The halfbaked Bard

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. 2Tim:4:7 Oh! With confidence will I be able to tell To the fag end of my life On the last days of my life I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. What has been entrusted to me What has been given to me Have I managed it well? The resources, the people, the blessings and the responsibilities. Will I be able to hear the sweet voice Well done good and faithful servant You have done well with what I gave you Would I have lived a life worthy of the one who called? What would be my emotion when I see Him? What would be my epitaph? What would He say when I meet Him face to face? What would be that one liner about me that He would say? Fighting the good fight Finishing the race given Is not by might; nor by determination. It says - I have kept the faith. Faith is the weapon with which you fight well Faith is the leg with which you run the race well Faith is the criterion He looks for Trust and obey; for there i...

All Scripture is God breathed 2 Tim:3:16 God is behind this book - 66 books. 40 different authors. Written over a span of 1600 years. But one single theme. Man created. Man fallen. Man helpless. God intervenes. God helps. Man rescued. Man reinstated. Man has an eternal hope. God Himself is the hero of this book. The central character around whom, the others revolve around. This is the story of God. Not a nation. Not a group of people. The central theme is God's love to mankind. That is why it still talks. Because the author is still living and the Spirit communicates still. This books still speaks. Every time a child of God reads the word of God, God sits with him/her to speak, God sits to teach.  That is why it has stood the test of time. Many have put it into scrutiny. The oldest manuscripts have been proven of accuracy. Few disparities here and there, but not on the core. The Bible has stood the test of time. It will change you; only if you allow it to. Read it regul...

2 Tim:3:13 They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. How pathetic? How horrible a life it would be - to deceive and to be deceived. There is no one to trust. And you can't be trusted too. Life is a chaos. The only rule is - what would I gain from this. The whole world becomes self seeking and profit oriented. A godly life is different. It is all about God. And when it is all about God, it becomes all about others - selfless giving.  So when you are asked to take a load for a mile, then you go two miles. So you give all that you have to take care of the person you do not know, lying on the road, beaten and bruised by thugs and you further tell - I will pay back when I come back. So you give your coat as well, when he sues you and takes your shirt. So when he slap you on the cheek, you show him the other as well. You might suffer loss.  But a life to the fullest you can live. Because you know that there is a God above all. Image credit: https://husain...

2Tim:3:12 Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Do not worry. Jesus told you. When you are in this world, you will have much trouble. When you have moved from darkness to light, you have moved from one system to another. Because you have moved from the enemy territory, the evil one will attack you in many ways - physically, emotionally, relationally, mentally. He will relentlessly try to discourage you to render you useless. But he will not succeed. Be of courage. Jesus is with you. Even as you desire to live a godly life, you will be persecuted. But continue to desire, continue to pursue. Because only on abiding in Him, will you bear much fruit. Only in abiding in Him, will you have life abundance which He has promised. There is no other way to live. In perfect obedience there is life. In perfect clinging there is abundance. Do not be discouraged about living a life clinging to Him. Only that will bring everlasting joy. All the other vain ...

If a man cleansed himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy and useful for the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee from the evil desires of the youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. 2Tim:2:21-22 Cleanse yourself from ignoble things and set yourself apart for noble things. Why concentrate on the evil desires of the youth when you have more richer things to pursue - like righteousness, faith, love and peace. Make yourself useful for the Master in the way you can; concentrating on being holy and doing things for the Kingdom. Why waste your time and energy in useless browsing, meaningless chatter and harmful quarrels. Pursue godly things. Unless you feed yourself with godly things, there is no pursuing noble things. If you feed yourself with ignoble things you will persist to pursue ignoble uselss things. Image courtesy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/clean-vs-cleanse-difference-usage

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it, will become more and more ungodly. 2Tim:2:16 Refraining from harsh painful words, that hurt others is a godly advise. Here is a step further. Useless, harmless, godless chatter will make you more and more ungodly.  Unnecessary loose talk will take you nowhere. Talk with a purpose always. Use words, what you really mean. Have a discussion which is worth it.  Your words, let it reflect who you are - a child of God. An ambassador of God. Royal priesthood. Heir of God. Talk like a prince, not as a commoner. Do not blabber. Be men and women of substance - by having a solid content in your words. Talk to each other about things which do really matter.  But for that you need to have that content in your heart.