Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Isaiah 32:1-8..

Isaiah is like a great symphony. There are majestic tones of glory and promise of messianic deliverance, as well as somber ones of judgment and call to repentance. Both of these contrast with each other in this chapter. A glorious expansion of the heart comes with the assurance of the reign of peace and justice; then there come strong admonitions to the complacent. Notice the future tense used—what God is going to do in Jesus. Isaiah speaks the words of promise; there are only two months until Advent.

These two themes in counterpoint remind me of a phrase I once heard about the prophets: “They came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.”

Appreciate vv. 16–18. Dwellings will be secure—very close to the promise of Jesus in John’s Gospel to those who keep the Word: “We [the Father and Jesus] will come to him and make Our home with him” (14:23).

Isaiah 32

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Isaiah 28-39.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: You, a stream in the desert 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.

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

One act of surrender to Jesus is worth more than a million words of promise. Think of the “Good Thief” on the cross. His act of love for Jesus and repentance of sinfulness won him full entry into paradise in the final moment of his life. All the Jewish leaders were restless with preparing other paschal lambs for Passover, blind to the power of the Paschal Lamb whose saving blood was already flowing from the cross.

What decisions do you make that reveal whether you are spending your life for the One who spent his life for you? It is not what you say, but what you do that defines surrender. Is what you do in life tending to have you cling to the cross—or are you sometimes far away from it, busy about other kingdoms?

Matthew 21:23–32

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Your life for me, mine for You

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of Matthew.

Listen to Nick share the Alphabyte for this week: “Rainbow”

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 Nick read the Firestarter and the beginning of the reading.

Controversy heightens between Jesus and his adversaries. The Lord confronts the arrogant religious leaders who have wasted Jesus’s time by trying to trip him up. Gone forever are what could have been precious moments of simply sitting at his feet, drinking in the wisdom of his teaching and the healing of his touch.

Three Sundays in October are devoted to sections of this chapter. Let today be a preview of what is coming, allowing yourself to get a sense of the whole chapter.

Do you fight what the Lord wants to do in your life? Do you find yourself arguing with God? Instead of complaining about what is happening to you, listen closely to the inner meaning of what is taking place. Seek the Lord’s wise and tender voice in the midst of the chaos of your own compulsions.

Matthew 22

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Loving You, heart, soul and mind v. 37

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Matthew 19 to 28.

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.