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 Trials Come--Nov. 15, 2018



When trials come, let us rejoice and give thanks;
facing them, we become mature and complete.
Let the soils and animals and trees be glad,
O Lord, for you have done great things.
When we return to you, heavenly Parent,
we feast upon the abundance of your house--
you give us drink from the river of your delights.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
Joel 2:21-27
James 1:1-15
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

Selected Verses
Ps. 36:8
[Those who take refuge under your wings] feast on the abundance of your house,
          and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 

Joel 2:21-22
Do not fear, O soil;
     be glad and rejoice,
     for the LORD has done great things!
Do not fear, you animals of the field,
     for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit,
     the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

James 1:2-4
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

Luke 15:23-24
"'…And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!'  And they began to celebrate.  …"  [The father, welcoming home his prodigal son]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)