Daily Picture

This is a continuation of yesterday's message in which Jesus asked a man who had been infirm for 38 years as to whether he wanted to get well or not (John 5:6). Jesus already knew the answer and would also know our answer if He were to come to us to ask if we need help in whatever negative circumstances we are going through. However, He asks because He is encouraging us to ask Him directly and to...

In the Gospel of John chapter 5 verses 1-16 we are given the account of Jesus healing a man who had been ill for 38 years. This man had been lying by a pool which apparently had special healing powers for the first person who entered the pool after an angel had stirred its waters. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made well. The ill man's reply was that he could never get to the water in time. In...

As quoted yesterday from the Gospel of John 6:66, there were those who followed Jesus and then turned against Him. We describe this as the spirit of Anti-Christ which is taking strong root now. However, God's Holy Spirit is stronger than that spirit and Jesus commissions His followers to be witnesses unto Him, starting with where we are now with its rippling effect stretching out to the whole worl...

Mankind is an amazing creation of God's and we often have an indomitable way of conquering and achieving so much. Like a shipping container we can be incredibly self-contained . However, we are not limitless in our capabilities. We all need God or indeed will need him even if it is in the last second of our life. For instance, do you know how to enter into eternity? Why wait until then to call upo...

Wrong circumstances and/or lack of expertise can cause a thrown harpoon to miss its mark. This imagery could represent us not achieving our goals when the Lord is not partnering with us. Instead, metaphorically speaking, with God's guidance and help our arrows towards the goals that He has revealed to us will fly straight and true. "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians...

James, one of Jesus's brothers through Mary and Joseph, reminds us in his New Testament Letter chapter 3 that the words coming off our tongue, though such a small part of our body, can cause a lot of damage. He likens the effect to a destructive fire. Earlier on his Letter he also cautions the reader to "Be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19)

We have a choice in our day to day lives as to what we receive. For instance, we can receive a barrage of accusations and condemnation which makes us feel bad and guilty, for things we have indeed done wrong or are perceived by others as wrong. Alternatively, we can receive lovingly-given conviction from the Holy Spirit which can help us choose to stop doing wrong things. In the 8th chapter of the...

By spending time thinking on the Lord and His Word, we are opening our hearts and minds, like fertile ground, to receiving knowledge from Him. We need to beware of focussing on resentment, worries and other negative distractions. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2)

Our daily trust in the Lord is likened to a tree with its roots drawing from fresh water. It subsequently flourishes. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to beat fruit". (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

I find it so difficult being falsely accused and being misunderstood. Jesus is our example on how to achieve peace in the midst of false accusations and misunderstanding, however major, and His certainly were. I so want to get to that point of no longer needing to be always understood, wanting to explain and defend myself. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffe...

Charlie Chaplin was a genius and an amazing actor and director in the days of black and white silent movies. We can see the amazing advances made in the movie industry over the past hundred years or so. God also can set us on a road in which we can make amazing advances far beyond our imagination. "Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely mo...

Yesterday we saw the flow of a stream gaining momentum, having started off slowly. Today there were also trees along the banks of the stream which had taken time to grow into maturity. This picture is a wonderful assurance that as we mature and get propelled into further action for the Lord, He will provide us with others to help us as one Body working together and supporting each other. "For beho...

Continuing from yesterday's message, if we start off slowly, concentrating on the moment (which applies to many aspects of our lives such as stopping activity to spend time with the Lord, listening before speaking etc) we will find it much easier to build up momentum and be successful with more. Also remember that, similarly and offering us a perfect example, God deals with us gently and slowly wh...

I feel that today's picture reminds us to slow down and enjoy beautiful moments in our day's timeline, rather than be consumed with worry and or busyness etc and thereby miss wonderful moments. Also, let's be thankful for all we have. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you". (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

We all experience times of decision making in our lives, whether with small consequences or for the creation of life long changes. A fork can keep the food stationary on the plate, 😀 representing us remaining where we are. The knife cuts away and represents the need to make changes and finally, the spoon in this instance is for serving others. God can direct us in the way we should go, if we ask...

Jesus wants us to shine a light for Him to draw people into His loving Kingdom. It is not about spotlighting ourselves. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see...

I visualised an industrial steam press but it proved to be dysfunctional, with no risk of the lid coming down and applying pressure. We can similarly be facing conditions whereby we sense that pressures are going to come down on us and destroy us. When this happens, let us remind ourselves of the verses "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted...

In the context of only one transient life on this earth, then a suffering life cannot be justified by a loving God. However, in the context of eternal life beyond our transient life on earth, we can have a different slant on horrors on this earth even if we are still struggling in our understanding of God's purposes and His love. Without eternal life, we are doomed and the sufferings on earth only...

Others have hurt us but very likely they have been hurt and have turned it on to us just as you may hurt another because of your negative past experiences. What helps me in forgiving others their past hurts towards me is to remember that either they are also already the bride of Christ or, at the very least, Jesus wants them to be. Jesus, is an amazing Bridegroom who wholly forgives us so let us p...

Do we really believe and feel that we are betrothed to Jesus? We, as part of the church, the Body of Christ, are described as His Bride and He as our Bridegroom. Jesus is coming back to collect us as His. In the meantime, let us hold on to the excitement that He loves us and wants to look after us right now and be with us for ever. It is not a weak place to be looked after. We are strong and fearl...

We can listen to those who criticise us, and there will be those who do as we are not perfect and nor are they, or we can listen to God Who loves us constantly. He created us and does not make mistakes. Max Lucado.has written a short but beautifully written and poignant book called You are Special (also recorded on YouTube) about a wooden puppet called Punchinello who believes that he isn't good e...

Do we want to just leave a remnant or nothing of our lives when our time is over on this earth? If we dedicate our lives to God, we will bear fruit that will have eternal impact. Before Jesus's ministry began as a young man of 30 years old He was obedient to his earthly parents Joseph and Mary as well as dedicating Himself to His Father God. "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour wit...

Joseph and Mary took their first born baby son, Jesus, to the Temple in Jerusalem as was required by the Law of Moses, with the sacrifice of either 2 young pigeons or 2 doves, signifying the consecration of one's life and the repentance of sin. Two devout prophets in the Temple immediately recognised baby Jesus as assuredly going to be the long awaited Saviour (from mankind's sin and the effects o...

A tiger has stripes which, to the unsuspecting eye, help break up its immense size and shape when stalking in the jungle. The stripes referred to in Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 are the lashings relentlessly whipped on to the back of Jesus's body, following which he had to carry a huge, heavy roughly hewn wooden cross before he was nailed to it and crucified as a criminal. Jesus had relinquished h...

However much help we need and however daunting the timing, God will provide enough and on time. Sometimes our trust requires extreme test in our faith, believing God for His love and provision. He will not let us down! I feel like I was treated to a wonderful provision yesterday when I heard a beautiful piano track. I was delighted to find out that the piece was called "Beyond the sundial" (by com...