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
Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing. Psalm 100:2 NKJV
Sandra R., Swainsboro, GA
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV
Tshaka; Belgium; For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
Psalm 32:7 NLT
Karen, Dover, NH “Teach me your way O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” Ps. 86:11 (NIV)
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
For NOTHING is impossible with God.
Luke 1:37 NLT
Punky Tolson, Dallas, TX.
It is not that we are competent in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5, HCSB
(Praying for you & your family. xo)
Rene’, Cape Girardeau, MO
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV
Tanis, Terrace
Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is Godās will for you in Christ Jesus. Donāt stifle the Spirit. Donāt despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 HCSB
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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:28, 29 NIV)
Audrey from Fayetteville, AR:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Chorinthians 4:18 NIV
Christine Port St. Lucie, Florida
Psalm 105:4 (NIV)
Look to the Lord and his strength;Ā seek his face always.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt. 6:19 NIV (beginning of several verses)
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.ā
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
Durant, OK
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Beth, I am praying for you and your family today and everyday.
Sharon, St. Louis
But those who wait for the Lordās help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eaglesā wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. Isaiah 40:31 (NET)
Romans 8:6 NAS
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
Psalm 96: 1-2
Stacey Gaines
Corpus Christi, 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)
Psalm 96: 1-2
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Melissa, Delta, CO
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV
Kathy, Shattuck, OK
Psalm 139:19 (NIV) “If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!”
Ephesians 3:16, NLT
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit.
Psalm 46:10a
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Tara, Eustis
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily as for The Lord and not for man NIV
Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3: 13-14 NIV
Shannon, Columbia, SC,
“For there is nothing that God cannot do.”
Luke 1:37 (Good News Translation)
Stacy, Detroit
“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Proverbs 31:17 (NIV)
Lauren from Magee, MS –
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM Who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” ~Exodus 3:14 (NIV)
Anita, Lawrenceville,
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV
Beth, Praying for y’all!
Midland, TX
Galatians 6:14 (HCSB)
But as for me, I will never boast about anything except
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the
world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Jody in Huntsville NIV 2 Peter 4:7-8
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Peggy, Yorktown, VA
For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.” You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. Rev 3:17 NRSV
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. Romans 8:18 NLT
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1 John 5:14-15
New International Version (NIV)
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears usāwhatever we askāwe know that we have what we asked of him.
Apologies for the ragged cut and paste…crazy morning packing for mission trip!
Carrie Gill, Tyler, TX. “I will say of The Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Ps 91:2. NIV
Jennifer
Lexington, KY
Proverbs 31:29 (MSG)
“‘Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!'”
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ~John 10:27-28 NIV
Cheryl, Coffeyville, KS
“…Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld…” 2 Chronicles 20:20 NIV84
Diane From Cypress, TX
23 And he said to all, āIf anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9:23-24 ESV
T. Nutt, Mansfield, TX.
“…Mostly what God does is love you.” (MSG)
T. Nutt, Mansfield, TX.
“…Mostly what God does is love you.” Eph. 5:1 MSG
Angie
Albertville, AL
“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” John 15:22 NASB
Jeri of Missouri City, TX
Matthew 1:1 KJV
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
“As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.” ~Ephesians 5:24 NLT
Judy from Lake Charles, LA
“But the wicked will perish; The Lord’s enemies
will be like the beauty of the fields; they will
vanish – vanish like smoke.” Psalms 37:20 (NIV)
Katie g; Knoxville Tn
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to The Lord.”
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
Janet Jarmula Ronkonkoma, NY
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” Psalm 139:16 NIV
Sharon from Van, TX
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
Psalm 34:21 NIV
Elaine, Littleton, CO
Proverbs 8:34-36 (NIV)
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.
Kristin, Panama City, FL
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Rev. 4:11 ESV
Angie W. from Liberty, Missouri: 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 NIV84