Good Shepherd
He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. ~ Psalm 23:2–3a (CEB)
(Jesus said,) My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life. ~ John 10:27–28a (CEB)
Dear Good Shepherd -- Thank you for everything that you do to make my life better. Thank you for knowing me. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for leading me. I admit that I'm not always a good sheep. Sometimes I wander off and I pretend that I'm smarter than you -- the shepherd. I know that is a dumb thing to do. I've got to stop doing that. Feel free to use your shepherd's stick to get my attention when I wander. I can't complain. You are leading me in such a good direction. Where you lead, I will follow. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
