Tap here for a video meditation on Psalm 3.

In the middle of this week that is itself the middle of Advent, there comes a cry in the midst of enemy territory. John the Baptist could have groaned this psalm from his prison cell. Christians, Jews, and Muslims persecuted today around the world can do the same. Strengthen their prayer by binding yourself to them with these words of salvation.

May your inner conviction of this psalm ring out with the same deep resounding toll of a great bell. The emptier and darker the night, the more the clarion-call of God’s salvation can silence those taunting, tempting voices that may be keeping you fretfully, frightfully awake. Be assured of God’s salvation upon your life as you sleep in peace and rise in confidence.

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: You lift up my head, O Lord. v. 3

We read 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

Disobedience and betrayal of God’s people, just as the betrayal of Joseph’s brother in Genesis, result in stark emptiness and life weakened by evil. God’s people ignore those powerless in their world—women and children.

How similar is the worldly noise these weeks before Christmas! So many merchants and enterprises not interested in the coming of Jesus to the poor, only want great riches to be accounted when this season of buying and selling is over.

Isaiah’s prediction of the loss of finery is as a great blackout that reduces the colorful, flickering lights of stores and houses to an awesome darkness. It is from the darkness and emptiness of all distraction that the soul cries out more clearly to the Lord in the winter night.

Isaiah 3

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 1-13.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Give me compassion for the poor. v. 5

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.

Winter’s cold holds trees captive, wrenching away all evidence of life. Trees that once swayed with summer songs are now touched and come to a silent, stark stillness.

John the Baptist, captive in prison, is also cut off from the evidences of the life-giving presence in Jesus. John begins to doubt, longing for a release from the torturing question, which throws him this way and that: “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Does doubt dangle questions before you as well? The words that reassured John will do the same for you with the clarity of bells making these dark nights of the year echo with a summoning call to worship and to joy. Listen in the silence to the sounds of saving grace that sweep across your silent, emptied soul.

Matthew 11:2–11

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Messenger going ahead v. 10

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year A, we generally read from the Gospel of St. Matthew.

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.