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.

What New Thing?--Jan. 16, 2011

Bored, I ask, what new thing shall I do?
Help me find revival for my soul in your word
and wisdom in your decrees. Ready me to recognize
the new thing that you will make spring forth before me.
Send hope that comes as a sure and steadfast anchor
of my soul, hope residing in Jesus. And send me
to reap, to build upon what others have done.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113
Isa. 43:14-44:5
Heb. 6:17-7:10
John 4:27-42

Selected Verses
Ps. 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect,
      reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
      making wise the simple…

Isa. 43:19a
I am about to do a new thing;
      now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

Heb. 6:19-20
We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

John 4:38
“…I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” [Jesus to his disciples]

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