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.

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the Psalm.

For a video meditation on today’s Psalm created three years ago, Tap here.

This psalm is attributed to David while in the back corner of a cave, escaping the wrath of jealous King Saul out to kill him. Instead of focusing on the fear in his circumstances, David does what he does best: he prays. His awareness is not limited to the dark walls of the cold cave. His spirit flies to heaven where the darkness becomes the shadow of the Lord’s wings. Prayer changes the meaning of David’s circumstances. He finds joy in the Lord, exalted above the heavens—certainly beyond the walls of that cave!

Your life will be totally different when you pray with the same spontaneity, intensity and intimacy as David. Each new day he makes, as it were, the dawn more joyous with his song.

Find the song in your heart, which comes to you along with the sun that gives light to the day, though the sun may be hiding behind those wings of God we call clouds.

Psalm 57

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: In the shadow of Your wings v. 1

We continue to follow the Psalms in numerical order.

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 Judges 21:1-6.

What a harrowing series of events about the sin of idolatry and sexual perversity! In the Bible, the two relate to each other. One evil consequence is set into motion by another, as a row of dominoes falling together. The tribe of Benjamin now falls away, as the tribe of Dan did in last week’s reading.

Note the setting in which the homosexual behavior is described—wanton lawlessness, anarchy, with total disregard for the rights and sensitivities of others. You will read about the atrocious symbol that the concubine’s husband makes of her.

Your weakness and area of sin: ask the Lord to put an end to it. Be sensitive to the presence of God and let this grow. Look what can happen to those with a total disregard for God’s ways.

Judges 19—21

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Mission comes from You alone. v. 4

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the Winter Season of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Judges, Proverbs 4 to 6.

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