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
Tanya, Raleigh,NC
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.” (Psalms 91:14-16 NASB)
Anita
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
NIV
Kathy, Aiea, HI
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 NIV
Becca, St. Paul, Mn, James 1:19 AMP: Understand (this), my beloved brethern. Let every man be quick to hear (a ready listener), slow to speak, slow to take offense and get angry.
Deborah from Calgary Canada. Luke I:53 “He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.” (HCSV)
Lynda, Monterey:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
New Living Translation (NLT)
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
James 1:22 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Cheryl Couperus: Redlands, CA
1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
CHRISTIE – Graham, Wa
” teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.ā
Matt. 28:20
Julie, Gresham, OR
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” I John 5:4 (ESV)
Beth, Dyersburg, TN
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:17 ESV
Ashley Pointer from Spring, Texas
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Misty Sanders, North Charleston, SC
15 He said, āListen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Donāt be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but Godās.
2 Chronicles 20:15- NLT
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM: One night The Lord spoke to
Paul in a vision: do not be afraid, keep in speaking, do not be silent. Acts 18:9
John 1:14 (NASV)
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Heather G.
Fredericksburg, VA
“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.” Is 41: 8_10 Msg
Richmond, TX
Psalm 127: 1-2 NIV
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-
for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalms 118:24 NASB)
Rachel H, Alabama
O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them, for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God. (Psalms 68:9, 10 NET)
Allison, Cypress TX
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV
My small group will be memorizing:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NIV
pamela t., Fairmont, NC Deuteronomy 8:3 (AMP)
And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
NIV—October 15 Psalm 105:4
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always”
Kathy Carenza
New Port Richey Florida
Isaiah 53:8 NIV84
By oppression and judgment He was taken away.
Yet who of His generation protested?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of My people He was punished.
Be still and know that I am God. Ps 46:10
Judy Sommerville, Fairmont, MN
Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.
Julie from Granbury, TX
Romans 6:14 (NKJV) “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
Carol
Woodbridge CA
“You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness and clothed me in happiness. I will sing to you and not be silent, Lord, my God, I will praise you forever.’
Psalm 30:11-12
New Century Version
Erin B., League City, TX
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.” Luke 1:45 NIV
Debbie, Georgetown Tx
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 HCSB)
“The end of all things is near. So keep a clear mind. Control yourselves. Then you can pray.” ~ 1 Peter 4:7 NIRV
Jennifer, Sisters,OR
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27 NIV
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7 NIV
Carolyn
Oceanside, ca
San Bernardino Ca.
FOR what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world yet forfeit his.. Mark 8:36 Net.
Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Corinthians 3:16 NIV
Leah Cullen – Ramona, CA
you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, āYou are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you offā; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9, 10 ESV)
Emily Byrd; Baton Rouge, LA
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 3:3, NASB
Whitney, Ames, OK
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:5-6
Lindy I. White of Oklahoma City
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
ROM 15:4, NIV
Crystal from Phoenix
James 4:14 NIV
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Julie, Hawaii;
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 1:6, nkjv
Susan
Corinth, TX
āBut be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.ā
1 Samuel 12:24, NIV
Prayer answered. I think we all know how much you care for us. I am praying for YOU tonight. Also for your sister. Take care.
Kim, Valdosta, GA
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV
Okie Murray from Edisto Island, SC
“When you pass though the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not over flow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, now shall the flame scorch you, For I am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2, 3a
NKJ
“O Darlene (Israel), put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption.”
Psalm 130:7 NIV
Carrie- Cary, NC:
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 (NET)
Mary, Lilburn GA. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 NIV
Erin Sheldon
Savannah, GA
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside Godās throne. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NLT)