2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 20!

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
8ā€“10Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€œBut you, Israel, are my servant.
Youā€™re 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, ā€˜Youā€™re my servant, serving on my side.
Iā€™ve picked you. I havenā€™t dropped you.ā€™
Donā€™t panic. Iā€™m with you.
Thereā€™s no need to fear for Iā€™m your God.
Iā€™ll give you strength. Iā€™ll help you.
Iā€™ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

11ā€“13Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€œCount 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 wonā€™t find themā€”
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
Thatā€™s right. Because I, your GOD,
have a firm grip on you and Iā€™m not letting go.
Iā€™m telling you, ā€˜Donā€™t panic.
Iā€™m right here to help you.ā€™

14ā€“16Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  ā€œDo you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
Donā€™t be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
Iā€™ll help you.
I, GOD, want to reassure you.
The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
Iā€™m transforming you from worm to harrow,
from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow youā€™ll smooth out the mountains,
turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
Youā€™ll open the rough ground to the weather,
to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But youā€™ll be confident and exuberant,
expansive in The Holy of Israel!

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Is 41:8ā€“16). 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!

Share

Tags:

1,883 Responses to “2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 20!”

If you'd like your own pic by your comment, go to Gravatar.com. Click the first button "Get your gravatar today ->", and it will walk you through a simple process to select a picture.

Comments:

  1. 1851
    Shellye SparksOf Queen City, TX says:

    Romans 5:8 NKJV
    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

  2. 1852
    Matia Messemer says:

    Matia, Fort Worth, TX
    “But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like a surging sea driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6 HCSB

  3. 1853
    angela says:

    Angela, Greenville OH
    For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people. 1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT

  4. 1854
    Kathy French says:

    Kathy French, Austin,

    “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence,with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. ” Psalm 16:11

  5. 1855
    Lise Ode says:

    Lise Ode, Cumming, GA
    For nothing will be impossible with God.
    Luke 1:37 NAS

  6. 1856
    Lisa Auten says:

    Lisa Auten, Rogers, AR: “But you, Lord, are forever exalted.” Psalm 92:8 NIV

  7. 1857
    Julie Huffman says:

    Julie Huffman, Springdale, AR: “But you, Lord, are forever exalted.” Psalm 92:8 NIV

  8. 1858
    Mary says:

    Mary
    Woodway, Texas
    “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.”
    Ephesians 4:2 NLT

  9. 1859
    Joan says:

    Joan, Redkey, IN

    The Lord is my shephard I shall not want…

    Psalm 23:1 (KJV)

  10. 1860
    Nancy says:

    Nancy, Redkey, IN

    Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails.

    Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

  11. 1861
    karina allen says:

    Karina A.
    Baton Rouge, La.

    “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.”

    Psalm 23:2
    NASB

  12. 1862
    Mandy says:

    Mandy
    Waco, TX
    No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
    1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

  13. 1863
    Martha says:

    “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 ESV Martha from Van Buren, AR

  14. 1864
    Melissa Jungeblut says:

    Melissa J from Houston

    1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

    Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grade in its various forms.

  15. 1865
    Lindsay W says:

    Lindsay W, Albuquerque, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 ESV

    Kelsie, Albuquerque, “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” Psalm 46:5 NIV

    Alysa, Albuquerque, “I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:2 NIrV

  16. 1866
    Janice from Platte City says:

    If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
    ps 139:9-10 NIV

  17. 1867
    Melissa E says:

    Melissa E
    Anna, Tx

    ESV Psalm 2:10-11

    “10.Now, therefore, O Kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

  18. 1868
    alyssa, sealy tx says:

    Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.”

Leave a Reply

To receive a daily digest of comments on this post, enter your email address below: