Happy New Year!

God addresses Pharaoh through the mouth of Moses. However great is the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart, even stronger are the consequences of his stubbornness. Plague upon plague comes against Pharaoh and the Egyptians—five of them in this year’s reading.

The Bible’s way of stating that God is in command at every moment is to have God be the one who sends the plagues. Actually, when we do anything outside of the Lord’s will, the results will be something like the plagues. Because of Jesus, we know that God is not out to punish, but to save. The Lord is actively present in the afflictions and hardships of life, manifesting divine power to deliver us precisely through the pain that urges us to drop to our knees, not in defeat, but in worship. Pray until you find the blessing embedded in the pain.

Exodus 8:16—9:35

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Examples:

Soften my heart with Your love. 8:19

Clearing a space for worship 8:27

What God wills, coming to be

Blessings embedded in pain

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

Advent began with Zechariah in the Temple when Gabriel announced to him the conception of John the Baptist. Once again we are in the Temple with another aged man and woman who have been waiting and praying for salvation for God’s people—Simeon and Anna. Mary and Joseph arrive to fulfill the requirements of the law, yet the Holy Spirit does the filling; three times the Spirit is referenced in verses 25 to 27.

Even as Zechariah’s hymn, the Benedictus has been the centuries-old conclusion to the Church’s Morning Prayer, so is Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis the Church’s Night Prayer. It is a brief hymn, easy to memorize, so appropriate to pray as each day closes, especially this week after Christmas and the Epiphany season coming.

As Simeon, take the Child into your arms and ask the Spirit to tell you how the salvation of the Lord was at work for you this day.

Luke 2:21–40

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Examples:

Now Master, your servant—peace v. 29

Eyes seeing Your salvation v. 30

Sword piercing inmost being v. 35

Being filled with Your wisdom v. 40

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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.

Hesuchia is a lovely Greek word used only eleven times in the New Testament, here translated as “quiet spirit.” Literally, it means, “holding one’s seat.” Instead of being shaken from physical or inner space by the demands and expectations of others, remain in quietness until the Lord lets you know how and when and where to respond. Hesuchia suggests going beyond the reactions to which we often yield, to the place where true spontaneity is born.

In terms of family relations, hesuchia is the eye of the hurricane, The silence of a faithful wife has power in winning over a husband without a word.

The entire passage breathes tranquility, yet energy, as well. Submission does not mean being degraded or disrespected. Neither does it mean being defensive about oneself in a prideful way. Wait. Yield. Be quiet. Soak your soul in the passage.

1 Peter 3:1–12
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Learn More…
Examples:

Reverence and holiness v. 2

Beauty flowing from within v. 4

A quiet, gentle spirit v. 4

A good conscience before You v. 21

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent through Epiphany this year,
we read the letters of Peter.

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.