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
Peggy, Corpus Christi, TX
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV
Rachel D., Meridian, “Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” (Psalms 22:2,3 NLT)
Sharon, McKinney, TX
Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
Isiah 65:24 NIV
Bethany, Evart, Michigan. The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
Betty, Loma Linda
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 KJV
Jennifer, Cypress, TX
Colossians 3:4 NIV, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Fran, Jackson, TN
Many are the plans in a personās heart,
but it is the Lordās purpose that prevails.Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Natalie-Austin, Tx
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid I will trust in you. (NIV)
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV
Connie from Carterville, IL
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
Psalm 32:9 ESV
Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
Psalm 25:14-14 NLT
Yanna, Bryan Tx. “They speak against you with malicious intent, your enemies take your name in vain”. Psalm 139:20
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Andrea, Dublin, OH
Dana Ashland, KY “And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray together to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
Jeremiah 29:7 NLT
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
Dan Hutto, Huffman TX. Psalm 149:6 NAS – Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.
Carol from Farmers Branch:
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5 (NASB)
Donna, Deer Park. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knoqledge and the depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Philippians 1:9-10 NIV
TANE MCGEHEE,UVALDE, TEXAS OCTOBER 17,2013 10:12
PSALM 51:15 O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.
Hanna Wahlbrink. Lexington, Ky.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lordās people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:12-13 (niv)
Lanie Beth, Locust Grove, GA ‘God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity’ Psalm 68:6 NASB
Sherri, Albuquerque “He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because he delighted in me!” Psalm 18:19 NLT
Janet from Odessa, TX
“For kingship belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations”.
Psalm 22:28 HCSB
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Provers 31:13 ESV
MacKenzie, St Louis
Amanda Long, Clinton, MO
Romans 8:31 (NIV)
What shall we then say in response to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Margie, San Angelo Tx
Ephesians 6:1 KJV
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
“But blessed is the man
who trusts in the Lord
whose confidence is in Him.”
Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
Linda, Fort Collins, CO
Chris
Canton, NC
Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.
Pslams 105:4
NIV
“Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall.”
Ruth 3:18 KJV
Rene’, Edmond, OK
I prayed to the LORD, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Ps. 34:4 NLT
Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Jen, Houston
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” – Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV)
Praise the LORD.
Blesses is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land.
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Psalm 112:1,2
Glenna, Cumberland House, Saskatchewan “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” (Ephesians 6:14 NIV)
Brenda, Collinston, La.
Zechariah 13:9 “I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them. I will say ‘These are My people’, and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God’.” NLT
Melissa
Midlothian, VA
Romans 8:28
New International Version (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Crystal, Livonia, Michigan
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good words and glorify your Father which is in heaven”
Matthew 5:16
Suzanne Morton, Decatur ,Texas
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength ”
Deuteronomy 6:5. NIV
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalm 139:23 NIV
Colliervillle Tn
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is by the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe to the Jew first, and also to the Greek .
( Romans 1:16) NIV
Beth, Robinson
“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 NLT
Tori, Robinson
“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 NLT
Lydia, Warman, Canada
Psalm 40:8 NIV
I desire to do your will, O my God;
Your law is within in my heart.
Beverly, Vicksburg, MS
Psalm 143:8
“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning;
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.”
Pamela from Shelby Township MI.
She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy.
Proverbs 31:25 NCV
Becky, Stromsburg, NE
James 5:16 NIV
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Whitney from Cape Girardeau, MO
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
Sarah ~ Appleton, WI
Psalm 5:2-3
King-God, I need your help. Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.
The Message
Ann, SC
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Romans 6:14 NIV
When I am afraid I will trust in You.
Psalm 56:3 NIV