Daily Picture

Today I saw a lizard, more a house lizard like a gecko. They can spontaneousky lose their tail at specific joints, with no pain or bleeding, as a defence mechanism against predators. Not only can this enable them to physically escape an attack on their tail, it also creates confusion whilst the amputated tail continues to wriggle for a little longer. The tail does grow back. I believe this losing...

I saw a kite flying free, reminding me that when we feel burdened and entrapped, don't forget to look up at God. He frees us. The letter to the Colossians (3:2) tells us "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things". This is not suggesting we live an airy fairy life. We are to be grounded and to consider those around us, as we are to clothe ourselves with "kindness, humility, gentleness...

Today I saw an ironing board which seemed to be a strange theme until I thought of the metal - iron, and then further thought on this Bible verse: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another". (Proverbs 27:17). Strong people in the Lord can mutually help each other to be challenged, encouraged and to rise. It may not always seem comfortable but it will be of consequential benefit.

Today I saw a paper plane which has brought to mind the Wright brothers who invented the first flying aircraft over 100 years ago. Apparently their research and approach differed significantly from other experimenters of flying machines of that time. The Wright brothers focused on developing a reliable method of pilot control as opposed to an emphasis on powerful engines. A paper plane relies enti...

Today I saw a 'picture' of a person covering their ears and screwing up their eyes at the barrage of discordant sound (a cacophony) coming their way, representing a medley of differing and sometimes confusing, unhelpful advice. It also makes me think of platitudes which are common expressions used which sometimes have lost their authenticity such as, possibly, "Have a good day". In contrast to all...

Today I saw a large beautiful leaf which still hadn't completely unfurled and yet could still be a worthwhile addition to a floral display. This is a wonderful reminder that before we have achieved a perfect state we can still be beautiful. I think of the Japanese art of kintsugi whereby gold, silver or platinum lacquer is used to repair broken pottery creating an even more beautiful piece. It is...

Today I saw a seemingly idyllic view of paradise with a beautiful meadow interspersed with beautiful little flowers and me running through it with my arms outstetched, rejoicing in my pure freedom. I have to confess that I felt a pang of panic at the thought of leaving this earth and being in paradise. A current situation in my life has poignantly reminded me of the fragility of my life here on ea...

Today's message is a sequel to yesterday's when we considered that a disciple learns as well as follows his leader. We are blessed when we follow and learn of Jesus. In Psalm 119 which has 176 verses, written by King David a man after God's heart, it is packed with the truth of the blessings we receive when following God's ways. David's son Solomon in his book of Proverbs (6:23) tells us, "For the...

I saw some goats reminding me of the fairytale of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. They followed each other, one by one, with the youngest and smallest actually leading first, into greener pastures, with the strongest one butting an evil troll out of the way. We have each other to follow and help each other in God's Kingdom, in humility, most importantly with Jesus as our absolute lead and head. As Hi...

Today I saw a vision of paper currency of large denominations reminding me that there is the temptation to focus on amassing wealth for money's sake. Matthew 6:19 " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break...

Today I saw a thick black horizontal line with a rectangular block in the way and then a recontinuation of the line. Suddenly I saw the block being explosively removed. This is a good reminder of the "road blocks" in our lives which the power of the Holy Spirit can obliterate. That word "power" translates from the Greek "dunamis", from which the words dynamite, dynamo and dynamic originate. Exciti...

Today I am focussing on the words Continual and Continuous which seem so similar but actually have a distinct difference. Continual implies stops and starts whereas Continuous has no stops but has a continuous flow. God wants us to have his peace on a continuous basis. How often do we jump in and out of peace with the inevitable minor and major trials of life? Continuous peace requires practice an...

Today I am thinking on acute illnesses which last for a relatively short length of time and, hopefully, are treatable, as compared to chronic illness which is a continuing condition usually requiring treatment for life. How often do we look at the short term "acute" problems in our lives and get into a state of thinking our lives are in a chronic continuing condition of misfortune? However, if we...

Today I saw a zip being opened gradually from the other side of my vision. I believe this is a Word to us that God chooses to reveal Himself to us, rather than us choosing to do a formal study of Him so to speak. We need to position ourselves to receive from Him though. If we receive Jesus, we become children of God (see John 1:12) and we will get to recognise and know Him. (see Matthew 11:27). Hi...

Today I was reminded of the two main types of stitches when knitting (Knit and Pearl) which, whilst requiring different techniques and result in different effects, actually mimic each other when viewed on their reverse sides. This brings to mind the necessity sometimes of presenting a different face though we are the same person. (This is in contrast to being two-faced which means to be insincere)...

When you are faced with a challenge, not only is your faith in God tested, but also your faith, the essence of you, is being strengthened. Each time you discover that God makes good out of every situation, however dire it may seem, your trust in Him is being built up. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your fa...

Today I saw showers of God's golden blessings. God speaks through his prophet Ezekiel in chapter 34:25-26: "I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places around about my hill a blessing and I will send down my showers in season. They shall be showers of ble...

Today I saw an image of a black rat running across my field of vision representing, I believe, our dreads. Dreads are our perceived and anticipated, significant and fearful situations ahead. God does not want us to be in a state of dread. Instead, He wants us to be in a state of awe and anticipation in what good He has for us. It requires trust and faith in Him at all times, which also implies pat...

Today I have been contemplating on the fact that there are no physical descriptions of Jesus in any of the 4 Gospel accounts of Jesus's human life on earth because Who He is, how He behaved and what He taught on earth are what are of utmost importance. His outward appearance has not been considered. In John 6:29 we are told that Jesus said, "The work of God is this, to believe in the one He has se...

"All that glitters is not gold" (extracted from The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare). That is a good reminder to not be taken in by what might seem precious but actually is not. Apostle Paul advised his protégé Timothy and subsequent readers to have godliness and contentment with what we have even if it is only the basics of sufficient food and clothing. "Those who want to get rich fall...

Today I saw an image of a ceiling fan which we used constantly when I Iived in West Africa and in Asia, and sometimes we needed to make it rotate faster. This has reminded me of our constant need for God's Word in our lives and that sometimes we need to concentrate on it even deeper than usual. God's Word can come to us from within our being or from another person, or we can be that person passing...

Today's devotional continues from Saturday's where I had read 2 Timothy 2 verses 14 and 16, intentionally omitting verse 15, in order to concentrate on it today. It refers to rightly dividing the Word of Truth. For Paul to caution his young protégé in this, clearly indicates that there must be also be a wrong way of discerning the Truth. Often looking at the context of a verse is useful and of cou...

Today I am focussing on the word 'pettiness' in the sense of something of secondary or lesser importance. Sometimes we pay too much attention to something which really should take back stage whilst we could be concentrating on things of more importance. I know that I am guilty of sometimes having a critical spirit, of focussing on an irritating quality in or action from somebody else when they hav...

Today I got the sense of the symbolic passing on of a mantle in the sense of passing on ones authority and responsibility. I received a second confirmatory picture of a firmly blown up balloon with pressure applied to it, until it eventually burst. The air in a balloon will inevitably flow into the atmosphere it is in, whether it is released slowly or as a result of being burst. I believe that the...

Today I saw a little brown garden wren which in the UK is sometimes referred to as Jenny Wren with no regard to its actual sex. That has caused me to think on God. The Bible refers to God as The Father, with male pronouns used in reference to God. God is Spirit and does not have any genetic components to identify sex. If we choose to worship God, it is with our spirit connected to His Spirit (John...