The halfbaked Bard

Tell him to stop worrying Yes if you can be sure that the Lord is in control, you can stop worrying.  If you can be sure that you are in the palms of the Almighty, you can stop worrying If you know that He has led you before, you can stop worrying.  The weight might be heavy to bear.  You might feel crushed underneath.  Nothing is difficult for my Father Who is good and loving.  Do not worry for I am with you is the promise given by the Faithfule One.  Come to me all you who are weak and heavy laden, I will give you rest.  This is the One who bore it all on His shoulders.  He was lonely; He was isolated; He didn't have any back up.  Yet He clung on to the Father. And the Father delivered Him.  Do not be discouraged. Do not be anxious. Do not fret.  Make your burdens lighter in His presence.  Let your baggage fall at the foot of the cross Let the filthiness be washed away.  Let yourself be cleansed: made white a...

Not everyone is expected to be a C. S. Lewis or an A. W. Tozer or a Billy Graham. But you are expected to go. To reach out.  The question is directed to you. Whom shall I send? To that friend of yours whom you have seen as a loner, sitting in the corner of the classroom, always with a melancholic face.  Whom shall I send? To that friend who struggles with cancer, who is apprehensive about his future and how his family would survive without him.  Whom shall I send? To that young widow who wanted to start things beautifully and then life took an abrupt turn in her life for worse. Now not knowing how to go about.  Whom shall I send? To those parents who helplessly see their child slipping away; may be an ailment. May be rebellion.  I will go.  Not all Christians are oratious. Not all Christians are David Livingstones and Hudson Taylors. But you can be the light in your brother's life. Directing him to the God who loves him. Pulling him out of the d...

Isa:6:3 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies The whole earth is filled with His glory.  One of the greatest and most indispensable attributes of God. (though it doesn't mean that others are subordinate to it). That God is infalliable. The seraphs that Isaiah saw were singing of His holiness. So are the living creatures that John saw.  The fact that He is a holy God with no iota of sin in Him, creates a huge reverance and fear in our hearts. That is why Isaiah said, it is all over, I am doomed, for I am a sinful man, I have filthy lips and I live among people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the king the Lord of Heaven's armies. Peter also echoed , Go away from me, for I am a sinful man.  God's holiness and my sinfulness are in two extremes. God's purity only accentuates my wretchedness. It reveals it more. All I can do is to seek mercy; seek forgiveness. Helplessly run to Him to show mercy.  As we wall in His presence daily, let His holiness ...

In this time of love failures and suicides and revenge killing following rejection, what we understand is that, man is looking for a love that accomodates all your infirmities, iniquities and inadequacies. That there would be someone who would love you as you are. That they would accept you as you are.  A mother loves unconditionally. But a young man or girl rejects this unfailing love to go after the love he / she met yesterday, which they think is better than her love, who has sacrificed it all. Nullifying the value he / she gives to the lady who has given it all. It sounds irrational when you reject this love overflowing.  Even higher is God's love. You reject it, you consider it silly in your life when you choose to not see this love and give importance to your life, your passions or dreams. A God who gave it all. A God who is mindful of you.  Ps:100:5 His unfailing love continues forever. 

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Psalms 91:14 Acknowledge can either be a superficial term or a word with so much of in depth meaning.  It can either be a Hi. Or it can be that orientedness in every breath of your life.  Yes you can settle with the fact that God exists. At least you are better than the fool who says there is no God. But the acknowledgement He says in the Psalm 91 is the indepth knowledge you have about Him. The intimacy. The closeness to His bosom.  The fear of the Lord in Proverbs is the same. Being God aware, or God oriented is the key.  May God enable us to see the hand of God in every walk of our lives. 

How pathetic if you tie a rope to your sins and drag it along with you wherever you go? Enjoying glimpses of it. As you worship. As you talk to your colleague at work. When you are alone in the dark.  Why don't you want to let go fully? Knowing that it is for your ruin. The evil one is befooling you with lies. But all it does is hurt God and prove that you're a rebel.  You might fall occasionally. But do you nurture it? Do you relish it?  Untie those cords and let go. If you drag them along, the truth is you are the one who would walk haggardly. It is for freedom that you have been called. Do not let these hamper you from enjoying the rich full abundant life.  Each moment you realize a flaw in you, let go. Ask the Holy Spirit grace to enable you to repent and renounce. Do not carry the burden along.  Isa:5:18 What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them With ropes made ofnlies Who drag wickedness behind them like a cart. 

Isa:5:15-16 People will be brought low Humbled Arrogant will lower their eyes            The Lord will be exalted.  Why?  Because of justice. Because of God's holiness.  Because of His righteousness.  The startling contrast between man and God is the former's sinfulness and the latter's holiness. A righteous God's expectation of His creation to live a holy life, is justified. And because of man's fallen nature all he can do is to sin and rebel against God. Yet it is not His nature alone; his choice too.  All our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Isa:64:6 The righteous judge is seated on the throne. He will rightly judge all mankind of his words, thoughts and deeds and every single pride of mankind will be brought low. Every arrogance. Every self love will be demolished. Every single man will stand with head bowed low.  Yet there is hope. The righteous judge is my lover too. He loves me unconditionally. While I wa...

Isa:5:8-12 You buy house after house. Land after land. You accumulate wealth. Do you find security in your bank balance and in your investments? Do you find security in earning a five digit salary and in your job's assurance? Or the assurance in your degrees which you have earned so that you can have your job secure?  Drunkenness might not be your issue. But how about the desire to 'enjoy' life? Pleasures of the world, binge watching, worlds revolving around likes and followers. Other small and big addictions. All pleasures of this world are rooted in lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. And the Bible says these are not from the Father.  Where is God in your thinking list? How often do I think about God? How frequently are you aware of God's presence in your day? Do you restrict Him to your quiet times, your fellowships and churches and when you direly need Him. Because you are not aware of His presence with you, you ask frequently, "W...

Isa:5:6 Expected to be a vineyard. It has become overgrown with thorns and briers. Expected to produce sweet grapes. It has produced bitter ones. Expected to be pruned and kept neat. It has become a wild place, indisciplined. Expected to seek God and love His righteousness. We have become self centered, self loving set of people.  Do we realize the gravity of the situation? Do we see it in God's viewpoint? How painstakingly He has sustained us? Yet He sees us drift away moment by moment by our choice. Though we have known Him, still we continue in our self centred lives. How painful it would be for God to see His own son/daughter choose against Him? Who chooses his/her own interest over God and His desires? God is in their hearts only to bless them; to guide them into a blessing. That all would be well for them. They would want to hear only things which their itching ears want to hear. They would do things which they would always want to do, no matter what. No sacrifice...

Isa:5:4 What more could I have done for my vineyard That I have not already done?  The painful cry of God's heart. Imploring justice. What more should I have done? I have created. Chosen you before you were conceived. Though you fell by your choice. I was the one who came after you. I first loved you. Gave you a second chance. Redeemed you. Salvaged you. Justified you. Sanctified you. Glorified you. Seated you on the throne with me. Still you produced bitter grapes. Still you committed adultery with the world, though you are betrothed to me. It is yet not I but Christ who lives in me. But all your steps are directed to your own self. Pointed to the world and it's pleasures. Not me. What more  should I have done?  Why only bitter grapes? Of selfishness and self orientedness. Lust of the eyes. Lust of the flesh and pride of life. Why the anger? Why the pride? Why the bitterness? Why the hatred? Why the frustration? Why the depression? Why the treading upon other...

Isa:4:4 The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion And cleanse Jerusalem of it's blood stains.  Though filthy you are beautiful Created by God; for God; for His purpose Stained and marred now because of sin Because of your choice.  Because you were left with no choice Battered and bruised you are Filthy and stinky you are Creating disgust in the beholder's eye.  Outwardly you might seem delightful Though not as beautiful as intended to be Fallen low; repulsive and revulsive But I will wash you clean is the promise I will cleanse you of all filth and mirk That entangles you. That ensnares you I will take the initiative Not you - because you are helpless.  No matter how dark and deep the stains be You will be washed white as snow Presentable to the groom; holy and blameless Pure and blemishless: Not a blot to be seen.  Crystal clean; I will make you Like a canopy of cloud; I will be to you Like a shade over Mount Zion.  I am your tsidkenu I ...

Singing praise and being thankful are not the same. Being grateful is for what He has done for you. It can be the salvation that He has offered freely. It can be the blessings or wonders or miracles He has performed. But praising and adoring and exalting Him is for who He is. His persona. His character. His identity. His attribute.  And worship is both.  Psalms 98 and 99 - both are part of worship.  May the Lord enable us to worship in truth and spirit. 

Isa:3:14 You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.  Have you ruined Israel?  Have you destroyed the vineyard entrusted to you?  The small piece of His kingdom given to you, what have you led it to?  What have you done to the helpless dependants? What is the status the foreigners and immigrants who helplessly wander into your kingdom?  Have they seen the real King Or have the wild and self centred steward Or the evil prince who grabbed it?  What will I have accomplished as I made all my decisions?  Whom did they all see as I established only my will and plans? As I ascertained my viewpoint arrogantly, authoritatively and aggressively.  The humble servant king vs the arrogant imposing prince.  The light vs darkness.  The truth vs lie.  It is His vineyard and you are a steward. Do not act like the owner. The tender shoots entrusted to you, let it bloom. Do not ruin. 

Isa:3:10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned.  Children are probably the ones that we love the most. There is a lot of self sacrifice and selflessness involved in that love. Placing the other more important than oneself type of love. Denying your self you love them. You do everything for their life thinking they are your own.  Still if they ask for something dangerous to play around with, will you give? In their youthful rush of blood, they decide to take a path which looks obviously dirty, won't you warn them? Because you want their future to be secure, you want them safe, you want all things to be good in their life.  Just because you love them, you won't agree to everything they say. And saying no wouldn't make them comfortable too. Yet in submission to their parents is their good fortune.  Then why do you question God or complaint to Him, when things do not go according to your plan? The Almig...

What are your strongholds?  What are your assets?  Where do you run to in times of dire need?  What do you consider your strong points?  Isa:3:1 The Lord, the Lord of Heaven's armies Will take away from Jerusalem and Jidah Everything they depend on Every bit of bread And every drop of water.  Be it your degrees. Be it the security in your job. Be it your health or your financial stability. Be it your contacts and your relationships. Nothing will stand. The Lord demands ( what is due for Him) an undistracted devotion, an absolute and complete trust in Him. In Him and Him alone. All others which we put our trust on, will never last. All futile.  The bard has seen in his own as well as in other's life, the Almighty God teaching a valid truth, that He alone stands by demolishing my strongholds and fortresses. The very things which I considered I could run to, failed me miserably. And there was only one thing that stood through. The Almighty God and ...

Don't put your trust in mere humans They are frail as breath What good are they?   Isa:2:22 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in people It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in princes.   Ps:118:8-9 What is the first thing I do when I realize I'm helpless? I would rush to share it to my wife first. Or call and tell my sister; or call my mentor and ask them to pray; or call my best friend so that he can help out somehow. Or even brood over the fact that i dont have anyone to share. If at all my mom was there......  Off late I understood this truth; that there is nobody in this beautiful world who could help you out really. Yes they will listen; yes they will pray for you! Yes they will try to sort out things for you. But ultimately they are all helpless. The reality is that no one can hold you as your Father can hold. He carries you in His arms when you are all alone. He is nigh when everyone seems far away. He has ...

When God brings you low Better humble yourself When God shatters plans It is better to bring yourself low.  Why do you think so high of yourself?  Why is pride swelling up in your heart?  O my soul, why, the world, your world You think should dance for your fancies?  You think the world around you You have set it up on your own?  Your family, your children, your team Why do you think they are for your glory?  Glory only belongs to the Lord He alone is exalted He has created; He sustains Every one, everything for His glory.  But why do you race with God?  To grab the glory, not due for you When would you realize, you do not deserve It is all grace; it is all given free.  Human pride will be brought down And human arrogance will be humbled. Isa:2:11 May the Lord humble me, for my good Rather I be humiliated. 

Isa:2:1-4 Israel had been selfish about their God. Though they rebelled and sought other gods, their Jehovah was theirs alone. And all other nations were considered Gentiles with disgust and a lot of pride in themselves. They were proud to call themselves as Abraham's children.  But God's masterplan was different. It encompassed all nations. His plan was to reach the whole mankind through this nation Israel. In Him there is no difference between Israel or Greek or Romans or Arabians or Indians. All He loved with the same love.  Isa:2:2 People from all over the world will stream there (mountain of the Lord's house) to worship.  Isa:2:3 There He will teach us His ways.  And  we will walk in His paths.  There is no distinction in God's eyes. He has loved Abraham and Moses and you, alike.  Not Israel alone. I who has known the Lord for so long, may be since generations, do I boast on my ancestry?  - My grandfather laid the foundation of th...

What is your idol?  An idol replaces God in your life. The time you could afford to spend with Him. It could be binge watching your favourite series. Or waiting for your favourite movie star's movie to be released. Reels or TikTok or YouTube or Facebook followers list. Do you go back to know how many has followed or liked my posts? How many have Retweeted? Why do you follow your favourite celebrities, wanting to know what's happening in their lives? Social media has eaten up most of our time, which we could have afforded to have more of eternal life. John:17:3 Is it food? Is it companionship? Is it sleep? Is it ministry? Is it your talent or using of talents? Do I even think of Word of God when you have got some time? Have I squandered every opportunity to know the Father and the Son Jesus Christ?  Every other act, the reason is self indulgence. Self is the main idol you want to gratify in all these small idols that we worship. Self has replaced God in our hearts....

Purity is compromised when adulterated. You don't say half pure when the milkman decides to pour water to milk or vice versa. It is definitely called impure.  Anything which is not in accordance with the intended purpose becomes impure. Anything adulterated. Anything which misses the mark, becomes hamartos.  You Oh! Blessed one are chosen to be in the image and likeness of God. Chosen to imitate Christ. Chosen to be transformed into His likeness. But as influenced by the world, if you conform to the world, you become like a well watered wine.  The world and it's system is so corrupted that the influence it causes is just a shade of the actual expectation or even worse.  Helpless as we are; when we realize the truth and run to the throne of grace. He giveth more grace.  Once so pure, you are now like a well watered wine.  Isa:1:22

Isa:1:10-20 All of Judah's sacrifices were disgusting to God. All celebrations false. All gifts meaningless. Every festival a burden. Because of the sins and evil ways they enjoyed and there was no genuine repentance.  * There was no doing good. Only self centred ways of appeasing self.  * There was no seeking justice. There is no sense of right or wrong. Only what is good for self.  * There was no helping the poor, the orphans and the widows. God has been always pro-poor. The love for the needy was replaced by the love for the rich and the affluent and their money.  Are all my deeds a farce before God? Showing dichotomy. Does it reflect my hypocrisy? If I place my feet in two boats, I am sure to fall.  All the bloodshed of Judah's sacrifices are all looking like a vaudeville. The animals are killed for nothing. There is no actual remedy for sin. The killing of these innocent animals has been made a mockery because of their heart's attitude of rebell...

Isa:1:9 If the Lord of Heaven's Armies Had not spared a few of us We would have been wiled out like Sodom Destroyed like Gomorrah In the midst of all chaos and mayhem, the Lord has spared a few like us to reveal Himself to us.  In the midst of people frantically running a rat race, a few has been spared to have a different drum beat.  In the midst of revels and indulges in sin and wretchedness, the Lord has spared a few of us to take a step towards Him.  In the midst of being enslaved by the prince of the earth, a few has been spared to be children of God.  Why have I been chosen undeservingly to be different? It is a challenge to reflect the Father in the midst of all these alluring foolishness.  Even though I know it is foolish to run in the rut. Because the majority are running, I have the fear of being left out if I don't.  Will I lose if I don't?  To live with that eternal perspective is the key to jump out of the ordinaries. It requir...

Beautiful Jerusalem stands abandoned Isa:1:8 What riches were promised? Eternal life is nothing less than perfection. Because it was promised by a perfect Father to His children. Knowing the Father and thr Son is eternal life and that is nothing short of the abundant rich life. Life in its fullness. And eternal life is not something you would be going to inherit. It is already yours.  Not struggling with sin; but a victorious living. Not a life dwindled with emotions and feelings. But a life established in faith; focussed on God's face. Not as a slave; but as a son Or a daughter of the King.  2 Pet:1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for godliness.  Everything we need to live a godly life (which is life to it's fullness) has been provided.  But then why are we living in shatters. Why are we living a life of ruin. Why are we living a life abandoned?  It is because we believe in Satan's lies than the God of truth. Satan says you are li...

Despise 😒 Meaning: Feel contempt because one thinks that, that person or thing is bad or has no value.  Contempt means a feeling that a person or thing is worthless or beneath consideration.  Isa:1:4b They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their back on Him.  Oh! I am a child of God. I don't do that. Sometimes the word of God is too harsh, that we think so bluntly that it is not about us. This is about Israel, when they rejected Him for other gods.  Wait. Let us look at our browse histories before we conclude. Turn to your watchlists. And have a look into your wishlists and carts.  Take a peek at what you think or fantasize just before you go to sleep.  What are your conversations filled with? Where is your life graph directed to?  Sillify is not a genuine word in the english literature. But I think that word explains the core. Have I sillified God and His death on the cross and His presence in my life?  Where is my seri...

Isa:1:2b The children I raised and cared for Have rebelled against me.  We were born in rebellion. In sin we were conceived. Born sinners. Even though the rescue act happened on the cross and we are all brought into the fold, the rebellious nature still continues.  We continue to be self centered, self loving, hearing what our itching ears want to hear and doing thing which our selfish hearts want to do. Even though saved, we still behave as slaves.  We tend to forget the rescue act done by Jesus, shedding even the last drop of blood. We tend to choose to forget for our conveniences and comforts.  I am talking about the heart's attitude. The heart is the most deceitful of everything. The actual truth is we are all set free from this rut that we have fallen into. We were enslaved but we have been set free. And when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. But do we continue in those ruts to gratify our comforts? 

Isa:1:1 Though these words are specifically written as visions Isaiah the prophet had about Judah and Jerusalem, when Judah was rebelling against God, rejecting Him. It is very much applicable for us where we have lost the first love.  Gone are the days when we would worship Him, exalt Him, cry our hearts out in thanksgiving for what He has done in our lives. Now we have a list of petitions and prayers.  God is definitely Jehovah Jireh for us. But is He El- Elyon? Is He El-Shaddai?  Is He our Adonai?  He is our Jehovah Nissi. But is He our Jehovah Tsidkenu?  We want Him as our Jehovah Rapha. But frowns when He is our Jehovah Mekkodishken.  No matter how we perceive Him to be. He continues to be Elohim.  Worthy of all our praise, honour and glory and power.  He alone is worthy. The Lamb alone is worthy Has my love grown cold?  Have I taken Him for granted?  Lord renew my love. Bring me back to your bosom. 

Love flashes like fire.  Song of Songs:8:6 Love is like fire It gives light; It brightens your life up It shines in the darkness It brings in focus It shows things clearly.  It warms, it soothes, it comforts.  The very feeling of being loved, comforts.  Love is quenched by nothing else Love alone satisfies.  No amount of wealth or comforts,  Can replace love Not even lust, nor pleasure.  Yes love is wonderful To love and to be loved How beautiful is love in its finiteness?  How much more can an Infinite God love?  Limitless, unconditional, Agape love.  If His love was with tags,  He would have ceased to be God While we were still sinners While we were still His enemies He first loved us Not emotional or tickling os senses Proactive, hard working selfess love Shedding the last drop of blood To redeem me. To make me His own To let me enjoy in His presence for eternity To enjoy me for eternity Fire purifies. Fire cleanses a...

For love is as strong as death  Song of Songs:8:6 What is certain in life?  What is sure to come?  No matter where you hide Where you station yourself Where you protect yourself How much ever you guard yourself You pour out money in defense Or threaten with your atomic or nuclear explosives Or strengthen your barricades or bouncers Or bodyguards or any other protections One day you will have to face him Anyone who is born, has to look at death Face to face one day; No escape That is the only certitude in life No riches; No success; No happiness Not sickness; nor poverty.  One thing for sure - Death is inevitable.  Here is something even stronger, even surer The love the Father only can bestow, only can lavish That which will never leave you nor forsake you You can never get away from His presence Even in the grave; His love saves Even in the deepest darkness; His rod and staff is enough The surity of an unchanging God is His love His love to you; bin...

Seal Song of Songs:8:6 A seal registers as the King's property My heart sealed for God.  His own asset: No one can open No one can snatch me from His hands.  A seal shows authority of the King.  No other authority can over rule it.  My heart is for the King; For the Lord His love rules my heart; drives my heart A seal shows belonging My heart is for God It's thoughts; it's beats all tuned to God All other distractions; drags me farther.  A seal signifies surity The Holy Spirit is a seal The Father puts His seal all over me Representing the Love of the Son on the cross Breaking the seal is grievous too Punishable under the law Negating His authority and love Belittling His ownership; grieves Him too Can I live a life; being owned by Him As assured of His love Without doubts; without trying to please man Because I am always loved by my Father.  Love#10.

 Song of Songs:7:10 And he claims me as his own.  I am my beloved's: His very own His own property; His very own asset His own signet ring; His valued possession His most precious gem I am.  His love to me is beyond my dreams As His prized possession He carries me He gave up everything to have me As His own; His very own.  In His bosom there is wantedness Love is what I had been searching always.  His limitless love He lavishes Unlovable as I had been, in His bosom I'm secure Nothing will separate me from His love Nothing will deter Him from loving Not even death; For He has conquered it all For eternity, I am His.  He delights in me because of His love His heart cheers at the sight of me He came down for me to redeem Rebel as I was; He chose to love.  Will I not be assured in His bosom?  Will I not be sure?  Lest I doubt whether I am loved I wouldn't flinch from His embrace.  For in that embrace; I am wanted.  I am made...