Isaiah 53-A Prophecy for Lent

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed.

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance 

that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind, 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.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, 

stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;  the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

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.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  

For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.

I especially love to read and meditate on it during Lent.

The entire chapter can be accessed here.

I pray it blesses you richly in this journey we are taking.

If you are following along with Redeemer's Lenten readings, here is the link--

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The Sun Is Out

One of my favorite books to reread at Easter is "No Wonder They Call Him The Savior" by Max Lucado. There are thirty-three short chapters, just perfect for the month before Easter. I hope this small selection from the book will inspire you in your preparation for this most holy of holidays.



The chapter I reread the most is The Cry of Loneliness. Lucado seems to step inside the heart of Jesus and pour out for all to see the humiliation of the world's sinsickness and the "gut-wrenching" loneliness Christ felt as God had to turn his back on the SIN.

Many people know the details of where they were, how old they were, when they received Christ as personal Lord and Savior. I will always remember the depth of pure heartache, the tears and total devastation I felt as I read these haunting words and realized anew that my sin sent him there--my sin caused the separation.

How could I live, how could I ever survive if the Spirit of God was taken from me? At that moment in time I cried with the psalmist, "Please do not take your Holy Spirit from me." (from Psalm 51)

Lucado writes: ....."The most gut-wrenching cry of loneliness in history came not from a prisoner or a widow or a patient. It came from a hill, from a cross, from a Messiah. "My God, my God!" he screamed, "Why did you abandon me?" Never have words carried so much hurt. Never has one being been so lonely. The crowd quietens as the priest receives the goat--the pure, unspotted goat. In somber ceremony he places his hands on the young animal. As the people witness, the priest makes his proclamation, "The sins of the people be upon you." The innocent animal receives the sins of the Israelites. All the lusting, adultery, and cheating are transferred from the sinners to this goat, to this scapegoat. He is then carried to the edge of the wilderness and released, Banished. Sin must be purged, so the scapegoat is abandoned, "Run, goat! Run!" The people are relieved. Yahweh is appeased. The sinbearer is alone. And now on Skull Hill, the sinbearer is again alone. Every lie ever told, every object ever coveted, every promise ever broken is on his shoulders. He is sin. God turns away, "Run, goat, run." The despair is darker than the sky. The two who have been one are now two. Jesus, who had been with God for eternity, is now alone, The Christ, who was an expression of God, is abandoned. The Trinity is dismantled. The Godhead is disjointed. The unity is dissolved. It is more than Jesus can take. He withstood the beatings and remained strong at the mock trials. He watched in silence as those he loved ran away. He did not retaliate when the insults were hurled, nor did he scream when the nails pierced his wrists. But when God turned his head, that was more than he could handle. "My God!" The wail rises from parched lips. The holy heart is broken. The sinbearer screams as he wanders in the eternal wasteland. Out of the silent sky come the words screamed by all who walk in the desert of loneliness. "Why? Why did you abandon me?" "

Thank God for the gospel of the second chance.

" Lucado continues ........."The two are again one. The abandoned is now found. The schism is now bridged. 'Father,' He smiles weakly. "It's over." Satan's vultures have been scattered. Hell's demons have been jailed, Death has been damned, The sun is out, The Son is out. It's over, An angel sighs, A star wipes away a tear. "Take me home," Yes, take him home. Take this prince to his king, Take this son to his father, Take this pilgrim to his home, (He deserves a rest.) "Take me home." Come ten thousand angels! Come and take this wounded troubadour to the cradle of his Father's arms! Farewell manger's infant, Bless you, holy ambassador. Go Home, death slayer, Rest well, sweet soldier. The battle is over!" "

[No Wonder They Call Him The Savior] Max Lucado

Copyright [Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986 & 2004]
Used by permission

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A Powerful Collision

When we consider what happened on the cross after 4000 years, it's no wonder that the veil was RIPPED from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks split, and some tombs of holy men and women of God emptied forth their dead and these people went walking about.

For in the words of Dutch Sheets in Intercessory Prayer, this is where

 "Mercy met judgment

Righteousness met sin

Light met darkness

Humility met pride

Love met hate

Life met death

A Cursed One on a tree met the curse that originated from a tree

The sting of death met the antidote of resurrection."

 and these meetings were head-on meetings--no mealy little clash of one against the other.

Sheets refers to the scripture in Proverbs

It is better to meet a she bear robbed of her cubs  than a fool in his folly.

The Hebrew word paga is used here for the word "meet."  It is the same Hebrew word that is used many times for the word "intercession."

When we intercede for others or things, there is a meeting--a heavenly clash if you will such as a mother bear and the one who comes between her and her cubs.

Try to imagine just for a moment what that "meeting" would be like.

We've all read stories of hikers in Yosemite or Yellowstone who got in the way of just such a mother--I won't go into details but the outcomes usually are very grim--life changing for sure if not life taking.  The "meeting" produced an outcome.

As Sheets says, "When Jesus cried, 'It is finished,' don't think for one minute that he was talking about death when he spoke that word. The Greek word tetelestai, interpreted 'It is finished' was stamped on invoices in that day meaning 'Paid in Full!.'  Jesus was shouting 'The debt is paid in full.'"

Jesus has paid the price.  All that's needed to be done has been done for us to be more than conquerors.

Now it is up to us to pray the prayers that let these victories be loosed.

We are God's hands and feet.  He wants to use us.

Pay very close attention to this scripture--it seems as though I usually dwell on verse 17 the most but look at what it says in verse 18--

2 Corinthians 5:17,18  17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

God reconciled himself to us through Jesus

He has given US the ministry of reconciliation

When we intercede for people we pray for a "meeting" between God and this person--this meeting provides the opportunity for them to be reconciled.

Once again, Jesus did all the work--we pray to release His works.

You've heard of prayer meetings--think of the "she bear" again and that meeting--

Prayer meetings were aptly named.

Every time I pray and ask God to "meet" with me,

I will imagine his righteousness meeting my sin head on,

His mercy meeting what judgment I deserve,

His light meeting satan's darkness that tries to overtake me,

His humility meeting my pride,

His love meeting my hate,

His life meeting my certain death without him.

I speak of spiritual death here.

I will never be able to pray "meet with me" again

without expecting a collision of the highest sorts,

A collision that will release the victory 

that has already been won for us.

I know sometimes God's answers come right away

and sometimes they take years.

I don't care how long it takes,

I will pray and not give up for the certain victories

that I know have already been appropriated in heaven.

I will not give up on any situation in my family.

I will not give up on the salvation or victorious living of any one 

of the precious ones for whom I pray.

I will pray.

I will intercede.

And there will be a meeting.

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10

Thank you Lord for sealing the greatest meeting of all with a kiss.

Through Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our righteousness, we have peace with Him.

Now His righteousness and my peace can kiss--

And it is so sweet--

This sealing of our meeting with a kiss.

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A repost from past pages





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Lent Day 9 Our Ministry to God

Did you ever wonder why your ministry to others seems dead and of no consequence at times?

I know I have--and I've been acutely aware of my writings not having the anointing and influence that they once had.

I tell you what I think it is--I think for me, at least, that I became so consumed with producing a good product in the form of writings for my posts, pleasing photographs, art that inspires, etc., that I let my own personal ministry in the inner courts suffer.

Oh yes, I have always had my Bible readings each day--but how much time have I spent in Inner Court Ministry--'alone' with God ministering to Him--reading to Him, singing to Him, talking to Him, listening to Him--just casual--nothing formal--similar to how I would try to develop a relationship with a friend.

If you are wondering what I mean by this Inner Court Ministry--then you will want to read this.  Sylvia Gunter's incredible writings changed my life in the 1990's.

Each one of her topics in her book Prayer Portions represent hours and hours of time spent alone with God--seeking Him and His wisdom, worshipping Him, ministering to Him.

It seems that every decade God has led me to great inspirational writers--writers that had spent their time alone with God--who had paid the price in the inner courts so that their ministry in the "outer" courts could be effective and life-changing.

After all why come here to this blog and spend your valuable time reading my words unless they make a difference in your life?

Some of the writers God has led me to study are:

--Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, Catherine Marshall, Elisabeth Elliott, Beth Moore, and of course, Sylvia Gunter.

I do pray that you will read the link above and I pray that it will make a difference in your life today.

After all, isn't Lent the time we want to prepare a house for God to dwell in?

If you are following along with the Redeemer Lent readings, here is the link--

Ministry that has been anointed with His presence has transforming power in other lives.--Sylvia Gunter

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Lent Day 8--The Faithful Priest

Reading today with Redeemer Presbyterian Church Lent devotionals.

 You can access them right here.

I loved the scripture above.  And I can't put my finger on why it is so special to me.  The Holy Spirit just blasted it into my spirit.

Maybe it is the times we are living in--the unsure climate of our society--but to have a Faithful Priest Who will only do the Father's bidding--wow!--that spoke to me all over again.

I hope your Lent is going well--or your days preceding Easter--I hope you are preparing your heart for the arrival of this incredible Faithful Priest.  What a joy!  What a privilege!  What a responsibility!

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My Soul Exults in the Lord-Lent Day 7

Winter happens to be my favorite season.  It calls on us to use our imagination somewhat, doesn't it?

And I think our imagination is rooted in faith.

Can you hear the birds singing?

Can you feel the push of the spring bulb against a hard cold soil that is unforgiving in its harshness?

Sometimes that is the way our lives feel--as if we are in a cold, unforgiving atmosphere--as if we have to keep pushing against an immovable object--as if we are wrestling God Himself!

I read an article the other day by John Piper about Jacob wrestling the angel.  The gist of the article was how sometimes our greatest blessings come during the wrestling but many times we lose sight of those blessings or never see them at all because of the circumstances around us--the preoccupation with the wrestling.

In my advent reading for today, Hannah wrestles with God--

In this link, Timothy Keller refers to Hannah the barren one as such:

"Hannah recognized that her grief had become sin and her mourning had become an 'affliction'(1 Samuel 1:11), so at Shiloh she sacrificed that which enslaved her to the Lord." 

Today it is my prayer that wherever our lives or circumstances are barren that we will recognize God's hand and devote ourselves more and more to Him.

May we recognize the blessings that come even through our wrestling.

And even in the dead of winter in our souls may we exult in the Lord!



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Advent Day 6

As I read more and more about the Savior Who went to the cross for us, I realize more and more just how infinite He is--from A to Z, He is truly the Alpha and the Omega.

 All praise to Jesus Christ, the Beginning and the End!

Lenten Readings Day 6 here!

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Break My Heart

As you know if you have read my previous Lenten posts, I have been looking for what I thought would be the exact readings that I needed for Lent.

I am pretty sure I have found what I was looking for. I am providing a link to it in case you would like to read it also.

The readings are by Timothy Keller and posted on Redeemer Presbyterian's website right here.

Why Lenten readings?  I loved how Keller's site compared the celebration of Easter to a wedding or a graduation and how we make plans in advance to make that day memorable.

The anticipation of it makes the planning more strategic and meaningful.

After today's reading on Redeemer's website, I am beginning to understand the pain expressed in this post I wrote on Thursday.

Oh Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.

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Return to Me

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My Lenten Journey-

Groping along here--trying to find my way.

I did not grow up in a denomination that celebrated Lent but have been trying to meaningfully do so the last few years.

I am disappointed--Why?  Because I can't seem to find the right Lenten readings that are speaking to me what I need to hear at the moment.  Is that even what I should be striving for?

I long to find something that will just speed this journey along--but I am beginning to realize I can't.

I must trudge through this wilderness with Him--if I want to grow to be like Him--

The distance to the cross was not made easier or shorter for Him--so I will plod along here one step at a time, one breath at a time, one revelation at a time.

One day down and thirty nine more to go--how will I feel, how will I be different at the end of this journey?


After all, isn't that what we are striving for--a change in us--

to know Him more fully

to serve Him more faithfully

to love Him more fiercely

to glorify him more fittingly


I want this to be a glorious journey but I am finding pain--

Pain when I realize the depth of my sin--

Pain when I realize the cost of the cross

Pain when I realize the agony of turning one's back upon His Son

Pain when I face the absolute reality of my own mortality--

Isn't that what Ash Wednesday is all about--facing up to that reality--


So that I--this is what I must realize--So that I

So that I can go freely

So that I can live abundantly

So that I can have eternal life


The pain is part of the fulfillment that will come at the end of this journey--

I must be faithful to take one more step with Him--

At the end of this journey I will come to realize and fully know--

Col. 2:9, 10a

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Update:  I am reading along with shereadstruth.com advent plan

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A Prayer for Lent--Who Will Go With Me?

My soul cries out for God, the Living God

To come and rescue me from myself--

Oh, who will hear and who will go to the mount

To worship the Living God and King?

To minister to the Almighty in the inner courts,

Who will annihilate their rights to self and come and go with me into the inner courts?

Better is one day in your courts than thousands in palaces of gold with windows of diamonds.

My soul cries out for God, the Living God,

Oh, who will come and worship with me?

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