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
Ashley, Fort Worth, TX
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long, they exult in your righteousness.
Psalm 89:15-16 NIV
Melanie Toups
Bridge City, TX
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. — 1 John 2:20-21 NASB
JulieP
Tierra Verde FL
Romans 12:12 NET
Rejoice in Hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer
Denise from Lenexa, KS
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6 NIV
Kim Rushville, OHIO
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, I violated the LORD’S command and your instruction. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so I may worship the LORD.” I Samuel 15:24-25
Phyllis, Irvine, CA
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
“It is he who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to the wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.
Daniel 2:21
NASB
Jayne- Frisco, TX
Jackie Pope, Covington, IN, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” Psalm 73:25 NKJV
Lisa Walden from Grand Prairie, Tx
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
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.
Amy from shorewood IL
A manās heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)
Phyllis
Gilmer, Tx
Romans 6:14 NIV
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law, but under grace.”
“I pray your LOVE will overflow more and more, and you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.”
Philippians 1:9(NLT)
Jean, Platte City, MO
Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.
Hilary, Columbus, GA
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:3 NIV
Sue, Houston, He giveth His beloved sleep!Psalms
Jer 30:17 I will give you back your health again.
Be still and Know that I am God.(KJV)
Kristi, Austin, TX
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV
Nancy, St. Petersburg FL
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 ESV
Gail, McDonough,Ga
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)
Paula, O’Fallon
To me, less than the last of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the Gospel
Ephesians 3:8 RcV
Tonya
Searcy, AR
“Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which He promised to His people. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Col. 3: 24 NCV
melody Jefferson Georgia
Isaiah 43:18&19 (GW) Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago. 19 I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8
Tina, Cincinnati, OH – I Cor 4:20 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
āThe Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.ā Exodus 14:14(NIV)
Andi Crunrine, Rockwall, TX
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,ā says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 NIV
Rebecca Alburn
Salem, OR
“The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.”
Psalm 116:5 NIV
“Therefore encourage one another an build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11
Linda R. Springfield, MO
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
Psalm 8:3-4 NKJV
Terri from Mechanicsville:
“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
Kelley Mansfield, Sharpsburg GA
Proverbs 16:7 NIV
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ ā by grace you are saved! ā and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:4-6 NET)
Lynchburg, VA
Psalm 71:14 (ESV)
But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
Shawna Kent, WA
āUnderstand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.ā James 1:19 AMP
Pushkala, Louisville, KY: Humble yourselves, therefore, under Godās mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Pet 5:6(NIV)
Shelly Wilson, Fort Worth, TX
Proverbs 17:9 (HCSB)
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.
Barb of Crown Point
Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23 (NLT).
Bridgette, Rockwall, TX
But I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God’s great kindness.
Act. 20:24 CEVU
Praying for you Beth, Acts 17:6 Paul understood well…He was turning the world upside down first, YOU, BY THE LORD’s GRACE ARE DOING LIKEWISE: TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN BY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS! And the enemy hated him because He was reaching those that would not have inherited the kingdom of GOD (1 Co 6:9-11)!!! You= likewise…. BUT GOD HAS THE VICTORY!!!! BUT GOD! Two words separating DEAD, satan and sin’s dominion from LIFE eternally in knowing CHRIST, kingship living, victory over sin’s bondage (Eph 2:1-3 BUT GOD v4 and LOVE MERCY GRACE came v5-10!!!! BUT GOD!!!!! in your situation.
Love the verses! LOVE IN CHRIST JESUS THE SAVIOR, PROTECTOR and DELIVERER!!!! ….
Nancy from West Grove, Pa
The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Pat S., Lago Vista, TX
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Psalm 73:28
Pam ~ Knoxville, TN
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Ephesians 3:16-18
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into Godās love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all Godās people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
Leverett, MA
He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
Psalm 34:20 NASB
Rebecca, Louisa, VA:
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed Him as His counselor?
Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way?
Who was it that taught Him knowledge or showed Him the path of understanding? ~ Isaiah 40:12-14 (NIV)
Janice – Topeka, KS
I Thessalonians 5:16 NIV
Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Germantown, WI
“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
Tess
Cartersville, GA
Hebrews 13:15 ESV
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
Wendy
Vero Beach
“…for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her….”
Proverbs 8:11 (NIV)
Pattie Self,San Angelo, Texas
I lift my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1&2 NIV
Romans 2:4or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, & patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? Nab