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
Proverbs 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Wisdomās Worth
2 My son, if you accept my words(A)
and store up my commands within you,
2 listening closely[a] to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Romans 6:6-7 (NLT)
Debi, Alva,FL Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 nasb
Marcia, Portland, OR I Corinthians 3:6 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
Marcia, Portland, OR 2 Corinthians 3:6 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
Becky, Lynchburg, Va.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:3, 4 NIV)
MaryJo from Indianapolis, IN
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
Marianne from Carrollton, Texas
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32 KJV)
Pauline Richardson, Eau Claire,” For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain” Psalm 139:20 NKJV
Katy
Frisco,TX
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19 NIV
Reeder
Auburn, AL
Is. 48:10 The Message
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.
Linda from Birmingham, Alabama
“Yes, my soul,find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
~ Psalm 62:5-6 (NIV)
How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You, that You bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in You.
Psalm 31:19 (NIV)
Crystal H from Gridley, IL
Joyce Davidson, Big River, Sk, Canada
“Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.”
Psalm 25:20 NIV 84
Dawn, Silver Spring
Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV
Know therefore that The Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.
Finishing Daniel 2:20-23!
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.ā
Mark 6:31 NIV: Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Kathy from Chandler, OK
“Enjoy prosperity whenever you can, and when hard times strike, realize that God gives one as well as the otherāso that everyone will realize that nothing is certain in this life.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 TLB
Betsy from Westerville, Ohio
Romans 8: 26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. 2 Chron.7:14 NIV
Kristy from Tallahassee, FL
“Take care of God’s needy people and welcome strangers into your home.”
Romans 12:13 (CEV)
I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rev. 12:1, ESV
Melissa, Locust Grove, Ga “I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 NIV84
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV84
Melissa, Columbus, OH
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 ESV
Rachel R., Lafayette, IND: “What joy for those You choose to bring near, those who live in Your holy courts. What festivities await us inside Your holy Temple!” -Psalm 65:4, NLT
Donna Huneycutt, Mt. Pleasant, NC
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.
Proverbs 12:25 HCSB
Ellen K., Stoughton, MA
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession,that you may proclaim the excellencies of Himwho called you out of darknessinto His marvelous Light
Ephesians 1:23 NIV
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Candace
Colorado Springs
“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.”
Psalm 16:5 NIV
Cindy, Largo, Florida
“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
Jaime Turner from Nederland, Texas
“Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? Itās way over our heads. Weāll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise!Yes. Yes. Yes.” ~Romans 11:33-36 (the Message)
Angie. Belleville, IL
Ps. 46:10 MSG
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long loving look at me, your High God; above politics; above everything!”
Maureen, St. Clair Shores, “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.” (1 Peter 1:6b Msg)
Melissa-Fort Worth, TX- “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14 (NASB)
Sue, Wellington.
Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always. Psalm 105:4 NIV 84
Valerie, Clinton, Me
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17 (ESV)
Cathy Reineke
Orofino, Idaho
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise…
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name….
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness!
1Chron 16:25A,29
Esther, Lincoln, NE
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1 NIV)
Carolyn Tragresser
Orofino, ID
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalms 105:1-5 NIV
2 Samuel 7:22 āNLT
How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!
Cyndi from Sterling, VA
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15 (NIV)
Betty, Wendell, NC
John 12:26 NLT
Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Steph, Ontario, Canada
1 Timothy 6:6
“So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”
Thinking of your family, Beth, and praying for you all.
Donna, Glendale, AZ.
Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.
Matt. 5:4. HCSB
Megan; Goodlettsville, TN
James 1:6 (NIV)
“But when he asks, he should believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV
Terri from Winchester, Virginia
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15 NIV
In God I trust: I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:11 (NIV)
Pat Stokes
Portland, TX
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace- loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 (NIV)