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.

God Speaks--We Do Not Listen--April 6, 2014


By day you command your steadfast love;
at night, O God, your song is with us--
a prayer to you, the Lord of our life.

You speak, but we do not listen--
you would be with our mouths
and teach us what to speak.

And we would discern
what is your will for us;
what is good and acceptable
and perfect.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32
Exod. 3:16-4:12
Rom. 12:1-21
John 8:46-59

Selected Verses
Ps. 42:8
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
          and at night his song is with me,
          a prayer to the God of my life.

Exod. 4:12
"…Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak."  [The LORD to Moses]

Rom. 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 8:47
"…Whoever is from God hears the words of God.  The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."  [Jesus responding to those who at first had believed in him, but had grown angry]

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