Hope in the faithfulness of God.

In the midst of calamity.

In the midst of hopelessness.

In the midst darkest dungeons.

Jeremiah says - Lam:3

21 Yet I will dare to hope

When I remember this

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends

His mercies never cease

23 Great is His faithfulness

His mercies begin a fresh each morning

24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance

Therefore I will hope in Him"

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on Him

To those who search for Him

26 So it is good to wait quietly

For salvation from the Lord

27 And it is good for people to submit

At an early age

To the yoke of His discipline

29b For there may be hope at last.

31 For no one is abandoned

By the Lord forever

32 Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion

Because of the greatness of His unfailing love

33 For He does not enjoy hurting people

Or causing them sorrow

40b Let us turn back to the Lord

41 Let us lift our hearts and hands

To God in heaven and say

55 But I called on your name Lord

From deep within the pit

56 You heard me when I cried, " Listen to my pleading

Hear my cry for help"

57 Yes you came when I called

You told me, "Do not fear"

58 Lord you are my lawyer! Plead my case

For you have redeemed my life.

Image credit: https://www.lightstock.com/photos/hand-holding-burning-matchstick-in-the-darkness-lit-hand-flame-fire

Comments

Thresh

Micah:4:12 That He is gathering them together To be beaten up and trampled Like sheaved of grain on a threshing floor. The Lord gathers together to beat and trample. Oh! Isn't it mean? How can a loving God allow this? He is supposed to be our fortress and our refuge. He is expected to protect. He should in fact gather to bless. Not to trample. Not to beat up. Oh! I am bleeding. Doesn't He see it? My tears have gone waste? The query that came to the bard's mind, as he was pondering whether God is good or cruel, a blessing God or a naive entity is this - What is blessing? How do you define blessing? Very often the word blessing is linked to - all would go well. Well that is true in one angle. But the problem is man is tuned to think only finitely. All would definitely go well - for sure. God speaks about eternity. Not about the riches we inherit. But about character. About transforming into the image of Christ. About abundant life. And this threshing is the

Name

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved Joel:2:32 In His name there is salvation. And if you call on His name you will be saved for sure. Jesus. Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. In Him and through Him and for Him everything was created. Son of God. Son of David. Root of Jesse. Lion of Judah. The Lamb who was slain. In His name there is freedom. In His name there is deliverance. Why? Because He alone has done the redemptive act on the cross. No other name could do that. Sinless perfect lamb of God became a sin offering instead of me. He alone is worthy to do that. Therefore His name frees. His name delivers. His name saves. Jesus. Image credit: https://www.photoland.in/product/wood-arts/wooden-name-plate/personalized-name-board-name-plate-wooden-engraved-name-plate-design-10/

The Holy Temple

Micah:1:5 Where is the center of idolatory on Judah? In Jerusalem; it's capital. The very place which was supposed to be kept sacred and holy, has now been defiled and become the very center of desecration. Fully polluted and corrupted. Why should He not be wrathful? The heart of holiness; which was supposed to be the throne of the most High God with all His richness and glory has been befouled and debased. The very heart dear bard - which is supposed to be the temple of the most Holy God, what all do you entertain? Confines the king to a corner in your quiet times and church and bible study. As if you give charity and satisfy Him and then you do whatever you want, the rest of the time. You think you can fool around with His holiness? This is one chant that goes up in heaven for eternity - Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty. Oh! Don't nullify it with your fancies. He is serious about His holiness. And that is why sin had to be tackled with. Not just brushed

Keep your promise forever

Ps:146:6 He keeps every promise forever. Everyone loves promises. It is even more beautiful when the promise is fulfilled. God is a God of promises and He is faithful. What He promises He always fulfills. Not even one goes wayward. There is no doubt about the general promises He makes in the Bible. One by one we see them fulfilled through the story of Israel and early church. There are enough and more personal promises which are staring at you face on. He is faithful to fulfill all of them too forever. It is upto us to believe and live a peaceful life trusting in the One who called us. Rather than like a high tension wire, ready to snap. Can we believe - He will take care. He is enough. He is sufficient. He is faithful. He never changes. He will not sleep nor will He slumber. He keeps His promises forever. Amen. Image credit: https://everydaypower.com/promise-quotes/

Delight

Ps:147:11 The Lord's delight is in those who fear Him If you delight in Him, He will delight in you. Oh! Is it like tit for tat? No dear bard! He has already delighted in you. He has loved you while you were still His enemies. You are mine He declares. You are His signet ring, He proclaims. Not because you fear Him. Not because He foreknew you would fear Him. But because He loves. Hosea was asked to marry a harlot and he continued to love her despite her unfaithfulness. Just like He continues to delight in you oh! Bard despite your persistance and adamancy. Oh! What love. Where else can you find such love. Image credit: https://butternutbakeryblog.com/moist-chocolate-cake/

When you don't have anything else to do......

In the fish's belly Jonah was there for three days and three nights. In that dark place, he could only look to God. He could not run away, which he was so specialized in. He couldn't do anything else which he was an expert. He couldn't do anything he wanted to desperately do. All he could do was to sit in God's presence. Sometimes God places you in circumstances where you can only pray. You can do nothing else. And at that time, please pray. Do not try to do anything else. Even if you do not feel like praying, that is the time when you are supposed to. Helpless as you are, you can open up to your Father. Words do not matter at that time. Even a drop of tear is enough. You might not be a prolific pray-er. But remember the Father is always listening. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/man-praying-on-knees

RRRR

Obadiah 20-21 As Edom receives all punishments, Israel is blessed. Israel is chosen to come back from exile. From the ends of the earth, they are called back into God's bosom. They - Return Resettle Rescued Rule Not because they repented and came back to the Lord. Even before they repented, He paved the way back. The door was already kept open for coming back. The choice had to be made though for them to actually return, to resettle, to be rescued, to rule. They had to make that choice. Yet the road was already set to accept them back. There was no uncertainty whether God would allow. The cross has already paved the way, the ship has already been set for return, for bringing them back. But I have to board the ship. If I don't, the loss is all mine. The ship with all its aboard passengers will sail to the promised shore, for sure. Jesus is calling- to return, to resettle, to be rescued and to rule. Will you accept? Image credit: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cr

The halfbaked Bard

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