Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Ruth 3:1-13.

A mother-in-law’s advice is followed: Ruth places herself at the feet of Boaz. Picture her there—vulnerable, chaste, respectful, trusting. A woman on the margin of Jewish life, because she is a foreigner, waits quietly before Boaz, hoping to see what will happen when love quickens in his heart. Consider how misunderstood she might be as Boaz awakes in the middle of the night to find her there.

“At the feet of love …” Play with this phrase in your heart as you pray, recalling Mary of Bethany in John’s Gospel and the unnamed woman in Luke, both of whom cast themselves before another’s feet—Jesus, Boaz’s descendant. You do the same before Jesus. Just as Boaz was Ruth’s only hope in life, so is Jesus before whom you are right now, the only one who can take you from whatever outcast state where you might find yourself, into the spousal love of Jesus who takes you to himself.

Ruth 3

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Trusting in Your faithful love

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Advent this year, we read the Book of Ruth.

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 Isaiah 58:6-9.

Prophecies that release new energies for worship and for lively contact with the Lord—this is the passion of Isaiah. Take a piece of paper, put a line down the middle, noting on the left those actions that delight the Lord, on the right side, those in which you alone take delight. Do you notice a difference? Pray against a spirit of religiosity; this would have acts of worship be apart from making justice and peace.

Be moved by the passionate concerns of the Lord, becoming one with the priorities of God. Catch the inner sense of the meaning of the word “delight,” used four times. Each of these verses has the power to make the rough places in your life smooth for the coming of the Lord.

Isaiah 58

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: Your glory surrounding me v. 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.

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

The original version

St. Luke is the evangelist that lets us listen in on the largest segment of John the Baptist’s preaching. John astounds whole crowds with ear-piercing calls to repentance. The opening verse of the reading hardly follows the principles of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People! John is not on a self-centered search for friends; he is out to win hearts for the Kingdom—your heart and mine.

Luke singles out three classes of people and specific changes needed for each: 1) people in general; 2) tax collectors; 3) soldiers. The essence comes down to sharing with those in need.

Place yourself among the crowd. Now is no different than then. This is no time to mince words. The Holy Spirit gets right to the point with you. Allow the Lord to burn away what is dead in you, so that what needs to come to life has inner space to grow.

Luke 3:7–18

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example Today may I bear good fruit. v. 9

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