Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Exodus 22:25-28.

There is a saying in recovery groups: “Principles, Not Personalities.” The Lord puts forth principles for right and holy living. The first verse of today’s reading has the Lord give us a sobering principle through Moses: “Do not curse a ruler of your people.” Complaining about those who hold public office is a form of curse, since what is needed is prayer for the leader, not complaints. Your prayer will be a blessing upon the person; your complaining, a kind of curse. There is a sense in which we are doing one or the other—blessing or cursing; praying or complaining. Anger is to be directed to the building up of good principles, not the tearing down of personalities.

Next, there are regulations designed to keep the passions for greed and competition in check. The passage then contains the basic prescription for keeping the Sabbath and the three major pilgrim feasts. All of this comes directly from the Lord.

Exodus 22:25—23:19

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Mishpatim (Laws)
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.

Exodus 21:1—24:18

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Praying for those in office.

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

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

Very soon into the Gospel, the question arises about who Jesus is. In the incident of the healing of the paralytic, there is opposition on the part of the Jewish leaders. They refuse to accept Jesus walking about and healing. Now Jesus tells the man that his sins are forgiven. This presses the opposition to the ultimate; they accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They cannot wait to get their hands on Jesus, instead of begging Jesus to get his hands on them so that they too can be healed.

Jesus does not evade the issue. He confronts it even before they do, because he reads their minds and hearts. The physical healing is the sign that Jesus’s power extends to the depths of the soul where there is a longing to be freed from sin and forgiven. God has power over every dimension of life.

Are you willing to let Jesus pass through the barrier, the “roof” of your heart?

Mark 2:1–12

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Asking in line with Your will v. 4

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the Winter Season of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1-2; Mark 1-3

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 the reading.

Do you remember the famous poster used in World War I of Uncle Sam? An elderly, bearded, stern man looks out, his finger pointing right at you, saying, “Uncle Sam wants YOU.” We can be tempted to see God’s will that way—stern, unrelenting, lacking the warmth and loving feelings that we associate with the Lord in other contexts.

I remember a dear friend saying to me many years ago: “You are the will of God for yourself!” Now this “you” is the deepest aspect of your self. It is what you really do want in the depths of your soul, but which perhaps you do not fully acknowledge.

The will of God is the key to today’s reading. “If we ask anything according to God’s will, God hears us.” When you agree with the Lord in wanting what God wants, then a pathway of prayer opens between your heart and God’s. You both listen to each other, as it were, and the prayer simply flows.

1 John 5:13–21

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Asking in line with Your will v. 4

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the Winter Season of Advent to Epiphany this year we read the Letters of John and Jude.

For all the Firestarters 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.