The word orientation comes from the Latin root meaning to rise—the place of the rising sun. The east is a symbol of hope, of resurrection. Ancient Christian churches were oriented with the altar facing east.

In Ezekiel’s vision of the mystical temple, the doorway faces east, the glory of the Lord entering from the place of the new day. Feel the glory of the resurrection bathing you as you enter into the vision of the temple. Sense the presence of the altar in the depths of your soul as the very center of the temple-body of Jesus within whom you dwell.

All the details of these chapters have one purpose—immersion in the Holy. We become spiritually disoriented in life when we lose that deep, inner spiritual sense of God’s presence and holiness. The Lord offers it to you once again. Surrender to glory in these final weeks of the Easter Season.

Ezekiel 43—44

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the Easter Season this year we read Ezekiel 33—48.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Earth shining with Your glory 43:2

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.

Love is freed from fickle ties to affection only. Now it is living out the ongoing presence of Jesus in the world through the way that he loved—unto death. The new commandment is not a stern, military-type order, but rather a charge, a mission, a commitment.

The setting for the reading is the Last Supper before Jesus’death. It is also appropriate on this Sunday as we enter into the final three of the seven weeks in the Easter season. Jesus approaches his last suppers during the time of glory when he was with the disciples after the resurrection until Ascension Thursday, forty days after Easter.

Let there arise in the depths of your soul that sense of AS Jesus has loved you—to the death … the death of self. Let the Spirit give you the gift of giving your life for others.

John 13:31–35

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Loving as Jesus has loved v. 34

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, during the Easter Season, we read from John’s Gospel, with Luke on the Seventh Week.

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.

Thomas’absence at the first appearance of Jesus becomes a handicap to knowing the presence of Jesus risen in the new community. For Thomas, an alive Jesus would be a revivified corpse. He had no idea that Jesus would live in him, rather than he in Jesus with his fingers in the open wounds.

The second encounter with Jesus eight days later begins as the first one in 20:19. There is, however, a small but very significant difference. In verse 19, the past tense is used: “Jesus came.” In verse 26, it is the present tense: “Jesus comes.” Even before the manifestation to Thomas, Jesus is already present in the community that loves in such a way, that his presence is manifest in them.

Are you part of a community that lives and loves in the Spirit? No personal preferences to see Jesus in any particular manner will substitute for this.

John 20:24–31

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Safe in the side of Jesus v. 27

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the Easter Season this year we read the final third of John’s Gospel.

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.