The halfbaked Bard

Judg:1:7  I once had seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating scraps from my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them. King Adoni-bezek God does things in His ways, in ways we cannot fathom. We see only this side of the wall. But God is Sovereign in His ways. All knowing. How can we, finite as we are, question the ways of an infinite, eternal, All knowing, Supreme God. God's ways of dealing with King Adoni-bezek was because of his sin. And no sin goes unpunished. God is not like a tyrannical dictator who kills anyone who stands against Him. But He is a compassionate Father who wants everyone to repent and renounce the old ways and come back to Him. These words come from the cruel king himself who realize that God is dealing with him the same way he has dealt with others cruelly and looks unto God God's ways are Sovereign

Serving God when your leaders are there is easy, Following Him when others are looking. It's easy to go hand in hand with other stalwarts. But it tests your mettle, when you walk alone. When none is around, do you walk with Him. When you are in the dark, do you want to walk in the light. Character is what you are in the dark. It tests your strength, when you have to walk alone. Why do we often fall apart, when others are not watching? In the midst of fellowships, you behave right, But at home, the real person comes out. That's because we want to please man rather than God. Do you want to show others, you are pious and God fearing? But when alone, you walk in your own ways. Wanting to live the way you want. To continue in your own comfort zones. But to be in the centre of what God desires Is the key to actual abundant life. To live a life centred around Him always. The invitation is to live a life of integrity.

Joshua puts down his foot and gives a final admonition to the Israelites. He was old and was about to go back home along with his ancestors. This is the final thing he wants to stir the hearts of the children of Israel with. "Choose today" You cannot serve two masters - you will end up despising one. And when you choose, you have to choose to do that with all your heart. You can pursue something without putting your whole effort. There are two ways to study. 1️⃣ Put your full effort. Might not result in very high scores. But you are sure you have put your whole effort, the best of your ability. 2️⃣ Not fully dedicated. In malayalam the word is "ഉഴപ്പ് _ uzhappu". Marks will be low, a just pass (which is what they want) or even fail. In the second one, because you don't put your whole effort, the conclusion is that, a better effort is put on something else, may be playing or other extracurricular activities. May be boozing or partying or "enjoyin...

Josh:24:12-13 It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory. I gave you land you had not worked on and I gave you towns you did not build - the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive grooves for food, though you did not plant them. When I look back into my life, there is one thing which strikes out. That I have things in my life which I have not laboured for. All I have is a gift. There were more deserving than me. But God chose to gift me, bless me. My education - there were more deserving and hardworking kids in my school and college than me. But where am I right now - I can look back and thank Him only. My family - How many broken families I see around, with children turning renegades against their own parents. It's not that I have laboured hard. But God has been gracious. And I thank God for the love of my life, whom I do not deserve. My parents, the example they have set before me in faith life especially. That's not also somet...

Joshua:23:14 Deep down in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed! In times of trouble, He has been a comfort to us. In times of confusion, He intervened into circumstances and led us through. In times of loneliness, He has been more than a companion. He said He'd be there and He has always been true. In times of neediness, He has always provided. In times of desperation, He always had a solution. In times of helplessness and hopelessness, He hath made Marah into sweet water. He is Jehovah Jireh, and He has always. In times of failures, He has made it stepping stones to try harder. In times of defeat, He Himself has pointed sin in us, to repent and reinstate. In times of lost hope, He hath filled with strength for today and hope for tomorrow. He is Jehovah Nissi, our victory Flag. When it was dark and cloudy, I still feared no evil. When sin's gloomy veil was covering me, the Light shone on me. When I w...

My ancestor was Reuben. Well he is well known for his act of compassion to his brother Joseph when his other brothers including Judah had plotted to kill him. It was Reuben who secretly planned to rescue him. Today we are on our way back to our homeland after the victories the Lord has given us. The land to the west side of Jordan was the first to be claimed in the  the promised land. Our children were small, our livestock too. So we Reubenites, Gadites and a part of Manasseh requested Moses to grant us permission to settle in the west side of Jordan river. Moses only had one condition. That we would go out for war against the enemy countries to help the rest of the tribe to claim their homeland in the promised land. We would leave back our families and our possessions on this side of the river and go help our brothers. As the leader of the Reuben tribe, I Behalel was the first to say yes. And others joined too. We thought, it's our responsibility. It's not right to...

Father i thank you for what you have done in my life. Nothing of what I have do I deserve. Right from saving me from the clutches of sin. I do not deserve to be saved, Lord. But you have done this act of kindness out of your sheer love to me. When I was still your enemy. When I was rebellious you did this act of kindness to me. When I was most undeserving you redeemed me. Not only that, every moment my act of rebellion is so evident. But still   you continued to love me and forgive me even before I sought forgiveness. The blessings I've received, both obvious and non obvious are all your grace Lord. My education. A home to live, my family. I don't have words enough to thank you. When all have rejected me, you where there on my side. You have promised that you would never leave or forsake me. And you have been faithful. Forgive me for my ingratitude. And fill me with thankfulness to you.

The tribe of Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh had asked to settle in the east of Jordan river. Moses had agreed, but on one condition. That they would come and help their brothers in the conquest of the land on the west side of Jordan. They left their families and their livestock back there and set out to help their brethren in claiming the rest of the promised land. You, Oh! Dear one, have been blest not for you to enjoy alone, but to help your friend who is in need. God has given you healing (mental, physical or emotional) so that you could instil that God confidence in someone who is in need of healing. God has given you rest so that someone who is unrest and weak and heavy laden will find rest in God. You are a channel, though God is the source. Are you willing? Or do you still sit in your comfort zone? Step out to help one needy person, today. May be monetary help. May be physical presence. May be emotional support. He calls you to part take in His plan in anothe...

Josh:21:45 Not a single one of all good promises the Lord has given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled, everything he had spoken came true Yes we follow a faithful God. We follow a God who is true. If He has promised He will fulfill. No matter what. It doesn't depend on whether we are good and truthful. He is faithful and true because He is faithful and true. 2 Tim:2:13 If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful for He cannot deny who He is. If God has called you with a promise, He is faithful to fulfill it, dear one. Your eternal future and your present future are in His hands. He has called to bless you. But let it not be a licence for you to live the way you want. Let it be a reminder always. Actually if we think, why did God call Israel in the first place? Not because of any good things they did. Not because Abraham or Issac or Jacob had wholeheartedly followed God. Even before that He chose. Whose was the first act? God calling or Abraham believing? Only w...

Psalm:20:7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses But we boast in the name of the Lord our God We can put our trust in our strongholds - our degrees, our job, our assets, our children. But unless we boast in the ever present help in our lives, then what use? And that boast comes out of trusting in the Lord with all our hearts. Reminded of the classic dialogue of Sasi Kapoor from Deewar  Nothing else matters Even if it's poverty or rejection or demotion or pulling back, it doesn't matter (Well, God wouldn't allow that), if we have God.

Giving you my all Purify my heart Purify me as gold Let me be as pure    You're there by my side    You're there as my guide    You're there as my Father    You're there as my all Trusting in You Lord You have solved my all For I need not worry 'Coz you care for me My only comfort's you For You know my best Help me give you my all Not witholding one

Run to the city of refuge As had Israel in their promised land Unintentional murder, Accidental sin He gets protection, time to defend his case The high priest lends a listening ear And grants protection from revenge. God is our refuge, in times of trouble Run to Him, when you've unknowingly sinned Even intentional ones, if you genuinely repent The Lord grants pardon and protection from His own wrath "Against you and you alone have I sinned I have done evil in your sight" "You will not reject a broken and contrite heart" Run to the city of refuge Have you rejected Him like Peter? When the pressure of the world was on you? Have you chose others over Him, like Solomon? Compromising on the Holy One's standards? Have you disobeyed like Saul? Bending the law for your own comforts? Have you thought you could deal with God?  With your assets, like Simon the sorcerer? Have you repented like David? Terrible sinner he was, yet repented and reinstated was h...

Psalm:20:4 May He grant your heart's desires And make all your plans succeed. Psalm:20 is a unique Psalm of wishing the reader of God's grace upon you. May He answer your cry May He keep you safe May He send help May He strengthen you May He remember May He look favourably May He grant your heart's desire May your plans succeed May we shout with joy May the Lord answer all your prayers. The Almighty All-powerful God is on our side. And He looks with favour on you. The confidence we get when we realize that this God is in our favour is immense. And that confidence will give us hope when we are bereft. It gives us the ability to trust in His grace more and to seek His grace when the going gets tough. How much we need to? The option is there for us to lose all hope and be sad of the turn of events. But God calls us to be confident in Him who is behind us, who is there with us, who is there for us and He will provide. The cub is fearful, unsure, with lack of confide...

Psalm:19:13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins Don't let them control over me. One of the stand out character of sin is this, if you let go once, it eventually has a chance to take control. A subtle compromise once will be a foothold for the devil to establish his authority. Thus is not essentially because we are weak willed. No man is strong willed that he can prove his stand against the tempter. But for His grace we will all fall down. So better to say no at the grass root level itself. Ask for grace from the Father to say no. Especially the deliberate ones, the conscious ones. v:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Your words and your thoughts, if you are able to say no to those which are negative, that's how you deal with those deliberate ones at the root level itself. Say no to hurting words Say no to outbursts of anger and hatred Say no to depressing and disappointing thoughts Say no to discouraging thou...

Psalm:19:16 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. The law, the Word. We are so privileged to have the word of God in our hands. In our language. We can read it any time. But do we desire it, like the Psalmist? Like finest gold? Like honey? John:1:1 says the Word was God. Do we desire God like that? He is our best friend. He is our Father. He is the Rock in which we stand. He hath paid the price to redeem us. Do we passionately pursue His heart? Or is He a lottery ticket for us? To get things done? Like a genie out of the lamp? Psalm:37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. The greatest commandment according to Jesus is to love your God with all your heart all your mind with all your strength and with all your soul. May our only desire be to love Him who saved us and His law which sustains us.

Joshua has just divided the land west of Jordan to Judah, Ephraim and half of Manasseh. Earlier the land east of Jordan was allocated to Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh by Moses. The remaining 7 tribes were supposed to divide the land among themselves and claim the promised land. But they were taking time. Josh:18:3 How long are you going to wait before taking possession Are you waiting for something? Is there a delay? Sometimes God asks us to wait. Sometimes it's a deliberate waiting from our side because we do not want to venture out, we do not want to be bold enough to claim or obey, because we are not comfortable, we fear or we are not confident of the situation Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1 Do not waste your time waiting, unless it is the Lord who tells you to wait.

From Psalm 19 The instructions of the Lord are perfect , it revives the soul. It rejuvinates us. It strengthens us. It pushes us forward. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy , it makes the simple wise. It gives wisdom. As it corrects. As it admonishes. As it directs you in the right path. And it is always worthy to trust. The commandments of the Lord are right , it brings joy to the heart. When you are in trouble it encourages you. It brings you back to the right place - His bosom where we rightly belong. The commands of the Lord are clear , giving insight for living. Isa:30:21 Your own ears will hear Him Right behind you a voice will say This is the way you should go Whether to the right or to the left. The Word is such an integral part of our life. It corrects us It encourages us It gives us an example Leads from the front Sets before us standards (His standards) How important is the word for us as we walk along. How important hence to daily spend time with the Word....

The first part of Psalm 19 describes how nature proclaims the beauty and glory of God. They speak without a sound or word Their voice is never heard (v:3) The consistency and regularity of what we see around us, the repeatedness speaks volumes about the brain behind it. It is actually absurd to think, this happens by chance. There is a real reason behind what we see. There is a cause. It cannot happen as something by chance. There is life involved. There is sustenance involved. There is balance involved. And mind you, no futile man has been able to create life as such, forget about orderliness, by just by mixing of the constituent elements together. Which again points to this being behind all this who has life and gives life, who brings order. As a man in my senses, I believe there is a God behind all this I see around me, who created meticulously and sustains it impeccably. Psalm:14:1 Only fools say in their hearts there is no God.  I'm no fool to reject the presence o...

Because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord, Caleb was given the land which he walked in Canaan as his grant. In fact three times it is said about that in this small portion Josh:14:6-16. How do you wholeheartedly follow? _ Trust and not doubt. When you trust and not doubt in the God whom you follow even when things look gloom and impossible. When you trust and not doubt in the promises He made. When you trust and not doubt in His character. When you trust and not doubt in His faithfulness. Caleb though being 85years old now, was still so energetic to fight war, if the Lord is with him (Josh:14:12) even against the Anakites- the giants. So wholeheartedly following is trusting and not let go. It is clinging on to your God. It is persisting and persevering. It is consistently choosing to be with Him and living for Him. Such a man will be blessed by God, by His own presence in his life.

No fear, for God is my Rock I stand on Solid Rock which can't be shaken All things He works for my good As He loves me and am called by His purpose No fear, for God is my protector Though I walk through utter darkness I fear no evil, for He is with me His presence only is enough, for He is light No fear, for God is my shield He is a shield around me, He promises He surrounds me with His shield of love No arrows devised by the enemy can touch me. No fear, for He is my salvation He reached down from heaven and rescued me He drew me out of deep waters I am safe in His bosom Gal:4:7 Now I'm no longer a slave, I am a child of God

Psalm:18:28 You light a lamp for me The Lord, my God lights up my darkness We all hate darkness, some fear them. Some try to prove they are not affected by it. We ask our children to be brave by conquering the fear of darkness.  That's because of the uncertainty that it offers. Life in its most uncertain and unsure times are seen as the darkest hours. The Lord lights up my darkness---- When the light comes, you can see everything and you are certain of what's around. The Lord is your surety. He is your certainty. He is your assurance. He is the solid Rock on which we can assuredly stand. Dear one do not be afraid, do not be unsure or fearful. Hold on to the light. He will carry you through. Light of the world you stepped down into darknes Opened my eyes let me see Chris Tomlin

Do we realize we are following an awesome God? Such a powerful God He is. Such a huge God. Psalm:18:15  Then at your command O Lord At the blast of your breath The bottom of the sea could be seen And the foundations of the earth were laid bare. I am awestruck when I read Jer:5:22 today I the Lord define the ocean's sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar but they can never pass the boundaries I set.   I'm also left speechless when I read through Job: chapters 38,39,40 and 41 at one go. This God is beyond our imagination. He is magnanimous, magnificent. He is Almighty, All Powerful. That same colossal God takes a different role in Psalm:18:16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me He drew me out of deep waters. He loved me so much that He did not want to leave me in that miry clay. He chose to rescue me. His magnanimity all the more increases. He is too good to be true....

Psalm:18:6 In my distress I cried out to the Lord Yes, I prayed to my God for help He heard me from His sanctuary My cry to Him reached His ears. Many a times in distress, we do everything but cry out to the Lord. We do self pity. We cry. We talk (or want) to talk to others. We think of prayers. We sing. What we do not do is what we ought to do. To talk it out to Him. I do not know about you, but this is my struggle. When we defer from praying, we are actually being arrogant and proud and telling God, "I have this, I need no help." We have been called to be house of prayer, but we have made it den of thieves (in our thoughts and words) Lack of communication with God, from our side is an act of rebellion. Even Jesus in His utmost distressed time, prayed to His Father - if it is possible to take away this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours. My Lord, My Lord why have you forsaken me? In the garden of Gethsemane In John 17 "Very early in the morning while it ...

Nothing have you gained in your life, which the Lord has not given you. Nor have you gained by your merit or fervour. Israel fought against the southern kingdoms and won those battles because of only one reason. Josh:10:42 - for the Lord God of Israel was fighting for His people. Jesus says in John 5:30. I can do nothing on my own. He repeats the same in John:5:19 If He says this about Himself, how much more He means when He says about us. For apart from me you can do nothing. John:15:5b We have never accomplished anything by our merit. No amount of self belief will push us to do something unless the Lord does it for us. So do not lean on your own understanding, but trust in Him.

Psalm:18:2b My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. What does it mean when God is referred to as my rock? a) Foundation or base on which I stand. Unshakeable. Not shifting sand or swamp where you are not stable, not secure. You feel your true identity in Christ. You are His child and that's unshakeable. You are loved by Him and that cannot be changed. Nothing will negate that. b) Protection, security, assurance - which is strong. Rom:8:1 Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus Rom:8:31 If God is for us who can be against us? Rom:8:39 Not anything else will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. God is my refuge and my fortress. c) A climber has only one aim, one destination - to reach the summit. All he endures, all he faces he is ready to, thinking of the glory. God is our destination. God is our standard.  Moment by moment, we endure, we continue to press on thinking of the glory of being United with Him, bein...

Psalm:17:6 I am praying because I know you will answer O God That's the confidence we have when we pray. Not that all our wishes will be granted. But that God would not remain silent. His yes is for our best. His no is for our best too. But He doesn't leave us there. He continues to be with us. To give us strength to accept and the peace. He gives us understanding that this is for our good. He continues to protect us and guard us from harm, both from the inside and from the outside. Psalm:17:8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes Hide me with the shadow of your wings. Let the answer be a yes or a no. The fact that He listens and the fact that He answers is so comforting. And He continues to hide me in the shadow of His wings. That's the best place we can aspire to be. Hide me now, under your wings Cover me within your mighty hands When the oceans rise and thunders roll I will soar with you above the storm Father you are King over the flood And I will be sti...

As they trod in the wilderness Their enemies were filled with fear and awe Their lives looked a mess If Israel would conquer them anew So they resorted to deception and fraud Gibeonites they were, but said they were from far Nothing did Israel doubt, it was odd They did not consult their God who would care When we think we know it all,  We forget there is a grand Weaver behind Choosing for yourself, we need not play that role Asking Him, rest we find. "Your own ears will hear Him Right behind you a voice will say This is the way you should go Whether to the right or to the left" When I am afraid, I will trust Him But when I'm confident, do I? When logically reasonable, do I trust Him? Driver's seat is not mine, for sure Lot chose what He thought was best for Him But ended up being a bad example But Abraham trusted in the God who called Him And was blest with a reward which no one could take away. When I'm sure this is the best When I'm confident, t...

Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel Josh:8:30 This hapens immediately after the victory over Ai and Joshua gives God the glory. He builds an altar in the way Moses had instructed them and worships God. The whole of Israel community listens to the law being read out aloud. When we are successful and things go well with us, our natural tendency is to  forget God and revel in the apparent good things. We tend to forget that there is a God behind all this. Mostly it is in times of trouble that we seek God, when we are helpless ( some of us yet rebel too at that time) “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Mark 12:17 Though this verse talks about paying taxes, it equally asserts the importance of giving God what's due for Him - Glory, your time, your very life, infact your everything belongs to Him. To live a life for Him is different from living a life close to Him. We are meant to be living stones w...

The men of Ai were caught in the middle, with Israelite fighters on both sides Josh:8:22b When the devil attacks, fight from your side. The Lord has already won the battle. All you have to do is to fight from your side. Do not yield when temptations come. Do not succumb to discouragement. Do not submit to dissapointments of life. Resist the devil. That's the means of fighting your part. I cease to yield. I desist to be discouraged. Each victory will help you or someother to win Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue. Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. Horatio Richmond Palmer Look unto Jesus who is on the other side of the enemy. He has won the war. Look unto Jesus who is by your side too. He will help you fight your part.

(Based on Ps:16) 1. V:1 - My refuge Refuge means shelter /protection in times of trouble. The Lord is whom I run to when I am distressed. I'm safe in His arms. No matter how big the trouble is, it will never cast a shadow in His presence. Safe in the arms of Jesus Safe on His gentle breast There by His love o'ershaded Sweetly my soul shall rest Safe in the arms of Jesus Safe from corroding cares Safe from the world's tempto Sin cannot harm me there Free from the blight of sorrow Free from my doubts and fears - Fanny Crosby 2. v:2 My master My authour. My owner. He has designed my life and has planned it well. So just trust in Him no matter what. I just keep trusting my Lord  As I walk along I just keep trusting my Lord As He guves me a song. Though the storm clouds darken the sky O'er the heavenly trail I just keep trusting my Lord He will never fail - John Peterson 3. V:5 My inheritance and my cup of blessing The Lord has called you to bless you. He will ne...

Josh:8:2b But this time you may keep..... Achan missed the big picture. What God intended was that His nation would enjoy the plunder of Ai and keep for them the possessions from them. Not from Jericho. But Achan jumped ahead and he thought he knew things better. What we want or need, God knows best and He would definitely give it to us. We need to stop concluding for ourselves but trust in God's ways and God's timings. And not to rush to grab things. Not to rush to take decisions on our own.  He has plans to prosper you not to harm you.