By Kerry Bergman 

 About a year ago, I came to a point in my life where I was hungering for more and realizing that I didn’t know as much about my Lord as I had thought.  I wanted, yearned to know and grow in Him more.  I also knew that left to my own devices, not much about “my routine” was going to change.  Then Philippians 4:13 came to mind.  It simply states, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”  As He usually does, God reminded me that total dependence on Him was the key and to stop working under my own power.  His power can move mountains…mine…well, let’s say it pales drastically in comparison!
     During one of Pastor Woody’s classes, he spoke about his daughter, Alice.  She too had felt that there was much more to know…for herself and for her students, especially if she were to teach out of her overflow.  God is good, isn’t He!  I approached Alice about the study she was taking and she joyfully shared the information so I could begin my journey to know Him and His Word more.  On a side note, I am thankful God placed Alice in my life “for such a time as this.”  I began my study on the book of John in January 2010.  I was overwhelmed at the “in-depth” part of the study.  We took each verse in Scripture and dissected it, we reflected on key elements of scripture that spoke to our lives personally, and, yes, conviction followed.  God came through in a big way!  Luke 11:9-12 and Matthew 21:22 tell us what to expect when we turn to Him with our prayers.  With that being said, not only did He give me what I was looking for, but He took it one step further.  My children were attending the Bible Study with me!  He gave us the opportunity to grow together with Him and He gave me the tools to “train my children in the way they should go.” (Proverbs 22:6a, NIV)
     This year, we are studying the book of Isaiah.  Can I just stop for a second and take time to lick my wounds!  Talk about a book in the Bible that makes you take a giant step backwards and do a self-inventory on your character and integrity or lack thereof.  My joy overflows, even when I am heavily convicted, because I know that the Lord is the Word and in Him we can find great compassion, joy, and strength.  To be honest, this sure would be an extremely hard study if I didn’t have that assurance!  It never fails, though.  I am always in awe when I can see God’s thumbprint on the pages of my life.
     To date we are up to Chapter 59 of Isaiah and have been studying about the coming of the Lamb of God.  How apropos that our study has reached this point during the Season of Lent.  This brings me to the point of this story.  Reading in the Old Testament about the coming of our Risen Savior, knowing that for over hundreds of years the Israelites would have to face the wrath of God for all of their sin, knowing the gravity of that sin.  Then reading about His love and the redemptive price Jesus would pay on the cross so that not only the Israelites, but also the world would be brought back into the loving grace of God leaves me breathless.   God, born as man in the person of Jesus Christ, took the weight of my sin and yours so that we could spend eternity with Him.  How much more are we willing to do for Him?