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
Sherry
Indianapolis, IN
1Corinthians 3-5 (niv)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast , it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
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 NET
Redfield, AR
[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableāif anything is excellent or praiseworthyāthink about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Tomi, Des Moines. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11 NIV
Wendy
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Carole, Imperial, CA: Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV
“The Lord lift up his counteance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Numbers 6:26 KJV
Katie Brown
Greenfield, In
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Linda Jewell
Sedona, AZ
1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Godās special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Hannah, Baton Rouge, LA
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11-12, NIV
Karlys, La Place, LA
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3: 26 ESV
Mary
Houston, TX
Psalm 77:14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples. (NIV)
Fort Worth, TX
“For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:5 NLT
Jennifer, Fort Worth
“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet. The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the Lord.” Prov. 19:2-3 NKJV
Laura, Minneapolis, MN.
“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
Psalm 105:4, ESV
Rockmart, GA
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. II Corinthians 1:3. NKJV
Pat, Seffner, Fl
2nd Chronicles 20:15
The battle is not yours, but God’s.
Mindy B, Gloster, LA –
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Isaiah 50:4 NIV
He has showed you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Danita, Lake in the Hills, IL
Colossians 4:6 ESV
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Stephanie Colucci
3 John 1:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you.
Angela, Warsaw
They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. Mark 8:7 (NIV)
Elaine, New Orleans, LA
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Sandy E.; Kansas City, Missouri; “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NKJV
Sandy Deming, NM
Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they reveal knowledge. Ps 19:2 NIV
Melissa, Katy, Texas, James 1:4 NIV
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 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.
Shannon, Tyler, Tx A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs
up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NASB
Vicki, Grapevine, TX –
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10 NIV
Lord, You establish peace for us, all that we have accomplished You have done for us.
Isaiah 26:12 NIV
Carol Peavy
Jena, LA
Julie,Texarkana,”I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will wait for Him.” (Isaiah 8:17 HCSB)
Psalm 42:8 ESV
“By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night His song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.”
Mary~Columbia, PA~For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NIV
Michele ~ Kenosha, WI
Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in Your house, LORD.
Psalm 23:6 CEV
*Mama Beth, we are praying for you! xoxo’s *
Rachel in Thousand Oak, CA
“Hold firmly to my teaching & never let go. It will mean LIFE for you.” Proverbs 4:13 (CEVU)
Madeleine,Corrales:Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,keeping our eyes on Jesus,the source and perfector of our faith. Hebrews 12-1-2 HCSB
Desiree, Calgary Alberta,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 ESV
Alice, Dallas, TX: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 NKJV
Carolyn, St. Catharine’s, ON
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)
Sarah, Colorado Springs, CO
Exodus 30:22-23
“And while my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen”
Exodus 30:22-23 (AMP)
Alison from Southport, NC. “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3. NKJV.
Gwyn Tidwell of Haslet, Tx
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV84)
Jamie, Coupeville:
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galations 2:20, NASB
Shelley, Birmingham, AL-
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Patty, Granite Bay, CA “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
Valerie, Taylors, SC
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Kim
Warrensburg, MO
James 4:1-3 (NLT)
4 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Donāt they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you donāt have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you canāt get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you donāt have what you want because you donāt ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you donāt get it because your motives are all wrongāyou want only what will give you pleasure.
Dayna, Bedford, VA
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. Romans 6:6 NIV
Britt, Burlington, NC. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Peggyann Calderwood, Crestview, Florida
Every morning tell the Lord, “Thank you for your kindness,” and every evening rejoice in all His faithfulness.
Psalm 92:2 The Living Bible
Acts 4:12 ESV
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved