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.

You Have Stretched Out Your Hand--Jan. 17, 2015


Lord Jesus, by the power of your work within us
you are able to accomplish abundantly
far more than all we can ask,
all we can imagine.

When we walk in the midst of trouble
you stretch out your hand to us;
we stretch out ours to you,
and you deliver and
restore us.

We do not fear--you have redeemed us
and have called us by name,
and we are yours.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Isa. 42:18-43:13
Eph. 3:14-21
Mark 2:23-3:6

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
          you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
          and your right hand delivers me. 

Isa. 43:1b
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
          I have called you by name, you are mine. 

Eph. 3:20
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine…

Mark 3:5
[Jesus] looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man [with the withered hand], “Stretch out your hand.”  He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

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