Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Psalm 40.

A young woman dying of AIDS found comfort in this psalm. The intensity of her suffering found a place to express itself in this prayer. The psalms will comfort you in times of anguish. Let David be your “coach.” Allow his suffering to become one with yours, giving you words and phrases that are expressions of your own pain.

Most of all, Jesus, the Son of David, has already taken the essence of your suffering to the cross. Join your suffering to Jesus’s who leads you on the path toward the redemption of your pain and your own salvation. Pray to the Lord that you learn to suffer well—not in self-pity or anger; not in guilt and shame; not as a victim. Just as David and Jesus, let your pain become intercessory for others. It is then given so much meaning and a special kind of joy that lifts the suffering itself. Then you will see your suffering placed into the galaxy of the Lord’s blessings.

Psalm 40

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: Your tender mercies to me v. 11

We continue to follow the Psalms in numerical order.

Listen to an audio meditation on today’s Psalm created three years ago.

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 and 2 Samuel 7:18-29.

David does what yesterday’s reading from Isaiah implored. David’s plan to build a house for God is reversed: God is going to build him a house! Feel the burst of promise in the coming Messiah in verse 12: “When you die, I will raise up one of your descendants, and I will make his kingdom strong.” Sit with David as he prays a glorious prayer of thanksgiving from verse 18. He reviews what God has done in his life. You do the same. Make this prayer your very own. Reflect upon the movement of your life and see in it the hand of the Lord redeeming and remaking what your mistakes and sins have damaged.

All the successes of chapter 8 come because David sits before the Lord in chapter 7. Is there a new chapter in your life that is about to begin, but which needs you to sit in prayer where you are now?

2 Samuel 7—8

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Your love is everlasting v. 15

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Proverbs 15-16, 2 Samuel and Ecclesiastes 1-4.

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 and Isaiah 33:2-6.

Jesus and Paul would echo the admonition at the beginning of this chapter: “Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged” (Matt. 7:2). “You will always reap what you sow” (Gal 6:7).

There are images of stability. The Hebrew word for “times,” et, means “a particular time or season of life.” The “times” of your life are set against larger, ill-defined, hostile, “hard times” from the world. Enemy eras will not be able to cross the sacred boundaries of your soul, because you are finding stability through the Spirit’s gifts of wisdom and knowledge.

Jerusalem will be firm with strong stakes and cords to prevent her from being blown away by enemies from without. What do you need to do to set the stakes of your life’s tent more securely?

Isaiah 33

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Isaiah 28 – 39.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: My stakes and ropes holding firm v. 20

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.