The halfbaked Bard

2Kings 1 Two captains and hundred men were killed by fire brought from heaven by Elijah from Tishbe. Then third one was wise to plead for mercy. This is fear of the Lord. This is wisdom. This is how you know how to live. Trusting in the one who said - apart from me you can do nothing. The one who said - eternal life is knowing the Father. Where as the world says - blind faith is for naive people. Pro:19:23. Fear of the Lord leads to life. Bringing security and protection from harm. King Ahaziah did not have the wisdom;he was trying to prove. But an unnamed captain feared the Lord. And his life was spares.  Without fear there is no wisdom. Unless you are rich unto God, you will be called a fool finally. Luke 12:21. According to the world, he was a wise investor. But God calls him a fool. The world may call you anything; Doesn't matter. What God calls you will matter.

Asa and Jehoshaphath were good kings of Judah. But they did not completely follow the Lord. They failed to remove all the pagan shrines. Is my heart completely set to follow the Lord? Are their still pagan shrines which I haven't broken down?  Habits of the past? Not necessarily the bad ones. But which eat away time and fill up the priority to God  Habits which the world has accepted, the norm of the world. But clearly unacceptable to God. There is a prick in my heart. But can't do anything about it. Choices which are clearly appeasing the world and not the Master. Dialects that have been with us since childhood. That filthy lingo which you can't control. Lord, I pray; I am unable to bring many of my pagan shrines down. It has been part of my life. I, on my own find it difficult to tear it down. Forcefully you do it, Lord. I let you do it. Help me, my Father 

I'm so surprised that, Ahab was probably the most evil king of Israel, yet much is told about him. How many opportunities God was giving him, through prophets. How he refused to listen. How he was exposed time and again to godly men. The advises he got both good and bad and what he listened to and what he gave importance to. It just shows God's heart yearning to bring Ahab back from the grip of Satan. How much God loved Ahab..... Are we any different? Rom:5:8 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son, while we were still his enemies. Oh! What a gracious God is this? When we rebelled, when we were His enemies, when we were jeering at His face, He loved us.

Micaiah was a prophet at the time of King Ahab. When he was called to prophesy, the one statement that he commits himself to, challenged me. "I will say only what the Lord tells me to say." For which he has made the king angry. For which he is imprisoned. For which he is unsure of his release even. But one thing he is sure. " I will say only what the Lord tells me to say." Well I am not a preacher to vow like that, is it? Mal:3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other and the Lord listened to what they said. What you say, what you speak with your friends, the Lord is carefully (as in Malayalam translation) listening. God would tell, come on, Amith is speaking something, let us listen to what he is talking. Will He be ashamed before the angels because of what I talk or would He be proud of me? Would He want to listen again the next time, calling others as well? Would He find me good and faithful? Be sure of what you talk.

As a child of God, what do my words do? Build up someone or crumble them? Twice in 1Kings:22, King Jehoshaphath of Judah, when he came to spend time with Ahab, King of Israel, he reminds him; Jehoshaphath remains a man of integrity. He says words of edification. 🔺"But first let's find out what the Lord says." Promoting Ahab to seek the will of God. Though he is willing to help him out of his brotherly love to him, he motivates Ahab to look unto the Lord. What do I inspire people around me to do? Do I bring them closer to their Father God. God forbid, I take them farther away. But being equivocal or silent, trying to protect my image, I am agreeing with them. How much God would be happy, if we could bring them a step closer to Him? 🔺"That's not the way a king should talk." A gentle correction. According to his wisdom. And Jehoshaphath is in Ahab's kingdom now. Any word that would trigger Ahab, a very cruel king would have ended his life and ...

1Kings:16:30 But Ahab, son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord's sight, even more than any of the kings before him. 1Kings:21:25 No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord's sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. Is there hope for such a man as Ahab? But when Elijah pointed out, what he did to Naboth was wrong, Ahab tore his clothing, dressed and slet in burlap, fasted and went into deep mourning. See what God had to say finally about him to Elijah. 1Kings:21:29 Do you see how Ahab has humbled Himself before me? I do not know whether Ahab was reinstated before God. But the fact that he humbled Himself and repented, is true and because of that there is hope for him. Ah! There is hope for a man as worse as Ahab, brings in hope for me as well. Not that I am less; as I am in my heart, as worse as him. Yet there is hope, if I repent. Hope to be reinstated for the very purpose I am created, though I had rebelled and walked aw...

When pointed out a mistake, do not be angry or sullen. Respond with repentance, a feeling that I have hurt Him. That I have grieved Him yet again. Repent from the depths of your heart, for that is humility Repent and do not sulk. Pride prevents. Pride gives another excuse. Pride justifies  Pride points fingers at others too. But a humble one accepts his wrong. Ahab in 1Kings:20:43 was angry and sullen When a prophet said he was entirely wrong. In contrast to David who cried aloud. Against you and you alone have I sinned. That is exactly why, David was reinstated and Ahab was not. That is why David was called a man after God's own heart. How do I take criticism?

As a son who disappointed his father Yet, his son, he would love still further The son doesn't realize his father's love The Father, for him, his life he gave. He remembers how he took his first steps How he ran, when he fell, he helps His eyes bleeding, his heart weeping Hands hold him firm, even when sleeping. Abba, Dada, Papa, Appa Epitome of selfless love Peak of helpless love Love that lets go, in pain He hopes, that he would come back All alone, to the wall he has his back Hopes he would, one day know his love He would realize and make the move. All this while he had been waiting With memories and realities meeting Hopes he would want the warmth of his hug Prays that he would replace the missing peg. At the cross, this Father still aches His own Son, with pain each breath He takes His own child, mocks Him at His face Man further goes into the sin maze. The Father, hopes, yearns, aches and bleeds Would you look at me, He pleads Lest you go farther away from me ...

1 Kings:20 232 only was required. But Ahab made 7000 also ready. Of no use. 232 was enough. If promised by God. That is enough. Do not set your troops for the battle.

1Kings:20 When Ben-hadad puts forth his first demands, king Ahab just gave away. He accepted defeat before the war even began. Later on though he resists other demands, I was struck by his initial response. Accepting defeat, just letting go. When the devil coaxes you, do not accept defeat. If God is on our side, who can be against us. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Do not let the enemy win the war, even before it is begun. Infact the truth is that, victory is already ours. The war is already won. Do not befool yourselves into defeat. Keep fighting discouragement. Keep resisting temptations. Keep fighting against old bad habits. Keep forgiving. Don't give away.

Elisha was busy in the field, doing the job entrusted to him. That is when Elijah came and threw his cloak over him. That was the symbol of selection. Elisha might have been excited, yet with many questions; asks Elijah to give permission to bid goodbye to his family. Elijah allows but with a word of caution. "But think about what I have done to you." The Lord is calling you with a special purpose. When you go back home, do not be allured or be pulled back. Remember your calling. Your parents, your relatives will all bring forth excuses. Your riches, your inheritance will all pull you back. Your commitments, your passions, your dreams will all ask questions. But think of what I have done to you. So Elisha goes back, bids good bye to all at home and returns to the field, slaughters the oxen, cuts down and burns the plow and finishes off his responsibilities to his friends and relatives and sets out with Elijah. What a commitment? What obedience? No questioning. No ...

It is often not in the loudness that God speaks Not in shouting; Not in the loudspeakers Not in the amplifiers; not in the record rooms Not in the most powerful audio systems. But through a gentle whisper; a still small voice Elijah found out where God was in no time Not in the windstorm, not in the earthquake or fire Jesus found the presence of His Father in the wilderness too That is why quiet time is called so; A time when you sit in His presence Basking in His love. That is when He speaks Most loudly, most clearly and obviously. Be still and know that I am God. Not in your hurry burry; not in your busyness Not in doing so many things for God. But in quietness and rest is your strength Can we take our time out today; to spend with Him alone Nothing bothers us. Nothing hinders. Nothing matters. For it is for this we were created: to be in His bosom. For us to spend there in eternity; we must learn the practise here.

Mount Sinai - is also called the Mountain of God. The same mountain where the Lord's glorious presence was so intensely felt by Moses and the children of Israel, that the people trembled. As the dense cloud came down, the thunder roared and the light I flashed and the whole mountain was covered with smoke. The instruction there in was, anyone who touches the mountain, even an animal must be put to death, owing to the holy presence of God. It is to this same mountain that Elijah runs to and goes to a cave and spends the night. And the Lord confronts him with a question, " What are you doing here Elijah?" Instead of spending time in the presence of the Lord, Elijah spends time alone. Instead of praying out aloud, he is sitting quietly brooding over his plight. What do I do in the Lord's presence. Do I take Him for granted. How is my prayer life? If at all I pray, why do I pray so selfishly? And if I lack in prayer, that is because of my pride, because I feel...

"Yose Yose", Nicodemus came panting. "Did you hear, what is happening?"  Yose with face still downcast. Couldn't lift his eyes up. He knew what Nicodemus is referring to. It was painful for him to realize or accept it. Forget about telling it aloud. He just said a hmmm.  Nicodemus and Yose have been friends since childhood. Both were not just good friends. They did everything together. They studied well the Jewish laws as expected from them. They both as young as they are came to high places in Jewish High council and Pharisee order. But they continued to be thick friends. They did everything consulting each other, asking what the other person thought was right, so that they wouldn't take any decision on a bias note. They encouraged each other. And was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.  And when this man came out of nowhere saying contrasting things, initially they both were skeptical. They were both angry that this one person was talking e...

Have you ever wondered why, in James 5:17, it is said about Elijah's prayer for rain - with an antecedent phrase - Elijah as human as we are. The prophet who brought down fire from heaven. The great prophet of Israel who prayed and it didn't rain for three and a half years and then when he prayed, it rained. But his human nature is so well depicted when Jezebel threatened him. He then became afraid, he fled for his life, he hid under the broom tree after sending his servant away, he wanted to be alone and he wanted to just die. Just like any other human, he is also fed up and disappointed with life. Like us. This same man got answers from above when he prayed. So can we, if we pray earnestly. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Not holy, but righteous. That is why v:16 starts by saying, "confess your sins".

In a span of 24 hours many contrasting things happen. Judas hangs himself Jesus gave up His life by Himself for our sake. Judas is filled with guilt and remorse Peter is reinstated. All the disciples run away from the cross The Father looks away from the Son, yet is so near. The sun shifts it's eyes; not able to see the plight of its Creator The soldiers and leaders look at Him with jeering eyes. The curtain tears itself in grief The soldiers mock Jesus. The soldiers gambled for His clothes untorn The cloth that seperated the holy of holies, is torn into two. There is seperation between the Father and the Son Where as we could gain access to the Father now. All were waiting for Elijah to come and save Him. Salvation has been offered to each and everyone. Why did Jesus suffer such a gruesome death? Even if it is cooked up by His followers, why did they suffer and die for that same cause? Are they foolish enough? Why is there no flaw? Why is it that those who have known t...

When Ahab runs to eat and drink, Elijah climbs Mount Carmel to continue to worship and pray. When people around you are still in their comfort zones, where are you, as a child of God as a co warrior with God in the establishment of His Kingdom? Are we still eating and drinking , in contrast to what is expected of us, with head between our knees and praying for our land, our nation, for our world.

Why do you want an answer from the Lord? You pray for something fervently, consistently and without ceasing. You sit and pray, you pray while you do your daily chores. You fast and pray. You ask someone else to pray for you. But have you ever thought why you pray and why do you want God to answer you? Is it to appease your desire and satisfy your heart? Trying to prove yourself right? Then you are in no way different from the prophets of baal, in the Mount Carmel. Or do you want to bring glory to God? Do you want God to prove Himself worthy of our praise, like Elijah? Do we realize even our prayers are so selfish. Even out motives? Help me Father to pray with the right motive. That He would answer my prayers in accordance with His will so that He alone will be glorified. Forgive me Abba that I prayed with self centred motives.

Elijah repaired the Altar of the Lord before offering the sacrifices. What a joy it would have been to the Lord. After a long time, He is receiving the rightful worship. Amidst all the jargon and beating around the bush and shouting and crying, He should be now stooping down to Elijah after the correct preparation. God would want to listen to what Elijah was about to say. Setting up the Altar is the rate limitting step in worship and prayer. I was thinking what is the Altar in our lives? Does it denote a particular place of worship, a destined place where you sit everyday to talk to Him? Does it denote a rightful attitude of awe and reverence as you worship? Does it denote repentance and reinstating with God, before submitting your supplications? Does it denote church (both the monument and the body of Christ)? All these are really important. That is when my wife asked me: "What happens in the Altar?" (As we all agree; The wife is always right) This triggered a th...

But the people were completely silent. Silence is an escapism: it is an evading. When pointed fingers face you; when life tells, you're wrong As life gives an opportunity to correct. It makes you inactive and equivocal. Just like the people, when asked to choose between God and Baal. Silence is fooling yourself; it is lying to yourself. When life shows you the correct step. As you choose to keep silent, you fail to be proactive Despite knowing the correct way. Just like the people, when asked to choose between God and Baal. Silence is failing to own up; not being responsible. For when God tries to communicate; that you're in the wrong path Keeping mum is like; it doesn't concern me. Or I'm not bothered; I choose to walk my own way. Just like the people, when asked to choose between God and Baal. When you confront with a sin; when God tries to tell you. Keeping quiet will never help. May be you are ashamed; may be you regret. But unless you voice out to God; ...

We all are in search of friends. Friends who would understand us. Friends who would be with us always. Any time, even the darkest hour, they would be on the other side of the phone. Or even close to us.  And we all want to be that friend for that one person whom we so dearly love.  Not to just hang out and have fun. But to the core. To be one who will be there for them. To be the friend in need and thence the friend in deed. There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus:   No, not one! no, not one! None else could heal all our souls’ diseases:   No, not one! no, not one!   Jesus knows all about our struggles;   He will guide ’til the day is done: There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus:     No, not one! no, not one! To be precise Jesus is the only friend like that. Who will always be there. Who will take care of our every need, even concerning our souls. Concerning eternity. The one who called is faithful. He is worthy to be trusted.

The Lord lives. He is alive. He is eternal. The Lord who answered Elijah is our Father too. He answers our prayers too. The Lord has answered with fire in Mount Carmel. The Lord lives even now. Be confident like Elijah, as a child goes to his father.

1Kings:18:21 Then Elijah stood infront of them and said, "How much longer will you waver, hobbling in between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if baal is god, then follow him." But the people were completely silent. Ha! How good it would have been, if we were decisive If we were sure of whom to follow fully That we wouldn't waver, from this to that That either God we will follow completely Or the other things which we futilely follow That we wouldn't place our feet on two boats Or jump from one to another thinking Grass is greener there than this His desire is that we would wholeheartedly follow Him With undistracted devotion and love with our all But Alas! We have jumped too often Thinking, that is better than trusting Him fully Relationships, friendships, self esteem and pride Money, family, career and assets All of them have distracted us. And we have pursued them all later to realize it was in vain Without wavering, without being distr...

This is the transliteration of a Malayalam proverb which simply means, willfully shew away from responsibility. Though I am supposed to own up and do something, I deliberately close my eyes and may be pretend I am sleeping and evade from something. Ahab was just like that. He and his wife Jezebel was full of sin. Bowing down before Baal and Asherah pole, making Israel also to sin, refusing to obey the commands of the Lord. Many were his sins. But he decides to close his eyes and then put the blame on Elijah who had prophesied the word of God. He calls him, the troublemaker of Israel. Whereas he himself was the exact troublemaker, rightfully called by Elijah  Do I shun away from the consequences of my action and words? Put the blame on others or justify my deeds? It's foolish. Unless we own up, how will we rectify? Putting the blame on others is immature. Where as owning up is the first step for a solution. Repent of your ways. Make your path right with God. May be other...

Obadiah was afraid - what if he goes and tells Ahab that Elijah is here and then the Spirit of God takes Elijah somewhere else, then he feared that Ahab would kill him. But one word of Elijah was enough to give him boldness.  "As surely as the Lord lives...." How authentic and trustworthy are my words? Do people trust and believe when I say something? Or do people consider me silly and not worth listening to? Am I a gossipper and news monger? Are my words true to every word? Do I mean every word I say? My master says, "Let your yes be yes and no be no." There shouldn't be a swearing even, He says. What He meant was, to be true about what you say. No beating around the bush. No sarcasm. No making fun or hurting others by your words. No loose talks. No gossips. Matt:12:36 And I tell you this, you must give account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. Eph:4:29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up ...

Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. But Ahab had trusted him. It was Obadiah and himself who sets out to look for grass for the horses and mules out of all people in the palace. That is exactly when Elijah comes back. Elijah could have met anybody else in the palace who is hostile to him, even Ahab himself. But it so happened that he was in Obadiah's track that day. Not by chance. Not luck or good fortune. It is God, in His perfect timing. We can be confident of this that, He is our Abba. He will carry it to perfection.  Are you worried or troubled about something; may be waiting for that timing; may be that deliverance;may be that unanswered prayer; may be ashamed of that particular sin yet again. No! Do not let your hearts be troubled. John:14:27 I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. In the fire; in the roaring sea His presence is enough; the eyes that s...

"Though it's drought and famine for long, our species has been blessed with much food. Even meat. We all are having pretty much, enough and more. Every day. We are lucky." "It is not luck. It is God's provision. The Lord has been kind to us. Yes many of the other birds have died because of the famine. But we have been sustained." "Oh! Again. I can't understand how you can say it is given by a God whom you have never seen. I wake up every early morning and strive hard to get the food for me and my family. How can you say it is a God who has given me." "Dear, who can say that I have done it by my own might. Unless the Lord has given, how will we survive. You said our species has been blessed right? By whom? Shouldnt we also have died like the other birds or animals. Don't you think there are other birds who wake up early. Why, us Ravens alone was spared? I think there is a purpose that God wants with us. A plan that He has. D...

Everything was going fine for the widow in Zarephath. Flour for flour. Oil for oil. Her son had enough to eat. Initially they had nothing and was about to die. But now they have everything. What more does she want? Now the prophet is also with her. Then suddenly her life took a huge turn. The only reason she wanted to live, her only son, became sick and finally died. Now what need for the flour and oil? Why should she even live? That is when she looks back into her life and becomes aware of her sinfulness. When everything was going fine, she was happy and comfortable, content and relieved. But the moment a disaster comes to her life, she retrospects and sees her sin. And she runs to the prophet. Troubles and problems are God given agents that hook us back to God. Without being aware of our sin we cannot approach this holy God. So that is the first step to draw near to God. The agent is just a means that God is trying to grab your attention. Do not complain. But look to God....

Why was the widow of Zarephath asked to give bread to Elijah first? From the little, when she gives, there is more trust in the provider than the provisions. If she had had enough, I'm sure she would be rather looking down into the jar for oil and flour everyday rather than looking up. In our surplous, we tend to forget God. That is man's nature to put your trust in the actuals in contrast to the abstracts. But trust helps us to realize that God's presence is not abstract at all. It helps us to feel the actuality of God, that God is so near. So let us pray that God wouldn't bless us with surplus that we would forget Him, but just enough so that we would put our trust in Him rather  Pro:30:8b-9 Give me neither poverty nor riches Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, 'who is the Lord?' And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.

Elijah was a man just like us; But bold he was to say God's word To look at the face of the king and say you're wrong God give me boldness to say your truth Not to butter others' ears Not to speak what they want to, but you What I speak, what I talk to others You oh! Lord, pay heed to, I'm ashamed. Forgive me . Elijah was a man just like us; His obedience was spic and span God asked him to rebuke the king, Ahab, He asked him to go to Kerieth Brook, He asked him later to go to Zarephath And then later to go to the king again. Lord I'm ashamed of my disobedience, my reasoning My choosing what all to obey, according to my conveniences. Elijah was a man just like us. His trust in the Lord impeccable When the brook dried up, whenever he was asked to move out No questions, absolutely obeyed Clung on to this wonderful God, no matter what No questions, no what ifs Only persitent, tenacious, cohesive allegiance Forgive me Lord, for my doubts, for my faithlessness...