The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53:4-6

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, 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.

Praying for the Lost

Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Time

Ephesians 5:15-16 

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalms 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

3 he refreshes my soul. 

He guides me along the right paths 

for his name’s sake. 

4 Even though I walk 

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, 

they comfort me. 

5 You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me 

all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord 

forever.

The Lord is My Strength, Defense, and, Shield

Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

No Crib for a Bed

Luke 2:1-7

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

Joy to the World

Psalms 98:1-9 

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, 

for he has done marvelous things; 

his right hand and his holy arm 

have worked salvation for him. 

2 The Lord has made his salvation known 

and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 

3 He has remembered his love 

and his faithfulness to Israel; 

all the ends of the earth have seen 

the salvation of our God. 

4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, 

burst into jubilant song with music; 

5 make music to the Lord with the harp, 

with the harp and the sound of singing, 

6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— 

shout for joy before the Lord, the King. 

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, 

the world, and all who live in it. 

Let the rivers clap their hands, 

let the mountains sing together for joy; 

9 let them sing before the Lord, 

for he comes to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world in righteousness 

and the peoples with equity.