Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Luke 1:46-55.

Just as darkness and light are set against each other in this season, so the high and glorious words of Angel Gabriel contrast with the humble, receptive, gentle words of Mary. She makes her decision: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!” God takes flesh in her womb because of her “Yes.”

Mary and Elizabeth meet, as well as the children in their wombs. Mary combines humility with exaltation in her song, the Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord.”

A magnifying glass makes bigger what you see through it. Mary makes God larger to Elizabeth and to us. How can you ready yourself so that when others look at you, they see Christ within and beyond you, made larger, greater, and clearer?

Luke 1:26–56

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: My soul magnifies the Lord v. 47

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.

Points of light spring up all over the land as the darkness of night invades late afternoon. Are there brands of darkness that seek to move in upon the light-center of your life?

As you look at areas in your life where light needs to shine, listen to John remind you that obedience to the Lord is essential for light to fill you. Otherwise, arrogance, error, and hatred—as so much darkness, will try to overtake you.

Hatred is darkness; love is light. Are there pockets of dark resentments in your life? The verses of John’s letter will be as a string of lights to adorn the house of your heart. Write. The lines in your journal will continue the points of lights that the Spirit is offering to you.

1 John 2:1–11

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Loving is living in light v. 10

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.

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the Psalm, vv. 1-9.

For a video meditation on today’s Psalm created three years ago, Tap here.

This psalm breathes the wisdom of proverbs. Originally, a sweet musical accompaniment softened the hearts of the first listeners to receive these truths. For you as well: let the Holy Spirit fill the silence that weaves itself between the verses, serenading you with a holy inner music that eases the pure teaching of this psalm into your own spirit.

Verse 15 is one of those special places that uplift Jewish belief in the resurrection. God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Give thanks to the Lord for the gift of faith that you have, to affirm as true, that which escapes the five senses. Ask the Lord to let you see the essentials in your life beyond the senses, into the perspective of eternity.

What are the areas of your life that you still resist giving over to the Lord? Are there temporal, passing conditions that you have allowed to take away your peace? This psalm will draw you more and more into the serenity of a quiet, winter night in Advent. 

Psalm 49

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: My gift of life is priceless v. 7

We continue to follow the Psalms in numerical order.

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