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.

What Tomorrow May Bring--Dec. 31, 2021


What is my life in your sight, O God?

A mist that appears for a little while

and then vanishes.  I do not even know

what tomorrow will bring.

 

Yet I remember the great and steadfast love 

and faithfulness that you have shown to me.

And I know that it is Jesus who made me well.

 

Lord, let me walk before you in faithfulness 

and with a heart grateful for your love, 

whatever tomorrow may bring.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 98; 148; 45; 96

1 Kings 3:5-14

James 4:13-17, 5:7-11

John 5:1-15

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 98:3

[The LORD] has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
          to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
          the victory of our God.

1 Kings 3:6

And Solomon said [to the LORD in a dream], “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.  …” 

 

James 4:14

Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 

 

John 5:15

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

2 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaDecember 31, 2021 at 9:03 PM

    Beautifully done. May tomorrow and the coming year bring you grace and peace.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elmer E. EwingDecember 31, 2021 at 11:37 PM

    Thank you. May grace and peace be with you as well.

    ReplyDelete

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