The halfbaked Bard

Are you in the midst of hopelessness? Lost everything? Nothing to hold fast to? Are you in a dead end? Not even a thread to hold on to? Deep down in the darkest pit, miry clay all around? Every time you struggle, you see yourself go deeper and deeper. And you do not know what more to do now. Ps:71:14 But I will keep on hoping for your help I will praise you more and more. Two things you can do in times of hopelessness - Keep on hoping and keep on praising. Keep telling yourself and to the others of the goodness of God bless. Yes; how He hath delivered you by His saving power all through these years. And how  you put your trust in Him, in the midst of all uncertainties. For His goodness lasts forever  Pro:18:21 The tongue can bring death and life. Negativities and hopelessness though it surrounds you with its fieryred eyes and blood dripping fangs trying to devour you and finish you. Speak out; keep on hoping; keep on praising. For He is good. And all my life You ha...

Seeking help is the first step to get help. Unless I realize, how will I receive aid. If I am adamant of my self sufficiency  And I trust in my own ability, There is no hope; there is no help coming Unless I really realize I am poor and needy That I need help and deliverance! If I am comfortable in my own plight Not even the most able man could do any aide Thence I would be called a fool. The helpless man who doesn't realize he is helpless Is like the swine who revel in filth Is like the foolish king who fails to run off When a mighty army he faced But clung on to his thrown. Why do I fail to admit I need help? Does it make me inferior? Is the fear Pride too is a solid reason: I don't want to stretch my palms before some one Seeking help is degrading to the self. Man's nature has been thus, so swollen with pride Anything that hurts my ego is so demeaning What will others think of me? What will happen to the honour from men, I've been enjoying  The ridicule, ...

Neh:10:39b We will not neglect the house of God. A solemn promise. Regarding giving. Regarding tithe. Regarding providing for the priests. Regarding the necessities in the temple. Regarding time spent there. What has happened now? The house of God has become a tourist place which is visited once a week. In the times of online meetings, further it was neglected. What about church elders, what about friendship and fellowship. What about responsibilities within the church.  The temple of God is supposed to be house of prayers. Ashamed should we be for we have made it a den of thieves. To be precise. Not a den too, it has become a wayfarer's stop over. This is how we neglect the church. It is the body of Christ which you are part of. The question to be asked us, how much do I love my church. How concerned am I about the people in it. What more do I know of the needs of the church. If the church is part of me, would I neglect it? So much so...... Would I say? I would rather ...

Why should God keep His covenant of unfailing love? He is great and mighty and awesome. We have broken it. We have deserted Him. But He chose to keep. We are cheaters and liers. But He has been true. He said His character is unfailing love. And He never deterred from that. We had promised we would obey His decrees and commands. But we have chosen to disobey according to our convenience. We had chosen to walk away. But He has always been there at the covenant table. Waiting for us to come back. Even though the covenant bond is broken and shattered, because of our disobedience. Eventhough He has no liability now, legally  he has added a clause of forgiveness. And that too even before we sought forgiveness. Before we even repented . Who is like you, O God? Where shall we go apart from you? Neh:9:32 And now out God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of unfailing love....

Neh:9:31b What a gracious and merciful God you are? This is a God of grace. He deals with grace. And grace is giving you what you do not deserve. You definitely did not deserve eternal heirship, forever citizenship, being seated in the heavenly realm. Yet that has been given freely. Mercy is not giving you what you deserve. Definitely deserved eternal hell, damnation, separation from God. Yes we deserved the whole of it. But God was merciful to us not to have given us that. Grace and mercy meets at the cross. When the last drop of blood of the Son was shed. The Father was not gracious and merciful to the Son. Not that the Father was like the hard Taskmaster who forced His Son to be killed to redeem His servants / citizens. But the Son willfully did. The Father and Son being One, this was their decision. His decision. Grace and mercy overflow  to redeem me. To bring me back to His bosom.

Neh:9:28b Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy you rescued them many times. Mercy has no end. Mercy keeps reaching out to you. Mercy is limitless. Malayalam transliteration of PS:136 reads - His mercy endures forever. No matter how rebellious and adamant we are. God is always merciful. The cross covers all our sins - past present and future. He waits always with arms open wide. A merciful Father He is; filled with love and compassion. Desperately wanting you and me back to His bosom. Always. Oh! I am amazed. I am awestruck. Undeserving as I am. He loves me. He is merciful to me. Forever and ever.

Why so rebellious? Why so forgetful? Why do you often forget the ways in which He has led thus far? Why are you of little faith? Why you tend to neglect? And choose the path of faithlessness Why so ungrateful? Why so thankless? Why do you worry so much? The Lord hath led you this far Will lead you through more. But we must remind ourselves again and again How He has led thus far Sicknesses have been healed Difficult people dealt with Obstacles were hurdled out But unless we take efforts to review And remember how he hady guided. How will we have faith and trust in how He leads?

Neh:9:19-21 God's goodness doesn't depend on our badness No matter how much you have abandoned and deserted Him In the business of life, even if you have forgotten Him Still, He is Jehovah Jireh. His help continues to enable you to overcome Sin has no dominion over me; Nailed on the cross I might have hurt Him, while being in His bosom Still, He is Jehovah Nissi I might have chosen 'N' no: of ways to sin The accuser points all my unrighteousness at the court Deemed to die with him in hell, according to the eternal law Still, He is Jehovah Tsidkenu In the midst of storms, I have aimlessly ran Lack of faith, little faith. All variants of faithlessness Unfaithful. Fearing every wave that tosses the boat Still, He is Jehovah Shalom Sin has taken a toll on me Bruises, wounds, sicknesses, ailments Disfigured. Contorted. Fully without any hope Still, He is Jehovah Rapha Yes I have wandered off looking for pasteurs My own thinking have led me astray Disobedient. Dis...

The norm of the world is to love those who love you. Help those who help you. But the standards of God are different. Neh:8:17 You did not abandon them when they made an idol shaped like a calf. It was when mankind fully abandoned God in rebellion and outcry. God chooses to intervene into their lives. When no love was received He chose to love. Rom:5:10 Our friendship with God was restored when we were still His enemies. That is why He could pray on the cross - Father forgive them. That is why His commands say - Love your enemies. He practised what He preached. He walked the talk. He was a different example. Yes He loved us. Loves us still.

Neh:8:17 So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelter during the festival and they were filled with great joy. The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun. Celebrate your life; Not because you have enough. Because you are in shelters; And its a reminder of your eternal home. Because you live as aliens; You are citizens of an eternal Kingdom. Not because all your problems have perfect solutions. But in your problems; He is in control His promise holds true - 'I am with you forever' Because you look forward to a land of no tears. Not because there won't be any darkness But because 'Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death I fear no evil; For you are with me' Because you are an overcomer; You are more than a conqueror. There is absolute freedom promised Freedom from the ability to sin Not just forgiveness No longer slaves to sin; But slaves to righteousness. Celebrate your life; Becau...

Neh:8:10 The joy of the Lord is your strength In times of trouble, the joy of the Lord is your strength In times of weeping, the joy of the Lord is your strength In times of hopelessness, the joy of the Lord is your strength In times of helplessness, the joy of the Lord is your strength In times of brooding over, the joy of the Lord is your strength When you don't know what to do, the joy of the Lord is your strength When you have all things figured out, the joy of the Lord is your strength When everything is under control, the joy of the Lord is your strength. The joy that He offers; is what you can run to always It is eternal; it cannot be taken away No circumstances deter the fact that; the joy is forever This joy doesn't depend on other's opinion This joy doesn't depend on what others would think This joy does not depend on whether I perform or not This joy depends on the Giver Who gives from His abundant riches. Clinging on; Holding fast to this joy; no...

We tend to master on the majors. And neglect the subtle ones  If God tells us to go! "Will we not go?" To the established, to the elite, to the riches To the comforts? "Oh! Praise the Lord!" But if He calls us to the poor and needy and the unexplored "Let us pray about it." We are like the boy who prayed for a calling to the north. God says "Ok. Go to Maharashtra" "No Lord, further north". God says "Bihar" "No Lord, further north". God says "Rajasthan" "No Lord, further north". God says "Jammu" or "China" "No Lord further north" - "To the Northern America" Whole hearted and complete obedience according to us, is if it is most convenient. Even those majors we tend to obey - Call for missions; marriage; place of work; career But the Lord is more interested in The subtleties, the abstracts, the minors God is interested in our hearts, rather than our...

Neh:7:3 Appoint residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their homes. Be alert. Be on the guards. Your home, your church, your fellowship is your responsibility. Where is your faith to bring healing to others? Where is the owning up and being responsible? The fellowship is not the elder's or the pastor's. But yours. Your place of work is yours. Not theirs. Own up. Be on regular watch. Serve sentry posts. Be on guard. That no enemy creeps in. Faith. Discipline in prayer. Entreat. Be not passive.

What does discouragement bring out?  Brooding over? Sulking? Pushing yourself more into the hole? In Nehemiah -  Discouragement brought in greater determination How do I fervently work in times when I am down. In times of drooping shoulders How do I shake my mane and get up? Nehemiah was sure of what he was doing He was sure of his identity He need not prove anything to the king or Sanballat He was sure that he stands in the presence of God This is how you shake of discouragement Keep reminding yourself of who you are A child of God. An heir of God. His beloved No thing can put you down dear one Things which pull you down should be The base on which you can push yourself further up Because you can be sure that it is not your Father Who accuses; But the liar.

Neh:5 There is no personal agenda when you follow God There is no fattening your purse There is no acquiring of land There is no seeking personal glory, once you are His warrior "I drew no official food allowance Because I feared God, I did not act that way. I devoted myself to working on the wall And refused to acquire any land. I asked for nothing" -Nehemiah Today all these which he considered as a burden Is considered a blessing Whatever is needed for you: God will provide Why do man seek gift: rather than the giver? "I am your very great reward" is God's promise "What reward is there for me?" Is his question back. Let God provide riches according to His plan For the one whom He hath planned. And deal with sufficiency in accordance to His plan again. But why focus on riches and the pseudoglory it offers  God has called man to enjoy Him and His glory Not to have glory of your own. That is the world's teaching - "You will be like ...

Neh:5:1-9 Nehemiah faces yet another struggle now. This time it's internal. There is struggle within the people. There are days in which you woke up and feel not comfortable within. You woke up in the wrong side of the bed. Why? If we probe, there is absolutely no reason. No explanation. Gradually the love that binds the family is fading away. Everyone is comfortable in their own couches and rooms. There is no mirth and laughter. All glued to their own screens  Where is the love and care within the fellowship. There was a time when they were all real brothers and sisters. If there was a need, everyone was there. Now we are all glorified aliens. There is no love. There is no accountability.  Complacency. Business. Taking for granted. Lord let not my heart be overwhelmed even for unknown reasons. Lord restore your love within my family. Lord reinstate your love within my fellowship. My church. Forgive me for the selfishness I have been indulged in.

Neh:4:17-23 Many a times I see a lack of balance in lives around me. Some are very pious, religious. And religiosity is an escapade for them. To evade from responsibilities. Students make fellowship and church an excuse to run away from their responsibility of studies. Saints and Sadhus are an extreme example. ( I am not belittling their simplicity and humility). People can take leaves for their spiritual upliftment from their work. But what if it is at the cost of their co-workers' benefits and privileges. Who would want to listen to their God? Then there are others (the majority around) who try to shut their eyes and make it dark. They catch hold of science, reasoning and logic and in the present day, it is matter of pride to claim to be an atheist (an extreme). But few easily and comfortably neglect God, asking "What for?" "Oh! I am not that kind of person" Here is a group of people under the leadership of Nehemiah who kept guard as well as did th...

Fight. Do not give up. The enemy might look strong. He might seem to be over you everywhere. You seem to be overpowered. Never give up. Be on guard. Always alert. Keep on fighting. Keep on doing the things you are expected to do. You might feel all alone in the battle. May be there are no tears left. No strength to carry on. No shoulder to lean on. You find yourself in the warfront. All alone, deserted by every single person who you thought would be there. Now you are facing your giant, helpless, vexed, fearful as the onliest. Never give up. Keep fighting. You are not alone. The enemy might look stronger. To demolish whatever you have already done. For others, for yourselves. All to defame. All back to square one. All to rubble. All back to a mess. All your efforts, all these years might seem to be in vain. Never give up. Keep fighting your battles. You are indeed not alone in this. Neh:4:14b Don't be afraid of the enemy. Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious and...

Neh:4:7-9 After discouragement, the enemy will change his strategies further. It becomes aggressive fight. From all directions, along with discouragements, there is severe bringing down. Physical, mental, emotional, social upsets in your life all coming together. Then yes! You're still in the right track. The enemy is getting restless that you are in tune with God's symphony. Eph:6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in heavenly places. You are up against the whole evil army - to make you inconspicuous, fruitless, ineffective, incompetent, inept and insignificant. Not because you are a big somebody. Infact you are a nobody. You are helpless and weak to fight against this huge army. But the One who is in you is more powerful than the one who is in the world. 1 John:4:4. It is because of Him, the evil army is restless. ...

Neh:4:1-6 Discouragements will come. You cannot silence everyone. When you are sure that you are doing what you are doing is in accordance to His will; nothing should deter you, though discouragements would come. These discouragements are an indication that the enemy is restless which again is an indication that you are in the right track. Let them come. It is a means for you to cling on to your promise. Cling to God. Many Sanballaths will try to put you down. Many Tobiahs will make fun of you. But stay on course. God is with you. Work with great enthusiasm.

Neh:3 Everyone who came back took part in rebuilding the wall. There were priests, manufacturers of perfumes, leaders, Levites, goldsmiths. Whatever their job was, whatever their responsibility was, they were indulged in zealously rebuilding the wall. Their passion for the city of Jerusalem and for God was such. Whatever you are doing - a teacher, a student, a health care professional, a housewife. Primarily you are a child of God. And primarily your responsibility is to rebuild others lives through the love of God lavished upon mankind. What are you doing?

Neh:2:20 The God of heaven will help us succeed. Let us rebuild. The broken walls of our homes, our church, our country. End this disgrace.  Let us rebuild. That no foxes, big or small would come in and go out to destroy what is already built  Let us rebuild the wall that is in shackles. The wall to guard what is inside. God will give us success. God will provide. There will be opposition and pessimism.  There will be Sanballaths and Tobiahs and Gerems to discourage. But God will help us succeed. We need to just start rebuilding.

Neh:1:4 A short prayer, a momentary communication It tells, you trust in God for everything Even the smallest thing, you put your hope in Him You are helpless and therefore you cling. Before you say an opinion A short prayer guards your tongue Quick to listen, slow to speak it will enable Protects your tongue against unwholesome unnecessary talks. Before you commit to something A short prayer gives you wisdom from above To walk in accordance with His plan to prosper you In line with life abundance; as He promised. Before you do something A short prayer enables you, strengthens you and equips you When I am weak; I am made strong For the One in me is more powerful than the one who is the world. Before you start the day A short prayer (at least a short one) gives you strength for the day To face all your waves and sandstorms and hills and valleys With bright hope that He is enough Before you go to sleep or in the middle of the night as you awake As the Spirit prompts, utter a ...

I was very much afraid but i said to the king Neh:2:2b&3a Yes life is full of fearful monsters, frightening people, appalling circumstances, panicky Halloween characters. BUT. Why fear when the Lord of heavenly armies is on your side? Why jittery when the Almighty, All Powerful God is your Father? Why afraid when He is in your favour? Nehemiah had that confidence. Though he was afraid because he was in front of the king. Esther had that confidence. Though she was fearful, that the king could kill her. Jesus had that confidence, in front of the religious leaders, Pilate and Herod. Because He was sure that He is the Son of God Himself. All authorities are under God and He is our Abba. Go in confidence. If it is His will for you He will make it to pass. He goes before you. He is above all. He will bring pleasing to their eyes concerning you. Go in confidence. That interjection "but" is the biggest difference between you, a child of God and others. They don't ...

The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalms 28:8‭-‬9 I am his inheritance. His special possession. He carries me in His arms. I am His very own.  What else do I want. What did I do to deserve? Why does He love me so much? Just questions that I don't have answer.

Neh:1 When was the last time I prayed for others? I fasted and prayed: I wept and mourned. I sought the Lord; pleaded the cause  Not for my wants, needs and desires  But because others were suffering. When was the last time I prayed for the church? The larger body of Christ. For revival; for protection; for people to turn to the Lord The body as a whole, to be like Christ the head. Not my spiritual desires, not my ministry. When was the last time I prayed for them? As my own: Though one in body: I don't know them. But because they are far from their Father Does my heart ache? Do my eyes fill up with tears? Not for my family; nor for my friends alone. When was the last time I prayed, "Thy will be done"? His will - that all might turn to Him. All will know the Father and the Son Jesus Christ All will have abundant life; life to the fullest Not my will; not my plans; But His. Why are my prayers all so selfish? Why my desires all self centred? Lord forgive me, for...

Telling God sorry in itself is difficult for us. Admitting your wrong to God, itself your pride wouldn't allow. Yet here is a group of people who put the axe on the root itself. ( Ezra:10) They put away with their pagan wives when they realized they have wronged. Apologizing to a person to whom you have wronged, it is difficult. But when the Spirit leads, just go ahead. That will only replenish you and reinstate you, not only to God and the other person, but also towards you. Matt:5:24. That has to be taken so seriously that the gift had to be left on the altar and the matter had to be dealt with personally. Why is it difficult? Because my pride wouldn't let me admit to some one else that i wronged. Let it go. Let yourself be free from the prisons of unforgiveness and bitterness.

Ezra 10 Sin is not something you adjust with. It is not something you compromise on. Not something you live along with. It is something you put away with, the moment you realize.  It becomes the most disgusting thing in your life. Not something you want more. Not something which you want to find an excuse to dobit again and again. To find a way you to do somehow. To stretch the limit. To see how far it is possible. To see how I can fiddle with it without burning my fingers. It doesn't go that away. Sin is something serious which God hates. And we are supposed to, expected to, but unable to. Seek help, knowing you are helpless. You were going with the tide. You have to stop and turn around to go against the tide.

Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” Ezra 10:4 This matter is in your hands You are the one responsible. The return you are supposed to do. The reinstation of your wife. The growth of your children. The spiritual fervour of your church The closeness to God of your youth Teach them repentance. Teach them where you really are  Teach them the holiness of God Teach them who God is Teach them man's fallenness, wretchedness and sinfulness That man is prone to fall because that's his inherent nature. But teach them also that's not where he is destined to be Teach them man has a better prospect Man is destined to be in God's bosom for eternity Because of the Love that God lavished upon us. That there is hope. In returning Teach them about the most beautiful attribute of God; His love. As in the times of prophet Ezekiel,  God is searching for people to stand in that gap As in the times of prophet Isaiah, God is askin...