Thursday, April 14, 2011

Continued Blessings...

Have you ever tried to imagine how much God loves us? I have been schooled on that very subject recently in the study of Isaiah chapter 53. This book was written several hundred years before Christ died and it describes so many things that happened and the reasons behind God's actions! He loves us!
When you take into account all the detail in the writings in the book of Isaiah about His suffering, death and burial, it is just amazing in light of how long before the events, these details were recorded by the prophet. In my opinion, it takes more faith NOT to believe in Jesus Christ than to believe. I read a book last year or the year before of a man named Josh McDowell who set out to disprove the Bible and ended up proving and believing in Jesus. If you are curious or uncertain, let me recommend his book Evidence that Demands a Verdict .

Isaiah 53 says...
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, (nobody stepped up to defend Him)
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, (spear, nails)
he was crushed for our iniquities; (the weight of the cross He bore, His own weight as he hung)
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. (lashing, crown of thorns, nails, spear)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.



That said, here's a couple of pictures I took today...
Lady Gold Finches

Flower garden pickins'

Blessings from the holler...

5 comments:

Cindy said...

A wonderful mini-sermon, a reminder to us all and an uplifting start to my day. I love the verses you referred to in Isaiah. I can hear the music of the Messiah right now---actually I love the "Easter" part even more than the Christmas part of the oratorio. Glad to see spring has truly sprung in the holler---finches and flowers. Blessings to you!!!

Paula said...

Beautiful words, dear friend... I guess I'm an oddball, because even though I love Christmas and it's meaning, this time of year is special to me because of His death, burial, and resurrection. I see new life popping up all around me and I'm reminded that there is hope of eternal life through Him.

Sierra Rose said...

Wow! Great.
My hu-dad's father is a minister (retired at this point)...my hu-dad grew up on church property with belief all around, and daily visits to those in need. Faith and belief has amazing power.

Sweet hugs,
Sierra Rose

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Hoping all is well there with all the storms we are hearing about.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Deborah said...

That was nice a post! Happy Easter!
xxoo
Deborah