Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Exodus 23:20-26.

A phone call came from our daughter one day in 1993, with fears that she had just miscarried twins. My wife and I prayed, turning to a Bible calendar for that particular day which had verse 26 from today’s reading. “You shall serve the Lord your God, and I will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. No one shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days..” We claimed this promise. The crisis passed. Beautiful twin girls were born a few months later. We rejoiced in the fidelity of the Lord.

The reading continues in verse 27 stating that terror from the Lord will go before the people, driving back the enemies coming against God’s beloved. So it is with us. Those who resist the love of God coming inside them will find the power of God against them.

St. John affirms: “Perfect loves casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Those who cast out the Lord are the ones who need to be afraid!

Exodus 23:20—24:18

This is the third 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: “I will take sickness away.” v. 25

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

Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Luke 8:1-15.

 This half chapter is neatly divided into five sections. Spread them through the hours of the day. Stay with what the Scriptures say about Mary Magdalene, resisting popular traditions about her as a prostitute. She was a demon-possessed person, as were others in the Gospel. Gratitude for her deliverance plummeted her into a profound devotion to Jesus, right up to the tomb, the morning of the resurrection, as recalled in John 20.

Your life is the field of “The Parable of the Sower.” What kind of soil is your soul? Learn about what it takes to become part of the family of God, and about the faith that we need when the storms of life tempt us to plummet into despair, instead of into devotion.

Luke 8:1–25

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Cleanse my ears so I can hear. v. 8

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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 2 Peter 2:1-10.

Passionate pleas of Peter fill this chapter. There are strong words of warning to those who have come to know the Lord, yet are subject to the arrogance and lawlessness of the proud. Pride pits itself against the Lord. It seeks to soak others with its poison, dragging its victims away from the truth. We are reminded of what happened to the fallen angels.

Watch the company you keep. While not being tempted to deny faith outright, reflect upon how media producers work us over—those whose values and motives hardly come from a devotional attachment to the Word of Life.

Is there anything or anyone undermining your faith?

2 Peter 2

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
A Sample from today’s reading:
The pure milk of the Scripture v. 2

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent through Epiphany this year,
we read the letters of Peter.

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.