Daily Picture

Most of us know the value of tangible momentoes to bring to mind worthwhile and important memories. God encouraged the use of rocks of remembrance so His people would remember the good things He had done for them. Wouldn't this be a worthwhile practice for all of us? Today's audio message has a medley of comments which go off at tangents from this main message but, predominantly, let us not rely m...

The word "mouse" may engender fear, repulsion or even a sense of sweetness. Our different thinking and responses to cues from words and pictures etc are often associated to our past experiences and sometimes are simply irrational. We can neutralise a lot of our negative thinking by concentrating on Jesus and Goodness associated with Him. Yesterday we were encouraged to focus on what is honest, jus...

Let's s not waste time which, as we know, we can never regain. Time has value in so many different contexts - such as the realisation of the effects of a year of no studies by a student who could have been studying and achieving, down to the minutiae of a crucial millisecond in an Olympic race. Also, why waste time on repetitive negative thinking? Instead, as we are counselled in Philippians 4:8,...

Jesus said, 'By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' (John 13:35). Uniformity is an attempt to impose a state of no change or difference in any one under any circumstances. Being a follower of Jesus is not like that. Unity, meanwhile, suggests an acceptance of those who are different, loving each other and being as one unit. 'There is neither Jew nor Gentile,...

I "saw" a person jumping without purpose or control on a pogo stick into a beautiful and refreshing river and discovering that that jump was a good idea after all! This is a good analogy of any of us when we may be happy or otherwise, as we aimlessly go through life. We may accidentally, or with purpose, jump into Jesus's arms and discover how liberating it is to know His love for us and that He i...

As parts of the Body of Christ we are similar but not identical, with different purposes in life. Think of potatoes, which can serve so many different culinary functions, such as for being mashed, baked, roasted, cut into thick or thin slices, grated etc. All the flesh and the skin can be used. The potatoes need to be clean for use. Jesus similarly cleanses us and "Now to Him who is able to do imm...

Like flies knocking into a window pane, are we also constantly trying to follow a direction which seems obvious and attractive to us and yet our persistent attempts are constantly thwarted? Have you considered that when Jesus beckons you to follow Him in the way of light, truth and life, that actually it is the best way to go? Jesus says "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the F...

We may just be starting our journey into the discovery of Jesus. As we draw nearer we will see that He is The brilliant Light who sets us free. (John 8)

If we have a cavity the touch of our tongue on it invariably exaggerates its size. This reminds me that we can use our tongue to enhance, aggravate and even manufacture negative circumstances. We have 2 ears and one mouth. Let that be a gentle reminder to ourselves to be more careful to listen than to speak into our lives and those of others unless we are being positive and encouraging. Proverbs 2...

I saw a cross in the dawn sky with a wavering vertical line going up to the horizontal intersection, representing our indecision as to whether we should trust God to completely help us with a decision we have to make. The horizontal line is going to the left and the right. Which way should we go? Finally the unclesr vertical line continuing upwards represents our unknown future but not its directi...

Do you take advantage of the fullness of Jesus's pure light? He is there for us at all times. For instance, why not put Him first in your thoughts when you wake up for the day? That will make such a positive impact on the circumstances of your day and in your mind as you manage your day. Then think of Him at the end of your day and thank Him. Have Jesus fully in your day and not half heartedly and...

God wants us to enter into His rest "for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:10). We receive our rest from trusting in Him and His finished work on the Cross. If we don't entrust our lives in God's hands, they will be full of unresolved complications and worries by the end, however good they seem to be over a period of time. Whatever we ar...

If someone is described as wanting their pound of flesh, it means they are ruthlessly legalistic in all they do however heartless and cruel. This expression is coined through The Merchant of Venice, written by the brilliant English play writer William Shakespeare. The threat of a pound of flesh being cut off an unfortunate debtor by his creditor, through a contract they had previously agreed upon,...

In the Old Testament account of Moses leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, having been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years, they started turning against God. This was in spite of the success they were having in destroying enemies, because of God's help, in order to get full control of the Promised Land. They were also complaining that their provisions weren't ample enough. Are we ever...

The antidote to being in a barren land, metaphorically speaking, is to be a giver, a reflection of God and His love. We cannot out give God. This is what God is basically saying through the prophet Malachi. 'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so m...

Some people do seem to have a series of events which they feel indicates a curse on their lives. We are told in the Bible that when Jesus hung on there cross He took our cursed. This applies to any curses, whether caused by our wrong doings, the wrongdoings of others connected to us or others wishing ill on us. All curses are obliterated by Jesus "by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, 'Cu...

This is a continuation of yesterday's message in which Jesus asked a man who had been infirm for 38 years as to whether he wanted to get well or not (John 5:6). Jesus already knew the answer and would also know our answer if He were to come to us to ask if we need help in whatever negative circumstances we are going through. However, He asks because He is encouraging us to ask Him directly and to...

In the Gospel of John chapter 5 verses 1-16 we are given the account of Jesus healing a man who had been ill for 38 years. This man had been lying by a pool which apparently had special healing powers for the first person who entered the pool after an angel had stirred its waters. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made well. The ill man's reply was that he could never get to the water in time. In...

As quoted yesterday from the Gospel of John 6:66, there were those who followed Jesus and then turned against Him. We describe this as the spirit of Anti-Christ which is taking strong root now. However, God's Holy Spirit is stronger than that spirit and Jesus commissions His followers to be witnesses unto Him, starting with where we are now with its rippling effect stretching out to the whole worl...

Mankind is an amazing creation of God's and we often have an indomitable way of conquering and achieving so much. Like a shipping container we can be incredibly self-contained . However, we are not limitless in our capabilities. We all need God or indeed will need him even if it is in the last second of our life. For instance, do you know how to enter into eternity? Why wait until then to call upo...

Wrong circumstances and/or lack of expertise can cause a thrown harpoon to miss its mark. This imagery could represent us not achieving our goals when the Lord is not partnering with us. Instead, metaphorically speaking, with God's guidance and help our arrows towards the goals that He has revealed to us will fly straight and true. "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians...

James, one of Jesus's brothers through Mary and Joseph, reminds us in his New Testament Letter chapter 3 that the words coming off our tongue, though such a small part of our body, can cause a lot of damage. He likens the effect to a destructive fire. Earlier on his Letter he also cautions the reader to "Be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19)

We have a choice in our day to day lives as to what we receive. For instance, we can receive a barrage of accusations and condemnation which makes us feel bad and guilty, for things we have indeed done wrong or are perceived by others as wrong. Alternatively, we can receive lovingly-given conviction from the Holy Spirit which can help us choose to stop doing wrong things. In the 8th chapter of the...

By spending time thinking on the Lord and His Word, we are opening our hearts and minds, like fertile ground, to receiving knowledge from Him. We need to beware of focussing on resentment, worries and other negative distractions. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2)

Our daily trust in the Lord is likened to a tree with its roots drawing from fresh water. It subsequently flourishes. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to beat fruit". (Jeremiah 17:7-8)