From the outer fringes of creation and the place where the sun rises, searching wise men, the magi, “The Three Kings” yield to the gentle tug of a star. They arrive at the center of the earth, Jerusalem. There another king sits in luxury, complacency, and arrogance, surrounded by the Scriptures and those who supposedly know how to interpret them. And there is the infant king in Bethlehem—a mere five miles to the south.

Sense the irony, the contrasts, the evil, as well as the protection God gives to those who truly seek. In place of joy at the news that Jesus is born, fear grips Herod and his sickly entourage of pseudo wise men—the chief priests and scribes. Silently, prayerfully move with the magi, loosened from being held hostage by anyone or anything that is not the wondrous God who makes all things new.

Matthew 2:1–12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Joy in reaching Your presence. v. 10

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

Happy New Year!

God addresses Pharaoh through the mouth of Moses. However great is the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart, even stronger are the consequences of his stubbornness. Plague upon plague comes against Pharaoh and the Egyptians—five of them in this year’s reading.

The Bible’s way of stating that God is in command at every moment is to have God be the one who sends the plagues. Actually, when we do anything outside of the Lord’s will, the results will be something like the plagues. Because of Jesus, we know that God is not out to punish, but to save. The Lord is actively present in the afflictions and hardships of life, manifesting divine power to deliver us precisely through the pain that urges us to drop to our knees, not in defeat, but in worship. Pray until you find the blessing embedded in the pain.

Exodus 8:16—9:35

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Examples:

Soften my heart with Your love. 8:19

Clearing a space for worship 8:27

What God wills, coming to be

Blessings embedded in pain

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

Advent began with Zechariah in the Temple when Gabriel announced to him the conception of John the Baptist. Once again we are in the Temple with another aged man and woman who have been waiting and praying for salvation for God’s people—Simeon and Anna. Mary and Joseph arrive to fulfill the requirements of the law, yet the Holy Spirit does the filling; three times the Spirit is referenced in verses 25 to 27.

Even as Zechariah’s hymn, the Benedictus has been the centuries-old conclusion to the Church’s Morning Prayer, so is Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis the Church’s Night Prayer. It is a brief hymn, easy to memorize, so appropriate to pray as each day closes, especially this week after Christmas and the Epiphany season coming.

As Simeon, take the Child into your arms and ask the Spirit to tell you how the salvation of the Lord was at work for you this day.

Luke 2:21–40

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Examples:

Now Master, your servant—peace v. 29

Eyes seeing Your salvation v. 30

Sword piercing inmost being v. 35

Being filled with Your wisdom v. 40

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.