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 Words of Christ: Spirit and Life--Aug. 26, 2014


Every resource has been driven from me;
in truth I have no help but you, O God.
You are the upholder of my life.
At last I have come to understand--
the words of Christ are spirit and life.
And I kneel down to pray.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99
Job 6:1-4; 8-15, 21
Acts 9:32-43
John 6:60-71

Selected Verses
Ps. 54:4
But surely, God is my helper;
          the Lord is the upholder of my life. 

Job 6:13
"…In truth I have no help in me, and any resource is driven from me.  …"  [Job]

Acts 9:39b-40a
All the widows stood beside [Peter], weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. 

John 6: 63
"…It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples] 
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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