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.

Standing in the Valley of Decision--Nov. 12, 2016

[From Nov. 15, 2014 archive]

Each of us stands in the valley of decision.
Have you not counted our tears,
O God, as we toss and turn?

We cannot serve you and wealth--
we will hate the one and love the other.
Have you not chosen the poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom
you have promised to those who love you?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111
Joel 3:9-17
James 2:1-13
Luke 16:10-18

Selected Verses
Ps. 56:8
You have kept count of my tossings;
          put my tears in your bottle.
          Are they not in your record? 

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes,
     in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near
     in the valley of decision. 

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.  Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

Luke 16:13
"…No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth."  [Jesus to his disciples]

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