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
Kerre, Chattanooga, TN. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV
Jennie F. from Long Creek, Oregon. “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19a NIV
Lisa, Wichita, KS
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 ESV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will beat much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5/NIV
Sara, Plymouth, IN
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
:Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
Kathryn, Oceanside, “For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” Philipians 4:13 NLT
BECKY PEURIFOY – LONGVIEW TX – JOHN 3:16 NIV “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
Exodus 14:14.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2 : 5
Jesus answered and said to him “What I am doing, you do not understand now but you will understand later” John 13:7
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:2 (NKJV)
Jamie in Mason, OH
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says, “in repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength”
Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
Julene from Cowiche, WA
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14 NIV
Olathe, KS
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.
Isaiah 41:13
Praise the LORD.
Blessed 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
krystal ward
teague, tx
he has made everything beautiful in its time. he has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
ecclesiastes 3:18 NIV
Nesha, Mechanicsville VA
‘Our help is in the name of The Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.’
Psalm 124:8. NIV
Whitney from Russellville, TN
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6. TNIV
Waylene, Bellevue, WA
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil 2:5 KJV
Psalm 126:2 KJV
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.
Gail
Decatur TX
Allison Ashton
KJV – Houston, Texas
Psalm 139:20
“For they speak against thee wickedly and thine enemies take thy name in vain.”
Dawn Kornelson- Airdrie, Alberta Canada
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. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 NIV
Deanne, Laguna Hills, CA
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not falter from it.
Proverbs 22:6 NIV
Sherry Youngblood Jay, OK
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Dutchess of Winterville, “For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37NIV (I just want to shout over this one!)
Tricia
Conroe, TX
“Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m you God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”
Isaiah 41:10
The Message
Scarlett
Round Rock, TX
“Follow Godās example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV)
Bev, Austin.
“May God fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His Power, so that the Name of our LORD Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the Grace of our God and the LORD Jesus Christ.” 2 Thes 1:11-12
Rachel from Woodstock, GA
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11. NIV
Jennifer B, Plano, TX
Psalm 121:8 (NIV)
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Rita Brown
Midland, TX
But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God
and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
Natalie from Frisco, TX
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 NIV
Kirby from Parsons, KS
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” Luke 11:33 NIV
Karen ( Oconomowoc,Wi). Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. … Psalm 139:23 NIV
I Peter 1:22-23
“Now that you have purified yourselves so that you have a sincere love for all the brothers, love one another deeply from the heart. For you have been born again–not of perishable see–but of imperishable, through the living, enduring Word of God.”
Sherry
Oklahoma
Psalms 91:10 NLT
“no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.”
Laura, Katy, TX
Zephaniah 3:17. The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing. NIV
stephanie, houston
They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
Psalm 139:20 NIV
Clancie, Elizabethtown, KY,
Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor, be aglow and burning with
the Spirit, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11, AMP
Carol Wilson
Choctaw, OK
Deut. 13:36. – For The Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love The Lord your God w/ all your heart & all your soul. Holman
Rena, Tulsa. “Therefore, [Rena], you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.” -Romans 8:12 NLT
Inez Barnes
Hamburg, AR
Psalm 118:1 NIV
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His faithful love endures forever
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Marcia Jordon, Fulton, MO
Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;
Alicia, Riverton Utah
1 Chronicles 16:34, ESV, “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Billie, Greenville, KY “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ESV
Jill Sayles, Puyallup, WA
Psalm 30:12, NLT
“that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”
GINA, TULSA
We love because he first loved us. John 4:19 NIV
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV84)
Alicia, Gulfport, MS
They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Psalm 139:20 NIV