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.

How often Do We Fail You, God?--Aug. 5, 2014


How often do we fail to see you standing among us,
Lord, a holy one we do not recognize?

How often do we seek credit for ourselves,
credit that belongs to you?

How often do we look for financial gain
instead of your promises,
promises pure as silver?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7
Judg. 7:1-18
Acts 3:1-11
John 1:19-28

Selected Verses
Ps. 12:6
The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure,
          silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
          purified seven times.

Judg. 7:2
The LORD said to Gideon, "The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, 'My own hand has delivered me.'  …"

Acts 3:6
But Peter said [to the man lame from birth], "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." 

John 1:26
John answered [the priests and Levites], "I baptize with water.  Among you stands one whom you do not know…"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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