Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

Parts of words have fire in them. The key to today’s reading comes from the word “forgive.” The word has the root, “give” and the prefix, “for.” The prefix comes from the Latin foris meaning “outside.” Those who speak Spanish will recognize the word fuera, which has the same meaning.

What does “forgive,” mean? Simply this. Take the feelings of pain, resentment, frustration, sadness, fear, etc., which are associated with what someone did to you, and “give them outside yourself.” This is a slightly more complicated way of saying, “Let go.” It means that I will no longer allow the other to have power over me by the resentment that lingers all too long in my heart. In this sense, forgiveness has nothing to do with whether the other has apologized or not; that too makes my serenity depend upon the other. Forgiveness is up to you, prompted by the grace of God.

Matthew 18:21–35

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Letting go and letting God

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Matthew 8 to 18.

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.

This is the close to what is acclaimed as the greatest treatise on Christianity in the New Testament. You are reading what moved the “greats”—Martin Luther and John Wesley, just to name a few.

Most of the passage is Paul’s commendation to those especially endeared to him. The woman’s name, Phoebe, in verse 1, means “The Radiant One.” By the way in which you are, you radiate or obscure the goodness and acceptance of God through yourself to others. Your radiance of God’s unfailing love is what people need to find the peace for which they long. Recall verse 5 from Psalm 34 of yesterday.

The center of the chapter contains Paul’s final appeal to unity. When you discuss issues, beware of selfinterest, which fosters division.

As you see the setting sun on the day and the season, lift your voice in prayer and praise of God in the final verse of this great letter.

Romans 16

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Sending out kisses of peace v. 16

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

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.

Tap on the image for a video meditation on Psalm 34.

Here is another Psalm among David’s “alphabytes.” Each of the twenty-two verses begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. What is more, we could single out every one of these verses as the verse for the day. Your spiritual “metal detector” will find gold in every one. The one selected here is the verse I often find on my lips as I seek to bring comfort to those in great suffering.

This is the psalm most often quoted in the New Testament. A familiarity with it over this center day of the last week of the season will show you why. It takes its place along with Isaiah, Paul, and Matthew, who are especially uplifting to the spirit. Linger on verse five at the end of the day, as it will link beautifully with the name Phoebe that Paul will mention in the last chapter in Romans.

Can you find words from A to Z that would summarize each verse?

Psalm 34

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: You save the crushed in spirit. v. 18

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