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.

Held in Your Arms--Oct. 11, 2020


[From Oct. 14, 2012 archive, adapted from my Oct. 15, 2000 journal]

 

How often have you held me in your arms

and healed me, but I did not know it?

 

Give me, O God, words acceptable to you,

and make what comes from my heart acceptable.

 

When I am reviled, teach me to bless; when persecuted,

to endure; when slandered, to speak kindly.

 

And when I receive no answer to my prayer,

give me faith to persist, in your arms.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113

Hosea 11:1-11

1 Cor. 4:9-16

Matt. 15:21-28

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
          be acceptable to you, 
          O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

 

Hosea 11:3

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them.

 

1 Cor. 4:12b-13a

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly.

 

Matt. 15:23

But [Jesus] did not answer [the Canaanite woman] at all.  And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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