Daily Picture

I have been thinking more on the Hebrew word 'panim' for 'face' which, as I mentioned yesterday, also means 'presence', as written in the Old Teatament. It has an even stronger sense than the aura and feel of someone. In Hebrew panim is actually a plural word, meaning 'faces', implying the totality of a person's being, in other words, their moods, inner emotions, thoughts etc. Instead of the negat...

In the Bible we are sometimes told to seek God's face. King David in Psalm 27:8 says, "My heart says of you, seek His face! Your face, Lord, I will seek". This is not the same as to seek God's hand which means to seek His provision and God certainly does like to provide. In the Hebrew of the Old Testament the word for "face" can also mean "presence". I have fancifully said that we can imagine goin...

Today, in my mind's eye, I saw a small triangular toy piece. That set me thinking on all the worldwide translations of this geometric shape, different words for the different types of triangles etc. No translation is better than another for communication. Words cannot always fully explain what we are feeling or what we are wanting to transmit to another. We do not know another person fully and vic...

If we harbour ill will,anger etc in our hearts towards one person, it will inevitably also spill out towards others around us. God wants us to love and be loved, as the essence of our being. He was the perfect example of this. Even with the atrocious torture on the cross He said of his persecutors, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" ( Luke 23:34). 1 Peter 2:21 tells us to follow...

On Saturday we were reminded to guard our hearts, in not receiving negative words. One of the verses was "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6). The next day I was sent a barrage of accusations from a friend. My first reaction was to be offended and angry but thank God we had Saturday's message to remind me to p...

Today I sensed the need to remind ourselves to guard our hearts. However much we try to avoid negativity issuing out of us in the form of anger and unforgiveness etc, we cannot avoid others issuing a barrage of unkind, untrue words towards us. We do need to protect ourselves from this barrage. Proverbs 4:23 advises us: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it". Apostl...

Today I saw square frames in the distance, as of lenses of specialised spectacles or simply as picture frames. The word 'frame' could indicate these physical frames but also framework for our thinking, our words, our perspectives etc. Just on Wednesday I quoted Psalm 139:15: "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, ...". This encourages me to think on the fact that no...

Today I saw, in my mind's eye, an old fashioned telephone which has a separate finger groove for each of the numbers 0-9, that has to be individually turned clockwise, as representing the person being called's telephone number, until the finger reaches resistance and then the next number in the sequence is dialled. This is a good reminder of the variations in telephones and in ways to call someone...

Today I continue on the theme of hairs on our head. Jesus said that he knows how many hairs are on each one of our heads (see Luke 12) which is the same as saying that he knows us intimately, and more so as the number changes constantly. King David reminds us in his Psalm 139:13,16: "For You created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb... Your eyes saw my unformed body. All th...

Today I was reminded of Simon and Garfunkel's iconic song, "Bridge over Troubled Water". Apparently Paul Simon wrote this as a comforting secular but spiritually inspired song, offering unwavering support during difficult times. This was written during the turbulent 60s in the States, with massive activism for equality, the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and assassinations of President John...

Today I saw a partial picture of a whale, reminding me that I have a limited knowledge of whales, that humans have hardly explored the ocean floors which are teeming with life, some of which we have not explored and witnessed yet. God is also beyond our full knowledge and experience - so much more. I read an interesting comment to reflect on recently, that the God that athiests don't believe in, n...

Today I was aware of ethereal translucent gossamer wings. The Hebrew word kanaph for wing is also used for the corner and border of a garment. Malachi, the last prophet who is mentioned in the Old Testament, prophesied of Jesus (4:2): "But for you who revere my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings ...". We hear in gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke of the woman who had be...

Today I am going to give an extension to yesterday's message relating to Isaiah 44:22 "I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me for I have redeemed you". Yesterday I concentrated on the cloud representing deep depression and very trying circumstances, with the mist representing the residue of these circumstances. All is thoroughly obliterated by G...

Today I see a big black cloud being swept away, leaving a bright blue sky. In the book of Prophet Isaiah (44:22) we read God's word to His people: "I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me for I have redeemed you". In the original Hebrew, the implication is of complete elimination of a very heavy cloud, through God's power and authority, which cou...

Today I saw a bird up on his legs but on the ground, rather than flying. I then sensed the words, 'Time heals' and that the bird was waiting for the time he could fly again. Similarly, we have heard that over time, our hurts, pains, griefs and traumas ease. This easing process cannot be measured or absolutely assured and there are the inevitable scars. However, what we choose to do over the passag...

Today I saw a classic pyramid-shaped METRONOME which provides a consistent rhythmic beat, controlled by an adjustable weight on a swinging pendulum. This is a good reminder to keep in time with God's pace and to go to Him for peace and calmness, as Jesus reminded His disciples as recounted in Matthew 11:28: " Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". Going to Go...

Today I saw horizontal lines and vertical lines in my mind's eye which then moved me to reflect on the vertical wooden structure Jesus hung on, with His arms outstretched on the horizontal wood. It is totally significant and intentional that Jesus died this way. Ancient Jewish law dictated that anyone who committed a crime and was thus hung on a (wooden) pole to die was cursed by God (see Old Test...

I saw an image of a rocking chair. We all instinctively know the calming benefits or a rocking chair, with a lullaby effect for young and old alike. It apparently stimulates the brain's vestibular system which manages our balance and relaxation. It may also help with general recuperation and rehabilitation and with the rocking motion taking pressure off the spine, it encourages better blood flow....

Today I have the single word LOVE to share in today's Devotional. We all know that that word can be bandied around insincerely and has different nuances of meaning and significance, such as 'I love my children' in contrast to 'I love strawberries and cream'. The Greeks have many different words for different types of love, such as for brotherly love, unconditional love, romantic love etc. Today, I...

Today I was reminded of the micro climate of the beautiful area of Sintra, near Lisbon, Portugal. It is often shrouded in a thick sea fog making it appear magical, because of all the abundant majestic foliage and picturesque palaces it engulfs whilst, meanwhile, everywhere nearby could be baking under a cloudless sky. I may sound like a marketing leaflet but it truly can be stunning. It sometimes...

I am reminded of a Christian allegorical story, "You are Special", about a wooden community, in which the wooden people cover each other in golden stars when they think they have a talent or look good. If someone has seemingly failed or is not looking good, they are given grey dots. One female wooden character had no stars or dots and the protagonist in this story learns that it is because she mak...

Today I feel that the Holy Spirit wants to remind us to relax, not necessarily in the context of putting our feet up but more to loosen our mental hold on what could potentially stress us. We need to learn to relax in the Lord, which requires complete trust in Him. There are many verses that remind us of this. For instance, Mathew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I wil...

Today I saw a picture in my mind's eye of a soft bulldog clip. Usually this type of clip is a hard metal device for temporarily, but firmly, binding loose sheets of paper together. I believe that this soft clip is a reminder that God wants to bind us all together to Him in love, in a soft, comfortable but committed way, of our own free will. "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his...

Today's picture is of seeds. This has caused me to think on the seeds of inheritance. Mary was the natural mother of Jesus upon whom the Holy Spirit descended (see Luke 1:35). In Mathew we explicitly read, "She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit". Joseph heard from Angel Gabriel and was willing to adopt baby Jesus, making Him an official descendent of his lineage which was of King Dav...

Yesterday (I am a day late uploading this) I had a picture of barbed wire, which can be seen along the top of a periphery wall of a high security enclosure. It keeps out intruders and also may be preventing the inhabitants of the enclosure from escaping, such as of a prison. This barbed wire could represent us preventing anyone getting close to us and, most significantly, preventing God. Jesus as...