Skip to main content

What's your version?

I am attending a Bible study where we paraphrase scripture.  This doesn’t sound fun, does it?  Actually, I went into this with a little “kicking and screaming” but have ended up liking the whole idea.  Once the scripture is paraphrased, we dissect it – that part I happen to enjoy wholeheartedly!   (I know, I’m weird!)

This last week one of the assignments was Psalm 23.  This psalm is a favorite of many.  But favorites don’t make for easy paraphrasing – just sayin.  The more I read and re-read this psalm, the more it “said”.  Do you know what I mean?

Let’s look at it:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This of course is from the New King James Version.  The following is my version:

God watches over me and with Him, there is nothing I lack.

He is everything; His will be done.

I fear nothing, for God will keep me close.

He provides lavishly even when surrounded by adversaries.

He will remain with me, even in dying, for heaven is my home.

As I paraphrased away, this psalm taught me that God knows me, sees me and loves me.  He will provide all I need.  There is no reason to fear anything – yes, I said A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  God has my back.

Goodness and mercy are mine (I LOVE THAT) and they pursue me!  (I DOUBLE-LOVE THAT!)

Seriously, how can that be?  He is my shepherd, He knows my name.  I belong to Him.  So do you.

Seem too simplistic?   Try it yourself - what’s your version?

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Loved less.

I am a spiritual lesson seeker.  At least once a week, I find a spiritual lesson in something - whether its an occurrence, or when I'm reading my devotions.  Sometimes its in worship.  Most times, though, its every day life, the normal, day to day grind, that makes me stop, take notice and ponder. By spiritual lesson, I mean a "heart" lesson.  Something God tells me, shows me, or teaches me.  I have to smile when I think about it because its usually SO SIMPLE.  You know what I mean?  And because I take everything (literally) "to heart" , these spiritual lessons are life changing.  Sorry if you think I'm being slightly dramatic here, but to me, they really are. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."  To me, that's pretty much impossible.  Yet, I pray it. And I truly want it.  But I can't.  I just . . . .  can't.  I'm too full of mysel...
1 comment
Read more

May my heart see . . . a blog? What?

My sister suggested years ago for me to start a blog.   “A what?”, I said.   Well, thank you, Cindy, for your suggestion – I think I’m gonna love this !   And I hope you do too.   I want to share what my heart has “seen” and is learning through God’s Word and I want to hear from you too.   The first time I EVER went to Bible study was when my “baby” was in an infant seat.   I remember it vividly.   (He’s 25 now BTW)    My step-mom invited me; she was the leader.   I don’t know if I would have went to a study where I didn’t know A SOUL – maybe.   Anyway, I have been going to a weekly study since then regularly and LOVE IT, absolutely love it! When scripture says “ open the eyes of my heart, Lord” – what do you think that means?   Hearts don’t have eyes, I mean literally they don’t.   My step-mom used to say, “I know it in here (pointing to her brain) but I now know it in HERE (pointing to her heart).   There’s a differ...
5 comments
Read more

It all started before that.

As she talked, I sat there amazed.   Not at what she was saying, but at who she had become.   Confident.   Godly.   Faithful.    Respected.   It just hit me that she is now a leader in our church.    A true leader.   The next generation of leaders, in fact. But wait -- is this the same young woman who God brought into our lives a little over 10 years ago?   The anxious, nervous, only-just-started-going-to- church- wanting-to-please-everyone young woman my son introduced us to?   Watching her confidently taking her seat, I started thinking of those first days . . .   and seriously, my breath caught in my throat.   How amazing God is!   He molds, He holds.   He shapes and He grows.   And He does this over and over – and it still amazes me.   That got me to thinking.   God’s amazing work in my life didn’t start with my daughter-in-love.   It started before that.   It starte...
1 comment
Read more