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.

Have You Heard My Complaining, God?--April 11, 2018


[From April 6, 2016 archive]

Have you heard all my complaining, dear God?
I know that you have, for I complain a lot.
Rid me of it, along with all malice,
and all guile, insincerity,
envy, and slander.

Truly, of my own
will power I cannot do this.
Only let me put my trust in you—
you do not forsake those who seek you.
Jesus abides in your love; let me abide in his.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 99; 147:1-11; 9; 118
Exod. 15:22-16:10
1 Peter 2:1-10
John 15:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 9:10
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
          for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Exod. 16:9
Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, 'Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'"

1 Peter 2:1
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.

John 15:9
"…As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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