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
Cindy,
New York City
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
James 3:17 NIV
Andrea
Woodstock, GA
Philippians 4:19
NIV
“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Atlanta, GA
I can do everything through
him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
Jennifer from Gaithersburg, MD
“Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10 NLT)
Nina
Moore, OK
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV
Donna
Franklin, TN
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26 (ESV)
Marti, Loganville ga
” You are my friends if you do what I command” John 15:14 NIV
Daniel 2:23 (NIV) (Part 4 of 4)
“I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.ā
Sonya,
Aurora, Colorado
At that very moment God transformed him- made him a new person!
I Sam. 10:9 (the Message)
Psalm 100: 1-3 NKJV
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us and not we are ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Donna, Fort Wayne, IN
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who diedāmore than that, who was raisedāwho is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34 ESV)
May have the power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Eph 3:18 NIV
Jennifer from Wilmington, DE
But when he asks, he must believe and NOT DOUBT, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
– James 1:6-8 (NIV/84)
Sam Rowley, IA
Romans 12: 19 NKJV
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Riverton,UT
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 ESV)
Caroline, Houston, TX
The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low and He saved me. Psalm 119:20
Teresa, Austin, TX
Romans 6:7 NLT
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
II Corinthians 5:21 – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Candace – Narvon, PA
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
1 Timothy 4:7(b) NASB
Pam, Psalm 147;1 Praise the Lord! For it is pleasent,and praise is beautiful….
NSFL NKJV
Cindy Franklin, Graceville, FL
Ps 103:14 KJV
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Teresa, Tyler TX
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me for I wait for you.
Psalm 25:21
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV
Stephanie – Tampa, FL
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27 NIV
Shawn AZ
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 NKJV
Susan, Atlanta, GA
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 ESV
Becky Wang, Ohio
Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our[a] sins
Into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19 NKJV
Caryn-Grand Prairie, TX
“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” Phillpians 2:4 (NLT)
Karen from Unionville, PA
Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Angie W., Federal Way, WA
It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV
Janice, Tulsa.
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, Ephesians 6:19 KJV
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How precious are your thoughts God. How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand- When I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:17-18
Susan
Kansa City
Paula
Atlanta, Tx.
For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Psalm 139:20 NKJV
Skeet from Monroe, GA.
James 2:7 (NIV)
Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
April
Pittsburgh, PA
Psalms 94:19 (NIV)
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Tiffany
Muskogee,Ok
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT)
Molly Z from Pierce, NE
“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 NIV)
Psalms 51:10
Create in me a pure heart O God, and renew a steady fast spirit within me.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.”
Psalms 90:12 NAB
Kaiva from Chicago,
If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
Proverbs 24:10 NLT
Janet from Port Orange
I don’t remember if I posted here yet, so here goes —
(1 Corinthians 13:6)Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Psalm 86:6
Give ear O Lord to my prayer and attend to the voice of my supplications.
Dana Pace, FL
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. Matt 11:6 NIV
Rose in Dallas
1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
1 Timothy 4:7(b) NASB
Libby
Dallas, TX
Give me happiness, O Lord,
for I give myself to you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Psalm 86:4-5
NLT
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Dana
Boerne, TX
Lisa S, Plano TX
10.15.2013
James 1:18 NKJV
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.isa S, Plano TX
Kami, Dallas, Tx: “And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.'” Josh. 5:9 NIV