Last summer, I went to C-HOP (Cleveland House Of Prayer) with a group of friends. While I was there, they did something very interesting with a bible verse. They took a verse and then focused on it intensely, word by word. Through doing this, it allows you to see new meaning of the verse, or see it in a new way that you previously didn't see. It's actually quite fun, as well as challenging. The way they did it there was this: they found synonym for every word (or pair of words, it works better for words like "the" "I" or "in", ect.) And then every so often as the text would allow, we would paraphrase each part in different as to try to and grasp different meanings. I'm going to try it on here, try and follow along if you’re interested! =)
(I'm going to use Psalm 145:2)
"Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."
• Now I'm going to take the first word, Every. Other words for this include: Each, & all.
• The second word is day. Words for this are: Daylight, daytime, & date.
• [I] Will: Determination, resolve, motivation, spirit, force, strength of character, self-control.
• Praise: Admire, commend, extol, honor, & eulogize.
• You: (It is in terms of speaking about God) King, father, God, Jesus, leader or all, divinity, Holy one, creator, Alpha, & Omega.
• [And] Extol: (similar to praise) Admire, exalt, worship, honor, & eulogize.
• [your] Name: Title, & what you’re known as.
• For ever and ever: Everlastingly, eternally, evermore, perpetually, ceaselessly, without end, & constantly.
Now we have our first sentence!!! Paraphrasing is the most enjoyable part (to me), so lets get to it =)
"Each and every time of day, my strength of character and spirit is determined to worship you, my Father God who is the creator and leader or all, and to honor and exalt your name perpetually and without end, evermore."
(Wow! What a powerful sentence!!!!!! =D )
• Now using this technique, I also have:
"Immense and vast is the Father God, and is above all else admirable and valuable of honor, worship and praise; of his magnitude and extent, not a soul in earth is capable of comprehending."
• Putting it together:
"Each and every time of day, my streangth of charctacter and spirit is determind to worship you, my Father God who is the creator and leader or all, and to honor and exalt your name perpetually and without end, evermore. Immense and vast is the Father God, and is above all else admirable and valuable of honor, worship and praise; of his magnitude and extent, not a soul in earth is capable of comprehending."
>> I do not know about you, but this just makes me want to worship until I completely lose my voice!!! =) <<
Well today is Valentines Day, and I have already eaten all my chocolates :( hehe...
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