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.

Truth Spoken From the Heart--Oct. 17, 2012


Some tremble from the words they say themselves,
some from words they hear from others;
but words can give us courage.

Words matter; and it matters whether they are spoken
from the heart, and most of all it matters
whether the heart is true.

Gracious God, give me discernment and courage
to walk blamelessly, do what is right,
and speak truth from my heart.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
Hosea 13:1-3
Acts 27:9-26
Luke 9:1-17

Selected Verses

Ps. 15:1b-2
            Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
            and speak the truth from their heart…

Hosea 13:1a
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling…

Acts 27:25
"…So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.  …"  [Paul to those aboard the storm-driven ship]

Luke 9:9
Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he tried to see [Jesus].
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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