Sticky Note #9

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not his mouth."

When was the last time you read the above passage?

To any person who has grown up in the church, memorizing scripture, I'm sure they can quickly quote what book this comes from, who it is talking about, context, etc.

But if you didn't KNOW the reference and context, who would you say this is speaking about? Where would you expect this verse to be located?

The above questions were asked and presented by a commentator on "The Case for Christ" video (The story of how Lee Strobel (author of the book "The Case for Christ", "The Case for Faith" and others). I visited a new church today and class was spent watching this hour long video. The commentator said that he took this verse around to his co-workers and asked them those questions. He described the group of people as a mixture of Jews and Gentiles.

Their answer?

Everyone responded that there was no doubt this scripture was talking about Jesus and was located somewhere in the New Testament. It was too accurate a picture of Jesus to be found in the Old Testament.

Where is it really located? Isaiah 53: 7 - very much Old Testament

When it comes to detail-oriented, no one can match God. I'm so thankful I serve and worship the one and only God, Creator and Mastermind before the world and everything I see and know.

How could I not trust my King

The One who has formed me and shaped me

I will rejoice and will sing

For the One who has made me has saved me

(Isaiah 53: 7 - ESV and "So I Will Trust You" by Sovereign Grace Ministries)

Sticky Note #3

• A friend confronting addictions
• A friend facing serious, life-altering health issues
• A friend in an unhealthy, complicated relationship
• A friend with doubts about life and God

Seems like everywhere I turn, every phone call I answer, every text I read, I'm faced with some new problem that seems huge and out of control. It is discouraging, disheartening and down-right depressing.

But as I began to let the things of life overwhelm me, God brought a passage to mind that I memorized as a child, I think it was back in 2nd grade:

God is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in paths of righteousness, for His names sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death;

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me, in the presence of mine enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

So I'm resting tonight, knowing that God's grace is sufficient for me and He will use these problems, no matter how bleak they may seem, to not only teach me and my friends a lesson, but to bring Himself glory. And after all, isn't that my purpose here in life?

"Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Far surpassing all the rest

It's an ocean full of blessing

In the midst of every test

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Mighty Savior, precious Friend

You will bring us home to glory

Where Your love will never end"