Anointing and the Cross

The passage begins with the ritual of priestly ordination of Aaron and his sons. The blood of the ram is applied to the ear, thumb, and toe, organs of receptivity and action. The anointing reminded the priests to hear only the Word of God, to do only what the Lord wants, to go only where the Lord leads.

From the earliest times in the church, symbolic gestures came to be incorporated into the prayer of Christians, such as making the sign of the cross. There developed a variation by making three crosses with the thumb on the forehead, the lips and chest. “Christ in my mind, in my mouth and in my heart.”

The origin of morning and evening prayer is outlined from 29:38. God longs to dwell with you always.

Exodus 29:19—30:10

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Tetzaveh (And You Shall Command) 
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Exodus. 27:20—30:10

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Christ in mind, in mouth and heart.

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

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

The Power and the Presence

Up to this point in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus alone demonstrates the power of the Kingdom over demons and diseases. Now this power passes into the hearts and hands of the Twelve Apostles. They have left all to follow Jesus. They have nothing, yet possess everything. These powerless ones by the world’s standards begin to share all the power of the creating and saving God present in their Master.

They move outward from the center, bringing the presence of the One whom they love. As the hands of a clock that radiate outward and fill the twelve hours of the day, so these twelve fill their world with the presence and power of Jesus.

This same presence and power is ready to move further into you. Are you ready for your gifts to multiply just as the loaves and fishes?

Luke 9:1–17

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Nothing but my trust in You.

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.
The extra week added this year comes from the First Week in Pentecost.

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.

Trivial or Edifying Pursuits?

Beneath the issues this letter addresses to a church of a particular time and place, an atmosphere flows into our own day. The words breathe the air of that peace which comes when a person’s life is centered upon the Lord. All pursuits are trivial if they lack the energy that comes from total immersion into Jesus.

Catch the joy of Paul as he offers words of encouragement to Timothy and to us. Feel yourself released from the tense bonds of disputes that often go nowhere but into greater triviality.

Make an inventory of your pursuits, ranking them according to whether they are trivial or edifying. Place everything you do into the hands of the Lord, asking Jesus to give you back only those pursuits that build up Christ’s sacred body.

1 Timothy 1—2

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Love coming from a pure heart 1:5

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
For this week we have drawn from the First Week in Pentecost due to an Easter 
one week later than its mid-range dates, April 10 – 16.

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.