The Persian King, Cyrus, conquered Babylonia, the country that had taken God’s people captive and led them into exile.  God is about to do something wonderful through this foreign king who didn’t even know the God of Israel. Because Cyrus had pity on God’s people who desperately wanted to return to their homeland and to rebuild their temple, Cyrus gave orders that this happen. The Book of Ezra tells all about this. 

   Just imagine: a people who had been away from their homeland for about seventy years, are going to go home!  When we sense the feelings that they must have had, we begin to appreciate the freedom we have to live in our homeland, and to worship God as God wants us to.  May we never take these freedoms for granted, and always be thankful that we are able to pray and worship God as we have been created to do.

Ezra 1

Example of a Bible Breath Learn More…
“My inner house for the Lord”

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.

All around God’s sacred land were nations who refused to worship the God of Israel. They were so proud that they often mocked God thinking that they were better than God.

In this part of the book of Ezekiel, the prophet has some strong words from God toward these neighboring countries.  He tells how angry God becomes when innocent people are mistreated.  

I think of a group of mothers who got very angry about how people who drive while drunk were killing their children.  They formed a group called Mothers Against Drunk Drivers—MADD.  You know something? There are more people alive today because those mothers got angry and did something positive with their emotions.  Now there are stricter laws when someone is caught drunk driving.  Sometimes we need some of God’s anger to work for justice and fairness that God wants for God’s children.

Think about the times when you are angry.  Are you angry when it’s just about YOU, or are you angry sometimes for the reasons that God is angry in today’s reading? This Godly anger.

Ezekiel 25:1-7

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
“Yielding to my God is peace.”

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.

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.

Like the centerpiece at your dining room table, so is this picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Today is the center-Sunday of the Easter Season.

Jesus as the Good Shepherd was one of the very first images that early Christians used to express the comfort and protection they found in their Risen Lord.  Drawings of the Good Shepherd are found on the walls of the Catacombs, ancient underground cemeteries in the city of Rome. We pray in Psalm 23, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I feel no evil, for you are with me.” Christians who died for their faith were buried there.  They are called martyrs. 

Many countries search out Christians to do them harm, just because they are preaching about Jesus’s love and forgiveness.  Sometimes these persons are killed for their faith. Whenever we experience anything mean, we can always turn to Jesus, our Good Shepherd who will lead us to spiritual places of peace, even in the midst of pain.

John 10:11-18 

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
“My shepherd is the Lord God.”

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary
During the Easter Season, are read from the Gospel of John.

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.