The halfbaked Bard

One of the very commonest and frequently used terms - especially in our generation - where we were taught the beauty of apologizing and reinstating relationships. But it was extremely difficult for me to accept the fact that I have been on the wrong side. The present generation finds it even more difficult to admit that they have wronged. The blame is not on any one of us, nor on the present generation. The difficult to say sorry is a combination of man's nature and the world's teaching. The pride in our hearts deter us from admitting, though we were clearly on the wrong side. Choosing to ignore is a better option or showing others that I've not agreed or I don't care. It's the easier and more comfortable option. Achan had done something terribly wrong, when he disobeyed God and kept for himself a robe, 200 silver coins and a gold bar weighing about a pound - things which he revelled from Jericho. When specifically pointed out - tribe by tribe, clan by c...

Immediately after the mind rattling victory of Jericho, Israel faces a raucous defeat from the Ai. Because of disobedience and sin and breaking of covenant. We see the faithfulness of God here. We see the holiness of God. We see His non compromising attitude towards sin. And we see His love - That His love deals with the root cause of our rottenness. Not love as something which expresses through only blessings. I want to highlight this attribute of God. As parents do we agree to all mischiefs of our children, because we love them? Do we entertain everything they do giving an explanation of love? Do we keep providing for them alone, lauding them with gifts and presents? If so, is it really love? We are spoiling them. Love is complete when it is balanced with admonition, correction and discipline. Love looks at the deeper man, not the outward happiness. Love wants a happy face, not a sad sulking face. Yet love also has an eye on the whole being. So is God, when He says He has...

Rahab was able to convince her father, mother and brothers and all other relatives to be saved from the Israel army. In contrast Lot went around talking to his future sons in law to be saved from God's anger pouring down on Sodom and Gomorrah. So was Noah not able to convince his relatives and people around him that the flood is coming. Not undermining the faith of Noah or Lot, but complementing the influence Rahab had on her family. Though she had a very menial job. Loving the family so much that you would die hard to help them out in their trouble, listen to them, pray for them and tell them about the salvation you have found out. And why restrict to your families - your friends, your extended family, your colleagues. Loving them all and helping them and praying for them and wanting them to get saved creates in them an impression that you are genuinely interested in their lives and not a happy-go-lucky relationship. "Preach the gospel always and when necessary us...

Ps:15 Who will stand firm forever? Who will worship in God's sanctuary? Who may enter His presence? The querries are something which we all aspire. But the list that follows is quiet entangling and feels implausible.    - Lead blameless lives.    - Do what is right.    - Refuse to gossip.    - Keep promise even when it hurts. Only to name a few. Sometimes of our lives we would be able to do justice to the list, but not always. Deep down in our hearts we know that we are not foolproof. We have faltered to the core. And we know that we cannot go to the Holy God with those filthy rags. Isa:64:6 There is only one person ever trod on this earth who could claim, He did it all and that one person has promised something which gives us hope. Rom:3:23-24 For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from th...

Tell your children - Josh:4:21-22 How important it is to teach your children in Godly ways, God's statutes and standards. Includes physical and spiritual children. Your juniors, your friends. You might not be a stalwart, but a beginner- but tell someone about what you learnt today. It is important for you to learn and also helps others. In this world of digital overindulgence it is often better to personally talk to somone, than to post forwards. May God enable.

After the Israelites crossed the river Jordan, the Lord asked Joshua to select 12 men (one from each tribe) to go to the dried up river Jordan and to take twelve stones from the place the priests were standing with the ark. These twelve stones would stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever (Josh:4) When God takes you through tough situations mightily, graciously and miraculously, memorials like these can remind us to thank God for what He has done. It also keeps us far from pride, that it is not I who have acheived all these by my merit or hardwork, but by the grace of God. I personally know of a family who has stones of remembrance of major events of their lives, which they could use to thank God for. Journalling your heart's feeling is thus important. Write your prayers, list your prayer points and thank God as you see them being answered (yes or no) - small or big. Unless we jot down somewhere, we are characteristically thankless species, who tend to fo...

Psalm 14 describes a clear contradistinction of two words. "Fool" and "Wise" Fool says there is no God Wise is a person who seeks God. Where as the world says, following science and radicality is wise rather than blindly believing in an "abstract" being. One of the brilliant minds of this present world, Stephen Hawkings is one such example. Wise according to the world. Extremely wise. But what would God say of him? Remember the parable of the rich fool? He was actually quiet smart and wise according to the world. He was infact brilliant, when he decided to invest, break down his small barn and build a bigger one for his business. Quiet astute I would say. But God calls him a fool, because he was not rich unto God. Matt:16:26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul. Is anything worth more than your soul? The choice is yours. Who do you want to  call you as fool? The world? Or God?

The tagline of adidas, brings in so much confidence, self belief and encouragement. But is it really true? Is impossible really nothing for you? But it is indeed true. Not for you. But for a God who split the Red sea and river Jordan, who gave waters from the rock, who led a huge nation through the wilderness to land that's promised.  He also has done the impossible thing in my life. Saved me from the clutches of my sin and gave me eternal life. If He could save a wretch like me, Impossible is nothing for Him. He is the God who makes the impossible, possible. He makes the quiet improbable circumstances into something good and constructive.  Thus He could make failure, a stepping stone to success. He could make our sorrows into joy and mourning into dancing. He could transform our disappointments His appointments, where He conveys His everlasting love for us. Yes Nothing is impossible for God.

Rahab says - I know the Lord has given you this land. She goes on to make such powerful statements of faith - When Jericho is conquered. And as instructed by the spies, she left the scarlet rope hanging from the window, waiting expectantly for the whole of Israel nation to cross Jordan and come capture her land.  She was the only one who would be excited to see the puff of dust rising from the Jordan banks and people approaching Jericho. She was the only one who would have been jumping with joy in the city of Jericho when the horns where blown and finally the walls fell down. All out of faith. Not out of false hope or delusion, but because she came to understand in her mind that the Lord, God of Israel is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. May be we have faith and we understand that we follow a God who is all powerful and is Supreme authority of all things that we see or not see  But does that head knowledge reflect  on to things we say ...

While the spies where having a word with Rahab, she told them that she knows the Lord has given Israel this land and that all of them are terrified seeing the ways the Lord has led this nation, by drying the Red Sea, demolishing the kingdoms of Sihon and Og. And finally she concludes by saying that the Lord your God is the Supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Remember these words come from a non Jew, who haven't even come across the practises of Israel, a person who does a menial and disgusting job. Yes people are definitely watching you, studying you. Is there a difference in you, that you reflect your loving Father? Or is your life just like anyone else's? Tossed in the pressures of the world. With none to point to? Your friends are watching you. What is your standard of your life? Do you compromise? Do you contradict your God whom you follow? Your children are observing you. How you handle crisis. In comparison to how Christ handled crisis. You h...

Come what may, your life be scorched By the beaming rays of the sun You be tired wandering, bereft of life Trust in Him, He will deliver you through He is the rock, He is the firm foundation Build on Him, your life, my friend He never shakes, He never disappoints Try my Jesus, He never fails. You be tossed in the waves of life You be alone in dark blue roaring sea You be sinking with no blade of grass To grasp and find you safe in the shore Lend your hand unto Him, my friend Just give Him your full control He lifts you up; He brings you safe To the shore, saying, "I am there with you" He bids you to come closer to Him He asks you to put your complete trust in Him You cannot solve your problems alone He is the ultimate solution! Try Jesus, He never fails He never leaves you nor forsakes you He loves you to the utmost, by His death Say yes to Him and see the deliverance.

The Lord knew Him face to face Yet he showed glimpses of anger When he beat the rock twice with the staff While he was to command it to give water The Lord told he was the meekest man Ever trod on this earth He was the one who killed an Egyptian But had to go through years of humbling The Lord told of Moses He is the one I trust Yet he is the one who got aggravated Asking God, "Why are you treating me so harshly?" The Lord says, "He sees the Lord as He is" Yet he was the one who told God straight on His face Send someone else, I'm tongue-tied When the Lord looks at you He doesn't look at your hands or mouth What it did or what it said He looks into the depth of your heart Helpless as you are, failed as you have If you have a longing for His love If your ulterior motif is to love Him God values and honours that God's impression of great people Are not based on what they have acheived But whether they have loved God with all they have And wante...

I dream of your sacrifice, Lord Which saved me from my wretchedness Darkness, filthiness and selfishness By your death You saved me Full of darkness was I, but  Your love filled my vacuum I dream of your perfectness, Lord Tempted in every way, You were But yet without sin Blemishless Lamb of God, You are. Yet I am fully imperfect To You, my eyes, I lift I dream of your faithfulness, Lord Oh! How You lead me and guide me. Just as You promised, through Your Word Yes this Lord is faithful There is none on earth or heaven Whom you could put your trust. I dream of your ultimate love, Lord I've turned away from you often But You always say "I'll never leave you" "I'll never let you go" Your love allures me to You. And I realise its no dream. It's versimilitude.

Deutr:33:27 The eternal God is your refuge And His everlasting arms are under you. Refuge is the place of shelter which we run to in times of trouble. The eternal God is our refuge and our position is in the arms of this God. John:10:28b-29 No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. Isa:49:16 See I have engraved you in the palms of my hands. Ps:3:3 You O Lord are a shield around me Deutr:33:29 He is your protecting shield If we are in the palms of the Almighty's hand, If the eternal God has His everlasting arms around us, And if the Lord Himself is a shield around me, Then Why Fear? Ps:46:1 God is our refuge and strength

Ps:13 David is surrounded by anguish in his soul and sorrow in his heart and that too everyday. The enemy has an upper hand (at least it seems so). The enemy gloats over him. But he doesn't look into the problems that is around him. Ps:22:12, he is in a similar situation My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls. Fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in. He looks in the eyes of his real valentine and trusts in the unfailing love. He soaks himself in that love, he lets himself be swallowed by that unending love and engrosses and enthralls himself in that Agape love. Today let's not look at things around us and be negative or pessimistic. Christ asks you "Will you be my valentine?" Just indulge and delight in this love. So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away You're not alone, stop holding on and   just be held Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held J...

The Father, the King, the Lord, the Master has loved us with an everlasting love and blessed us. And we are so predictable. I mean mankind. Like Israel we too got fattened satisfied stuffed and like them we abandoned God too. Not as obvious as Israel, may be in subtle ways. But definitely we have. We have gone after the blessings. When we were blessed we forgot our God our Father and forsook the relationship. We say we are busy. We say we are tired. We say we don't have time. We say our priorities have changed. “But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation. Deuteronomy 32:15. How saddening? How pathetic would God feal? He would feel cheated right? Till you get it you are after God. Your quiet times are regular. You attend all meetings online and offline. But once you get it. You are busy and don't have time for Him. Let's put ourselv...

Deutr:32:11 Like an eagle that rouses her chicks And hovers over her young So he spreads His wings to take them up And carried them safely in His pinions The Eagle is a majestic bird and is known as the king of the bird kingdom. Yet how meticulously it takes care of its young ones with so much love. Similarly the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the majestic God is our Father and He loves us with an everlasting love. He cares for us and He protects us. Rom:8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us. Ps:91:4 He will cover you with His feathers He will shelter you with His wings His faithful promises are you armour and protection So what is your response to this wonderful God your father --> v:5 do not be afraid Just trust.

In Deutr 31 God tells Moses that He knows that after moving into the promised land, Israel will surely turn away from the way of the Lord and walk in their own ways. They will be utterly corrupted and rebel against Him. Still God lived Israel and promises them to be with them, to go ahead of them and that He will never leave or forsake them. A God who knows I will rebel and close my fist on His face and have my own way- promises to bless me before hand. Promises to be with me. What an amazing love is this? This is unconditional love. He loved us when we were still His enemies and also when He was sure when we would further become His enemies I want to just point to that Agape love, which we for so long, overlooked.

Deutr:30:20b This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord you will live long. A jammed lock or a misplaced key bents you out of shape. You are frustrated and irritated. And what joy when it clicks open or you find out the right key. Similarly we all run about in life too searching for the right key. We try this, we try that. We try to do things the right way to get peace and joy. We think money could give us joy and run after it. We think fame or recognition will give us joy and we are after it. All in vain. We come to realize, like King Solomon who had everything under the sun, whatever he dreamt off and he said "everything is in vain" The Bible here offers you the key to life. To love and obey the Lord. If you do that, the promise is to live long. Not just here on earth. John:11:25 The one who believes in me will live eventhough they die. An eternal life with God. Why should you do it? Is it only to live long. Well that is just the sequel. Wha...

You have given your everything for me I ought to give my everything for you That's how love should stand Not as an obligation; but due to motivation You have given your everything for me You were King over everything In earth, in heaven and in the world to come But you became a servant for me Trampled and teased and spat upon Just for me; Yes just for this miry clay You have given your everything for me You were beautiful in every essence Enthroned in heaven, revered with awe But you chose to be a futile common man Just for me; because you love me You have given me your everything You knew no sin; though tempted In everyway as I was forced But did no sin; because you are an example But still you became a sin offering Not by deeds; but as a consequence You might have wriggled with shame On the cross; you cried ashamed and with pain Because of the sin of the whole world Even mine was there, with fiery red eyes Sharp claws and daggerred teeth But still you stayed on the cr...

What's my love for you? When I struggle to keep up the spirit Struggling to set things right Before man! Before God! Or wait is it before mine own eyes? Yes my love has always been to self Me and my possessions Me and my desires and longings Me and my interests Me and my priorities and my pride Had I loved my Lord Jesus genuinely Things would have been a lot different But why my priority is still me? My relations, my personal interests Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh And pride of life I'm indulged in But how did He live out here? He did not utter a word to defend Himself They spat on Him, mocked Him Ridiculed Him, whipped Him Still He kept His mouth shut, with no defense For whom? For you and me Oh! What an amazing love, selfless Gave up His every right for me To come down to earth Knowing that death is waiting. Still His unselfish love, prompted Him To die for me, to make me His own Two contrasts - selfless and unselfish love Versus a love that is always seekin...

Love of the Father is unfailing Relentless, unconditional, Agape Keeps loving you, on and on With no tags attached to it. Love of my Saviour is nonsensical While I was still His enemy While I was still a sinner He shed His last drop of blood for me. Love of my God is unfathomable Neither death, not life, nor heaven Or hell or authorities or anything Could seperate me from that love. Love of my beloved is persisting My beloved is mine and I am His Who loves me as I am In His bosom is eternal bliss. Love of my Abba is unreasonable Squandered I, all His expectations Still waiting for me with open arms Saying, Son do you know I still love you. Love I see on the cross is irrational Beat and lashed and whipped and pierced Mocked and spat and jeered for my sake His love to me held Him there, not the nails . Love of my Jesus is flabbergasting Not keeping a list of my sins Not demanding His own way He never gives up on me, never loses faith in me. Yet love to my Lord looks onerous E...

Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. Deuteronomy 26:7 Dear one! Are you troubled? Are you disturbed because of some constant ache in your life? The verse promises that when you cry in despair, there is a God who hears it and He looks down on you. Why? Because of His love for us.  Does no one seem to understand you or accept you? Yet He is the One who knows you in and out because He loves you. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. Deuteronomy 26:18 Do you feel that there is no one in this world who loves you? His treasured possession are you. Nothing can seperate you from the love of God is His promise.

Psalm:12:7-8 Therefore Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed Preserving them forever from this lying generation Eventhough the wicked strut about And evil is praised throughout the land. Sometimes we think evil prevails unprecedented. In Psalms 12 David is in such a dilemma. He sees godly disappearing, faithful vanished, neighbours lying to each other, flattering lips, deceitful hearts. He sees people saying we will lie to our heart's content, who can stop us? We too live in such a world where lying for your own protection is considered smart. Where lying which doesn't bring harm to others but beneficial for your good is considered wise and virtuous. Flattering with a selfish desire is considered shrewd. Stepping on another's shoulder for your benefit is considered well spirited. But don't we all realize that however small your sin is, it is considered significant in the eyes of the Lord. There is no big or small sin. There is no black or white lie. A...

Why should I live In a world so tampered Which does your joys deprive A world where values are paupered Why should I live In a world full of lust and greed Which makes you difficult to thrive Where you don't fit in the rat race Why should I live  In a world full of pride and selfcentredness And sins and temptations and hatred A world which doesn't impress you Why should I live In a world which kills your brothers Even at heart there is always hatred With no love, where you don't want to cling Why should I live That crucified my Saviour Who did only but love You and me, the falters But yes I should live, coz My Father's love should be drawn to Love your neighbour with no pause To lighten you are lightened Lord help me to live The way you want me to live Help me not to love the world You and You alone should be my love Lord help me to live Loving just as you loved us Not as the world loves For love's very definition is You alone.

Deutr:23:5b He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord loves you. Many of us live in the past. With the fear of consequences of our previous sins. Some live with the after effects of curses that run in families. Some think in this modern world, curses don't run that way, but probably explain it as genetic transmission of a particular sort of behaviour (like anger or depression or addictions) from grandfather to father to son. Whatever it is, curses or genetic transmission or consequence of our own sin, we realize these are not the blessings we seek in our lives. This verse is a promise which we can be dear to our hearts. For those who are loved by God, He turns the intended curse into a blessing. Also seen in Neh:13:2 Dear one, Are you depressed? Do you struggle in your studies? Do you think, how on earth I am going to achieve this? Do you think of this as a herculean task? Matt:11:28 Come to me all who are weak and heavy laden, I will give you rest. ...

The wicked is a generally common term that we see in the Bible. You are admonished not to follow the advise of the wicked in Psalm 1. And it continues to say about the wicked, that they will be condemned at the time of judgement. Who are the wicked? Is it people like the queen of hearts in Alice in Wonderland? Are they the cruel ones who torture innocent people, who scourge the orphans and widows, who work over the helpless? Does it include only Adolf Hitler, the East India Company, the Genghis Khan, the Blood Mary and the likes of Gen. Idi Amin alone? The Word says - Ps:10:4. The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead Ps:10:6 They think, nothing bad will ever happen to us, we will be free of trouble forever Ps:10:11 The wicked think, God isn't watching us. He has closed His eyes and won't even see what we do. Ps:10:13 It says about wicked despising God and they thinking "God will never call us into account" In a nutshell, wi...

Deutr:21:23b For anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. Gal:3:13 But Christ has resucued usbfrom the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, he took upon Himself the curse of our wrongdoing. For it is written in the scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree" This is self explanatory. Nothing more to say today. in order to remove our curse because we have sinned and fallen short, Jesus became a curse for us. Can we forlook this love? Where else can we envision such depth of love? Who else could love you so much? Let us dwell in that live for us. Oh the deep deep love of Jesus Vast unmeasured, boundless, free Rolling as a mighty ocean In its fullness over me Underneath me, all around me Is the current of thy love. - Trevor Francis