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.

Till Destroying Storms Pass By--July 29, 2013

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 There are times to take refuge
in the shadow of your wings--

when destroying storms are near,
when we have lost an honored leader,
or when disagreement threatens our unity--

but eventually the time comes
to let our hands be strong
and to be valiant.

Help us to discern the times, O God.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
2 Sam. 2:1-11
Acts 15:36-16:5
Mark 6:14-29

Selected Verses

Ps. 57:1b
…in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
          until the destroying storms pass by.

2 Sam. 2:7
"…Therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”  [David, king over Judah, to the people of Jabesh-gilead, who buried King Saul]

Acts 15:39
The disagreement [between Barnabas and Paul] became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Mark 6:29
When [John the Baptist's] disciples heard about [his beheading], they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

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