The halfbaked Bard

A cheerful heart is good medicine Pro:17:22 Be happy. Even the world says so. Enjoy every moment.  But that's not the way the bible tells it to be. Yes enjoy. But not the way the world tells to enjoy.  Rejoice in the Lord always is the norm. Even in the midst of adversities, have a cheerful heart. How? Knowing fully well that God is in control. God is sovereign and good. He does only what is best.  We have spiritual mentor, Dr. Beena, who keeps saying, when troubles arise, she is all the more excited to see what God is going to do. Let's laugh at the face of adversity. Knowing well that God is on our side.  There are two kinds of birds. Foolish birds are scared of the scarecrow, they keep themselves far away from it. But the wise ones know that the tastiest and the most sumptuous fruits are around the scarecrow and they fly down to sit on those scarecrows to have a nice meal.  Let's face adversities as they strike with excitement, with cheerfulness w...

Anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster Pro:17:19 High walls are supposed to protect you in times of disaster. High walls protect you from enemies. High walls give you security.  But wisdom says, these are all false securities. The very same thing you trust in becomes your snare. If you have bulit high walls for protecting against enemies, enemies will come and destroy the walls.  Do not trust in your assets. For they will all fail. Be it education or bank balance or parents or children. Everything and everyone will fail. Only God will never fail. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. He never changes. Let Him be your fortress and your rampart. He is an everpresent help in times of trouble. He will be there with you till the end of age even beyond into eternity.  In fact here it says, anyone who trusts in high walls will "invite" disaster. He is a jealous God - a righteous kind of jealousy which knows that trusting in Him alone is our chief e...

Proverbs 17:17 and a brother is born for a time of adversity Be a brother when he is in that ditch.  It is better to be with your brother in his tears than his smiles.  That is when he needs it most.  That is when he cherishes it most.  Love is most expressed in adversity.  You tell. I am there.  Even if he doesn't perceive it.  His heart is filled with you being there.  In ceremonies of happiness, your face is etched in their photo albums.  In times of sorrow, your presence is etched in their hearts.  Even if you can't be there in his times of trouble.  Call him. Pray for him.  Genuinely. Without any holds barred.  Loving him will push you to reach out to him.  Be that brother, he has never had.  Because you have a Father who loves without any conditions Image credit: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7iw_gPU-nxKpskjH0_KsTrYN3IMtqn7zhuV2VcwYefw&s

Starting a quarrel is like opening a flood gate So stop before a dispute breaks out Pro:17:14 When you are itching to retort; keep quiet Not like a dam about to be burst But at rest: keep quiet Knowing well that; it will do only harm Silence lets God do the talking Quietness brings God in control Otherwise you are in the steering wheel Pray while you keep quiet And see the wonder that God is about to do Image credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/quarrel-animal.html

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold.  But the Lord tests the heart.  Pro:17:3 Fire is painful. It burns. It melts.  Yet it gives the silver and gold purity. It gives more freedom to flow.  Testing times in our lives are like that. It hurts. It melts your hearts. Tears roll down your cheek unendingly. Helplessly you look unto God. There is purification, there is more freedom in His presence.  May the Lord enable us to receive these testing times, from the very hands of a pure and loving Father. It is worth it to go through it. For it transforms us into His likeness.  Image credit:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gold-melting-point-se-asia-consulting-pte-ltd-5nimc

Better a dry crust eaten in peace Than a house filled with feasting and conflict Pro:17:1 Why do we fight? Why do we quarrel? Is it not causing more unrest in our minds? Even if we have the most delicious pizzas or cheese filled burgers or a seven course meal, if there is fight on the table, if there is unrest in your mind; oh! That looks terrible.  Have you heard of the difference between the dinner table in heaven and hell? Both had the table set for a sumptous meal. But the spoons had very long handles. In heaven people served each other and there was joy. But in hell, everyone wanted to serve themselves. And there was spilling and fighting and uproar.  Oh! Let us have peace and joy in our families in our friend's circle in our own hearts. Our happiness wouldn't depend on what we eat or have. When it is a lasting joy based on the person Jesus, it is abounding, it is overflowing, then we would say like Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah - Even if He wouldn't......  Like Haba...