Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and the Gospel.

The early church found three Epiphanies of the Lord, contemplated this year on the first three Sundays of the New Year: The Magi, last week; The Baptism of the Lord, today; The Marriage Feast at Cana, next week.

In his baptism, Jesus begins the public ministry, taking on our sinful condition that needs to be washed clean. He descends into water as a sign of his death, rising and looking heavenward, in an anticipation of the resurrection.

Jesus takes us beyond water into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. As you pray this passage, surrender to the power of the Spirit to have you descend into the waters of your chaos, which threaten to drown you, and watch the waters become sacrament of resurrection for you. Look how God turns death-bound attacks against you into steppingstones toward life.

Luke 3:15–17; 21–22

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Baptized with Spirit and fire v. 16

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read from the Gospel of Luke.

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 Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Genesis 50:1-8.

The secret of Joseph’s success is his unwavering faith in the Lord. From the moment his brothers threw him into the ditch until his forgiveness of them in Egypt, Joseph knew that the God of justice and mercy would eventually bring goodness out of evil.

This is the faith that made the forgiveness of his brothers possible. He anticipated Paul in Roman 8:31 who rejoiced to write: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Such focus upon the Lord freed the heart of Joseph from nursing resentments. He was thus available to receive direct knowledge from the Lord through dream interpretations and in wisdom. He was put in charge of the affairs of the very country where he was a slave.

Repeat chapter 50, verse20 as you pray against the background of what may be tempting you to harbor anger. “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.”

Genesis 50

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Vayhi (And He Lived)
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.

Genesis 47:28—50:26

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
A sample from today’s reading:
You bringing good from evil v. 20

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

Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and the Gospel.

Since I was a child, a work of art has hung in my room by C. Bosseron Chambers entitled, “Christ at Five.” It depicts the boy Jesus seated on a little stool, playing with scraps of wood from Joseph’s shop. Two pieces fall together forming a cross. Jesus pauses in his play … gazes upward with a look of wonder with a touch of worry … hands quietly resting on his lap … the little cross at his feet—anticipation.

Gather your childhood into your lap. What do you recall then that was an anticipation, a glimpse, of what your future life would become? Is there something back then that was lost in the temple of your heart that you need to find again? Look heavenward to your Father who holds your future in his hands. Go to the inner temple where Christ teaches your soul, as he did in the Temple.

Luke 2:41–52

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Being in my Father’s house v. 49

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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.