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.

Remembering to be Thankful--Jan. 4, 2022


Many are the ways to remind ourselves

to rejoice in you and give thanks

for your good works, O God.

 

Some set stones to remember; 

some sing spiritual songs

among themselves, making

melody in their hearts to you, 

as they give thanks in the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Help me find ways to remember

to be thankful at all times

and for everything

in his name.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 20; 146; 93; 97

Josh. 3:14-4:7

Eph. 5:1-20

John 9:1-12, 35-38

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 97:12

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
          and give thanks to his holy name!

 

Josh. 4:6-7a

“…so that this may be a sign among you.  When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD.  …”

[Joshua, to the twelve men, one from each tribe]

 

Eph. 5:19-20

…as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

John 9:3

Jesus answered [his disciples], “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.”


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