As though with a magnifying glass, look more closely at the Eight Beatitudes. The first one from the New English Bible exposes the essence of what it means to be “poor in spirit.” “Blessed are those who know their need of God.” Poor indeed! The only source of our coming into existence is God.

Have you ever wondered why you came forth from your mother’s womb on the day of your birth, and why it was not someone else? It is a fact of God’s loving favor toward you that God decided some time ago to allow the idea of you take flesh at your conception. You need God alone for that fact. You need God alone for every breath, from the first gasp of air at birth, to the final sigh surrendering you in death.

If you truly live by the First Beatitude, the Kingdom of Heaven will be yours, not only after your final breath, but also in all the breaths, from the first to the last.

Matthew 5:1–12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Blest those who thirst for justice. v. 6

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

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.

If Jesus were to give an inaugural address for his ministry, the Sermon on the Mount would be it. The message is for the disciples alone; the multitude far below is not ready for these words.

Matthew sees Jesus as the New Moses. He wants us to be aware of the lines of connection between the Mount of the Beatitudes and Mount Sinai. On Sinai God spoke face to face with Moses when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments; here God in Christ speaks face to face with the disciples. He invites you to be there and listen to the wondrous new ways of walking in the freedom of God’s kingdom in the intimate, face-to-face union with Jesus.

Jesus invites you to be his closest disciple. Will you let the Sermon on the Mount lift you to new heights of your awareness of self, so very close to God?

Matthew 5:1–20

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: The meek inherit the earth. v. 5

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 7.

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.

If outrage at evil drives the verses of yesterday’s psalm, today’s chapter has the sweet movement of gentleness, love, and peace—three of the nine fruits of the Spirit we considered last Thursday. We learn today how real situations evidence these fruits. We are encouraged to be compassionate instead of judgmental when sin besets someone. As for any fruit, the fruits of the Spirit appear and ripen on the tree of your life by what you do. Verse 8 clearly uplifts this principle.

This glorious letter has so many verses you will want to write down and commit to memory. With these words sown as seed, how can your life not bear the fruits of the Spirit in your soul?

Galatians 6

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Not by flesh, but by Spirit v. 16

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Titus, Philemon, Galatians and Philippians.

For all the Firestarters in the original version, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these Firestarters with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.