Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

As you turn to the Word of the Lord today, are there worries buzzing around in your head right now? Perhaps they are variations of the plea someone blurted out from the crowd in the first verse of the reading: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” The response of the Lord is not for him only, but for you as well, as you find yourself hemmed in by the crowd of your own thoughts.

Perhaps your problem is the opposite of the foolish man in the parable—not having enough funds to pay into the large barn of debt that you may have. Whether you feel secure because you have plenty, or scared because you do not, the Lord invites you to be disposed to receive the greatest of riches, the grace of God. Are you preparing the barn of your soul for this?

Luke 12:13–21

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: My only treasure is You. v. 21

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read from the Gospel of St. Luke.

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 Deuteronomy 3:18-22.

At the age of 120, Moses is about to die. Listen to his final words to the people on the brink of the Promised Land. From the shores of the Red Sea, to the banks of the Jordan, God has been with his people. If God has been with them thus far, will God not be present in all the challenges to come?

There is an awesome silence as the people listen to Moses. After the reading, linger and listen in the silence of your own prayer to the support, encouragement and love that God gives you; the Spirit brings to your mind how the Lord has always been with you, no matter what. What about the struggles you are facing? The same power that raised Jesus from the dead has been given to you and will be at work for you today.

Deuteronomy 2:31—3:22

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Devarim (The Words) 
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. 
Deuteronomy 1:1—3:22

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: It is You who fights for me. 3:22

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

“The Return of the Prodigal Son” by James Tissot. 

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Luke 15:11-32.

Many years ago while on a thirty-day retreat of renewal, the Lord ministered to me in a special way while meditating on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I was sitting beside the exquisite Carrousel in Spokane, Washington, listening to old time favorites from the band organ. All of a sudden, I heard “Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon.” This had been our “family song” when I was a boy. Tears began to well up in my eyes in this instant connection to my past. I experienced the love of the Lord that was always with me, even when I had sometimes grabbed at the inheritance of grace in my life and squandered it.

The merry-go-round became a symbol for the party that the Father was throwing for me, as I, his prodigal son, returned. The music distracted me from the pitfall of guilt and I wept in healing. May the Parable do something similar for you.

Luke 15

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Joy when a sinner repents v. 10

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Luke 9—19:27.

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.