Daily Picture

Seductive eyes from us or directed to us suggest a promise of immediate pleasure. Proverbs, the book of Wisdom, says "Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes" (Proverbs 6:25). As suggested yesterday, why don't we practise a life of looking out for others instead? In so doing, God looks out for us. If we believe that, we can believe that He will do an excel...

Many of us know that positive thoughts in us attract positive energy towards us, sometimes referred to as The Law of Attraction. God's Word instructs us to think on Himself and what is positive in us and in our lives. One verse, amongst many, is "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you" (Isaiah 26:3). An old Cherokee fable likens the positive and ne...

I saw a picture of a 4 legged table with one leg working its way loose, ready to tip the table over. I believe that this is a reminder that whilst some bible verses may be clear, such as "Trust in the Lord with all your heart", others may be more complicated, contradictory or may even seem wrong to us. Jesus said he has given us His Holy Spirit to help us in our understanding (John 14:26), but thi...

"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day". (John 6:40). I believe those words of Jesus but I forget that in the preceding verse he also said, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day". As we have been given...

I had a reminder of the 1980s Japanese video game Pac-Man which has made me further think on the advances in video games which attempt to emulate reality with amazing and sophisticated technology. We also have supposed reality shows which pick and choose what they want us to see. Social Media often shows us only the good and fun aspects of others' lives. Many of us are searching for Truth and Real...

When we are looking for the right person in our life and eventually find them, there is a sense of knowing that we have come home and are meeting our destiny. Finding our person does not diminish others. Similarly, when we meet Jesus there is a sense of fulfillment which again, does not diminish other life teachers and Christian leaders. God has created them all. However, there is a difference in...

I have never seen an imperfect looking swan. This makes me reflect on the fact that God looks at us humans as already the perfect finished creations He intended us to be when in fact, in this world, none of us are. I am so relieved that God has that hope in me and indeed in all of us to restore us, living in harmony with Him in eternity. The Bible tells us that we have this one life when we can ch...

It is difficult to rest in God as this means trusting God and being at peace. This state of mind and heart manifests itself through us when we are praising Him, forgiving others (because no one is perfect no one is going to behave perfectly towards us) and praying for others. Do we follow that instruction to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)?

I have been reminded that when my children were little, one morning one of them scribbled permanent gold marker over my beautiful Indonesian coffee table and I couldn't clean it off. In the afternoon another proceeded to play with playdough on the same table, forgetting to put a plastic sheet underneath. Whilst picking up the playdough by dabbing it into one ball, I discovered the properties of th...

Whilst we may have a routine to our lives which gives us some predictability, none of us absolutely knows what the future holds for us. God asks us to trust Him as we have markers, like the beautiful stars represent in an inky black sky. King David declared these words on behalf of God, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:...

Many years ago I remember that Puffed Wheat was one of my then four year old sister's favourite breakfast cereals. Somehow that imagery has made me think on how much time has elapsed since then and now we are here together in Cascais where I work and she is visiting. Over all these years God has been with us and He knew in advance what paths we would take and are still to take in our lives. There...

Jemima Puddleduck is a fictitious character, amongst many other farm characters such as Peter Rabbit, imagined by Beatrix Potter. Imagination is not only a gift but an integral part of God's creative power and His creations. We are His creations, bestowed with power to imagine and focus on what is good and positive for us now and into the future. Scientists need imagination to propel them towards...

The winners on the podiums at the Olympics not only have individual glory but each one represents their country. Similarly, we are called to be ambassadors for God so that others can be encouraged to see the wonders of being in His Kingdom. Everyone has the choice to be part of God's Kingdom with all its amazing benefits. The good news is that it is not about us qualifying through being good enoug...

Many times recently God has instructed me not to talk ill of anyone behind their back. I have been finding this difficult to achieve and to be honest, it is because I am not applying myself to it diligently enough. This image of an incomplete jumper reminds me of one I started knitting many years ago. I have not been devoted to completing the jumper. However, shouldn't I be committed to the new at...

Different religions, cultures, cuisines and health experts etc have a vast range of views on, and uses for, garlic. For instance devotees of Jainism don't eat garlic as they are lacto vegetarians who don't eat root vegetables so as not to injure small insects and micro organisms whilst one Asian nation I know puts out bowls of raw garlic cloves as a snack. As with garlic there are so many subjects...

A musical chord usually comprises of 3 musical notes, and sometimes more, to be played simultaneously, so are as one. Each note in a chord is of equal importance. Similarly, we are to "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited". (Romans 12:16)

At the beginning of my Christian walk I had a picture of me as a single yellow flower (my favourite colours forward to flowers) in a field, with God tending to me individually and lovingly. Then, as I matured, I pictured myself amongst a mass of other yellow flowers near God's throne, with all off us aware of God's awesome love towards us but not necessarily needing individual attention. God knows...

In a shop which sells suits, we can look at the mannequins in the window and buy off the peg suits or be personally measured for a suit that perfectly fits us. By entering into God's Kingdom and accrediting Him with Kingship we will indeed receive what we personally need, which is variable from day to day. We will have times of want and times of overflowing but either way, we are receiving what Go...

Our blood is our life force and we know that blood tests can give an indication of our health. That is why it is so significant that Jesus died through shedding his blood and not through another means of death. He said in advance, at what is now referred to as The Last Supper, that His blood "seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many". (Matthew 26:...

As with little saplings who will perish if not nurtured, we should ensure we keep company with those who encourage us. "Whoever walks with the wise, becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm".(Proverbs 13:20). "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). Let's gravitate to those who support and encoura...

We know the path we are going along in God's Kingdom and it is straight and direct like a train track. However, as apostle Paul warns, we mustn't discourage or criticise others in their walk with God. That can be done overtly or in a subtle way such as showing how hard we are trying to be good in a certain area of our life whilst someone next to us is struggling in that same area. Let us remember...

Young shepherd boy David, before he became King, faced the giant Goliath with his sling and pebbles which he was practised in using when facing the enemies of the sheep he cared for. Goliath had challenged the army of Israel to have one individual face him in battle. Everyone was fearful until David arrived simply to bring provisions from his father to his brothers who were in the army. He had no...

Often we try to control situations that we perceive as potentially stressful but actually we can have more stress in trying to be in control. Really, a point of natural stress is when we have to decide between more than one choice. Once we make the decision we can move forward calmly. This is where being in God's Kingdom gives us peace. We have His guidelines in the first place but when we have to...

We may have a good overview of a person or situation but we don't know absolutely everything. As with a tree in the distance, we might be able to see the age and type of tree, but we invariably cannot see all the detail. In the Old Testament 2 Kings 6 the prophet Elisha is told by God the secret invasion plans of King Aram into Israel. That way Israel were prepared and able to ward off attacks. Wh...

The picture today of a tapestry needle has reminded me of the calming effect sewing can often have, and what I have witnessed on even the most hyperactive child. I would suggest that meditating on God's Word has a similar therapeutic effect on a crowded, busy and maybe stressed mind. A verse that comes to my mind to focus on today is "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discourag...