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.

When the Cares of Our Heart Are Many--Dec. 19, 2017


O Lord, our God, you are in our midst;
when the cares of our heart are many,
your consolations cheer our soul.
We want to live blamelessly
before you, but by our
actions we deny you.
In your love, renew us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 33; 146; 85; 94
Zeph. 3:14-20
Titus 1:1-16
Luke 1:1-25

Selected Verses
Ps. 94:19
When the cares of my heart are many,
            your consolations cheer my soul.

Zeph. 3:17-18a
The LORD, your God, is in your midst;
            a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
            he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
            as on a day of festival.

Titus 1:16a
[The corrupt and unbelieving] profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions.

Luke 1:1-25
Both [Zechariah and Elizabeth] were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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