I never cease to be blown away by the Holy Spirit within my wife. As I noted on the piece regarding our odd ordination, she has a great pastor's heart, and an ability to tap into Truth that I covet. This is from her blog today; it is linked below, but I did not want you to miss it. I will take this version over Eugene Peterson's anyday. Here's my love:
Psalms 23
(1)When I was young, I struck out to find "my own way" only to find myself lost in the wilderness of the world, and God came searching for me . . . as a shepherd looks for one who was lost. Upon His rescue, I found that nothing held more meaning than learning of His life. . . I had never known such contentment.
(2) He gathered me in His arms and held me to His heart before lifting me to lie around His shoulders. There, resting in the crook of His neck, He whispered His love for me as He took me into His place of rest. We stayed in a place of nurture and peace while He fortified me. . .body, soul and spirit.
(3)As I fed upon Him there, I found a new strength, as though His own strength had been grafted into mine. He looked at me with a smile and said, "Do you know of the Passover Lamb?"
"Yes, Lord," I responded, "I know that a pure and spotless lamb is roasted every Passover as a celebration in the feast."
"Do you know of the instructions concerning feeding on the Passover Lamb?" He asked.
"Yes Lord, we are to consume the whole lamb, leaving none."
Then with that, He arose and smiling over His shoulder at me, told me it was time for that adventure that I wanted, and so side by side, we began walking the path of righteousness. I found myself enjoying the acceptance of His smile and His manner of patting my back.
(4) As I looked ahead on this path, I saw many things that I'd experienced before . . . darkness . . . danger . . . and even some that I could not identify. I began pulling back in fear, to retreat to the higher places that were green and safe, but my Shepherd pointed ahead and said, "Don't be afraid of shadows . . . they hold nothing that can defeat you. Besides, I'll never leave you, and I have taken this path so many times that the shadows know Me by name and run."
With that He struck His rod to the ground and the earth seemed to vibrate with power and light spread like liquid into the black darkness illuminating our path once again. I looked to see a twinkle in His eye as He said, "Cool. Huh!"
"You see this rod and staff," He said, "there are those that think that I use them to beat and harm My sheep. But those who know Me know I never abuse My own, and I seek to restore all that can't see Me for their pain. This rod and staff are tools to crush the enemies' heads and ward off the wolves. Take comfort that I AM is beside your Protector and Overseer and loves you beyond life."
With that He drew me to Him and held me as He whispered into My ear, "Little one, you are so precious to Me that I have prepared this path to show you who you are within Me. Once you know that I birthed you, and will always call you Mine, your vision of yourself and this world surrounding you will change and you will find nothing impossible to you."
My Shepherd, took me to a restaurant in the midst of this darkness to feed me. I looked around amazed as He seated me beside Himself, for we were surrounded by snarling and hungry enemies. He pointed to my napkin, having spread His, and said calmly, "Knowing who you are in God allows you to sit in the midst of chaos and trouble in perfect peace. You are at rest knowing I have already prepared the situation for you. There you can enjoy My Peace and find feeding with Me to be as much victorious warfare as some will see in battle. Eat . . . this is for your benefit."
He slid a pouch from His side and held it above my head as warm oil flowed over my head and down my body. With laughter He rubbed the oil into me, refreshing me, leaving me with the same smell that lingered on Him. "With this We are united, Little One," He said, "from now on, when those around you see you, they will see Me, and when they smell Me they will look to see you before them . . . we are one."
As I looked across the table I began to see the once dangerous beasts with hunger in their eyes were being transformed. Those before me were such as I had been myself, but now I could see they were inflicted with great wounds and thorns . . . and I was moved with compassion, and amazed that the real change had come in me . . .He had given me eyes to see.
(6) And as suddenly as a light bulb produces light, I realized that I was no longer the lone sheep on the edge of hope, but I have been restored with the Goodness and Love of my God, my Shepherd. He left the ninety-nine to find me, heal me, and make me His . . . and I will ever yearn for knowing Him more.
OK, so I am biased, but I also know good stuff. Check out Penny's other writings at the link to the left.
Love, Warrior Priest