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.

Free to Give, Free to Trust--March 31, 2011


Jesus, help me to know the truth, that I may be free;
that I may be free of the illusion that I am in control;

free from supposing that I can plot my own course;
free from fear that I will lose a control I never had;

free to give my life to you, Lord, whose it is already;
free to worship and love you and trust in your grace.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102
Jer. 10:11-24
Rom. 5:12-21
John 8:21-32

Selected Verses
Ps. 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
      whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
      of whom shall I be afraid?

Jer. 10:23
I know, O LORD, that the way of human beings is not in their control,
      that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps.

Rom. 5:20b-21
…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 8:31-32
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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