Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Isaiah 59:1-8.

[From the original version]

 Are you tempted to give up on God, saying to yourself: “He just doesn’t hear me?” Take the first verse to heart. Repeat it often until the power of its truth loosens comfort and joy within you.

Someone once said; “If God seems far away, guess who moved?” Verse 2 echoes this truth. Isaiah provokes and incites with his images, confronting us with the full awareness that sinful behavior places barriers that separate us from the Lord. Each of us is responsible for this separation.

Habits that break communion with the Lord tend to progress into circles that become more and more vicious. Isolation is the outcome. This Advent prophet will shake your foundations until you are resting only in the Lord Jesus who is about to come.

Isaiah 59:1–15a
Example: Your hand reaching out for me v. 1

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the seasons of Advent through Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 56 to 66.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Removing the blocks for peace v. 2

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.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit … v. 41 

Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and the Gospel.

[From the original version of the book]

 A masterpiece of the great sixteenth century artist, Michelangelo, stretches across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. At the center, God and Adam lovingly and longingly stretch out their hands and fingers to each other. The feeling of being freshly created is awesomely captured by the artist, as their fingers are separate, yet connected. In a similar sense is the visit with Mary and Elizabeth. John in his mother’s womb leaps for joy in the presence of Jesus, the new Adam inside Mary.

Clear away the debris in your heart that clutters the space between your heart and the heart of God in Christ. Then you will leap for joy at the desperate nearness of your Savior who is re-creating you right now.

Luke 1:39-55

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: My soul magnifies the Lord. v. 47

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 Genesis 39.

[From the original version]

The prophet Daniel and the patriarch Joseph have similar histories. Both find favor in hostile, foreign lands. Despite the intents of the enemies of Joseph—his own brothers and the wife of Joseph’s master—the Lord is with him. There will always be persons of support in our lives when we surrender our cares totally to God as did Daniel and Joseph.

Jealousy and lust both grow as vicious cancers. Absolute repentance and personal responsibility will send these cancers into remission.

Listen to the story about the beauty of holiness and the single heart of Joseph. As a perfectly clear telescope that reaches into the heavens, so does the lens of his heart open to spiritual knowledge. Does the lens of your heart need cleansing?

Genesis 39—40

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Vayeshev (And He Settled)
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.
Genesis 37:1—40:23

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: You’re with me in all I do 39:3

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