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
“The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9 NASB
Cindy, Beaumont, TX: 13 āEnter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
Missy S, Chapel Hill, NC
“āHe will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more deathā or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!ā Then he said, āWrite this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ā
Revelation 21:4-5 (NIV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 (NIV) Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Erin in Euless, TX
Lamentations 3:29 (MSG)
“Bow in prayer. Donāt ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.”
Avis, Lone Star, Texas, last portion of Psalm 8
āYou 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!ā Psalm 8:6-9 NASB
Ramona, Pasadena: 1 John 1:8 NLT
If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.
Martha from Corpus Christi, Texas
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul anad spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attiitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Desiree in Carlsbad
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.”
(Philippians 2:3, 4 NIV)
Mandy, Watkinsville, GA
John 11:4- HCSB- “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. (John 1:16)
Mindy from Austin, TX, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22, NIV.
Rachel, Surprise, AZ:
“Praise the Lord, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise His holy name! Praise the Lord, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds! He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases.” ~Psalm 103:1-3 (NET)
Hannah
Lake Charles, LA
Donāt lie to one another. Youāre done with that old life. Itās like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes youāve stripped off and put in the fire. Now youāre dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
Colossians 3:9-11 MSG
Gina, Waynesville, NC
You go before me and follow me.You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Psalm 139:5 (NLT)
Blanche, Pearland, TX
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
Kim, Pearland, TX
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
II Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Ephesians 3:20 God’s Word
Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine
Amy Hawk, Hood River, OR, “If anyone wants to serve me, (s)he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor (her).” John 12:27, The NET Bible
SORRY! I meant John 12:26
Carla, Pierre, SD
Oh, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set your glory above the heavens. Psalm 8:1
Sacha
Midland, TX
Deuteronomy 8:14 (HCSB)
“[Be careful] that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.”
Carolyn, Austin, TX:
Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4 NIV
Ps. 103:6-9 NAS
The Lord performs righteous deed and judgements for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us; nor will He keep His anger forever.
Mindy, Indiana
Hebrews 10:22-25 So letās do itāfull of belief, confident that weāre presentable inside and out. Letās keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Letās see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Message)
Jean – Franklinton, NC
Be still and know that I am God.
Ps 46:10 NLT
Rachael Clark, jersey shore pa
āYour attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not demand or cling to His rights as God. He made Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.ā Phil 2:5-7
Amanda, Van Buren, AR
But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?” -Numbers 32:6 NASB
Lori, Friendswood, TX
I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.
Psalm 116: 1 (NIV)
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7(NLT)
Karen from Powell, Ohio
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.
Psalm 16:1 (NIV)
Gina from Ruston, LA
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruitāfruit that will lastāand so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16 NIV)
Jennifer, Chattanooga. Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1 NIV
Kristin, Carlsbad, CA “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifice God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Kate Posthuma from Cheney, WA
Being a pastoral couple, this verse brings me much comfort, that as we “shepherd” the flock that is in our care, God nourishes and shepherds us.
“Save your people. Bless those who belong to you; nourish and shepherd and carry them forever.”
Psalm 28:9
combination of the NIrV & Amp
Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB
Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Littlestown, PA -“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.”- Philippians 4:4-5 (ESV)
Call to me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3
Tammy
Cincinnati
Thel light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5
Becca, Camp Pendleton, CA
“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” Ā ~ Acts 11:23 NIV
Sarah, Lincoln, NE
James 1:23 (NIV)
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror “
Betty, Austin, Texas, Psalm 25:20 NIV
Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for i take refuge in you.
Rachel – Nashville, TN
I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help
comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
Allison Crook
Albuquerque, NM
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)
DeeDee. Katy,Tx
Jesus wept.
John 11:35
NIV
Brittnie, Sugar Land, Texas
Isaiah 26:7 (NIV) “The path of the righteous is level; O upright one, you make the way of the righteous smooth.”
Heidi~Lindale, Tx
James 1:5 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom,you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Valerie, Little Elm, TX
“Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” Isaiah 61:7 NLT
Karessa, Peoria, IL: O LORD, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 NET
Susan- Berryville,VA~
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthyāmeditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)
Natalie; Richmond Hill, GA; āFor my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,ā declares the Lord. āAs the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8, 9 NIV)