Daily Picture

Today I am reflecting on the words Peace and Joy that God gives but in a different sense to the usual meanings. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you: my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27). It is Peace and Joy from the Spirit residing within us, not necessarily generated by our external circumstances. Let me give you an example of a worldly person's view of peace...

Today I think on the Christmas nativity shepherds. Unlike earlier times, in those days shepherds were social and spiritual outcasts, right at the bottom of the pecking order, perceived as ignorant, smelly and sinful and never to be trusted. And yet, the Angel came to them first to tell them of Jesus Christ's arrival and for them to spread the wonderful news. God can change hearts. The shepherds we...

Today I am reminded of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. We learn that there were 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus's earthly father Joseph and on to Jesus. Jesus was connected to a sinful physical human family, representing all of mankind, as we all sometimes sin. Jesus had to be human in order to die sinless on mankind's behalf, so we ca...

Today I saw what seemed to be a vintage Scalextric model train set. Some children (and adults) get great excitement and use of imagination with these wonderful miniature versions of the true size originals. This has triggered me to thinking on the ingenuity and advancement of mankind's progression in the technological world. Sometimes we need to accept change to promote growth, rather than get stu...

I am contemplating winter accessories such as gloves, scarf, hood lined with fur and furry boots. I was recently intrigued to learn that the fur on hoods is much more effective in combatting the cold if it is possible to fold it inwards towards your ears, rather than keep it showing externally to provide a good "look". Also, I learnt a long time ago that a robust good quality sole for winter footw...

Today I had a picture of a box with a little hole from which I could look out at the expanse around me. Meanwhile, whoever was outside the box could not see me inside the box but that doesn't mean I do not exist. It is not a perfect allegory but it helps make the point that one entity can see a lot more than the other but both fully exist. As such, God knows us fully but we only know Him in part....

Today I saw little red paper confetti hearts showering down on us. God has not promised us heaven here on earth; that is our next destination. However, whilst we are here on earth His love will constantly be with us despite our circumstances. (See Isaiah 41:10). Often the worst aspect of our negative circumstances is the fear and panic within us. God wants us to trust that He will be with us throu...

Today I am reminded of the soldiers who hammered nails into Jesus's hands and feet without a second thought as to the additional pain they were inflicting, and/or with justification as to their actions. Aren't there many people like that? And yet amongst the people we love and want to pray for, and the hurting people we are often asked to pray for, are those people we don't like and who have parti...

Today I saw an acrobat doing a balancing act, causing me to reflect on this busy world where so many of us are balancing jobs and responsibilities. However, our lives should not be about fitting God into our balancing act but about putting him first, as our priority every day. When we do, however illogical it may seem or feel, we will find that the rest of our day, and whatever balancing we need t...

Today I saw an arrow on course but then it started losing its flight. Two thoughts come to mind: words are like arrows - once shot they cannot be called back. As such we need to be careful of what we say as we can't take the words back and they could be misconstrued so not make the effect we originally intended. Also, if arrows of non-loving uncomfortable, painful or vindictive words are shot at u...

Today I saw a picture of a large oil drum which was gradually sinking in the ground. I think of Prophet Elijah who God instructed to visit a widow and her son in Zarephath, outside of Israel (1 Kings 17:7ff). She was suffering from the region's drought and had the last of her flour and olive oil before she knew they would die. Elijah asked her to make him a small loaf of bread and then some for he...

The Old Testament Law prescribed that a perfect, unblemished lamb had to be sacrificed every year by the High Priest of the Temple to honour God and to atone for all mankind's sins, so we can be reconciled to God. When John the Baptist, saw his younger cousin Jesus, he prophetically declared: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:28). He knew that Jesus had specifica...

On Thursday I had a picture of a sinister camouflaged creature emerging from some turf, reminding us to be discerning of what seems innocent but has potential to harm us. Then I was reminded of the expression to be "on one's turf" which means to be in one's familiar environment in which you feel comfortable and confident. There is also a disadvantage in such an environment, which another expressio...

Today I saw an innocuous looking creature, camouflaged in a patch of turf, suddenly crawl along the ground and become increasingly big and sinister. I feel that this a reminder that we need to pay attention to what we attend to in our lives. Some seemingly innocent aspects could actually turn out to be detrimental and harmful to us. We are contending with a spiritual world as well. We need to be a...

Today I saw a soda siphon which is a hand held device which adds fizz to still water through a carbon dioxide gas charger. This makes me think of the Trinity with God as the main body, Jesus as the vocal cords (or the water as in this analogy of a soda siphon) and the Holy Spirit being the breath. In both Hebrew (Ruach)and Greek (Pneuma) the word for 'spirit' also means 'wind' or 'breath'. The bib...

Today I am thinking on not admitting we have done wrong, which we can be prone to doing if there is seemingly no resulting negative impact on us. We actually do need to be reflective on what we do wrong, which invariably will be negatively impacting another. This requires humility which involves considering others before ourselves. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one ano...

Today I "saw" plants bowing to the left and then morphing into people bowing to the left, away from God. This brought to mind the first two commandments of putting God first and not bowing to false idols. God wants us to follow these two commandments as He wants to love us lavishly. Jesus warns us that compromising equally between two important identities in our life is not possible as one or othe...

Today I saw ear plugs to block out sound. This has made me think of times we have consciously decided to avoid listening about God or indeed to words issued from Him through His prophets. If we know God to some extent, He can speak to us in a still small voice as He did to His prophet Elijah who was going through a bad patch and needed reassurance (see 1 Kings 19:12-13). If we rarely pay attention...

Today I have continued to reflect on the mistletoe image I commented on last Wednesday. It is a parasite that actually can gain good medicinal properties from its host. However, it eventually destroys the host. Let us ensure that we don't consider ourselves above others to the detriment of them. If we put God first and not ourselves, He will look after us and we will learn how to love those around...

Today I am reflecting on Advent which is of Latin origin 'adventus', meaning Coming and Arrival. Christians associate Advent with 4 weeks of prayerful preparation, encompassing hope, peace, joy and love before we celebrate Jesus's first arrival on this earth, formally given as 25th December Christmas Day, but also to reflect on His return again to earth. We have Jesus's explanation of His second c...

Today I saw a picture of a test tube with markings for measurements. We may ask who measures up to qualify to go into God's Kingdom; what is the lowest and deepest measure of sin that precludes us from entering? Answer: no one qualifies so there is no base level. The good news is that God invites us all into His Kingdom through His son Jesus Who has done all that is required of mankind. Obviously...

I was reminded of the following bible verses this morning: Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." We actually need a renewing of our mind which is what the Holy Spirit does. To some people, what God says seems the opposite of wisdom and truth. Once we receive Jesus into our...

Today I saw a bobbin in my mind's eye and by that I personally mean a spool on which thread is wound for sewing. This image immediately brings to mind the wife of noble character as described in the last chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. How interesting that this book of wise sayings finishes with words on how precious a noble wife is. Man or woman, take time to read and reflect on wha...

Today I simply saw a desert scene but am reminded of the verses in the bible whereby God causes a wonderful transformation from dry barren conditions to fruifulness. One set of verses is Isaiah 35:1-2: "The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing." For any of you reading this, receive from G...

Today I saw a blade of grass in contrast to the blade of a sword, the former being soft and harmless and a sword being potentially very harmful. Also, a sword with 2 edges is described in Hebrews 4:12 as representing the concise and discerning Word of God. John refers to Jesus as The Word (see John 1:1,14). Jesus warns us not to utter careless thoughtless words as we will all be judged for our wor...