The halfbaked Bard

Ps:106:30 But Phinehas had the courage to intervene and the plague stopped.  Numbers:25. Phinehas the grandson of Aaron, the son of Eleazar. He was complimented by God Himself as someone who has the zeal for God. Seeing sin in front of his own eyes. Seeing rebellion in front of the eyes of Moses, their leader, the zeal pushes him instantaneously.  Even Moses (may be because of his old age) was left dumbstruck. Phinehas jumps out to stand for God. He voices out a loud statement out of his action. THAT GOD IS HOLY and HE ABHORS SIN.  What is it that I stand for? How zealous am I regarding things of God? A passive going along the currant is good. A currant which goes even Godward. You can follow. That's fair enough. But zeal pulls you to form the currant. It forces you to lead others to God. It forces you to say. WE ARE WRONG and WE HAVE TO MOVE TOWARDS THE LIGHT.  The antonym for zeal is apathy or indifference. So is passivity and running along the flow. Even if it is tow

Jer:7:24 They went backward instead of forward.  You are expected to go forward Setting your eyes on the One Who created you: Who formed you: designed you That was the purpose; that was what you were bid for.  Why do you stay back?  To have a look at things which apparently allure.  Good on the outside; dirty on the inside Staying back will hold you back.  As you are held back, there is a tug to go backward Because of the more attractive distractions Because forward is your destiny The world is diametrically opposite.  The 180 degrees points to the contrast Between the God who called you And the world which pulls you God calls for eternal life; the world for eternal damnation.  You are called for a U turn If the love of the world is still in you The love of God is not in you That is a simple and blatant statement Deny: Flee: Resist: Say no.  Turn back: Return: Come back For that would be it.  The most productive turn of your life

Jer:7:22-24 When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them; obey me and I will be your God and you will be my people. Do everything as I say and all will be well. But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts.  Oh! I would earn well and give a huge amount to ministry. And for God's kingdom. God doesn't need your money.  I will be successful (in the world's norms) and I want to be famous. I will do what I want to do and then give God credit. In that way I will be bringing glory to His name in whatever I do. God doesn't need your degrees, your professionalism nor your fame or success.  Oh! I will use all my talents for God. I will sing. I will write. I will draw for God. Upholding His name I will gain a name. God doesn't need your talents All these things are good on the outward. Pious and religio

The observation: Jer:7:14 So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this temple that bears my name, this temple that you trust in for help, this place I gave to you and your ancestors.  The question: Wait.  What are you saying?  This can't be. Shiloh cannot be destroyed.  The contrast: Shiloh is the holy city where the Tabernacle is. It is the holy place where you are supposed to reaide among your people (in case you need to be reminded). Your presence is what makes the place and the nation different from others. We are your people separated from other sinful nations.  Why will you do it? Shiloh is your favorite right? It's people are all yours right? You are a loving God right? Why will you do it?  But God did destroy Shiloh, ultimately. Because of the entity that was ruling over the entire place - called sin. And the city was in wreck. What happened to the everlasting love of God? Well, He asks, what have you been doing with the attribute, that you have be

Jer:7:8-10 Don't be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It's a lie. Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie and burn incense to Baal and all these other new gods of yours and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, 'we are safe' - only to go right back to all those evil again?  The bard has nothing else to say other than this. Let the word convict us. So that we run back to Him repenting - Ashamed, helpless, seeking. Just saying Father forgive me. 

Man can see only what is outside. But God sees the heart. He looks at the motives.  Jer:7:5 But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts (1st) and deeds (2nd)  Outwardly there is politeness, there is humility and there is loving your neighbour as yourself. But inside, there is selfcentredness, there is rebelliom, there is pride.  As God reveals, I want to say, Lord I'm sorry for the selfish ways I've trodden. The idols that I've worshiped and held dear to my heart. Enable me to throw them off and seek your face continually. 

Ps:107:2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out.  Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.  Speak out. About the miracle. About the awesome thing that happened in your life. Why are you silent? Becauss it is not something significant for you? Is it list like any other unexciting myths? Proclaim for the Lord has done a marvelous thing in your life.  Redeem the word means to regain possession. God's redemptive work is because we were lost in our rebellion. And out of His own initiative, out of His own love, He has done this.  Though we do not deserve it, salvation has been offerred by His death on the cross. Jesus died as a penalty for your sins. Do not be silent. Proclaim. Speak out. 

Jer:6:16 This is what the Lord says, Stop at the crossroads and look around Ask for the old and godly way and walk in it Travel it's path and you will find rest for your souls.  As we were driving the last day to a place where we have not gone before, we were discussing the usefulness of Google Maps. Gone are the days when we used to stop at every junction and ask a thousand people the way. But that gave more clarity of the way, the bigger picture and there was lesser confusion the next time you go.  Where as now with google maps in aide, you go as the lady directs, not knowing where you are headed. Sometimes the lady directs you to an anthill. Sometime to a dead end. Sometimes she asks you to take an inadvertent U turn. Sometimes she takes you through an off roading trip blaming it on the traffic. Earlier talking to people as you stop and reassess, that would give you a better idea. Earlier signboards gave you a better clarity.  At crossroads, the Lord asks you to stop

Jer:5:24 They do not say from the heart Let us live in awe of the Lord our God.  Man's destiny when he was created In His own image and likeness Was to live in the fear of God That is why it is told to be the beginning of wisdom Man's destiny is to be with Him for eternity For love the Lord, with all your heart Is the first and greatest commandment. Because He first loved; Agape love Man's destiny has always been His presence For the fellowship desired is so sweet That is why God used to come in search of him In the cool of the breeze everyday.  That is why He came down to walk with Enoch And He said, 'How can I withold anything from Abram For he is my friend' He chose to communicate to many from above.  But squandered did he, this great privilege Undeserving; yet fully bestowed Rebel; but made an heir.  CROSS; the bridge that fills the gap.  Everything is His initiative to reinstate His purpose to beckon back His act to bring me back to my destiny Becau

Jer:5:18 Yet even in those days I will not blot you out completely, says the Lord.  Sins of Judah are piling up. From one sin to the next they bounce around. Adultery, idolatory, rebellion what all and what not?  God is overwhelmed seeing their rebellion, as we read through His words.  - If you can find even one just and honest person.  - They are still telling lies.  - Lord you struck your people.  - But the leaders too as one man has thrown off God's yoke.  - How can I pardon you even your children have turned from me.  - They committed adultery.  - They are lusty stallions - Should I not punish them for this?  - Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?  - Because the people are talking like this, my messages will flame out of your mouth.  After all the letting out of anger, finally God says, yet even in those days, I will not blot you out completely.  If you look at it, there is injustice. Not all are punished, who has sinned.  But if you look at the remnant

Psalm 106 is the entire story of Israel. God's faithful and enduring love which lasts forever. Which reached out to Israel when they were quiet undeserving. Even before any of them was born, they were chosen beforehand. Chosen and called out from the plight they were in. Rescued and salvaged. And then there was Israel's rebellion and how they forgot God. Yet God pitied and came after them in love and compassion and rescued them while they were still in their sin.  This is my story too. God loves a rebel. His love endures forever. He saves this undeserving piece of human from the miry clay of sin. Yet despite knowing His love, despite tasting His goodness, I still chose to run after the idols in my life. Doing adultery as He calls it. Still He continues to love me. Through the death on the cross He gives me opportunities after opportunities to come back to His bosom; where I am destined to be for eternity. 

Jer:4:22 They are clever enough at doing wrong But they have no idea how to do right.  Oh! How lowly is my plight. Wise enough to do wrong. Foolish enough to do what is right.  Clever unto sin. Idiot unto right.  My thought process, my inclination, my natural instincts are all to do what is wrong.  I'm fallen.  I'm naturally a rebel. All my inclination is to hurt God.  I have no idea to do in the right way, to pursue righteousness. To be close to God's heart.  But there is hope. Hope from the Father.  Eze:36:26 I will take out your stony stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  A heart that is inclined only to follow selfish ways has got an option to think in Godly ways.  Now I can tune myself to God's ways, because of the transplantation surgery that has been done. Yet though the heart is fresh, the flesh is weak. I have to train my mind and my body as the renewed heart directs.  For if I don't, the stoniness would slowly encroach. The h

Jer:4:8 So put on clothes of mourning And weep with broken hearts.  Why does the bard always advocate repentance? The Son of God has paid the penalty once and for all. Sin is done and dusted with. We are seated on the heavenly realms. Then why be so serious about sin?  True the cross has dealt with it all. But is it not the penalty that has been dealt with. The power of sin is still around us. Tempting us. And very often pulling us down. Though we are more than conquerors, we all often fall face flat. Because our flesh is weak. Our hands are soiled. Our hearts and minds are even dirtier.  Seeing our choices hurts God all the more. Being holy He hates sin. But it pains Him more when we deliberately choose sin over him. When we are inclined to sin even though we know we are redeemed.  The bard presses for repentance out of recognizing the pain I have caused God. When the bard sees the weeping heart of the eternal Father, seeing my rebellion, how can I not say, "Father fo

Jer:4:1 O Israel, says the Lord If you wanted to return to me, you could.  If you wanted to come out of the detestable practises, that you are indulged in, you could have. But you didn't.  If you wanted, instead of wasting time in unwanted perusals or engagements, you could have. You could have indulged in my love. You could have indulged in knowing me. But you didn't.  I have been waiting for you to come back. Remember the father was waiting for his son to come back. So much so that when he saw him at a far distance, he ran to him. He is not even allowing the son to make his prepared speech. Even greater is my love. I have been waiting.  If you wanted, you could have come back. I don't know what prevents you. May be you think, that the grass is greener on the other side. May be you think it's more alluring.  If you wanted to return, you could have. But the seat is still vacant. Your throne reserved for you is still empty. 

Jer:3:22 I will heal your wayward heart.  Because of the rebellion, my heart went wayward. Because of my choices, it went off route. But my Father chooses to heal so that, it would be tuned to Him.  Everything.... He does. Because of His love for us. Oh! Is He desperate for my love? Is He incomplete without my love? Not at all. In the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the love is complete. There is no  need for Him, that my love could make a difference.  In fact it is His love to me, that makes Him do this. So that I will be complete. I will be made the one whom I am destined to be - in His perfect will. From waywardness to focus point. 

Jer:3:10 She had only pretended to be sorry.  How do you know it is pretension, Lord?  Why do you say it is only superficial?  At that time when I apologized, I was genuine.  From the depth of my heart, I said sorry.  Oh! I don't see a change, dear one.  If it is from your heart, if it was genuine,  You wouldn't have desired to do it again.  But now if an opportunity comes, you would want to fall.  If the purity of my heart, the holiness of your Father,  The love that salvaged you from the miry clay: If these were significant in your heart,  Then you wouldn't have wandered off to adultery yet again.  Look at David; he committed adultery But his cry of repentance wasn't cursory It was the cry from the depth of his heart Against you and you alone, I sinned.  But your apologies aren't sincere.  Because if they were mature and sensible Would you go back, thinking, "If at all" Like a dog going back to it's vomit.  It is one thing to be helpless

Jer:3:5 So you talk But you keep on doing the evil you can.  We want to see the providence of God. We want to see the protection of God. Yet we don't want to envision the holiness of God. Yet we don't want to entertain the pure jealousy of God.  We want to enjoy the hand of God. Yet we forget to see the heart of God.  All things let Him provide. But those standards He puts forth. NAY!  Why are you trying to come back to me - Look at the shrines on every hilltop. Says God.  As long as the shrines are there on the top, how can you seek God?  As long as the prostituition continues, how can you ask God to protect, provide and to bless?  Love your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength. This is the first and the most important commandment.  Without love from the depth of your heart, there is no seeking. Without seeking there is no knowing. Without knowing there is no relationship. And without a relationship there is no meaning in pray

Jer 2 Oh! how much my heart pains When I see you wander away In indulging in things that are useless That are unproductive and fruitless.  In fact these very things which you think harmless Turns out to be your master And you turn out to serve it Longing to indulge in it whenever possible.  Something which started as a harmless habit Becomes a cruel master That you wouldn't be able to live without At first a servant; Later a tyrant.  I am so hurt; that I cry out for return To come back from what you're wallowed in I was the one who planted you How did you grow into the wild corrupted vine?  On every hill and every green tree You have prostitited yourself Hey! Don't use that word, God I am not that bad.  You were created to be one with me But you have reveled in many other things You want to identify yourself with other things But not with me, not as mine.  Every moment you satiate yourself with useless things That has become your personality Where as you were de

Jer:2:14-19 Egypt was a help resorted to, by Israel. But it has become ruins because of the same Egypt.  Things which you look for help  now (apart from Jesus) will for sure become a snare later.  None of them are fit. Fit to be of help. Fit to be a good master.  Fit to replace God.  In fact all of them will only shatter you and make you dysfunctional and useless.  Things which you consider as assets, become a decoy, which just sucks you up into that loop.  God's intention is to make you useful and productive. The devil's intention is to make you subtle and unproductive.  Having Christ in you, he might not be able to make you counterproductive.  But breaking your tip and making you pointless, that is his massive strategy.  Waste away time. It's time to enjoy. Have your own me time.  Entertain yourself. Browse around the web with useless information and fun and entangle yourself. There are lots to watch; lots to hear; lots to feed your idle brain with. Do not mis

Jer:2:14  Why has Israel become a slave?  Slave? Not at all. I am free.  All my rights. All my advocations are all toward freedom. Freedom from the ultimate lawgiver. God cannot plan out my life based on His laws. I have my own set of rules. I am good enough.  Says - Children to parents Students to teachers Subordinates to bosses Employees to employers Trainees to trainers Man to God.  It is for freedom that you have been called. Which means that you are indeed in slavery. Man's desire to be free in itself proves that he is in slavery. In fact man's desire to be free is misconceived as something he gains to do on his own.  Hello! That choice sometime back ended up outside the garden of Eden.  Slave to sin is now given a privilege to freedom. Freedom to say no to things which demolish you, destroy you and make you futile and ineffective. The enemy's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus has come to give you everlasting life.  We often think freedom is

Jer:2:13 For my people have done two evil things They have abandoned me The fountain of living water And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns That can hold no water at all.  There might be umpteen number of evil things that you have done. Some say that they are not grossly evil. They say their heart is pure. They have not done any wrong to anyone knowingly. They claim their conscience is clear. They believe they will have a right standing before God because they are not inherently evil people.  But the evil that God sees are not these puny ones. These are just derivatived of the major evil which started in the garden of Eden. "I will be like God" The fountain of unending living Easter is infinite, cracked cisterns are even less than finite. The fountain of living water is a source of life in itself. Cracked cisterns are dead to the core. The fountain of living water keeps on flowing from inward. Cracked cisterns keeps leaking outward.  In resorting to cra

Jer:2:6. They did not ask, "Where is the Lord?" Jer:2:8. The priests did not ask, "Where is the Lord?" Man is created in God's own image. But fallen later by his own choice. Deserted the God of all creation. God is trying to reinstate this severed relationship, through the cross. We have been given the grace to understand the truth and we have put our trust in His saving act.  We are no less than the Israelites who sought after pagan gods instead of the Almighty. Despite being privileged to be God's people they sold themselves for non existing gods of their neighbours. Some created their own gods.  We also resort to what others follow, what our friends pursue. We also make our own gods. We do not seek God as He expects us to seek Him - with our whole heart, mind and soul. We do not love Him - with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Why do we not ask, "where is God?" in our daily walks. Why are we submerged in our daily mundane li

What did your ancestors find wrong with me That led them to stray so far from me? - God(Jer:2:5)  What did u find wrong with me? What fault did I do? That you were not rooted to me? That you went far away from me?  A God who is Almighty and all powerful, pleading His cause to humans. A God who could have judged and cursed us because of our rebellion. Because of our deserting Him. Because of our rejecting Him and resorting to our own ways. But He pleads us to come back.  Look at the emotional side of this God. How much more that He cries, if we are hurt? How much more that He is stabbed in His heart if we are people who feel bad because of rejection?  Think in His point of view. If you love Him, you would run back to Him. You would be wanting to be in His bosom for eternity and tell Him that you love Him, that you desire to love Him as He wants you to. With all your infirmities. 

Jer:1:19 They will fight you, but they will fail For I am with you and I will take care of you I, the Lord have spoken.  Oh! Do you think that you are fighting alone? Are you afraid, they will conquer? Are you afraid of failing yet again?  Do not be afraid. Do not fret. I am on your side. I will be with you till the end of days. No weapons formed against you will stand. The enemy might look strong and you, weak. But remember the one who is in you is more powerful than the one who is in the world. The enemy's head has already been crushed. He has already been destroyed.  Therefore, the enemy will not be even able to touch me. For my God is a shield around me. For if my God is for me, who can be against me. We are a team. He will never let go of me until His plan regarding me comes to pass. I can vouch on this for He is a true God. And His love to me surpasses all human understanding. Therefore I will trust Him. I will cling on to Him.  Image  courtesy: https://www.google

" Why did u desert me and Burn incense for other Gods? " "When did I do that?  I am an ardent follower of God." "When in your desires you put yourself first When you said I want to do it Without even asking me the plan I have for you Then you have placed " I" in the centre " " When in private you had your passions quenched When in darkness, you sinned to satisfy yourself The lust in your eyes, the greed in your mind The pride in your heart, it was "I" " "When you wanted appreciation When you desired to be acknowledged When you heart stirred when your brother was applauded It was " I" instead of me. " "After knowing me the lifegiver You have desrted me with your self The weight of your pride has choked me The freedom of surrender you have not realized" "All your actions are to appease yourself And I did not blame you for this For it is the fallen nature of the mankind But you have

Jer:1:12 I am watching and I will certainly carry out my plans.  What assurance when you know your father or your mother is watching over you? Even in a crowd the confidence you have as a child, when you are with your parents, is distinct.  God assures His eyes to watch over you, no matter what. And He also affirms that He will carry out all His plans concerning you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope. All His plans that He has for you; He will carry it on to completion.  Ps:91 He will cover you with His feathers He will shelter you with wings His faithful promises are your armour and protection For He will order His angels To protect you where ever you go They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.  The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me I will protect those who trust in my name"

You are appointed to stand up. Not to appease the world. Stand up for the calling which has been made for you. Stand up for the standards of God, which calls every man a sinner. Stand up for the hope in the love that is lavished on the cross.  Not to stand for what the itching ears want to hear. To please them. To say what they want to hear so that you could increase your followers, your likes and your retweets. But to say of sin. But to say of the impending judgement. To say about eternal hell. To say of the wrath of God unless they believe.  To be bold to say that Jesus is the only way. The world doesn't want to hear that. But you oh! dear one are appointed to tell it out aloud. Through your words, your deeds, through your life, through your decisions. Through your very way of life.  Remember that either you are for Him or against Him. Which means if you are not for Him, you are against Him. Hence the choices you make, the idle words you speak, the unproductive deeds

Jer:1:7 Don't say I'm too young.  You Oh! Valiant one of the Lord. He has set you to conquer mighty fortresses. Why do you say, you're unable.  You are destined to conquer long lasting habits. For He has come to set you free. Why do you think you're incompetent.  You are called to set a difference in the community. To influence the society by the choices you make. Why do you give an excuse, you're inadequate.  The Lord has planted in you the seed of the Mighty Lord Himself in you. He is able. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. He who began a good work in you will carry on to completion. Through Him you are more than conquerors.  Never doubt His empowerment. Never nullify His plan. The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy. Yet His head is already crushed.  This God has called has called you to bless you in His knowledge and according to His riches. To transform you into His likeness.  He will do it. Do not doubt. Don't give exc

Jer:1:5 I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.  "Nobody understands me. " Are you in a deep ditch dear one? Where you feel all alone. The world is busy. But you are in the corner of your room.  Here is God Almighty. Here is your maker's promise - I knew you before I even formed you.  All your character, it was I who designed. All your attributes (good or bad - for the world around), I was the one who formed it. And I saw it was good. Your skin tone, your eye colour, your external appearances, the way you speak, your demeanour, your desires, your qualifications and your qualitues (or the lack of it), the world might look down upon you because of these. But I know because I have fashioned them all.  With my own hands I have designed and made you. In my own image and likeness. And I saw that it was good.  Even if it is disfigured or destroyed by your blunders or by the world around you. I am in full control. For I know the plans I have for you.