The halfbaked Bard

Col:1:21-22 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now He has reconciled you. Both because of the sin in us and because of our sinful nature, we had been alienated from the Holy God. By no means He could accommodate us, because He is not a compromising God, that He is not someone who could compromise sin. He couldn't brush it off, just like that. When He took the punishment upon Himself, so that an enemy like me could be reconciled with Him, it was love written all over it. Love to a wretch rebel like me. He did not want to lose me. Nor could He pass my sin off. And therefore the cross is quintessential. This is the base of the bard's faith. Yes He is my Father, my Friend, my Brother, my everpresent help in trouble. But primarily He is my Redeemer. He is my Saviour. He is the Holy God who loved me and saved me. From His own punishment He saved me by taking it upon Himself. What love is this? I cannot fatho...

Col:1:13-14 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves; in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We couldn't rescue ourselves. We were bound to be in darkness. Both in this world and for eternity. From there Christ has rescued us into the kingdom of the Son. Redeemed. Forgiven. Entirely His doing. He willed and He acted. v:12.  He has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints, in the kingdom of light There were people greater than us, smarter than us, saintlier than us. Not that they have not been chosen. But I have been chosen. Undeserving as I am. And why did He do this? Love is the sole reason. Not to establish a kingdom. Not to recruit faithful and efficient people. Simply because of His love to me. Simply because He had compassion upon my plight and did not want to lose me for eternity.  Thank you Jesus. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/concept-of-salvatio...

Live a life worthy of the Lord. Col:1:10 How to live this life worthy of the Lord? A life pleasing Him in everyway. - bearing fruit in every good work. - growing in the knowledge of God. - being strengthened in all power. - great endurance and patience.  - joyfully giving thanks to the Father. All of these things which are self explanatory, involve our efforts as well as God's grace. God's grace has been freely given but it is upto us to practicalise it, desire for it. Let this prayer, Paul had for the Colossian church be the prayer for yourselves and the ones you love. Image courtesy: https://techbullion.com/a-mans-guide-to-embracing-life-and-living-to-the-fullest/

I have learnt how to be content with whatever I have Phil:4:11 The rat race is dirty The rut looks disgusting. To win at any cost. To grab more than what you require. To need more, to want more, to desire. Your heart is a bottomless pit. The bag that fits in anything. The belly that accomodates everything. And therefore your heart is looking messy. It is filled with all sorts of junk. A dirty mixture of the world and the word. Disgusting and abhoring it looks. To be content with what I have To be satisfied with what God has given To be grateful for what is in my plate. Clears the whole chaos. To accept only what is needed To say no to things which you don't need. No to hoarding. No to accumulating. Especially things which are of no use. Contentment is satisfaction. Contentment is thankfulness It is the antonym of greed. The antithesis of chaos and confusion. Contentment brings a smile Contentment brings joy. It brings a sigh of gratification. And then there is peace. To...

Phil:4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Are you worried; are you disappointed; are you concerned; are you confused; The key is praying. In praying there is letting go of the reins. Praying develops trust. Pray about absolutely everything. Then time wouldn't suffice for you to pray - in contrast to, there is no time to pray. V:6b. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Being thankful for what He has done in the past is part of your prayer. Praying thus develops gratefulness. V:7. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand. The key to peace that passeth all understanding is to be thankful for what He has done. To remember what He has done helps you to be at peace in tumultuous situations, because you remember that the God who has led you in the past, will lead you now as well. This is the key to living in Christ Jesus (v:7b). There is no point in worrying or trying to do things your...

And therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. Phil:4:1 Each man should live His life, true to someone, true to an ideology or a person. True to oneself. Dwindling may lead to choas. Where as consistency in following something or someone, there is peace. We are called to follow Jesus. Stay true to Him. That is the key to peace that passeth all understanding. That's the key to abounding joy. Do not dwell in the world Dwell in Him. What do you think often? What do you dwell on, more often? What rules your mind often? Look at your scroll list. Look at your browsing history. Look at what you think and talk. Look at how you spend your free time. And I will tell you who you are. Eph:4:8. And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honourable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Image credit: https://wearethecure.org/theres-nothing-like-a-good-d...