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
Dawn, Pottsville…Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning. Luke 12:35, NIV
Lisa, from Huntsville, AL:
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit would abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. — John 15:16 ESV
arg. Missed a typo: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that you fruit SHOULD abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Pamela from Riund Rock,
āBlessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:7 ESV
Andrea, Gardendale
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
Marsha Middleton- Lee’s Summit, MO
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NKJ
Melissa from Goshen, KY…
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
Psalms 34:4 NIV
I sought the Lord,and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Keaton Lovell McCurtain OK
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. āIf you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. (Isaiah 58:9, 10 NIV)
Amy Toney, Houston TX:
I am holding you by your right hand – I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I am here to help you. (Isaiah 41:13 NLT)
Nancy from Evansville, IN
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 NIV
Stephanie King – Richardson, TX
And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:16 NIV
Lisa A, Frisco, TX
“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11 NIV)
Susan Miles, Jonesboro, Arkansas
2 Corinthians 9:8 nasb
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
Dayla, Springfield, MO
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:25-26 NIV
Heather, Frisco, TX:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
NKJV, Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice”.
Terri, Papua New Guinea. “indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4, NIV.
“As a prisoner for The Lord, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Ephesians 4:1. NIV
Kristel from Russellville, AR
Jesus told them, “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29 NLT
Jaclyn, Houston. Let your gentleness be evident to all… The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 NIV
Deb, Becker, MN
Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Ps 119:33 ESV
Crystal – Tenaha,TX
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence .
Jeremiah 17:7 NLT
Chandel in Thailand trying to overcome fear.
Isaiah 41:13 For I am The Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
It’s a battle LORD help me….
Kaci W.; Moultrie, GA
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11 NKJV
Johannah, Alexandria, LA
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.”
Lamentations 3:25 NKJV
Edmond, OK
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Whitney Caves
Clinton, MS
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NIV
Trae Kendrick, Crawford Texas: “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 NLT
Barb Wisconsin
He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken
Ps. 34:20 ESV
Natalie, Houston
Romans 15:13
New International Version (NIV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Vanessa, Rio Rancho NM
make a tree good and it’s fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad for a tree is recognized by its fruit. Matthew 12:33 NIV
Psalm 139:3-4 NIV
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely.
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.ā
Zephaniah 3:17
Sherri
Galena, OH
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
Summer, McCurtain, OK
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Mathew 6:33-34 NLT
From San Antonio:
Romans 8:19 “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.” NAS
Julie. Hanford, ca The tongue can bring death or life, those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 18:21 NLT
Julie/Deer Park/ Psalm 5:12 For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Alicia T.
from League City, TX
Be careful, brothers and sisters, that none of you ever develop a wicked, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. If you do this, none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn. – Hebrews 3:12-13 GWT
This is mine for the month <3
Sandie Powell, Albuquerque , NM: and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3 KJV
Terri, Orange TX
“Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20 ESV
Sarah, Arkadelphia, AR
Psalms 84:10, ESV
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.”
Proverbs 31:25 NAB
Vickie A. from Spokane,Wa.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? (Proverbs 20:6 NLT)
Karen, Lynnwood, Wa
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
Courtney De La Rosa
Dallas, TX
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgements! And how untraceable are his ways.”
Romans 11:33 AMP
Laura Hagedorn, Wausau, WI., For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NIV
Dorothy, San Diego
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
Romans 6:5-6 (ESV)
2 Peter 1:3( NIV) ” His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us according to his own glory and goodness. “