Daily Picture

Today I saw crystal glass which brings to mind the awesome description of God's Kingdom that He showed John in a vision, as recounted in the Book of Revelations, where God wants us to reside with Him forever. "It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal...The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure a...

Today I saw a suit cover, used for the protection of unused suits stored in a wardrobe/closet. This has made me think of the many objects and blessings we may keep in storage for possible use at a later date which end up being wasted or hardly ever used. We also have spiritual giftings and talents which God gives us for the benefit of others, but I believe this message is actually about our materi...

Today I saw a forked chicken wish bone which, in some cultures, is traditionally pulled apart by two people after the chicken has been cooked, cut and served. Whoever ends up with the longer piece is able to make a wish. Obviously this is fun and fanciful. In comparison, we have our hopes in God founded on His Word, which will come to pass and which are available to all. As Apostle Paul wrote, "Fo...

Today I saw a black and white zebra pedestrian crossing. This brings to mind Jesus's words about the church in Laodicea: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth". (Revelation 3:15-16). This was in the context of Laodicea being known for its aqueducts...

Today I saw a picture of a large fish on display, having previously been preserved and mounted by a taxidermist. Great care and skills are required by the taxidermist, in anatomy, sculpting and preservation, to recreate an animal's natural pose and features. The life of the animal is over but is being celebrated. We have so much more to celebrate - that Jesus is offering us life into eternity. The...

Today I saw a banana plantation, in my mind's eye. The banana plants need the right environment in which to prosper. First and foremost they grow in the Tropics. We can say that we spiritually grow in God's Kingdom. Banana plants need rich soil. We also need to be metaphorically planted in the rich soil of God's word. Psalm 1:1-3 tells us: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wi...

Today I saw a deep sea diver's mask, bringing to mind the fact that so much of the depths of our oceans are still unexplored and undiscovered. We are in awe of God's creation that we are aware of. How much more there is. God is so far beyond the limits of our understanding. So much so, that sometimes we think that God is too impossible and incredible for us to believe in. Instead, let us search fo...

Today I am reminded of the unique ways Jesus dealt with everyone He came across during His earthly life, such as the healing of a blind man with his spittle (Mark 8:22-25) and another blind man with mud comprising earth and his spittle (see John 9:6). As mankind's unique thumb prints attest to, we are all unique - with different needs, giftings and destinies, though equally loved by God. Comparing...

Today I saw a shower and a megaphone, causing me to reflect on how uninhibited some people are when they sing in the shower. King David was so uninhibited in his praise and adoration of God that on one occasion he threw off his kingly robes and danced with abandon and no concern for his status and dignity (see 2 Samuel 6:14). God wants our personal and spontaneous expression of utmost love for Him...

Today I received a lovely poem describing people who help others - who wear flowers in their hair to bring light and joy, who hold the hand of a sick loved one through the night, who wear silly costumes to raise funds etc. I think of all those who love and give, being a reflection of God. Then there are those who profess to knowing and following God and yet do not show love, justice and mercy. Jes...

I further reflect on yesterday's message which stated that Jesus saves us from our sin before we even recognise our sins and repent of them. Well, that must anger some people for any number of reasons such as feeling no need for being saved, belief in other ways of being saved, dismissal of any life after death etc. If we do believe, our understanding of how we receive salvation through Jesus is p...

Today's is a sequel to yesterday's message of our need to repent of our sins. We have the amazing news that before we even recognise our sins, Jesus took all our punishment for all of us, on the Cross. When we receive this amazing gift from God, then the Holy Spirit works in us to gradually reveal our sinful nature to us which we can repent of step by step. So, though we are already cleared of the...

Today I saw smoke pouring out of a mountain, bringing to mind Psalm 104 of King David who describes God's awesome creation and Who "touches the mountains and they smoke" (v.32). David continues to say "May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD. But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD". This could appear hypocri...

Today I am reminded of prophet Nathan in the Old Testament, telling King David of a poor man with one female lamb who he loved dearly. When a rich man, with many lambs, needed to entertain he used the poor man's lamb for the meal. King David was outraged at the behaviour of this rich man. Nathan revealed to David that the tale was an allegory of his behaviour, as David, who had multiple wives and...

Today I saw a slow moving queue of long black limousines, representing a solemn sad funeral farewell. It suddenly made me think of the deep mourning of Jesus's disciples before he reappeared to them and proved that he had been resurrected from the dead. This could only have been possible because he had led a completely sinless life so was able to defy death. Jesus's resurrection lays foundation to...

Today at home I accidentally knocked over a tall orchid with its earth and the water in the base saucer, onto my cream rug. It made a big mess. In fact I had been feeling that that cream rug did not suit the overall decor. Also, the plant had been ill placed. Many of us can see that what might initially seem disastrous can be in our favour and also have experienced God changing a bad situation int...

Today I saw a black stormy sky ready to drop its cargo but then I saw God extending one arm underneath, creating a shelter over the people below. Sometimes we forget or are unaware of God's presence as we fear that we are still in dreaded darkness. In fact, the darkness has been transcended by God's presence and protection within His shelter and under His wings. Like the darkness just before dawn,...

Today I saw an anchor, reminding me that our hope is anchored in faith in God, as opposed to comprising of fantasy and wishful thinking. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" _yet_ (Hebrews 11:1) and "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul ..."(Hebrews 6:19). "Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts throug...

Today I saw a salamander, which used to be believed to have mystical powers to withstand fire. I am reminded of God's promises that He will give us strength to withstand fiery trials, one verse of which is: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgement"(2 Timothy 1:7). Jesus told His disciples (still applying to us), "I have said these things to you, that i...

Today I saw a few embroidered random stitches versus a large completed tapestry. Often we forget that instant pleasures are not what only makes life worthwhile. My past week with family in Sweden was absolutely wonderful and it was made up of many lovely instant moments. Now I am back in Portugal, I naturally miss them. I am now alone in my apartment. However, I reflect that no longer having those...

I missed recording Devotionals on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and being away on holiday I have lost track of the day of the week, so here I am with a Sunday message! Recently I mentioned that God can give us seemingly strange ways to follow, in the sense of away from the norm. Today I reflect on the fact that we are even called "peculiar" in praising God for bringing us out of darkness into light...

Today I saw an image in my mind's eye of a weird looking house constructed at a weird angle. I then remembered a house converted from a water tower, referred to as The House in the Clouds. I have now discovered how many unique upside houses there are. This has caused me to further reflect on everyone's uniqueness. God has created us to be used by Him uniquely, however strange we may appear to othe...

Today I saw a little bowl of holy water which is often at the side of the main door of a Catholic church. There used to be the required ritual, when entering a church, of making the sign of the cross with index finger, and maybe also the middle finger, having been dipped in the blessed water; then they are placed on forehead (saying 'In the name of the Father"), chest ("and of the Son") and one sh...

Today, in my mind's eye, I saw a picture of a large garden sieve which I recall my sister using when she and he husband bought a plot of land in France with a house and rough earth surrounding it. She painstakingly sieved the rockery to get rid of the coarser stones and rocks. Ten years on she has a most beautiful garden. She had had to work hard to get it that way and to some extent to maintain i...

Yesterday I was reminded that the Peace that Jesus promises us regardless of our circumstances, requires active choice on our part. On receiving Jesus we don't automatically stop worrying over anything. Every time a situation arises which could cause us to worry or panic, we need to consciously decide to trust God and not to worry. This is easier said than done. Yesterday the taxi driver driving m...