Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

New Year's Day!


Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius
Diocesan Bishop

6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 

Wish you all a very blessed New Year. We enter in to the New Year with great expectancy. Our journey of life has passed another mile stone. God has assured us that He will be with us to the end of time. He remains faithful and trustworthy. He is an awesome God. Let us put our hands in the hands on the one who calmed the sea. He will help us to grow to completion, the purpose of our life. New Year is a time of renewal. God is giving us an opportunity to renew our commitment to the dear ones. We renew our commitment to the world, and to the mission and ministry of the Church. I want 2015 to be a year to renew our family including our Church (local parish) which is understood as the ‘family of families’

  1. Renew our religious discipline in the family. Personal prayer with daily study of the word of God shall go hand in hand with family altar. Here we accept our God as Lord and master in our lives and family. Here is where we teach and practice God’s commandments. Read Deut 6:1-9
  2. Renew our discipleship in the family to bear fruit. The result of a healthy growth is continuing to bear spiritual fruit throughout our lives. Gal.5:22 speak about the fruit of the spirit. We cannot have complacency in spiritual life. New Year is a fresh call to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The one who gives us the privilege to be branches in the vine is also the one who comes to look for the fruit (John 15). There is joy in harvesting and we are called to share that joy(Mt. 5.21)
  3. Renew our family for the growth of God’s kingdom. Each family is divinely constituted to be a miniature Kingdom of God. When we call God as ‘Our Father’, He is not only for our home but also for experiencing him in the wider world. That reminds us of our bond and responsibilities. Love as I have loved you, is a new commandment given by Jesus to be practiced here and now, and till the end of time.
Let us join with Joshua in saying, ‘as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’(Joshua 24:15)

PRAYER

Father God, we thank you for the New Year. May this be a time for us to renew our spiritual discipline, discipleship and the family-life, feeling confident that on the day of Jesus Christ, God will bring our life to its consummation. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When my cup is empty, God will fill it up (Eva, Phoenix 2012)

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