The halfbaked Bard

Ps:136:1 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess:5:18 Not just to give thanks. Not just to say thank you. But to be thankful. To mean every word of thanks which you say. In your inmost being to be grateful, no matter how grave the situation might look like. The Lord's blessing is always upon you. So be grateful to the Lord who sustains.  Concentrate on the be, not the do. 

Ezek:43:12 And this is the basic law of the Temple; Absolute holiness.  Absolute holiness - This is only what He desires from His temple. Nothing else.  When God created man in His own image and likeness it was this holiness that was imparted on him. His absolute holiness.  It was from this absolute holiness that man had fallen by disobeying.  It was this absolute holiness that He has, that is imputed on the absolutely unholy me; when I put my trust on the finished work on the cross. It is this absolute holiness that He desires of us.  Thought it is impossible for us to live in that absolute holiness. Do we desire, for being like our Father. Do we desire to be like our lover who gave His everything for us.  What is my basic law? Why do I compromise on holiness?  Why not say- no matter what, I would not deter from His standards. And if at all I have fallen, I would run back to Him with absolute repentance.  Now is it even possible?...

Ps:135:16-18 They have mouths but cannot speak And eyes but cannot see They have ears but cannot hear And noses but cannot smell.  And those who make idols are just like them As are all who trust in them.  There was a friend of mine in school, who was absolutely fascinated by a Bollywood movie star. He used to walk like him, talk like him, his facial expressions where all like him. Anybody who did not know about the film star could just look at this friend and know. His very mannerisms and demeanor became like the celebrity so much so that we couldn't differentiate between their identities. This friend did not have his own character. Everything of his was Shah Rukh Khan.  You reflect your idol. Your character reflects what you continually pursue throughout your day. It is scientifically proven that infants who are given hand held gadgets are delayed in vocalising. Those children who pursue violent video games are violent themselves.  This explains why the...

Ps:134:1-2 Oh, praise the Lord all you servants of the Lord You who serve at night in the house of the Lord Lift up holy hands in prayer and praise the Lord.  In the Holy Temple, there were priests entrusted in the night to continue the rituals and worship and prayers.  How often do we wake up in the night? May be a distracting noise. May be disturbed sleep. Even without any reason you may wake up. But then what do you do? Sometimes you are not able to sleep even after turns of rolling around in the bed. You count sheeps. You plan and scheme. You try to indulge yourself in your own fantasy world. But nothing happens.  Why are you reluctant to sit up or kneel down and pray. For you, for your life, your family, your spouse, your children, your ministry, people around you who need your precious prayers. There are lot of things to thank Him for. Lot of things to pray for Be on night duty. God will give you adequate rest.  Sometimes even after 8 hours of sleep...

Ps:131:2 Instead I have calmed and quieted myself Like a weaned childr who no longer cries For its mother's milk Yes like a weaned child is my soul within me.  In the midst of all troubles. In the midst of the bulls and lions roaring against me. The breaths of their roar make my hair stand on its end in fear. They tend to terrify me. They tend to scare the wit out of me. They tend to take the life out of me.  What next? What to do now?  What is certain. Fear gripping my heart. Indecisiveness and uncertainty of future holds my hands to act. All that I can say aloud is - I don't know what to do!  But one thing I can be certain. My hands are held by the eternal God who is the Maker and Sustainer. Without His knowledge nothing happens. He is my Father who wants the best in me to come out.  Everything that the devil wants to suppress and kill and destroy, my Father wants to rejuvenate and give life.  Can I be calmed and quietened because of this? Now...

But you offer forgiveness Ps:130:4 That is your character Oh! God - Forgiveness. The natural course is to deal with us as we deserve. The natural course is to offer punishment for the rebelliom that we do.  A God so loved us. We rejected His love and went our own way. For death and eternal separation is the natural course.  But rich in mercy and grace, He offerred forgiveness. That is His character. Grace is His hallmark, not cruelty. Though He is just; He is kind; He is merciful. Because He knows if He keeps a record of our sins, who could ever survive?  If it is your Father's character to forgive, why do you keep a record of all the wrongs done to you? Where is grace that is shown to you? Don't you want to be forgiven? Then why don't you forgive?  Image credit:  https://www.salon.com/2015/08/24/the_science_of_forgiveness_when_you_dont_forgive_you_release_all_the_chemicals_of_the_stress_response/

Ezek:37:14 I will put my Spirit in you.  The Holy Spirit is that entity of the Triune God, who is actively in work on us. As children of God we are privileged to have the presence of God in us, through the Holy Spirit. Who helps us, who is in us, who prays for us with groanings that we cannot hear, who convicts us of sin, who connects us to God the Father and the Son.  What a privilege? How do we value His presence in our lives? How frequently do we pray for the filling and fullness of the Spirit and pray to Him?  The Holy Spirit is given to direct the children of God in the right path unto God, into His likeness in which we were created, but fallen because of our sin. He directs us in our rejourney to our God to whom we are called unto.  As He directs us. As He purifies us, let us love, let us cherish and let us yield and obey.  Image credit:  https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/what-language-does-scripture-use-about-the-holy-spirit/

Ezek:36:26 And I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  A stony heart; a stubborn heart A selfish heart; an adamant heart A heart that is concerned only about yourself                          Vs A responsive heart; a tender heart A receptive heart; a heart that is compassionate Not harsh or arrogant  And cruelly because of self centredness A stony heart would make you more stubborn and hardened Things go from bad to worse From uncertainty to more But a receptive heart listens to the Maker.  Goes in tune with His will Seeks His heart Such a heart is humble, not thinking high of himself Such a heart willingly becomes a doormat Willingly considers others better than himself A stubborn heart is filled with pride Behaves rudely when things happen against his wish His whims and fancies are totall...

Ezek:33:31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words and their hearts seek only after money.  Why do you want to listen to the word of God? To comfort your aching heart? To soothe your weeping eyes? And to appease your wounded mind? Is that all?  The word of God is in deed a  comfort in times of trouble. The fact that Jesus has gone through all these and came out victorious is like a balm over your aching mind.  But how do I take the admonitions and warning signs in it? How seriously do I take the words of caution as serious as the words of comfort?  Sin is so serious to God that He had to take the penalty on Himself (ours; not His)  Am i serious about my rebellion?  The dichotomy is very evidently inscribed here - mouth full of lustful words and hearts seeking after money.  How fallen are we? How reb...

Ezek:33:11 I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways, so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness O people of Israel. Why should you die?  O God is so cruel. How can He do something like this - The seeker says.  How can a loving God, do such things? He doesn't seem to care. It doesn't seem to fit right. Hence prooved, he doesn't exist. - the aetheist says.  How can a compassionate God permit such attrocities and cruelties? - the ardent believer who faces trouble says.  Ezekiel says - here is that compassionate God, who doesn't want wicked people to die. He just wants His own children who walked far away from Him to come back to Him. He just wants them to turn away from their wickedness and live.  But how do I get access? Wicked man like me to the holy God like Him? It is through the cross. He Himself brought the solution. And He Himself allures you to Him. It is His desire and unconditiona...

When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.  Ezek:33:3-4 It is the duty of the watchman to alert. Duty of the people to take action. It is the duty of the warning signs on the road to point out. It is the responsibility of the travellers to act. You are the people. Be serious.  Even if the signs are there, but you do not take evasive action, if you do not jump off and run to save your lives, who is responsible? The word of God is true and filled with warning signs, about the fallenness of heart. Be serious.  You are the watchman. It is your duty to show the path. As an example show juniors, your children, your subordinates the right way to walk. Shine the light in the correct path. Whether they walk in it or not, is their responsibility. Pray for them. Cry for them. Intercede for them. That they would walk in the right way. Be serious...

Ps:127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house The work of the builders is wasted.  It is expected to be the father's responsiblity to run the family. To set values. To focus on disciplines. To have priorities.  The family runs in the direction the father runs. The children imitates their father more, imbibing his character, good or bad.  I'm not saying mothers are not role models. Yes children do look upto their mothers and their attributes. But the sole role of leading the family is instituted on the father.  If the father is a fitness freek, the children also will become.  If the father is pious, the children too become.  If the father is lazy, the children inherently become.  If the father is short tempered, children will struggle too with anger.  It is at this context that this verse becomes relevant.  Unless the Lord builds the house, all your efforts will be invain. As fathers, striving hard to bring up your children in your desir...

Ps:126:5 Those who plant in tears Will harvest with shouts of joy.  Sowing time is difficult. Sowing time has uncertainties. But sowing is done with hope. That this toil will yield harvest.  Life is actually useless without hope. If you could trust the seasons of the earth and the growth pattern of a plant and put your hope in that and look forward with anticipation and joy to a rich yield, how much more joy will it result when you put your trust in the neverchanging, everloving, Eternal Father who loves you unconditionally.  Be hopeful if you are in tears now. A time is coming when you will reap your rich harvest in joy. It is not just that you will be comforted. It is more than that. It is reaping harvest with shouts of joy.  Whatever you have hoped for will come to pass - even more for His barns are always full and He calls to bless. Not in this world alone, but for eternity as well, in His presence.  Dear one! Do you mourn for the uncertainties a...

Ps:125:1-2 Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion.  They will not be defeated but will endure forever Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem So the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever.  Security is one attribute that man always desires for. Be it security from enemies. Be it financial security or security for themselves and their children for the future.  Christians look with hope for eternal security, where hell is far from them, but they will be with their God for eternity in heaven.  The Psalmist says about this security (and more) if you trust in the Lord. They will endure forever which means they will face difficulties but will overcome it, because they are more than conquerors. Difficulties will come and go but it will not overpower them or engulf them - yet they will come out victorious.  And it is the Lord who will surround them like mountains around Jerusalem.  Ps:3:3 But you O Lord are a shield around us....

What if the Lord had not been on our side? Ps:124:2 Oh! That is a terrible possibility. A terrible what if. If God had not been for us, our eternity would have been damned. That is yet another story. More so, life would have been very hard, with no hope and with nothing to hold on to.  Rom:8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.  2 Chron:20:15, 17   The battle belongs to the Lord. But you will not need to fight. Take your positions then stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with you.  Rom:8:31. If God is for us, who can be against us?  Rom:8:39. Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus.  John:16:33. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  If this hope of everpresent help was not there - they...

Ps:123:2 We keep looking to the Lord our God for His mercy.  Where do you keep looking at? Servants keep their eyes on the master. Slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. The employee to the employer. The student to the teacher. The athlete to the coach. A son/ daughter to their father/mother. To the source of direction. To the rewarder. To the wiser one. To the one he is accountable to. These are about earthly scenarios. About life - to one who gives life, the author and perfecter of our faith. To our Redeemer, Savior, our Father.  We do not have the slightest of idea to live this life. He has designed it. Yet the world has terribly fallen. If we do not keep looking to Him, we will keep falling into the rut every one frantically runs into, that leads to hell.  Keep looking and reorganising your priorities.  Keep looking and refocus.  Keep looking and be reinstated into His bosom.  Keep looking and keep returning.  Time an...

I was glad when they said to me Let us go to the house of the Lord Ps:122:1 What makes you glad? What gives you immemse joy in this dry and weary world?  Is it things which are from this world which in itself is passing? Or have you set your eyes on eternal things? Do you seek God's blessings this new year, focussed on things which pass away? Or is it on things in heaven above?  If your prayers consist of requests for blessings with no eternal value, then your prayers are all futile. Yes God would answer your prayers. But see, how narrowminded your very self is. Why can't we set our eyes on seeking God and knowing God above everything else? And as you delight in Him, He will give the desires of your heart. And the desires of your heart would be nothing other than being in the center of His will.  He will take care of all your needs, if your desire is to be glad in Him, in knowing Him, in seeking His will alone. And as we store up treasures in heaven rather tha...

Ps:121:1-2 I look up to the mountains Does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord Who made heavens and earth In times of deepest troubles, in utterly helpless and disappointing situations, when you do not know where to look up at, where to seek help from, the realisation that help can come only from the creator of the heavens and earth, is the rate limiting step.  Once you realise that only He can help you out of this and seek Him wholeheartedly, that is when help will come.  Because He is the one who watches over you, day and night without sleep or slumber in His eyes.  Dear one, if you are in deep trouble, not knowing where to run to. Helplessly prodding around in the dark; know that He is the Lord, the creator, the sustainer who is with you.  And if God is with us, who can be against us? 

Ps:120:1 I took my troubles to the Lord I cried out to Him and He answered my prayer.  Oh! Your troubles may look overwhelming. Your problems might look huge and unconquerable. You might seem puny before the huge wave that looks to devour you. Before the huge mountain that blocks your way.  Your strength seems to ebb away and your confidence melting into thin air. Because you do not seem to have a clue as to what to do. All your wisdom. All your assets and strongholds which you have gained over the vast experiences of your life seem to vanish off. Because whatever you try to do is not working. You literally are helpless not knowing what exactly to do.  The world seems to give you suggestions. But none of them seems to work for you. You do not seem to have strength to face the giant. But then one strength you have been provided. To take your trouble to the mighty God. You have been given the power to take it to the Lord. All you have to do is to take it and pla...

Ps:119:176 I have wandered away like lost sheep Come and find me.  Oh! I have squandered away every single opportunity given to me. I have always chosen to wander away. I have chosen to rebel and walk away from your perfect ways. Always choosing self and it's allurings over the everloving good Father. Always opting for the world's lies over the ever true God. Even after knowing the love of the eternal Father who came to rescue me.  His love has not been restricted once and for all, coming and finding me in the darkest and dirtiest ditch. To be washed and cleaned by His blood. And being seated on the right hand side of throne of God Himself. Deserving only eternal punishment. But gifted with eternal love.  He came and found me once and for all. Not to be lost any more, with eternal security.  But I do choose again and again to be drifted away from Him. And everytime He will come and find me. And I will be dirty and dejected. Wounded and dry. Yet He cleanse...

Ps:119:164 I will praise you seven times a day Because all your regulations are just Seven denotes perfection or completiin. It signifies a continual attitude  of praise and thanksgiving and gratitude. Not the stipulated seven times that you are expected  to pray.  Exactly at that hour, seven times a day should you pray? Then it becomes ritualistic. So if it is not during that exact time when you are expected to pray, will God not listen to it? Will He not be pleased by it?  A continual attitude of gratitude - Daniel just as it was his habit, prayed three times. Now is it not true, when the decree was passed, would he not be praying more frequently? Or would he be telling himself - oh it is not yet time for me to pray. Though it is a pressing need, I will wait for the hour.  The essence is that - God is always listening. He is always available.  Ps:53:2 God looks down from heaven On the entire human race He looks to see if anyone is truly wise...

Ps:119:153 Look upon my suffering and rescue me For I have not forgotten your instructions Oh! Bard what case do you have? You tell, you have not forgotten His instructions. So protect.  How do you say you have not forgotten His instructions?  You say "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" How have you hidden His word in your heart? So much so that you demand to be rescued? Does it pull you from disobedience? Or does sin allure you so much that, even though you have 'hidden' His word in your heart, you will run to it anyway rebelliously despite knowing that it is to fire that you run!  This is the same lewdness and prostitution and adultery that Oholah (Samariah) and Ohalibah (Jerusalem) were accused off - Ezek:23. What closeness to God? What hiding of the word you are talking about. So much so that you demand to be rescued.  If at all He rescues, it is His grace. Seek His merciful hands. To look upon you with kindness and ...

Ezek:22:30 I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land.  Someone who would stand in that gap in the wall that is broken down with sin and rebellion. The wall's wounds are gapingly huge. Is there someone who would stand in between so that God would see an iota of righteousness in between? In between the choices of rebellion against God, would He see one person in 2024 who chooses Him and His ways.  One filling in of the gap.  Would you be that person who would intercede before God for your family, for your community for your nation. Might not be righteous enough. But the choice you make today, would change the destiny of people around you. It is on God's righteousness that you stand. But the choice to stand in that gap is yours.  The privilege to stand in that gap in itself is huge. It's massive. Who am I to be considered...

Ez ek:22:12 They never even think of me and my commands.  You - never even think of God.  God - mindful of you.  You - moving farther away from Him.  God - took the major step to redeem you.  You - find means to sin and 'enjoy' life.  God - He who knew no sin because sin You - try to escape consequences.  God - faced the consequences to save you.  You - finds ways to love sin and rebellion.  God - abhors sin.  What starking contrast between the Father and the so called child? Diametrically opposite.  What you're expected to do, and what you really are.  Not doing. But being.  Not your hands but your mind and heart he looks into.  Is your mind full of Him, just as He is? Let this new year be a realization of where we all stand before Him and helplessly seek Him expectantly.  Where you will stick on to the decisions you take. That you will be mindful of Him.  Every breath you take. Every second you...