The halfbaked Bard

Read 2Chron:13 Abijah believed that He had God in his hand, because Judah was chosen and was true to God in making Levites only priests. God had made the dynasty of David a promise. He boasted that they have trusted God and they will win the war. And they did win the war. But the final word about Abijah (Abijam) swells up my heart and fills my eyes. 1Kings:15:3 He committed the same sins as his father before him and he was not faithful to the Lord his God. He thought he could get away with his superficiality. Yes the Lord blessed him and gave him victory. But is that all? Seeking God when you need him most is good because you realize your helplessness. But do I follow God only for that? God desires an intimate love relationship, where you hold hands with Him and walk with Him every moment. Not to be a genie in your hand to grant your wishes. He can grant your wishes, all of them (if it is His will) for He is omnipotent. He might answer all your prayers. But there is somethi...

Life gives you set backs, sicknesses, disappointments, frustrations. Not to knock you down. But these are flags which point you to your actual plight. Your actual quandary.  To humble ourselves.  To repent of our evil ways. Proud ways. Let it be an epiphany. Let it be an eye opener. Let us not harden further. Let us not close doors further. Let us humble ourselves. The leaders of Israel and the king were repentant and said, “God is right.” 2 Chronicles 12:6 MSG

2Chron:12:1 But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord and all Israel followed him in this sin. Oh! How saddening it is when this happens in our lives too. We pursue Him and we love Him when need be. But we cheat on God when all things are well. We abandon Him. We follow after many other things. Till we get a name we wholeheartedly follow. But when acceptability comes out way from the society we desert Him. We tell Him we don't need Him. Father forgive me for ditching your love, forgetting your love when I felt futilely accepted by the world.

2 Chron:11:13 But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam. The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and properties and moved  to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests. Oh! What genuine love? What commitment? To leave out their comfort zones and leave all their possessions just because they did not have the freedom to worship the Lord. To leave all that they had and live in another country, starting from square one because they wanted to be close to God. Some might have just started a family. Some might have just finished their house. Some might have been settled and established for years or decades  But all of them were sure of what they had to do and was willing to let go. Completely. What about you dear one? Are you in the place which God has planned for you, at this time? Is anything preventing you to come out of your comforts? Is your loan more ...

Shemaiah's prophecy to Rehoboam.  2Chron:11:4 Do not fight against your relatives. Very often when we receive injustice from our own family, that hurts us more. When people who were supposed to love us turn against us, we are wounded more. They were supposed to protect us. Care for us. If you have received abuse from your own family - be it emotional abuse, be it physical / sexual abuse, be it social abuse, we would often boil inside with rage and anger and hatred and disgust, basically of this fact - he was my brother, she was supposed to be my family. That builds up as contempt and bitterness. Yes that has hurt. That has wounded. That has created in you severely deep scars. You tend to think, why they behave as if nothing happened even years down the line. But why am I affected? Why is God not bringing justice? Unforgiveness builds up. The scars become bigger over the years. You might not fight. But hatred and loath that is in you froths up. 1Cor:6:7 Why not just acce...

2Chron:10 Rehoboam was asked by Israel nation to lighten up the burden that his father Solomon had put on them. He asked for opinions from two sets of people  One, to the older generation who asked him to agree with their demand. Second, to the younger generation advisers, who told him to be more harsh. He ofcourse listened to the advise of those whom he grew up with him, rather than the wisdom of the older generation. Very often obeying what the previous generation says, like your parents or grandparents, is considered old fashioned and far away from the present sytem and culture. The newer generation considers it as obsolete and foolish to follow. This happens out of fear that if you do it that way, you would be cornered and left by your peers. Job12:12 Wisdom belongs to the aged And understanding to the old. Definitely wisdom and understanding comes out of experiences and the life that they have seen and gone through. But more importantly it is God's wisdom that they...

Joy is something which man always desires in his life. To live happily ever after is the ending of every fairytale. No fairytale which has ended tragically has ever stood the test of time. Everyone wants a happy ending. Movies that have repeat value are those with feel good moments and ultimately the protagonist survives and wins over his enemies and peers. Even if it is not happily ever after... The moment is filled with joy. We all want to be joyous. That is one thing which our hearts have always desired. Ps:70:4 But may all who search for you Be filled with joy and gladness in you. In seeking Him, in knowing Him, in valuing His statutes and disciplines, in obeying Him, in living a life in accordance with His will - there is joy, there is gladness. An icecream wouldn't give you joy, nor does winning a game. Neither does doing something satisfactorily. All these give you happiness. Everlasting joy; abounding joy comes directly from the source. Are we running after thin...

2 Chron:7:15-16 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy. A place where my name will be honoured forever. I will watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. A temple that is dear to God's heart. A temple which He has set apart as His reflection of holiness. A temple which is destined to bring honour to His name forever. Not because of the pompous riches with which it is made of; but His holy presence that makes it glorious. 1Cor:619-20 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body. How do we take care of our body? Filling it with malice, jealousy, envy, pride, anger, lies, lust, selfish love, will only defile and malign the temple. We who are set apart as holy for the Lord; asked to be holy just like our Father in heaven is holy; have defamed the ...

Prayer is a time of worshipping God, giving God glory, that is due for Him. Because He alone is worthy of all praises and honour. And when man does that; He is so pleased. Because of no selfworthiness that fills His heart. No self satisfaction. Because He knows man's purpose of life is made complete in worshipping Him, in adoring His name, in maintaining that love relationship with Him. When Solomon prayed, fire came down from heaven to burn all that was in the altar and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple. When Moses finished the Tabernacle, again the glorious presence of the Lord filled. When Elijah, a man just like us prayed; fire came down from heaven to burn the altar even. When David prayed, his sins were assuredly forgiven. Whe King Hezekiah prayed, he was healed. When Jesus prayed, the Father was eagerly listening. In the garden of Gethsamene, while praying His heart out, an angel came to strengthen Him as He prayed more fervently. Disciples and ...

2 Chron:6 - Solomon's dedication prayer  The summary of Solomon's prayer of dedication -  Lord I need you. For every facet of my life I need you. Whether I turn this way, when I go for work, whether I go to school for studies. Whether I go out to play. Whether I sit at he. Whatever I'd be doing, I need you. You alone knows my inmost heart and it's motives. Whether there is sin crouching. What my heart's desperate need is. I do not know to drive. You are the one who designed it. The master planner. You alone know. Help me to submit selflessly to your mighty and worthy hands, the whole of my life. Not witholding any locked door. All my bruised corners I submit for you to heal. All my darkened rooms I submit so that you can break open and shine your light. All my tears I submit. Total surrender Nd complete submission. Help me Lord

That someone listens to the aches of our hearts Which you never wanted to disclose or utter That someone pays attention to what you say In the darkest night; in the deepest pit. That someone is there; when you literally feel all alone To pat your back; to keep His hands over your shoulder A friend who would listen; a pair of compassionate eyes A shoulder to lean on; That in itself reinvigorates. When you are utterly helpless; with no strength to push on When you do not know where to turn to When you are confused, not knowing whom to confront If at all, there is an arm always wide open. Oh! And that someone is Eternal and Almighty Your Abba; He who is in love with you for eternity Waiting to carry you again in His arms For it was you who walked away  The Father's heart was bleeding The wounds of redemption in His hands and side are still afresh No other love could do this; to salvage my damned being "I have loved you with an everlasting love" All your pains, th...

It has been ages. The temple being filled with the presence of the Lord. The cloud filling the Tabernacle was ages ago. In the wilderness, when they were wanderers. In Moses' time. Now they have been established as a kingdom. Their judges have bye and gone. Their kings have fought wars. And Solomon, their present king has established peace. Eleven years since he has become king. Seven years he took to finish the temple. And once it was all built, the Ark of the Covenant was brought. Then the cloud fills the temple. The priests could not continue the service because of the cloud.  2Chron:5:13-14 The glorious presence of the Lord will never leave. In your temple it is always there. Your words, your deeds, your thoughts, do they blow Him off? You walk with the Holy Spirit into the gossip centres. The Holy Spirit sits right beside you as your browsing history is revealed. The Holy Spirit looks eagerly at you, as you sit idly and entertain your useless thoughts. The Spirit i...

Two pillars at the entrance of the Temple that Solomon built. Jakin and Boaz. 2Chron:3:17 Let these be the pillars of our faith in God as we enter His presence. * Jakin means - He establishes. That He sets up things up on a firm and permanent basis. Our feet are on the firm Rock. Not shaking ground. Not miry clay. Not in marshy places. Not in sinking sand. But firm solid rock. That He is a God who is true to His own self, His own character. His own nature.  My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus name On Christ the solid rock I stand.  All other ground is sinking sand. - Edward Mote Clinging on, holding on steadfastly in this God who establishes. That amounts to our response to His immutable nature. Establish also means - achieve permanent acceptance or recognition for. Oh! What a wonderful God we serve. No matter how wretched we are. No matter how rebellious we are. He has cla...

2Chron:1:1 Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful. Because the Lord is with you, you have the authority to take firm control of your life; your relationships, you responsibilities, your daily etiquette. You have the freedom to have control. You need not be tossed about in waves as in a roaring sea. As long as Jesus is in the boat, the sea is supposed to be calm. True freedom is not like a kite, whose thread has been cut off and flies haphazardly. But a flag that is hoisted high. It is supposed to be fluttering in the wind wide and high enough to convey the message. Choosing to clip off the connection will not help. The other extreme of being tied up to the chair is also not worth it - because of your emotions, because of your feelings and because of your what ifs. Taking firm control because of a fruitful relation with God is what He expects us to have. That is abundant life. And because that fruit...

2Chron:2:1 Solomon decided to build a temple to honour the name of the Lord. In contrast to.... Gen:11:4 Come let's build a city for ourselves. This will make us famous. One was richly blessed by the Lord. All roads led to the building of the temple. Where as the other was thwarted by the Lord. The former reached its completion with all its riches and pompous glory. The latter in ruins, incomplete. In one there is unity, coming together to worship. In the other there is confusion, chaos and dispersing and scattering. One was sought out to honour the name of the Lord. The other, there is self glorification and self projection. Be it any act of ours - is it to honour God or is it to satiate our pride? Why do we study? Why do you work hard? Why do you earn money? Why do you lead worship? Why do you correct? Why do you discipline your children? 1Cor:10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Why should we live a life like this? Is ...

2Chron:1:11 Time to think of your greatest desire. Whom is it directed to? To yourself? To God? To people around you? Saul's greatest desire was directed to his own self. David's was directed to his own God. Solomon's was directed to the people. Two of them faded away. But one stands tall. One looks self centred - should expect to fade away. One looks so pious - should expect to stand strong. But Solomon - who asked for wisdom to govern the people  He was not overtly self centred. But subtly. "Who could possibly govern this great people of yours?" Yes God was pleased of what Solomon asked. But there was a tinge of selfishness. Without knowing God, there is no point serving the poor Without being close to Him, what is the point in helping someone? If God is not in the picture, now matter how beautifully you paint, it is useless. What is your greatest desire? Is it yourself? Is it God? Is it yourself again, through the cushion of serving others?

As I was reading through the whole of Psalm 69, I could see myself there in David's shoe. I'm sure most of us would identify with David as you read through atleast in few instances of our lives. These are the exact words that play through my mind when I am in that trough. Yet in the midst of all those words that describes his minds plight, David out of the blue looks unto God. One verse says.... Psalm:69:30-31 I will praise God's name with singing And I will honour Him with thanksgiving For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle More than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves  That brings more joy to God. In the midst of all your puzzles, you still praise God. In the midst of all dissarray, you still find joy in Him. In the midst of all chaos, He is your only source of peace. In the midst of all heavy weights in your head, you find rest in Him  That brings joy to the Father. And that will pull you out of that miry clay. He will for sure. It...

What brings in our hearts a desire for Him, love to Him, a wanting to obey Him? David prayed to God in 1Chron:29 that He would grant these things to the children of Israel and also to his son, Solomon  God is the one who gives usvthe desire in ourbheart to desire Him. The Sovereign God attracts us to Him; also created in our hearts that attraction. Phil:2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose - NIV For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him - NLT Create in us an affinity to You. A deep longing to know You and Your love. Create in our lives flagposts to direct to You and also make us receptive to You. Give us a thirst for You. Let us hanker for You with all our hearts. And let us hunger for You alone.

Are you inexperienced? God will be your guide. Is the task before you enormous and gigantic? It is God who will enable. For to Him alone are the words, greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty attributable. He is the King over all kings. The Lord of lords. He is seated on the throne, because He alone is worthy. Our inadequacy in itself is limted, because He is enough. He is our Father. He is on our side. Seeking His help is the only explication. There is no other solution, which you need to resolve. No need to run around frantically, seeking help everywhere. But look to the throne of grace with confidence. He wouldn't barge in and force an answer. But He tenderly looks as a compassionate Father. Who loves our dependance on Him, who enjoys our trusting in Him. But it wouldn't be fair, if we approach Him only for our needs. Yearning to spend time with Him. Wanting to know Him; His character. To look at His face; than His hands That gives Him more joy. Not a demand...

David gives these instructions to his son. Learn to know God intimately Worship and serve God with your whole heart and willingly Take it seriously Be strong Don't be afraid or discouraged for He will never fail you or forsake you. 1Chron:28;9-10 & 20 On a similar note is the admonitions to Joshua. Be strong and courageous Be careful to obey all instructions Study this book of instructions continually Meditate on it day and night Be sure to obey. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Josh:1:6-9 Whatever it is, wherever you are dear one! Stay strong. For He is with you.

1Chron:28:6b For I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. A father loves. No matter what. Selfless love. Always loves. A father admonishes. He disciplines. Because he has a better picture. Has seen life in better angles. Holds fast to his values and standards. A father is compassionate. The first one to run to the scene in case of an exigency, a crisis. He chooses to set aside everything else. His child is his priority. A father guides. Along the right path. Directs his child along the right ways he has trodden. And closes the wrong ones he has failed. For he loves his child. His own, the child is. A father prays for his child. He realizes his helplessness in guiding. Fallen as he is, he realizes his flaws  but considers it as his utmost responsibility to guide the child. Unto the man or woman, he or she is destined to be. Matt:7:11 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give...

1 Chron:28:2 David had a desire. To build a temple for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. And he made necessary preparations for building it. And God said, not you but your son. All that he planned - the plans, the instructions, the specifications, the designated goods, all that he had gathered, all that he collected. The list of everything he planned was handed over to Solomon. Solomon had to just execute. How meticulously David planned?  It was during the initial part of David's reign as king that God promised that his son would build the temple. Althroughout the reign as king, he set himself to gather and plan and execute his plans of collecting stuff for the temple. Set for yourself spiritual targets. For the year, for the month, for the week. Already six months have gone bye. What targets have you achieved? By the end of 2022, will you be able to set targets? Like for example- Read the Bible full Be regular in your early morning quiet times. Set a time for prayin...

Ps:68:16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains At Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live Where the Lord Himself will live forever? The Lord resides in you. Your body is His temple. He has established His kingdom. Just like Mount Zion has been chosen for the glorious and magnanimous presence of God; I am chosen. This invokes envy in the hearts of other rugged mountains. But not so with men. They consider it silly and worthless. The world has so many things to run after. They do not consider the Almighty God's presence and guiding as something significant. If blessings abound, then the case is different. How low man has fallen. That he assesses materials, achievements, accolades as more significant than anointing. Forget about others. What about me? How often have I desired for the anointing of the Holy God in my life? Like Elisha asking for a double share of Elijah's spirit. We desire and envy for the things we do not have in our hands. How often do we desi...

Psa:67:1 Very often, the system of the world links favour with favouritism. The standards are so fallen that every appreciable thing is distorted and malligned. Favour cannot be shown without disparity or selfish motive or partiality. But not so with God. When it is said that He smiles with favour on us; He does mean that favour is upon all. But aren't there verses which says, if you obey my commands, I will bless you? Ultimate depiction of favour is shown to all - on the cross. Anyone who looks at the cross for salvation will be saved. Not confided to any sect of people. We were all destined to hell, because of both our sinful nature and also because of our willful rebellion against God. Not supposed to even look unto Him. But by grace; He allowed us into His presence. Not as slaves or servants. Not even as friends. But as children, as heirs. Yes His love endures forever. Yes He looks with favour upon His children. Those of them who reject His love and thereby choose t...

Give your burdens to the Lord And He will take care of you He will not permit the godly to slip and fall Psalm:55:22 There is no need to carry your burden. No need to walk around with a heavy heart. No need to walk with a heavy back pack which cripples you and bends you like the pilgrim. These burdens might be traditional, which runs through generations. Could be the fancies of your own mind. Could be part of being cornered and bullied by assertive characters around you. These boundaries are probably set by the lack of respect and love that you have received. Could be the result of the barbarous voices in your head which enslaves you, tortures you. Could be a sickness. Could be financial precariousness. Could be insecurity because you couldn't be what you were supposed to be and your inability to provide or perform. Could be the heaviness of your addictions. One side you see yourself going down the drain helplessly. On the other side you are unable to control. Could be ...

Our lives are in His hands He keeps our feet from stumbling Ps:66:9 How the Lord protects? How beautifully the Lord has taken care thus far? All these years; in the palm of His hands. In Malayalam the word is ullam Kai. John:10:28-30 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. The Father and I are one. Oh! What a gracious Father He has been. We are all safe in the palms of His hands. No arrows will be able to smite you. Nor the sun by day nor the moon by night. For we are in the palms of His hands. No plague. No power of hell. No scheme of man. Can ever pluck me from His hands. For we are in the palms of His hands. Like a mother who holds her new born son ever so tenderly in her palms. Ever so loving is this God. Ever so stronger. He will not let your foot hurt on a stone. Though you fall, you will not be utterly cast down. He will protect you under His ...

Contrast between a man who was warned that he wouldn't be the one building a temple, vs the man who was promised since childhood that He is the one. The former was thankful. The latter was a smug. The former kept on doing for the temple, though it might have disheartened him, the latter was focused on other things as well. The former did not stop for rest. The latter because there was peace and rest, he pursued more things.  The former out of his nothingness pursued only God. The latter out of his surplous sought out very many other things as well. The former was called a man after God's own heart. The latter is said to have done evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the one who angered God. Being blessed, being provided, being in surplus brings us in that sad state of sufficiency, self satisfaction and complacency that we lose our focus on the Giver. Where as gratefulness makes us work harder, strive more because the focus is still on God's heart not in God's ha...

I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing. 1 Chron:21:24  Worship is giving God what is yours alone. Worship doesn't offer, what costs you nothing. It is not borrowing. It is not offering something which doesn't belong to you. About money it is very true! But might as well be true for time! Do I buy time from other things in my life to spend time with God? Do I forsake things to spend time in prayer? Do I forsake sleep and pray? Do I fast? Once in a while do I take a day off to spend time with God alone? Or is it that ritualistic ten minutes that I spend reading the word before rushing to work? Just a liturgical prayer before comfy pillow. If it doesn't cost me anything, it is not my precedence. If I struggle to find time to pray or read the word, under the disguise of lack of time. What was it that I was doing which ate up all my time. Was it sleep? Was it my daily binging? Was it my hang...

There is no guarantee that you wouldn't sin. As long as you are in this fallen world. But it all depends on how quickly you come back to the Lord. How receptive you are to the Holy Spirit. David was different from his predecessor and his son in this. As soon as he is convinced that he has wronged God and disappointed Him, there is repentance. No excuses. Will I be receptive to the nudges of the Holy Spirit and come with a repentant heart rather than living defences. Help me Lord to come to you with a contrite heart.

1Chron:19 Hanun was foolish. When David extended his hand of friendship, in view of the loyalty of his father Nahash, the king of Ammonites. He contemned David and his men, based on others advise. It ultimately leads to war and bloodshed which ultimately leads to defeat. What could have been a peace treaty ends up as bloodshed. What could have been a long lasting friendship, ends up as war. All because of a foolish act of a single person. This same mistake Rehoboam, son of Solomon makes - 1Kings:12. Because of which nation Israel is divided into two and degeneration of the nation is triggered. One foolish act can ruin, the outcome, not just your life alone, but people around you, generations that follow you as well. Grudges that run along families. People staying with a common wall, but haven't talked to each other for years. Continuing to choose not to disturb out of that grudge. But.... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Wisdom is be...

Thankfulness is the need of the hour. Arrogance and pride in our minds. Rudeness and impoliteness in our words. I deserve it all in our attitude. That I am in the centre of the world. All others are at my disposal. It is all because of thanklessness. David was blown off to hear the prediction of an everlasting dynasty of kings. A promise of the eternal King born of his lineage. All he could respond was to ask - Who am I, O Lord God? What is my family. (1Chron:17). Lord I do not deserve all these. Considering my sin and rebellion, why have you chosen me? Then he looks back unto God. O Lord, there is no one like you. It is indeed the gracious act of God. Looking back I can only acknowledge that You are such a wonderful God. Being thankful has two prongs. Looking into yourself and realizing you do not deserve it and looking unto God and seeing His awesomeness. Our present problem is we are a thankless generation. We take everything for granted. We think we deserve all these be...