I started very simply putting God's Words into a paraphrase, my own words trying to capture the essence of the idea in scripture. Even doing that a challenge, and it makes you think more deeply about the real meaning and what it conveys to your heart. As you ponder and wrestle with the the words and ideas it brings you close to understanding and insight. I did this page last summer when we were in Romania. On the right is a paraphrase of Ps. 40: 1-3.
My paraphrase:
I was still and expectant before God.
He bent down and listened to my desperation,
put his loving arms around me
and drew me out of the muck and filth.
He placed me on the solid rock.
I had a firm footing; I was secure.
He taught me a new melody of worship to him.
He promised that many others
would come and put their faith in him.
New International Version:
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
On the left hand side of my journal I took Ps.40:4-5 and put it into a non-rhyming wreath poem. The first time I came across the idea of a wreath poem was in Luann Budd's book, Journal Keeping. She referred to an early seventeenth century poet, George Herbert, who wrote "A Wreath". Budd writes " This poem becomes a wreath; the end of each line becomes the beginning of the next. Wrestling your thoughts into poetry can be a challenge. But the wrestling is valuable in moving the truth into your soul." Herbert's wreath poem rhymed. When I first started I chose to do non-rhyming lines. Here is my example of a wreath poem based on:
Ps. 40:4-5.
I am blessed because I have put my trust in Jesus.
In Jesus I learn to turn aside from my pride and false pleasures.
Those empty pleasures are replaced by the wonders you perform inside my heart.
In my heart I know that your plans for me are beyond my imagining.
Beyond my understanding your wonders are too many to declare.
Too many to declare are your works and I am blessed.
I am blessed because my life is not written with ink
but with the Spirit of the living God.
By the Spirit of the living God I am blessed
New International Version:
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
