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.

In the Valley of Decision--Nov. 25, 2019


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God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
you have given us a new birth
into your living hope.

When we are in the valley of decision,
our flesh and our heart may fail,
but you are our strength
of heart forever.

Who do we have but you?
Joined to you, let no one separate us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9
Joel 3:1-2, 9-17
1 Peter 1:1-12
Matt. 19:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you?
          And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
          but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Joel 3:14b
For the day of the LORD is near
          in the valley of decision.

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Matt. 19:6b
“…Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”  [Jesus, to ones who came to test him about divorce]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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