God’s Tender, Tenacious Love

Every Sunday, I post an inspirational scripture verse along with a photo on our church Facebook page. One Sunday I posted this:

God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. – Romans 5:5

When I shared the same scripture verse and photo on Twitter the next day, a friend tweeted: April Yamasaki paraphrase: “God’s love has been poured out like a good cappuccino…”🙂

I tweeted back:  ❤ like the best cappucino 🙂

That bit of word play reminded me of the Psalm 23 paraphrases that some of us wrote using different letters of the alphabet. At last count, we had completed paraphrases using 15 of the 26 letters of the alphabet. Here is #16:

Psalm 23 Paraphrased with the Letter T

The Lord is my Teacher;
I have everything I need.
When I am tired, he gives me tranquil rest.
When I am torn, he totally understands and takes my troubles.
He is my best thought and truest trainer
who sets me on the right track.

Even when I traverse the toughest terrain,
though timid and trembling,
I trust you to tame the terrors.
You transcend every storm.
You take turbulence and transform it.
You treat me to a table of treasures in the midst of trial.
You take tremendous care of me.

Truly your tender, tenacious love will travel with me
today and in all my tomorrows,
and I will thrive in thanksgiving together with you
in the time beyond all time.

Writing your own paraphrase is a fun way to meditate on Psalm 23. If you’d like to try it with one of the letters not yet covered, choose from J, K, N, O, U, V, W, X, Y, Z. Or choose any letter of the alphabet. I’d love to see what you come up with!

For further inspiration and encouragement, check out the following list of our other paraphrases so far. Where there is a short excerpt, click the title to see the rest.

 

My Abba Psalm (in A) – Elfrieda Schroeder

Abba is my Alpha and my Omega.
Absolute rest beside green pastures and aquamarine streams
acquiesce my soul to acquire the right paths for my Abba’s sake.
I am not afraid even though I walk through alleys.
Abba, you are with me. Your arms around me give me absolute assurance. Abundance at my table astounds my archenemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
Abba, it is above and beyond what I need!
Astounding assurance of your absolute love assists me always.
I will abide in Abba’s abode all of my days.

Psalm 23 Brought to You by the Letter B – April Yamasaki

He binds up my brokenness.
He bears me on the best byways because of his benevolence.
Even when I am bewildered and bleary, I can be brave,
for you are behind me, before me, beside me.

Psalm 23 in the Key of C – James Matichuk

My Creator is caretaker and captain,
with him I crave nothing
At his command, I lay couched in clover,
he carries me to where calm currents run their course.
He cleanses and collects me— my cowardly, crumbled soul.

Psalm 23 in the Letter D – Chris Wallace

Declarations of delight and desire do not dwindle for days,
and I definitively dwell with the Divine for decades and decades of dawns! – see the comment section in the link

Psalm 23 in the Letter E – April Yamasaki

Surely you enlighten and empower me
every day I exist on this earth,
and I will exult in my Lord, my Everything, for all eternity.

Psalm 23 in the Letter F – Clifton Roth

The faithful Father fulfills me.
He frees me from frenzy and the fury of frantic feelings;
He freshens my fortitude.
He firms up my footing, affirming the fame of his Fatherliness.
Finding myself in foggy frame of mind,
I fear no foe, for I am fastened to you.
You fend off fierce foxes and you feel my feelings.
You fix a feast for me in front of ferocious fools.
Your favor falls freely down onto my forehead and face,
my flagon is full and flowing over.
For your friendship and faithful love is fail-proof
and will fervently follow me, and I will be fulfilled in Father’s family forever.

Psalm 23 in the Letter G – April Yamasaki

Even though I grumble and groan at the gloom of death,
I grasp your hand for you are with me.
You guard and ground and grow me.

Psalm 23 in the Letter H – April Yamasaki

When my heart is heavy and the days are hard,
I hold on, hang on, to your hand that holds me:
your hedge of protection, my haven from harm,
your Holy Spirit, my Highest Help.

Psalm 23 Inspired by the Letter I – Joy Lenton

The Immortal one is my ideal investor; 
I shall not be impoverished because he has immense and incalculable worth.

Psalm 23 in El – Mel Sawatzky

He liberates my languishing soul by leading me down His lane that’s laudable, even though I limp through the lowlands of lingering lament. I am Lion-hearted for there is no lack of strength.

Psalm in the Letter M – Melodie Davis

Surely his mysterious mercy shall follow me mindfully all the measure of my marvelous life: and I will mellow in the house of my Maker for millennia.

The Lord is My Provider – Phyllis Ramer

Your presence permeates my person. Your parenting and protection provide for my well-being. You prepare a party for me in the presence of my perpetrators. You pour promises into my soul. – Canadian Mennonite, page 12

Psalm 23 in the Letter Q (with a bit of ‘K’) – Carole Sparks

The Quintessential One is my keeper; He quenches every quandary. He quiets me in exquisite quadrants. We quest beside quiescent waters. He quickens my quiddity. He quarterbacks me in qualities of His quintessence for the sake of his kudos.

You construct a banquet before me with a quorum of my enemies; you quench my head with oil; I quaff what cannot be quantified.

Psalm 23 in the Letter R – Rita Enns

Surely God’s riches and redeeming love will take me through the rest of my life, and I will rejoice when I reach my final destination. What a reunion that will be!

Psalm 23 in the Letter S – Carole Sparks

The Sovereign is my shepherd, I am sufficiently supplied. He settles me in a supple country side, He escorts me beside silent streams, He strengthens my soul.

Psalm 23 in the Letter T – April Yamasaki

Truly your tender, tenacious love will travel with me today and in all my tomorrows, and I will thrive in thanksgiving together with you in the time beyond all time.

 

Writing/Reflection Prompt: We have now completed 16 of the 26 letters of the alphabet! If you’re up for a challange, choose one of the remaining letters and write your own paraphrase of Psalm 23: J, K, N, O, U, V, W, X, Y, Z. Or choose any letter of the alphabet—repeats are totally fine. Please add your version in the comments, post your link, or contact me, so I can add your paraphrase to my list. I’d love to see what you come up with!

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