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.

Toward the end of the first four years of my ministry when I was a campus minister, one of the teachers at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. where I was serving, criticized by efforts with the remark: “The trouble with you is that you want everybody to be friends.” “No,” I replied, “but I would like to provide opportunities for everyone to meet at least once.”

The enmity between Esau and Jacob, while not over for their descendants, did at least cease in the tender moment of meeting between these two brothers. How beautiful is the verse for the day! Perhaps Jacob became open to see the face of God in his former enemy Esau, because he had struggled the night before with the presence of God. Jacob wanted blessings—either by deceit, as he did with Esau, or by not letting go of God until a blessing came. Cling to the Lord in your prayer until the blessing comes.

Genesis 32:3—33:20

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Steadfast love and faithfulness 32:10

For the entire portion for this Sabbath:
Genesis 32:3—36:43

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