Category: peace

Paraphrase: A Restatement of a Text


All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God 
and fit him fully for all branches of his work.
(2 Timothy 3:16,17 J.B. Phillips translation)


Monotony gives birth to boredom. This is my paraphrase of the familiar quote: “Familiarity breeds contempt.” To have contempt towards someone is to say that someone is not worthy or to lack respect towards him. God is totally worthy of my respect and adoration, but I must admit that sometimes I gloss over a familiar Scripture. I repeat it with little heart and not much mental engagement. 

One of the most comforting prayers for me is the Lord’s Prayer. Yet at times, I just recite it without much thought. Several years ago, I translated the words based on a study of the prayer in the original Aramaic. And today, I decided to paraphrase the prayer into a colorful collage! (See above.)

Here’s my translation:

Our Father of heaven–
Only so very holy is your name.
Come your kingdom, Your will to be (accomplished) in what manner, means and process of our heaven; also (likewise, in the like manner) on our earth.
Give us the bread of our need (relief or supply, necessity) today, this very day, on this present day of the week, twenty four hours, from daybreak to sunset.
Leave (take away, without interference) our sins in the same manner, that we likewise leave (let go) these sins done to us.
Protect us by not letting us enter, pass into or cause temptation (the act of tempting, or enticing to evil, seduction; that which tempts nor an inducement or allurement to evil.)
But cut through, cleave us from, separate and deliver us from evil (Satan, as well as wickedness, worthlessness and unfortunate and sinful tendencies.)


Try your own paraphrase of a familiar passage of Scripture to see how it changes your perspective.


In 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time, Pam Farrel relates a time when she was struggling with depression after a major move and life transition. She called a friend, who listened to her, then asked her this question: “Pam, what character trait, what attribute of God are you forgetting?” Pam said, “Well, pretty much all of them!” This conversation led Pam to go to her Bible to paraphrase favorite Scriptures into affirmations of God’s character.

Here is her strategy for personalizing Scripture during your quiet time:

Simply brainstorm key words that might lead you to verses that would help [you or a friend]. You might need to take the key words and find biblical words that are similar. For example, stress is a very common feeling, but the word stress is not in the Bible. The words perseverance, endure, endurance, long-suffering are. Sometimes it is helpful to look for opposites. For example, if you are struggling with worry, look up peace.

What struggles are hitting your life or the lives of the ones you love? Brainstorm a list of words you can look up to find verses of comfort and hope.

©Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). For more devotional books by Pam http://www.Love-wise.com


To find Scriptures by topic, check out the topical index tab at www.biblegateway.com.


If you are just joining us for 31 Days of Quiet, click here to see the whole list of ideas to spice up your quiet times with God.
To check out all nine categories of 31 Days Of…click over to the nesting place to see the multitude of topics! Surely one will pique your interest.


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Potential: Expressing Possibiiity

 

 
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
(Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message)
 
 
“Living deep in God’s “good” ness, I will seek to travel with others toward peace and deep joy while diligently tending to my own garden.” (Juniper Gillian)
 
 
 
 
This week as I have been contemplating potential, exciting things have been expressing themselves in my soul. I cannot explain how the good news grows from a seedling of faith into a full blooming flower of joy. I have been on a journey with Jesus as my central love, sometimes ardent, sometimes wavering for more than four decades now. He never ceases to surprise me with joy and hope and peace and things sprouting and flourishing in my soul that I don’t even remember being planted there.
 
Over the last twelve years, I have been dreaming about what I want to be when I “grow up.” When our boys were in high school, my husband and I spent three days with a couple to look at our lives, to see where we had been and where we were going. Here is the statement, which I wrote about my personal significance in the summer of 2005:
 
Personal Significance is…
 
Minimum of a two year college degree
Written and published at least one book
Created and maintained a website for spiritual encouragement
 
In many ways, God has exceeded the desires of my heart. In December 2011, I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in English and we self-published a book of devotions, titled Defining Moments: Overflowing with Living Words. And since 2008, I have maintained this blog, Nourishment for the Soul: A Place to Feed on Words.
 
This journey has proved to me the value of writing down our dreams, capturing them in a visual medium and sharing them with others. Through learning to lean close into God’s goodness everyday, He is leading me in ways I never thought possible.
 
And now, He is opening doors for me to experience more impossibilities. By the end of the summer, I plan to have a website that hosts the blog, promotes creative soul workshops and potentially the unveiling of spiritual adventures. Please pray for me as I branch out and take steps of faith to bring this possibility into actuality.
 
For now, I’m going to keep the name of this enterprise a surprise to unveil with the website. So stay tuned!
 
(Many others besides, Don and Sherie Zimmer, who we met with in 2005, have been influential in this dream becoming a reality including my husband, who defies enough superlatives to ever express my true heart towards him, our two sons who have grown up into renaissance men, my mom, who gave me life and confidence, my sisters, Juniper Gillian, Michelle and Dani, who love me and cheer me on, my Magnificent Friends (you know who you are),  my journaling friends and mentors, Lynn D. Morrissey and Mary Ann Kuechler, my writing friends and journaling friends (hugs) and my friend and life coach, Tracy Flori! And now I feel like I’m at the Oscars and I just know I’ve forgotten to thank someone…I am thankful for all the friends and teachers over the years who formed who I am today. Dreams take a lot of work and support and I so appreciate God bringing each one of you into my life.)
 
May God enable each of us to express our possibilities (and impossibilities) in order to create space for His goodness to flourish as we each, “Live out our God-created identities, living generously and graciously toward one another, as God lives toward us!” (Matthew 5:48 The Message)
 

When’s the last time you recalled the good news alongside the goodness of God?
 
 
Linking up with…
 
 
 
 
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Dignity: Being Honored or Esteemed

 
. . . love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
(Romans 12:10 RSV)
 
 

Just couldn’t say good-bye to poetry. Here’s a little reflection I penned while I was leaving Key West, where my son and I spent a few days celebrating his life. He will turn 25 yrs old in July, quite unbelievable, as it seems like it was just the other day I was that young.

 
Dignity

A gentle rain
mourns with me,
as we leave this
oasis of quietness.

When you think of Key West
don’t get caught up in the raucousness.

No, it’s a place where roosters crow
anytime of the day
celebrating
their  own existence.

An island where wanderers
share the peace of one
human family
dignity.

Always a friendly smile,
no snarls,
no pity,
just easy, carefree
dignity.

While here
free of care,
no managing of fears,
no thoughts of what ifs
and furthermores.

No need to judge and guess.
No need to fuss and mess.

Enjoying the senses and the scenes,
suspending judgement
felt so clean.

Today breaks
panic as I pack.

Can I bring home the peace,
the freedom in my suitcase?

(2013. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Kel Rohlf.)

Posted on by kelrohlf 10

Leaning, Leaning, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

The eye is the lamp of the body.
If your eyes are good,
your whole body will be full of light.
(Matthew 6:22 NIV)


I had a little scare this morning. My vision was impaired. I felt like darkness was closing in on me. I told my husband, and thought we might end up in urgent care before the morning was over. In a panic I called my sister, who is a nurse, and she suggested I eat something. In minutes, my vision was restored.

But in those moments, when I was losing my sight (that’s how it felt) I was quite terrified, and cried out to the Beloved to heal me. And He did. Apparently, darkening vision is a effect of low blood sugar. After breakfast, I decided to curl up on the couch, watching the snow softly fall, and asked my Beloved:

What kind of honeymoon is this? I thought we were going to go explore the town and write and have a grand adventure.

My expectations and reality don’t always merge the way I might like.

So here, the Beloved, once again encouraged me to be still. To spend the day at home with Him, just listening, watching and capturing moments. So after I regained my strength, I nested.

Here are some captured moments from my camera this morning. I think with the vision scare, I wanted to use my eyes.

These snapshots are my way of saying “Thank You” to Jesus for good eyes. Oh, how He loves you and me!

 
“Joy is always a promise.”
(Madeline L’Engle)

 

 
Quiet Listening Music.

 

 
Our cat who insists on stealing MY thinking chair.

 

 
A pile of library books to dream about
the St. Louis adventures ahead. 

 

 
“His love is as gentle
as freshly fallen snow,
His joy is lovely as winter’s glow,
His peace is the quiet place
our hearts can go.”
 
(quote on the pillow given to me by a dear friend,
who knows I often languish during the winter 🙂

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Afraid: Filled With Fear, Concern or Regret


Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you
with My righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10 NKJV)



 
Linking up with Five Minute Fridays, a place where we are given a word and a challenge to write for five minutes.
 
“Unscripted. Unedited. Real.”
 
GO.

Afraid not! This time I will not be taken in by your lies, your false promises, your glittery temptations and your morose bodings. You are a liar! A murderer from the beginning! You birthed fear. You took away the fear of God and introduced the fear of what ifs.

What if? What if, I don’t listen to you? What if, I stop my ears up with truth, sound proof my heart with the Word of God? What if, I choose to walk by faith and not by sight? Will fear still prowl alongside me, sneering at my resolve?


Of course! Of course, fear will be trailing me, hounding me, breathing down my neck the rest of my life.

However, God is. God of Awe and Wonder. My Shield. My Strength. Even though fear is hot on my heels, My Protector is before, behind, around, and inside me. I will not be afraid.

And by the way, I’m not even talking to you anymore. I’m running to the Savior. He is the True and Living One. He renews my mind, refreshes His mercies daily and keeps me in Perfect Peace.

And even if, one little worm of fear wriggles into my mind, I will praise the LORD, maker of all things. Restorer of Hope and Love that Never Grows Old. Love casts out fear!

STOP.
Posted on by kelrohlf 4