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
Debbie, Marion, IN. ” They speak of You with evil intent; Your adversaries misuse Your Name.” Psalm 139:20 NIV
Becky, The Woodlands, TX – O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 (NAS)
But you oh Lord, are a shield for me, glory and the One who lifts my head
Psalm 3:3
Jenna, Kansas City
Kerry Buell
St. Louis, MO
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5
NIV
Kerry from Houston, TX:
Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17 ESV
Cindy, Kearney NE
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)
Jenn, Frederick , CO
Luke 6:35-36 TNIV
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Karen from Leeds, AL
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Mark 8:36 NIV
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the ever lasting way.” HSCB
Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for a man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. James 1:19-20 NIV
Emily, Coralville. So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you. Matthew 7:12
Barbara, Prospect, KY: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!” Phil 4:4 NIV.
I put my hope In You, Lord;You will answer, Lord, my God. Ps 38:15 NIV
Sarah S., McKinney, TX, Ephesians 3:21 NIV
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Susan , Greenville, SC Rev. 17:14 NIV
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kingsāand with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.ā
Morag, Bishop, CA
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life”.
John 10:10 – New Living Translation
emi, white house: “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV
Betty, Waveland, IN “I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” Isaiah 43:25 The Living Bible
Fran, Stedman, NC “He existed before anything else and He holds all creation together.” Col. 1:17 NLT
Leah, Houston, TX
Romans 12:2
Do not conform 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 Godās will isāhis good, pleasing and perfect will.
How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:1-2 (NASB)
Debbie W. – Prattville, AL
1 Thessalonians 5:18
New Living Translation (NLT)
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Godās will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Maria, Houston – “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV)
Rhonda, Niles, MI, “He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Fortress, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:6 NIV
Karen Edlund
Rochester, MN
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
“Many are the plans in a personās heart, but it is the Lordās purpose that prevails.”
Ramona Gellick
Medina, OHIO
Romans 6:13b (NLT)
“Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life.”
Janice Victoria BC
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25 NAS
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.”
Psalm 32:1 | ESV
Joy from Lubbock, TX
Since I was a week behind, I will post two verses to catch up!
Psalm 121:7-8, NIV
“The Lord will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Heather
Little Rock, AR
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalms 116:2 NLT)
Jeri, Draper UT
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Godās will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Monica, Abbotsford, BC Canada
Col 3:3 NIV
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Betty Clark, Ann Arbor, MI Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)
“Moses answered the people, āDo not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today… The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.ā
Oh, thank you! I needed that one!!
Blessings!!
Vicksburg, MS
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
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4 (NIV’84)
Kathy
St. Louis, MO
Jennifer, Denham Springs, LA
Catching up!
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. PHil 4:8 NIV
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. Ps. 84:5, NIV
The Lord is my shepard I shall not want . . .
Psalms 23:1 KJ
Waxahachie, Texas
Isaiah 54:10
“Though the mountians be shaken and the hills be removed;
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaked, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Nicole Hudnall, Lynchburg, VA
I look up to the mountainsā does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
Psalms 121: 1-2 NLT
kathy from leesville, la Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1-2 KJV
Beth C, Huntsville, AL
Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV)
Joni, Port Neches. “When I said,’My foot is slipping,’ your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Ps. 94:18-19, NIV84
Carol
Albuquerque nm
Colossians 4:6
6 – Let your conversation be always full of grace seasoned with salt sothat you may know how to answer everyone.
NIV
Linda Gammon, Blue Springs, MO
2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you
Linda,Bartelso,IL: Love consists in this: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. IJohn4:10 (HCSB)
Andrea from Brush Creek: There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. I Cor 15:40-41 NIV
LaGlace, Alberta, Canada
“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.”
Colossians 1:13 (NIV)
Hilary from Langley, Canada, says:
“Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them,
I count them my enemies.”
Ps. 139:20-21 NIV84
Erica, Chicago
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
-1 John 1:5 (NIV)
Shaci-Aztec,NM
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23 NIV)