The halfbaked Bard

Trials. They have come so that your faith - may be proved genuine. 1 Pet:1:6-7 Are you burdened? Are you overwhelmed? Is everything too hard for you? How are trials useful? Aren't they meant to discourage you more? Trials keep you rooted and strong in faith. That will prove your faith is genuine. It might be a sickness; you have prayed but there is delayed healing. Or a habit that you struggle to put aside. Or a ridicule. Or debts or loans. Or any unanswered prayers. It all results in proving the genuinety of your faith. When things are beyond what you can handle, even otherwise. When you are confused as to why things are happening this way, totally unexpected. Let this assure you. That your Father is in control of the situation. And He does things for your good. And this is the good that He is talking about - that your faith will be made genuine. And something more beautiful may result as you go through this. Result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus is revealed. W...

And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be believed in the last time. 1 Pet:1:4-5 Can never perish Can never spoil Can never fade  Kept in heaven for you Shielded. Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom:8:1 Dear one, you can be sure. Once you are in Him, no one can snatch you from His hands. Underneath is the Father's hands and no one can snatch you from the Father's hands. The statement is blatant and complete. If He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you, that is applicable not just for the life here in this world, but in the life to come as well. He will not leave you. Period. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. No repeated sin. No failures. No disappointments. Nothing will be able to separate you. His love is always there. Image credit: Gemini 

James:5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. James:5:16 Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Prayer is effective and powerful only if it is preceded by confession. Confession of sins is quintessential in reinstating your relation with your Father in heaven. For He is a holy God. Not that your sins will be forgiven when you confess. But inorder that your prayers will be heard, you need to have a reinstated relation with the Father. Therefore the reasons for unanswered prayers is this. Sin harboured in your mind. And also - you do not pray according to His will. You pray your selfish prayer, not according to His will and expect God to answer in your ways and your plan. Like a Genie, you need God's approval stamp of your shopping list. James:4:3 When you ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend what youbget on your pleasures. Are your prayers powerful and effective? Look into these things. Image credit: https...

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/