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
..for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Epesians 6:20 NIV
O God, You cause abundant showers to fall on Your chosen people. When they are tired, You sustain them, for You live among them.
Psalm 68:9-10a the Net Bible
Berni, Albuquerque
“A truly wise person uses few words; a person
with understanding is even-tempered.” Proverbs 17:27NLT
in Muscle Shoals, AL
Praying for your family, Beth.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Lisa, Simsboro, LA
“They speak of you with evil intent, your adversaries misuse your name.” Psalms 139:20 NIV
Michelle C, Chesapeake, VA
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2 (NIV)
“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NET
Donna from Bartlett, TN
Philippians 2:3 (NLT)
Donāt be selfish; donāt try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Temple, TX
Philippians 2: 1 & 2 (NIV)
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
Delores O.
Lake Stevens, WA
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.
Psalm 37:5 NLT
(Praying for you Beth and your family.)
Pam Hendersonville, NC
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2 KJV
Part 1 of 2:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20, NIV
Ruth Hency from Oran, MO. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
Carol, Mason City, Iowa
Psalm 62:5
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. NIV
Leslie
Wisner, La.
Arise, for it is your duty, and we are with you. Be strong and brave and do it.
Ezra 10:4 (Amplified)
Laura ~ Plainfield,IN
In those days when you pray, I will listen.
Jeremiah 29:12 NLT
Kay Tucson, Galations 5:22-23 NIV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Denise
The Woodlands, Texas
2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV) 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Cassia from Spring, TX:
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned, Romans 5:12 NKJV
Marta, Anchorage
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)
Cherilyn, Colfax NC
“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19 NASB
Kelly, Charlotte, NC
so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV
Deanne, Laguna Hills, CA
My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
Jane, Milton, GA 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 NIV
Lori, Oil City “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
Alyse Woodstock, GA
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 NIV
Jeanine,Toronto,Canada
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure.” Romans 5:3 NLT
Cindy,St. Louis, MO – “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
Sara, Sioux City
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Psalm 130:4 NKJV
Karen, Clarksville, “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 NIV
Amy, Seattle, “You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you. Don’t panic. I’m with you.” Isaiah 41:9, The Message Bible
Frances, Orange, TX
…they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 ESV
Selena – Cordele, GA
Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are happy.
Isaiah 30:18
Emilie Eaton,IN
Philippians 1:6 NIV
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.
Ali C., Pleasanton, CA- And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Hebrews 5:9 (NIV)
Lisa, Garland, TX. āYouāre blessed when youāre at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Matthew 5:3 MSG)
Fareen Las Vegas, NV
James 5:9-10 NASB
Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Amanda Porter.
Lubbock, Texas.
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
Mikala, Boston,MA
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6.12 (KJV)
Teresa, Walla Walla “Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Leslie, Central Asia
“Your righteousness, O Go, reaches the high heavens. You have done great things, O God, who is like you?”
Ps. 71:19, ESV
Beth, Story City, IA
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
John 16:13, NKJ
Jane from Geneseo, Illinois
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
(NIV)
Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts. Psalm 68:4
For no matter how many promises God has made,
they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him
the “Amen” is spoken to us by the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20. NIV
Sharon, Mineola, Texas October 15, 2013
Susan,Fairhope,AL – Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Katie, Amarillo. “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:20 NIV
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (ESV)
Psalm 69:30 ESV
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Belated Happy Thanksgiving to all the other Canadain Siesta’s on the blog.
Praying for the Moore family.
sincerely Phyllis.
Sorry!! Phyllis, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.