Daily Picture

Today's picture is linked to the account of the two sisters, Martha and Mary, who had invited Jesus to their home. Martha became very agitated as she was the one preparing the meal whilst Mary sat at Jesus's feet. Martha accused Jesus of not handling the unfairness of this situation. Jesus replied, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed...

Many of us know what an eternity ring signifies - everlasting love with no beginning and no end. That is the eternity Jesus offers. I have always said that our eternal life starts the moment we receive Jesus but actually, I should say it works retrospectively too. We are saved from sins, past, present and future which is what being made righteous means. Jesus's salvation has always been there for...

What biblical connection can I make with a bed being made?! Well, it has triggered me off thinking how different we all are, not only as indicated by our unique DNA and thumb prints for instance, but by our opinions, likes and dislikes etc. And the bed?! Well, who likes to make their bed once they get up so it looks fresh and inviting when it is bedtime again? Some people don't see the point when...

Yesterday I had seen a bunch of flowers which, though temporary, can be a wonderful and timely gift. Thinking on these flowers again today I see a rose bush from which some of the flowers in the bouquet came. The roses on the bush, when tended well, can last longer than cut flowers because of the root system. However, they are still only a shadow of what is awaiting us in heaven! When Apostle John...

I saw a bunch of flowers which, though have a temporary life span, could represent a loving gift from a friend for the appropriate moment at hand. This reminds me that, throughout our day, God loves to give us what I call God's Love Notes. We need to have our spiritual eyes open to be in tune with them as we may not be aware of them at all or, if we are, do not recognise them as from God. They cou...

Humans Think, as was succinctly put by French philosopher René Descartes in his immortalised words, "Cogito, ergo sum" translated as "I think, therefore I am." There is lots of scientific research into the process of thinking but most importantly, let us keep our thinking in line with what and how God created us to think. We have the important reminder from apostle Paul to think on what is positiv...

Very few people escape trauma and drama in their lives, as represented by the picture I saw of a stormy sky and a sea with breakers still crashing on to the shore. Just today I have a friend whose baby girl in utero may not survive, there was an inevitable losing team in the European football finals last night who are now feeling devastated and I have another friend whose mobile cell phone was sto...

I saw some young African children dancing with joy for their country, Africa. In the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel chapter 6, King David learns the difference between worshipping God with men's clever techniques, building up of hype and missing God's instructions, versus dancing in pure abandonment to God. He threw off his kingly robes to dance with anyone else in his kingdom who was similarly wo...

The seemingly simple cauliflower is one of many examples in nature that follows an amazing pattern, discovered by an Italian mathematician called Fibonacci. If you look at the centre of the cauliflower it starts with one floret and then in a continuing spiral it has two florets, then three, then five (which is the figure derived from having added two and three together which are the last two numbe...

This is a continuation of yesterday's message. After feeling so fearful of being killed by Jezebel and believing her threats, Elijah stood in God's presence with humility and respect but was thinking that he had had an ineffectual ministry as God's servant prophet (mouthpiece) to Israel. God explained that Elijah was to have a successor, Elishah. God also assured Elijah that His ministry had been...

I was reminded of a preschooler book in which a little bear was feeling scared when it was getting dark and he didn't know his way home. It transpired that actually he was in sight of his home but he was crouched down, scared and unaware of the proximity of his home. Similarly, I received an official letter yesterday from the UK's NHS which I didn't quite understand and thought they were taking aw...

I saw a pair of feet with one foot in a lovely warm slipper and the other left bare. This has made me think on the fact that it is so easy to miss the fullness of Christ, which he offers us. We can go to church and declare His Word and yet still not really stand fully on His Word, trusting Him and having a victorious life. Paul reminds us "And the church is His body; it is made full and complete b...

The Rush Hour game is a strategy game for one player who is required to systematically move cars in a traffic jam on a grid in order to release one particular car. At first sight the task looks daunting. However, with a calm mind and logical thinking the required end result can be achieved. This is very reminiscent of our lives where we have to cope with inevitable stresses. Jesus advises us to tr...

In Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians he mentions the Armour of God that we can wear against evil. One piece of the armour is the "shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16). Note it says "all" so whatever is metaphorically or literally thrown at us, let us know by faith that God can defend us.

The Chinese pictorial characters of the word Crisis are a compound of characters used in their words for Danger and Opportunity. What a wonderful reminder that when we are in danger, in a life threatening situation, we can take the opportunity to remember to call upon God. King David, in his Psalm 107, gives wonderful examples of God responding positively to everyone in dire situations who had pre...

Beatrix Potter, who created the famous character Peter Rabbit, also created Mr Tod, a handsome fox who was always trying to deceive the other animals. This fictional character draws me to Jesus's words where He warns us to be aware of "false prophets. They come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them" (Matthew 7:15-16). Sometimes it takes...

I saw the buds of a willow catkin in my mind's eye but hadn't realised that there is quite a large number of other trees, such as Oak, Poplar, Birch, Alder and Hazel to name but a few, that bear catkins in winter or in spring before the leaves appear. A catkin is a cluster of unisexual flowers that have no petals. When fully developed, they are predominantly long and thin, hanging down like a youn...

Visiting a huge aquarium/oceanarium can give us a spectacular window into what lives in the depths of our seas and oceans. It cannot ever be a complete and absolute experience but it is providing us with an insight into a fuller picture of the ocean depths. Similarly, we can have the Holy Spirit residing in us, to provide us with an insight into the fullness of what God wants to ultimately give us...

Some of you may be familiar with the longest running science fiction series of Dr Who. He is an English timelord crossing time and space, entrancing viewers with his amazing adventures. His home and mode of transport is a 1920s police box which looks deceptively small on the outside but is unfathomably huge inside. Similarly, humans cannot fully fathom the emensity of God. The Message translation...

I think on the expression regarding making "mountains out of molehills". God can look after us with all our small molehills of problems as well as our mountains of problems, some of which we may well have blown out of proportion. God is always here for us. I quote various verses in the audio version of today's DAILY PICTURE, but for the purposes of this written précis, here is one verse from the b...

Continuing on yesterday's message of looking up at God (Colossians 3:2) we have a further verse from apostle Paul. He directs us to looks at Godly aspects of our lives which he lists, rather than counselling us on what not to look at. It is a far more positive and encouraging way to guide us. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,...

Apostle Paul encourages us to set our minds on things above and not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). This is easier said than done as human tendency is to pay heed to attitudes directed towards us. The negative ones can hurt us. What is most important is what God thinks of us. He loves us. If others don't see us of value to them, it doesn't diminish God's love for us but also we don't help...

In Greek mythology the goddess Athena punished Arachne who weaved beautiful tapestries but refused to attribute any of her talent to the Greek gods' supernatural power. She changed Arachne into a spider, destined to weave her spiderweb "tapestry" at night, never to be admired but to be swept away instead. In contrast, our God wants to bless us, helping us change in what we need to improve but, mea...

I acknowledge God as the giver of the picture and message on Daily Picture each morning. This morning, whilst praying, I had no picture but as God is the giver I wasn't in a position to make one up. However, it was a wonderful reminder of my reliance and gratitude towards God for all He gives. In the same chapter which I quoted from yesterday, apostle Paul reminds us "We have different gifts, acco...

We are to go and help those who are hungry, whether physically or spiritually, with the resources we have. In the his Letter to the Romans, Apostles Paul even counsels us to feed our enemies. They are in need, as we are, and when we help them, it could lead them to repent of their negatively ways. "..if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; ..." (Ro...