Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Genesis 45:4-15.

Before you is one of the most tender, touching passages in the whole Bible. Absolute forgiveness and love on Joseph’s part astounds his sinful brothers and plummets them into a wholly new way of living.

This reading comes on or about Christmas. Approach it as an anticipation of the total love and forgiveness of Jesus. Joseph is a figure of Jesus. As Joseph presents the meaning of his existence to his brothers, hear Jesus saying these same words to you.

Perhaps you have been unfaithful to Jesus, as Joseph’s brothers were to him. The love and acceptance of Joseph is found in infinite measure in Jesus. All you can do is be stunned by this grace. Rejoice along with Jacob, after his heart stood still.

Genesis 44:18—45:27

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: “It was God who sent me here.” 45:8

The above passage is Part A of three parts of the
Sabbath Torah portion, Vayiggash (And He Approached)
Here is the complete Torah portion:

Gen. 44:18—47:27

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 Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

Movement and stillness are carefully contrasted in the Christmas Story. First, there is the tedious moving of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a journey by donkey of some seventy miles. Accompany them. Take the reigns of the donkey so that Joseph can tend to Mary without distraction. Kneel with them in the stillness and awesomeness of the birth. Drink in all the power of that silent night.

Energy shifts to the angels announcing and singing before the shepherds. By faith your spirit mounts with theirs. From the stillness of a winter’s night-watch over their sheep, they run in haste to the manger. Their out-of-breath-ness slows to an immense peace, and then energy again as they become the first missionaries of the new presence.

Where does all this leave you? Take your cue from Mary who “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Luke 2:1–20

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Examples: The donkey to Bethlehem v. 4 Laying Him in a manger v. 7
Hosanna in excelsis v. 14 Mary ponders in her heart. v. 19

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 7.

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 Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Philemon 1:4-21.

Briefest of Paul’s letters, here is an invitation to forgiveness. Instead of what could have been harsh treatment and even death for Onesimus, the runaway slave, Paul pleads for reconciliation between him and his master, Philemon.

Meditate before the manger. See Mary, slave and handmaid of the Lord. Joseph is wrapped in the swaddling cloths of silence. Here is the place of forgiving love. Jesus has come, writing with his birth and later with his blood, a letter of intercession for us to the Father. All our wrongs have been charged to Jesus’s “account.” Jesus became a slave so that we might be set free and live with the Father as God’s child.

Is there someone who needs a letter like Paul’s coming from you—something more than a hasty “Seasons Greeting” card?

Philemon

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Examples: Grace to all and peace from God. v. 3
Love giving joy and support. v. 7

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Titus, Philemon, Galatians and Philippians.

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.