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 God Is with Me--Dec. 20, 2019



When you are with me, O Lord, my heart is glad,
my soul rejoices, and my body rests secure.

God, when you are with me, I dare not speak proudly
or allow arrogance to come from my mouth.

When you are with me, I know it is not my words,
but rather my actions that are important.

When I am with you, help me model good works
in all I do, with integrity and sound speech

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 102; 148; 130; 16
1 Sam. 2:1b-10
Titus 2:1-10
Luke 1:26-38

Selected Verses
Ps. 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
          my body also rests secure.

1 Sam. 2:3
Talk no more so very proudly,
          let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
          and by him actions are weighed.

Titus 2:7-8a
Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured…

Luke 1:28-29
And [the angel Gabriel] came to [Mary] and said, “Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you.”  But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

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