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.

The Stronghold of Our Lives--Feb. 20, 2014


[from Feb. 16, 2012 archive]

You whom Jesus called Father,
you, the stronghold of our lives,

we are not worthy of the least of  
all the steadfast love and faithfulness
that you, O God, have showered upon us.

In your righteousness, help us do the right;
and take away our fear, for no power
can snatch us out of your hand.

We ask in the name of Jesus,
who  died for us who
are unrighteous.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
Gen. 32:3-21
1 John 2:18-29
John 10:19-30

Selected Verses

Ps. 27:1b
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
          of whom shall I be afraid?

Gen. 32:10
I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.

1 John 2:29
If you know that [the Holy One] is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him.

John 10:29
"…What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand.  …"  [Jesus to those who asked if he was the Messiah]


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