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
Kari
Amery, WI
Proverbs 56:3 (NIV)
When I am afraid I will trust in you.
Avis, Lone Star, Texas, last portion of Psalm 8
“You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:6-9 NASB
Marsha, Jefferson, ME
For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Colossians 3:25 ESV
Lyndsey, NC
Hosea 6:3
Living Bible (TLB)
“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him, and he will respond to us as surely as the coming of dawn or the rain of early spring.ā
Linda, Johnstown, Pa.
Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
“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,
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Patty, Shelton, Washington
You, O LORD,
are a shield about me,
my glory,
and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3 ESV
Ginger from Phoenix, AZ
“You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” -Isaiah 26:3, GNT
Dena K. from Columbus, OH:
āDo not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.ā (Luke 6:37, 38 NIV)
Mary Jane, Troy KS
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 NIV
Susan, Tallahassee, Fla.
Then Jesus came to them and said, āAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.ā Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Patti,Clemmons, NC
Romans 6:14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. KJV
Christine, Chandler, AZ:
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
Psalm 149:3 NIV
Glennell, Buda, Tx.
Hosea 10:12NIV)
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
Jane, Bakersfield, CA
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”
Luke 12:24 NIV
Candy from St Louis
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
Erika from McKinney, “In all things, give thanks.” 1 Thess 5:18 NIV
Helen Wall, Crystal City, Manitoba, Canada
1 John 2:12 (ESV)
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
from Scottsdale, AZ
1 Peter 3:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
3. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Godās sight.
“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 NIV
Mary Ellen in Laurel, MT
“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.” Psalm 65:9 NIV
Psalm 91:2 (NIV)
I will say of the Lord, āHe is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.ā
Luke 8:46 “But Jesus said, ‘Somebody deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.'”
I truly felt His power as I suffered a mild stroke on Sept. 26, 2013. My right arm has been affected, and I am typing for the first time tonight ( I’m hitting a lot of wrong keys,but Hallelujah!!!! What a Savior!!!! I am most thankful for His healing power.
Mema Jeanne, NC
Joy, Altadena, CA
God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right-everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.
-Isaiah 30:18 MSG
Elizabeth Pack, Charleston, WV
John 3:30 (NIV)
“He must become greater; I must become less.”
Kim,
New Port Richey, FL
Proverbs 3:33
“The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.”
Judy Pauley
Norfolk, Va.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God
Isaiah 41:10
Andria from northern virginia
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares The Lord.
Isaiah 55:8. Niv
Melisa
Waco, Texas
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
Jan, Marion IA, NASB 1 John. 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Judy, Virginia “But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” NIV
Wendy Smith, Plano TX The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!May the God of my salvation be exalted! PS 18:46 NLT
Deena from Amarillo, TX
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” Luke 12:25 NIV
Jacie from Amarillo, TX
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” Luke 12:25 NIV
Julie in Carlsbad, CA
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
Debra in Mobile:
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
April, Lake Charles, LA
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to His wisdom. ~ Isaiah 40:28 (NET)
Jeanette- Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. NIV
Anne, Simpsonville, SC ‘God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to Me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Me.” Isaiah 30:15 The Message
Rebecca Stewart
Julian, NC
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Yvonne
Fresno CA
Ephesians 1:15 NIV
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Sarah, San Diego
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word.
Psalm 119:37
Diera – Austin, TX
“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
Kimberly Orr~Zionsville Indiana
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV 1984
Laura K, Spearfish, SD:
For You are my lamp, O Lord,and my God lightens my darkness. 2 Samuel 22:29 ESV
Maryjo, Chandler, AZ
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1Peter 5:7. NIV
Annette, Tomball, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Colleen, Cape Town, South Africa
He led me to a place of safety;
He rescued me because he delighted in me!ā
Psalm 18:19 NLT
Beth from Niamey
Romans 8:1
NIV
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Dimy from Griffin, Ga.:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”~Acts 1:8 (NIV)