Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Priesthood: the ministry of God
Psalm 84

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. –Psalm 84:2

                 Many times in our lives there are high points of positive growth and change which we can consider our ‘spiritual highs’. As Christians, we tend to lean on positive moments such as these and proclaim God’s greatness giving Him praise through our worship because of positive things that happen in our life. This can be considered the good times in our lives by society standards because everything is going perfectly well. But as many of us know in our lives there are times that negative situations happen that may shake our faith or challenge our standing with God. There may be times when we have seen the darkest moments of our lives filled with questions and longing for hope. This too is a critical point in our Christian lives.
                      Psalm 84 is categorized as a Psalm of Disorientation which is a reflection of the difficult times in one’s life, yet at the same time, the acknowledgment of God’s presence in times of difficulty. This Psalm is ‘real’ with life and the realities of hard times and difficulties that are faced in one’s life or ministry. It is not an act of unfaith or failure, but through the Psalm a trusting community considers this an act of bold faith or transformed faith to seek the Lord even when growing faint and even when hearts and flesh cry out for the living God. Anything that the heart feels, whether feelings of orientation or disorientation, is a conversation of the heart that should be shared with God. It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of one longing to dwell in the house of the Lord even if it is as a doorkeeper because one is desperate to be in His presence.
                 God’s ministry is for those that He has called His own and this same God understands that we are in a world that is full of difficulties that challenge our faith and brings us to our knees crying out to Him. In our ministries, it is important not only to acknowledge the oriented parts of our life, but to also acknowledge the disorientation portions of our life knowing that even those times in our lives and in the lives of others, God is at work.

Prayer: O Lord, we thank you for being a constant God in the good times in our lives and even in the difficult times in our life. Lord we pray that we always long for You even in times of loneliness, difficulties, or darkness in our lives. Help us to seek your face in all that we do and to be real with our feelings to You who understands our every feeling. Amen
Thought for the Day: It is in the times of difficulty that we are reminded of our weakness, but His amazing strength in us. It is in times of difficulty that we may stand alone in this world, but He stands beside us.

Betty Vattakunnel, Trinity MTC, Houston



Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more