Daily Picture

Today I saw a picture of corrugated cardboard such as is used for packaging. The wavy aspect of the cardboard actually contributes to greater strength and durability of the material. Similarly, though we might prefer a smooth life with no bumps, the metaphorical bumps and waves do actually strengthen us too. Many bible verses encourage us in this truth. James 1:2-4 tells us, "Consider it pure joy,...

Today I saw a shower curtain with the steam rising from the running hot water. We may not be interested and may not understand why hot air rises but that still doesn't dismiss the existence of the scientific law of lighter particles of hot air floating above the dense cooler particles. Similarly, not being interested in Jesus and not understanding Him does not dismiss the fact that Jesus exists. W...

Today I saw a picture of a nail being securely and accurately hammered in. This brings to mind the prophet Isaiah's prophetic word to the people when Shebna, the palace administrator was being replaced by Eliakim: God says of Eliakim: "I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honour for the house of his father" (Isaiah 22:23). I believe that this is a prophetic word...

Today I saw a dragonfly, reminding me of a story by Doris Stickney of Water bugs and Dragonflies. Water bugs were wondering what life after the pond is like and, after discussion, promise that whichever of them goes next up a lily stalk and out of the water would return and tell them what it is like. However, when the next water bug finds himself transformed into a dragonfly, having climbed out of...

Today I saw an image of old wellie boots bring used as planters for pretty flowers. The boots are old, have lost their original purpose and are required to have holes but are now being used for a new, fun, playful and appealing purpose. God similarly can transform and use us when we repent (that is, change the direction of our lives to follow His ways), with love and for good purposes. John Newton...

Today I saw a picture of a high suspended rope walkway between trees. This reminds me of the first one I went on whereby I admitted beforehand that i was nervous of negotiating it. However, once I was up there, safely harnessed, I was exhilirated by the experience. In a similar way when we openly and honestly admit our feelings to God, He will give us safety and change our fearful and negative att...

Today I saw a picture of a frog. There is one mention of frogs in the Old Testament and it is in relation to an unwelcome plague (Exodus 8:3). Then, also, the one only mention in the New Testament appears in the book of Revelation in which Apostle John recounts Truths revealed to him regarding the future: "Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dr...

Today I saw a picture of a pair of feet with a sense of them being washed. I can connect this to Jesus washing his disciples' feet before the Last Supper when there were no servants to do the customary ritual. Jesus was exemplifying the humility he requires of his followers to serve others. On a previous occasion, as recounted in Matthew 20:26, Jesus explains that in His Kingdom "whoever wants to...

Today I had a picture of a pair of mocassins, reminding me of the proverb "Don't judge another person until you have walked a mile in their moccasins". Most of us know that this warns us not to negatively judge another's actions and words until we understand the circumstances in their life which have triggered off their responses, as we could easily falter in the same manner. What I did not know u...

Today I saw a car trying to ride along a train track. Today's message is not about us going on a track that God doesn't want anyone to travel which leads to destruction but, rather, is about us misguidedly going on someone else's track or feeling jealous that others are on seemingly a better track than us. We need to trust that God created us in perfect love and has perfect purposes for us. In Jes...

Today I saw a small snake which was most probably not poisonous. It makes me think of the little worries and concerns we inevitably have in our lives which so often come to nothing. Jesus reminds us twice in the Gospel of John 14, to not let our hearts be troubled and to take hold of the peace that only He can give, whatever the circumstances - threatening or unthreatening. (John 14:1 and 27).

Today I had a picture of children's author Julia Donaldson's "Stick Man", an animated character made from a branch of a tree. It has made me think of apostle Paul's description of nature, the whole of creation "groaning as in the pains of childbirth ...we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies" (Rom...

Today I saw a picture of a waterfall which settled into a calm flow of water below. I am reminded of the bible verses written by King David, one of which is in Psalm 29:3: "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD thunders over the mighty waters". Let us consider that God is nature's creator and as such He has power over all nature. He is super-natural. We have...

Today I saw a picture of a greenhouse, the name the British use to refer to the glass structure used for protecting plants from the elements. Greenhouses house green plants but the glass is usually plain and is only occasionally tinted green. This has made me reflect on the fact that descriptive names do not always indicate true facts as we understand them. We are reminded in the bible that outwar...

I saw an old fashioned TV antenna as placed on a roof. Poor weather conditions could adversely affect the reception on the television to which the antenna was connected. Similarly, poor connections in our mind can prevent us from hearing from God; however He is forever trying to communicate with us. Poor connections could have a number of causes, such as disbelief, lack of interest, sinning in tha...

Today I saw a thumb. In the Old Testament times (as indicated in the books of Exodus and Leviticus) the priests' right thumb was anointed, signifying His commitment to following God's Will. Let us be reminded that God wants us to follow His Will, not so as to have us as minions serving Him, but so that we benefit because, as our creator, He knows what is best for us. One verse to highlight this, a...

Today I saw a head dress of beautiful flowers. This imagery reminds me of Isaiah's prophetic words about 800 years before Jesus was born. The words were attributed to the forthcoming Messiah who would come to save mankind. All those centuries later, after being baptised by the Holy Spirit, Jesus repeated the same words that Isaiah had prophesied would be the words of the Messiah: (The LORD has sen...

Today I saw a picture of a spaceship. We need to use our imagination to conjure up the appearance of spaceships and aliens. Similarly, there are no physical descriptions of Jesus in any of the 4 gospels so we need our imagination to picture how Jesus looked whilst on earth. However, there is the assurance in God's Word that we can get to know the Godhead of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, in reali...

Today I saw a picture of a belt. This brings to mind the first piece of spiritual armour Apostle Paul advises us to put on when he was addressing the church in Ephesus. His listeners/readers would have associated the belt with the armour of the Roman soldiers. The belt had both practical and symbolic significance. In a practical sense it supported the soldier's sword and breastplate. A dagger and...

Today I saw a picture of linked paperclips reminding me of the expression "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link". This is a good reminder to us to keep the company of others who are also strong in their faith, in their morals and their desire to follow God's ways. It is much easier for a strong person to be pulled down to a weak person's level than vice versa. We have many words of wisdom...

Today I saw a picture of crystal clear water lapping gently on some shiny pebbles. Being Good Friday, I immediately thought of the red blood and the water that was described as having come out of Jesus's side when a soldier had pierced Him after He had taken His last breath (as in John 29:34). It is a natural phenomenon that after death, due to gravity, the heavier red corpuscles can separate from...

Today I saw a picture of a scalloped shell. This is actually the spiritual symbol of the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) Pilgrimage. It comprises a network of ways to the shrine of St James where tradition maintains his remains are buried, in northwestern Spain. James and his brother John (from whom we get the Gospel of John), fishermen on the sea of Galilee, were the first people Jesus c...

Today I saw 2 mice playing happily together with a sense of unity because they are of the same species. God also wants mankind to be in harmony. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others" (Philippians 2: 3-4). "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be p...

Today I saw a picture of a faceless old man sitting on a bench. This is a good reminder that we should be taking care of the elderly. Do we know what they might be thinking these days - regrets of things they have done, regrets of things they haven't done, the loss of loved ones etc? Maybe they are lonely? God wants us to be gentle and patient and to show respect to the elderly. Leviticus 19:32: "...

Today I saw the historic monument of The Space Needle in Seattle. It required great vision and endeavour in order to construct it in just under one year, 1962, and has achieved historic prominence in a relatively short space of time and it gives delight to millions of people with its observation deck 160m/520 ft above ground which can be accessed by lift/elevator in 41 seconds. Extremely sadly, it...