The halfbaked Bard

Gen 29:20b But they seemed like only a few days to him, because of his love to her.  Jacob's love to Rachel was so intense that 7 x 365 days seemed like only a few for him.  If you have a solid reason to focus, that is the same way you would feel about the course of your journey, no matter how much ever filled with toil that will be.  Jacob was willing to go through years of hardworking and toil, considering his love to Rachel.  Whenever he has to work really hard, he would think of her.  Whenever he has to take care of the sheep without even sleep or food, he would think of her.  Whenever he was sick, he would think of her.  And that would give him strength for more.  What would you risk, considering your love to your Abba Father? With the hope to be in His bosom one day and for eternity, what would you suffer? What would you venture out? What would you let go? What would you forsake?  And why should you do that? Because anything...

1 John:4:4 When we realize this truth. All our helplessness just vanishes. We might be small. But the one who is in us is more powerful than the one who is in the world.  Yes we are more than conquerors Rom:8:37 And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil:4:13 Do we believe. Not in our abilities. But in Him who promised.  Abraham believed and that was credited to him as righteousness.  Greater is the one who lives in me Greater is the love of Jesus Greater than my son Greater than the grave Above all the thrones Above all other names Greater, You are greater - Chris Tomlin

Gen 28 God promises greater things to Jacob. But he is focussed on temporal things.  V:20 If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear, so that I will return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God.  Abraham also was so much focussed on having a son, when God promised him - I am your very great reward.  Eliezer the servant also prayed for temporary blessings.  But on all these instances, we do not see God condemning them, deeming them narrow minded asking them to focus on things eternal. In fact He grants them all their wishes. Ask your heart's desire; like to your father. It is upto him to grant it. He will never corner you saying you are narrow minded. Just ask. A "yes" or a "no" or a "wait" will surely come as an answer.  But do not forget the big picture of how He wants to bless you. His only relevant and lasting and eternal blessing is t...

Gen 28 At Bethel, Jacob had his first encounter with God. He thought the Lord is in that place. He did not realize it was not the place, but it was him, with whom God was.  Not Bethel, but Immanuel is His name.  How often do we give importance to things, places or people rather than God?  If only that pastor could pray for me! We have to remember the pastor has the same standing before God, as compared to us. Jesus the only mediator is your bigger brother to whom you have access.  That particular sacred thing will bless your life. Keeping the Bible under you pillow while sleeping. The Bible is the Holy word of God, but the book cannot save you. The Word in it can. Treasuring it in your heart is more important than keeping it safe in your shelf. Kerala is in the newspapers now because of one person who knew this heart of Malayalees and he sells antiques to them, which they thought would invoke blessings from the Gods. People are willing to pay millions....

Stairway resting on earth With its top reaching to heaven Angels ascending and descending Above it all, stood the Lord.  The Lord of your ancestors The Lord who led you this far The Lord of blessings Through you, for the whole world.  Men can try to reach upto God By sacrifice, by pilgrimage By paying alms, by being religious By helping the poor.  The tower of Babel, King Herod King Nebuchadnezzar, all in vain But the stairway that man need should be Resting on earth and reaching to heaven.  The stairway has to be from God And from man at the same time It has to rest solidly on both grounds All others would definitely crumble.  That is why Jesus is the stairway For man, to reach upto God.  Fully man and fully God.  His death on the cross, solved it all. 

Esau held a grudge against Jacob (Gen:27:14)  Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him (Gen:28:1)  The striking contrast. Both were sinned against and cheated by Jacob. But Esau held it in his heart. Isaac chose to forgive. In fact Isaac blesses him more.  Why do you think, Esau couldn't forgive (at least initially) and Isaac could?  Isaac loved Jacob.  Isaac knew the promise of God.  Isaac knew he was forgiven too.  Can we be loving to each other, keeping our eyes on God's promises and looking back how God forgave us and be forgiving to each other? There is more to life than feeding our minds with grudges that will eat us up and finish us off, of the abundant life that God has promised.  It might not be grudge as severe as Esau's like wanting to kill his brother.  " Oh! That particular person, he is so difficult to live with. Very difficult to love. So I will just stay away" "Oh! That kind of a person I will never be. I will never ...

Be not far from me O my God. Psalm:38:21b I will never leave you nor forsake you is a promise which we love to cling. It soothes and comforts us always. Behold I will be with you till the end of days is the promise our Lord has given us before He went back. The promise of the Holy Spirit as our helper is given to us. He is our everpresent help.  This prayer of David. Be not far from me. He feels God is far away from him. Because of the anguish he is going through. But God is always nigh especially in times of trouble. Remember the legendary story of the footprints?  So when does it really feel, God is far away? It is always sin, that the Lord abhors. A holy God cannot stand the presence of sin in your life. He convicts you. Unless you repent, there is no way you could enjoy the presence of the Lord in your life.  I remember reading a sentence in a daily devotion in my beginning years of faith.  " If you think the distance between you and God has increased...