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 We Can Do No More--Oct. 1, 2018


Jesus,
we do not realize how much you have given us,
gifts we have wasted on what we idolize;
do not know what will happen to us,
but know you call us to follow,
leaving everything behind.

We pour out our hearts before you,
Jesus; we promise to trust you
at all times.  Inspire us on,
yet when we can do no
more, be our refuge.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9
Hosea 2:2-15
Acts 20:17-38
Luke 5:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
          pour out your heart before him;
          God is a refuge for us. Selah

Hosea 2:8
She did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished upon her silver and gold that they used for Baal.

Acts 20:22-23
And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me

Luke 5:10b-11
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."  When [Simon Peter, James, and John] had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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