The halfbaked Bard

2 Cor:2:7-8 You should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. When someone is sorrowful. 1. Forgive - forgive him for what He has done unknowingly or knowingly, personally and publically, verbally or physically, out of his sorrow. Just forgive. Just forget. Give another chance. Keep on giving one more. 2. Comfort - tell him it's okay to feel so. To feel overwhelmed. Tell him, I am there for you. God sees you and knows you.  3. Affirm your love to him - tell him I love you. I am there for you through thick and thin. To the best that I can, I will be there. You are not facing it alone. I am praying for you. Do not judge. Do not label. Do not gossip. Image courtesy: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/child-and-dog-comfort-and-sorrow-vector-61716299

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes. 2 Cor:1:20 All the promises in the Word of God is 'yes' through Jesus Christ. Concerning salvation, peace, joy, redemption, sanctification, glorification. That means everything concerning the purpose and will of God. There is no scope of misinterpreting God's word and claiming that promise personally for you. It has to be in line with the central theme. All those are yes, in Jesus and through Jesus. And He never vacillates. He is not like shifting shadows, saying yes now and no then. For example; Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, means, you stand uncondemned always if you are in Christ Jesus. He is always true. He never dwindles. He is not indecisive. He is sure. He is certain. He has set His eyes like a flint to bless. He will not flinch. He is trustworthy. His promises for you to bless you, to preserve you, to make you grow unto the head that is Christ, to establish you,...

2 Cor:1:10 Who delivered us from so great a peril of death and will deliver us. He on whom we have set out hope. And He will yet deliver us. He who delivered us from death, physical death situations. He who protected us this far.  He who has delivered us from spiritual death, eternal separation. He who gave us a wonderful salvation. He will yet deliver us now in this present perilous situation. God is bigger than the mountain that you face now. Even bigger mountains He has conquered for us. He will yet deliver us. In times of crisis, we need to repeatedly look at our salvation. How a Holy, Eternal God, became a finite being and die for a wretched man like me to redeem me. That is the greatest miracle. Keep looking at the ways in which He hath delivered you till date. He will still carry you through. Trust is all that is required. He will do what is best for you. That Rom:8:28 is always true. That Phil:1:6 is always true. That 2 Cor:1:10 is always true. 2 Tim:4:17. The L...

So also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Cor:1:5 Afflictions come. God will comfort us, for He is the source of all comfort. Because you have a God who comforts, you go to Him who comforts abundantly and receive His comfort. When someone you know is in trouble. You extend that comfort which you received from God, to him who suffers. This makes sense now. Why afflictions or sufferings? That you would taste the God of abundant comfort. And that you would be a channel to a brother who suffers. So when afflictions come, not to complaint or whine. But to seek comfort from the rich source and be the reason for comfort to another who suffers. Image courtesy: https://www.gettyimages.in/videos/woman-comforting-crying-woman?family=creative

Maranatha 1 Cor:16:22 Which means, Come O Lord. Why do you want Jesus to come?  As an escape route from difficult circumstances? Christian has a promise of suffering. Because our Master says, if the world has hated me, it will hate you also. The enemy is rampant to discredit a child of God.  Through sickness. Some might suffer. Some might get through. Some might succumb. Through financial instabilities. Through many unanswered prayers. Why do we pray, come Lord Jesus? Based on a hope that all these are temporary. A hope that transcends all pain. Maranatha, Lord Jesus. You can't get accustomed to grief over the loss of a loved one. When Lord Jesus comes, when we see him face to face, we hope to see our loved ones too. Victorious over death, we will see them glorified, for eternity we can have fellowship with them. Maranatha, Lord Jesus. When the Lord Jesus comes, He will vindicate me. He will prove me right. My intentions, my naveity. He will judge others. Maranatha...

1Cor:16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Do I refresh the spirits of people whom I interact with? In my workplace. In my church. In my own house. Or do I gossip? Do I enquire and encourage? Do I make things difficult and hardpressed at home? Knowing each other's needs and genuinely praying and finding out answered prayers helps. Giving a listening ear helps. There is no need to talk always. Just to listen. You need not crack jokes often to be light hearted always. Being genuine is better. Considering others more important than you. When you talk, let it not be about you always. Rather theirs. Image courtesy: https://bestlifeonline.com/reasons-not-to-wash-face-morning-news/