did the Emmaus disciples when Jesus broke bread and gave them to eat. There is honeycomb; Jesus’s presence is sweet.

Jesus opens the Scriptures for them just as he had done for the two at Emmaus. I pray that the Spirit of Jesus will open the Scriptures every day for you. May you find the presence of Jesus soaking Genesis to Revelation, transforming your fears by the overwhelming presence of your Lord who is ever with you.

Luke 24:36b–48

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Touching the body of Christ v. 39

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.