The halfbaked Bard

Isa:48:11 I will rescue you for my sake Yes for my own sake.  What do you really think is the reason why God has done amazing things in your life?  Miracles after miracles. Provisions. Protection. Deliverances.  Is it because you are worth it? Not at all. Definitely He can foresee things in the future. Would He find your worth in His kingdom and then decide to act accordingly in the past. To protect you. To provide for you. To nourish you?  Not at all. He can very well do that. But the truth is He  has done all these things for His name's sake. Because He is God.  Many a times I think how narrow minded I am to perceive that, everything is revolving around me. My kingdom. My desires. My values.  It is in fact pathetic to think that way. This world is His. And it revolves along with everything in it (which includes me as well) around the axis, that is Him.  Lord help me to live with that God orientedness always. 

Ps:105:12 He said this when they were few in number A tiny group of strangers in Canaan The Lord's promise to Abraham, that He will make him a nation and He will give Canaan as their special possession, happened not when the nation was already huge.  It was the Lord's choice to bless them. Not because of any godly thing that they did or were about to do. Not because God knew that in the future they would always seek Him.  In fact they deserted Him. They sought after other gods of the pagan nations. Infact He loved them, knowing that this nation would ultimately crucify Him.  But yet He loved. Still He chose to bless them and make them a source of blessing for others.  He knows all your righteous deeds are like filthy rags. He knows your heart is the most deceitful of them all. And yet He loves you.  Only God can love like that. Unconditionally. Without any tags. Without any if-thens. A love that doesn't foresee into the future and determine to love b...

Imagine the plight of the Almighty, All powerful Creator, Sustainer God wanting to prove Himself before His creation.  What would be His emotion as He tells 5 times in a single chapter (Isa:45) _ I am God, there is no other.  Prophesies coming true Look around you, says the sustainer God Miracles and signs around you.  All point to the one living God. And it is I. There is no other. None of these carved worthless images.  Try asking them. None of these can save you. None of these will save.  How pathetic this rich God would feel, considering He has to prove His case with someone who does not even exist.  Do you allow a case to be held between this God - And your bank balance - Job / work - Talents /Assets - Ministry?  And let God prove yet again. That these are worthless, unable to save you. Not able to love you as He loves. But still you run after such worthless things yet again. 

Why O Lord have you created me like this?  Why do you allow me to go through this?  Why me O Lord? Why me?  What wrong did I do?  Questions that you raise about your identity Your very existence; loom around Especially when things are not going your way When things do not go the way you expected.  Point #1. What is the relvance of these queries?  Isa:45:9 Does the claypot argue with its maker?  Its His good and pleasing will that He made you thus What right do you have to question?  You are finite. He is eternal You are the creation. He is the creator Not because you keep your mouth shut before a tyrant He is a good king. But you revolt. Point #2. That's a lot of mistrust You tell God. You do not know to ride in this system This is not how it runs in this world Whereas He allows this humbling experience with a purpose.  Filled with pride and arrogance are you God is trying to speak of a different kingdom Where humility and love is...

Isa:44:22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist Oh, return to me For I have paid the price to set you free.  Oh! What love?  What for has He done this? Why did He have to sweep me clean? Is it His responsibility or duty? Is He paid for it? Is He expected to do it?  In fact He would be right in judging me. No body would question. The prince of the earth would want it too. To doom me along with everyone, to hell, along with him.  But His grace is too good to be true. Without any conditions, He has chosen to cleanse, to forgive and to forget.  Why would He do that? Why would He sacrifice His own Son? Why would He take such a step to redeem me? Why would He love me like this? I don't have an answer to convince myself. I won't understand. But I know He has. His answer is love. I cannot fathom why He is mindful me. Because my definition of love is different from His, what He is.  And this alone i...

Isa:44:20 The poor deluded fool feeds on the ashes He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie? ' Can you bring yourself to ask - Is this thing that I trust my life with, able to save me truly? Is this a lie? Is it trustworthy? Can I hold on to it?  And Lo! If I am not able to and if I am unable to conclude these are all fictions which cannot be trusted. And if I cling on to it no matter what and if I decide to make it my idol whatsoever, then I am a fool.  Am I able to let go of that one thing that is most dearest to my heart if God asks me?  As Saul became Paul.  Like Peter when he was asked - do you love me more than these?  Judas was unable to let go of the purse.  Will you be able to? 

Isa:43:19 For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.  What is the greatest miracle that has happened in your life? A healing of a sickness which was told otherwise? May be you heard, it's early and only a small surgery was required. May be it was end stage and there was not much hope. But God intervened.  Or you were completely broke. There was no balance in your account to even to provide for your dear ones. Then God intervened.  Or you were suddenly facing a giant. Impossible unassailable mountain. In no way you were going to surpass or conquer this. But then God intervened.  Israel's greatest miracle was the Red Sea. The impossible made possible. And here God says, He is about to do something greater. A pathway in the wilderness and rivers in dry wasteland. Not literal. About a Servant Savior.  Isa:43:25 I, yes...

From eternity to eternity I am God.  No one can snatch anyone from my hand.  Isa:43:13 A God who unconditionally loves. A God who keeps you in the palm of your hand. A God for whom you are precious.  He is a God who is determined to love you continually. Because it is His character to love.  He promises. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. Being placed in the center of one's palms, are those things which are most dear to his heart. A rag doll, even if all its shape is gone or it's stitches are given away and most of its stuff is out, the doll finds its place in the palm of the child's hand. No matter what. That expresses his /her love to the doll. Even while asleep. Even during the chores.  John:10:28-29 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 me from my Father's hand. The Father and I are one.  Yes I am precious to Him. I am His rag doll,  no m...

No matter what others say about you The ill words about you The incorrigible person you would be The difficult person you are All I want you to know; You are mine.  You might be living in fear and uncertainty What might come of you in the days to come Life looks upside down There is no light down the tunnel All I want you to know; You are mine.  Helpless as you are; unable to control The circumstances seem to stand tall You thought in your young blood You had it all figured out. But now.....  All I want you to know; You are mine.  Tired as you are. Running down the valley Despite all odds you stay strong But no one seems to understand You strive hard to make ends meet All I want you to know; You are mine.  What difference it's going to make Lord?  Yes I am yours - because you created I am your property because you own me But still I have to face the heat.  I have to do the running.  Son 'You are mine' doesn't mean you're my property Bu...

Isa:42:10 Sing a new song to the Lord Sing His praises from the ends of the earth Praise is an integral part of a christian's life. It is not synonymous with thankfulness or gratefulness. It is much beyond.  Isaiah is initiated to praise God, because He is not like other gods (who do not even exist).  He knows the past and the future. He is the one who holds the present in His hands.  Everything He prophesied has come true And now I will prophesy again I will tell you the future before it happens Isa:42:9 He is glorious. He is the righteous judge He is compassionate and everloving.  He is the creator. He is the sustainer.  He is holy with no iota of sin in Him. Pure.  Praise is directed to the person of God. It is about His attributes. His character. It is about who He is. Not what He has done for you. Expressing gratitude for what He has done in your life, is different from praising Him for who He is.  In your journey, therefore unless you...

Already weak?  Tired?  Are you done with?  You feel your life has been overwhelming?  Yes life has been cruel?  Nobody seems to understand?  And you feel life is gonna continue like this? That you are destined for this? This is your fate? To struggle? To crawl? To weep?  That your pillows will always be wet of night long crying?  And dear one, do you think no one else would be going through what you experience. No one would survive being in your shoes?  Hold on. Your redeemer lives. The Lord's Chosen Servant is here.  Isa:42:3 A bruised reed he will not break And a smouldering wick he will not snuff out It is easy to destroy a reed that's already crushed and snuff out the candle or a wick that is about to stop. The world is specialized in doing that. To crush the inferiors. To mount upon those who are underprivileged. To loot them and fatten your purse. To make fun of the illegitimates and have a laugh about it. To point out ...

For I hold you by your right hand Isa:41:13 Someone holding your right hand is confidence. There is surity. There is protection. There is love. There is care.  Children always wants to hold hands or fingers of the older ones as they learn to walk. So when they walk, this hand that they hold is like a pillar. But as an adult, I've always thought it is safer for the baby if I hold his hands, rather than him clinging to my fingers.  So that if he trips, no; I would never let him go. I will hold him stronger. Though he may losen grip, my hands are still there. As I walk with him holding his hands, I know when he might fall and I would be extra cautious as he comes across small boulders that he may trip across. No I wouldn't let that happen. It is my responsibility.....  But what if I fall down? All plans lay awaste.  Ps:37:24 Though they stumble they will never fall down.  For the Lord holds them by hand.  It is He who is holding your right hand. So...

Isa:41:9 For I have chosen you And will not throw you away.  Why do you live a life, with a fear of being thrown away? By man? By God? Being rejected?  This God promises to hold your right hand always. Never to push you away. Israel was at their peak of rebellion when He promised - I am here to help you.  Do you feel helpless?  Do you feel all alone in this battle?  Don't be afraid I am with you.  Don't be discouraged for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  Isa:41:10 Does God seem far away? At a distance, fogged and blurred? He has not moved away. Your sin and your rebellion only has drifted you farther. Run to Him, He will run to you.  You are precious in His eyes. He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Think of God. He is not a God of your imagination. Who could be as weak and fragile as you.  He is God, who imagined and created everything. He is the One who fashioned it. He is not created. He is everlasting God.  He sustains it everyday, every moment. The animals look to Him for survival. The sun and the moon and the stars and the seasons are all at His perusal.  He judges righteously, for He is holy. He is not corrupt. Not a tinge of sin is in Him.  It is this God that we worship.  Isa:40:16 All the wood in Lebanon's forests And all Lebanon's animals would not be enough To make a burnt offering worthy of our God That is exactly why He had to be the sacrifice Himself. In order to save mankind. In order to bring him back to Himself.  The imploration is to trust this God. And not fret about anything else in this world.  Isa:40:31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength They will soar high on wings like eagles They will run a...

Isa:40:6, 9 What am I supposed to shout? What am is supposed to tell out at the top of my lungs? What should be the only message in my life?  🔅 Man's futility (v:6-8). Oh! Man you need not be proud of anything that you own. Not your beauty. Not your wealth. Not your attrubutes / character. Not your security. Not your talents. Only the word prevails.  🔅 The assurity of God (v:9-11). For the Lord reigns. He is coming. Because He is just. Because He is true, He has promised. Because of His love and He wants to take you home.  Isa:40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd He will carry the lambs in His arms Holding them close to His heart.  May this be my only message. 

Isa:40:1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem At that point of time of exile and uncertainties, the only comfort that Israel desired was to be reinstated. To be brought back to their promised land.  But the comfort that they get is the promise of a Saviour.  Isa:40:3 Listen, it's the voice of someone shouting Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord.  Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God.  Because the root cause of all their crisis was sin. Unless that has been dealt with, there is no true comfort. True comfort has been gifted to us (though we do not deserve it) through the cross. All the other comforts are superficial and they just float away in the current. True solid rock is Jesus Christ who lasts forever.  What is the comfort you desire? Empathetic words? Restoration? Release, relief?  In His bosom alone is the ultimate comfort. Man's mere words can bring you relief mome...

Isa:39 How can Hezekiah be so self oriented? When a disciplining is prophesied, how can he think, "At least there will be peace and security during my life time. "?  It was about his very own sons, that the prophet was prophesying. And that too for his own actions. But he was wrapped up in his own self.  When God points out something in your life, what is your initial disposition, that shows your ingrained nature.  Is it fear? Fear of what now?  Is it to be defensive? Defending your own action? Giving an explanation as to why you did so?  Is it justification? Pointing to the motive?  Is it comparing with others? Do you feel you are much better than others? Or others are equally guilty?  Is it thinking how I will face consequences? Will I be able to? Am I safe?  Or is it deep remorse? Is it seeking God's forgiveness? A feeling of poignancy, because you realize you have hurt your Father? Where you realize your inherent rebellious nature?...

Isa:38:20 The Lord is ready to heal me He is my healer. He is able. He is ready.  That is the hope that we have in our God. That His name is Jehovah Rophe. His name reflects His character. His very nature is to touch and heal. There is not a single character in the Bible who came genuinely to God and did not receive healing. There is no sickness that He cannot heal. There is no person whom He does not will to heal.  Then why doesn't healing happen always? The reasons are probably four pronged (there might be more. You can add on in the comment section)  💠 Sickness is a consequence of sin. Diseases which were not in God's plan for mankind, creeped into this world along with sin. And sickness and death will be there as long as sin exists. Not in a way, because you sinned, you will be punished. But as a general consequence. Yet the hope that all these were dealt on the cross sustains us. He was whipped so we could be healed. The ultimate consequence of death He ...

And you who are left in Judah...... will put roots down in your own soil and grow up and flourish.  Isa:37:31 That is the promise for the remnant. The remnant who will seek God earnestly. The promise is that those who genuinely seek God will put roots down into their own soil and grow up and flourish. They will be rooted more in faith. They will flourish. They wouldn't have a stunted growth. If you seek Him you will find Him.  What is the purpose of your seeking Him? Is not so that, "all these things shall be added unto you"? If that is the purpose of your seeking you are not going to be satisfied. Yes definitely God will take care of His children. Under His pinions He will protect.  But if I seek Him, keeping in mind that my stuff would be taken care of, thinking that His hands would always provide, the very motive of seeking in itself is wrong. Let me seek so that I would be rooted in Him more and more. That I would know Him more and more. That is eternal li...

Isa:37 The Lord is in control of the situation. No matter how big and overwhelming it might appear to be. The Lord, the Creator, the Sustainer, The Almighty, the All powerful, Eternal God has His pinions covering his children. His over arching presence has got it all under control.  Sennacherib had his own plans. The chief of staff was boastful. Hezekiah was helpless. Eliakim, Shebna and Joah were sorrowful. But Isaiah was confident. Why was there this difference? Because Isaiah heard the Lord's voice. Isaiah focussed on the face of God and not on the problem. He looked at the problem and proclaimed about his God. Others looked at God and complained about their problem.  Life is more than our issues. It is more about our magnificent God. And if we live with this God orientedness, it is not that we would all be problem free but we would still be free within our problems. 

People were silent. Isa:36:21 When Sennacherib was outrightly blaspheming God and threatening the people of Israel, as he declares war against King Hezekiah - and that too in Hebrew language so that every single common man could understand the gravity, there was all the more reason to panic and shout back and complain and murmur.  But the people were silent and did not utter a word.  There are situations when we should stop over reacting. Stop responding. Stop resounding our heart's feelings. The devil would be running frantically to provoke us.  But in keeping quiet the victory is half done. In being calm and still and not responding to the enemy's provications, the war is half won.  Inwardly it might be tumultous. Inwardly you cry to your Father to help, you ask God to intervene, you seek God. But outwardly be calm, be quiet, be still so that you would see the hand of God. Be still and know that He is God. 

Isa:35:8 A highway along the desert A highway of holiness. Where no evil minded people will travel Where no filth or dirt will accumulate.  Where no fools will trod upon Only for those who walk in God's ways A pavement from their own filtg they have cut When they set themselves apart.  That gully leads to the highway of holiness A privilege. Not something which they deserved A gift from God To stay holy just as He is holy.  Safe; no evil. No lions lurking. No ferocious beasts A highway which leads to the city of God To God Himself. Through the desert it goes But as it reaches the city, it is lush green all around A river that flows from the city waters it From a dry and parched land To lush green surrounds it Highway of holiness.  Only the redeemed will walk on it The ones called before the foundation of earth was laid Those who have been ransomed.  Bought by the blood of the lamb.  No more sorrow; no more mourning To the city of everlasting joy...

Ps:104:34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him For I rejoice in the Lord  What we do, we can control. To a little extent, what we say also we can have it in control. But what we think can have control over it? Can we always have positive thoughts?  When we are down, why do we especially have negativities lurking around? When we are idle why do sinful thoughts roam around to "entertain"? Can we bridle it?  Whether you can control it or not, there is a Father who is willing to help. You can ask Him to take control. If you are willing, if you would ask - let my thoughts be pleasing to Him.  If at all we would seek His help, recognizing our helplessness. If at all we desire to make our thought life pure. If at all we long to think only things which pleases Him. If at all we ask.....  Ps:19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight. 

Isa:33:20 A buzzling city is full of confusions. Full of chaos. There is uncertainty. People run around for their own sake. There is crime and violence. There is pollution. There is harm. There is lack of peace. People live on the edge. You think there is fun and enjoyment. But on the contrary, life is dull.  Where as in a quiet city, there is peace. A quiet city is safe, though it looks dull and dismal. Yes it seems uninteresting. But there is peace. A night stroll is secure. Fresh air is assured. People walk around in their own pace.  The Lord's presence is what makes Jerusalem quiet and secure. The Lord Himself quietens the ruckus in your mind. The uncertainities vanish away. The confusions cause no more threats. Love is buzzing in the air, instead of noise in your home. There is calmness. People can have their own expressions voiced out in peace. There is joy all over.  No fear. But confidence in God brings in stillness that is so much the need of the hour...

The fear of the Lord will be your treasure Isa:33:6 Treasure is something you cherish. Something you hold close to your heart. Something dear and precious.  How can fear of God become a treasure?  When it is not as in fear of God's punishment. But as in God consciousness. God orientedness. Giving Him the driver seat fully.  That you would live a life in accordance with His plan. Your decisions all centred around His good and perfect will.  So that God Himself would be able to testify that you O dear one would be a person after His own heart.