Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Jeremiah 50:17-20.

Throughout these judgments against the nations, the word against is used to describe the posture of these nations toward the Lord. The vivid descriptions of their downfall are all consequences of being against God.

Pride is sinful because it sets the self in opposition to God as though on an equal plane. Contests of power occur between the ego of the person, group, or nation. All of these are variations on the theme of the rebellion of the opposing angels, which has unleashed the cancer of pride into the earth and the human family.

Each verse flows over you, burning away anything in you as those arrogant nations, until you are totally limp and disposed for true spontaneity in the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s plan is to preserve and pardon you.

Jeremiah 49—50

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Lent this year we read Jeremiah 36-52.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Boasting only in Your strength 49:4

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 the reading.

 We often find a way of expressing the quality of a spiritual experience through the sense of smell. “I don’t like the smell of this,” refers to some negatives discerned in a situation.

Two spiritual odors rise up in the incident of the supper with Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus whom Jesus brought back to life. There is the aroma of extravagant love in the costly oil of spikenard; there is the spiritual stench of death in Judas’s greed, exploitation of the poor, and in the plot to kill Jesus. Yet the sweet smell of life and love fills the house, overpowering the stifling, musty smell of hatred and death.

Are you ready to be Mary, pouring out your life in loving service for others? Overpower the negative odors that seek to pollute the otherwise sweet fragrance of your own goodness—gift of the Holy Spirit.

John 12:1–8

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Fragrance of love, filling space v. 3

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.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Leviticus 5:17-19.

We long to be reconciled to God. The sacrifice and burning of various animals correspond to various kinds of sin; this is the Bible’s way of calling the people to repent from sin without further consequences. They were the acts of contrition whereby one could turn from sin and live again in communion with God and God’s people. Fire made the burnt offering become a sweet smelling smoke ascending into the air, blending with the presence of God all about.

Face your sin. Confess it. In so doing, you celebrate the gratuitous fact that God has already forgiven you in Jesus. When you repent, the Lord burns your sins away with his love, for he has gathered all sin into himself. The blood of Christ shed for you, turns sorrow for sin into a sweet smelling smoke rising from the cross.

Leviticus 4:27—5:26

This is the second of three parts
of the Torah Portion Vayikra (And He Called)
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.
Leviticus 1:1—5:19

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Sin burned away by Your love

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