The halfbaked Bard

Boy Samuel wore only a linen garment Boy Samuel gets only a coat from his mom Every year when she comes to meet him No toys to play with No boys to hang around One thing happened for sure He grew up in the presence of the Lord He didn't have much to enjoy But he had more for the need of his life Eli's sons were filled with contempt But boy Samuel, filled with content Nothing to cherish and enjoy, not even his parents around But that manured him to grow up the mighty prophet he turned out to be Invest wisely, choose rightly What do you want in life? Enjoyment, merriment, materials that can give happiness? But abounding joy can be given only - By the One who fashioned you In Him alone, you would find life in its fullest When invested in the right things He grew up to be the man, he turned out to be He could have been a pious man like his father But boy Samuel being left with Eli in the temple He seemingly lost everything in his life. But gain he did, much more. Unless...

No one will succeed by strength alone  1Sam:2:9b Are you good at something? Do you feel talented? Or rather to put it in a spiritual way, Do you feel blessed by God in something? A natural talent? Blessed with a beautiful voice? Blessed with the ability to speak or write? Good to deal with children? Artistic? Graphical? Whatever you feel yourself is good at and excel, remember no one will succeed with strength alone. V:10 He gives power to His king He increases the strength of His anointed one. 1Cor:4:7 What do you have that you have not received.  Though theoretically we know this, does it sink to our hearts? All has been given  Nothing to boast about. Nothing to be proud of. Actually when in out "strength", we become weak, only then God will strengthen us further, for His name's glory. When I say, my strength is useless without you, admitting my dependance on God, then God's strength would be made perfect in us. 2Cor:12:10 My power works best in weakness...

1Sam:2:3 Stop acting so proud and haughty Don't speak with such arrogance For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done He will judge your actions. Cambridge definition of haughty is - seeming to consider yourself better than any other. Even a worldly dictionary considers haughtiness as something of the heart, need not be overtly expressed. Yes when it gets expressed, you use the terms like arrogance, hubristic, disdainful and the like. But the root of it all is the pride of my heart. I still remember myself as a schoolkid, trying to negate others opinion and to exert mine using the phrase "not like that". That was a norm in my life. When we have conversations, we fail to listen and try to speak always (giving suggestions and solutions) because of pride. We fail to receive corrections in the right sense because of our haughtiness and pride. When others are being blessed, is there a tiny jealousy sprouting in your heart? Our phones are filled with selfies....

He will belong to the Lord his whole life. This was Hannah's promise about her only child to the Lord. A child much awaited. A child for whom, much was prayed for. The concept that our children belong to the Lord, is extremely imperative. They are our children. But most importantly His children, and not grandchildren. We are stewards, we are signposts for them to God. We are not dictators. We are not task masters. We are examples. We are not rulers. Has God been interested in bringing us thus far? Will He not individually guide and direct them in the path to follow? We have to be examples for them to follow - good examples. We should not exasperate them - like hard taskmasters. Will they feel we are there to find fault with them always. Their disobedience and rebellion is not to frustrate us but to make us realise our fallen nature and hence intercede. Our venting out should not be out of frustration which comes out of the hurting of our pride that our child behaves odd...

May the Lord help you to keep your promise - 1Sam:1:23 It is the Lord who gives a desire for Him It is the Lord who enables you to give the promise And it is the Lord who helps you keep your promise So are we just puppets?  The choice was Hannah's. She could have very well given excuse not to fulfill her promise. The child is so small. This child is my only child. A little more let him be with me. God put it in her heart. God enables her to obey. But she chose to obey. To obey with her whole heart. We can also obey reluctantly. Reminded of that adamant boy who was asked to sit by the teacher after his punishment. Because of his resentment and adamancy he said "I am still standing in my heart." Whole hearted obedience, obeying with joy removes building up of resentment and anger in your life and it helps you to live your life with joy and gladness. and that comes  by trusting in the fact that God is good all the time. May God enable.

When you pour out your heart to God When you talk to Him as your friend When the answer is given as a promise Are you still sad? The Almighty, All powerful God Carefully listens to what you say The answer has come even before you pray Are you still sad? The answer, be it yes or no or wait All things happen for your good According to the plans to prosper you Are you still sad? Why are you still sad? Lack of faith that God will surely answer? Lack of trust that it will come to pass? Lack of belief that God listens? Why are you still sad? Fearful of whether God would answer the way I want? Worried of the paths He calls you to trod? Not confident whether that's what I desire? Cain's countenance fell Because sin was encroaching Hannah was no longer sad Because she had the confidence in God. When we pray, He is sure to listen Ask and you shall receive Seek and you shall find Knock and the door will be opened Do not be adamant to get your desire. Leaving things in His hand...

What is the level of your relationship with God? Where do you see yourself? In joy, being merrier and enjoying? In joy, thankful to God for His mercies? In sorrow, being melancholic, alone in a corner? In sorrow, pouring out your heart to God? In anger, shouting and showing resentment to all including God? In anger, humbling yourself, repenting? In pride, demanding blessings from God? In pride, realizing and repenting and returning? In sickness, playing with God the blame game? In sickness, taking up the pointer and reinstating with God? This shows the depth of your relationship with God (or the lack of it). Is it superficial or is it deep? Is it self centred or is it God oriented? Is it master-slave (or even farther) or Father-son? Hannah, when she was discouraged, her choice was to pour out her heart to God. And therefore there was a solution for her problem. If you sit in your own shell, brooding over your plight or enjoying yourself, what solution can it bring? Pour it ...

Am I not better than ten sons? - Elkanah's words of comfort to his wife Hannah. This note is to the husbands and to be husbands. (Wives need not read today 😉) What an amazing example? In this world where we love our profession, our career, our friends, our hangouts, our desires and dreams and ambitions more than our wives. We need to understand the essence of Christian marriage.  God created woman out of man's rib - so that he would love her as his own. Close from the heart - to love her Beneath his arm - to care for her and protect her. God created woman as a helper to man. Now this is something which is often misinterpreted. Where man demands woman to do everything for his comforts quoting woman is created for man and not vice versa. But the truth is, the helper is instituted because, we need help. She is not our subordinate to be trampled upon. She is not inferior to be made to do all the work. Infact we are inferior, because we can't live without help. Can ...

The book of Ruth starts with sorrow and grief. It ends  with joy and glad tidings It begins with losing loved ones It ends with cuddling Obed with joy It begins with Naomi feeling lonely It ends with bringing the family together It begins with losing all hope It ends with a new beginning, a new hope. You might be in a dead end now But there is a turn round the corner There is hope in trusting Jesus In returning to Him, in resting in Him Not just in this world But also in His realm of things. Abraham was childless for so long Then he was blessed with Issac in his old age. And many more as stars in heaven Both in lineage and in faith Job lost everything to begin with But God gave him twice as much later Israel out of their sin was exiled to Babylon But from being scattered all over the world They were brought back to a nation in 1948 Moreover all of us wait for the New Jerusalem There is hope in the Lord A hope that transcends all grief. That this testing time would come ...

She can have a son to carry in the family name of her dead husband.  Ruth:4:10b This is in accordance with the commandment given to Israel in Deutr:25:5-10 And when his brother marries his wife, the son that is born to them will carry on the name of the dead husband not the brother. So as tradition, children born to Boaz and Ruth will be known to carry the name of Mahlon, not Boaz. But later on never do we see Obed as the child of Mahlon. In Ruth Ch 4, Matthew Ch 1 and in Luke Ch 3, it is written as Obed son of Boaz. Though it was true traditionally, in God's eyes things were different. Through this act of kindness, act of wilfull giving away, God had destined Boaz to be the great great grandfather of David. And in a way be part of the lineage of Jesus Himself. In the world's eyes you might be a loser. But in God's eyes when you give priority to His commands you will be honoured by Him. Rom:11:35. God is no man's debtor When u wholeheartedly and happily give...

Ruth:3 Boaz has got the opportunity of his life to have Ruth as his own. A time alone with her in the night, when no one knows. He could have done anything to her. But he knew, that was not solely important. Ruth's request to redeem her, again was something he was expected to do. But he is not hasty. There was another family member who could redeem her, a closer relative than him. Ruth's loyalty and virtuosity was something which he had high regard of. And his conversation with her again and again depicts of his love to her. Self controlled yet filled with love. Wanting to have her as his own, yet willing to wait. In this world, love is often translated as owning. If I love or like something, I should want it. I like a car, I spend money to own it. If you like a girl, you want to have her as your own. I like ice cream, I want to eat it. Liking or loving has been linked to owning or having as my own. It is solely because of my self love. I do everything to have it as...

Psalm:27:8 My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me" And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming" This verse explains how much the Lord waits to spend time with each one of us. We are like the busy husband, who come back home tired and weary. But the wife and children are waiting to spend time with him in the evening. To talk to him of their daily ventures and plans, to play with him. But he gives lame excuses. Are we guilty of making our Lord wait on us? Even in front of the open Bible, we keep Him waiting with our more important wandering thoughts.  Who will win the game today? What to cook for dinner today? How to plan about things for today? We keep the Lord waiting. And when we pray we just wishfully think or hope of a prayer. We are lazy enough to even utter. We sometimes rush through our prayers like a super express. We keep the Lord waiting. We behave as if we are the most important things in the world. We make the King waiting. It's ...

In this world which is so self oriented and self centred, Ruth stands out as an example otherwise. Ruth loved Naomi so much that, though she was young and could have had a life of her own, she chose to be with her mother-in-law through thick and thin. Wherever you die, I will die is such a powerful statement for a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law, whose husband has died, who has no strings attached. She might have thought, what would this old lady do without me and she decided to stay back with her. Ruth:2:11-12 Boaz testifies that too. How many of us are as pro-poor as Ruth? As pro-helpless as she is? Do we want to come out of our comfort zones to help others out? At least do we take an effort to pray for those in need, genuinely? We need to step out of our comfort zones, from our selfishness, from me-and-my-kingdom thing. The kingdom of God was always for the poor and needy, weak and heavy laden. Jesus too was selfless. He could have enjoyed in His self indulgence and t...

What have I done to deserve such kindness? - Ruth Boaz has been so magnanimous to Ruth. So kind beyond expectations. Ruth thinks she doesn't deserve it; being a foreigner. But Boaz has his own reasons to be generous to her. We are foreigners. We were not part of the fold. We are gentiles. Acts:28:28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the gentiles and they will accept it. Rom:11:11 God's people- they were disobedient. So God made salvation available to the gentiles. We were a nobody. But in His plan, He has included us. What an amazing love is this? He has His own reason to show kindness to us like this. And His reason is LOVE A love that does not want to lose us, A love that does not want to leave us in hell A love that does not want to seperate from us A love that did the job of redemption For worthless wrecks like you and me The act on the cross is what gives me life A lifeless wretch like has been made alive Enemy, sinner,...

Ruth goes to pick up grain left behind in Boaz's field. What touched me was the testimony of the foreman about her. Ruth:2:7 - She has been hard at work. What would be our testimony at work? Lazy and shunning responsibilities? Or hardworking? What would be our testimony as a student? Complacent and procrastinating duties? Or giving our cent percent? It is not getting scoring high marks. It is about putting your full effort Do you work hard or hardly work? People are watching. How ridiculous your Father would be painted infront of others if you do not do your duties properly and yet proclaim the love of God. Who would want to follow a God whose child is lazy and shunning responsibilities! Beware.

The timing of Naomi and Ruth's return is quiet interesting. The last verse of Ruth 1 says they returned to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. They could have come back a little early or a little late. But it was perfect time that they came. As orchestrated by God. He makes all things beautiful in His time Eccl:3:11 At the right time He will lift you up 1Pet:5:6 So wait for His perfect time under the shadow of His wings. Find rest in His presence, for He has promised to be with you always.

Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you live I will live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Orpah and Ruth were given the same choice. Orpah wept and kissed her mother in law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly. There was no doubt that Orpah loved Naomi, like Ruth  Initially when Naomi, told them to go back to their mother's homes, they said in unison. "We want to go with you to your people." There is no doubt that Orpah loved Naomi. There is no doubt that Orpah wanted to go to the wonderful homeland of Naomi. There was no doubt that Orpah received a glimpse of the God of Naomi. But Ruth clung on tightly. If Orpah had taken that decision to cling on tightly to Naomi, like Ruth, her life would have been totally different. But here we know nothing more of her. Choices made determines the life you gonna live. Let us remind ourselves to cling on to the legacy of our fathers and forefathers. Let us remember to cli...

Ruth:1:13b. Things are far more bitter to me than for you, because the Lord Himself has raised His fist against me. These are Naomi's words. I don't think she is right in saying this. But I do agree that she is going through a rough patch in her life. One of the most terrible paths she has trodden. She feels dejected and rejected by God Himself. She feels her sorrows are heavier than what others go through and that she is justified in the way she reacts because she has faced much calamity in comparison with what others had to go through. Even if you feel that everybody including God has left you alone, do not lose hope for His promise is that He is with you. Even if you feel that the Lord has raised His fist against you, the reality is that His overarching presence is always there over you. John:14:1 Don't let your heart's be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in Me. Your name is written in my heart Your days are held within my hands And I have set your life...

This left Naomi alone, without her sons or her husband Ruth:1:5 Oh how lonely she would have felt, having left everything she owned in Bethlehem, coming to a foreign country, Moab, and there she lost her husband and sons, with two young daughters in law to be taken care of too. She must have cursed the day they took the decision to move out. She was all alone and helpless. But there is hope, when she decided to return back to where she belonged, her home, Bethlehem. The moment the younger son decided to go back to his father, things started to change for him. Peter denied Jesus three times, but the moment the cock crowed, he looked to the cross and that brought him back. Unless you decide to come back to where you really belong, His bosom, you will remain in that pit. Unless you cry out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, you will remain in that pathetic state of blindness. "I am willing" He always is. The question Jesus asked the paralytic man for 38 years wa...

The last few chapters in the book of Judges are so unruly, pathetic, wretched, abominable and awfully beastly. A chosen generation? A holy nation? People set apart? After Samson, the people were living the way they wanted, whatever seemed right in their own eyes. But this is wretchedness at its peak. Why doesn't the Lord intervene? Why many awful things go overtly unpunished? Immediately after the book of Judges is Ruth. It's like God writing a new Chapter. Things do start with a bright new hope. Israel did not have a king to rule over them - God is setting the stage for a righteous king. Questions arise as to why so many sins go unpunished - God still remembers His covenant to Noah and because He loves His people, He is starting a new chapter of forgiveness - of Ruth out of whom David will be born later, out of whom later Jesus Himself will be born. However pathetic wretched sinner you are( we all are) God starts a new chapter of hope and forgiveness in Jesus. If y...

No sin is too small that God wouldn't notice That He wouldn't consider If you have failed in one You have failed in all, the standard says. No sin is too small that God wouldn't consider Angry with someone? Or calling someone fool? You are answerable to the One who is on the throne. No sin is too small that God would negate Looking lustfully at a woman Is same as adultery God looks at a man's heart, his motive. No sin is too silly that God wouldn't mind Do not be afraid, it is I Trust in my Father, trust also in me Is a command not an admonition for us to follow Yet no sin is too big for God to forgive He has paid it all He has received the penalty He forgives everything on the cross. No sin is too big for God to love us. He is just, yet He is love And that's the sole reason why He had to receive the punishment Himself for my sake.

Psalm:27:4 The one thing I ask of the Lord The thing I seek the most Is to live in the house of the Lord All the days of my life Delighting in the Lord's perfections And meditating in His temple. What is the one desire of your heart?  To own a 4 wheeler, to have a 5 digit payroll, to own a 6 or 7 digit worth house? To enjoy life? To make name of your own? David's one desire of his heart was specific and clear. To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to delight in His perfectiins and meditate in His temple. Solomon had everything under the sun he could dream of, but towards the end of his life he says everything is meaningless, completely meaningless. He lists many things including wisdom, pleasure, work, friendship, power, wealth. Ultimately he concludes in Eccl:12:13-14 Here now is my final conclusion. Fear God and obey His commands for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether goo...

All the people did what seemed right in their own eyes. What a pathetic situation it would have turned out to be? You might call it freedom. But actually it's utter chaos. Judg:17 tells about a Micah and his mother who installed an idol in their house and a personal priest, thinking God would bless him. What is wrong in living a life which seems right in your own eyes? Without a moral standard or etiquette? People would drive on any side of the road. Shopkeepers would put price that they like for commodities that they sell. Fights and quarrels would be common everywhere as there would be no law and order. Everyone's arguement would be - it is right in my eyes. That is why there is need of an uncorrupted Supreme being whom we need to answer to. Matt:28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, " I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth" Eph:1:21 Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else not only in this world b...

About Samson, it is said, he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire life time. This was against the Philistines. And that too happened when he was blind and after he was imprisoned and tortured. Jephthah was initially rejected and chased away by his own brothers, with a band of rebels. He defeated the Ammonites. Gideon's clan was the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh and he himself testifies that he is the least in his family. He leads the Lord's army of a mere 300 against the Midianites. Canaanite army chief Sisera was a man with 900 iron chariots for himself. He was killed by a 3 part army, two of them were women. Peter was too timid to stand in front of a servant girl. You think you are weak and helpless? You are the right person to be used by God. Because when you are weak, you realize it is not possible to do something out of you strength. And it is then when God does amazing things through you. 2Cor:12:8 My power works best in weakness. W...

Ps:27:1-2 The Lord is my light and my salvation. So why should I be afraid. The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger So why should I tremble When things quiet uncertain happen around him (like now), David looks unto God and gains strength. Ps:56:3 says "When I'm afraid, I will trust in you" The Lord says do not be afraid for I'm with you. When tossed in the roaring sea, the disciples were about to die, Jesus walks over the water and assures them "Fear not, it is I" The promise of "I will be with you till the end of days", holds true even today. 2 Tim:1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of peace, love and self discipline. So do not be afraid, the Lord is in control. He knows what He is doing. Nothing forged against you shall stand. Nothing happens by chance. Nothing happens accidentally. All things happen by the foreknowledge of the All knowing Supreme God. Just rest.

Samson was rude and arrogant. Immediately after he killed 1000 Philistines with the jaw bone of a dead donkey, we see him first acknowledging the hand of God in that. Judg:15:18 You have accomplished this great victory by the strength of your servant.  (Though It's interesting to note that he didn't say it the other way- I have accomplished this victory by the strength of Your hands) He knew in his heart that it was the Lord's doing. But in v:17 we see that he is boasting. He was proud of his strength and finally in v:18 when he was thirsty, he complaints to God in a rude way, taking Him for granted. When we accomplish something, we do realize it is the Lord's doing. But how long do we give Him glory in that? Very soon we boast, we think of our own selves. We are proud and in a short time we complain. Yes we complain to God because we are proud. We think we deserve much more than this. 1Pet:5:6 Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God. The world says,...

This is no pointing fingers to you. This generation which includes me foremost is most thankless. Samson before Judg:15:11 killed 30 men (Philistines) and lit fire on the tail of 300 foxes and destroyed all of their crops and after that killed many Philistines. Philistines have been oppressing the Israelites for the past 40 years or so and they have been suffering under them. Samson (one really strong man) is showing glimpses of becoming their next judge and when he started to fight against the Philistines in his own way, they say, " Don't you realize the Philistines rule over us? What are you doing to us?" We are asking God the same question. When God tries to evoke our attention to the true deliverance, to His own self, we are telling God! See, we are comfortable like this under the prince of this earth. Why do you want to disturb? Suddenly God's Sovereignty and existance come to be questioned. His unending love is on the radar. We were so comfortable in...

Samson did not learn from his mistakes Though his parents were not willing He wanted to marry that girl from Timnah There started his graph going down. He killed a lion on his first journey to Timnah He ate honey from the carcass on his second He was not to eat any forbidden food He forgot for his own convenience. He did not learn from his mistakes The girl from Timnah allured him And got the answer for the riddle Only to be cheated later again by Delilah similarly Yet he continued his careless living. Not even once do we see him seeking God Except in his last hours in the Philistine temple. Let us learn from our mistakes Let us sit back and think of our lives Analyze, dissect and find out our priorities Not to fall again, but to stand up next time Exploiting the world? The earth repays back Lies and forgeries and lust and Godlessness Pride and selfishness and looking down Sit back and repent and learn from our mistakes.

Samson wanted to marry a woman from Timnah. But as expected his parents objected, because Philistines were their bond enemies, people who tortured them day and night. They asked "Isn't there even one woman in our tribe or among all Israel? But Samson insists. Judg:14:4 His father and mother didn't realize the Lord was at work in this. You might be in an unprecedented situation. The Lord is at work in this. You might be in a totally unexpected situation. The Lord is at work in this. Things going out of control? The Lord is at work in this. Rom:8:28 In all things God works for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Whatever situation you're in, the Lord's hand is in that one dear child. God changes that unexpected, unprecedented situation you're in, into for your own good. Because He is all-knowing and Sovereign. Amen.

Manoah's wife doesn't even have a name in record. But she stands out for her example of faith. Even when her husband dwindled, she stands strong. But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.” Judges 13:23 What an amazing word of faith and trust in her God? In these testing times. Can we make such surety statements? Can we proclaim the goodness of our Father? Can we be assured that the Sovereign loving Father is still in control? He is not a hard taskmaster who loves to torture his subjects, but a Father who agonizes with us.  We can be sure He is good all the time, all the time He is good. He loves beyond what we can imagine, without conditions because love's very definition is Him. He is true and just. He is still in control.  Yes trust in the Lord with aaaaalll your heart ( read it with that assurance)

Manoah and his wife were instructed by the angel of the Lord, that she would abstain from wine or alcoholic drinks nor eat any forbidden food.       Judg:13:14 Fasting has always been an integral part of Christian life. Just before Jesus started His ministry, he considered it imperative and peremptory that He would fast 40 days and 40 nights and spend time in the wilderness with His Father. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, gives specific instructions while you fast - not to look somber but wash your head and face because it's between you and your God. Acts:13 we see the disciples fasting and praying before sending Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Daniel, Esther, Moses, Nehemiah, David and even the Ninevites fasted and prayed for the situation they were in. Mark:9:29 This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting. This is the time. We who know Him as our Father, I implore that we would fast and pray for our country, for the world we are ...