all we like sheep have gone astray;  we have turned—every one—to his own way;  and the Lord has laid on him  the iniquity of us all.  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...

today - may the Lord use his word to fill your soul with - unstealable joy, deep gratitude, and life giving peace. may he do this through the power of his Spirit and the truth of his word.   ask him to speak. give him some silence as you read. and listen. then -...

  2 for he grew up before him like a young plant,     and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,     and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men,     a man of sorrows and acquainted with...

  so he will sprinkle many nations. kings will shut their mouths because of him, for they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard. who has believed what we have heard? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? —...

behold, my servant shall act wisely;     he shall be high and lifted up,     and shall be exalted.  as many were astonished at you—     his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,     and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—  [isaiah 52:13-14]...

and his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.  he shall not judge by what his eyes see,  or decide disputes by what his ears hear,  but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,  and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;  and he shall strike the earth...

there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of jesse,  and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.  and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,  the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,  the Spirit of counsel and might,  the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of...

for to us a child is born,     to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,     and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [isaiah 9:6]   in genesis 3, we have what is called the...

you have multiplied the nation;     you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you     as with joy at the harvest,     as they are glad when they divide the spoil. for the yoke of his burden,     and the staff for his shoulder,     the rod of his oppressor,...

the people who walked in darkness  have seen a great light;  those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,  on them has light shone.  [isaiah 9:2]     what a word! let's us worship in thanksgiving and praise as we walk through this word!   "the people who...