No sooner is there joy in the beginnings of rebuilding the temple, when some jealous neighbors begin to make trouble.  They question whether there was an official decree allowing the reconstruction.  Thanks to King Darius, who came after his father, Cyrus, as King, they found the decree giving permission for the rebuilding of the temple, and King Darius made sure that it would continue.

Today’s reading introduces Ezra. It is many years after the completion of the temple, when the successor to King Darius, King Artaxerxes authorizes Ezra to come to Jerusalem and be the special priest to help the people understand God Word.  

I love verse 6, where we learn that the gracious hand of the Lord was upon Ezra.  Imagine how excited he must have been, to be the one to help God’s people fully return to God!  Is there anything better that you could do with your life than to help others find God? You will always have God’s loving and gracious hand upon your life.

 Ezra 7:6-10

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:
“Studying Your ways, O Lord”

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, 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.

One of the great rivers of the world is the Nile. From its very beginnings as the White Nile River flowing down from Lake Victoria in Uganda, to its mouth in the Mediterranean Sea, it is 4,184 miles long! Because of this long waterway, the land of Egypt is preserved from being a barren desert.  It has been said that Egypt is “The Gift of the Nile.”   Because Egypt failed to say that the Nile was the gift of God, Egypt would going to experience the sad result of its refusal to honor God.  Ezekiel tells about this in today’s reading.

Everything that you and I have comes from God and belongs to God.  When we take this for granted, or worse, ignore this wonderful fact of life, pride can stir within us too.  Consider for some time the way that you think about things such as your life, your future, the blessings that you have.  Do you give God the glory and thanks for your life?   Here is a phrase for you to repeat again and again in your mind as you breathe—three syllables as you inhale, three as you exhale, and the final syllable as you rest before your next breath:  “My life is a gift from God.

Ezekiel 29:1-9

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example:
“The whole earth belongs to You.”

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, 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.

Jesus is about to share all his love for us in allowing himself to die for us.  All the forces of meanness and evil are about to come upon Jesus.

When Jesus asks us to love as he loved, we can’t do this unless he gives us the power through the Holy Spirit.  And this is just what Jesus promises for us—that the Holy Spirit of love which has completely filled Jesus is now sharing all this love with us.  So many have loved so much like Jesus that they have died for others so that everyone might know how great is God’s love. 

The new way of loving that Jesus teaches us is also a new commandment.  All the individual laws that God made for God’s people are all gathered into this one final commandment of love.   When we live this commandment, we are friends of Jesus. What joy in this!  Think of it: God in Jesus calls us His very own friends!  Let this phrase stay with you today and always: “I live as a friend of God!”

John 15:9-17

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example:
“I live as a friend of God!”

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary
During the Easter Season, are read from the Gospel of John.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, 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.