I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

Refreshing Hearts, in Christ--Oct. 26, 2013


 You take pleasure in your people, O God;
you adorn the humble with victory;
but victory comes not by winning wars
or rising in rebellion and sedition.

It comes when--out of the abundance
of the heart--the mouth speaks
in love, with joy and encouragement,
refreshing other hearts in Christ.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Ezra 4:7, 11-24
Philemon 1-25
Matt. 12:33-42

Selected Verses

Ps. 149:4
 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
          he adorns the humble with victory.

Ezra 4:19
"…So I made a decree, and someone searched and discovered that [Jerusalem] has risen against kings from long ago, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.  …"  [From a letter written by Artaxerxes, king of Persia]

Philemon 7, 20
I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.  …Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord!  Refresh my heart in Christ.

Matt. 12:34b
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

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