When I was a boy I used to enjoy going lake fishing in Spring Lake, the name of a lovely lake and town on the New Jersey shore.  Perhaps you’ve liked this as much as I did, throwing a pebble into the lake and watching a ripple of water make a small circle, gradually expanding and widening as the energy of the pebble pushes water away.

The Acts of the Apostles tell of the rippling of the Good News spreading out in circles with Jerusalem as the center.  Today we read about what happened when the widening circle reached Macedonia in northern Greece.  

At the clear and gentle directions by the Holy Spirit, Paul and Silas have been moving from city to city throughout Asia Minor, in what is now Turkey.  They are now about to make a cross over into Europe. The Holy Spirit speaks to Paul through the dream of a man from Macedonia pleading for Paul to come to that place and share the Good News of Jesus. 

Acts 16:6-10

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:
“Where do I next bring Your love?”

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, 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.

Tap the image to open the YouTube video, “Meditation on Psalm 66.

Like the shouts of the people in yesterday’s reading, the sacred writer of this prayer is into shouting praises to God and inviting us to do the same.  He recalls the great events that brought God’s saving help to God’s people.  

In verse 13 there is a change to encourage us to make offerings to the Lord.  No longer do we bring burnt animals sacrificed on great altars. Rather then set fire to these animals, God prefers that our hearts be filled with love—on fire with love!  When we want to love and serve God, then other habits that do not help us to do this, can burn away as though in a fire.  Then we can burn on with the pure fire of God’s love.

Hang around a long time with the final verse till you feel the joy and comfort that the sacred writer feels and wants to share with you.

Psalm 66

Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:
“Shouting for joy in my heart” v. 1

We follow a reading of the Psalms in numerical order.

These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, 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.

Imagine you are at a baseball game.  It’s the bottom of the 9th inning and your team is losing by 3 runs.  There are two outs.  The batter hits a grand slam and the game is won.  Can you imagine the shouts and the cheers that break out?

Ezra says that something like this happened when the people saw their Temple beginning to be rebuilt.  After so many years of it destroyed and the people a captive in a foreign land, they finally are home and God’s house is being rebuilt. The sadness that they had before, suddenly changes to great expressions of joy by making all the sounds that human beings could ever make.

How important it is to find a place for God in life!  Beyond the physical temple or church building, God lives with those who love and want to serve God.  When you find friends who also desire to love and serve God the why I pray that you do, there will be great joy and happiness.  It will be like a Grand Slam when everyone runs to home plate . . . to be “at home” with God living with us!

Ezra 3:7-13

Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:
“Your graciousness, forever” v. 11

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, 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.