My Dear Sisters, just as I was writing this post to you, a family urgency arose and I’m not going to be able to finish it. I’ve erased it and, in its place, put the segment of Scripture that I shared today in staff time before I got news of a serious family need. By faith, I choose to believe that this was what our gracious God wanted you to have today. It is a beautiful segment from Isaiah 41 that spoke very richly to us in staff and I pray will minister to you. (Vv.8-16) In it God is addressing Israel but, as you will see, many of the truths He speaks over them in this chapter concerning His heart toward them and His promise to help are echoed in the New Testament to believers under Christ’s new covenant.Ā If you have a more formal translation like the ESV, consider reading it first then below you’ll find the portion in Eugene Peterson’s translation, The Message. Its vivid language jumped out at me and really tended to my soul. My staff and I printed it out and circled parts of it that the Holy Spirit brought to life in our own hearts and minds and amid our own circumstances. We also wrote notes in the margins and reminders of other coinciding verses and then, in our closing prayer, we let the passages guide our intercessions. You might consider doing the same thing. The two simple words “don’t panic” leapt off the page at me. So did this: “I, God, want to reassure you.” Thank You, thank You, Lord.
Here it is and you’ll find my SSMT entry at the end of the post.
Isaiah 41:8-16 The Message
8ā10Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āBut you, Israel, are my servant.
Youāre Jacob, my first choice,
descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, āYouāre my servant, serving on my side.
Iāve picked you. I havenāt dropped you.ā
Donāt panic. Iām with you.
Thereās no need to fear for Iām your God.
Iāll give you strength. Iāll help you.
Iāll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
11ā13Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āCount on it: Everyone who had it in for you
will end up out in the coldā
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handedā
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you wonāt find themā
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
Thatās right. Because I, your GOD,
have a firm grip on you and Iām not letting go.
Iām telling you, āDonāt panic.
Iām right here to help you.ā
14ā16Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āDo you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
Donāt be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
Iāll help you.
I, GOD, want to reassure you.
The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
Iām transforming you from worm to harrow,
from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow youāll smooth out the mountains,
turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
Youāll open the rough ground to the weather,
to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But youāll be confident and exuberant,
expansive in The Holy of Israel!
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Is 41:8ā16). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
For my SSMT selection, this is the portion I have next in my memory work out of the Book of Colossians:
Beth, Houston. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ. Colossians 2:1-2
I love you guys so much. Let’s press on with eyes of faith, Sisters. He who calls us is faithful!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Kate K.
Lafayette, IN
“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
James 1:17 NLT
Shannon Pate
Little Rock, Arkansas
“My Spirit that is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”
Isaiah 59:21
ESV
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
Colossians 4:2
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with
thanksgiving;
Amber
Katy tx
For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. (Psalms 33:4 NLT)
“But blessed is the one who trusts in The Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jer 17:7 NIV
Dianne Jones, Fairfield, CA – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
James 1:25NLT But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and donāt forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Holli From Corona, Ca. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John1:14 ESV
Christina Fort Eorth
Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me. (Psalms 56:9 HCSB)
Susan, Fort Worth, TX
Romans 12:17 NIV
[17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Susie H., McKinney, TX
“For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
Psalm 1:6
Judy, Littleton, NC
And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Luke 6:19 ESV
Karla Dumal
Gulfport, MS
He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15:5
Midland, TX
because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:20 (NIV)
Kristi, Pensacola, FL:
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23 NIV
Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Sharpsburg, Ga
Phil 1:6 NIV
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Danyelle
Dayton, OH
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
John 14:21 (NIV)
Kristin Cho; Northville, Michigan
Romans 8:15 NIV
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery, to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Amen
Natalie, Grand Prairie, TX
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 (NIV)
Patrice, Elm Grove, WI
Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7:22 NKJV
Rosie, Tacoma WA
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Hoping for the best for your family, Beth.
Kaitlyn from Tampa
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2: 10, ESV
Heather S., Louisville Ky
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV
gal. 5:22-23. But the Holy Spirt produces this kinda of fruit I our lives :love ,joy, peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,and self control. There is no law
Against these things,!
Gay Beck, Plain City, OH
Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Amy, Washington, D.C., “I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8 NIV
Shannon Boyer, Missouri city, tx
When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate Godās goodness.
Romans 5:4b
The Voice
Brenda, from Byhalia, MS
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
Sue ~ Hartland, MI
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world.
Sanctify them in the truth: Your word is truth.
John 17:16 & 17
WAYNE,PA
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? Jer32:27 NLt
WendyC – Cheyenne, WY.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23 NLT
Brenda C. Lee’s Summit, MO “It is written: ‘I have believed, therefore I have spoken’. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Cor 4:13 NIV84
Megan from Potlatch, Idaho: He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21 (NIV).
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14 NIV)
Beth, West Des Moines, IA
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.” James 1:13-16 NIV 1984
Laura from Prairieville, LA
For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9
Michele, Cumming GA
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (Psalms 34:14 NLT)
Jan
Hawkinsville, GA
Psalm 103:20
Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Lindsey, Nashville, TN, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)
Barbara, Birmingham,Al
Who among the gods is like you,Lord?
Who is like you-majestic in holiness,
Awesome in glory, working wonders?
Exodus 15:11. NIV
Amy
Birmingham, AL
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Phil. 4:19 NAS
Cheryl, Houston. 1 Pt 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” NIV.
Linda, Holts Summit,MO
Isaiah 41:13 ESV
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, āFear not,
I am the one who helps you.ā
Monica
Cheyenne WY
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
Plas 103:3 NLT
Darcy – Edwardsville, IL
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
-Galatians 5:24-25
Cathi, Morristown TN
Donāt fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of Godās wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. Itās wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6, 7 MSG)
Kerry, Nederland, TX
For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.
1 Peter 2:19
NLT
Marilyn, Amarillo,TX; “Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed. Isaiah 49:23b NIV
Roxie, Jerseyville, IL Psalm 51:10-12 KJV
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”