Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Exodus 7:8-24.

The first two plagues come upon the land of Egypt in response to Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Hebrews go. Each of these actions of God is designed to address the various Egyptian gods and to show that they are powerless in the presence of the great I AM. All throughout these moves of God against Pharaoh, God is the one who is really in charge.

When you and I resist doing what the Lord wants of us, the consequences will be a kind of plague. While these may not seem as dramatic as the ones in the Book of Exodus, still many evils can come against you with more effect when you lose the protection of the Lord by resisting God’s ways.

Recovering persons say, “Denial is not a river in Egypt!” You will be in denial as Pharaoh, if you expect to live a happy, free life without prayer and a deep desire to respond to who the Lord calls you to be.

Exodus 7:8—8:15

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Vaera (And I Appeared)
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 6:2—9:35

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: I AM living within me.

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 Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

 Mark tells how people “went out” to be baptized by John in the Jordan. This is the same word in Greek for the Exodus. Jesus is the one who is going to lead you up and out of waters drowning you. Spend time with John and Jesus by the banks of these waters of freedom.

The Gospel of Mark will be our companion for the Fridays of most of this year. I suggest you spend time with a Bible Dictionary and a commentary on this Gospel so that you will appreciate the power of Jesus portrayed by Mark. The more you learn, the more the Holy Spirit will find a mind and heart receptive to the presence of God.

Just as in the Exodus, this presence will go before you as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, splitting open the chaotic waters of your life!

Mark 1:1–8

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Baptized with th’Holy Spirit v. 8

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the Winter Season of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1-2; Mark 1-3

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 Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

Pray this passage, open to its simple, clear truth. As with darkness and light, here contrasts of death and life, love and hate are starkly set against each other so that John’s teaching will affect his listeners.

John does the same as Moses in Deuteronomy 30 when he placed life or death before the people. As Moses invited them to choose life so that they could live, John does the same. Choose light, love, and life instead of darkness, hatred, and death.

Which way will you go today—toward life, or toward death? Pause at various moments of transition in the day to monitor your choices. As an astronaut, perhaps you need “mid-course” correction!

1 John 3:10–24

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: From death to life through loving v. 14

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the Winter Season of Advent to Epiphany this year we read the Letters of John and Jude.

For all the Firestarters 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.