Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

A Maltese dog used to be part of our household. At mealtime, he would sit with eyes focused upon me, waiting for the moment when a few morsels were tossed his way—eyes glued to mine. His whole being was nothing but watching and waiting.

The Lord uses similar images to call us to watch and wait for God’s nourishing word. More than scraps from the table, Jesus longs to give you his very life. This is the only absolute value, one that needs selling and letting go of everything else.

The element of surprise is imaged in the thief coming when least expected. The only alternative is to expect the Lord all the time. Now is the time when the Lord wants to touch you with the treasure of his presence.

Luke 12:32–40

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Where my treasure, there my heart v. 34

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 7:7-11.

A spotlight reveals only what is before it; everything else is cast into darkness. So is God’s love for his people. It is a love of great tenderness and preference. For some reason known only to God, this saving love focused as a spotlight upon this little, insignificant people; all other nations were outside in the darkness.

The ultimate plan of God is to create a new people, born from the open side of his only Son, for whom God has a love of tenderness and preference. The Son’s embrace on the cross is worldwide. No one from any nation, people, or race is excluded from this embrace. In Jesus, God has a preferential love for everyone.

God has simply decided to love you. Nothing you do can change that. Only live in the spotlight of God’s love shining from the cross.

Deuteronomy 7:1–11

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Vaethanan (I Implored) 
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 3:23—7:11

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: I, Your treasured possession v. 6

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 16:19-31.

The root meaning of the Greek word, bdelugma, is often translated as “abomination,” means “a foul thing.” Thus, verse 15 could be rendered, “What society finds valuable is a stench to God!”

The parables of “The Unjust Steward” and “Dives and Lazarus” form bookends for verse 15, along with a few other teachings of the Lord that we often disregard. The stories have to do with covetousness in two forms— greed and lust, the latter being the underlying point of the prohibition against divorce.

Where do you find yourself as you pray these stories and teachings? It is about setting the Lord’s priorities in our lives. Spend time today being honest with yourself. Is there preoccupation with riches that is turning your life from being a sweet smelling fragrance into something that just doesn’t smell good to God?

Luke 16

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Lord, You know what’s in my heart. v. 15

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.