The halfbaked Bard

The Judge is standing at the door. James:5:9. Whatever you do, whatever you think, whatever your motive is, the judge is watching. The Judge is standing at the door. What has happened to the reverential fear to the Almighty? The All powerful God who sits on the righteous throne? Yes it is comforting to consider Him as your Father and your friend. But that doesn't negate His uncompromising attribute of holiness. The Judge is standing at the door. He has never compromised on His holiness. Sin cannot stand in His presence. He abhors sin. But you indulge in it, you find pleasure in it. Why? The Judge is standing at the door. Image courtesy: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=jesus+knocking+on+the+door&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fjesus-knocking-on-the-door

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James:4:14 Life is so futile. And temporal. If you concentrate on what you are gonna get in this life. You will definitely be disappointed. Those temporary happinesses will not last long. Like a puff of smoke it will vanish. For you are made for eternity. Where as, if you invest in things which are eternal, which will last for eternity future, then that is a wise thing to do. The choice is yours. If you invest in worldly happinesses then you would be called wise by the world and a fool by God. Look at the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12. It was a wise thing that he did, to invest wisely, to break down his old small barn and build a bigger one. He invested wisely according to the world. But God calls him a fool. But if you invest in Godly things, God will call you wise eventhough the world will call you a fool..... Who do you want to call you wise? The choice is yours. But the consequence is also yours. A ...

Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. James:4:8 Come out of your rebellion. Stop taking the driver's seat. Draw near to Him. Be miserable, mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom (v:9) Be serious about your rebellious nature and seriously repent. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord. (v:10) A repentant mournful heart is always better than a rebellious pseudojoyous heart. In Christ alone is your complete joy. Repent of your rebellious ways and reinstate with Him. Humble yourself in God's presence. You are nobody big. You are nobody significant unless God is on your side. Keep yourself at His feet. Because of your sin, you do not even deserve it. But God has been gracious. Always be aware of this. Always humble yourself in reverential submission to the One who saved you.  Image courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catholic.arts/posts/1873121323144539/

You do not have because you do not ask God. James:4:2 What a wonderful truth which corroborates with Jesus' admonition. Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you. So you do not have because you do not ask God. The equation is very simple. But is it possible that you ask and you do not receive?  V:3 when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You ask with selfish motives, then you won't receive. Ask so that you will be useful for others. Ask so that you will be able to be spent for others. Let your perspective of receiving change.  Receive so that you will be spent. Because with selfish motives if you use what you have got, then it is friendship with world, which in turn is hatred to God. Lord help me to ask things with a selfless motive, so that I can be spent for others with my resources. That with all my resources, my health, my...

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James:3:5 A small spark is enough To destroy a lifetime of toil. But trees are older than men And a forest lasts for generations A small spark destroys it all Years of good work, years of hard work All lost in a single moment of foolishness Destroyed. Devastated. Creating trauma. The tongue is a fire too, says the Word. Years of good name you have created. The good words you spoke to a losing soul, The good deeds you did, which looked like Cold water poured over burning coals. All destroyed in a few set of words said in anger Even in secret or in public For God sees it all. If anyone is never at fault in what he says He is a perfect man. James:3:2 He is able to keep his whole body in check Can both fresh and salty water Flow from the same spring? Asks He. Control it. Bridle it.  Do not let it go Lashing around and destroying those tender hearts. Do not let years of hard work go waste. In fits of rage. In disc...

As the body without Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James :2:26 Faith alone will not justify you. Deeds that come out of your faith - like Abraham, like Rahab. Your good deeds should reflect that you have faith in a good God. By grace through faith alone you are saved. Yes faith is the core of your salvation. But unless it reflects on to your deeds, what faith is it? Not that deeds will save you. Not that deeds also is needed to save you. But deeds should reflect the faith you have. That is why, it is said, faith without deeds is useless. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/hands-with-heart-donation-volunteering-charity-good-deeds-grey-icon-gm1310370557-399798981